A disk-shaped regulated unibody integral drip emitter

Abstract

A drip emitter which is unibody, integral, pressure-regulating, with a disk-like configuration comprising a round disk element formed in the center with an exit pool; and formed around the circumference of said exit pool, at a distance from it and the side wall of the disk, with an array that comprising at least a filter for filtering the water entering the disk that extends over a first portion of the array and a water pressure-reducing means that extends over a second portion of the array, and they are interconnected in a row for the flow of water inside them; and the disk is characterized in that it further comprises a pressure-regulating means that is connected to the flow of water into it from said water pressure-reducing means for regulating the water pressure inside it by narrowing the passage of water through it.

Description

[0001] A DISK-SHAPED REGULATED UNIBODY INTEGRAL DRIP EMITTER

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The various embodiments described herein generally relate to the field of drip emitters used for agricultural irrigation, and particularly drip emitters that are attached to the inner wall of the feeding pipe during the manufacturing process (as integral drip emitters). These drip emitters are comprised of one element (unibody - one element / part), and they allow for regulating the pressure of the water passing through them (functioning as a pressure-regulated drip emitter).

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In the field of drip emitters used for agricultural irrigation, the need to simplify the production processes, cut costs and save on raw materials led to the design and development of drip emitters of the type that are manufactured as discrete, ready-made units inserted into the interior of the pipe during its production process (e.g. during the pipe extrusion process or folding a sheet into a pipe shape), and are attached as discrete units, spaced apart from each other along the inner wall of the pipe, with a water outlet opening formed on the wall of the pipe opposite the water exit pool from each of the drip emitters (a type of drip emitter that is called in the professional jargon - “integral drip emitters”). Integral drip emitters enable the manufacture of ready-made drip irrigation laterals that are easy to transport and deploy in the field and are ready to use (without the need for additional measures).

[0006] An integral drip emitter structure may comprise one single part / element in a way that naturally helps to lower costs and simplify the manufacturing and assembly processes before fitting them inside the pipe and attaching them to its inner wall as said integral drip emitters. Drip emitters comprised of a single (one) part / element (as opposed to multi-parts / elements drip emitters) are sometimes referred to as "unibody drip emitters". Unibody drip emitters may not necessarily be made of one raw material. The technology of manufacturing them by injection molding as discrete pre-prepared units allows for manufacturing different portions of the same unibody drip emitter from different raw materials in one mold (e.g. utilizing core back / draw back technologies of the injection mold), so that the drip emitter is unibody, but has multiple portions made of different injected materials (e.g. bi-component).

[0007] Integral drip emitters, including unibody drip emitters, sometimes require a pressure regulation mechanism due to, on the one hand, their exposure to fluctuations in the water pressure prevailing in the pipe (due to, for example, the deployment of the drip irrigation lateral on variable topographical surfaces (slope) or fluctuations in the water pressure occurring at the source of the flow to the pipe), and on the other hand, the desire to ensure a constant water flow rate (through flow) from the water outlet opening of the drip emitter, as the agricultural crops irrigated by them require, regardless of fluctuations in the water pressure prevailing in the pipe. An example of such a pressure-regulating mechanism is an elastomeric diaphragm element, one side of which is exposed to the water pressure prevailing in the pipe, while the other side is exposed to the water pressure as reduced by the drip emitter’s water pressure-reducing mechanism (e.g. the labyrinth or channel) or after the water passed the water pressure-reducing mechanism of the emitter, in such a way that the difference in pressure causes the elastomeric diaphragm to bend and reduce the dimensions of the flow path in the drip emitter, in a manner that regulates the pressure and maintains a constant water flow rate at the water outlet of the drip emitter. (Such mechanisms are sometimes referred to in the professional jargon as differential regulation, regulation on the labyrinth, regulation on the channel, and regulation on the water outlet from the drip emitter.)

