Buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization

By introducing flexible drip tubes and a moving block structure into the buried drip irrigation pipes, combined with measurement and control components and control devices, the problems of plant root blockage and siltation have been solved, achieving efficient irrigation and crop growth protection.

CN121058536BActive Publication Date: 2026-08-04AGRI RESOURCE & ENVIRONMENT RES INST TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION ACADEMY OF AGRI & ANIMAL HUSBANDRY +2
View PDF 3 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
AGRI RESOURCE & ENVIRONMENT RES INST TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION ACADEMY OF AGRI & ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Filing Date
2025-09-29
Publication Date
2026-08-04

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing underground drip irrigation pipes are prone to clogging by plant roots and small particles of silt during long-term use, affecting irrigation efficiency. Furthermore, the effectiveness of herbicides is limited, which may hinder crop growth.

Method used

It adopts a flexible drip tube and moving block structure, combined with measurement and control components and control devices. By adjusting the pressure inside the sealed tube and the displacement of the pull rod, the flow rate of irrigation liquid is increased to avoid root and mud blockage. At the same time, a blade is set to cut off the new roots to ensure smooth irrigation.

Benefits of technology

It effectively avoids clogging of the flexible drip irrigation system, improves irrigation efficiency, protects the crop growth environment, and reduces the negative impact of pesticides on crops.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN121058536B_ABST
    Figure CN121058536B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of alternating irrigation technology and provides a buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization. The pipe includes a delivery pipe and a sealed pipe extending along the delivery pipe. The delivery pipe is connected to several elastic drip tubes, which pass through the cavity of the sealed pipe and connect to the outside. The sealed pipe is equipped with a control device for controlling the internal pressure of the cavity. Symmetrical pull rods are slidably connected to the sealed pipe. The sealed pipe has several movable blocks that cooperate with the elastic drip tubes, with both ends of each movable block connected to the pull rods. The pull rods are equipped with a measurement and control component for detecting the displacement of the pull rods and controlling the flow rate of irrigation fluid within the elastic drip tubes. Therefore, this invention can further prevent the internal channels of the elastic drip tubes from being blocked by plant roots. After the elastic drip tubes deform and seal, mud can be prevented from being sucked into the delivery pipe, and root growth can be prevented from entering the delivery pipe.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of alternating irrigation technology, and more particularly to a buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization. Background Technology

[0002] In soil, water and salt are constantly in motion. When water evaporates, salt moves upwards with the water and accumulates on the soil surface. When irrigation occurs, salt moves downwards with the water and accumulates deeper in the soil. Underground drip irrigation pipes irrigate crops from within the soil, effectively reducing water evaporation and preventing salt from moving upwards. Simultaneously, the downward movement of salt into the deeper layers of the soil helps reduce surface salinization, thus promoting crop growth.

[0003] Chinese Patent Document No. CN115067187B, entitled "Anti-siphon Pressure Compensating Purple High-Resistance Drip Irrigation Pipe," includes a drip irrigation pipe body. From top to bottom, the pipe body comprises a valve chamber, a chemical chamber, and a drip irrigation chamber. The valve chamber contains a first valve and a second valve. The first valve includes a valve body, a first filter screen, a second filter screen, a first spring, and an anti-clogging unit. The first filter screen is located at the inlet of the valve body, and the second filter screen is fixed within the valve body. A matching sealing ball is also provided within the valve body, and the first spring is positioned between the sealing ball and the second filter screen. The anti-clogging unit includes an anti-clogging ball and a second spring, with one end of the second spring fixed to the second filter screen. The first and second valves are designed as one-way valves, effectively reducing the siphon effect caused by negative pressure and minimizing the entry of sediment into the drip irrigation pipe, thus effectively reducing physical blockage. The filter screen provides multi-effect protection, effectively reducing clogging.

