Drip Irrigation Tube Metering Element With Elastic Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drip irrigation tubes with existing metering elements face issues of uneven water distribution due to varying water pressure, leading to inconsistent irrigation and a high risk of clogging from soil particles, which can result in malfunctions and plant damage.
Innovation Solution
The metering elements feature a labyrinth channel with an elastic membrane that adjusts its cross-section in response to water pressure, allowing lateral water flow at low pressure and full channel use at high pressure, reducing clogging risks and maintaining consistent water discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the discharge cross section of the labyrinth channel is reduced to achieve greater metering at increased pressure, then water distribution uniformity is improved, but the risk of clogging by soil particles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The labyrinth channel is designed to be dynamically adjustable through an elastic membrane that responds to water pressure. At low pressure, the channel is shortened by allowing lateral flow; at high pressure, the full channel length is utilized. This dynamic adjustment maintains consistent discharge without requiring a permanently reduced cross-section, thereby preventing clogging while ensuring uniform water distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective length of the labyrinth channel is changed based on water pressure conditions. The elastic membrane enables the channel to transition between different operational states: a shortened configuration at low pressure and a full-length configuration at high pressure. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to varying pressure conditions without maintaining a restricted discharge cross-section that would be prone to clogging.
2Ease of manufacture
If the same labyrinth channel design is used throughout the drip irrigation tube, then manufacturing is simplified, but uneven water distribution occurs due to varying pressure along the tube length
Solution Approach 1:
A single standardized metering element design is used throughout the drip irrigation tube, maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The dynamic elastic membrane mechanism within each element automatically adapts to local pressure conditions, allowing the same component to function effectively at different positions along the tube where pressure varies.
Solution Approach 2:
Each metering element autonomously adjusts its internal flow path based on the local water pressure without requiring external control or customization. The elastic membrane self-regulates the effective channel length in response to pressure changes, enabling uniform water distribution across all plants even though the same simple component is used throughout the system.
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 design ensures consistent water distribution across plants regardless of pressure changes and minimizes clogging, achieving uniform irrigation and optimal operation under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one region of this lateral wall is covered and connected by an elastic membrane forming a portion of the cover, in that the lateral wall is able to be lifted off of the tube walling by means of the elastic membrane
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A drip irrigation tube (2) is provided with metering elements (1) comprising respectively inlet regions (4), through which the water in the tube (2) arrives in the metering elements (1), metering regions (6), formed by a labyrinth channel (7), which is delimited by two lateral walls (8), (9), a cover (10) and the walling (3) of the drip irrigation tube (2) and in which a pressure reduction of the water flowing through takes place, and outlet regions (13), through which the water emerges out of the drip irrigation tube via outlet openings (14) made in the tube walling (3). The respective outlet region (13) borders at least on one lateral wall (8), (9) of the labyrinth channel (7); at least one region of this lateral wall is covered by an elastic membrane (15) forming a portion of the cover (10), so that the lateral wall (8) is able to be lifted off of the tube wall (3) by means of the elastic membrane (15) and forms a passage (17) through which the water from the labyrinth channel (7) arrives directly in the outlet region. The water flowing through the metering element (1) can thereby be metered depending upon the water pressure in the drip irrigation tube (2).