[0008] Publications US 4,254,791, US 4,824,025, US 5,330,107 taught about discrete unibody integral drip emitters, some of which comprised a pressure-regulating mechanism, and whose external configuration was cylindrical (having an external diameter matching the internal diameter of the pipe). Publications WO 99 / 02273, US 5,829,685, US 11,051,466, US 9,485,923, US 9,877,441 US 10,285,342, US 10,631,473, US 7,735,758, US 9,870,948, taught about discrete unibody integral drip emitters, some of which were multi-component (each made from several injected raw materials), and comprised a pressure-regulating mechanism and shaped with a flat external configuration (a sort of rectangle), Such a configuration is referred to in the professional jargon as a boat configuration, and is not in a cylindrical external configuration.

[0009] At the same time, in the integral drip emitter field, it has been found that inserting them into the pipe during the extrusion process may cause problems. For instance, integral drip emitters with a cylindrical external configuration (in the way they are attached in their circumference to the inner wall of the pipe) are bulky and sometimes require internal support and means of protection so that the wall of the pipe does not sink into the flow passages that are sometimes formed on its surface and block them even before the pipe wall cooled (from the hot extrusion process). Moreover, if the drip emitters are not formed in a symmetrical configuration in terms of the direction of their insertion, this calls for a preliminary step of correctly positioning their directional orientation (and the means for this purpose) before they are fed one after the other into the pipe. Additionally, the configuration of the drip emitters as a cylinder or as a flat rectangular element (boat) was found to hamper the rolling of the laterals after their production and before their conveyance or as required in the field itself in order to re-use the lateral.

[0010] It was therefore proposed to form integral drip emitters, including pressure-regulating drip emitters, in the configuration of discrete disks (sort of round buttons), i.e. in a circular configuration, which is symmetrical by nature and thereby eliminates the need for the preliminary step of positioning them in the required directional orientation (that requires special means for that purpose) and facilitates rolling the laterals.

[0011] Publication US 8,511,586 taught about pressure-regulating capabilities in a "button" / integral disk drip emitter, which are embodied in a multi-element configuration (including a discrete membrane component, meaning not unibody drip emitters). Publications US 7,270,280 and US 8,141,589 taught a unibody integral button / disk drip emitter without pressure regulating capabilities.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Aspects and embodiments of the invention are directed to integral, unibody drip emitters (which may be manufactured from one or more raw materials (e.g. bi-component)), are formed in a disk / button-like configuration, and unlike prior art drip emitters, they and the drip irrigation laterals containing them also have pressure-regulating capabilities.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the invention is embodied in an integral, unibody pressure-regulating drip emitter in a round disk configuration, comprising a round disk element having an upper surface that is adapted for being attached to the inner wall of the pipe once inserted inside it, a lower surface facing the inside of the pipe once contained inside it, and a side wall running around its circumference. The disk is formed in the center with an exit pool that is recessed (imprinted) from the upper surface of the disk and comprises a bottom wall on the disk’s lower surface. The disk is formed around the circumference of the exit pool, at a distance from it and the side wall of the disk, with an array that is also recessed (imprinted) from the upper surface of the disk and comprises a bottom wall on the disk’s lower surface. The array comprises at least a filter for filtering the water entering the disk that extends over a first portion of the array and a water pressure-reducing means that spans over a second portion of the array, and they are interconnected in a row for the flow of water within them. A disk drip emitter according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a pressureregulating means for maintaining a constant flow of water from the drip emitter, regardless of the fluctuations in water pressure inside the pipe, which is connected to the flow of water into it from the water pressure-reducing means for regulating the water pressure inside it by narrowing the passage of water through it.

[0015] In one configuration of the invention, the pressure-regulating means is also formed in the array as a bendable portion that extends over a third portion of the array, and is connected in a row to the flow of water from it to the exit pool.

[0016] In a second configuration of the invention, the pressure-regulating means is formed as a bendable section at the bottom of the exit pool.

[0017] According to another embodiment, a drip emitter according to the invention is entirely made, or at least the bendable section of the pressure-regulating means is made, from elastomeric material.

[0018] The invention is also embodied in a drip irrigation lateral comprising a pipe in which drip emitters according to the invention are attached to the pipe’s inner wall.