[0004] Although the pesticide chamber in the aforementioned patent can kill weeds by dripping pesticide and prevent root blockage of the valve body, in the actual use of drip irrigation pipes, the pesticide cannot completely kill all roots. At the same time, long-term use of pesticides will inevitably affect the normal growth of crops, and long-term use of pesticides can also lead to pesticide resistance in weeds. The occurrence of the above situations makes it difficult to prevent plant roots from growing into the valve body and blocking it. The two filters in the aforementioned patent can prevent large particles of silt from entering and blocking the valve body, but in the actual use of drip irrigation pipes, the content of large particles of silt in the irrigation water is relatively small, while the content of small particles of silt is relatively large. In the long-term use of drip irrigation pipes, small particles of silt are very likely to block the filters and thus block the valve body. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned deficiencies, the present invention aims to provide an improved buried drip irrigation pipe for soil salinization. This pipe further prevents the internal channels of the elastic drip tube from being blocked by plant roots. After the elastic drip tube deforms and seals itself, it prevents mud from being sucked into the delivery pipe and also prevents root growth from entering the delivery pipe. The movable block can push newly grown roots that have entered the elastic drip tube to move, which helps to reduce the opening of the elastic drip tube port and facilitates increasing the flow rate of irrigation fluid at the port to flush out the new roots. Simultaneously, at the end of irrigation, the movable block, positioned at the port of the elastic drip tube, can seal it, further preventing new roots from growing into the elastic drip tube. The measurement and control component can detect the displacement of the pull rod and regulate the flow rate of irrigation fluid within the elastic drip tube. When the movable block moves a certain distance, the measurement and control component can control the flow rate of irrigation fluid within the elastic drip tube to increase, flushing out the new roots and preventing the elastic drip tube from becoming blocked.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an underground drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity, comprising a delivery pipe and a sealed pipe extending along the delivery pipe, wherein the delivery pipe is connected to a plurality of elastic drip tubes, the elastic drip tubes passing through the cavity of the sealed pipe and connecting to the outside, and the sealed pipe is provided with a control device for controlling the pressure inside the cavity of the sealed pipe.

[0007] The sealed tube is slidably connected to symmetrical pull rods, and the sealed tube is provided with several movable blocks that cooperate with the elastic dropper. Both ends of the movable blocks are connected to the pull rods.

[0008] The pull rod is equipped with a measurement and control component for detecting the displacement of the pull rod and controlling the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube. The pull rod moves back and forth. During the back and forth movement of the pull rod, pressure is increased to increase the flow rate, and the increased flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube flushes out the new roots.

[0009] According to the present invention, the buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity includes a flow control valve installed on the delivery pipeline.

[0010] According to the present invention, the control device of the underground drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity is connected to the measurement and control components.

[0011] According to the present invention, the buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity has a sealed pipe with a guide groove that cooperates with a pull rod, the guide groove having an anti-detachment groove to prevent the pull rod from detaching, the moving block having a blade, and the sealed pipe having a stop block that cooperates with the blade.

[0012] The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization according to the present invention, wherein the elastic drip pipe is a fluororubber elastic drip pipe.

[0013] The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization according to the present invention, wherein the elastic drip pipe is a perfluoroether rubber elastic drip pipe.

[0014] According to the present invention, the buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization has a conical elastic drip tube, wherein the diameter of the end of the elastic drip tube near the delivery pipe is smaller than the diameter of the other end.

[0015] According to the present invention, the buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity has the elastic drip tubes evenly distributed along a straight line, and the delivery pipe is provided with a plurality of air guide pipes extending above the ground, and the air guide pipes are equipped with one-way valves.

[0016] According to the present invention, the buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity is provided with a matching porous ring on the outside of the elastic drip pipe, and the porous ring is connected to the inside of the sealed pipe.

[0017] This invention provides a buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity, comprising a delivery pipe and a sealed pipe extending along the delivery pipe. The delivery pipe is used to deliver irrigation fluid, facilitating the delivery of the irrigation fluid to designated irrigation locations. The delivery pipe is connected to several elastic drip tubes, which pass through the cavity of the sealed pipe and are connected to the outside. The sealed pipe is equipped with a control device for controlling the pressure inside the cavity. The elastic drip tubes allow the irrigation fluid inside the delivery pipe to be delivered to the outside, thus facilitating drip irrigation. The control device can regulate the pressure inside the cavity of the sealed pipe, thereby adjusting the opening of the elastic drip tubes and further facilitating the adjustment of drip irrigation. Speed; The sealed tube is slidably connected with symmetrical pull rods. The sealed tube is equipped with several moving blocks that cooperate with the elastic drip tube. Both ends of the moving blocks are connected to the pull rods. The pull rods can drive the moving blocks to move, thereby reducing the opening of the elastic drip tube port and increasing the flow rate of the irrigation liquid at the elastic drip tube port to flush out the new roots, preventing the new roots from growing inside the elastic drip tube and clogging it. The pull rods are equipped with a measurement and control component to detect the displacement of the pull rods and control the flow rate of the irrigation liquid inside the elastic drip tube. The measurement and control component can detect the position of the pull rods and control the flow rate of the irrigation liquid inside the elastic drip tube, which is beneficial for cooperating with the moving blocks to increase the flow rate of the irrigation liquid at the elastic drip tube port. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural position of the middle segment extracted in this invention;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 First-person structural cross-sectional view;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of Part A;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure at the location of the elastic dropper of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4A schematic diagram of the structure of part B;

