Patents by Inventor James Wallace Belford

James Wallace Belford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9414551
    Abstract: An irrigation pipe connector has a core that is adapted to connect to an irrigation element and a wing that is attachable to a wall of a pipe. The wing is provided with resiliency to allow the connector to deform in response to changing fluid pressures in the pipe. In addition, the wing may be provided with a thin segment in order to reduce potential damage during welding of the wing to the wall of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventors: Abed Masarwa, James Wallace Belford
  • Publication number: 20120247599
    Abstract: An irrigation pipe connector has a core that is adapted to connect to an irrigation element and a wing that is attachable to a wall of a pipe. The wing is provided with resiliency to allow the connector to deform in response to changing fluid pressures in the pipe. In addition, the wing may be provided with a thin segment in order to reduce potential damage during welding of the wing to the wall of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Netafim Ltd.
    Inventors: Abed Masarwa, James Wallace Belford
  • Patent number: 8220838
    Abstract: An irrigation pipe connector has a core that is adapted to connect to an irrigation element and a wing that is attachable to a wall of a pipe. The wing is provided with resiliency to allow the connector to deform in response to changing fluid pressures in the pipe. In addition, the wing may be provided with a thin segment in order to reduce potential damage during welding of the wing to the wall of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventors: Abed Masarwa, James Wallace Belford
  • Patent number: 7681805
    Abstract: A dripper adapted to be bonded to interior of an irrigation pipe during manufacture and to be associated with an outlet opening in said pipe. The dripper comprises an outwardly facing surface adapted for the bonding, an outlet area associated with the surface, and at least one bulge near the outlet area. The bulge defines an outermost portion of the surface at least during manufacture of the pipe, and is adapted to form, when the dripper is bonded to the pipe, a raised outlet region in the pipe associated with the bulge. The bulge and outlet area are designed so as to form the raised outlet region suitable for at least a part of the outlet opening to be formed therein and be defined by the material of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventors: James Wallace Belford, Jacob Dan Retter, Ron Keren
  • Patent number: 7644735
    Abstract: There is provided an insert to be sealingly mounted into a plug hole of a pipe having a sealing area surrounding the plug hole. The insert comprises an internal unit and a fastener. The internal unit and the fastener have corresponding cooperating sealing portions and mounting portions. The sealing portion of the internal unit is formed with a flange adapted to be forced into the plug hole. The flange and the sealing portion of the fastener have corresponding sealing surfaces. These surfaces are adapted to sealingly clamp therebetween the sealing area of the pipe, when the insert is mounted into the plug hole. One of the sealing surfaces being in the form of a sealing edge and the other being in the form of a conical surface. When the fastener is mounted onto the internal unit, the sealing portions of the internal unit and the fastener form therebetween a chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the outside environment, allowing atmospheric pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventors: James-Wallace Belford, Abed Masarwa
  • Publication number: 20090211661
    Abstract: An irrigation pipe connector has a core that is adapted to connect to an irrigation element and a wing that is attachable to a wall of a pipe. The wing is provided with resiliency to allow the connector to deform in response to changing fluid pressures in the pipe. In addition, the wing may be provided with a thin segment in order to reduce potential damage during welding of the wing to the wall of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Netafim Ltd.
    Inventors: Abed MASARWA, James Wallace Belford
  • Patent number: 7520695
    Abstract: A water provisioning device for use with an irrigation channel for providing water into an irrigation pipe. The water provisioning device comprises a primary reservoir adapted to maintain water up to a predetermined level and comprising a primary outlet adapted for being brought in fluid communication with the irrigation pipe. The system further comprises at least one primary inlet tube in the form of a siphon tube with a proximal end manually insertable into said channel for drawing water therefrom and a distal end adapted for the initiation of suction within the tube and for the disposition in said reservoir at least after the suction has been initiated, to supply said water thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Netafim Ltd.
    Inventor: James-Wallace Belford
  • Publication number: 20080237374
    Abstract: A dripper adapted to be bonded to interior of an irrigation pipe during manufacture and to be associated with an outlet opening in said pipe. The dripper comprises an outwardly facing surface adapted for the bonding, an outlet area associated with the surface, and at least one bulge near the outlet area. The bulge defines an outermost portion of the surface at least during manufacture of the pipe, and is adapted to form, when the dripper is bonded to the pipe, a raised outlet region in the pipe associated with the bulge. The bulge and outlet area are designed so as to form the raised outlet region suitable for at least a part of the outlet opening to be formed therein and be defined by the material of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NETAFIM LTD.
