US 4,226,368 AGranted

Multiple vortex dripper

AssigneeThe Toro Company

InventorEdwin J. Hunter

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Abstract

The present invention discloses a sprinkler head for use in drip irrigation systems. Irrigation fluid entering an inlet is directed through a path comprising a plurality of pressure dropping chambers before emerging through irrigation tubings connected to outlet openings from where the irrigation fluid emerges at a low pressure drip irrigation flow rate. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the pressure dropping chambers comprise a plurality of series interconnected vortices disposed within stacked plates. The entire assembly can be disassembled for cleaning purposes. The assembly further incorporates an integral pressure regulator for performing an initial step decrease in the pressure of the irrigation fluid before the fluid enters the multiple chambered pressure dropping path. The integral pressure regulator is adjustable and calibrated in gallon per hour flow rates.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In a drip irrigation system including a connecting body having an inlet adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and an outlet adapted for connection to an irrigation conduit for conducting a low volume of water to an irrigation site, the improvement for effecting a pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet comprising:

(a) integral pressure regulator means for controlling the pressure of the fluid within the connecting body at a pre-selected pressure communicating with the inlet of the connecting body, said pressure regulator means including means for adjusting said preselected pressure within the connecting body whereby the rate of fluid flow into the irrigation conduit can be adjusted;
(b) first pressure dropping means having a first chamber therein for forming a vortex, an inlet to said first chamber communicating with said pressure regulator means, and an outlet from said first chamber being adapted to form fluid entering said inlet thereto at a first pressure into a vortex whereby said fluid exits said outlet therefrom at a second pressure lower than said first pressure;
and,
(c) second pressure dropping means having a second chamber therein for forming a vortex, an inlet to said second chamber communicating directly with said outlet of said first pressure dropping means, and an outlet from said second chamber communicating with the outlet of the connecting body, said second chamber being adapted to form fluid entering said inlet thereto at said second pressure directly into a vortex whereby said fluid exits said outlet therefrom at a third pressure lower than said second pressure.

1 more element

Apparatus for drip irrigation comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet thereto adapted for connection to a source of irrigation fluid under pressure and an outlet therefrom adapted for connection to a conduit for conducting drip irrigation water to an irrigation site, said body having a bulkhead disposed therein dividing said body into an inlet chamber having said inlet communicating therewith and an outlet chamber having said outlet communicating therewith, said inlet chamber including integral pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure of fluid within said inlet chamber, said integral pressure regulating means including means for adjusting said pressure in said inlet chamber whereby the pressure at said outlet of said hollow body and thereby the flow of drip irrigation fluid can be regulated, said bulkhead having a passageway therein having an inlet communicating with said inlet chamber and an outlet communicating with said outlet chamber, said passageway forming a plurality of series interconnected pressure dropping vortices each having an inlet with the inlet of each of said vortices directly connected to the lowest pressure point of the preceding vortex and being sufficient in number such that when said inlet of said hollow body is connected to a source of irrigation fluid under pressure the fluid exiting said outlet of said hollow body will be at a pressure and flow rate adapted for drip irrigation.

A sprinkler head comprising:

(a) a hollow body having a bulkhead disposed therein dividing said hollow body into two chambers, said bulkhead having a passageway communicating between said two chambers, said hollow body further having an inlet adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure including an opening into one of said chambers and an outlet from said one of said chambers;
(b) a flexible diaphragm disposed within the other of said two chambers to divide said chamber into a first portion in communication with said one chamber and a second portion in non-communication with said one chamber;
(c) valve means carried by said diaphragm disposed in operable communication with said inlet opening, said valve means being movable in combination with said diaphragm between a first position wherein said inlet opening is open and a second position wherein said inlet opening is closed, said valve means and diaphragm tending to move toward said second position in response to an increase in pressure within said first portion of said other of said two chambers;
and,
(d) bias means operably disposed within said second portion of said other of said two chambers for biasing said diaphragm and valve means in combination therewith in said first position whereby the pressure of the fluid in said one chamber is lower than the pressure of the fluid source to which said inlet is connected.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.