Enhanced soaker hose

Abstract

A flexible irrigation pipe including porous and non-porous segments combined together to avoid unnecessary water loss and improve water distribution along the porous segments of the irrigation pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The population growth combined with lack of rainfall creates water scarcity in many regions of the country and the world. Lack of water supply leads to water rationing in many areas of the country. To use water resources more efficiently, large number of households use flexible porous irrigation pipes, commonly known as ‘soaker hoses’, to supply water to the plants and prevent damage to house foundations.[0002]However, a conventional ‘soaker hose’ irrigation device such as one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,799, while useful, has considerable disadvantages. A typical household water source is placed two to three feet above the ground. The necessary elevation of the initial segment of the porous pipe above the irrigation plane causes water exiting the porous pipe in the elevated segment to flow down along the outside wall of the pipe to the area where the porous pipe comes in contact with the ground. This irrigation pipe configuration, combined with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention discloses a flexible irrigation pipe comprised of porous and non-porous segments, so that excessive leakage in the segment closest to an elevated water source is prevented.

Problems solved by technology

The population growth combined with lack of rainfall creates water scarcity in many regions of the country and the world.

Lack of water supply leads to water rationing in many areas of the country.

However, a conventional ‘soaker hose’ irrigation device such as one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,799, while useful, has considerable disadvantages.

This irrigation pipe configuration, combined with the higher water velocity and pressure at the water source, results in significant over-watering in the area closest to the water source and a waste of valuable resource.

In addition, less water is supplied to the far end of the conventional porous pipe, reducing the effectiveness of the conventional irrigation device.

Another negative consequence of the over-watering due to inefficient design of a conventional ‘soaker hose’ is possible damage to the foundation.

The excessive supply of water close to the water source flows under the foundation, eroding the surrounding soil.

The resulting water accumulation potentially creates cavities around and under the foundation.

This process, over time, may lead to cracks and sinking of the foundation.

However, this device does not have any non-porous segments and does not efficiently address the water loss that occurs in the porous pipe in the segment closest to the water source when the water source placed above the irrigation plane.

Another disadvantage of this device is due to common practice of connecting multiple soaker hoses in series to extend over a longer distance.

A device that has variable porosity is not suitable for this common application.

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