Abstract: A method for acquiring and managing data from a plurality of measuring instruments includes acquiring data from at least one measuring instrument disposed in each of at least one measurement station. The data is provided to a server computing unit. The data is processed in the server computing unit with at least one microserver so as to provide client-compatible data. The client-compatible data is accessed in the server computing unit of the at least one measurement station through a communication network in at least one client station. The accessed client-compatible data is further processed in the at least one client station with at least one client computing unit.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs.

Abstract: An improved drip irrigation hose is provided. The hose has a water supply passage and a plurality of flow regulating channels manufactured into the hose that are smaller than the water supply passage. The flow regulating channels each comprise a predesignated geometry to provide a desired discharge rate at a given pressure, an inlet section comprising one or more openings connecting the water supply passage to that flow regulating channel, and an outlet section comprising one or more openings connecting that flow regulating channel to the exterior of the hose. The plurality of flow regulating channels have at least two different geometries to provide at least two different discharge rates at the given pressure. field. This invention has value to the irrigation designer in that it allows the designer to select emitter characteristics depending on the position of the emitter in the field.

Abstract: An improved drip irrigation hose is provided. The hose has a water supply passage and a plurality of flow regulating channels manufactured into the hose that are smaller than the water supply passage. The flow regulating channels each comprise a predesignated geometry to provide a desired discharge rate at a given pressure, an inlet section comprising one or more openings connecting the water supply passage to that flow regulating channel, and an outlet section comprising one or more openings connecting that flow regulating channel to the exterior of the hose. The plurality of flow regulating channels have at least two different geometries to provide at least two different discharge rates at the given pressure field. This invention has value to the irrigation designer in that it allows the designer to select emitter characteristics depending on the position of the emitter in the field.

Abstract: A splicing coupling and a method using a splicing coupling is provided for splicing a pair of drip irrigation hoses. The splicing coupling has an inner and outer member. Each member has a heat activatable bondable surface opposite a non-bondable surface. Each member is circuitous. The inner member is formed with the bondable surface on the outside and the non-bondable surface on the inside, while the outer member is formed with the bondable surface on the inside and the non-bondable surface on the outside. Typically, the inner member is preferably bonded to the outer member along a bond line midway between the members and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the members. To form a splice, an end of a first hose is slid over the inner member but under the outer member until it abuts against the bond line. An end of a second hose to be spliced is slid over the other end of the inner member and underneath the outer member until it abuts the bond line.

Abstract: A pressure-compensating drip irrigation hose (10) has a water supply passage (26) and a flow regulating channel (24) smaller than the water supply passage (26). The flow regulating channel (24) comprises at least one inlet section (28), at least one outlet section (32), and at least one nozzle section (34) between an inlet section (28) and an outlet section (32). The inlet section (28) comprises one or more openings (38) connecting the water supply passage (26) to the flow regulating channel (24). The outlet section comprises one or more openings connecting the flow regulating channel (24) to the exterior of the hose (10). Preferably the flow regulating channel (24) further comprises at least one turbulent flow section (30) between an inlet section (28) and an outlet section (32). The nozzle section (34) is preferably between an inlet section (28) and a turbulent flow section (30). A method for making the drip irrigation hose (10) is also provided.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose comprises a tubular body enclosing a water supply passage. An external emitter is attached to the outside of the tubular body. The emitter comprises a front wall, a back wall, side wall and a top wall that defining a flow regulating channel. The emitter further comprises an outlet in at least one of the walls. The hose further comprises an inlet to the emitter.The inlet is in fluid communication with the water supply passage in the hose and the flow regulating channel in the emitter. Water flows through the water supply passage, through the inlet into the emitter, through the flow regulating channel, and out the outlet. The emitter can further comprise a purging bulb to provide a simple and efficient way for the farmer to unclog the emitter.

Abstract: A self cleaning drip irrigation hose comprising an elongated strip of plastic film folded longitudinally to form first and second overlapping longitudinal margins. A first longitudinal bead partially seals the overlapping margin. A second longitudinal bead outboard of the first bead partially seals the overlapping margins. The first and second beads have a repeating longitudinal pattern that forms a flow regulating channel and opposing inlets spaced along the length of the first and second beads. Outlets from the flow regulating channel to the exterior of the hose are spaced from the inlets to create a pressure drop across the flow regulating channel. A third longitudinal bead outboard of the second bead completely seals the overlapping margin. The second and third beads form a water access channel to the inlets in the second bead such that the inlets in the first bead when plugged are back flushed by water flow through the inlets in the second bead.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs.

Abstract: The serpentine, turbulence inducing path lengths from the inlets to the outlets of the flow regulating passage of a continuous emitter drip irrigation hose are arranged in back to back fashion relative to the outlets in the sense that the chevrons angle away from each of outlets, so there is parallel turbulent flow from two inlets to each outlet. This doubles the flow rate from each outlet without changing the dimensions of the flow regulating passage.

