Drip and Bubbler Irrigation Releasing Device and Method

Abstract

A drip or bubbler irrigation system releasing device consisting of a chemical bond between a fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide or other desired chemicals and a water soluble medium, forming a molded device of various shapes and sizes used in conjunction with drip or bubbler irrigation system water emitters, allowing for the slow dissolution of the chemicals of the release device over a time period of weeks or months, so that on each irrigation cycle the water soluble chemicals are released to the planted areas below and around the emitter in a slow continuous manner.

Claims

1. A method of a providing a Drip or Bubbler irrigation system a chemical releasing system as an added device attached under emitters of said irrigation system, for long term, continuous application of either fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or other desired chemical agents to provide water based chemical formulas to nearby growing areas in low cost, highly effective manner comprising the following steps: A. Combining the desired fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide or other desired chemicals with a water soluble release agent, B. Adding colorants or other chemicals to indicate the type of chemicals that are being released and their formulas and to provide a visual indication to the outside user as to when they should be replaced, C. Adding desiccants or other drying agents to insure the devices dry out between water cycles, D) Molding said chemicals into a semi rigid flexible or solid shape designed to fit over a pipe or drip tube and underneath an irrigation emitter E. Adding an optional clip as an insert for the release device so that for more rigid release designs the clip is part of the inner circumference of the molded shape and provides spring tension to the pipe or tube to allow it to stay in place and be easily removed and replaced, F. Placing the molded release device underneath the emitter and below the gravity level of the water release point of the said emitter so that the device does not interfere with the irrigation system water or create a back flow path into the water supply system when the water valve is shut off, but provides a path for water to flow over it releasing the water soluble elements within it while flowing downward to the planted areas underneath and around, G. Establishing water pressure internal to the irrigation system and at regular intervals opening the valve to said irrigation system so that water is allowed to flow out of the system's irrigation emitters and over the releasing devices below it, H) Shutting off the water irrigation valve after a watering cycle interval and allowing the irrigation releasing device to dry out for at given time before the next irrigation cycle,

2. An device for dispensing chemicals attached to an drip or bubbler irrigation system emitter comprising a molded flexible, semi rigid or rigid device containing desired chemicals to be released by water flow from the irrigation system emitter and attached underneath emitter, containing fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides or other chemical agents that are combined with a slow releasing water soluble medium which is molded into specific shapes designed to fit over an irrigation pipe or drip tube under an irrigation emitter or in confluence with it, with or without an integral insertion clip as part of the molded design, capable of being easily installed and replaced and identified by use of color additives in the mixture, which indicate the type of release device, the specific formula it contains and the release rate or life cycle it has, able to stay in place over the life of the device and dry out after each watering cycle to preserve its chemical content and viability for the next watering cycle, cost effective, able to work with a multitude of irrigation systems and emitters, having the ability to easily vary the chemical formulas for various plant mediums, soils, climates and growing seasons.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a multitude of stacked molded devices under an irrigation system emitter that provides slow release of a combinations of chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other desired chemical formulas simultaneously or one molded device containing a combination of chemicals combined into one device and providing multiple chemical releases said device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is embodiment one of the invention showing a molded or cast chemical compound (2) with a hole (1) for receiving bubbler pipe or drip tube

[0013] FIG. 2 is embodiment one of the invention with added clip insert (3) for securing chemical compound to pipe or tube when needed

[0014] FIG. 3A is a side view of embodiment one with an adjustable bubbler emitter

[0015] FIG. 3B is a top view of embodiment one with an adjustable bubbler emitter

[0016] FIG. 4A is a side view of embodiment one with fixed flow drip emitter

[0017] FIG. 4B is a top view of embodiment one with fixed flow drip emitter

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of embodiment one with an adjustable drip emitter

[0019] FIG. 6 is a side view of embodiment two with an adjustable bubbler emitter

[0020] FIG. 7 is a side view of embodiment three with a fixed flow emitter

[0021] Each of the three preferred embodiments of the drip irrigation fertilizing system are shown in FIGS. 1 thru 7 and are comprised of the following components:

1. Insertion hole for Release Device fitting Water Supply Pipe or Drip Line Riser Tube
2. Release Device as a molded ring (Embodiment 1)

3. Release Device Optional Insertion Collar (Embodiment 1)

4. Adjustable Bubbler Emitter

5. Screw Head For Adjustable Emitter Flow Control

6. Water Supply Pipe/Drip Line Riser Tube

7. Water Flow Exiting out of Bubbler Emitter/Drip Emitter

8. Fixed Drip Emitter

9. Drip Emitter Nipple and Water Exit Port

10. Adjustable Drip Emitter

11. Screw Adjustment Threads For Adjustable Drip Emitter Flow Control

12. Release Device in a Flat Strip (Embodiment 2)

13. Release Device in a Porous Pouch (Embodiment 3)

14. Fastener of Porous Pouch to Drip Tube (Embodiment 3)

15. Spring Tensioned Panels of Insert Collar (Item 3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the present invention in embodiment one where the releasing device containing the fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide or other desired formulas with the water soluble medium is molded into a round doughnut shape (2) with a hole (1) to receive a pipe or drip tube. FIG. 2 shows the same elements of FIG. 1 but adds an insert collar (3) that fits into the hole (1) of the doughnut shaped release device (2) and can be used to secure the device to the pipe of drip tube by means of spring tension. This insert device could be of molded plastic having small spring tensioned panels facing in both directions (15) to hold a rigid release device (which is harder in texture) to a pipe or drip tube (6) by spring tension on both sides. FIG. 3A shows a side view of the present invention in embodiment one where the release device (2) is placed underneath a bubbler emitter (4) and held by the attaching pipe (6). In this drawing and FIGS. 3B, 4A, 4B and 5, the device is flexible enough to adhere by surface tension to the pipe due to the chemical nature of the binding formula so the insertion device (3) as shown in FIG. 2 is not required to hold the device to the pipe (6). The flow from the bubbler emitter (4) indicated by arrows (7) is adjusted by a screw top (5) which is a common industry standard design. Other designs have this item (5) as a screw head on the top that is adjusted manually with a screw driver by the user. Both accomplish the same results and either emitter works equally well with the present invention. Water flows downward (7) from the bubbler over the chemical release device (2) releasing the water soluble chemicals of the device while falling downward thru gravitational pull to the planted areas on the ground below and around it. FIG. 3B shows a top view of FIG. 3A and is easily understood. FIG. 4A shows a side view of a fixed drip emitter (8) with the chemical release device (2) underneath secured to the drip tube (6) and exposed to water flow out of the nipple of the vertical emitter (9) where water flows (7) down and over the release device (2) releasing chemicals from the device while falling to the ground and absorbed into the planted areas below and around it. FIG. 4B shows a top view of FIG. 4A which is easily understood. FIG. 5 shows a drip emitter (10) that is adjustable by means of turning the emitter head via screw down threads (11) underneath it and attached to a vertical drip tube (6) with the release device (2) underneath and in the path of the water (7) flowing out of the emitter. Again as in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A, the water flows over the water soluble release device and releases chemicals that flow downward into and around planted areas. FIG. 6 shows the present invention in embodiment two where the release device (12) is molded into a flat strip with an adhesive backing that is wrapped around the irrigation pipe (6). Again the emitter (4) releases water (7) that flows over the release device (12) and releases chemicals that flow downward into and around planted areas. FIG. 7 shows the present invention in third embodiment where the release chemicals are placed in a porous pouch (13) which is sealed and placed under the drip emitter (8). It is secured to the drip tube (6) by means of a wire or plastic wrap (14) and accomplishes the same results as the previous two embodiments.