Irrigation device emitters with rubber o-ring flow regulators

Abstract

An apparatus, especially adapted for regulating flow of in-line drip irrigation device emitters. The disclosed apparatus converts high liquid flow to a low flow rate as low as 0.02 gallons per hour. The liquid is introduced at a controlled high flow rate, such as by the use of a pressurized fluid supply conduit. The liquid then flows into a number of inlet inflow gates before traversing a pressure responding diaphragm. The closing pressure response of the pressure responding diaphragm, provided primarily by a number of elastomeric o-rings, must be overcome by the pressurized fluid entering through the inlet inflow gates before transmitting regulated fluid flow through an outlet means, wherein said ancillary elastomeric o-ring is a rubber annular component assembled with a tubular rigid insert prior to insertion of drip line extrusion. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for regulating flow of pressure-responding diaphragms of extruded in-line irrigation device emitters'.

Claims

1. An irrigation device emitter flow-regulating apparatus comprises: A tubular rigid insert comprising a number of preset radial axial inlet inflow gates and obstructing ridges/recessions about the circumference; An elastomeric o-ring with resilient properties; A rigid or flexible encasing extrusion comprising an outlet outflow means such as gates, ports, or perforations; Wherein said inlet inflow gates are fixed radial-axially about the circumference of said tubular rigid insert; Wherein said elastomeric o-ring squeezes said tubular rigid insert disposed on, about, or from said inlet inflow gates; Wherein flow passage receiving through said tubular rigid insert's inlet inflow gates in communication with said rigid or flexible case and said elastomeric o-ring above a preset threshold operates as a pressure responding diaphragm to transmit regulated flow therefrom;

2. The apparatus from claim 1 characterizing a pressure responding diaphragm provides a method of regulating flow comprising: A fluid passage through a tubular rigid insert, elastomeric annular o-ring component and extrusion wall; A pressure responding region having an elastomeric annular o-ring component obstructing fluid entering from inlet inflow gates fixed axially about the circumference of said tubular rigid insert is either sealed or operating to regulate receiving fluidic flow within a preset threshold for a pressurized fluid provided by an irrigation delivery line; Wherein said elastomeric annular o-ring component, with an inward acting force, provides ancillary and/or auxiliary elastic and partially sealing pressure response; Wherein said pressure responding diaphragm regulates a flow, such that receiving fluid reaches a threshold pressure to traverse said flow passage; Wherein said elastomeric o-ring seal fails in response to pressurized fluid bias across said pressure responding region exhibiting varying apertures to allow fluid passage; Wherein said fluid that does not reach a threshold pressure of said flow passage pressure responding region remains obstructed by said elastomeric o-ring sealing component; Wherein said sealed or perforated rigid or flexible case may provide auxiliary pressure response in communication with said tubular rigid insert or elastomeric annular component; Wherein said fluid may be partially obstructed by labyrinth patterns, characterized by grooves, notches, ridges or teeth, in or prior to said flow passage or reservoir thereabout; Wherein said rigid or flexible case transmits fluid contents of said, otherwise sealed, pressure responding diaphragm through one or more channels, perforations, or gates further comprised thereof;

3. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted to an embodiment of an inline flow-regulating irrigation device emitter further comprises: A tubular rigid insert, elastomeric annular o-ring component, and rigid or flexible case; A pressure responding diaphragm fixed radial-axially about the outer circumference of said tubular rigid insert; Wherein said elastomeric annular o-ring component in communication with said tubular rigid insert and said rigid or flexible encasing regulates flow passage through said inline irrigation device emitter's pressure responding diaphragm, said arranged tubular rigid insert and elastomeric annular component may insert during the extrusion process into a supply conduit intermittently throughout said conduit, thereby encasing said pressure responding diaphragm; Wherein said pressure responding diaphragm provides a method of regulating flow for inline irrigation device emitters with same configurations under identical conditions;

