Drip Irrigation Dosing Elements Carrier Tape Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip irrigation pipe production methods face challenges in achieving high production speeds due to the need for precise placement of dosing elements and the difficulty in handling thin, elastic materials used in continuous strips, which can deform under water pressure.
Innovation Solution
A substantially longitudinally stable, flexible carrier tape with embedded structural areas, made from mechanically resistant plastics like HDPE, is used, which is cooled and embossed with thermoplastic materials to create dosing elements that can be easily attached to the pipe wall, allowing for high-speed production without deformation issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual dosing elements are inserted into the drip irrigation pipe during extrusion, then precise positioning for outlet opening attachment is achieved, but production speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual dosing elements are merged into a single continuous band with multiple structural areas arranged in sequence. This integration allows simultaneous handling of multiple dosing elements during extrusion, maintaining precise positioning through the band structure while enabling continuous production without the speed limitations of individual element insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a continuous band with embedded structural areas is used, then handling difficulty due to elasticity and thinness is reduced, but the band must remain thin to allow dosage influence through deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The band is constructed as a composite structure with a mechanically resistant plastic carrier tape providing strength and stability, combined with a thermoplastic layer that allows deformation for dosage control. This composite design enables the band to maintain sufficient mechanical strength for easy handling while the thermoplastic layer remains thin enough to permit water pressure-induced deformation for dosing functionality.
3Strength
If the carrier tape is made from mechanically resistant plastic, then strength and stability are improved, but ease of embossing and attachment may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The band is segmented into two functional layers: a mechanically resistant plastic carrier tape providing strength and stability, and a thermoplastic layer that is easily embossed. This segmentation allows the carrier tape to maintain its strength properties while the thermoplastic layer facilitates easy embossing of structural areas and subsequent attachment to the pipe wall through melting and bonding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the production of drip irrigation pipes with strong dosing elements that can be attached simply and efficiently, achieving optimal water dosing and irrigation efficiency while maintaining high production speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier tape is extruded and placed on a continuous guide means and cooled
Implementation Method 2
the structural areas are embossed into the layer
Implementation Method 3
the layer is cooled during the embossing of the structural areas
Implementation Method 4
The extruded carrier tape is cooled on the continuous guide means and the carrier tape is also cooled with the applied layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
One side of a band (3) is connectible to the walling of the tube body (2) forming a drip irrigation tube (1). Each of a structured areas (6) comprises an inlet region, a dosing region, and an outlet region. The band comprises of a longitudinally stable, flexible support band (4) provided on one side with a layer in which the structured areas are provided. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method of producing dosing element for drip irrigation tube; (2) and a device for producing dosing element for drip irrigation tube.