Irrigation dripper and pipe

Abstract

A dripper adapted to be bonded to interior of an irrigation pipe during manufacture and to be associated with an outlet opening in said pipe. The dripper comprises an outwardly facing surface adapted for the bonding, an outlet area associated with the surface, and at least one bulge near the outlet area. The bulge defines an outermost portion of the surface at least during manufacture of the pipe, and is adapted to form, when the dripper is bonded to the pipe, a raised outlet region in the pipe associated with the bulge. The bulge and outlet area are designed so as to form the raised outlet region suitable for at least a part of the outlet opening to be formed therein and be defined by the material of the pipe.

1 . A dripper adapted to be bonded to interior of an irrigation pipe during manufacture and to be associated with an outlet opening in said pipe, the dripper comprising an outwardly facing surface adapted for the bonding, an outlet area associated with said surface and at least one bulge near said outlet area, said at least one bulge defining an outermost portion of said surface at least during manufacture of the pipe, and being adapted to form, when the dripper is bonded to said pipe, a raised outlet region in the pipe associated with said bulge, the at least one bulge and said outlet area being designed so as to form said raised outlet region suitable for at least a part of said outlet opening being formed therein and being defined by the material of the pipe.  
     
     
         2 . A dripper according to  claim 1  being axi-symmetrical.  
     
     
         3 . A dripper according to  claim 2 , wherein said surface has a generally circular symmetry about an axis of symmetry perpendicular to the outwardly facing surface.  
     
     
         4 . A dripper according to  claim 3 , wherein the axis of symmetry passes in the middle of the bulge.  
     
     
         5 . A dripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the bulge is in the form of a plurality of bulging portions spaced apart.  
     
     
         6 . A dripper according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface has a generally elongated shape and a longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . A dripper according to  claim 6 , wherein the bulge comprises projections on both sides of the axis, forming therebetween said outlet area.  
     
     
         8 . A dripper according to  claim 6 , wherein the bulge extends substantially parallel to the axis and offset therefrom.  
     
     
         9 . A dripper according to  claim 6 , wherein the bulge is substantially collinear with the axis, said outlet area being on at least one side of the bulge.  
     
     
         10 . A dripper according to  claim 1 , further comprising an element movable from a first position below the surface to a second position protruding therefrom, said element constituting the bulge, when in said second position.  
     
     
         11 . A dripper according to  claim 10 , wherein the bulge is adapted to pierce the pipe upon the movement during manufacture.  
     
     
         12 . A dripper according to  claim 1 , wherein said dripper comprises a housing and a membrane mounted therein.  
     
     
         13 . An irrigation pipe having outlet openings and a plurality of drippers each comprising an outwardly facing surface bonded to the pipe's interior, an outlet area associated with said surface in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet openings, and at least one bulge near said outlet area, the pipe comprising a raised outlet region associated with said bulge, at least a part of said one outlet opening being formed in said raised outlet region and being defined by the material of the pipe.  
     
     
         14 . An irrigation pipe according to  claim 13 , wherein the outlet openings are below the top of the bulge.  
     
     
         15 . An irrigation pipe according to  claim 13 , wherein the outlet openings are at the height of the bulge.  
     
     
         16 . An irrigation pipe according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening is so formed to allow an outflow of water from the pipe due to an elevated internal pressure, and to be at least partially closed upon an absence of said pressure.  
     
     
         17 . An irrigation pipe according to  claim 13 , wherein the outlet opening is in the form a slit.  
     
     
         18 . An irrigation pipe according to  claim 13 , wherein said dripper further comprises a housing and a membrane mounted therein.  
     
     
         19 . A method for producing an irrigation pipe, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a dripper comprising an outwardly facing surface adapted for bonding to the interior of the pipe, an outlet area associated with said surface and at least one bulge near said outlet area, the at least one bulge adapted to form a raised outlet region in the pipe so that, when the dripper is bonded, said outlet area thereof is spaced from the wall of the pipe at said raised outlet region;    (b) bonding the dripper to the interior of the pipe so that the raised outlet region is formed; and    (c) cutting the pipe at the raised outlet region, at least a part of which is spaced from the bulge and is to form there an outlet opening defined by the material of the pipe.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the pipe is cut using a fixed cutting arrangement.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein in step (b), bonding the dripper is performed prior to the formation of said raised region.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , the dripper further comprising an element movable from a first position below the surface to a second position protruding therefrom, said element becoming the bulge by being moved to the second position after the bonding, whereby said raised region is formed.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the raised portion of the pipe indicates to a cutting mechanism a location relative thereto, where the outlet opening is to be cut.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the cut is a slit.  
     
     
         25 . A method of according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 (d) providing a blade comprising a guide having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of which is adapted to receive the raised portion of said pipe while allowing the pipe to move along the axis; and further comprising a cutting arrangement adapted to cut said raised portion; and    (e) passing the pipe along said axis, so that the raised portion is received with the guide,    wherein the cutting arrangement is adapted to cut said raised portion.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the guide comprises a channel constituting said guide and a notch at a proximal end of the blade, wherein the notch merges with the channel.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the cutting arrangement is located at the merge of said notch and said channel.  
     
     
         28 . A blade for use with a pipe having a raised portion, adapted for cutting said raised portion, said blade comprising a guide having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of which is adapted to receive the raised portion of said pipe while allowing the pipe to move along the axis; and further comprising a cutting arrangement adapted to form a cut in said raised portion.  
     
     
         29 . A blade according to  claim 28 , further comprising a channel constituting said guide and a notch at a proximal end of said blade; wherein the notch merges with the channel.  
     
     
         30 . A blade according to  claim 29 , wherein the cutting arrangement is located at the merge of said notch and said channel.  
     
     
         31 . A blade according to  claim 28 , wherein said cutting arrangement is designed to form a slit.  
     
     
         32 . A blade according to  claim 28 , wherein the cutting arrangement comprises at least one cutting edge rotatable about an axis.