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Some embodiments of the invention are herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrations shown are by way of example and for purposes of discussion about embodiments of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention adapted to an inline drip irrigation device emitter having a molded elastomeric o-ring made from silicone rubber temporarily sealing, obstructing throughput, in its pressure responding diaphragm. This embodiment of an inline drip irrigation device emitter with a number of inlet inflow gates in a tubular rigid insert and elastomeric o-ring providing ancillary inlet pressure response uniformly across a plurality of devices equipped with identical o-ring configurations inserts into a fluid supply conduit during extrusion thereof, or by other means of assembly with a number of perforated outlet outflow gates that emit pressure regulated fluid contents during irrigation. Silicone rubber is selected for its material resilience.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] According to some aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, an elastomeric o-ring forms an inward acting force about the entire circumference of said pressure responding diaphragm and is posited about said tubular rigid insert by ridges and/or recessions detailing said tubular rigid insert prior to extrusion into an in-line drip line. With a normally closed position of the pressure responding diaphragm said elastomeric o-ring surrounds said tubular rigid insert in a pre-set stretched position obstructing receiving fluid uptake from inlet inflow gates or a first pressure responding region in communication with said inlet gates.

[0033] According to some aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing a high flow employing a pressure responding diaphragm, whereby a first elastomeric annular component provides ancillary pressure response and a second elastomeric annular component with similar properties provides auxiliary pressure response.

[0034] An embodiment of the present invention comprises an elastomeric rubber o-ring forming an auxiliary bond in communication with the inward facing wall of said encasing extrusion, providing auxiliary support for said pressure responding diaphragm, and sealing said communicating components except where the inner face of said o-ring is in squeezing communication with said tubular rigid insert.

[0035] An embodiment with a pressurized fluid of 1 bar for example, circumferentially fixed inlet inflow gates with a total cross sectional area of 6 sq mm obstructed by an elastomeric o-ring, shore 60A durable silicone rubber and 2.5 mm wall thickness unstretched in bonding communication with an extruded encasing to form a particular flow path configuration, transmits 1 gallon per hour through a perforation in said encasing wall. Said circumferentially fixed inlet inflow gates provide a wide range of radial symmetries for maximum fluid uptake and filtration. Said exemplary flow regulating diaphragm may transmit 0.01 gallons per hour through said perforated enclosure with less risk of becoming clogged.

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention, as it relates to the positing of said elastomeric annular components about said rigid insert, said rigid insert comprises a number of ridges and/or recessions that provide a dual purpose for further reducing flow and maintaining the position of said elastomeric o-ring relative to said pressure responding diaphragm.

[0037] According to some aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing a high flow employing a pressure responding diaphragm having a number of inlet inflow gates, a number of flexible elastomeric o-rings, and rigid or flexible encasing extrusion with outflow means according to the embodiment.

[0038] Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a rigid or flexible enclosure with a number of perforations, ports, or gates to transmit fluidic contents through.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention with an inline dripper having a tubular rigid insert 5 and a number of perforated outlet outflow gates 18. An elastomeric o-ring 4 provides ancillary inlet pressure response uniformly across a plurality of similar devices equipped with same diaphragmatic configurations. Said elastomeric o-ring 4 is stretched over tubular rigid insert 5 ridges (2,3), whereby said elastomeric o-ring 4 applies an inward force covering inlet inflow gates 10 fixed axially about the circumference of said tubular rigid insert 5. Said tubular rigid insert 5, equipped with said elastomeric o-ring 4 is inserted into a flexible fluid supply conduit 17 during the extrusion of said pipe conduit. The pressure responding device allows fluid passage through outlet perforations 18 in said extruded fluid supply conduit 17, thereby emitting regulated flow. Tubular rigid insert 5 in communication with inlet inflow gates 10, elastomeric o-ring 4 and ridges (2,3) connected to a pressurized fluid supply 1 comprises a pressure responding diaphragm in sealing communication with said fluid supply conduit 17. Extruded fluid supply conduit 17 in communication with said elastomeric o-ring 4 provides a closing pressure response upon said inlet inflow gates 10 for pressurized fluid 1 uptake below a predetermined pressure threshold of the inline dripper embodiment.

[0040] It is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art to reproduce embodiments of the present invention or combinations thereof with the information regarding the embodiments described herein. It is therefore intended to embrace such embodiments as it relates to the irrigation device emitter flow-regulating apparatus that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.