Drip Irrigation Tube Guide Parts for Liquid Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drip irrigation tubes often face issues where the ejection port is oriented upward, causing the irrigation liquid to run along the outer wall of the tube and drip at a distance from the intended absorption point, leading to inefficient water supply.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating guide parts on the drip irrigation tube that are positioned circumferentially around the ejection ports, these guide parts are designed to accumulate and direct the liquid downward, ensuring it drips near the ejection port even when the tube is oriented upward.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ejection port is oriented upward to prevent soil attachment, then the ejection port is protected from clogging, but the liquid runs along the outer wall and drips at a distance from the intended absorption point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection port clogging preventionVSAvoidliquid supply efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A guide part is introduced as an intermediary component between the ejection port and the soil. This guide part intercepts the liquid flow that would otherwise run along the outer wall, and redirects it downward to drip at the intended absorption point near the ejection port, thus solving both the clogging prevention and liquid supply efficiency requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the ejection port faces upward, then liquid ejection is prevented from soil attachment, but liquid flow control is lost and dripping position becomes unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection port cleanlinessVSAvoidliquid flow control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part serves as a mediator that provides liquid flow control for upward-oriented ejection ports. It structurally guides the liquid from the ejection port, preventing uncontrolled flow along the outer wall, and ensures predictable dripping at the intended absorption point while maintaining ejection port cleanliness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drip irrigation tube is disposed with ejection port upward, then installation flexibility is improved, but liquid delivery precision to the soil is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetube orientation flexibilityVSAvoidliquid delivery precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part is an intermediary structure that enables upward orientation of ejection ports while maintaining liquid delivery precision. It intercepts and redirects liquid flow to ensure precise delivery to the soil at the intended absorption point, regardless of tube orientation flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The guide parts effectively retain and direct the liquid flow, allowing for efficient delivery of irrigation water to the soil from the vicinity of the ejection port, maintaining a consistent drip rate regardless of the tube's orientation.

Implementation Method 1

liquid ejected from the ejection port sometimes runs along the outer wall of the tube in the longitudinal direction of the tube and drips at a position distant from the ejection port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3050428B1Drip irrigation tube
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 ENPLAS CORP
  • EP3050428B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3050428B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3050428B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The drip irrigation tube (100) comprises a tube (110), drippers (120), and guides (140). With respect to individual discharge openings (130), the guides (140) are disposed on both sides of the discharge opening (130) in the longitudinal direction of the tube (110). The guides (140) protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the tube (110). The guides (140) intercept the flow of liquid from the discharge openings (130) in the longitudinal direction and guide same vertically downward. The liquid is dripped on the soil from the discharge openings (130) or the vicinity of the discharge openings (130).