[0019] Still other aspects, embodiments, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and embodiment are discussed in detail below. Embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with other embodiments in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein, and references to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "an alternate embodiment," "various embodiments," "one embodiment" or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures:

[0022] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary drip emitter according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. 2 depicts a top view of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0024] Fig. 3 depicts a bottom view of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 depicts a scaled-down top view and a cross-sectional view that is defined there of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the pressure-regulating means of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides.

[0025] Fig. 5 depicts a scaled-down top view and a cross-sectional view that is defined there of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the pressure-regulating means of the drip emitter is in operating mode - when it is stressed for differences in pressure on both sides.

[0026] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a drip irrigation lateral comprising a pipe in which the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 1 is attached to its inner wall, and wherein the emitter's pressure-regulating means is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides.

[0027] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a drip irrigation lateral comprising a pipe in which the exemplary drip emitter is attached to its inner wall, and wherein the emitter's pressureregulating means is in operating mode - when it is stressed for differences in pressure on both sides.

[0028] Fig. 8 depicts a perspective view of a second exemplary drip emitter according to the invention.

[0029] Fig. 9 depicts a perspective view of a third exemplary drip emitter according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. 10 depicts a perspective view of a fourth exemplary drip emitter according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. 11 depicts a top view of an exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10.

[0032] Fig. 12 depicts a bottom view of an exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10.

[0033] Fig. 13 depicts a scaled-down top view and a cross-sectional view that is defined there of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the pressure-regulating means of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides.

[0034] Fig. 14 depicts a scaled-down top view and a cross-sectional view that is defined there of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the pressure-regulating means of the drip emitter is in operating mode - when it is stressed for differences in pressure on both sides.

[0035] Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a drip irrigation lateral comprising a pipe in which the exemplary irrigation drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10 is attached to its inner wall, and wherein the emitter's pressure-regulating means is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a drip irrigation lateral comprising a pipe in which the exemplary irrigation drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 10 is attached to its inner wall, and wherein the emitter's pressure-regulating means is in operating mode - when it is stressed for differences in pressure on both sides.

[0036] Fig. 17 depicts a perspective view of a fifth exemplary drip emitter according to the invention.

[0037] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a sixth exemplary drip emitter according to the invention which is bi-component - the entire drip emitter is made by two-phase injection molding, wherein the bendable portion of the pressure-regulating means is made by injection molding of one elastomeric material, whereas the rest of the structure of the drip emitter is made by injection molding of a different and harder material.

[0038] Fig. 19 depicts a scaled-down top view and cross-sectional view that is defined there of the exemplary drip emitter illustrated in Fig. 18, wherein the pressure-regulating means of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Aspects and embodiments of the invention are directed to unibody integral drip emitters (which may be manufactured from one or more raw materials (bi-component)), are formed in a disk / button-like configuration, have pressure regulating capabilities, and to drip irrigation laterals in which drip emitters in which drip emitters according to the invention are incorporated.

[0041] In particular, aspects and embodiments provide unibody, integral, pressure-regulating drip emitters, configured in the shape of a disk, which are made by molding of an elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomer (at least in the bendable portion of the pressureregulating means of the drip emitter).

[0042] It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the drip emitters discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying figures. The drip emitters are capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," "involving," and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to "or" may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using "or" may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms.

[0043] Referring to Figs. 1 - 3. Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of exemplary drip emitter 10 according to the invention. Fig. 2 depicts a top view of drip emitter 10 and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of drip emitter 10. As to be clarified below, drip emitter 10 is a unibody, integral, pressureregulating drip emitter having a disk-like configuration.

[0044] Drip emitter 10 is, as noted, made of only one element (unibody), a circular disk-like element having upper surfaces 15, which are adapted for being attached to the inner wall of the pipe once the drip emitter is inserted inside it (the pipe is not illustrated - see below with reference to Figs. 6 and 7), lower surfaces 20 facing the inside of the pipe once the drip emitter is inserted inside, and side wall 25 spanning around its circumference.

