# US 2017/0290277 A1 · In line button drip emitter

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- Number: US 2017/0290277 A1
- Document ID: US20170290277A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/480,404
- Filed: 2017-04-06
- Published: 2017-10-12
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-07
- Inventors: Amir COHEN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170290277A1

## CPC

- A01G 25/023: {Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers}
- Y02A 40/22: Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A drip irrigation emitter may be provided with a coupler for bonding to an inner surface of a conduit. The emitter may include for example a button flow restrictor. The coupler may optionally provide an outlet zone on the conduit surface that is large enough for automated perforation. Bonding the emitter to the surface of the conduit may have a minimal effect on the dimensions and/or properties of the conduit. A button drip irrigation emitter may optionally include a two part labyrinth. The labyrinth may for example be confined between a cylindrical surface and a cover and/or wind between intermeshing baffles on the cover and/or the surface. In some embodiments the device may be formed using molding elements moving along a single axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inline dripper comprising:
a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and including at an upper end thereof an attachment surface perpendicular the longitudinal axis; the attachment surface shaped and sized for attachment to an inner wall of an irrigation conduit;
a first wall surrounding an outlet chamber on the upper end of the body;
an upper edge of the first wall included in said attachment surface;
a second wall below the first wall surrounding a regulator chamber; the second wall including an opening between the outer side of the cylindrical body and the regulator chamber;
a portion of the first wall above the opening being thicker than a portion of the second wall below the opening;
a hollow shaft passing through the first wall from the attachment surface to the opening in the second wall, said hollow shaft separated from said outlet chamber by said first wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dripper of claim 1, further comprising:
a first set of teeth projecting laterally outward from an outer side of the cylindrical body with spaces between teeth of the first set of teeth facing the lower end of the body, the lower end opposite the upper end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dripper of claim 2, further comprising:
a cap including a cylindrical hollow fitting over the lower end of the cylindrical body; the cap including a second set of teeth projecting inward from a side wall of the cylindrical hollow with spaces between teeth of the second set of teeth facing upward when the hollow is positioned over the lower end of the cylindrical body; and
wherein when said cap is positioned over said lower end of said cylindrical body, said opening provides fluid communication between said regulating chamber and a space between said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dripper of claim 3 further comprising:
an inlet in the cap allowing water from the conduit to enter the hollow of the cap and reach the space between the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The dripper of claim 4 further comprising:
a membrane sized and shaped to fit between a bottom edge of said second wall and said cap;
said membrane preventing short circuiting of water passing through to the regulating chamber without passing through said space between said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The dripper of claim 5, further comprising:
a first orientation element on said body and a second orientation element on said cap wherein an alignment of said first orientation element with said second orientation element indicates an alignment of said first set of teeth with said second set of teeth.

### Claim 7

An in-line agricultural emitter comprising:
an outlet face configured for attachment to an inner surface of an irrigation conduit; said outlet face including a first region and an second region;
a wall defining an inner chamber of the emitter; said inner chamber in fluid contact with said first region of said outlet face;
a passageway through said wall;
an inlet flow path in fluid contact with said inner chamber through said passageway; said inlet flow path including a closed conduit formed in said emitter;
an access channel leading from said second region of said outlet face to said passageway in said wall;
a bonding surface on said outlet face configured for sealing to said inner surface of said irrigation conduit; said bonding surface separating between said first region and said second region such that when said bonding surface is sealed against said inner surface of said irrigation conduit, every fluid path from said second region to said first region goes through at least one of said inlet flow path and said passageway.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The emitter of claim 7, wherein when said bonding surface is sealed against said inner surface of said irrigation conduit, every fluid path from said second region to said first region goes through said passageway.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The emitter of claim 7, wherein said inlet flow path is configured to reduce pressure of flow passing through said inlet flow path into said passageway.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The emitter of claim 7, wherein said inlet flow path includes a pressure reducing labyrinth.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The emitter of claim 7, wherein when said bonding surface is sealed against said inner surface of said irrigation conduit, every fluid path from said access channel to outside said agricultural emitter goes through at least one of said inlet flow path and said passageway.

### Claim 12

An agricultural emitter comprising:
a divider separating an input path from an outlet chamber;
an opening through said divider;
an access channel from a bonding surface to said opening such that when said bonding surface is sealed to an inner surface of an irrigation conduit, said opening forms a closed passageway providing fluid communication between an inlet flow path and an outlet of the emitter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The agricultural emitter of claim 12, wherein said access channel is straight.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The agricultural emitter of claim 12, further comprising a cylindrical core and wherein fluid communication between said inlet flow path and said outlet of the emitter passes axially through the core.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The agricultural emitter of claim 14, wherein said inlet flow path at least partially encircles an outer wall of said core.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The agricultural emitter of claim 15, further comprising a cover, said cover at least partially surrounding said outer wall of said core and enclosing said inlet flow path.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The agricultural emitter of claim 14, wherein said communication between the inlet flow path and the outlet includes an outlet chamber and a regulating chamber in fluid communication with said outlet chamber and wherein said divider separates between said regulating chamber and said input path and said passageway is between said regulating chamber and said input path the emitter further comprising:
and wherein said regulating chamber includes an open face; and
a flexible membrane closing said open face of said regulating chamber such that increasing external fluid pressure displaces the membrane increase flow resistance in the regulating chamber.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The emitter of claim 12, wherein said inlet flow path is configured to reduce pressure of flow passing through said inlet flow path into said passageway.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The emitter of claim 12, wherein said inlet flow path includes a pressure reducing labyrinth.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The emitter of claim 12, wherein when said bonding surface is sealed against said inner surface of said irrigation conduit, every fluid path from said access channel to outside said agricultural emitter goes through at least one of said inlet flow path and said passageway.