Abstract: An improved drip irrigation emitter is provided for low volume supply of water at a trickle or drip flow rate. The emitter comprises a housing adapted for connection to a water supply hose, and includes a water inlet and a water outlet with an elongated pressure reducing flow channel extending therebetween. The flow channel is lined on opposite sides by a plurality of flow diverting ribs which project laterally and partially into the flow channel in a staggered or alternating pattern, in combination with a plurality of flow diverting weirs which project upwardly and partially into the flow channel from a floor thereof. The flow diverting ribs and weirs define a three dimensional tortuous flow path for repeated back-and-forth and up-and-down directional flow change as water travels therethrough, resulting in an improved pressure drop between the water inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A spinner type irrigation sprinkler having a support bridge to which is coupled a spinner assembly for rotation about a vertical axis, the spinner assembly including a spinner body and an adjustable trajectory nozzle assembly with a removable nozzle member, the spinner body coupled to a brake module attached to the bridge and employing viscous fluid shear to control the speed of rotation of the spinner assembly and attached nozzle member.

Abstract: A mini-sprinkler stake assembly including an elongated ground penetrating stake having an adapter for permitting easy and reliable mounting and replacement of mini-sprinkler units. A new and improved mini-sprinkler unit having a novel tree deflector is also disclosed, the mini-sprinkler unit having a separable nozzle element and dual pattern deflector element, one deflector surface of which includes a recessed for producing a generally V-shaped spray pattern for effectively and efficiently watering the root zone area of a tree.

Abstract: A drip irrigation tube formed by longitudinally folding an elongated web having thick marginal side portions, and overlapping and sealing the thick marginal sides to form a tube. Discrete emitter elements are disposed at spaced intervals along the web and are formed by embossing or otherwise forming recessed emission grooves in one of the thick marginal edges so as to form a flow path from the inside of the tube to the outside. The emitter elements operate to provide a constant flow rate over a wide range of working pressures by controlled deformation and constriction of size of relatively short emitter passageways formed by a portion of the emission grooves.

Abstract: A constant drive nozzle for use in combination with an impulse or impact drive sprinkler includes a tubular nozzle body with a drive orifice and a range orifice formed in its outlet end. The stream issuing from the nozzle is formed into a drive stream portion and a range stream portion by the drive and range orifices. Since only the drive stream portion intercepts the drive spoon of the arm which impacts and rotates the sprinkler body, various diameter range orifices can be used in conjunction with a single diameter drive orifice without affecting the rotational speed of the sprinkler body.

Abstract: An up-spray deflector cup for use in an irrigation device of the type suspended from an overhead traveling irrigation system for discharging water from a downwardly directed nozzle in close proximity to the ground, the deflector cup being positioned centrally below the nozzle and serving to deflect water from the nozzle upwardly and radially outwardly as diametrically opposed from choped sprays. The deflector cup includes two concentric sets of deflecting surfaces for deflecting water from different size nozzles risible with the irrigation device.

Abstract: An improved irrigation device is provided for precision, relatively low energy and close range delivery of irrigation water to crops and the like with little or no soil erosion. The irrigation device comprises a generally cylindrical body for connection to the lower end of a vertical drop tube adapted for connection in turn to a water supply pipe, for example, of a traveling irrigation system, such as a center pivot or linear system. The cylindrical body carries a downwardly open nozzle for discharge of water into a pressure-regulated chamber defined in part by a funnel-shaped regulator cover slidable about the cylindrical body. The chamber is shaped or otherwise includes means for dissipating a substantial portion of the flow energy of the water discharged into the chamber.

Abstract: An air and vacuum relief value having a cylindrical housing defining a chamber and an aerodynamically shaped float body disposed for movement within said chamber between a lower, open position and an upper closed position, the float body having a generally inverted pear-shape configuration to prevent premature valve closure.

Abstract: An improved irrigation boom assembly is provided for relatively rapid and easy mounting onto the main water distribution pipe of a traveling irrigation system, particularly such as a center pivot or linear travel system. The improved boom assembly includes a water supply drop pipe adapted for rapid and secure mounting onto the main distribution pipe by an improved clamp assembly and for receiving water from the distribution pipe via a flexible feed hose. The drop pipe has a manifold at its lower end designed for facilitated connection to a lightweight boom comprising a pair of elongated wing tubes cantilevered outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, wherein the wing tubes are each supported in an adjustably selected geometry by a respective pair of support cables anchored between the drop pipe and the wing tube and threaded through support struts mounted at spaced intervals along the wing tube spans. The outboard end of each wing tube includes an easily removable end fitting to permit periodic flushing.