[0023] In the diagram: 1-Conveying pipe, 2-Sealed pipe, 3-Pull rod, 4-Moving block, 5-Guide groove, 6-Anti-detachment groove, 7-Elastic drip tube, 8-Porous ring. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for explaining the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0025] See Figures 1-5 This invention provides a buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity. The buried drip irrigation pipe includes a delivery pipe 1 and a sealed pipe 2 extending along the delivery pipe 1. The delivery pipe 1 is used to deliver irrigation fluid (including clean water and fertilizer solution; clean water can be replaced with fertilizer solution depending on the actual situation, and clean water and fertilizer solution can be used alternately for irrigation). The delivery pipe 1 is connected to several elastic drip tubes 7. The elastic drip tubes 7 can guide the irrigation fluid in the delivery pipe 1 into the soil, which is beneficial for drip irrigation. The elastic pipe is elastic and can undergo elastic deformation. After passing through the cavity of the sealed pipe 2, the elastic drip tubes 7 are connected to the outside. The opening degree of the elastic drip tubes 7 (opening degree: the degree of opening of the fluid channel) is affected by the pressure in the cavity of the sealed pipe 2. The greater the pressure in the cavity of the sealed pipe 2, the greater the squeezing force on the elastic drip tubes 7 located in the cavity of the sealed pipe 2, the smaller the opening degree of the elastic drip tubes 7, and the lower the drip irrigation speed, which is suitable for long-term continuous drip irrigation. Conversely, the same applies. When drip irrigation stops, the pressure inside the cavity of the sealed pipe 2 is at its maximum, and the elastic drip tube 7 is in a blocked state, which can avoid the phenomenon of negative pressure suction of mud and help prevent external soil from entering the delivery pipe 1.

[0026] The sealed tube 2 is equipped with a control device for controlling the pressure inside the cavity of the sealed tube 2 (the sealed tube 2 can be filled with gas or liquid, and the control device can be a hydraulic pump station or a pneumatic pump station). The control device (not shown in the figure) is used to regulate the pressure value inside the cavity of the sealed tube 2, thereby facilitating the regulation of the opening of the elastic dropper 7. The sealed tube 2 is slidably connected to symmetrical pull rods 3, which are located on both sides of the end of the elastic drip tube 7. The sealed tube 2 is provided with several movable blocks 4 that cooperate with the elastic drip tube 7. Both ends of the movable blocks 4 are connected to the pull rods 3 (the pull rods 3 can be driven by workers directly pulling or by adding a cylinder or other driving component, which will not be described in detail here). The movable blocks 4 can connect the symmetrical pull rods 3. The symmetrical pull rods 3 and the movable blocks 4 cooperate to form a whole. When the pull rods 3 are pulled, the movable blocks 4 move to reduce the opening of the port of the elastic drip tube 7, which facilitates increasing the flow rate of the irrigation liquid at the port of the elastic drip tube 7 and flushing out new roots (in the process of moving the pull rods 3 to flush out new roots, the pull rods 3 can move back and forth multiple times. At the same time, the movable blocks 4 will not block the port of the elastic drip tube 7, and the movable blocks 4 will not directly clamp the new roots). A blade can also be installed at the end of the moving block 4 (the blade can be a blunt blade, which can cooperate with the stop block to cut off the new roots. The blunt blade can reduce the probability of damage to the new roots that can directly rush out of the elastic drip tube 7). The sealed tube 2 is equipped with a stop block (not shown in the figure) that cooperates with the blade. The stop block and the blade can cut off the new roots that have not rushed out of the elastic drip tube 7 (the new roots are relatively brittle and are very easy to cut off). This helps to further prevent the new roots that have not rushed out of the elastic drip tube 7 from continuing to grow in the elastic drip tube 7 and eventually blocking the elastic drip tube 7. When drip irrigation is not performed for a long time, pulling the lever 3 to move the moving block 4 to the end of the elastic drip tube 7 can also be used to seal the end of the elastic drip tube 7, preventing the new roots from growing into the unsealed part of the end of the elastic drip tube 7 when drip irrigation is not performed for a long time.

