T-systems International, Inc.

Michael DeFrank

David L Teegardin

David Marchetti

Shawn Shirvan

Que Tran

Wayne Hackman

Jaime Cabahug

A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs. The outlet forming wheel and the rib forming wheel are mounted on a common shaft to operate in synchronism. A continuous strip of plastic film is directed in a path that reverses direction four times to accommodate these wheels.

Method of manufacture of a drip irrigation hose

Method and apparatus for making a drip irrigation hose

Pressure-compensating drip irrigation hose and method for its manufacture

A self cleaning drip irrigation hose comprising an elongated strip of plastic film folded longitudinally to form first and second overlapping longitudinal margins. A first longitudinal bead partially seals the overlapping margin. A second longitudinal bead outboard of the first bead partially seals the overlapping margins. The first and second beads have a repeating longitudinal pattern that forms a flow regulating channel and opposing inlets spaced along the length of the first and second beads. Outlets from the flow regulating channel to the exterior of the hose are spaced from the inlets to create a pressure drop across the flow regulating channel. A third longitudinal bead outboard of the second bead completely seals the overlapping margin. The second and third beads form a water access channel to the inlets in the second bead such that the inlets in the first bead when plugged are back flushed by water flow through the inlets in the second bead. The hose is made by extruding one or more molten beads on one of the margins and shaping the beads with a molding wheel.

Drip irrigation hose with self-cleaning inlet and method for its

Drip irrigation hose and method for its manufacture

The serpentine, turbulence inducing path lengths from the inlets to the outlets of the flow regulating passage of a continuous emitter drip irrigation hose are arranged in back to back fashion relative to the outlets in the sense that the chevrons angle away from each of outlets, so there is parallel turbulent flow from two inlets to each outlet. This doubles the flow rate from each outlet without changing the dimensions of the flow regulating passage.

Drip irrigation hose and method of its manufacture

A hose is made by continuously transporting a first strip of plastic film through an assembly station. One or more contiguous molten beads are deposited onto a central region of the film. The beads are formed into a flow regulating passage defined by side walls. A second strip of plastic film, which is narrower than the first strip of film, is sealed to the side walls while molten to form a flow regulating passage between the sidewalls and the first and second strips of film. Inlets to the flow regulating passage and outlets from the flow regulating passage are formed at spaced intervals along the hose. The first strip of film is longitudinally folded to overlap the margins and the overlapping margins are sealed to complete the hose.

Process for forming drip irrigation hose with pressure compensation

A laminar flow section and a turbulent flow section are formed contiguous to each other along the length of a flow regulating passage in a drip irrigation hose. Responsive to the pressure in a water supply passage of the drip irrigation hose, the cross-sectional area of the laminar flow section is reduced as the pressure increases so as to compensate for the effect of pressure changes on the drip flow rate of the hose. The water supply passage is formed by a continuous strip of plastic film sealed together at its margins, and the flow regulating passage has longitudinal side walls extending inwardly from the strip. The base portion of the side walls has chevron shaped surfaces that form the turbulent flow section and the remainder of the side walls has smooth surfaces that form the laminar flow section. The cross-sectional area of the laminar flow section is reduced responsive to pressure by a continuous strip of deflectable plastic film that seals the side walls such that the smooth surfaces are adjacent thereto. The deflectable plastic film is deflected toward the chevron shaped surfaces as the pressure increases to reduce the cross sectional area of the laminar flow section.

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Temecula, CA, United States of America

Michael DeFrank