Pressure-compensating drip irrigation hose and method for its manufacture

A pressure-compensating drip irrigation hose having a water supply passage and a flow regulating channel smaller than the water supply passage, the flow regulating channel comprising:

• one inlet section comprising a plurality of pillars with a plurality of openings between the pillars;
• one outlet section comprising A slit outlet;
• two turbulent flow sections between the inlet section and the outlet section, each turbulent flow section comprising a series of upstream-facing, nonoverlapping interlaced chevrons, wherein the two turbulent flows are approximately equal in length;
• and
• two nozzle sections, wherein one nozzle section is between the inlet section and one of the turbulent flow sections and the second nozzle section is between the two turbulent flow sections, each nozzle section comprising a fin.

A method for making a pressure-compensating drip irrigation hose at au assembly station comprising:

• continuously transporting through the assembly station a first strip of plastic film having inner and outer longitudinal margins and a longitudinal central region between the margins;
• forming outlet holes along the length of the film;
• folding the inner margin;
• depositing one or more continuous molten beads of compatible plastic onto the outside surface of the inner margins;
• forming the one or more beads into a flow regulating channel defined by side walls and having at least one nozzle section;
• and
• folding the outer margin onto the inner margin, with the flow regulating channel formed therebetween.