Abstract
A drip irrigation device for integration within an irrigation pipe comprises a first face and a second face symmetrical to each other, and a central depressed accumulator.
Claims
1. A drip irrigation device for integration within an irrigation pipe, comprising a first face and a second face symmetrical to each other, and a central depressed accumulator.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said first face and second face has a filtration area comprising a plurality of flow passages defined by horizontal and vertical intermediate ribs.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a flow channel suitable to enable the regulated flow of irrigation liquid from within said irrigation pipe through said flow passages into the central depressed accumulator.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising raised margins adapted to provide an adhesion surface of said first face to the inner wall of said irrigation pipe, while said second face faces the internal cavity of said irrigation pipe.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the symmetrical shape of the first face and the second face is provided such that, together with the central position of the depressed accumulator, it enables a dripping hole to be punctured in the irrigation pipe at a location facing the depressed accumulator, regardless of which face is oriented outwards and regardless of the longitudinal orientation of said drip irrigation device during the manufacturing process.
6. The device of claim 1, provided with reduced portions created during the manufacturing process of said device, thereby reducing the amount of plastic material thereof.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an essentially flat irrigation device of the known art;
[0019] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates drip irrigation devices, integrated into an irrigation pipe, during the piercing manufacturing step of the irrigation pipe, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of an irrigation pipe with an integrated drip irrigation device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view showing an inward face of a drip irrigation device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 3B is a front perspective view showing an outward face of the drip irrigation device of FIG. 3A.
[0023] The terms “inward” and “outward” are used herein to indicate the positioning of one of the symmetric faces relative to the inner wall of the irrigation pipe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present invention relates to a drip irrigation device suitable to be integrated within an irrigation pipe in such a manner that one (outward) face of the proposed device adheres to the internal wall of the irrigation pipe, and the proposed device is adapted to receive a desirably pressurized irrigation liquid within the irrigation pipe, and to enable the release the of the irrigation liquid in a regulated manner, through a dripping hole.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a conventional dripper. This device, as explained, requires an orientation step during integration in a dripping line to orientate accumulator 3 such that it is correctly positioned in the dripping line and/or suffers the danger that some drippers within the dripping line be disoriented and hence, non-operative. Moreover, this device comprises relatively narrow passages between inward and outward faces thereof.
[0026] FIG. 2A shows drip irrigation devices 200 integrated into an irrigation pipe 20 (also referred to herein as “dripping line”), shown as transparent for the sake of illustration, during the piercing manufacturing step in which pipe 20 is perforated by piercing device 21, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated section of pipe 20 comprises two irrigation devices 200, each of which comprises a depressed accumulator 201 (further illustrated in FIG. 3B), symmetrically positioned with respect to the center of devices 200. According to the invention, the central location of depressed accumulator 201 (i.e., at the center of device 200) enables a punctured dripping hole 20a created in pipe 20 to face depressed accumulator 201 regardless of the longitudinal orientation of device 200 (i.e., during the manufacturing process of irrigation pipe 20), at which device 200 is embedded into pipe 20. Therefore, the device of the invention eliminates the need for an orientation validation step during the manufacturing of irrigation pipe 20. Moreover, the substantial perimeter of depressed accumulator 201 (with respect to the overall size of device 200) enables lower puncturing precision requirements or fewer manufactured drippers wasted due to intermittent machine accuracy faults.
[0027] FIG. 2B shows a section view of pipe 20 with an integrated drip irrigation device 200, according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein device 200 comprises an inward face 200a, which faces the cavity of pipe 20, and an outward-facing face 200b, which adheres to the internal wall of pipe 20, with depressed accumulator 201 of device 200 faces dripping hole 20a.
[0028] FIG. 2B further shows symmetrical faces 200a & 200b with respect to dashed line 200c representing the mid plan of device 200, thus illustrating that even if face 200a would have adhered to pipe 20 (i.e., instead of face 200b), dripping hole 20a would still be facing depressed accumulator 201. Moreover, the simple and symmetrical design of device 200 enables a relatively cost-effective manufacturing process of device 200.
[0029] FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view showing an inward face of a drip irrigation device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an inward face 300a of device 300 comprises a filtration area 301 with a plurality of flow passages 301a, defined by horizontal and vertical intermediating ribs 301b and 301c (correspondingly), having raised portions 301d. Irrigation liquid in pipe 20 flows through passages 301a to an outward-facing face 300b (shown in FIG. 3B), while intermediate ribs 301b and 301c function as filtration means for preventing undesired foreign bodies, such as sand grains, from flowing through passages 301a.
[0030] Inward face 300a further comprises a regulation flow channel 302, depressed accumulator 201 (described in detail with reference to FIG. 3B).
[0031] FIG. 3B is a front perspective view showing an outward face of the device of FIG. 3A, in which irrigation liquid flowing through passages 301a further flows through channel 302 into depressed accumulator 201, facing dripping hole 20a of FIGS. 2A-2B, through with it is discharged.
[0032] Further shown in FIGS. 3A-3B are raised margins 303 and reduced portions 304, wherein raised margins 303 and raised portions 301d are adapted to support the structure of device 300 while providing sufficient adhesion surface for adhesion of the device to pipe 20 and ensuring an exclusive flow of irrigation liquid through passages 301a, channel 302, accumulator 201 and into dripping hole 20a. Reduced portions 304 are created during the manufacturing process of device 300 for reducing the amount of used plastic material.
[0033] Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims.
