Methods And Apparatus For Checking Emitter Bonds In An Irrigation Drip Line
AssigneeRain Bird Corporation
InventorsMark Richard Edris, Farshad Motamedi, Berj Zakarian, Mark Murphy Ensworth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.
Claims21
-13. (canceled)
An emitter bond tester for testing discrete emitter bonds to a drip line tube, the emitter bond tester comprising:
- a first chamber sealed to hold fluid;
- a second chamber sealed to hold fluid and immediately downstream of the first chamber;
- a third chamber sealed to hold fluid and immediately downstream of the second chamber;
- and
- a flow meter in association with the second chamber to measure an actual rate of air escaping from one or more precut outlet passages in the drip line tube passing through the second chamber, each precut outlet passage associated with a drip emitter bonded to the drip line tube.
A method for testing discrete emitter bonds to a drip line tube using a first chamber sealed to hold fluid, a second chamber sealed to hold fluid and immediately downstream of the first chamber, a third chamber sealed to hold fluid and immediately downstream of the second chamber, and a flow meter in association with the second chamber to measure an actual rate of air escaping from one or more precut outlet passages in the drip line tube passing through the second chamber, each precut outlet passage associated with a drip emitter bonded to the drip line tube, the method comprising:
- filling the first chamber, the second chamber and the third chamber with fluid;
- applying a vacuum to the second chamber;
- running the drip line tube through the first chamber, the second chamber, and the third chamber;
- and
- measuring the actual rate of air escaping from the one or more precut outlet passages in the drip line tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.