WO1999057468A1 - Support for irrigation tubing - Google Patents

Support for irrigation tubing Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999057468A1
WO1999057468A1 PCT/IL1999/000240 IL9900240W WO9957468A1 WO 1999057468 A1 WO1999057468 A1 WO 1999057468A1 IL 9900240 W IL9900240 W IL 9900240W WO 9957468 A1 WO9957468 A1 WO 9957468A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
soil
channel
stake
insertion portion
fluid flow
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL1999/000240
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Eyal Biton
Original Assignee
Eyal Biton
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eyal Biton filed Critical Eyal Biton
Priority to AU37269/99A priority Critical patent/AU3726999A/en
Publication of WO1999057468A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999057468A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to irrigation apparatus and particularly to a support stake which is stuck into the ground and supports irrigation tubing, the s t ake having a shut-off valve which prevents wasteful leaking of water and fertilizer material from the irrigation tubing when the stake is removed from the ground.
  • Drip irrigation is a well known method of irrigation wherein irrigation water flows through tubing and drips right near the plants to be irrigated.
  • the tubing has various kinds of drip outlets in order to provide the required amount and pattern of dripping.
  • the drip irrigation tubing is laid over the ground and supported by small stakes stuck into the ground.
  • the stake generally supports the tubing near the drip outlet.
  • a gardener or farm worker must remove the stake from the ground. For example, a worker may routinely remove a flower bed from a row of such beds and uproot the irrigation stake for that flower bed and leave the rest in the ground.
  • this means that the drip tubing is lifted together with the stake and laid on its side on the ground, and the flow of irrigation water continues uninterrupted. This can lead to a significant wasteful pool of water, and fertilizer dissolved therein, around the uprooted stake.
  • the waste in irrigation water is of course rather costly.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved stake for drip irrigation tubing which has a built-in shut-off valve which prevents wasteful leaking of irrigation water from the irrigation tubing when the stake is removed from the ground.
  • a support for irrigation tubing including a stake having a channel formed therein, the channel including an inlet port and an outlet port, the ports being adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing, and a shut-off valve wherein when the stake is inserted in soil the shut-off valve is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the stake is removed from the soil, the shut-off valve is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through the channel.
  • the stake has a bore formed therein, and a plunger is slidingly disposed in the bore, the plunger having a soil insertion portion adapted to be stuck into the soil, and the plunger having a stopper which is biased against an inner surface of the stake so as to urge the stopper towards the channel, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil the stopper is positioned away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the soil insertion portion is removed from the soil, the stopper is urged and positioned to substantially block fluid flow through the channel.
  • the soil insertion portion includes a distal end of the plunger which protrudes from an open end of the bore, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil, the distal end abuts against a portion of the soil, thereby forcing the stopper away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel.
  • the soil insertion portion includes a resilient member arranged to be biased towards and away from the stake, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil, the resilient member is urged by the soil towards the stake, thereby forcing the stopper away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the soil insertion portion is removed from the soil, the resilient member is urged away from the stake, thereby positioning the stopper to substantially block fluid flow through the channel.
  • the channel is not coaxial with the bore.
  • shut-off valve is manually opened and closed.
  • the shut-off valve is manually adjustable.
  • Figs. 1A and IB are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a shut-off valve in open and closed positions;
  • Fig. 1 C is a simplified illustration of the support of Figs. 1A and IB with an alternative drip outlet port;
  • Figs. 2A and 2B are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a shut-off valve in open and closed positions;
  • FIG. 2C is a simplified side-view illustration of the support of Figs. 2 A and 2B; and Figs. 3 A and 3B are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a manual shut-off valve in open and closed positions.
  • Figs. 1A and IB illustrate a support 10 for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Support 10 preferably includes a stake 12 which has a longitudinal shaft 14 and a channel 16, formed in an upper portion of stake 12, not coaxial with shaft 14.
  • Channel 16 includes an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 20.
  • Ports 18 and 20 are adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing 22. Ports 18 and 20 are preferably barbed to ensure a reliable fit with tubing 22.
  • a drip outlet 24 is preferably connected to the tubing 22 at outlet port 20. Drip outlet 24 may be any kind of commercially available drip outlet used in drip irrigation.
  • Fig. 1C illustrates just one kind of drip outlet which may be used, referenced by numeral 26. Drip outlet 26 is described in US Patent 3,792,588, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a shut-off valve 30 is provided wherein when stake 12 is inserted in soil, shut-off valve 30 is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through channel 16, and when stake 12 is removed from soil, shut-off valve 30 is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16. Various embodiments of shut-off valve 30 are now described.
  • shaft 14 has a bore 32 formed therein.
  • a plunger 34 is slidingly disposed in bore 32, and has a soil insertion portion 36 adapted to be stuck into soil.
  • Soil insertion portion 36 preferably includes a distal end 37 of plunger 34 which protrudes from an open end 38 of bore 32.
  • Plunger 34 has a stopper 40 which is biased by a biasing device 42, such as a coil spring, against an inner surface of stake 12 so as to urge stopper 40 towards channel 16.
  • a biasing device 42 such as a coil spring
  • FIGs. 2A-2C illustrate a support 50 for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Support 50 is preferably constructed similarly to support 10, with like elements being designated by like numerals.
  • stake 12 is preferably non-hollow.
  • Support 50 differs from support 10 in the construction of the soil insertion portion.
  • a soil insertion portion 52 preferably includes a resilient member 54 arranged to be biased towards and away from stake 12.
  • Resilient member 54 is preferably constructed from a plastic or metal with high flexibility and is biased against stake 12 at a point 56.
  • An upper end 58 of resilient member 54 is attached to a plunger 60 which slides in a bore 62 formed in an upper portion of stake 12.
  • Plunger 60 has a stopper 64 which is biased by a biasing device 66, such as a coil spring, against an inner surface of stake 12 so as to urge stopper 64 towards channel 16.
  • a biasing device 66 such as a coil spring
  • Support 70 includes a stake 72 with a soil insertion portion 73 for insertion into soil and a channel 74 formed in an upper portion of stake 72 which includes an inlet port 76 and an outlet port 78. Ports 76 and 78 are adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing 80.
  • Support 70 also includes a manual shut-off valve 82 which is manually adjustable. As seen in Fig. 3A, when soil insertion portion 73 is inserted in soil, valve 82 is opened to allow fluid flow through channel 16. As seen in Fig. 3B, when soil insertion portion 73 is removed from soil, valve 82 is closed to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

