Emitter for irrigation systems

Claim 2

An emitter having a water discharge outlet and connected to a source of water under pressure for irrigating soil, said emitter comprising: a. a pair of imperforate flexible sheets coterminous with one another and defining both the water discharge passageway for a flow of water through said emitter and the water discharge outlet of said emitter, said passageway extending from the pressurized water source to the discharge outlet of said emitter; b. transverse rib means disposed within the central part of adjacent surfaces of each of said pair of flexible sheets for establishing a water pressure gradient through said passageway; c. pressure means for biasing said pair of sheets toward one another to regulate the lateral expansion of said passageway, said pressure means being responsive to the water pressure at the source and variable in proportion to the water pressure at the source; whereby, the flow of water through said emitter is regulated at a constant rate by said rib means and said pressure means despite variations in the water pressure at the source.

Claim 3

An emitter connected to a source of water under pressure for irrigating soil, said emitter comprising: a. a pair of imperforate flexible sheets coterminous with one another, said pair of flexible sheets defining a passageway for a flow of water through said emitter; b. transverse rib means disposed within the central part of adjacent surfaces of each of said pair of flexible sheets for establishing a water pressure gradient through said passageway; c. pressure means for biasing said pair of sheets toward one another to regulate the lateral expansion of said passageway, said pressure means being responsive to the water pressure at the source and variable in proportion to the water pressure at the source, said pressure means including a half round section comprising a half round canopy attached to one of said pair of flexible sheets at the sides of said passageway, said canopy, in combination with the attached one of said flexible sheets, defining a pressure chamber in communication with the water pressure at the source; whereby, the flow of water through said emitter is regulated at a constant rate by said rib means and said pressure means despite variations in the water pressure at the source.

Claim 4

An emitter connected to a source of water under pressure for irrigating soil, said emitter comprising: a. a pair of imperforate flexible sheets coterminous with one another, said pair of flexible sheets defining a passageway for a flow of water through said emitter; b. transverse rib means disposed within the central part of adjacent surfaces of each of said pair of flexible sheets for establishing a water pressure gradient through said passageway; c. pressure means for biasing said pair of sheets toward one another to regulate the lateral expansion of said passageway, said pressure means being responsive to the water pressure at the source and variable in proportion to the water pressure at the source, said pressure means including a half round section comprising a half round canopy attached to one of said pair of flexible sheets at the sides of said passageway, said canopy, in combination with the attached one of said flexible sheets, defining a pressure chamber in communication with the water pressure at the source; whereby, the flow of water through said emitter is regulated at a constant rate by said rib means and said pressure means despite variations in the water pressure at the source.

Claim 5

The emitter as set forth in claim 2 including a further half round section comprising a further half round canopy attached to another of said pair of flexible sheets at the sides of said passageway, said further canopy, in combination with the attached one of said flexible sheets, defining a furTher pressure chamber in communication with the water pressure at the source.

Claim 6

The emitter as set forth in claim 3 including an envelope circumscribing said half round section and said further half round section to maintain said flexible sheets adjacent one another.

Claim 7

The emitter as set forth in claim 4 including sealing means disposed within each of said pair of flexible sheets parallel to said passageway for maintaining the flow of water through said passageway.

Claim 8

The emitter as set forth in claim 5 wherein said rib means comprises a plurality of transverse ribs disposed within the central part of each of said flexible sheets.

Claim 9

The emitter as set forth in claim 6 wherein said plurality of ribs within one of said flexible sheets are orthogonally oriented to said plurality of ribs within the other of said flexible sheets.

Claim 10

The emitter as set forth in claim 7 including ridge means connected to each of said flexible sheets for regulating the flexing of said flexible sheets.

Claim 11

The emitter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said ridge means extends into respective ones of said pressure chambers.

Claim 12

The emitter as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flexible sheet, said half round canopy and said ridge means of each said half round section comprise a unitary structure.