Irrigation system and method for controlling liquid flow in adjacent field zones
AssigneeNetafim, Ltd.
InventorAbraham Schweitzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An irrigation column for a drip irrigation system has a fluid conducting line for receiving fluid from a fluid source upstream. The irrigation column further includes a plurality of drip line segments extending alongside the fluid conducting line, a plurality of zone valves located along the fluid conducting line, and a plurality of control tubes extending alongside the fluid conducting line. And each control tube is in fluid communication with a respective one of the zone valves for actuating the zone valve.
Claims31
An irrigation system configured to irrigate a field having an upstream end and a downstream end, the field comprising a plurality of field strips arranged side-by-side in a row direction of the field, each of said plurality of field strips extending in an upstream-to-downstream column direction transverse to the row direction, the system comprising:
- a main distribution pipe configured to be positioned at the field's upstream end and extending in the row direction;
- one or more irrigation columns in fluid communication with the main distribution pipe via a column control device, each of said plurality of irrigation columns extending in the upstream-to-downstream direction and configured to pass through one of the field strips, each irrigation column comprising:
- a fluid conducting line extending in the upstream-to-downstream direction and configured to carry fluid from the main distribution pipe;
- a plurality of drip line segments arranged one after another in the upstream-to-downstream direction along the fluid conducting line, the plurality of drip line segments including adjacent first and second drip line segments, the first drip line segment being upstream of the second drip line segment, each of said plurality of drip line segments having an upstream end and a downstream end;
- and
- a plurality of spaced apart zone valves, each of said plurality of spaced apart zone valves located along the fluid conducting line and configured to control fluid flow at:
- the downstream end of the first drip line segment, and also at the upstream end of the second drip line segment;
- wherein:
- in response to a control signal, a given zone valve is configured to open a first flow path out of the first drip line segment and open a second flow path to supply liquid from the fluid conducting line into the second drip line segment.
A method for irrigating a field having an upstream end and a downstream end, the field comprising a plurality of field strips arranged side-by-side in a row direction of the field, each of said plurality of field strips extending in an upstream-to-downstream direction transverse to the row direction, the method comprising:
- providing an irrigation system comprising at least one fluid conducting line passing through one of said plurality of field strips in the upstream-to-downstream direction, the at least one fluid conducting line selectively in fluid communication with a plurality of drip line segments arranged one after another in the upstream-to-downstream direction along the fluid conducting line, the plurality of drip line segments including adjacent first and second drip line segments, the first drip line segment being upstream of the second drip line segment, each drip line segment having an upstream end and a downstream end;
- and
- opening a passage suitable for flushing liquid out of the downstream end of the first drip line segment while simultaneously introducing liquid into the second drip line segment from the fluid conducting line.
An irrigation system configured to irrigate a field having an upstream end and a downstream end, the field comprising a plurality of field strips arranged side-by-side in a row direction of the field, at least one of said plurality of field strips comprising a plurality of zones and extending in an upstream-to-downstream direction transverse to the row direction, the system comprising:
- a plurality of drip line segments arranged one after another in the upstream-to-downstream direction, the plurality of drip line segments including adjacent first and second drip line segments, the first drip line segment being upstream of the second drip line segment, the first drip line segment being in a first zone and the second drip line segment being in a second zone adjacent to the first zone, each of said plurality of drip line segments having an upstream end and a downstream end;
- and
- a fluid conducting line extending through said plurality of zones and configured to selectively supply liquid to the second drip line segment;
- wherein:
- the system is configured to simultaneously open a first flow path out of the first drip line segment, and open a second flow path to introduce liquid into the second drip line segment;
- and
- in said second zone, liquid flows in parallel through both the fluid conducting line and the second drip line segment, when said second flow path is opened.
An irrigation system configured to irrigate a field having an upstream end and a downstream end, the field comprising a plurality of field strips arranged side-by-side in a row direction of the field, at least one of said plurality of field strips comprising a plurality of zones and extending in an upstream-to-downstream direction transverse to the row direction, the system comprising:
- a plurality of drip line segments arranged one after another in the upstream-to-downstream direction, the plurality of drip line segments including adjacent first and second drip line segments, the first drip line segment being upstream of the second drip line segment, the first drip line segment being in a first zone and the second drip line segment being in a second zone adjacent to the first zone, each of said plurality of drip line segments having an upstream end and a downstream end;
- wherein:
- the system is configured to simultaneously open a first flow path out of the first drip line segment, and open a second flow path to introduce liquid into the second drip line segment;
- opening the first flow path flushes liquid out of said first drip line segment, if the upstream end of the first drip line segment is exposed to incoming liquid;
- opening the second flow path causes drip irrigation by the second drip line segment, if the downstream end of the second drip line segment is closed;
- and
- a zone valve is in communication with the downstream end of the first drip line segment and with the upstream end of the second drip line segment for controlling the simultaneous opening of the first and second flow paths.
An irrigation system configured to irrigate a field having an upstream end and a downstream end, the field comprising a plurality of field strips arranged side-by-side in a row direction of the field, at least one of said plurality of field strips comprising a plurality of zones and extending in an upstream-to-downstream direction transverse to the row direction, the system comprising:
- a plurality of drip line segments arranged one after another in the upstream-to-downstream direction, the plurality of drip line segments including adjacent first and second drip line segments, the first drip line segment being upstream of the second drip line segment, the first drip line segment being in a first zone and the second drip line segment being in a second zone adjacent to the first zone, each of said plurality of drip line segments having an upstream end and a downstream end;
- wherein:
- the system is configured to simultaneously open a first flow path out of the first drip line segment, and open a second flow path to introduce liquid into the second drip line segment;
- and
- a zone valve is in communication with the downstream end of the first drip line segment and with the upstream end of the second drip line segment for controlling the simultaneous opening of the first and second flow paths.
An irrigation column for a drip irrigation system comprising:
- a fluid conducting line for receiving fluid from a fluid source upstream,
- a plurality of drip line segments extending alongside the fluid conducting line,
- a plurality of spaced apart zone valves located along the fluid conducting line, and
- a plurality of control tubes extending alongside the fluid conducting line,
- wherein each of said plurality of control tubes is in fluid communication with a respective one of the zone valves for actuating said respective one of the zone valves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.