Multiple-outlet irrigation device and regulator

An irrigation device, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet end for connection to a source of liquid, said housing including an inwardly extending flange defining a liquid inlet hole, said housing further including a cylindrical inner wall extending axially towards an outlet end, said wall being spaced outwardly from said hole, said housing further having an outer side wall spaced outwardly from said inner wall;
• a pressure reducer element positioned in said housing downstream from said inlet hole for reducing a relatively high liquid input pressure to a relatively low output pressure, said element extending across said housing and including portions in sliding engagement with said inner and outer housing cylindrical walls, said reducer element further including a centrally positioned valve member which is supported by spaced ribs extending inwardly from outer portions of said element, said valve member extending axially towards said housing flange to cooperate with said inlet hole to control liquid flow through said hole, said valve member having an upstream face exposed to high inlet liquid pressure urging said element in a valve opening direction, said element having a downstream facing surface much larger than said upstream face, said downstream facing surface being exposed to lower liquid pressure downstream of the inlet hole and providing a force urging said element into a valve closing position, the differential between opening and closing liquid pressure forces being balanced so as to provide a substantial pressure reduction downstream of said inlet hole with fluctuating inlet pressures;
• an outlet from said housing connected to a conduit for carrying the relatively low output pressure liquid to a location remote from said housing;
• a valve connected to said conduit which may be manipulated to control the flow of water out of said conduit.

An irrigation device, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for connection to a source of liquids;
• a pressure reducer element positioned in said housing downstream from said inlet for reducing a relatively high liquid input pressure to a relatively low output pressure;
• a plurality of outlets in said housing;
• a vertically extending pipe connected to said inlet;
• a tubular canister surrounding and spaced outwardly from said pipe, said canister having an open upper end that terminates in the area of said outlets and said housing, said canister further including a cup-shaped cover which enclosing said housing and mates with the upper end of the canister so that when said cover is removed said housing is essentially completely accessible;
• stakes located remote from the housing, each of which supports an adjustable valve to regulate the flow of liquid passing through said valve;
• and
• conduits each of which is respectively connected to one of said housing outlets at one end and connected to one of said valves at the other end.

A pressure reducing device, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet for connection to a source of liquid;
• a cylindrical inner wall in said housing formed around said inlet and extending axially away from said inlet;
• and
• a pressure reducer element having an outer generally cylindrical wall and an inner general cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said element walls being joined at one end, said element walls being spaced and sized to slidably fit onto said housing inner wall in such a manner that the inner element wall sealingly engages the inner surface of the inner housing wall, said outer element wall carrying means on its lower end for sealingly engaging the inner surface of the outer housing wall, said pressure reducer element further having a centrally positioned valve member, said valve member being adapted to cooperate with the inlet in the housing to control the flow of liquid through the housing.

A pressure reducing device, comprising:

• a tubular conduit having formed therein an inwardly extending flange defining a liquid inlet hole, said flange being spaced from an outlet end of the conduit and defining a space with the conduit for receiving a movable pressure reducer element;
• a cylindrical inner wall formed integral with said flange and extending axially towards the outlet end of the conduit, said inner wall being outwardly spaced from said hole and inwardly spaced from an outer side wall of the conduit;
• and
• a pressure reducer element having an outer generally cylindrical wall and an inner generally cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said element outer wall, said element walls being joined at one end by a flat annular wall, said element cylindrical walls being spaced and sized to slidably fit onto said conduit wall in a manner such that the inner element wall sealingly engages the inner surface of said conduit inner wall, and the outer element wall carries means on its lower end which sealingly engages the inner surface of the outer wall of the conduit, said reducer element further having a centrally positioned valve member which is supported by spaced ribs extending inwardly from said inner reducer wall and said reducer annular wall, said valve member being adapted to cooperate with the hole in said flange to control liquid flow through said hole, and between said spaced ribs, said valve member having an upstream face exposed to high inlet liquid pressure in said conduit urging said element in a valve opening direction, the downstream facing surface of said element being exposed to lower liquid pressure downstream of the inlet hole and providing a force urging said element into a valve closing position, the differential between said opening and closing forces being balanced so as to provide a substantial pressure reduction with fluctuating inlet pressures.