A support (10) for irrigation tubing (22) comprising a stake (12) having a channel (16) formed therein, the channel comprising an inlet port (18) and an outlet port (20), the ports being adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing, and a shut-off valve (30) wherein when the stake is inserted in soil the shut-off valve is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the stake is removed from the soil, the shut-off valve is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through the channel.

Description

SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION TUBING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to irrigation apparatus and particularly to a support stake which is stuck into the ground and supports irrigation tubing, the stake having a shut-off valve which prevents wasteful leaking of water and fertilizer material from the irrigation tubing when the stake is removed from the ground.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Drip irrigation is a well known method of irrigation wherein irrigation water flows through tubing and drips right near the plants to be irrigated. The tubing has various kinds of drip outlets in order to provide the required amount and pattern of dripping.
Often the drip irrigation tubing is laid over the ground and supported by small stakes stuck into the ground. The stake generally supports the tubing near the drip outlet. There are many instances during the course of performing some agricultural action, wherein a gardener or farm worker must remove the stake from the ground. For example, a worker may routinely remove a flower bed from a row of such beds and uproot the irrigation stake for that flower bed and leave the rest in the ground. Generally this means that the drip tubing is lifted together with the stake and laid on its side on the ground, and the flow of irrigation water continues uninterrupted. This can lead to a significant wasteful pool of water, and fertilizer dissolved therein, around the uprooted stake. The waste in irrigation water is of course rather costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved stake for drip irrigation tubing which has a built-in shut-off valve which prevents wasteful leaking of irrigation water from the irrigation tubing when the stake is removed from the ground. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a support for irrigation tubing, including a stake having a channel formed therein, the channel including an inlet port and an outlet port, the ports being adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing, and a shut-off valve wherein when the stake is inserted in soil the shut-off valve is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the stake is removed from the soil, the shut-off valve is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through the channel. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the stake has a bore formed therein, and a plunger is slidingly disposed in the bore, the plunger having a soil insertion portion adapted to be stuck into the soil, and the plunger having a stopper which is biased against an inner surface of the stake so as to urge the stopper towards the channel, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil the stopper is positioned away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the soil insertion portion is removed from the soil, the stopper is urged and positioned to substantially block fluid flow through the channel.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the soil insertion portion includes a distal end of the plunger which protrudes from an open end of the bore, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil, the distal end abuts against a portion of the soil, thereby forcing the stopper away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the soil insertion portion includes a resilient member arranged to be biased towards and away from the stake, wherein when the soil insertion portion is inserted in the soil, the resilient member is urged by the soil towards the stake, thereby forcing the stopper away from the channel to allow fluid flow through the channel, and when the soil insertion portion is removed from the soil, the resilient member is urged away from the stake, thereby positioning the stopper to substantially block fluid flow through the channel. Preferably the channel is not coaxial with the bore.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shut-off valve is manually opened and closed. Preferably the shut-off valve is manually adjustable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figs. 1A and IB are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a shut-off valve in open and closed positions;
Fig. 1 C is a simplified illustration of the support of Figs. 1A and IB with an alternative drip outlet port; Figs. 2A and 2B are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a shut-off valve in open and closed positions;
Fig. 2C is a simplified side-view illustration of the support of Figs. 2 A and 2B; and Figs. 3 A and 3B are simplified sectional illustrations of a support for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively with a manual shut-off valve in open and closed positions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Figs. 1A and IB which illustrate a support 10 for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Support 10 preferably includes a stake 12 which has a longitudinal shaft 14 and a channel 16, formed in an upper portion of stake 12, not coaxial with shaft 14. Channel 16 includes an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 20. Ports 18 and 20 are adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing 22. Ports 18 and 20 are preferably barbed to ensure a reliable fit with tubing 22. A drip outlet 24 is preferably connected to the tubing 22 at outlet port 20. Drip outlet 24 may be any kind of commercially available drip outlet used in drip irrigation. Fig. 1C illustrates just one kind of drip outlet which may be used, referenced by numeral 26. Drip outlet 26 is described in US Patent 3,792,588, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A shut-off valve 30 is provided wherein when stake 12 is inserted in soil, shut-off valve 30 is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through channel 16, and when stake 12 is removed from soil, shut-off valve 30 is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16. Various embodiments of shut-off valve 30 are now described.