Abstract: A flow reducer device particularly useful as a drip irrigation emitter, includes a body member having a flow regulating region formed with a cavity extending through the body member and closed at its opposite sides by a deformable diaphragm, preferably an elastomeric sleeve. The device is attachable to a tube of pressurized fluid such that the outer face of each diaphragm side is exposed to the fluid pressure at the fluid inlet, and the inner face of each diaphragm side is exposed to the fluid pressure within the cavity, such that the diaphragm sides deform towards or away from each other within the cavity to regulate the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making drip irrigation lines, by forming two (or more) tubes in side-by-side relation joined together at a juncture including a plurality of preformed members bonded to and within the juncture at spaced locations along the longitudinal axes of the preformed members and of the juncture. Each of the preformed members includes a pair of flow-reducing, groove formations, one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the preformed member. The juncture is slit along the longitudinal axes of the preformed members to thereby form two (or more) drip irrigation lines each integrally formed with a section of the plurality of preformed members, each section having one of the groove formations serving as a flow-reducer element in the respective line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a drip irrigation device by continuously extruding a tube and simultaneously feeding a plurality of dripper units in succession within the tube as it is extruded. Each dripper unit is arrested as it arrives at a first location which is a short distance downstream of the extrusion head where the extruded tube is still tacky, and is then moved transversely to bring it into light contact with the tacky surface of the extruded tube to cause the dripper unit to lightly adhere to the tube and to begin to move axially with it. A short distance downstream of the first location where the dripper unit has attained the same axial velocity as the extruded tube, the dripper unit is pressed into firm bonding contact with the tacky inner surface of the extruded tube.