Drip irrigation system

Abstract

Low-pressure drip irrigation system, comprising a distribution pipe made of thin-walled sleeve collapsible when empty and designed to operate under hydraulic head up to 3 m H 2 O, having a plurality of holes in the walls thereof, a plurality of branch tubes equipped with low-pressure drip emitters; and a plurality of connectors connecting the branch tubes to the holes of the distribution pipe. The sleeve material is opaque and reflecting the solar radiation so that the natural growth of microorganisms and algae in the irrigation water is suppressed, and the pipe is not heated more than 35° C. above the ambient air temperature. The irrigation system is assembled in the field from components of a kit by deploying the distribution pipe, filling it with water, cutting the holes by means of a special hand-held tool, inserting the connectors into the holes, and assembling the branch tubes with the connectors.

1 . Low-pressure drip irrigation system, comprising: 
 a distribution pipe made of thin-walled sleeve collapsible when empty and designed to operate under hydraulic head up to 3 m H 2 0, having a plurality of holes in the walls thereof, and having an upstream end connectable to a source of water, a plurality of branch tubes equipped with low-press drip emitters; and a plurality of connectors connecting said branch tube to said holes of said distribution pipe.    
   
   
       2 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein, said connectors have a nipple part for connecting to said branch tubes and a base part for connecting to said holes, said base part having a first and a second protruding collar and a narrow neck therebetween, each of said connectors being mounted in one of said holes with the first collar inside the distribution pipe, so that the edge of the hole tightly embraces the neck of the connector, thereby securing the connector to said distribution pipe.  
   
   
       3 . The irrigation system of  claim 2 , wherein said thin-walled sleeve is capable of elastic expansion at least around each of said holes so as to allow penetration of said first collar through said hole when the respective connector is urged into said hole while said distribution, pipe is filled with water, thereby enabling the manual assembly of said irrigation system in the field.  
   
   
       4 . A connector with an axial bore for use in the irrigation system of  claim 1 , said connector having a base part mountable to a hole in said distribution pipe and a nipple part mountable to one of said branch tubes, said base part comprising: 
 a frustum section starting with an annular edge defining one end of said axial bore and smoothly flaring into a fast collar, said frustum part being adapted to penetrate said hole by elastically expanding the edge thereof when the connector is urged therein;    a neck section adjacent said first collar and narrower than said first collar, adapted to accommodate the edge of said hole, when said first collar is inside the distribution pipe; and    a second collar section spaced from said first collar by said neck section and wider than said first collar so as to prevent further penetration of said connector into said distribution pipe.    
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein said neck is wider than said hole in non-expanded state so as to fit tightly to the edge of said hole when said first collar is inside the distribution pipe.  
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein said axial bore of diameter D, said hole has diameter between 0.8 and 1.0D, said first collar has diameter between 1.4 and 1.7D, said neck has diameter between 1.1 and 1.3D, and said second collar has diameter greater than 1.9D.  
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein said diameter D is between 10 and 45 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein, said neck comprises a threaded portion and said second collar is formed as a separate member internal thread matching said threaded portion so that said second collar can seal said edge of the hole to said first collar by tightening up.  
   
   
       9 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A water-irrigation distribution pipe made of a sleeve collapsible when empty, with diameter of at least three inches when filled with water, and operable under hydraulic head up to 3 m H 2 O, said sleeve being made of material adapted to reflect at least partially solar radiation so that, at flow velocity of irrigation water in the pipe between 0.02 and 0.1 m/s, said pipe is not heated more than 35° C. above the ambient air temperature wherein said pipe provided with markings indicating places where holes for connecting branch tubes are to be made.  
   
   
       23 . The distribution pipe of  claim 22 , wherein said markings comprise recesses providing stable positioning of a cutting tool for cutting said holes.  
   
   
       24 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein said distribution pipe is adapted for cutting therein said holes when said distribution pipe is filled with water under pressure about 3 m H 2 0.  
   
   
       34 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gravity filtering tank connectable to a source of water for filtering said water, connected to said upstream end of said distribution pipe.  
   
   
       35 . The irrigation system of  claim 34 , further comprising an automated system for the regulation of the hydraulic head of the irrigation water in said gravity filtering tank.  
   
   
       36 . The irrigation system of  claim 35 , wherein said automated system comprises a pressure sensor disposed at the distal end of one of said branch tubes, and said hydraulic head is regulated in dependence on readings obtained from said sensor.  
   
   
       37 . A kit for assembling a low-pressure irrigation system, comprising at least two of the following components: 
 a distribution pipe made of thin-walled collapsible sleeve designed to operate under hydraulic head up to 3 m H 2 0, having holes or adapted for cutting therein holes;    a plurality of branch tubes equipped with low-pressure drip emitters;    a plurality of connectors, adapted to connect said branch tubes to said holes in said distribution pipe; and    a hand-held tool for cutting said holes in the distribution pipe.    
   
   
       38 . The kit of  claim 37 , wherein said distribution pipe is provided with markings indicating places where said holes are to be made.  
   
   
       39 . The kit of  claim 37 , wherein said distribution pipe is adapted for cutting therein holes when filled with water.  
   
   
       40 . The kit of  claim 37 , wherein said distribution pipe comprises an internal membrane extending along the whole length of the pipe and dividing the cross-section thereof into two chambers, said internal membrane being adapted to filter the irrigation water passing between said two chambers.  
   
   
       41 . A branch tube with low-pressure drip emitters and a connector assembled thereto, for use with the irrigation system of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       42 . A hand-held tool for cutting the holes in the distribution tube of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a tubular cutter with thin annular cutting edge formed with plurality of teeth, and    a handle attached to said tubular cutter,    said tool being adapted to cut said holes by urging the cutter to said distribution tube when the latter is filled with water, and rotating the tool.    
   
   
       43 . The hand-held tool of  claim 42 , wherein said handle has a through axial bore in communication with the inside of said tubular cutter, and said tool further comprises a plunger movably accommodated inside said tubular cutter, with a tail extension obtained through said axial bore, so that when cut-out material from the wall of said distribution tube accumulates in the tubular cutter, said material can be expelled by pressing said tail extension and moving the plunger.  
   
   
       44 . The hand-held tool of  claim 43 , wherein said tubular cutter is firmly attached to said handle and said tool is adapted for rotation by hand.  
   
   
       45 . The hand-held tool of  claim 44 , further comprising an electric drive, said tubular cutter being adapted for rotation by means of said drive.  
   
   
       46 . A method for assembly of a low-pressure drip irrigation system from all the components of the kit of  claim 37 , in an irrigation field, comprising: 
 deploying said distribution pipe in the field and connecting it to a source of water ensuring 3 m H 2 0 hydraulic head with respect to the field level;    filling the distribution pipe with water;    assembling one of the branch tubes with one of the connectors;    cutting a hole in said distribution pipe by means of the hand-held tool;    inserting said connector into said hole of the distribution pipe thereby attaching said branch tube to said pipe; and    repeating the three last steps for the next branch tubes.