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shaft 14 has a bore 32 formed therein. A plunger 34 is slidingly disposed in bore 32, and has a soil insertion portion 36 adapted to be stuck into soil. Soil insertion portion 36 preferably includes a distal end 37 of plunger 34 which protrudes from an open end 38 of bore 32. Plunger 34 has a stopper 40 which is biased by a biasing device 42, such as a coil spring, against an inner surface of stake 12 so as to urge stopper 40 towards channel 16. As seen in Fig. 1A, when soil insertion portion 36 is inserted in soil, distal end 37 abuts against a portion of the soil, thereby forcing stopper 40 away from channel 16 to allow fluid flow through channel 16. As seen in Fig. IB, when soil insertion portion 36 is removed from soil, stopper 40 is urged by biasing device 42 to be positioned to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16.
Reference is now made to Figs. 2A-2C which illustrate a support 50 for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Support 50 is preferably constructed similarly to support 10, with like elements being designated by like numerals. In support 50, stake 12 is preferably non-hollow.
Support 50 differs from support 10 in the construction of the soil insertion portion.
In support 50, a soil insertion portion 52 preferably includes a resilient member 54 arranged to be biased towards and away from stake 12. Resilient member 54 is preferably constructed from a plastic or metal with high flexibility and is biased against stake 12 at a point 56. An upper end 58 of resilient member 54 is attached to a plunger 60 which slides in a bore 62 formed in an upper portion of stake 12. Plunger 60 has a stopper 64 which is biased by a biasing device 66, such as a coil spring, against an inner surface of stake 12 so as to urge stopper 64 towards channel 16. As seen in Fig. 2A, when soil insertion portion 52 is inserted in soil, resilient member 54 is urged by the soil towards stake 12, thereby forcing stopper 64 away from channel 16 to allow fluid flow through channel 16. As seen in Fig. 2B, when soil insertion portion 52 is removed from the soil, resilient member 54 is urged away from stake 12, thereby positioning stopper 64 to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16.
Reference is now made to Figs. 3 A and 3B which illustrate a support 70 for irrigation tubing, constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Support 70 includes a stake 72 with a soil insertion portion 73 for insertion into soil and a channel 74 formed in an upper portion of stake 72 which includes an inlet port 76 and an outlet port 78. Ports 76 and 78 are adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing 80. Support 70 also includes a manual shut-off valve 82 which is manually adjustable. As seen in Fig. 3A, when soil insertion portion 73 is inserted in soil, valve 82 is opened to allow fluid flow through channel 16. As seen in Fig. 3B, when soil insertion portion 73 is removed from soil, valve 82 is closed to substantially block fluid flow through channel 16.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed is: 1. A support for irrigation tubing, comprising: a stake having a channel formed therein, said channel comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, said ports being adapted for fluid communication with irrigation tubing; and a shut-off valve wherein when said stake is inserted in soil said shut-off valve is adapted to be open to allow fluid flow through said channel, and when said stake is removed from said soil, said shut-off valve is adapted to be closed to substantially block fluid flow through said channel.
2. The support according to claim 1 wherein said stake has a bore formed therein, and a plunger is slidingly disposed in said bore, said plunger having a soil insertion portion adapted to be stuck into said soil, and said plunger having a stopper which is biased against an inner surface of said stake so as to urge said stopper towards said channel, wherein when said soil insertion portion is inserted in said soil said stopper is positioned away from said channel to allow fluid flow through said channel, and when said soil insertion portion is removed from said soil, said stopper is urged and positioned to substantially block fluid flow through said channel.
3. The support according to claim 2 wherein said soil insertion portion comprises a distal end of said plunger which protrudes from an open end of said bore, wherein when said soil insertion portion is inserted in said soil, said distal end abuts against a portion of said soil, thereby forcing said stopper away from said channel to allow fluid flow through said channel.
4. The support according to claim 2 wherein said soil insertion portion comprises a resilient member arranged to be biased towards and away from said stake, wherein when said soil insertion portion is inserted in said soil, said resilient member is urged by said soil towards said stake, thereby forcing said stopper away from said channel to allow fluid flow through said channel, and when said soil insertion portion is removed from said soil, said resilient member is urged away from said stake, thereby positioning said stopper to substantially block fluid flow through said channel.
5. The support according to claim 2 wherein said channel is not coaxial with said bore.
6. The support according to claim 1 wherein said shut-off valve is manually opened and closed.
7. The support according to claim 1 wherein said shut-off valve is manually adjustable.
8. The support according to any of the preceding claims and substantially as described hereinabove. 9. The support according to any of the preceding claims and substantially as shown in any of the drawings.
PCT/IL1999/000240 1998-05-07 1999-05-07 Support for irrigation tubing WO1999057468A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU37269/99A AU3726999A (en) 1998-05-07 1999-05-07 Support for irrigation tubing