[0045] Drip emitter 10, formed around its circumference at a distance from its side wall 25, with array 30 that is recessed (imprinted) from its upper surface 15, according to illustrated exemplary, array 30 has an arcuate configuration. Array 30 comprises in turn - filter 35 for filtering the water entering the emitter, pressure-reducing means 40 (in the illustrated example, in a labyrinth configuration having bottom 42), and according to the illustrated example, it also has pressureregulating means 45, which are interconnected for the flow of water inside them. Drip emitter 10 is formed in its center with exit pool 50 (in a circular configuration according to the illustrated example), which is recessed (imprinted) from upper surface 15 of the disk and comprises bottom wall 52 on the lower surface 20 of the disk element, to which the water is routed upon exiting pressure-regulating means 45. Array 30 is formed at a distance from the circumference of the side wall of exit pool 50 (and side wall 25 of the disk element).

[0046] According to the illustrated example, filter 35 for filtering the water entering drip emitter 10 is formed as an array of openings 55 on lower surfaces 20 of the drip emitter and extends over first arcuate portion 60 of circumferential array 30. Water pressure-reducing means 40 is formed, according to the illustrated example, as labyrinth 65 extending over second arcuate portion 70 of circumferential array 30. Pressure-regulating means 45 is formed, according to the illustrated example, as bendable portion 75 (see below with reference to Figs. 4 - 7), which extends over third arcuate portion 80 of circumferential array 30.

[0047] As noted, according to the illustrated example, array 30 is entirely formed in an arcuate configuration (from portions 60, 70 and 80), but a person skilled in the art would understand that array 30 may also be formed in another and different configuration that is not arcuate (e.g. in an L- shaped configuration or a U-shaped configuration) around the circumference of exit pool 50 and at a distance from side wall 25.

[0048] Also according to the illustrated example, exit pool 50, to which the water are routed upon exiting pressure regulating means 45, is formed at its bottom 52 with an array of protrusions 82 that face the inner wall of the pipe once the drip emitter is inserted inside it, in order to ensure a flow space from the emitter to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing it (see further on with reference to Figs. 6 - 7).

[0049] As noted, according to the illustrated example, exit pool 50 is formed in a round configuration, but a person skilled in the art would understand that it could also be formed in various other configurations (e.g., square, rectangular, oval).

[0050] Reference is made to Figs. 4- 5. Fig. 4 is a scaled down top view and an A-A cross-sectional view defined there of drip emitter 10, wherein pressure-regulating means 45 of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides. Fig. 5 depicts a scaled-down top view and A-A cross-sectional view defined there of drip emitter 10, wherein pressure-regulating means 45 of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides.

[0051] As noted and according to the illustrated example, pressure-regulating means 45 is formed as bendable portion 75 - once the pressure in the pipe exceeds the reduced water pressure at its exit from labyrinth 65, there is a difference in pressure on both sides of bendable portion 75 in a way that, consistent with the elastomeric properties of the portion, may stress it to bend towards the inner surface of the pipe (not illustrated), (see Fig. 5), in a way that narrows the flow passage towards exit pool 50 and helps to maintain a constant water flow from the drip emitter regardless of the fluctuating water pressure prevail in the pipe.

[0052] A person skilled in the art would understand that in such a situation, the difference in pressure stresses the entire surface of drip emitter 10, which is exposed to pressure differences when water enters the drip emitter - not only portion 75, but also the rest of drip emitter surfaces 20 and 25 are exposed to the water pressure in the pipe. Therefore, given that the entire drip emitter 10 is made by molding of an inherently elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomer, dynamic elastic distortions could occur not only by bending portion 75, but also in other places in drip emitter 10, such as narrowing the water passages in arcuate portions 60 and 70 and in exit pool 50, but all these may contribute to the desired pressure-regulating action (narrowing the water passages within the emitter). In other words, according to the illustrated example, the pressure differences may also stress the bottom surface of the array of filter openings, the bottom surface of the pressure-reducing means (the labyrinth in the illustrated example), and the bottom of the exit pool toward the wall of the pipe, but, as noted, all these may contribute to the desired pressure-regulating action.

