Drip Tape Irrigation Emitter

An irrigation system comprising a hollow, cylindrical shaped pipe, and a plurality of emitters formed on a continuous tape, wherein the pipe has a wall and includes a plurality of fluid outlet ports formed through the wall, and wherein each emitter includes:

• a base member affixed to an inner surface of the pipe to create an enclosed fluid flow channel for the emitter between the inner surface of the pipe and the base member, with the fluid flow channel extending from a fluid inlet port to one of the fluid outlet ports and wherein the base member defines a substantially straight centerline;
• a filtering section formed in the base member for receiving water from the pipe through the fluid inlet port and into the fluid flow channel, with oversized particles being removed from water before entering the filtering section and wherein the fluid inlet port into the filtering section includes a first plurality of vanes mounted on the base member, positioned to one side of the centerline, and a second plurality of vanes mounted on the base member, positioned to the other side of the centerline;
• a flow regulation section formed in the base member for receiving water from the filtering section, wherein the flow regulation section includes a plurality of triangular shaped protrusions extending into the fluid flow channel to create a turbulent flow therein;
• and
• a collection section formed in the base member for receiving water from the flow regulation section and for holding water therein prior to passing through one of the outlet ports.

A method of manufacturing an irrigation system comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of fluid outlet ports in a wall of a hollow, cylindrical shaped pipe;
• and
• affixing a continuous tape to an inner surface of the pipe, the continuous tape having a plurality of emitters formed thereon with one emitter for each fluid outlet port, and wherein each emitter includes;
• a base member affixed to an inner surface of the pipe to create an enclosed fluid flow channel for the emitter between the inner surface of the pipe and the base member, with the fluid flow channel extending from a fluid inlet port to one of the fluid outlet ports and wherein the base member defines a substantially straight centerline;
• a filtering section formed in the base member for receiving water from the pipe through the fluid inlet port and into the fluid flow channel, with oversized particles being removed from water before entering the filtering section and wherein the fluid inlet port into the filtering section includes a first plurality of vanes mounted on the base member, positioned to one side of the centerline, and a second plurality of vanes mounted on the base member, positioned to the other side of the centerline;
• a flow regulation section formed in the base member for receiving water from the filtering section, wherein the flow regulation section includes a plurality of triangular shaped protrusions extending into the fluid flow channel to create a turbulent flow therein;
• and a collection section formed in the base member for receiving water from the flow regulation section and for holding water therein prior to passing through one of the outlet ports.