USRE47697EActiveUtilityPatentIndex 61

Irrigation pipe

Assignee: NETAFIM LTDPriority: Apr 10, 2007Filed: Jul 6, 2017Granted: Nov 5, 2019

Est. expiryApr 10, 2027(~0.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:MASARWA ABED

F16L 9/16F16L 11/12F16L 11/042F16L 11/02E03B 1/00B05B 1/20

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Claims

Abstract

An irrigation pipe formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet. The pipe has a watertight layer and a fabric layer. The fabric layer comprises a first fiber arrangement including first main fibers having a first orientation and a second fiber arrangement including second main fibers having a second orientation. The first and second orientations are transverse relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis when viewed in the sheet before it is rolled.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

The invention claimed is:

1. An irrigation pipe formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet comprising a watertight layer and a fabric layer, the fabric layer comprising a first fiber arrangement including first main fibers having a first orientation and a second fiber arrangement including second main fibers having a second orientation, wherein the first and second orientations are transverse relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis when viewed in the sheet before it is rolled wherein:
the fabric layer comprises a first fabric sub-layer and a second fabric sub-layer, the first fabric sub-layer comprises the first fiber arrangement and the second fabric sub-layer comprises the second fiber arrangement; and
the first fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis and the second fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis.

2. An irrigation pipe according to claim 1 , wherein the fibers are made of a polyolefin.

3. An irrigation pipe according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe is a lay flat pipe.

4. An irrigation pipe according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second fiber arrangements are inter-woven.

5. An irrigation pipe according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second orientations each form an acute angle β in relation to the longitudinal axis when measured in the sheet before it is rolled.

6. An irrigation pipe according to claim 5 , wherein β has a value less than or equal to 70°.

7. An irrigation pipe according to claim 5 , wherein β has a value greater than or equal to 20°.

8. An irrigation pipe according to claim 6 , wherein β has a value greater than or equal to 20°.

9. An irrigation pipe according to claim 5 , wherein β has a value less than or equal to 65°.

10. An irrigation pipe according to claim 5 , wherein β has a value greater than or equal to 45°.

11. An irrigation pipe according to claim 9 , wherein β has a value greater than or equal to 45°.

12. An irrigation pipe according to claim 5 , wherein β has a value substantially equal to 55°.

13. An irrigation pipe according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet is formed with at least one aperture and an irrigation element is attached to the sheet at the at least one aperture.

14. An irrigation pipe formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet comprising a watertight layer and a fabric layer, the fabric layer comprising a first fabric sub-layer and a second fabric sub-layer attached to each other, the first fabric sub-layer having a first fiber arrangement comprising first main fibers having a first orientation, the second fabric sub-layer having a second fiber arrangement comprising second main fibers having a second orientation, the first and second orientations being transverse relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis when viewed in the sheet before it is rolled; wherein:
the first fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis; and
the second fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis.

15. An irrigation pipe according to claim 14 , wherein the sheet is formed with at least one aperture and an irrigation element is attached to the sheet at the at least one aperture.

16. An irrigation pipe comprising a water tight watertight inner layer, an outer layer and a fabric layer therebetween, the outer layer being formed with gaps that permit passage of fluid therethrough from the fabric layer, the watertight inner layer being devoid of gaps.

17. An irrigation pipe according to claim 16 , being formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet comprising the inner, outer and fabric layers and at least one aperture that is formed therethrough.

18. An irrigation pipe according to claim 16 , wherein the outer layer is in the form of a coating on the fabric layer.

19. An irrigation pipe according to claim 16 , wherein the fabric layer is made of a material comprising a polyolefin.

20. An irrigation pipe according to claim 16 , wherein:
the fabric layer comprises a first fabric sub-layer and a second fabric sub-layer attached to each other;
the first fabric sub-layer has a first fiber arrangement including first main fibers having a first orientation;
the second fabric sub-layer has a second fiber arrangement including second main fibers having a second orientation;
the first and second orientations are transverse relative to each other and to said a longitudinal axis of the pipe.

21. An irrigation pipe according to claim 20 , further comprising:
a layer located between the first fabric sub-layer and the second fabric sub-layer and bonding the first fabric sub-layer to the second fabric sub-layer.

22. An irrigation pipe according to claim 20 , wherein:
the first fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis; and
the second fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis.

23. An irrigation pipe according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a layer located between the first fabric sub-layer and the second fabric sub-layer and bonding the first fabric sub-layer to the second fabric sub-layer.

24. An irrigation pipe according to claim 14 , wherein:
the first fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis; and the second fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis.

25. The irrigation pipe according to claim 14, further comprising an irrigation element attached to an outer surface of the irrigation pipe.

26. The irrigation pipe according to claim 16, further comprising:
a plurality of apertures formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pipe; and connectors attached to the pipe at the apertures.

27. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the fabric layer and the outer layer both are made from a material comprising a polyolefin.

