Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus to regulate flow of an irrigation fluid through a drip irrigation device. The apparatus includes a fluid supply conduit, a rigid insert mounted coaxially within the fluid supply conduit, and at least one elastomeric ring. The rigid insert receives the fluid from a fluid supply at an inlet port and guides the fluid from the inlet port toward an outlet port. The at least one elastomeric ring is stretched over a portion of the rigid insert having a plurality of inflow gates inbuilt circumferentially into the rigid insert, where an elastomeric ring creates an inward pressure on each inflow gate that is lesser than an input pressure of the fluid. As a result, the flow of the liquid through a plurality of outlet perforations is regulated.

Abstract: An apparatus, especially adapted for regulating flow of in-line drip irrigation device emitters. The disclosed apparatus converts high liquid flow to a low flow rate as low as 0.02 gallons per hour. The liquid is introduced at a controlled high flow rate, such as by the use of a pressurized fluid supply conduit. The liquid then flows into a number of inlet inflow gates before traversing a pressure responding diaphragm. The closing pressure response of the pressure responding diaphragm, provided primarily by a number of elastomeric o-rings, must be overcome by the pressurized fluid entering through the inlet inflow gates before transmitting regulated fluid flow through an outlet means, wherein said ancillary elastomeric o-ring is a rubber annular component assembled with a tubular rigid insert prior to insertion of drip line extrusion. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for regulating flow of pressure-responding diaphragms of extruded in-line irrigation device emitters'.