Abstract: A continuous tube emitter comprises an elongated flexible plastic tube with internal pressure-responsive flow control units to control the flow rate of irrigation water through outlet openings in the tube. The flexible plastic tube is formed from an elongated thin film web having one or more relatively thicker valve members on one side thereof defining a plurality of valve faces, wherein each valve face includes at least one shallow drip emission groove leading into a valve reservoir of wider cross section and communicating respectively with the outlet openings cut through the web. One longitudinal margin of the web is trimmed to form laterally projecting flaps at longitudinal positions generally corresponding with the valve faces.

Abstract: A sprinkler of the impact drive type is constructed substantially of plastic and includes a separate cap which is snap-fit over a pair of upwardly extending legs from a sprinkler body to form a bridge for an impact mechanism window. Provision of the separate bridge-forming cap facilitates automated assembly of the sprinkler, and also allows protective bearing-surface shields to be formed integrally with other sprinkler components and positioned about critical wear regions of a fulcrum pin for pivotally supporting an impact drive arm. When a plastic fulcrum pin is used, these bearing-surface shields protect the pin from abrasives, such as dirt, which can otherwise become lodged between the pin and the drive arm to cause accelerated pin wear.

Abstract: An improved trickle irrigation unit includes a selector dial for controlling water flow through a plurality of outlet ports. The trickle unit comprises a valve housing having a water inlet port opening into one side of a pressure chamber, the other side of which is defined by a plurality of recessed flow patterns each leading to a respective one of the outlet ports. A resilient valve flap within the pressure chamber is hydraulically seated over the flow pattern and includes an array of flow passages alignable with selected flow patterns to permit water flow thereinto from the pressure chamber, with the flap deforming into the selected flow patterns for pressure-responsive flow control of water to the associated outlet ports. The valve flap is rotatably carried by the selector dial for movement to different set positions to alter the number of flow patterns aligned with flap flow passages thereby correspondingly altering the number of outlet ports in flow communication with the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler including an improved drive nozzle assembly for rotating the sprinkler in steps about a water supply standpipe. The drive nozzle assembly comprises a fixed drive nozzle through which an inclined stream of irrigation water is projected for passage through a diverter tube mounted in front of the drive nozzle for movement between forward- and reverse-drive positions. The diverter tube is shifted between the forward- and reverse-drive positions by a spring-loaded, over-center reversing mechanism for slightly diverting the water stream for alternated interruption by a pair of laterally oppositely angled deflector spoons on a pivoting reaction drive arm.

Abstract: An impact drive sprinkler is provided for projecting a water stream in a generally upward and outward direction from a water supply riser. The sprinkler includes a sprinkler body formed from a length of tubing mounted for rotation on the riser wherein the tubing is bent at a selected angle to define a smooth, substantially uninterrupted flow path from the riser to a discharge nozzle. An impact drive assembly is mounted on the tubing and includes a spring-biased drive arm formed preferably from inexpensive stamped metal parts for interrupting the projected water stream at regular intervals and for impacting the tubing to rotate the tubing in increments about the riser. The drive assembly is mounted on the tubing at a position downstream from the tubing bend such that the construction and operation of the drive assembly is unaffected by the magnitude of the angular bend in the tubing.

Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler includes an improved drive assembly for rotating the sprinkler in steps about a water supply standpipe. The drive assembly comprises a fixed drive nozzle through which an inclined stream of irrigation water is projected for passage through a movable diverter tube mounted in front of the drive nozzle. The diverter tube is shifted by a reversing mechanism for slightly diverting the water stream for alternated interruption by a pair of laterally oppositely angled deflector spoons on a pivoting reaction drive arm. More particularly, the diverter tube directs the water stream for cyclic interruption by one of the deflector spoons to rotate the sprinkler stepwise in one direction through a selected arcuate path and then shifts the diverter tube to direct the water stream for interruption by the other deflector spoon for stepwise sprinkler rotation in the opposite direction.