28. The irrigation pipe according to claim 27, wherein the fabric layer and the outer layer both include high density polyethylene (HDPE).

29. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the outer layer is in the form of a coating on the fabric layer.

30. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the pipe is a lay flat pipe.

31. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the outer layer is in the form of a coating on the fabric layer.

32. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the fabric layer comprises:
first and second fabric sub-layers, and a layer located between, and bonding together, the first and second fabric sub-layers.

33. The irrigation pipe according to claim 26, wherein the pipe is formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet comprising the watertight layer, the fabric layer and the outer layer.

34. The irrigation pipe according to claim 33, wherein the irrigation pipe comprises a seam formed by overlapping first and second longitudinal ends of the sheet and bonding at least portions of the longitudinal ends of the sheet.

35. The irrigation pipe according to claim 33, wherein the irrigation pipe comprises a seam formed by bonding a first longitudinal edge of the sheet to a second longitudinal edge of the sheet.

36. The irrigation pipe according to claim 33, wherein:
the fabric layer comprises a first fabric sub-layer and a second fabric sub-layer attached to each other, the first fabric sub-layer having a first fiber arrangement comprising first main fibers having a first orientation, the second fabric sub-layer having a second fiber arrangement comprising second main fibers having a second orientation.

37. The irrigation pipe according to claim 36, further comprising:
a layer located between the first fabric sub-layer and the second fabric sub-layer and bonding the first fabric sub-layer to the second fabric sub-layer.

38. The irrigation pipe according to claim 36, wherein the connectors are heat-welded, bonded, or molded to the pipe.

39. An irrigation pipe comprising:
a watertight inner layer, an outer layer and a fabric layer therebetween, the outer layer being formed with gaps that permit passage of fluid therethrough from the fabric layer, the watertight inner layer being devoid of gaps; a plurality of apertures formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pipe; and connectors attached to the pipe at the apertures; wherein: the pipe is a lay flat pipe; and each of the inner, outer and fabric layers is made of a material comprising a polyolefin.

40. The irrigation pipe according to claim 39, wherein the outer layer is in the form of a coating on the fabric layer.

41. The irrigation pipe according to claim 39, wherein the fabric layer comprises:
first and second fabric sub-layers, and a layer located between, and bonding together, the first and second fabric sub-layers.

42. The irrigation pipe according to claim 39, wherein the connectors are heat-welded, bonded, or molded to the pipe.

43. The irrigation pipe according to claim 39, wherein the connectors are molded to the pipe.

44. An irrigation pipe comprising:
a watertight inner layer, an outer layer and a fabric layer therebetween, the outer layer being formed with gaps that permit passage of fluid therethrough from the fabric layer, the watertight inner layer being devoid of gaps; a plurality of apertures formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pipe; and connectors molded to the pipe at the apertures; wherein: the pipe is a lay flat pipe.

45. The irrigation pipe of claim 44, wherein each of the inner, outer and fabric layers is made of a material comprising a polyolefin.

46. The irrigation pipe of claim 44, wherein the outer layer is breathable and configured to allow fluid to exit the pipe and not accumulate within the fabric layer.

47. An irrigation pipe comprising:
a watertight inner layer, an outer layer and a fabric layer therebetween, the outer layer being formed with gaps that permit passage of fluid therethrough from the fabric layer, the watertight inner layer being devoid of gaps; and irrigation elements attached to the pipe at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pipe; wherein: the pipe is a lay flat pipe.

48. The irrigation pipe of claim 47, wherein the irrigation elements are heat-welded, bonded, or molded to the pipe.

49. The irrigation pipe of claim 47, wherein each of the inner, outer and fabric layers is made of a material comprising a polyolefin.

50. The irrigation pipe of claim 47, wherein the outer layer is breathable and configured to allow fluid to exit the pipe and not accumulate within the fabric layer.

51. The irrigation pipe of claim 50, further comprising:
a plurality of apertures formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations along the pipe; and connectors attached to the pipe at the apertures.

52. An irrigation pipe formed from a sheet that is rolled into a tube about a longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet comprising a watertight layer and a fabric layer, the fabric layer comprising a first fabric sub-layer and a second fabric sub-layer attached to each other, the first fabric sub-layer having a first fiber arrangement comprising first main fibers having a first orientation, the second fabric sub-layer having a second fiber arrangement comprising second main fibers having a second orientation, the first and second orientations being transverse relative to each other and to the longitudinal axis when viewed in the sheet before it is rolled; wherein:
in the first fabric sub-layer, all fibers that are transverse to the longitudinal axis have said first orientation; and in the second fabric sub-layer, all fibers that are transverse to the longitudinal axis have said second orientation.

53. The irrigation pipe according to claim 52, wherein:
the first fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis; and the second fabric sub-layer comprises auxiliary fibers extending along the longitudinal axis.

54. The irrigation pipe according to claim 52, further comprising an irrigation element attached to an outer surface of the irrigation pipe.

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