[0053] Alternatively, manufacturing a drip emitter, such as drip emitter 10, as a bi-component by sequential molding of two different raw materials, when for example, portion 75 alone is made from a naturally elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomer, while the rest of the disk is made from a relatively hard polymeric material, may allocate the pressure regulating action to portion 75 only (see below with reference to Fig. 19).

[0054] Reference is made to Figs. 6 - 7. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of drip irrigation lateral 610, comprising pipe 615 to which drip emitter 10 is attached to its inner wall, wherein water outlet opening 620 (for example, in a configuration of a round hole, as illustrated, or alternatively in a slit configuration) is formed in the wall of the pipe facing exit pool 50, as part of the manufacturing process of the lateral. In Fig. 6, pressure-regulating means 45 of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of drip irrigation lateral 610, wherein pressure-regulating means 45 of drip emitter 10 is in operating mode - wherein it is stressed to the pressure differences on both sides, and bendable portion 75 bends towards the inner wall of the pipe and narrows the flow passage to maintain a constant flow rate from the drip emitter.

[0055] A person skilled in the art would understand that drip emitter 10 described above with reference to Figs. 1- 7 is only one example of an embodiment of a drip emitter according to the invention, and a unibody, integral, pressure-regulating drip emitter in a disk configuration could also be formed in other and different configurations.

[0056] For example, reference is made to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 depicts a perspective view of second exemplary drip emitter 810 according to the invention. Similar to drip emitter 10, drip emitter 810 is also formed with filter 835 for filtering the water entering it, which in turn is formed as an array of openings 855 on its lower surface and extends over first arcuate portion 860 of circumferential array 830. However, unlike drip emitter 10, water pressure-reducing means 840 in drip emitter 810 is formed as channel 865 (as opposed to a labyrinth) and extends over second arcuate portion 870 of circumferential array 830. Similar to drip emitter 10, pressure-regulating means 845 in drip emitter 810 is also formed as bendable portion 875 and extends over third arcuate portion 880 of circumferential array 830. As a further example, reference is made to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 depicts a perspective view of third exemplary drip emitter 910 according to the invention. In drip emitter 910, filter 935 for filtering the water entering the emitter is formed not only as any array of openings 955 on its lower surfaces, extending over arcuate portion 960 of circumferential array 930, but also and additionally with, according to the illustrated example, two arrays 957 and 959 of openings 961, which are formed in side wall 925 of the drip emitter, wherein they are recessed (imprinted) from the upper surface of the drip emitter and each extend over arcuate portions 963 and 964 in its side wall. Unlike drip emitters 10 and 810, water pressure-reducing means 940 in drip emitter 910 is formed as channel 945, which, according to the illustrated example, extends over arcuate section 960 of circumferential array 930 and is fed along its entire length by filtered water entering it from filter 935. At the same time, in drip emitter 910, similar to drip emitters 10 and 810, pressure-regulating means 945 is formed as bendable portion 975 and extends over arcuate portion 980 of circumferential array 930.

[0057] A person skilled in the art would understand that maximizing the surface of the filter, as implemented in this configuration of drip emitter 910 according to the invention, may contribute to preventing blockages and ensuring a reliable flow of water to the drip emitter.

[0058] Drip emitters 10, 810 and 910, which were described above with reference to Figs. 1- 9 are only examples of an embodiment of a drip emitter according to the invention, and a unibody, integral, pressure-regulating drip emitter in a disk configuration could be formed with various other pressure-regulating means.

