Self-cleaning flow control valve

A flow control valve for an irrigation system comprises:

• a valve seat in fluid communication with a water supply;
• a base configured to selectively contact the valve seat to seal the valve seat;
• a flexible diaphragm portion connected to the base, wherein the base is provided at a center of the flexible diaphragm and the diaphragm is configured to flex to move the base into contact with the valve seat to limit water flow through the valve seat and away from the valve seat to allow water to flow through the valve seat;
• a top portion provided above the flexible diaphragm;
• an inlet ring formed in the base and including at least one opening configured to allow water to flow therethrough and into the top portion, wherein water pressure above the diaphragm portion holds the base on the valve seat;
• a metering passage provided downstream of the inlet ring and in fluid communication therewith to allow water into the top portion;
• a metering pin adjustably mounted in the metering passage such that a position of the metering pin controls an amount of water that passes through the metering passage and into the top portion;
• a planar filter provided upstream of the inlet ring and positioned such that water flows through the planar filter and into the inlet ring wherein the planar filter prevents debris from entering the inlet ring;
• a scraper positioned upstream of the planar filter and rotatably mounted on the planar filter wherein the scraper includes at least one impeller blade extending from an upstream side thereof such that the flow of water rotates the scraper and removes debris from the planar filter.

A flow control valve for an irrigation system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises:

• a valve seat in fluid communication with a water supply;
• a base configured to selectively contact the valve seat to seal the valve seat;
• a flexible diaphragm portion connected to the base, wherein the base is provided at a center of the flexible diaphragm and the diaphragm is configured to flex to move the base into contact with the valve seat to limit water flow through the valve seat and away from the valve seat to allow water to flow through the valve seat;
• a top portion provided above the flexible diaphragm;
• an inlet ring formed in the base and including at least one opening configured to allow water to flow therethrough and into the top portion,
• wherein water pressure above the diaphragm portion holds the base on the valve seat;
• a metering passage provided downstream of the inlet ring and in fluid communication therewith to allow water into the top portion;
• a metering pin adjustably mounted in the metering passage such that a position of the metering pin controls an amount of water that passes through the metering passage and into the top portion;
• a planar filter provided upstream of the inlet ring and positioned such that water flows through the planar filter and into the inlet ring wherein the planar filter prevents debris from entering the inlet ring;
• a scraper element positioned upstream of the planar filter and including a plurality of curved fins positioned around a periphery of a bottom surface of the scraper element such that the scraper rotates as water flows through it and into the planar filter to remove debris from the planar filter.