GB2561371B

GB2561371B - Irrigation system

Info

Publication number: GB2561371B
Application number: GB1705862.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hoi Wong Kam; Wai Wong Ka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-11
Filing date: 2017-04-11
Publication date: 2019-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-11
Also published as: CN108684489A; CN108684489B; GB2561371A; GB201705862D0

Description

IRRIGATION SYSTEM

The invention relates to an irrigation system particularly but not exclusively for agricultural and horticultural applications.

Conventional irrigation systems comprise a water supply connected to a network of outlets through which a restricted supply of water may be discharged either above or below ground level. However a rate of flow of water which is larger than normal may be required to maintain optimum growing conditions or to prevent desiccation in hot weather or windy conditions in order to accommodate higher consumption or drainage of water in some parts of the network.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an irrigation system comprising: a casing defining a chamber, the chamber having a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet adapted to be connected in use to a water supply; a water control valve within the chamber adapted to move between: an open position when the water level in the chamber is below a lower predetermined level; and a closed position when the water level in the chamber is at or above an upper predetermined level; an aperture communicating between an interior and an exterior of the casing; a control member movably located in the aperture and having an outer portion external to the casing and an inner portion within the chamber; wherein application of an external force to the outer portion urges the inner portion between an engaged location in which the inner portion engages and urges the water control valve to an open position and a disengaged location in which the water control valve is free to move buoyantly to the closed position.

The water control valve may be a float valve arranged so that the valve closes when the water level reaches the upper predetermined level.

The system may function in two modes. When the control member is disengaged from the water control valve, the chamber may fill to the water level of the upper predetermined value so that a float of the valve causes the valve to close the water inlet. Consequently the pressure of water at the water outlet is determined by the head of water within the chamber. The vertical height of the chamber relative to the water supply line may be adjusted as required-.For example dependent on the contours of the surface of the ground or growing medium. When the control member is in the engaged location the water pressure from the water supply is delivered directly to the outlet, providing a higher rate of irrigation as may be required periodically, for example once daily or during dry weather conditions.

In an advantageous embodiment the control member may include an air channel to permit equalisation of air pressure within the chamber with ambient atmospheric pressure when the control member is in the disengaged location and further arranged to seal the chamber when the control member is in the engaged location so that the chamber is maintained at a higher pressure to provide a higher rate of irrigation.

The control member may comprise a first opening and a lateral opening in communication with the air channel, wherein in the disengaged location the lateral opening is located external to the casing and the first opening is located within the casing; and wherein in the engaged location both the first and lateral openings are located within the casing.

The control member may comprise a hollow rod.

The air channel and openings permit equalisation of air pressure within the chamber with ambient atmospheric pressure when the control member is in the disengaged location and seals the chamber when the control member is in the engaged location so that the chamber is maintained at a higher pressure to provide a higher rate of irrigation.

The control member may be moved either manually or using an actuator between the disengaged location in which the water control valve controls the level of water in the chamber and the engaged location in which the water control valve is held open so that a continuous flow of water may pass from the water inlet to the water outlet.

In an embodiment the control member may be movable vertically between the upper disengaged location and the lower engaged location in which the water control valve is pushed downwardly against the buoyant force acting on the water control valve.

The control member may be moved to an intermediate location to provide an intermediate rate of water supply.

The control member may comprise a cylindrical rod mounted for upward and downward sliding movement within the aperture.

The rod and aperture may form a friction fit to prevent free movement of the rod when an insufficient external force is applied. Alternatively a gasket or spring member may be arranged to engage the rod to prevent free movement of the rod.

In an embodiment the system may include a water distribution system connected to the water outlet. The water distribution system may comprise a water supply line having an inlet communicating with the water outlet of the chamber, the water supply line having one or more outlets located in spaced relation. The outlets form a network arranged to distribute water across an area to be irrigated. A multiplicity of outlets may be arranged above or across the surface of the ground or other growing medium or may be buried beneath the surface. The outlets may be arranged so that a selected area may be irrigated with a high or low rate of water flow dependent on the arrangement of the control member.

The water supply line may be adapted to be located above or below the surface of a growth medium or ground surface. For example, the water supply line may be buried in the growth medium or below the ground surface.