    Inventors: James Wallace BELFORD, Jacob Dan RETTER, Ron KEREN
  • Publication number: 20080011376
    Abstract: There is provided an insert to be sealingly mounted into a plug hole of a pipe having a sealing area surrounding the plug hole. The insert comprises an internal unit and a fastener. The internal unit and the fastener have corresponding cooperating sealing portions and mounting portions. The sealing portion of the internal unit is formed with a flange adapted to be forced into the plug hole. The flange and the sealing portion of the fastener have corresponding sealing surfaces. These surfaces are adapted to sealingly clamp therebetween the sealing area of the pipe, when the insert is mounted into the plug hole. One of the sealing surfaces being in the form of a sealing edge and the other being in the form of a conical surface. When the fastener is mounted onto the internal unit, the sealing portions of the internal unit and the fastener form therebetween a chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the outside environment, allowing atmospheric pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: James-Wallace Belford, Avraham Ronen
  • Publication number: 20070277893
    Abstract: There is provided an insert to be sealingly mounted into a plug hole of a pipe having a sealing area surrounding the plug hole. The insert comprises an internal unit and a fastener. The internal unit and the fastener have corresponding cooperating sealing portions and mounting portions. The sealing portion of the internal unit is formed with a flange adapted to be forced into the plug hole. The flange and the sealing portion of the fastener have corresponding sealing surfaces. These surfaces are adapted to sealingly clamp therebetween the sealing area of the pipe, when the insert is mounted into the plug hole. One of the sealing surfaces being in the form of a sealing edge and the other being in the form of a conical surface. When the fastener is mounted onto the internal unit, the sealing portions of the internal unit and the fastener form therebetween a chamber. The chamber is in fluid communication with the outside environment, allowing atmospheric pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: NETAFIM LTD.
    Inventor: James-Wallace Belford
  • Publication number: 20070227593
    Abstract: An air relief valve for use with an irrigation pipe. The valve comprises a base attached to the wall of the pipe, a vent extending from the interior of the pipe to the exterior of the pipe, a shutoff mechanism, and a water level sensor disposed within the pipe. The vent has an inlet adapted to face the interior of the pipe and an outlet adapted to face the exterior of the pipe. The shutoff mechanism is pivotally articulated to the base between an opening position thereof wherein air can exit the pipe via the vent and a closing position thereof wherein air is prevented from exiting the pipe via the vent. The shutoff mechanism is responsive to the water level sensor to selectively pivot between the opening and the closing positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: NETAFIM LTD.
    Inventors: James-Wallace Belford, Erez Govrin
  • Publication number: 20070231070
    Abstract: A water provisioning device for use with an irrigation channel for providing water into an irrigation pipe. The water provisioning device comprises a primary reservoir adapted to maintain water up to a predetermined level and comprising a primary outlet adapted for being brought in fluid communication with the irrigation pipe. The system further comprises at least one primary inlet tube in the form of a siphon tube with a proximal end manually insertable into said channel for drawing water therefrom and a distal end adapted for the initiation of suction within the tube and for the disposition in said reservoir at least after the suction has been initiated, to supply said water thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: James-Wallace Belford, Erez Govrin
  • Patent number: 7270280
    Abstract: An integral in-line dripper to be used bonded to the internal surface of an irrigation pipe. The dripper has an inlet facing the inside of the pipe and an outlet connected to an exit opening in the pipe wall. The dripper has a flattened shape defined between a first surface with an open meandering channel formed therein, the channel's inlet being connected to the dripper's inlet, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The topography of the first surface is so designed that the dripper can be bonded to the internal surface of the pipe in any orientation about a radius of the pipe passing through the first and the second surface, so as to form a flow-restriction labyrinth connected to the outlet of the dripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Netafim Ltd.
    Inventor: James Wallace Belford
  • Publication number: 20070170104
    Abstract: A filtration tank with a central vertical axis comprises: a first chamber, a second chamber and at least one filter element. The first chamber has a first inlet through which fluid to be filtered enters the tank and is designed so as to provide a swirling flow of the fluid to the second chamber. The second chamber has a second inlet, in fluid communication with the first chamber, and an outlet through which filtered fluid exits the tank, the outlet being preferably disposed lower than the second inlet. The filter element may be disposed in the second chamber and may have a portion capable of free undulation due to movement of the fluid in which it is disposed caused at least in part by the swirling of fluid entering the second chamber. The swirling may be obtained by centrifugal forces induced within the tank at least in a portion of a fluid flow path preceding the second inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: James-Wallace Belford, Erez Zimhoni