Patent · US Active

Clog resistant in-line vortex element irrigation emitter

US11116151B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 6, 2018
Grant dateSep 14, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A40/22
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A clog resistant in-line vortex emitter and drip irrigation assembly and method uses a double-sided circuit and a series of vortex chambers of optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop with large dimensions and good clog resistance. The vortex chamber 100 also al lows for a lower exponent than traditional circuits. This gives a pressure regulating property to the no-moving-parts circuit. The vortex emitter allows for some pressure regulation without sacrificing recyclability or requiring moving parts. The vortex circuit of the present disclosure is optimized for an emitter efficiency Ef value wherein Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin such that k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit. A higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a lower chance of clogging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.