Embodiments of the invention relate to a drip irrigation pipe and an irrigation spout thereof, and in particular to such irrigation spout being attached to an outer side of a drip irrigation pipe over an outlet aperture in the pipe.
Irrigation water emitted by drip emitters within a drip irrigation pipe may be arranged to communicate the emitted water to lateral tubes. These tubes may then be used to direct the water to plants (or the like).
US2002104903 describes an irrigation apparatus with in-line drippers that have supports for attaching a micro tube to the dripper outlet. The support here has a projection, sleeve or connector for securing a micro tube thereto.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.
In at least certain embodiments there is provided a spout member for attachment to an outer side of a drip irrigation pipe, the spout member comprising a lower side arranged to attach the pipe, wherein the lower side comprises at least one rib for facilitating said attachment.
A spout member may be an element that communicates liquid therethrough its passage to additional irrigation elements that may be attached, possibly detachably attached, to its downstream side. In some cases, a spout member may also be integrally fitted with elements that interact with liquid flowing through a passage of the spout member.
In an embodiment there is also provide an irrigation device comprising a drip emitter, a spout member and a pipe comprising a pipe wall that is sandwiched between the drip emitter and spout member, an aperture in the pipe wall providing a route for water emitted by the drip emitter to flow downstream towards an axially extending passage formed through the spout member, wherein in cross sections taken along the axis of the passage an entry section of the passage comprises a larger cross sectional area than a main section of the passage that is immediately downstream to the entry section.
In an embodiment there is also provide a method for attaching a spout member to an outer side of a drip irrigation pipe comprising the steps of: providing a drip irrigation pipe comprising a drip emitter bonded to an inner side of the pipe and an aperture formed through a wall of the pipe above the emitter, providing a spout member comprising a through going passage and at least one rib formed about an entry section of the passage at a side of the spout member that is arranged to attach to the pipe, and attaching the spout member to the pipe wall so that the entry section of the spout member's passage overlies the aperture in the pipe wall.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.
Attention is first drawn to
In the embodiments disclosed here, preferably the spout 14 is sealingly attached to the pipe's outer surface so that substantially all water exiting a drip emitter are routed through the spout onwards downstream, without substantially leaking out through the connection between spout and pipe member 11.
Spout 14 as seen in the enlarged section of
As seen in the figures, the stem 141 has an annular shape while the wall 142 has a cylindrical shape.
Such tube that is attached to spout 14 may be arranged to communicate water exiting the drip irrigation pipe 10 onwards downstream e.g. towards plants. In certain cases, an end of such tube may be coupled to the stem 141 and/or wall 142 via a coupler (also not shown) that is arranged to mate with the stem and/or wall.
Spout 14 has an upper side 149, a lower side 145 and in addition includes a through going passage 148 that extends along axis X generally through the stem 141 while opening out to a lower/inner side 145 of the spout and to an upper/outer side of the spout at the upper/outer side of the stem. Passage 148 may be arranged to include an entry section 144 at its lower/inner side that leads downstream into a main section 143 of the passage. In a direction along the spout axis X, the entry section 144 may be shorter than the main section 143. The entry section 144 has an entry 144a into the passage 148 while the main section 143 has an exit 143a from the passage 148. Entry section 144 may include at least portions that are larger in diameter than the internal diameter of main section 143 of the passage.
The lower/inner side 145 of the spout 14 further comprises a downwardly facing base face 147. In some embodiments, the base face 147 is generally planar. In other embodiments, the base face 147 may follow a generally cylindrical contour. When a generally cylindrical contour is present, the radius of curvature of the cylindrical contour matches that of pipe's outer surface 11c.
In the illustrated views, entry section 144 can be seen having a generally funnel shape converging upwards in a direction away from lower/inner side 145, however entry section 144, when present, may have other forms such as cubic, cylindrical or any other formation possibly larger in cross section (e.g. in diameter in case of cylinder) than main section 143.
It is noted that the directional term outer and lower used with respect to the spout, may be seen defined in relation to the spout when mounted to the drip irrigation pipe-and thus with respect to the radial inner and outer directions of the pipe member 11 when held in a generally cylindrical form.
