Importance

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Abstract

An irrigation emitter unit includes a fluid flow rate reducer having an inlet and an outlet. A wall portion of the unit has a recessed cavity formed therein which communicates with the outlet. The inlet is adapted to be placed in communication with an irrigation supply. An emitter unit outlet aperture is formed in the base of the cavity and a rim of the cavity has an area substantially greater than the area of a rim of the outlet aperture. A resiliently flexible membrane is juxtaposed with respect to the wall portion and is exposed to the irrigation supply so as to be pressed, during operation, sealingly against substantially the entire periphery of the cavity rim solely under the influence of fluid pressure and to define, with the cavity, an outlet control chamber. When the fluid pressure acting on the membrane exceeds the fluid pressure in the outlet control chamber by a predetermined amount, the membrane flexes elastically towards the outlet aperture so as to define, with a rim of the outlet aperture, a restricted outflow path thereby limiting variations in the outflow rate.

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First Claim