Drip Irrigation Tube Metering Elements Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drip irrigation pipes with continuous dosing elements face challenges in reducing water discharge without increasing the risk of clogging or requiring costly filtration.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates outlet areas with at least two spaced-apart outlet openings in each outlet chamber, offset in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, allowing for reduced water discharge without narrowing the dosing area passages, which could lead to clogging, and introducing water centrally into each outlet chamber for additional reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the dosing area passages are narrowed to reduce water discharge, then water discharge is reduced, but the risk of clogging increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater dischargeVSAvoidclogging risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet area is divided into multiple outlet openings (at least two) instead of using a single outlet opening. This segmentation allows the water discharge to be distributed across multiple openings, reducing the discharge per opening without requiring the dosing area passages to be narrowed, thereby maintaining low clogging risk while achieving reduced overall water discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the dosing area passages are narrowed to reduce water discharge, then water discharge is reduced, but costly filtration would be required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater dischargeVSAvoidfiltration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stress or pressure

If outlet openings are spaced further apart in the longitudinal direction, then each outlet chamber can be larger, but the number of outlet openings per length unit decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutlet chamber sizeVSAvoidoutlet openings per length unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet chambers are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, creating a staggered arrangement. This spatial offsetting in the longitudinal dimension allows outlet openings to be positioned closer together along the pipe length, increasing the number of outlet openings per length unit while still providing adequate space for each outlet chamber to function properly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 reduces water discharge effectively without increasing the risk of clogging and maintains low distances between outlet openings, enhancing irrigation efficiency and application flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a dosing area in which a pressure reduction of the water flowing through takes place

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP2764768B1Drip irrigation tube with metering elements

Publication Date: 2020.12.23 THE MACHINES YVONAND

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AI summary

The element (4) has an inlet area (5) through which water enters from a drip irrigation tube to the element, where the element is arranged on a carrier (2). A dosing area (8) carries out pressure reduction of the water, and an outlet area (10) discharges the water from the tube. Two outlet openings (13) are formed at a distance from each other in the outlet area along a longitudinal direction of the tube. Reducing elements are arranged in an outlet chamber (11) between a water inlet and the outlet openings, where the outlet openings are formed as slots or holes.