The water supply line may comprise an elongate supply conduit, for example a pipe, tube or hose,, connected at a first upstream end to the water outlet of the chamber and having one or more outlets extending longitudinally of the conduit or arranged along the length of the conduit, the outlets communicating with a distribution conduit, the distribution conduit having a multiplicity of outlets through which water may pass from the water supply line to the external environment.

The water supply line may comprise a double pipe, hose or tube in which the supply and distribution conduits extend side by side or in parallel. In an embodiment the two conduits may have cross sectional configuration of a numeral 8. Alternatively a single conduit may be divided into two sections by an intermediate wall to form the supply and distribution conduits on either side of the wall, one or more apertures in the wall communicating between the two sections.

The distribution conduit may be completely or partially filled with a porous material arranged to restrict a flow of water from the supply conduit to the external environment. A suitable material may be an open-celled foamed polymeric material or a bibulous fibrous material.

The outlets of the distribution conduit may be on an opposite side to the outlets of the supply conduit. The distribution conduit may be arranged so that water has to pass through an entire body of porous material located therein before reaching the growing medium. A baffle or diaphragm may extend across the distribution conduit and have one or more apertures with a larger dimension than the outlet from the supply conduit. The presence of the baffle serves to reduce the water pressure supplied to the porous material allowing the porous material to homogenously absorb water without being ejected from the supply conduit by excessive water pressure. The baffle also serves to allow the porous material to distribute water evenly and to reduce the magnitude of any changes in pressure. The body of porous material may have an enlarged outer portion to facilitate constant and slow distribution of water without any surges to the surrounding growing medium in use.

The outlets of the distribution conduit may have an outwardly increasing cross-sectional dimension. The outlets of the distribution conduit may also have an inwardly angled lip region.

The porous material may include a plurality of conduits in regions of water impermeable material to control the direction of water flow.

In an alternative or additional embodiment the porous material, for example an open-celled polymeric foam, may extend outwardly from the outlets of the distribution conduit so as to improve capillary contact with a surrounding growth medium.

The water supply line may comprise a double hose of flexible polymeric or elastomeric material.

One or more of the outlets of the supply conduit may comprise a continuous or broken slit extending longitudinally of the conduit and communicating with the interior of the distribution conduit. The outlets of the distribution conduit may comprise an array of apertures extending through a wall thereof located in diametrically opposed spaced relation to the inlet from the water supply line.

Each aperture may have a piece of foamed polymeric material or other porous material inserted therein.

The water supply line may be composed of elastomeric material.

The water distribution system may further comprise at least one dispensing head extending through the outlets of the distribution conduit, the dispensing heads comprising one or more outlets. The dispensing heads may be arranged to rotate in use.

The at least one dispensing head may further comprises one or more sprinkler adaptors configured to connect an outlet of the dispensing head; the sprinkler adaptor comprising a multiplicity of outlet apertures.

The one or more adaptors may be of an elongate configuration. A baffle or diaphragm may extend across the distribution conduit. The baffle or diaphragm may have one or more apertures communicating between opposite sides of the distribution conduit. A body of the porous material within the distribution conduit may contact the inner wall of the distribution conduit and the surface of the baffle or diaphragm.

The body of the porous material may be D-shaped in cross section.

The invention is further described by means of example but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the irrigation system showing the control member in the engaged location and the water control valve in the open position;

Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the irrigation system showing the control member in the disengaged location and the water control valve in the closed position;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the water supply line;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the water supply line of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the water supply line of Figures 3;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a modification of the water supply line of Figure 3 with alternative apertures;

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the water supply line of Figures 5 or 6 incorporating open cellular material;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the water supply line;

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the water supply line of Figures 5 or 6 with a dispensing head; and

Figures 10 and 11 show a cross sectional view of an alternative water supply line.

