Pressure-compensated self-flushing dripper

An irrigation dripper, comprising:

• an inlet for insertion substantially horizontally into an irrigation line and defining a passageway having a centerline lying substantially horizontally and at a right angle from said irrigation line;
• a housing defining a generally spherical chamber having a center axis, said inlet passageway leading into said chamber and being substantially offset from said center axis;
• an outlet defining a passageway leading from said chamber, said outlet passageway having a centerline lying substantially horizontally and being substantially parallel with said inlet passageway centerline, said outlet passageway lying in a same plane as said inlet passageway, and being substantially offset from and above said center axis of said chamber;
• at least one deflector ridge creating a slight obstruction in the path of liquids entering said chamber through said inlet and creating at least one whirlpool, said at least one deflector ridge controlling the size, strength and direction of said whirlpool;
• and
• a ball being free to roll about said chamber and adapted for substantially obstructing said outlet passageway after said whirlpool is created within said chamber for a predetermined time and permitting a predetermined amount of liquid to exit through said outlet.