[0027] The pull rod 3 is equipped with a measurement and control component (not shown in the figure) for detecting the displacement of the pull rod 3 and controlling the flow rate of irrigation fluid in the elastic drip tube 7. The measurement and control component is set to detect the displacement of the pull rod 3 (the component in the measurement and control component used to detect the displacement of the pull rod 3 can be a displacement sensor). The pull rod 3 moves back and forth, and the pull rod 3 drives the moving block 4 to move back and forth multiple times to increase the flow rate of irrigation fluid at the port of the elastic drip tube 7 to flush out the new roots (when the pull rod 3 is in the initial position, the moving block 4 is located on one side of the elastic drip tube 7, and the moving block 4 does not affect the normal drip irrigation of the elastic drip tube 7). When the pull rod 3 moves away from the initial position, the measurement and control component detects the movement of the pull rod 3. The control component increases the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube 7, thereby increasing the impact force of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube 7. This helps to flush out the new roots from the elastic drip tube 7, which is beneficial to prevent the new roots from growing and clogging the elastic drip tube 7. (The flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube 7 can be set according to the actual situation. Since the types of new roots are different, when the new roots are difficult to flush out, the flow rate of the irrigation liquid can be increased to ensure that the new roots in the elastic drip tube 7 can be flushed out. Even if the new roots cannot be completely flushed out, when the drip irrigation stops, the blade and the baffle can cut off the new roots that have not been flushed out. Therefore, the new roots will not clog the elastic drip tube 7.)

[0028] See Figures 1-5Furthermore, the measurement and control component of the present invention includes a flow control valve (not shown in the figure). The flow control valve is installed on the delivery pipe 1. The flow control valve can control the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the delivery pipe 1. The change in the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the delivery pipe 1 can easily adjust the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube 7 (for example, taking the center point of the movable stroke of the pull rod 3 as the dividing point, during the time period when the pull rod 3 moves back and forth from the initial position and is close to the center point, the flow control valve controls the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the delivery pipe 1 to be higher than the flow rate of the irrigation liquid during normal irrigation, which facilitates flushing the new roots out of the elastic drip tube 7; when the stroke of the pull rod 3 crosses the center point, the flow control valve controls the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the delivery pipe 1 to decrease synchronously until the moving block 4 completely blocks the port of the elastic drip tube 7, at which point the flow control valve is completely closed, which helps to avoid worker misoperation that causes the irrigation liquid to impact and damage the moving block 4). The control device is connected to the measurement and control component. When the measurement and control component detects that the pull rod 3 has left its initial position and the flow rate of the irrigation fluid in the delivery pipe 1 has increased, the control device synchronously controls to increase the pressure in the cavity of the sealed pipe 2. The elastic drip tube 7 is subjected to increased external pressure, and the internal space of the elastic drip tube 7 is reduced to a certain extent (the elastic drip tube 7 only needs to have a certain opening and not compress the new roots). This helps to increase the flow rate of the irrigation fluid in the elastic drip tube 7, further facilitating the flushing of the new roots out of the elastic drip tube 7 (when the flow control valve gradually closes from its normal opening, the control device controls to increase the pressure in the cavity of the sealed pipe 2; when the flow control valve is completely closed, the irrigation fluid channel in the elastic drip tube 7 is closed). The sealed pipe 2 is provided with a guide groove 5 that cooperates with the pull rod 3. The guide groove 5 is provided with an anti-detachment groove 6 to prevent the pull rod 3 from detaching. The guide groove 5 guides the pull rod 3, ensuring that the pull rod 3 always moves in a straight line. The anti-detachment groove 6 prevents the pull rod 3 from moving away from the guide groove 5, which in turn helps to prevent the moving block 4 from detaching from the outer wall of the sealed pipe 2.

[0029] As one embodiment, the elastic dropper 7 is a fluororubber elastic dropper. Fluororubber has high corrosion resistance and still has a long service life under the erosion of medium and low concentrations of salt, alkali or fertilizer solutions.

[0030] As another embodiment, the elastic dropper 7 is a perfluoroether rubber elastic dropper. Perfluoroether rubber has extremely high corrosion resistance and still has a long service life under the erosion of high concentrations of salt, alkali or fertilizer solutions.