Figures 1 and 2 show an irrigation system 1 comprising a casing 2 defining a chamber 3. The chamber 3 includes a water inlet 4 and a water outlet 5. A water supply tubing 6 extends through the water inlet 4 to provide a connective seal to prevent the inflow of air into the chamber 3. The water outlet 5 is connected to a water distribution system 7 (not shown). A water control valve 8 is located within the chamber 3 and comprises a float 9 and valve 10 attached to opposing sides of a float arm 11. The water control valve 8 further comprises a system housing 12 located at the base of the chamber 3. The system housing 12 includes a system water inlet 13, a system water outlet 14 and an upwardly extending member 15a located between the system water inlet 13 and outlet 14. The system water inlet 13 is shown connected to the water supply tubing 6. The float arm 11 is pivotally connected to the upwardly extending member 15a of the system housing 12. The pivot point is located adjacent the valve 10. The water outlet 5 is located beneath the system water inlet 13 and outlet 14. A cylindrical control member 15b comprising an air channel (not shown), a first 16 and lateral opening 17 in communication with the air channel, and a closed end 18, is positioned through an aperture 19 located within the casing 2

In use the water control valve 8 is moveable between a closed position in which the valve 10 stops water from entering the chamber 3 by preventing the inflow of water from the system water outlet 14, and an open position where the valve 10 is positioned to allow water to enter the chamber 3 through the system water outlet 14. In turn, the control member 15b is moveable between an engagement location in which an inner portion 20 of the control member 15b engages and urges the water control valve 8 into an open position and a disengaged location in which the water control valve 8 is free to move buoyantly to the closed position.

Figure 3 shows the water distribution system 7 connected to the water outlet 5 of Figures 1 and 2. The water distribution system 7 includes a water supply line 21. The water supply line 21 comprises an elongate supply conduit 22 connected to the water outlet 5 of the chamber 3 and having one or more outlets 23 shown in Figure 8 extending longitudinally of the conduit, the outlets 23 communicating with a distribution conduit 24, the distribution conduit 24 having a multiplicity of circular outlets 25 with lips 26 through which water may pass from the water supply line 21 to the external environment. The distribution conduit 24 has a closed end 27 at one end of the conduit.

Figure 4 shows the water supply line 21 of Figure 3. The supply conduit 22 and the distribution conduit 24 are integrally formed by a water supply line wall 28. A narrowed region defining the outlets 23 of the supply conduit 22 is located at the part of the perimeter shared by each of the conduits. The water supply line 21 has an hourglass or numeral 8 configuration in cross sectional view.

Figure 5 shows the water supply line 21 of Figure 3 disconnected from the water outlet 5.

Figure 6 shows the water supply line 21 of Figure 3 with alternative cylindrical distribution conduit outlets 125. The conduit outletsl25 have angled lips 126. The water supply line 21 is shown disconnected from the water outlet 5.

Figure 7 shows the water supply line 21 of Figures 5 or 6 incorporating a plug of open cellular material 28a. The open cellular material 28a comprises a substantially rectangular base portion 29 and a head portion 30 which extends from the rectangular base portion 29. When the open cellular material 28a is located within the water supply line 21 the rectangular base portion 29 is located adjacent the supply conduit 22 and the head portion 30 extends outwardly through the distribution conduit outlets 25/125. A tapered or squeezed region 31 is located between the rectangular base portion 29 and head portion 30.

Figure 8 shows a perspective top view of the water supply line 21 of Figures 3 to 5. The distribution conduit outlets 25 together with a longitudinally extending array of outlets 23 of the supply conduit are shown.

Figure 9 shows the water supply line 21 of Figures 5 or 6 with a dispensing head 32. No open cellular material is used in this embodiment. The dispensing head 32 is of a T shaped configuration and comprises first 33 and second 34 ends. The first end 33 extends through the apertures 25/125 of the distribution conduit 24. The first end 33 of the dispensing head 32 includes an opening 35. The second end 34 of the dispensing head 32 includes a pair of diametrically opposed outlets 36 located on a T shaped cross-member 37. A pair of elongate tubular adaptors 38 maybe located on either end of the T shaped cross member 37. The elongated tubular adaptors 38 have an open first end 39, a closed second end 40 and a series of outlets 41. The outlets 41 are located on the underside of the elongate tubular adaptors 38. The open first end 39 of each of the elongate tubular adaptors 38 are configured to mount on the sides of the T cross-member 37. Mounting of the elongate tubular adaptors 38 results in the outlets 36 of the T cross-member 37 being located within the elongate tubular adaptors 38.

Figures 10 and 11 show cross sectional views of an alternative water supply line comprising a supply conduit (40), distribution conduit (24) and a porous material (45). Figure 10 shows the water supply line without the porous material (45) and Figure 11 shows the water supply line with the porous material (45) in place. The function of the water supply line is as described with reference to Figure 9.

