Irrigation system emitters with renewable filters

Claim 2

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emittEr assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and selectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover with opposed sides freely engaging the tube to the opposite sides of the filter, the cover, between the opposed sides, being outwardly spaced from the tube and defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, and a cover securing member engaging the cover and freely encircling the tube and releasably clamping the cover to the tube, said cover securing member being readily severable for release of the cover from the tube, said cover chamber being of a size, relative to the filter, so as to allow limited movement of the filter within the chamber to effect a self-cleaning action under the force of discharge fluid.

Claim 3

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and selectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover with opposed sides engaging the tube to the opposite sides of the filter, the cover, between the opposed sides, being outwardly spaced from the tube and defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, and a cover securing member engaging the cover and the tube and releasably fixing the cover to the tube, said cover having fluid outlet passages defined therethrough, said securing member comprising a tube mounted saddle, a central recess defined in said saddle, said cover being of substantially equal size with said recess and receivable therein, said recess and said cover incorporating complementary interlocking portions for a retention of the cover.

Claim 4

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and selectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover with opposed sides engaging the tube to the opposite sides of the filter, the cover, between the opposed sides, being outwardly spaced from the tube and defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, and a cover securing member engaging the cover and the tube and releasably fixing the cover to the tube, said cover having fluid outlet passages defined therethrough, said securing member comprising a tube mounted saddle, a central recess defined in said saddle, said cover being of substantially equal size with said recess and receivable therein, said recess and said cover incorporating complementary interlocking portions for a retention of the cover.

Claim 5

The construction of claim 2 wherein said saddle is of an arcuate configuration greater than 180*, said saddle being slightly flexible and snap lockable to the tube about a major portion thereof.

Claim 6

The construction of claim 2 including adjustment means on said saddle, said cover including an extension thereon engageable with said adjustment means whereby adjustment of said adjustment means effects a clamp locking of the cover extension to the saddle.

Claim 7

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and selectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover with opposed sides freely engaging the tube to the opposite sides of the filter, the cover, between the opposed sides, being outwardly spaced from the tube and defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, and a cover securing member engaging the cover and freely encircling the tube and releasably clamping the cover to the tube, said cover securing member being readily severable for release of the cover from the tube, said filter being compressible with variable porosity in accordance with the degree of compression of the filter, said cover incorporating a slight degree of resilient flexibility, said cover securing member, in engaging the cover and encircling the tube, being adjustable to effect a predetermined compression of the filter.

Claim 8

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and selectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover with opposed sides freely engaging the tube to the opposite sides of the filter, the cover, between the opposed sides, being outwardly spaced from the tube and defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, and a cover securing member engaging the cover and freely encircling the tube and releasably clamping the cover to the tube, said cover securing member being readily severable for release of the cover from the tube, said filter being compressible with variable porosity in accordance with the degree of compression of the filter, said cover incorporating a slight degree of resilient flexibility, said cover securing member, in engaging the cover and encircling the tube, being adjustable to effect a predetermined compression of the filter.

Claim 9

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and sElectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover, said cover defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, cover securing means, said cover securing means comprising a tube mounted member, said tube mounted member defining a central recess, said cover covering said recess to define said filter receiving chamber, said member and said cover incorporating complementary interlocking portions for a retention of the cover.

Claim 10

In an irrigation system, a fluid conducting tube, a fluid discharge opening laterally through said tube from the interior thereof, an emitter assembly associated with said opening, said emitter assembly comprising a filter overlying the opening and sElectively removable filter retaining means releasably affixed to the tube and overlying the filter in a manner so as to retain the filter over the tube opening, said filter retaining means including a substantially rigid filter cover, said cover defining a chamber for the reception of the filter, cover securing means, said cover securing means comprising a tube mounted member, said tube mounted member defining a central recess, said cover covering said recess to define said filter receiving chamber, said member and said cover incorporating complementary interlocking portions for a retention of the cover.

Claim 11

The construction of claim 6 wherein said filter is compressible with variable porosity in accordance with the degree of compression, said complementary interlocking portions being adjustable and enabling an adjustment of the cover relative to the recess and a resultant variation in the degree of compression of the filter in a manner so as to vary the porosity thereof.