Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
537Z6
The present invention concerns a pipe suitable for
use in drip irrigation with integrally built-in dripper units,
a method of manufacture of such a pipe and a machine for
producing such a pipe.
The invention concerns particularly an irrigation
pipe with a ~ripper unit of the kind comprising a cylinder
provided with a continuous groove on its peripher~l surfaces
and being tightly surrounded by a sleeve, the groove having
an integral inlet in the cylinder while an outlet therefrom
is provided in the sleeve. The groove may be a continuous
spiral, may have a labyrinth path or may be of any of the
Xnown shapes, which reduce the pressure of the water from
the ~upply pipe, so that it leaves the dripper unit in a
trickle.
Such a dripper unit will hereinafter be referred
to a~ "a dripper unit of the kind defined~.
A dripper unit of the kind defined has up to now
been manufactured with screw threads at both ends or with any
other suitable means, so that it could be connected to an
irrigation pipe adapted for this purpose.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
an irrigation pipe with a dripper unit of the kind defined in
which the dripper units cons~itute an integral part of the
pipe without the necessity of assembling them at the irriga-
tion site. It is obvious that because of such a pipe much
labour and time is saved when laying the pipe for irrigation,
since the units do not have to be attached at the required
~paces.
According to one aspect of the present invention
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there is provided a pipe ~uitable for use in drip irrigation
which pipe comprises piping and dripper units of the kind
defined at predetermined intervals along the length thereof,
the piping constituting outer sleeves of the dripper units.
According to a second aspect of the present
invention there is provided a method of producing by extru-
sion a pipe suitable for use in drip irrigation, which method
comprises feeding dripper units, during the extrusion of
piping into an extruder at predetermined intervals, extruding
the piping around the dripper units and making at least one
aperture in the piping aligned with each of the dripper units.
According to a third aspect of the present
invention there is provided a machine for producing a pipe
suitable for use in drip irrigation, which machine comprises
an extrusion means having an extruder nozzle for extruding
piping, a storage unit for dripper units and a means for
feeding the dripper units to the extruder nozzle so as to
enable production of piping having dripper units at prede-
termined intervals along the length thereof.
Preferably, the pipe is a continuous irrigation
pipe.
For a better understanding of the present invention
and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference
will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an irrigation
pipe according to the invention, containing a dripper unit as
hereinbefore defined.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic elevational view of a
machine for manufacturing a pipe for drip irrigation according
1~537~'.,
to the invention, and
Fig. 3 shows a side elevation illustrating the
dripper feed mechanism.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an
extruded irrigation pipe 1 which serves as a sleeve of a
dripper unit having a cylindrical part 2 and being provided
with a peripheral helicoidal groove 3, it being understood
that the groove may have a labyrinth path or be of any other
shape which is adapted to reduce the pressure of the flow.
An inlet 4 made in the cylindrical part 2 leads from the
interior of pipe 1 into groove 3 while an outlet 5 from the
groove i8 provided in the pipe.
As can be seen in Fig. 1J pipe 1 is stretched
somewhat over the cylinder 2, that is the pipe is of larger
diameter in the region of cylinder 2. However, the internal
dlameter of pipe 1 and cylinder 2 are egual, so that free
flow of that part of the water which does not enter grooves
3 is permitted throu~h part 2.
The pipe of Fig. 1 is produced as can be seen in
Fig. 2 in anfextruder 6 having a head 7 at an angle to the
extension of the ~crew (not shown). This type of head 7 is
known for producing cove~ed cables or sheathed wires.
If desired, a regular ~traight-line extruder head
may be used which i8 adapted to feed the dripper unit to the
nozzle at predetermined interval~.
Behind said head a dripper unit feed mechanism
generally indicated by 8 is provided. This mechanism comprises
a storage unit 9 in which a plurality of inner dripper parts 2
are disposed. These cylindrical parts 2 are fed into a
position coaxial with the extruder nozzle 10 by a piston-
~0~37Z~;
-- 4 --
operated feed device 11 which may be actuated by hydraulic,pneumatic or other means.
At predetermined time periods,or~ i desired, at
predetermined distances, i.e. after a predetermined length of
pipe has been extruded, a dripper part 2 is fed into the
extruder head 7 by means of a pu her mechanism 12, which may
be operated by pneumatic, hydraulic or other means. When
such a part 2 is inserted into the extruder head 7, the pipe
is extruded around it through nozzle 10.
A sensing mechanism in combination with a drill,
knife point or the like indicated generally at 13 is provided
near the extrusion nozzle at a distance to permit the cooling
of the pipe after its extrusion. This drill 13 makes an
outlet 5 in the pipe of the wall in the required position.
If desired, two such mechanisms may be provided in diametrically
opposite positions to make two apertures 5 in pipe 1 as shown
in Fig. 1.
The control of the feed mechanism, push mechanism 12
and drilling mechanism 13 can be effected in any suitable
manner, either by electrical, electronic, mechanical or the
like control means.
It is, of course, understood, that the pipe together
with its dripper unit constitutes pressure reducing means,
which may be used where required for purposes other than
irrigation.