[0059] For example, reference is made to Figs. 10 - 12. Fig. 10 depicts a perspective view of fourth exemplary drip emitter 1010 according to the invention. Fig. 11 is a top view of drip emitter 1010, and Fig. 12 is a bottom view of drip emitter 1010. In drip emitter 1010, pressureregulating means 1045 is also formed as bendable portion 1075, but unlike drip emitters 10, 810 and 910, the bendable portion is bottom 1052 of exit pool 1050. In other words, in drip emitter 1010, third portion 1080 in which the pressure-regulating means is formed as a bendable portion, is not a third portion, as described above with respect to drip emitters 10, 810 and 910, as an additional portion to the filter portions and the pressure-reducing means which, according to the above examples, are all formed in a row in a joint arcuate layout around the exit pool, but in drip emitter 1010, the pressure-regulating means is bottom 1052 of exit pool 1050, which is connected to the water flow passage into it from the pressure-reducing means that is fed from the filter. According to the illustrated example, the bendable portion (bottom of the exit pool) is additionally formed with niche 1082, which is formed when it is recessed into the bottom of the exit pool on the side facing the inner wall of the pipe once the drip emitter it is inserted into the pipe, in order to ensure a flow space from it to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing it (see further on with reference to Figs. 13 - 14).

[0060] According to the illustrated example, exit pool 1050 is formed in a round configuration, but a person skilled in the art would understand that it could be formed in various other configurations (e.g. square, rectangular, and oval).

[0061] At the same time, a person skilled in the art would understand that a drip emitter, whose pressure-regulating means is based on the bottom of the exit pool being a bendable portion, may be formed with a different configurations of filters for filtering water (and not necessarily in a configuration of an array of openings on the lower surfaces of the disk, as illustrated here), (as illustrated, for example, with reference to drip emitter 910). It could also be configured with an array of protrusions on the bottom of the exit pool facing the inner wall of the pipe, once the disk is inserted inside it, as an alternative or in addition to the illustrated niche, in order to ensure a flow space from the exit pool to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing the exit pool, and this is also when performing the pressure-regulating action in utilizing the exit pool bottom as the bendable portion.

[0062] In drip emitter 1010 too, if it is made entirely of an elastomeric material (and not only the bottom of the exit pool), the differences in pressure may also stress the bottom surface of the array of filter openings and the bottom surface of the pressure-reducing means (the labyrinth in the illustrated example) towards the wall of the pipe, but, as noted, all these may contribute to the desired pressure-regulating action.

[0063] Alternatively, manufacturing a drip emitter, such as drip emitter 1010, as a bi-component drip emitter by sequential molding of two different raw materials, when for example, the bottom of the exit pool alone is made from a naturally elastomeric material, such as thermoplastic elastomer, while the rest of the disk is made from a relatively hard polymeric material, may allocate the pressure regulating action to the bottom of the exit pool only. (Regarding a bicomponent drip emitter according to the invention, see below with reference to Figs. 18 - 19.)

[0064] Reference is made to Figs. 13 - 14. Fig. 13 is a scaled down top view and an a cross-sectional view A -A defined there of drip emitter 1010, wherein pressure-regulating means 1045 of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides. Fig. 14 depicts a scaled-down and cross-sectional view A - A defined there of drip emitter 1010, wherein pressure-regulating means 1045 of the drip emitter is in operating mode - when it is stressed for pressure differences on both sides.

[0065] According to the illustrated example, bendable portion 1075 of pressure-regulating means 1045 (bottom 1052 of exit pool 1050) is formed in a recessed configuration from the outset (as opposed to a flat configuration), in its state even before it is exposed to elastic deformation due to the pressure differences on its two sides, but a skilled person would understand that this is just an example, and the exit pool bottom could be formed in various other configurations (e.g. flat or domed).

[0066] Reference is made to Figs. 15 - 16. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional perspective view of drip irrigation lateral 1661, comprising pipe 1615 to which drip emitter 1010 is attached to its inner wall, wherein outlet opening 1662 (for example, in a configuration of a round hole as illustrated or a slit) is formed in the wall of the pipe facing exit pool 1050, as part of the manufacturing process of the lateral. In Fig. 16, pressure-regulating 1045 of the drip emitter is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to differences in pressure on both sides. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of drip irrigation lateral 1661, wherein pressure-regulating means 1045 of drip emitter 1010 is in operating mode - wherein it is stressed to the pressure differences on both sides, and bendable portion 1075 (bottom 1052 of exit pool 1050) bends towards the inner wall of the pipe and narrows the flow passage in order to maintain a constant water flow rate from the drip emitter.