As schematically seen in
As seen in the enlarged section of
In spout embodiments having a wider entry 144a into passage 148, such entry 144a may assist in ensuring that aperture 16 is substantially placed in communication with passage 148 so that water exiting a drip emitter 12 may be provided with a substantial open and free flow path out of the irrigation pipe 10. Such wider entry 144a may in particular assist in suitable placement of the spout 14 over aperture 16 e.g. in cases where the spout is attached to the outer side of the pipe member 11 during manufacturing of the drip irrigation pipe (e.g. when the pipe member 11 is in movement).
In at least certain embodiments, entry section 144 may accordingly be generally funnel shaped with a formation that converges/tapers upwardly towards main section 143 of the passage 148. Such formation may be useful in funneling water exiting an aperture 16 above a drip emitter 12 towards passage 148.
As seen in the enlarged section of
Attention is drawn to
As seen in the figures, two peripheral ribs 146a, 146b may be concentric about the spout axis X and comprise a radially inner first rib 146a and a radially outer second rib 146b.
As also seen in the figures, each peripheral rib may form a closed contour (i.e., one in which the rib is continuous).
While in some embodiments the closed contour may be planar, in other embodiments, the closed contour does not lie in a plane, but rather is three-dimensional.
When the spout is attached (e.g., heat bonded) to the outer surface 11c of the pipe member 11, a water-tight seal may be formed between a peripheral rib having a closed contour and the outer surface 11c.
In the embodiments seen in the figures, the peripheral ribs may form a closed circular contour. In other embodiments, each peripheral rib may form a closed non-circular contour. (e.g., a contour having an oval or other shape).
In some embodiments (not shown), one or more peripheral ribs may be non-continuous with gaps and thus form a broken contour, rather than a closed contour.
In an aspect of the present invention, provision of one or more ribs 146a, 146b upon the lower/inner side 145 of the spout may assist in attachment of the spout to the pipe member's outer surface.
In an embodiment, spout 14 may be attached to the outer side of the pipe member 11 by heat bonding.
Three examples of such heat bonding, each of which comprises the application of heat, and without adhesives, are contemplated.
In one example, heat may be applied to the lower/bottom side of the spout prior to attaching the spout to the pipe member 11, while the one or more ribs 146a, 146b may be seen as deposits of thermoplastic material that can undergo at least partial melting due to exposure to such heat, so that the at least partial melted rib(s) upon contact with the pipe member 11 may assist in heat bonding of the spout to the pipe member 11.
In another example, beads of melted resin may be applied to the lower/inner side 145 of the spout in between adjacent ribs, and substantially immediately thereafter the spout may be pressed against the pipe member's outer surface 11c with the melted resin assisting in heat bonding of the spout to the pipe member 11.
In yet another example, laser energy may be used for assisting in melting of the rib(s) and/or a region of the pipe member 11 where the spout is about to be attached. In such case, spout embodiments may be provided that may be substantially transparent to a laser beam focused at the rib(s) and/or pipe member 11. Such laser energy in a non-binding example may be provided in #wave lengths of about 1060 nanometers (or the like).
In an embodiment, spout 14 may be attached to the outer surface of the pipe member by means not necessarily limited to heat bonding. For example, adhesives may be provided in-between adjacent ribs, prior to attachment of the spout to the pipe member 11. Upon engagement with the pipe member 11, such adhesives may cure and by that securely bond to the spout to the pipe member.
Attention is drawn to
In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
Furthermore, while the present application or technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and non-restrictive; the technology is thus not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed technology, from a study of the drawings, the technology, and the appended claims.
In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
The present technology is also understood to encompass the exact terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc., if in here such terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc. are referred to in connection with terms such as “about, ca., substantially, generally, at least” etc. In other words, “about 3” shall also comprise “3” or “substantially perpendicular” shall also comprise “perpendicular”. Any reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting the scope.
Although the present embodiments have been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
This is a Bypass Continuation-in-Part of International Application No. PCT/IB2021/052185 filed Mar. 16, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application No. 62/994,325 filed Mar. 25, 2020. The contents of the above-mentioned applications are incorporat3ed by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62994325 | Mar 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/IB2021/052185 | Mar 2021 | US |
Child | 17952731 | US |