Clog resistant in-line vortex element irrigation emitter

Abstract

A clog resistant in-line vortex emitter and drip irrigation assembly and method uses a double-sided circuit and a series of vortex chambers of optimized dimensions to create a pressure drop with large dimensions and good clog resistance. The vortex chamber 100 also allows for a lower exponent than traditional circuits. This gives a pressure regulating property to the no-moving-parts circuit. The vortex emitter allows for some pressure regulation without sacrificing recyclability or requiring moving parts. The vortex circuit of the present disclosure is optimized for an emitter efficiency Ef value wherein Ef=(k/Ackt)*Amin such that k is a unitless head loss coefficient, Ackt is the area of the circuit, and Amin is the minimum cross sectional area of the circuit. A higher k per a given area with larger dimensions allows for a smaller part with a lower chance of clogging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vortex emitter assembly for an irrigation tube comprising:
 a backing plate including an inlet portion to receive fluid from a tube;   a vortex circuit having a unitary body with a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a first surface and a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a second surface opposite the first surface wherein each vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein;   a pressure compensating component defined within the unitary body and in fluid communication with the vortex circuit, the pressure compensating component including an exit hole; and   a support plate having an outlet wherein the backing plate is attached to the first surface of the vortex circuit and the support plate is attached to the second surface of said vortex circuit such that the outlet of the support plate is in alignment with the exit hole of the pressure compensating component;   wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be attached to an irrigation tube.   
     
     
         2 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vortex chambers includes a convergence angle that is defined by a perimeter wall of said the vortex chamber that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region, wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80° such that the inlet region has a different shape than the interaction region. 
     
     
         3 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1  wherein said power nozzle includes a width Pw and a depth (Pd) wherein said power nozzle width (Pw) includes a ratio with said power nozzle depth (Pd) that is in the range of about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1. 
     
     
         4 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1  wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the power nozzle includes a width (Pw) wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said width (Pw) that is in the range of about 2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         5 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 4  wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter (IRD) and said width (Pw) is about 2.15:1. 
     
     
         6 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said interaction region includes a diameter (IRD) and the throat includes a diameter (Td) wherein said interaction region diameter (IRD) includes a ratio with said throat diameter (Td) that is in the range of about 1.49:1 to about 3.89:1. 
     
     
         7 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said ratio between said interaction region diameter IRD and said throat diameter Td is about 2.69:1. 
     
     
         8 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1  wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be positioned along an inner surface of a tube to distribute a desired amount of pressurized fluid from the tube to the environment. 
     
     
         10 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of vortex emitter assemblies are positioned along said inner surface of said tube. 
     
     
         11 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said convergence angle is about 55°. 
     
     
         12 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 1  wherein said power nozzle includes a width (Pw) and a depth (Pd) wherein said width (Pw) includes a ratio with said depth (Pd) that is about 1:1. 
     
     
         13 . A vortex emitter assembly for an irrigation tube comprising:
 a backing plate including an inlet portion to receive fluid from a tube;   a unitary body that includes a pressure compensating component defined in the unitary body and a vortex circuit defined in the unitary body, the vortex circuit having a with a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a first surface and a plurality of vortex chambers defined along a second surface opposite the first surface wherein each vortex chamber of the plurality of vortex chambers includes an inlet region, a power nozzle, an interaction region and a throat having dimensions to create a pressure drop of fluid flow therein;   a pressure compensating component in fluid communication with the vortex circuit, the pressure compensating component including a diaphragm; and   a support plate wherein the backing plate is attached to the first surface of the unitary body such that the inlet portion is aligned with the diaphragm and the support plate is attached to the second surface of said unitary body   wherein said vortex emitter assembly is configured to be attached to an irrigation tube.   
     
     
         14 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the vortex chambers includes a convergence angle defined by a perimeter wall of said vortex chamber that extends from an apex of the power nozzle along the inlet region and an opposite wall along the inlet region, wherein said convergence angle is between about 45° to about 80° such that the inlet region has a different shape than the interaction region. 
     
     
         15 . The vortex emitter assembly of  claim 13  wherein the support plate includes an outlet and the pressure compensating component includes and exit hole such that the outlet of the support plate is in alignment with the exit hole of the pressure compensating component.