The baffle (43) divides the distribution conduit (24) into upper 083 and lower (49) levels. An array of apertures (46) may be provided. These have a larger dimension than the outlet (42) so that flow of water is not impeded in use. The baffle (43) serves to reduce the water pressure from the supply conduit (40) so that water on the water supply line can be absorbed by the porous material (45) to provide more even distribution of water to the growing medium. The porous body (453 has extended outer portions (47) to provide an increased surface area for transmission of water to the surrounding growing medium.

The porous material (45) may be shaped to fit snugly within the distribution conduit (24) having a wider end in contact with the baffle 03) or diaphragm. In the illustrated embodiment the part of the body of porous material within the conduit is D-shaped in cross section. This arrangement improves the rate and homogeneity of water absorption from the supply conduit (40) to the external environment.

Claims

1. An irrigation system comprising: a casing defining a chamber, the chamber having a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet adapted to be connected in use to a water supply; a water control valve within the chamber adapted to move between: an open position when the water level in the chamber is below a lower predetermined level; and a closed position when the water level in the chamber is at or above an upper predetermined level; an aperture communicating between an interior and an exterior of the casing; a control member movably located in the aperture and having an outer portion external to the casing and an inner portion within the chamber; wherein application of an external force to the outer portion urges the inner portion between an engaged location in which the inner portion engages and urges the water control valve to an open position and a disengaged location in which the water control valve is free to move buoyantly to the closed position.

2. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control member includes an air channel to permit equalisation of air pressure within the chamber with ambient atmospheric pressure when the control member is in the disengaged location and further arranged to seal the chamber when the control member is in the engaged location so that the chamber is maintained at a higher pressure to provide a higher rate of irrigation.

3. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control member further comprises a first opening and a lateral opening in communication with the air channel; wherein in the disengaged location the lateral opening is located external to the casing and the first opening is located within the casing; and wherein in the engaged location both the first and lateral openings are located within the casing.

4. An irrigation system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control member is moved either manually or using an actuator

5. An irrigation system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control member comprises a cylindrical rod mounted for upward and downward sliding movement within the aperture.

6. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rod and aperture form a friction fit to prevent free movement of the rod. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a gasket or spring member is arranged to engage the rod to prevent free movement of the rod.

8. An irrigation system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a water distribution system connected to the water outlet.

9. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the water distribution system comprises a water supply line having an inlet communicating with the water outlet of the chamber, the water supply line having one or more outlets located in spaced relation.

10. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the water supply line comprises an elongate supply conduit connected to the water outlet of the chamber and having one or more outlets extending longitudinally of the conduit, the outlets communicating with a distribution conduit, the distribution conduit having a multiplicity of outlets through which water may pass from the water supply line to the external environment.

11. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outlets of the distribution conduit are on an opposite side to the outlets of the supply conduit.

12. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein one or more of the outlets of the supply conduit comprise a continuous or broken slit.

13. An irrigation system as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the distribution conduit is completely or partially filled with a porous material.

14. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the porous material is an open-celled foamed polymeric material or a bibulous fibrous material.

15. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the porous material extends outwardly from the outlets of the distribution conduit.

16. An irrigation system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the porous material comprises a plurality of conduits.

17. An irrigation system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the porous material comprises regions of water impermeable material.

18. An irrigation system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the water distribution system further comprises at least one dispensing head extending through the outlets of the distribution conduit, the dispensing heads comprising one or more outlets.

19. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 18, further comprises one or more sprinkler adaptors configured to connect an outlet of the dispensing head; the or each sprinkler adaptor comprising a multiplicity of outlet apertures.

20. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the one or more adaptors are of an elongate configuration.

21. An irrigation system as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the at least one dispensing head is arranged to rotate in use.

22. An irrigation system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a baffle or diaphragm extends across the distribution conduit, the baffle or diaphragm having one or more apertures communicating between opposite sides of the baffle or diaphragm.

23. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 22, wherein a body of the porous material within the distribution conduit contacts the inner wall thereof and the surface of the baffle or diaphragm.

24. An irrigation system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the body of the porous material is D-shaped in cross section.