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL124360 1998-05-07
IL12436098A IL124360A0 (en) 1998-05-07 1998-05-07 Support for irrigation tubing

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999057468A1 true WO1999057468A1 (en) 1999-11-11

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/IL1999/000240 WO1999057468A1 (en) 1998-05-07 1999-05-07 Support for irrigation tubing

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU3726999A (en)
IL (1) IL124360A0 (en)
WO (1) WO1999057468A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109404572A (en) * 2018-12-30 2019-03-01 中铁十四局集团有限公司 Non-return valve and pipeline with it

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2974922A (en) * 1957-09-30 1961-03-14 Baker Oil Tools Inc Tubing control valve apparatus
US3425630A (en) * 1966-01-17 1969-02-04 Keith C Fessler Sr Sprinkler fence
US4277046A (en) * 1978-09-25 1981-07-07 Cavileer Watson V Irrigation valve

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2974922A (en) * 1957-09-30 1961-03-14 Baker Oil Tools Inc Tubing control valve apparatus
US3425630A (en) * 1966-01-17 1969-02-04 Keith C Fessler Sr Sprinkler fence
US4277046A (en) * 1978-09-25 1981-07-07 Cavileer Watson V Irrigation valve

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3726999A (en) 1999-11-23
IL124360A0 (en) 1998-12-06

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