Abstract: Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.

Abstract: An emitter coupler is provided, such as for use in an irrigation dripline. The emitter coupler includes a body with two portions for coupling to two supply tubes. The emitter coupler also includes a conduit defined by the body that receives fluid from a supply tube. The emitter coupler also has an emitter including: an emitter inlet that receives fluid from the conduit; an emitter outlet downstream of the emitter inlet with the inlet receiving fluid at a certain pressure and the outlet emitting fluid at a reduced pressure; and a pressure reducing flow channel disposed in the emitter between the inlet and the outlet. The emitter coupler further includes a housing that encloses the emitter. The housing is in fluid communication with the conduit and defines an outlet of the emitter coupler. A dripline with at least one emitter coupler is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.

Abstract: A spout clip is provided including a spout and a tube clip. The spout is coupled to the tube clip. The tube clip is configured to attach to a sidewall of a water supply line to secure the spout to the line. The water supply line may include a water discharge hole, and the spout clip may be positioned at the hole. An emitter inside the line may also be positioned at the hole. The spout clip may be attached to the fluid supply tube at the hole to bring the spout of the spout clip into fluid communication with the outlet of the emitter and to distribute water from the line from a location spaced apart from the line.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: Emitter outlets are disclosed which include a bath within which fluid collects until dripping out an outlet formed in the drip line, the bath including a floor having a floor thickness, the floor thickness comprising a first thickness of a bottom wall of the outlet and a second thickness of a rib that projects axially from an outer surface of the bottom wall of the outlet. The rib reinforces the floor so that water pressure in the drip line does not deflect the floor and result in an inconsistent drip pattern. The emitter outlets may also include a first portion upstream of the bath having a plurality of turns for reducing a velocity of fluid traveling through the outlet and may be made of an elastomeric material. In addition, emitters, drip lines and various methods relating to such an emitter outlet configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: Control zone devices that integrate a valve, filter, and pressure regulator within a single device are provided. Specifically, the control zone devices include a main body having a base portion with an inlet passage and an outlet passage attachable to a conduit and a body portion extending from the base portion having an interior for receiving a filter. The control zone devices further include a valve body including a solenoid bowl for attaching a solenoid and an interface cap for removably coupling the valve body to the main body of the control zone device and forming an interface between the valve body and the main body to operate the valve. The control zone devices also include a pressure regulator. In some configurations, the pressure regulator is positioned in a vent flow path of the valve body downstream of the solenoid for regulating pressure at the valve.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: An emitter outlet defining an ingress channel having a first volume and area, and having a first portion that is substantially perpendicular to a second portion located downstream of the first portion which causes fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a first fluid velocity reducing turn, and a first opening located off of the second portion that causes at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a second fluid velocity reducing turn, and an outlet bath with a second volume and area that is larger than the first volume and area of the ingress channel so as to cause further pressure and/or velocity reduction of the fluid entering into the outlet bath. In addition, emitters, drip lines and various methods relating to such an emitter outlet configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: An emitter outlet defining an ingress channel having a first volume and area, and having a first portion that is substantially perpendicular to a second portion located downstream of the first portion which causes fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a first fluid velocity reducing turn, and a first opening located off of the second portion that causes at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a second fluid velocity reducing turn, and an outlet bath with a second volume and area that is larger than the first volume and area of the ingress channel so as to cause further pressure and/or velocity reduction of the fluid entering into the outlet bath. In addition, emitters, drip lines and various methods relating to such an emitter outlet configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: A spout clip is provided including a spout and a tube clip. The spout is coupled to the tube clip. The tube clip is configured to attach to a sidewall of a water supply line to secure the spout to the line. The water supply line may include a water discharge hole, and the spout clip may be positioned at the hole. An emitter inside the line may also be positioned at the hole. The spout clip may be attached to the fluid supply tube at the hole to bring the spout of the spout clip into fluid communication with the outlet of the emitter and to distribute water from the line from a location spaced apart from the line.

Abstract: An emitter coupler is provided, such as for use in an irrigation dripline. The emitter coupler includes a body with two portions for coupling to two supply tubes. The emitter coupler also includes a conduit defined by the body that receives fluid from a supply tube. The emitter coupler also has an emitter including: an emitter inlet that receives fluid from the conduit; an emitter outlet downstream of the emitter inlet with the inlet receiving fluid at a certain pressure and the outlet emitting fluid at a reduced pressure; and a pressure reducing flow channel disposed in the emitter between the inlet and the outlet. The emitter coupler further includes a housing that encloses the emitter. The housing is in fluid communication with the conduit and defines an outlet of the emitter coupler. A dripline with at least one emitter coupler is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line and for manufacturing drip line in a manner that allows the bond between the in-line emitter and surrounding conduit to be checked. In one form, a downstream in-line vacuum tester is provided for monitoring the amount of air escaping from outlet openings in the drip line to detect excessive air associated with poorly bonded emitters.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: A pressure compensation member, an irrigation drip emitter, drip lines and methods relating to same, are provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. The pressure compensation member being suitable for use in conventional emitters or alternate emitters being provided having either a uniform elastomeric emitter body configuration or a poly-material emitter body utilizing an elastomeric pressure compensation member. Various methods are also disclosed herein relating to the pressure compensation member, emitters and/or drip line using such pressure compensating members and/or emitters.

Abstract: Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

Abstract: A fluid supply line is provided to reduce the labor and cost required for dripline system installations by providing predetermined fitting locations where driplines can be attached. The supply line consists of a conduit having a side wall, a connector extending through the side wall of the conduit, the connector having a conduit connecting segment extending outside the conduit and an inlet segment extending into the conduit, and the inlet segment being connected to the side wall of the conduit.

Abstract: An emitter outlet defining an ingress channel having a first volume and area, and having a first portion that is substantially perpendicular to a second portion located downstream of the first portion which causes fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a first fluid velocity reducing turn, and a first opening located off of the second portion that causes at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the ingress channel to make a second fluid velocity reducing turn, and an outlet bath with a second volume and area that is larger than the first volume and area of the ingress channel so as to cause further pressure and/or velocity reduction of the fluid entering into the outlet bath. In addition, emitters, drip lines and various methods relating to such an emitter outlet configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.