Incremental pressure-compensating drip irrigation emitter

A drip irrigation emitter operatively installed in an irrigation pipe having an interior containing pressurized fluid and said at least one exterior exposed to ambient conditions, the interior communicating with the exterior via at least one outlet opening in the pipe, the drip irrigation emitter comprising:

• means defining a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an inlet end for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe interior and a first outlet end in communication with said at least one outlet opening in the pipe for emitting fluid from the passageway;
• first channel means coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway, located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid between the first intermediate portion of the passageway and one of the pipe interior and said at least one outlet opening in the pipe;
• and
• first valve means associated with and disposed in the first channel means, and responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the pipe interior for restricting the first channel means when the pressure of the fluid in the pipe exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel means when the pressure in the pipe does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway down stream of the channel means.

A drip irrigation emitter, for use with an irrigation pipe containing pressurized fluid, comprising:

• an outer member having an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one opening extending between the inner and outer surfaces;
• an inner member fixedly positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the outer member over the opening, the inner member defining an inner chamber for receiving the pipe fluid;
• the inner member and the outer member defining, in combination:
• a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area, an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the outer-member opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway;
• a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward said at least one outer member opening;
• and
• a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.

A drip irrigation emitter insert for use in an irrigation pipe, the pipe having an interior that contains pressurized fluid flowing along a fluid path, an exterior, and at least one opening communicating the interior with the exterior of the pipe, the insert being constructed to be fixedly positioned inside and in intimate contact with the pipe for separating the opening from the fluid path, and the insert defining an inner chamber for receiving fluid from the pipe, the insert, when fixed in the pipe, comprising:

• a flow-limiting fluid passageway having an effective cross-sectional area with an inlet end in communication with the inner chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pipe and an outlet end in communication with the at least one opening for emitting the fluid from the passageway;
• a channel coupled to a first intermediate portion of the passageway located between the inlet end and the outlet end, for transmitting fluid from the first intermediate portion of the passageway toward the at least one pipe opening;
• and
• a resilient wall forming a barrier between the channel and the inner chamber, the wall being responsive to the pressure in the inner chamber for restricting the channel when the pressure exceeds a first predetermined pressure and for opening the channel when the pressure in the inner chamber does not exceed the first predetermined pressure to allow the fluid to bypass the portion of the flow-limiting fluid passageway downstream of the channel.