DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates generally to drip irrigation. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for drip irrigation.
BACKGROUND
In drip irrigation, depending on type of crops or need, farmers may use traditional drippers that have a fixed flow rate of the water used for irrigating the crops. The traditional drippers used by the farmers may provide a flow rate of 2 liters/hour, 4 liters/hour or 8 liters/hour etc. Each variety corps may require a specific type of irrigation for optimal growth and maximum produce for harvesting.
Depending on the variety of crop cultivated in a farm field, the farmer may need to manually change each traditional dripper in the entire field to suit the flow rate of irrigation. There could be hundreds of traditional drippers in the farm field and changing each traditional dripper is a cumbersome manual task. Further, the traditional drippers may get blocked due to dust, algae, organic growth or water salts and requires regular cleaning.
Therefore, there exists a need for an apparatus for drip irrigation that solves the aforementioned problems of traditional drippers.
SUMMARY
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for drip irrigation is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet body, a flow resistor, and a retainer ring. The inlet body includes an inlet nozzle disposed at a periphery of the inlet body. The flow resistor is adapted to be inserted in the inlet body. The flow resistor has a base having (i) an outlet hole and (ii) a fluid passage. The retainer ring is adapted to be coupled with the inlet body such that the retainer ring secures the flow resistor within the inlet body.
In some embodiments, when inserted in the inlet body, the flow resistor is freely rotatable within the inlet body.
In some embodiments, the fluid passage includes a first end and a second end such that the first end is in fluidic connection with the outlet hole and the second end is a closed end.
In some embodiments, the inlet body is a hollow cylindrical body comprising (i) a first portion having a first set of threads disposed on an inner surface of the first portion and (ii) a second portion having a flat inner surface, wherein the first portion and the second portion have a first height H1 and a second height H2, respectively.
In some embodiments, the retainer ring comprising a body. The body includes a second set of threads disposed on an outer surface of the body.
In some embodiments, to couple the retainer ring with the inlet body, the first set of threads are engaged with the second set of threads to tighten the retainer ring in the inlet body.
In some embodiments, the fluid passage that is an involute labyrinth passage is engraved along a periphery of the base.
In some embodiments, the flow resistor further includes a holder and a plurality of supports such that the holder and the plurality of supports extends outwards from the base.
In some embodiments, the flow resistor comprising a side wall that extends in an upward direction from a periphery of the base. The side wall has a third height H3 such that the third height H3 is equal to the second height H2.
In some embodiments, the body has a fourth height H4 that is equal to the first height H1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above and still further features and advantages of aspects of the present disclosure becomes apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of aspects thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an apparatus for drip irrigation, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of an inlet body of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C illustrate top and bottom views of the inlet body, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIGs. 3A-3C illustrate different views of a flow resistor of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment herein; and
FIGs. 4A-4C illustrate different views of a retainer ring of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment herein.
To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for drip irrigation. The following description provides specific details of certain aspects of the disclosure illustrated in the drawings to provide a thorough understanding of those aspects. It should be recognized, however, that the present disclosure can be reflected in additional aspects and the disclosure may be practiced without some of the details in the following description.
The various aspects including the example aspects are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the various aspects of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity.
It is understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers that may be present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The subject matter of example aspects, as disclosed herein, is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventor/inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, the various aspects including the example aspects relate to an apparatus for drip irrigation.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an apparatus 100 for drip irrigation, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The apparatus 100 may be a dripper that may facilitate a user to manipulate and/or change a pressure of water flow in a capillary into a drip and/or fine flow through a flow channel and/or an orifice. The apparatus 100 may include an inlet body 102, a flow resistor 104, and a retainer ring 106. The inlet body 102, the flow resistor 104, and the retainer ring 106 may be made of a material such as, but not limited to, a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the inlet body 102, the flow resistor 104, and the retainer ring 106, including known, related, and later developed materials, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may be manufactured by manufacturing technique such as, but not limited to, injection molding, three-dimensional (3D) printing, and laser etching. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the conventional manufacturing techniques that facilitates manufacturing of the apparatus 100, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may be made of a material such as, but not limited to, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and any other polyamide material. Preferably, the apparatus 100 may be made of any kind of polymeric material. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material of the apparatus 100 including known, related, and later developed materials, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The inlet body 102 may be a hollow cylindrical shaped body. The inlet body 102 may include an inlet nozzle 108 disposed at a periphery of the inlet body 102. Specifically, the inlet nozzle 108 may allow fluid to enter into the apparatus 100. The inlet body 102 may be configured to transmit the fluid into the flow resistor 104. As illustrated, the inlet body 102 includes a first portion 102a and a second portion 102b. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the inlet body 102 may include a first set of threads 110 disposed on an inner surface of the first portion 102a while the second portion 102b may have a flat inner portion. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second portion 102b may have a first height H1 and the first portion 102a has a second height H2.
The flow resistor 104 may be adapted to be inserted into the inlet body 102. The flow resistor 104 may be inserted into the inlet body 102 such that the flow resistor 104 is freely rotatable within the inlet body 102. Specifically, the flow resistor 104 may facilitate the user to regulate resistance to flow of the fluid. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow resistor 104 may be aligned with the inlet nozzle 108 such that the alignment of the flow resistor 104 determines the flow of the fluid through the apparatus 100.
The retainer ring 106 may be a hollow ring having a second set of threads 112 disposed on an outer surface. The second set of threads 112 may be adapted to be engaged with the first set of threads 110 of the inlet body 102. Specifically, when the flow resistor 104 is inserted inside the inlet body 102 and the flow resistor 104 is aligned with the inlet nozzle 108 in a desired position, the retainer ring 106 may be inserted and tightened by way of the first and second set of threads 110 and 112 to tightly secure the flow resistor 104 in the desired position.
In some embodiments, the retainer ring 106 may be snap-fitted into the inlet body 102 to tightly secure the flow resistor 104 in the desired position.
FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of the inlet body 102, in accordance with an embodiment herein. As discussed, the inlet body 102 may include the first portion 102a and a second portion 102b. The inlet nozzle 108 may be disposed at a periphery of the inlet body 102. Specifically, the inlet body 102 may include a base 200 such that the inlet nozzle 108 is disposed at a periphery of the base 200. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the inlet body 102 may include a plurality of ridges of which first through ninth ridges 202a-202i are shown. The first through ninth ridges 202a-202i may protrude from an outer surface of the inlet body 102 and may run vertically along a length of the inlet body 102. Specifically, the first through ninth ridges 202a-202i may facilitate a user to comfortably grip the inlet body 102. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that the inlet body 102 includes nine ridges (i.e., the first through ninth ridges 202a-202i), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects, the inlet body 102 may include any number of ridges, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The inlet nozzle 108 may extend outwards from the base 200. As illustrated, the inlet nozzle 108 may include a cylindrical portion 108a and a conical portion 108b attached onto the cylindrical portion 108a. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cylindrical portion 108b may have a diameter that may be less than a diameter of a base of the conical portion 108b. Specifically, the diameter of the conical portion 108b that is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 108a may enable efficient attachment of the apparatus 100 within an attachment hole of a fluid pipeline (not shown).
FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C illustrate top and bottom views of the inlet body 102, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment herein. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first portion 102a may have a first diameter D1 and the second portion 102b may have a second diameter D2 such that the first diameter D1 is less than the second diameter D2. Further, as discussed, the inner surface of the first portion 102a may be flat and the inner surface of the second portion 102b may include the first set of threads 110 (as shown in FIG. 1).
FIGs. 3A-3C illustrate different views of the flow resistor 104, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The flow resistor 104 may include a bottom face 300 and a top face 302. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the bottom face 300 may include an outlet hole 304 that may be a through hole that extends from the bottom face 300 to the top face 302. Further, the bottom face 300 may include a fluid passage 306. Referring back to FIG. 3A, the top face 302 may include a hollow cylindrical protrusion 308 that may be aligned with the outlet hole 304 and that may extend vertically outwards from the top face 302. Further, the top face 302 may include a holder 310 that may be a rectangular shaped protrusion that extends vertically outwards from the top face 302 such that the holder 310 is attached to an outer surface of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 308. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the holder 310 may enable a user to hold and insert the flow resistor 104 into the inlet body 102. Further, when the flow resistor 104 is inserted into the inlet body 102, the holder 310 may facilitate the user to rotate the flow resistor 104 to align the fluid passage 306 with the inlet nozzle 108 (as shown in FIG. 1). In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow resistor 104 may be cylindrically shaped such that the flow resistor 104 has a third diameter D3 that may be selected such that the diameter D3 is slightly less than the diameter D2 of the second portion 102b (as shown in FIG. 2C). The diameter D3 of the flow resistor 104 being slightly less than the diameter D2 of the second portion 102b may enable rotation of the flow resistor 104 inside the second portion 102b of the inlet body 102 while the flow resistor 104 is rests in the inlet body 102.
Referring to FIG. 3B, the flow resistor 104 may include a plurality of supports 312 of which first through third supports 312a-312c are shown. The first through third supports 312a-312c may be a triangular shaped protrusions that extends vertically outwards from the top face 302 such that the first through third supports 312a-312c are attached to the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 308. Specifically, the first through third supports 312a-312c may be adapted to provide support to the hollow cylindrical protrusion 308. Although FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrates that the plurality of supports 312 includes three supports (i.e., the first through third supports 312a-312c), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects, the plurality of supports may include any number of supports, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In such a scenario, each support may be adapted to serve one or more functionalities in a manner similar to the functionalities of the first through third supports 312a-312c as described above. Referring back to FIG. 3A, the flow resistor 104 may include the base 314 that may be a circular shaped base. Further, the flow resistor 104 may include a sidewall 316 that may extend vertically upwards along a periphery of the base 314 thus forming a hollow cylindrical structure. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sidewall 316 may have a height H2. Specifically, the height H may be equal to a height of the first portion 102a of the inlet body 102. The height H1 being equal to the height H1 of the first portion 102a of the inlet body 102 that may enable frictionless rotation of the flow resistor 104 inside the inlet body 102 when the flow resistor 104 is rotated to align the fluid passage 306 with the inlet nozzle 108.
Referring to FIG. 3C, the flow resistor 104 includes the fluid passage 306. The fluid passage 306 may include a first end 306a and a second end 306b. The first end 306a may be in fluidic connection with the outlet hole 304. Further, the second end 306b may be a closed end. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fluid passage 306 may be an involute labyrinth passage. As used herein “the involute labyrinth passage” refers to a spirally curled irregular shaped passage through which the fluid that enters the inlet body 102 by way of the inlet nozzle 108 is passed before exiting the apparatus 100 through the outlet hole 304. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fluid passage 306 may be adapted to facilitate in regulation of a flow of the fluid through the apparatus 100 by the rotation and alignment of the fluid passage 306 with respect to the inlet nozzle 108 (as shown in FIG. 1). Specifically, the fluid entering the flow resistor 104 at one extreme, farthest from the outlet hole 304, has bigger flow path with increasing resistance that may give lowest output approximate of the apparatus 100 i.e., approximately 2 liters per hour. However, the fluid entering the flow resistor 104 at other extreme, closest to the outlet hole 304, may have reduced flow path with decreasing resistance. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the fluid passage 306 is a zig zag passage that is engraved along a circumference of the base 314. Although FIG. 3C illustrates that the fluid passage 306 is a zig zag passage, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other aspects, the fluid passage 306 may have any type of pattern that forms an involute labyrinth passage, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
FIGs. 4A-4C illustrate different views of the retainer ring 106, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The retainer ring 106 may include a body 400 such that the body 400 includes the second set of threads 112 disposed on the outer surface of the body 400. When the flow resistor 104 is inserted inside the inlet body 102 and the fluid passage 306 (as shown in FIG. 3C) is aligned with the inlet nozzle 108 (as shown in FIG. 1A) in a desired position, the retainer ring 106 may be inserted and tightened by way of the first and second set of threads 110 and 112 to tightly secure the flow resistor 104 in the desired position. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the retainer ring 106 may further include a plurality of legs 402 of which first and second legs 402a and 402b are shown. The first and second legs 402a and 402b may extend vertically upwards from a periphery of the body 400 of the retainer ring 106 such that the first and second legs 402a and 402b are substantially parallel to one another. Specifically, the first and second legs 402a and 402b may facilitate a user to securely tighten the retainer ring 106 with the inlet body 102 while assembling the apparatus 100. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the body 400 of the retainer ring 106 may have a height H4 such that the height H4 is equal to the height H2 of the first portion 102a of the inlet body 102 (as shown in FIG. 2A).
Thus, the apparatus 100 may provide following advantages that may be derived from the structural and functional aspects of the apparatus 100: -
- The apparatus 100 regulates the flow of fluid automatically, so doesn’t need to be changed regularly.
- The apparatus 100 provides self-cleaning and anti-bacterial properties.
The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects, configurations, or aspects may be combined in alternate aspects, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed aspect, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate aspect of the present disclosure.
Moreover, though the description of the present disclosure has included description of one or more aspects, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative aspects, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. An apparatus (100) for drip irrigation, the apparatus (100) comprising:
an inlet body (102) comprising an inlet nozzle (108) disposed at a periphery of the inlet body (102);
a flow resistor (104) adapted to be inserted in the inlet body (102), the flow resistor (104) comprising a base (314) having (i) an outlet hole (304) and (ii) a fluid passage (306); and
a retainer ring (106) adapted to be coupled with the inlet body (102) such that the retainer ring (106) secures the flow resistor (104) within the inlet body (102).

