Drip emitter

Abstract

A drip emitter is provided for delivering irrigation water from a supply tube to an emitter outlet at a reduced and relatively constant flow rate. Water enters the emitter through a first inlet and proceeds into a first chamber. When the water pressure is above a predetermined level, a one-directional valve opens to allow fluid flow past the first chamber, through a tortuous path flow channel, and through an emitter outlet. A second inlet is used to compensate for water pressure fluctuations in the supply tube to maintain output flow at a relatively constant rate. Water enters the second inlet and presses a flexible diaphragm toward a water metering surface to provide pressure-dependent control of the output flow. A copper member is mounted to the emitter over the emitter outlet to prevent plant root intrusion into the emitter outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irrigation system comprising:
 a supply tube having an interior which is capable of supplying fluid and having a wall defining a plurality of tube outlets extending therethrough;   a plurality of drip emitters mounted to the wall within the interior of the supply tube, each drip emitter being associated with one of the plurality of tube outlets;   at least one drip emitter comprising:
 a body defining an inlet and an emitter outlet downstream of the inlet; 
 a first flow path extending through the body from the inlet to the emitter outlet; 
 the body having a rim engaging the wall of the supply tube within the interior of the supply tube to form an outlet bath within the supply tube defined by a space between the body and the wall of the supply tube, the outlet bath being downstream of the emitter outlet and upstream of the associated tube outlet; and 
 copper disposed at the outlet bath and the body along at least part of a second flow path between the emitter outlet and the associated tube outlet, and limiting root intrusion into the outlet bath; 
 wherein the copper does not result in flow compensation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the copper is disposed at least in part at the emitter outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rim of the at least one drip emitter extends from the body about the perimeter of the outlet bath; and   the rim being in sealing engagement with the wall of the supply tube within the interior of the supply tube to form the outlet bath.   
     
     
         4 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the copper comprises a copper containing metal plate. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the copper comprises a layer of copper applied to a non-copper surface. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drip emitter further comprises a check valve downstream of the inlet and upstream of the emitter outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
 a first housing portion defining the inlet;   a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, the second housing portion defining the emitter outlet; and   a diaphragm disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.   
     
     
         8 . A drip emitter comprising:
 a body configured for mounting to an inner surface of a supply tube to define an outlet bath between the body and the inner surface;   an inlet defined by the body and capable of receiving fluid from the supply tube;   an emitter outlet downstream of the inlet;   a flow path from the inlet to the emitter outlet; and   copper disposed at the outlet bath and the body along at least part of a second flow path between the emitter outlet and the associated tube outlet, and limiting root intrusion into the outlet bath;   wherein the copper does not result in flow compensation.   
     
     
         9 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the copper comprises a piece with a copper outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the copper comprises a layer of copper applied to a non-copper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the copper comprises a copper layer surrounding a non-copper core. 
     
     
         12 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the copper comprises a metal layer of copper flashed to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The drip emitter of  claim 8  further comprising a check valve downstream of the inlet and upstream of the emitter outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises:
 a first housing portion defining the inlet;   a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, the second housing portion defining the emitter outlet; and   a diaphragm disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.   
     
     
         15 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the copper is disposed at least in part at the emitter outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The drip emitter of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a rim about a perimeter of the body, the rim configured for mounting to the inner surface of the supply tube.