[0031] See Figures 1-5Furthermore, the elastic drip tube 7 of the present invention is conical, with the diameter of the end of the elastic drip tube 7 near the delivery pipe 1 being smaller than the diameter of the other end. The conical shape of the elastic drip tube 7 helps reduce the probability of clogging. When particulate silt appears in the irrigation liquid, the particulate silt that has entered the elastic drip tube 7 can be more easily discharged from the elastic drip tube 7, further avoiding clogging of the elastic drip tube 7. The elastic drip tubes 7 are evenly distributed along a straight line. The delivery pipe 1 is provided with several air guide tubes (not shown in the figure) extending above the ground. The air guide tubes are equipped with one-way valves (not shown in the figure). The air guide tubes can easily introduce air from above the ground into the delivery pipe 1, thereby helping to avoid negative pressure in the delivery pipe 1 and further reducing the probability of negative pressure sucking in sludge. The one-way valves can prevent the irrigation liquid from being discharged to the outside through the air guide tubes. Each flexible dropper 7 is fitted with a matching porous ring 8, which is connected inside the sealed tube 2. The porous ring 8 has uniformly spaced holes. The porous ring 8 confines the flexible dropper 7 within its interior. When the pressure inside the sealed tube 2 is low, the sidewall of the flexible dropper 7 can easily abut against the porous ring 8, preventing excessive deformation of the flexible dropper 7 and a reduction in its opening. The delivery pipe 1, sealed tube 2, and other components are all made of materials resistant to salt, alkali, and fertilizer corrosion.

[0032] Working principle: When drip irrigation begins, the worker pushes lever 3, and the moving block 4 moves away from the elastic drip tube 7 and returns to its initial position. At this point, the flow control valve opens to the normal irrigation opening, the pressure inside the sealed pipe 2 is adjusted to the normal value, and the elastic drip tube 7 reaches the normal opening for drip irrigation. When irrigation ends, the worker first pulls lever 3 back and forth several times (at this time, the displacement of lever 3 does not exceed the center point position) to flush out the new roots that have grown into the elastic drip tube 7. After the new roots are flushed out, the worker pulls lever 3 to make the moving block 4 block the port of the elastic drip tube 7 (when the moving block 4 blocks the port of the elastic drip tube 7, the blade simultaneously abuts against the stop block, cutting off the new roots that have not flushed out of the elastic drip tube 7). At this time, the flow control valve and the internal channel of the elastic drip tube 7 are completely closed, and drip irrigation stops.

[0033] In summary, this invention provides a buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization. The flexible drip tube allows irrigation fluid from inside the delivery pipe to be transported to the outside, facilitating drip irrigation. The control device can regulate the pressure within the sealed tube cavity, thereby adjusting the opening of the flexible drip tube and further facilitating the adjustment of the drip irrigation speed. The pull rod can move the moving block, thereby reducing the opening of the flexible drip tube port, which facilitates increasing the flow rate of irrigation fluid at the port to flush out newly grown roots that have entered the flexible drip tube, preventing them from growing and clogging the flexible drip tube. The measurement and control component can detect the position of the pull rod and control the flow rate of irrigation fluid inside the flexible drip tube, which is beneficial for increasing the flow rate of irrigation fluid at the port of the flexible drip tube in conjunction with the moving block.

[0034] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinization, characterized in that, It includes a conveying pipeline and a sealed pipe extending along the conveying pipeline. The conveying pipeline is connected to a plurality of elastic drip tubes. The elastic drip tubes pass through the cavity of the sealed pipe and are connected to the outside. The sealed pipe is equipped with a control device for controlling the pressure inside the cavity of the sealed pipe. The sealed tube is slidably connected to symmetrical pull rods, and the sealed tube is provided with several movable blocks that cooperate with the elastic dropper. Both ends of the movable blocks are connected to the pull rods. The pull rod is equipped with a measurement and control component for detecting the displacement of the pull rod and controlling the flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube. The pull rod moves back and forth. During the back and forth movement of the pull rod, pressure is increased to increase the flow rate, and the increased flow rate of the irrigation liquid in the elastic drip tube flushes out the new roots.

2. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The measurement and control component includes a flow control valve, which is installed on the delivery pipeline.

3. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control device is connected to the measurement and control components.

4. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealed tube is provided with a guide groove that cooperates with the pull rod, the guide groove is provided with an anti-detachment groove to prevent the pull rod from detaching, the moving block is provided with a blade, and the sealed tube is provided with a stop block that cooperates with the blade.

5. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic dropper is a fluororubber elastic dropper.

6. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic dropper is a perfluoroether rubber elastic dropper.

7. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic dropper is conical, with the diameter of the end of the elastic dropper near the delivery pipe being smaller than the diameter of the other end.

8. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic drip tubes are evenly distributed along a straight line, and the delivery pipeline is provided with several air guide tubes extending above the ground, each air guide tube being equipped with a one-way valve.

9. The buried drip irrigation pipe for improving soil salinity according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the elastic droppers is fitted with a matching porous ring, and the porous ring is connected to the inside of the sealed tube.