2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when inserted in the inlet body (102), the flow resistor (104) is freely rotatable within the inlet body (102).

3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid passage (306) comprising a first end (306a) and a second end (306b) such that the first end (306a) is in fluidic connection with the outlet hole (304) and the second end (306b) is a closed end.

4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet body (102) is a hollow cylindrical body comprising (i) a first portion (102a) having a first set of threads (110) disposed on an inner surface of the first portion (102a) and (ii) a second portion (102b) having a flat inner surface, wherein the first portion (102a) and the second portion (102b) have a first height (H1) and a second height (H2), respectively.

5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer ring (106) comprising a body (400), wherein the body (400) comprising a second set of threads (112) disposed on an outer surface of the body (400).

6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, to couple the retainer ring (106) with the inlet body (102), the first set of threads (110) are engaged with the second set of threads (112) to tighten the retainer ring (106) in the inlet body (102).

7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid passage (306) that is an involute labyrinth passage is engraved along a periphery of the base (314).

8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow resistor (104) further comprising a holder (310) and a plurality of supports (312) such that the holder (312) and the plurality of supports (312) extends outwards from the base (314).

9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flow resistor (104) comprising a sidewall (316) that extends in an upward direction from a periphery of the base (314), wherein the sidewall (316) has a third height (H3) such that the third height (H3) is equal to the second height (H2).

10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body (400) has a fourth height (H4) that is equal to the first height (H1).