Irrigation system

A mobile storage and dispensing device for at least one irrigation hose, the irrigation hose having coupling ends, each coupling end having an opening, the mobile storage and dispensing device comprising:

• a frame structure;
• wheels rotatably mounted to said frame structure for allowing said frame structure to be moved about thereon;
• a reel rotatably mounted on said frame structure and adapted for carrying at least one irrigation hose, said reel having a receiving zone for receiving irrigation hose, said reel being for rotation in a winding up direction for winding up an irrigation hose about said receiving zone and for rotation in a paying out direction for paying out and irrigation hose therefrom;
• drive means associated with said reel for impart rotation to said reel;
• control means connected to said drive means for controlling said drive means;
• a traversable irrigation hose guide associated with said frame structure for allowing an irrigation hose to be wound laterally about said receiving zone of said reel in a substantially uniform manner;
• irrigation hose flattening means associated with said frame structure for contacting opposing sides of an irrigation hose for substantially flattening same as it is being wound onto said receiving zone of said reel;
• and
• means located on said reel outside of said receiving zone for maintaining the coupling ends of the irrigation hose away from said receiving zone to allow irrigation hose to be wound generally thereabout, said means including protection members connected to said reel for receiving the coupling ends of an irrigation hose.

An irrigation system for providing pressurized irrigation fluid to crops, the irrigation system comprising:

• irrigation conduit including a tube having a flexible wall defining an internal passage for carrying a pressurized irrigation fluid, said tube being pressurizable to a pressurized configuration, said wall of said tube defining a plurality of first pairs of diffuser opening, and a plurality of second pairs of diffuser openings, each of said pairs of diffuser openings being spaced from an adjacent pair and being offset in a circumferential direction relative thereto about said tube;
• said first and second pairs of diffuser openings in communication with said internal passage for emitting fluid therefrom;
• each of said first pair of diffuser openings being substantially diametrically opposed from one another and defining a first axis therebetween when said tube is in said pressurized configuration and each of said second pair of diffuser openings being substantially diametrically opposed from one another and defining a second axis therebetween when said tube is in said substantially pressurized configuration ;and
• said first and second axes being angularly disposed with respect to one another about the circumference of said tube and relative to the central axis of said tube when said tube is in said substantially pressurized configuration;
• cooperating coupling ends attached to said tube about the end thereof, said coupling ends having generally cylindrical opening cooperating with said internal passage of said tube, said coupling ends allowing said tube to be connected in fluid communication with a pressurized irrigation fluid source and a pressurized irrigation fluid outlet;
• a mobile storage and dispensing device for said irrigation conduit, including:
• a frame structure;
• wheels rotatably mounted to said frame structure for allowing said frame structure to be moved about thereon;
• a reel rotatably mounted on said frame structure and adapted for carrying said irrigation conduit, said reel having a receiving zone for receiving said irrigation conduit, said reel being configured for rotation in a winding up direction for winding up said irrigation conduit about said receiving zone and for rotation in a paying out direction for paying out said irrigation hose therefrom;
• drive means associated with said reel for imparting rotation to said reel;
• and
• means located on said reel outside of said receiving zone for maintaining said coupling ends of said irrigation conduit away from said receiving zone to allow said irrigation conduit to be wound generally thereat, said coupling attachment means includes projection members connected to said reel for receiving the coupling ends of an irrigation hose.

A method of irrigating crops, comprising:

• providing as fabric irrigation tube having a pressurizable fluid passage;
• drilling at least one first pair of diametrically opposed diffuser openings into and in communication with said pressurized fluid passage of said fabric irrigation tube with a drill bit such that the fabric of said fabric irrigation tube frays at and extends into said first pair of diffuser opening for allowing pressurized fluid to be diffusedly emitted therethrough;
• drilling at least one second pair of diametrically opposed diffuser openings spaced from and substantially perpendicularly out of alignment with said first pair of diffuser opening into and in communication with said pressurized fluid passage of said fabric irrigation tube with a drill bit such that the fabric of said fabric irrigation tube frays at and extends into said second pair of diffuser openings for allowing pressurized fluid to be diffusedly emitted therethrough;
• connecting said internal passage of said fabric irrigation tube with a supply of pressurized irrigation water;
• and
• positioning said coated fabric irrigation tube such that said pairs of first and second diffuser openings emit oppositely angled streams of diffused irrigation fluid therefrom with respect to the ground, and further comprising;
• disconnecting said internal passage of said fabric irrigation tube from said supply of pressurized irrigation water after sufficient irrigation of the crops;
• and
• simultaneously removing irrigation water from and flattening said fabric irrigation tube after disconnection from said supply of pressurized irrigation water through contact with irrigation tube flattening means while winding up said fabric irrigation tube on a reel of a storage and dispensing device.