[0067] Water pressure reducing means 1040 in drip emitter 1010 (similar to drip emitter 10) is formed as a labyrinth, but a skilled person would understand that this is just an example and the pressure-reducing means could be formed in different configurations.

[0068] For example, reference is made to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 depicts a perspective view of fifth exemplary drip emitter 1710 according to the invention. Water pressure-reducing means 1740 in drip emitter 1710 is formed as a channel (as opposed to a labyrinth).

[0069] As we have indicated above, sequentially injecting two raw materials having different properties into a mold is a known and recognized technology in the field of manufacturing unibody drip emitters, and a person skilled in the art would understand that it can also be implemented in the manufacture of unibody, integral, pressure-regulating drip emitters that are formed in a disk / button configuration according to the invention. For example, reference is being made to Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a sixth exemplary bi-component drip emitter 1810 according to the invention. The entire drip emitter is made for example, by two-phase injection molding, wherein bendable portion 1875 of pressure-regulating means 1845 is made by injection molding of one elastomeric material, whereas the rest of the structure of the drip emitter is made by injection molding of a harder material.

[0070] Reference is made to Fig. 19. Fig. 19 is a down-scaled top view and cross-sectional view A - A that is defined there of exemplary drip emitter 1810, wherein pressure-regulating means 1845 of the drip emitter, which as stated is made by injection molding of one elastomeric material, whereas the rest of the structure of the drip emitter is made by injection molding of another harder material, is in normal mode - when it is not exposed to pressure difference on both its sides.

[0071] At the same time, a person skilled in the art would understand that a bi-component drip emitter according to the invention, wherein the entire drip emitter is made by two-phase injection molding, the bendable portion of the pressure-regulating means that is made by injection molding of one elastomeric material, while the rest of the structure of the drip emitter made by injection molding of a harder material - could be the bottom of the exit pool.

[0072] A skilled person would also understand that in a drip emitter according to the invention, a water pressure-reducing means could be implemented that is formed as a labyrinth or a channel or as a combination of both formed in a raw (a labyrinth followed by a channel or a channel followed in turn by a labyrinth). Similarly, in the context of the filter for filtering the water entering the disk in a drip emitter according to the invention, filters may be implemented in other configurations that differ from those described above, with reference made to the accompanying figures.

[0073] In addition, a skilled person would understand that a drip emitter in according to the invention could be manufactured not only in an injection into a mold process but alternatively, in other manufacturing process such as, for example, continuance compression molding, while in any case, at least the bendable portion of the pressure-regulating means of the emitter (or the entire drip emitter) is made from elastomeric material (e.g. thermoplastic elastomer).

[0074] Therefore, in light of what is described above with reference to the accompanying figures, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that drip emitters according to the invention provide a solution to the shortcomings we pointed out in the Background of the Invention chapter. As unibody, integral drip emitters (which may made from one or more raw materials (bicomponent)) and formed in a disk / button configuration, they also have water pressure regulating abilities, and can still be manufactured at a relatively low cost, for easy and simple feeding into the pipe during its production process, do not require their orientation in a strictly lengthwise direction, and upon attaching the emitters according to the invention to the pipe, the drip irrigation lateral can be easily rolled.

[0075] While the Applicant's teachings are described herein in conjunction with various embodiments for illustrative purposes, it is not intended that the Applicant's teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the embodiments, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drip emitter which is unibody, integral, pressure-regulating, with a disk-like configuration comprising - a round disk element having upper surface that is adapted to be attached to the inner wall of a pipe once inserted inside it, a lower surface facing the inside of the pipe once contained inside it, and a side wall running around its circumference; and formed in the center with an exit pool that is recessed from the upper surface of the disk and comprises a bottom wall on the disk’s lower surface; and formed around the circumference of said exit pool, at a distance from it and said side wall of the disk, with an array that is also recessed from the upper surfaces of the disk and comprises a bottom wall on the disk’s lower surfaces, and said array comprising at least a filter for filtering the water entering the disk that extends over a first portion of the array and a water pressure-reducing means that extends over a second portion of the array, and they are interconnected in a row for the flow of water inside them; and the disk is characterized in that it further comprises a pressure-regulating means that is connected to the flow of water into it from said water pressure-reducing means for regulating the water pressure inside it by narrowing the passage of water through it.

2. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein- said array, which is formed around the circumference of said exit pool, at a distance from it and said side wall, is an array with an arcuate configuration.

3. A drip emitter according to claim 2, wherein - said filter is formed on a first arcuate portion of said array, and said means for reducing water pressure is formed on second arcuate portion of said array.

4. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein - said pressure-regulating means is also formed in said array, as a bendable portion that extends over a third portion of said array, and is connected in turn to the flow of water from it to said exit pool.

5. A drip emitter according to claim 3, wherein -said pressure regulating means is also formed in said array, as a bendable portion that extends over a third portion of said accurate array, and is connected in a row to the flow of water from it to said exit pool.

6. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein - said filter for filtering the water entering the disk is formed as an array of openings on the lower surfaces of the disk.

7. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein - said filter for filtering the water entering the disk is formed as an array of openings on its lower surfaces, and is additionally formed as an array, at the very least one, of openings that are formed in said side wall, wherein they are recessed from the upper surface of the disk and extend over an arcuate portion of said side wall.

8. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein- said water pressure-reducing means is formed as a labyrinth or channel or as a combination of both formed in a row.

9. A drip emitter according to any one of claims 1- 8 , wherein - said exit pool is formed at its bottom with an array of protrusions that face the inner wall of the pipe, once the disk is inserted inside it, in order to ensure a flow space from it to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing it10. A drip emitter according to each of claims 1- 9, wherein - said exit pool is formed in a round configuration.

11. A drip emitter according to claim 1, wherein - said pressure-regulating means is formed as a bendable portion that is the bottom of said exit pool.

12. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein - said exit pool is formed in a round configuration.

13. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein- said filter for filtering the water entering the disk is formed as an array of openings on the lower surfaces of the disk.

14. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein -said filter for filtering the water entering the disk is formed as an array of openings on its lower surfaces, and is additionally formed as an array, at the very least one, of openings that are formed in said side wall, wherein they are recessed from the upper surface of the disk and extend over an arcuate portion of said side wall.

15. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein - said water-pressure reducing means is formed as a labyrinth or a channel or as a combination of both in a row.

16. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein- said exit pool, which serves as a bendable portion of said pressure-regulating means, is formed at its bottom with a niche that is recessed into the bottom of the exit pool on the side facing the inner wall of the pipe, once the disk is inserted inside it, in order to ensure a flow space from it to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing it17. A drip emitter according to claim 11, wherein- said exit pool, which serves as a bendable portion of said pressure-regulating means, is formed at its bottom with an array of protrusions that face the inner wall of the pipe, once the disk is inserted inside it, in order to ensure a flow space from it to the outlet opening that is formed in the pipe facing it18. A drip emitter according to any one of claims 1- 17, wherein said disk element is made from elastomeric material.

19. A drip emitter according to claim 18, wherein the elastomeric material is thermoplastic elastomer.

20. A drip emitter according to claim 18, wherein said disk element is manufactured in injection into a mold process or continuance compression molding process.

21. A drip emitter according to any one of claims 4, 5, 11, 16 and 17, wherein said disk element is made by injection molding or continuance compression molding process of multiple materials, at least one of which is elastomeric material; and wherein said bendable portion of said pressure-regulating means is formed from said elastomeric material.

22. A drip emitter according to claim 21, wherein the elastomeric material is thermoplastic elastomer.

3. A drip irrigation lateral comprising - a pipe to which drip emitters according to any one of claims 1- 22 are attached to its inner wall.

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