Agency:

Agricultural Research Service

April 23, 1996

The invention relates to a pressure regulator for use with sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. Branching irrigation systems tend to distribute water unevenly because sprinkler heads at the lower elevations are operating at much higher water pressures than those at higher elevations. The problem is exacerbated with movable sprinkler heads because a s prinkler which is at a low elevation at one point in time might be at a higher elevation after being moved. The invention relates to an inexpensive pressure control device which is intended to replace the more expensive diaphragm-type regulators currently in use. The invention uses a simple butterfly valve biased to the open position by a spring attached to a lever plate. A fluid operated piston is connected to the lever plate down stream from the butterfly valve such that excessive pressure down stream from the valve will tend to close the valve against the tension in the spring. The operating pressure of the sprinkler head or array of drip irrigators is set by c hanging the size of the spring.

Dennis C. Kincaid

USDA, ARS, SWMR

Kimberly, ID

(208) 423-6567

Industry Keywords:

pressure control devices, sprinkler heads, drip irrigation arrays