GB2500413A

GB2500413A - Double-reel winding device for drip irrigation lines

Info

Publication number: GB2500413A
Application number: GB1204932.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sharona Keren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-21
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: GB201204932D0

Abstract

A device 10 for winding and unwinding drip irrigation lines 28, thereby deploying the lines over an area and irrigating that area, is disclosed. The device includes a structural framework 70 defining at least two coaxial reel sub-units 12A, 12B, which may be sections of a single drum 40 divided by a partition 14 mounted on rails 18A, 18B. The lines 28 are fed from a central pipe 24 which is preferably provided with a swivel connector 90 that accepts a hose and a stop-cork 100. The stop-cork 100 can be replaced with another swivel connector so that a plurality of devices 10 can be connected together. The device allows the irrigation lines to be easily deployed and to be removed from the irrigated area for storage when not in use.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPLOYING

DRIPPING IRRIGATION LINES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to irrigation devices in general and more particularly, to a reel device for winding on an irrigation pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil and is widely used at fields, gardens or elsewhere. Since firstly employed by the mankind, as far back as the 6th millennium BCE in Mesopotamia and Egypt, many different techniques and elaborations were explored. Among the challenges of the irrigation remain: delivering the water effectively to the roots of the plants or to the roots' area as well as reducing water waste caused by evaporation and winds. Therefore, drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation or micro-irrigation, is one of the leading trends at the irrigation technologies. Effectively addressing both of the aforementioned challenges, drip irrigation has one significant drawback; it requires prior deployment of dripper irrigation line -irrigation tubing with emitters or drippers installed. The present invention presents a device that strives to simplify the task of dripper irrigation line deployment, provides for more customizable coverage of an irrigated area, and facilitates reversible installation, uninstallation and storage of the dripper irrigation line.

S It is believed that the most pertinent state of the art is represented by international patent application serial number

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention a reel device for winding on an irrigation pipe, a method of using the same, and a system in which the reel device is implemented.

The device, in accordance with the present invention, includes: a structural framework, a rotational pivot, one or more reel sub-units coaxially revolving around the rotational pivot and preferably co-rotational, and a swivel conduit connector. The system in accordance with the present invention further includes an inlet and a dripper irrigation line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more S fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is an isometric view of an embodiment of a double-reel device of in accordance with present invention; Fig. 1 B is a side view of an embodiment of a double-reel device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 1C is front view of an embodiment of a double-reel device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 1D is an exploded view of an embodiment of a double-reel device in accordance with present invention; is Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a reel assembly of the embodiment of Figs. lA-iD; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a structural framework of the embodiment of Figs. lA-i D; Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a swivel flow control connector of the embodiment of Figs. lA-iD; Fig. 5A is an isometric view of an over-flow limiter of the embodiment of Figs. lA-iD; Fig. 5B is a front view of an over-flow limiter of the embodiment of Figs. lA-i D; and Fig. 5C is a side view of an over-flow limiter of the embodiment of Figs. iA-i D. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are S described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be io appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1A to 5C, showing some structural details of exemplary double-reel device 10. Double-reel device 10 IS comprises structural framework 70 and reel assembly 40. Reel assembly 40 is pivotally disposed within structural framework 70. Partition 14 divides reel assembly 40 into first reel sub-unit 12A revolving coaxially with second reel sub-unit 12B. Rods 18A and 18B affix partition 14 to structural framework 70, from the terminal apical annular elements of partition 14.

Reel assembly 40 comprises drum 22, shown in Fig. 2. Drum 22 includes central portion and flanking elements. Central portion of drum 22 have a longitudinal slot. Manifold 24 is pivotally disposed coaxially with reel assembly 40 and drum 22, while the outlets thereof extend from the aforementioned slot in the central portion of the latter. Dripping irrigation lines 26A and 26B are connected are connected to the outlets manifold 24 about the surface of comprises drum 22. Dripping irrigation lines 26A and 26B are furnished with a plurality of nozzles or sprinklers 28, emitting water at spaced points or continuously along the line.

The dripping irrigation line can be any of the lines known in the art and manufactured in industry, inter alia any kind of a drip irrigation line furnished with plurality of dripper nozzles or sprinklers, in which water is emitted at spaced points, or a porous drip irrigation tubing that allows water to seep out along the entire length of the tube, such as the "Conduit 100' Drip io Tubing [Catalogue Number (SHD+C-100)]" available form Irrigro USA -LAO Box 163, 1755 Factory Outlet Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY-USA 14304-0163.

Dripping irrigation lines 26A and 26B terminate with corks 30.

Corks 30, of an essentially elliptic-spherical shape, do catch from the soil while deployed/collected. Corks 30 are larger than the aperture in tabs 32, threaded onto rod 18C movable coaxially and pivotally thereto; thereby in a collected conformation, such as of second reel sub-unit 12B, tabs 32 prefix the terminal end of lines 26A and 26B closely to drum 22. While deploying/collecting of lines 26A and 26B tabs 32 act as guiding elements facilitating continuous winding/unwinding of lines 26A and 26B about drum 22.

Reel assembly 40 comprises swivel flow control connector 90 and stop-cork 100. Swivel flow control connector 90 and stop-cork 100 are screwed onto terminal portions of manifold 24. Swivel flow control connector and stop-cork 100 are can be used interchangeably, thus another swivel flow control connector can be screwed onto manifold 24 in lieu of stop-cork 100; thereby allowing concatenating in tandem a plurality of exemplary double-reel device 10. Reel assembly 40 further comprises filter 45, disposed at the inlet of manifold 24.

Double-reel device 10 further comprises handle 72, disposed outwardly to structural framework 70. Handle 72 is rotationally coupled to reel assembly 40; thereby allowing winding/unwinding of lines 26A and 26B about drum 22, by rotating handle 72, thus deploying/collecting of lines 26A and 26B via tabs 32.

Swivel flow control connector 90 comprises terminal snap-on arrangement 92, for connecting a gardening hose (not shown). swivelling connector 94 and over-flow limiter 95. Over-flow limiter 95 comprises annular body 96 and plate 97, connected to body 96 by struts 98; forming slits 99 in-between. Plate 97 essentially obstructs the incoming flow, thereby effectively limiting it to the flow capable to pass via slits 99. Consequently if irrigation lines 26A and 26B or the nozzles thereon lines are disrupted over-flow limiter effectively restricts the flow into double-reel device 10 to the flow capable to pass via slits 99.

Irrigation lines 26A and 26B are capable of being deployed from double-reel device 10 and a plurality of double-reel device 10 are capable of being concatenated in tandem, inter alia, in accordance to what has been described in international patent application serial number

Claims

CLAIMS1. A double-reel device for simultaneously winding/unwinding at least two continuous dripping irrigation lines, thereby customizably deploying said dripper irrigation lines over an irrigated area and providing S irrigation to said area, essentially as shown and described.