Abstract: The serpentine, turbulence inducing path lengths from the inlets to the outlets of the flow regulating passage of a continuous emitter drip irrigation hose are arranged in back to back fashion relative to the outlets in the sense that the chevrons angle away from each of outlets, so there is parallel turbulent flow from two inlets to each outlet. This doubles the flow rate from each outlet without changing the dimensions of the flow regulating passage.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for splicing together a pair of drip irrigation hoses using splicing means internal to the pair of hoses. The pair of hoses are joined in axial alignment to form a junction with the splicing means interposed internal to each hose. A splicing means is bonded to an inside surface of each hose to fashion the pair of hoses and splicing means into a unitary structure using means for fixing the splicing means to another surface. A seal is formed using means for sealing circumferentially at the junction to create a water-tight seal.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs.

Abstract: A drip irrigation hose of the continuous emitter type in which the outlets from the regulating passage each comprise a single longitudinal slit. By controlling the length of the slits and the flexibility of the film, water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized without clogging when the hose is depressurized. The slits are sufficiently long and the film is sufficiently flexible so the water drips from the outlets when the hose is pressurized. The slits are sufficiently short and the film is sufficiently rigid so the outlets close completely when the hose is depressurized. An outlet forming wheel has a knife blade on its periphery. A backing wheel engages the outlet forming wheel to establish a first nip therebetween. The backing wheel has on its periphery a circumferential slot into which the knife blade fits at the first nip. A rib forming wheel has around its periphery impressions that define a desired track pattern for the ribs.

Abstract: A hose is made by continuously transporting a first strip of plastic film through an assembly station. One or more contiguous molten beads are deposited onto a central region of the film. The beads are formed into a flow regulating passage defined by side walls. A second strip of plastic film, which is narrower than the first strip of film, is sealed to the side walls while molten to form a flow regulating passage between the sidewalls and the first and second strips of film. Inlets to the flow regulating passage and outlets from the flow regulating passage are formed at spaced intervals along the hose. The first strip of film is longitudinally folded to overlap the margins and the overlapping margins are sealed to complete the hose.

Abstract: In a method for protecting an irrigation hose from attack by the elements, an elongated flat sheet of flexible water impervious plastic film is bent along its length to form an overlapping longitudinal seam between opposing longitudinal margins of the sheet. The longitudinal seam is sealed with first and second rib like adhesive beads extending longitudinally uninterrupted along the opposing margins of the sheet in spaced apart relationship to form a continuous chemical storage channel defined by the beads and the opposing margins and to form a water supply channel defined by the remainder of the sheet. The chemical storage channel is fluidically isolated from the water supply channel. The sheet is laid on or under the ground. The ends of the chemical storage channel are sealed so that the only means of egress therefrom is through the interstices of the material of the sheet and the beads. A hose protecting chemical is injected into the chemical storage channel.

Abstract: A laminar flow section and a turbulent flow section are formed contiguous to each other along the length of a flow regulating passage in a drip irrigation hose. Responsive to the pressure in a water supply passage of the drip irrigation hose, the cross-sectional area of the laminar flow section is reduced as the pressure increases so as to compensate for the effect of pressure changes on the drip flow rate of the hose. The water supply passage is formed by a continuous strip of plastic film sealed together at its margins, and the flow regulating passage has longitudinal side walls extending inwardly from the strip. The base portion of the side walls has chevron shaped surfaces that form the turbulent flow section and the remainder of the side walls has smooth surfaces that form the laminar flow section.

Abstract: In a method for protecting an irrigation hose from attack by the elements, an elongated flat sheet of flexible water impervious plastic film is bent along its length to form an overlapping longitudinal seam between opposing longitudinal margins of the sheet. The longitudinal seam is sealed with first and second rib like adhesive beads extending longitudinally uninterrupted along the opposing margins of the sheet in spaced apart relationship to form a continuous chemical storage channel defined by the beads and the opposing margins and to form a water supply channel defined by the remainder of the sheet. The chemical storage channel is fluidically isolated from the water supply channel. The sheet is laid on or under the ground. The ends of the chemical storage channel are sealed so that the only means of egress therefrom is through the interstices of the material of the sheet and the beads. A hose protecting chemical is injected into the chemical storage channel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for splicing together a pair of drop irrigation hoses using splicing means internal to the pair of hoses. The pair of hoses are joined in axial alignment to form a junction with the splicing means interposed internal to each hose. A splicing means is bonded to an inside surface of each hose to fashion the pair of hoses and splicing means into a unitary structure using means for fixing the splicing means to another surface. A seal is formed using means for sealing circumferentially at the junction to create a water-tight seal.