Elastomeric emitter and methods relating to same

An irrigation drip emitter for attachment to only a portion of an inner circumference of an inner surface of an irrigation drip line tube comprising:

• a discrete elastomeric emitter body integrally defining:
• an inlet for receiving pressurized fluid from a fluid supply source;
• an outlet for discharging the fluid from the body;
• a pressure reducing flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet for reducing a pressure and flow of fluid received at the inlet and discharged through the outlet;
• and
• a pressure compensating portion configured to adjust the pressure and flow of fluid received at the inlet and discharged through the outlet in response to a change in pressure of the pressurized fluid from the fluid supply source;
• wherein the elastomeric emitter body intended to be bonded at regular intervals to the inner surface of the irrigation drip line tube and the emitter body defines a curved upper surface that is shaped to correspond to an interior radius of curvature of the irrigation drip line tube to which the emitter body is to be mounted;
• and
• wherein the pressure reducing flow channel includes an inner baffle wall and an outer baffle wall that extends about the inner baffle wall in a generally U-shaped manner and forms at least a portion of an exterior wall of the emitter body, the baffle walls have upper surfaces, at least some of which define the curved upper surface of the emitter body that is shaped to correspond to the interior radius of curvature of the irrigation drip line tube, the inner baffle wall having a first portion of constant height and a second portion of tapering height, the second portion being movable between a first position wherein the upper surface of the second portion is not level with the upper surface of the first portion such that fluid can flow over the upper surface of the second portion at predetermined low fluid pressures and a second position wherein the upper surface of at least a portion of the second portion is level with the upper surface of the first portion and fluid cannot flow over the level upper surface of the second portion such that the cross-section of the flow channel is reduced and the length of the flow channel is lengthened.

An irrigation drip emitter for attachment to only a portion of an inner circumference of an inner surface of an irrigation drip line tube comprising:

• a discrete elastomeric emitter body integrally defining:
• an inlet on a first side of the body for receiving pressurized fluid from a fluid supply source;
• an outlet on a second side of the body for discharging the fluid from the body;
• a pressure reducing flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet for reducing a pressure and flow of fluid received at the inlet and discharged through the outlet, the pressure reducing flow channel defined by at least one inner wall and further comprising:
• a pressure compensating portion configured to adjust the pressure by movement of at least a portion of the body between a first position and a second position in response to a change in pressure of the pressurized fluid from the fluid supply source;
• and
• a perimeter wall forming at least a portion of an exterior the emitter body and at least a portion of the pressure reducing flow channel, the perimeter wall forming at least a portion of a curved upper surface of the emitter body and the emitter body forming a non-cylindrical emitter with a generally flat or planar pressure reducing flow channel.

An irrigation drip emitter for attachment to only a portion of an inner circumference of an inner surface of an irrigation drip line tube comprising:

• a discrete elastomeric emitter body forming a discrete emitter intended to be bonded at regular intervals to the inner surface of the irrigation drip line tube and integrally defining:
• an inlet on a first side of the body for receiving pressurized fluid from a fluid supply source;
• an outlet on a second side of the body for discharging the fluid from the body;
• a pressure reducing flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet for reducing a pressure and flow of fluid received at the inlet and discharged through the outlet, the pressure reducing flow channel defined by at least one inner wall and further comprising:
• a pressure compensating portion configured to adjust the pressure and flow of the fluid received at the inlet and discharged through the outlet by movement of at least a portion of the at least one inner wall of the pressure reducing flow channel in response to a change in pressure of the pressurized fluid from the fluid supply source;
• and
• a perimeter wall forming at least a portion of a curved upper surface of the emitter body that is shaped to correspond to an interior radius of curvature of the portion of the inner circumference of the inner surface of the irrigation drip line tube to which the emitter body is to be mounted, with the emitter body forming a non-cylindrical emitter;
• and
• the emitter body having a longitudinal axis and having at least on protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the first side of the emitter body proximate the inlet and in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis to assist in filtering fluid traveling through the inlet.