Modular element based liquid distributor

This invention concerns a liquid distribution system consisting of modular elements fitted with two or more outlets. Each modular element (1) has an external jacket (2) through which one or more tubular ducts (3) pass, each receiving two opposed stopcocks or control valves (15) connecting or shutting off the branch pipes (4) from the internal ports (9, 10) through which the liquid flows, these inner ports (9, 10) being fitted with a projection (12) and recess (11) fitting for assembly of the various elements so as to form the distribution system, the branch pipes (4) being fitted with a spike base (27) to be inserted into the flower pot or into the flower bed, the system permitting the obtaining of a perfect and homogeneous distribution of the liquid at a minimum pressure, low costs, limited space requirements and easy installation.

This invention covers a modular element based multiple liquid distribution 
system particularly designed for programmed and exactly metered watering 
of the earth in flower pots and beds, although not limited to these 
applications, since the distribution system may also be used for 
programmed metering of any additive liquid. 
Apart from conventional watering systems (watering cans, static and dynamic 
sprinklers etc.) other devices are now known which permit differentiated 
watering of the pots and flower beds, according to need. 
Usually, these systems consist of a header from which small tubes fitted 
with adjustable valves or calibrated diameter tubes are branched off. 
These systems have, however, several serious drawbacks. 
First of all, the supply manifold has to cover a great length before 
reaching the users farthest away from the water source. 
Secondly, the header has to supply progressively all branch pipes, so that 
watering is usually sufficient only at the beginning of the manifold but 
may become insufficient or even nil at its ends. Exact metering of the 
water according to need will always be difficult, also in view of the fact 
that slight pressure variations during delivery may cause additional 
misadjustment. 
A third drawback lies in the fact that present systems are not easily 
adaptable to a variation of the irrigation points, since additional points 
will require further extension of the manifold, thus aggravating the 
operating conditions at the existing watering points. 
Then, there is the fact that water must be delivered at the manifold at a 
rather high pressure so as to ensure that the water reaches even the most 
distant watering point, while pressure loss caused by friction and 
progressive off-takes along the manifold must also be taken into account. 
Systems based upon calibrated diameter branch pipes have the disadvantage 
of requiring replacement of the calibrated tube whenever a flow rate 
variation is required. 
This invention has the objective to eliminate all these drawbacks of 
existing flower pot and bed watering systems. The invention features a 
multiple distribution system consisting of modular elements to be 
assembled together, each modular element being fitted with two or more 
valve controlled outlets. 
This multiple distribution system is highly compact and takes up very 
little space while allowing for any number whatsoever of branch points. It 
can be directly connected to a general delivery valve, to a delivery pipe 
or to a timer controlled valve. 
This provides that the pressure inside the distributor is uniform, thus 
ensuring uniform delivery to an adequate number of users. Any 
instantaneous pressure variation in the supply line will not effect the 
pressure in the branch lines which will remain at a constant ratio. With a 
distributor according to this invention, it will be possible to ensure a 
perfectly metered irrigation, even at a minimum line pressure and for 
instance, even with only a few centimeter head on the free soil surface. 
Any variation of the irrigation point, for example when adding more flower 
pots, can be easily met by adding one or more modular distribution 
elements, without any adverse consequence on the smooth operation of the 
distribution system. 
The various modular elements are assembled by screwing their threaded 
projecting and recessed fittings together, so that the distribution system 
can easily be assembled by any person. 
The distribution system is particularly suitable for intermittent watering 
of flower pots on terraces, balconies, in greenhouses, etc. thus 
eliminating the problem of keeping the plants alive in absence of their 
cultivator, at low cost and with excellent results.

With reference to these figures, the modular element 1 with two delivery 
outlets is the minimum modular element required to form the distributor. 
It consists of a lateral jacket 2 through which the duct 3 passes, this 
duct has at its upper end two branches 4 consisting of connectable branch 
tubes 5 secured by a screw cap 6 and at its lower end two cylindrical 
elements 7 with a bore adapted to receive the locking pins 8 which limit 
rotation of the stopcocks or flow control valves 15, described 
hereinafter. 
The transverse duct 3 has in its central portion, at right angle to its 
axis, two opposed ports or openings 9 and 10, respectively leading to a 
reclosed fitting 11 and a projecting fitting 12, both having the same 
threading. The feed water flows through these ports 9 and 10 to the 
distributor. 
Expansions 13 fitted with drilled cylindrical stubs 14 are located on each 
side of the reclosed fitting 11, adapted to receive suitable devices for 
wall mounting, such as expansion screws, nails etc. for fixed positioning 
of the distributor. 
Two stopcocks 15 for adjustment of the flow are located in the transverse 
duct 3. Each stopcock consists of a hollow cylindrical element 16 and a 
control head 17. The valve body has two external concentric annular 
gaskets 18 at both ends as well as a substantially elliptically shaped 
gasket 19, recessed in the external cylindrical surface of the body, the 
center of which has a through-hole 20 communicating internally of the 
hollow cylindrical element 16. This through-hole 20 coincides with the 
port 4 in the branch line so that when the two ports 20 and 4 are coaxial 
(stopcock in open position), the fluid can freely flow through the 
openings 9 and 10 and through the body 16 of the stopcock to the delivery 
pipe 5, while this flow is prevented when the ports 4, 20 are not in 
coaxial position (stopcock closed). 
Obviously, there are intermediate positions between the completely open and 
completely closed position of the stop-cock, so that the water flow rate 
can be adjusted according to need. 
One end of the cylindrical body 16 is provided with a radial slot 21 
covering an angle of slightly more than 90.degree. lodging the tip of the 
locking pin 8 mounted in the hollow cylindrical body 7 of the modular 
element 1. This locking pin 8, acting in the slot 21, determines the 
maximum opening and closing positions of the valve 15 while preventing the 
valve from slippng from its seat, i.e. from coming out of the tubular duct 
3. 
FIG. 13 shows a cross section of the modular element 1 complete with 
stopcocks 15 (one open and the other in closed position) and the branch 
tubes 5. 
According to the invention, each modular element is assembled adjacent to 
the next thus forming a distribution system as illustrated for 
exemplification in FIG. 16 featuring eight elements and 16 independent 
delivery points. Each modular element 1 can be connected to the next 
modular unit by screwing the threaded projecting fitting 12 in the 
recessed fitting of the other element, after insertion of a sealing gasket 
22, as shown for example in FIG. 7. 
Perfectly flat alignment of the various assembled elements is ensured for 
each element 1 by a prominence 23 and a recess 24 located on opposed 
external transverse surfaces on the side of the jacket 2, so that the 
prominence 23 of one element will enter the recess 24 of the other element 
of the assembly, thus ensuring perfect alignment and stable positioning of 
the various elements. 
Numerous elements 1 can be assembled to form the distribution system 
according to need and it is also possible to change at will the number of 
these elements simply by adding or removing elements, which are screwed 
together. 
It is clear that in a distribution system consisting of several elements, 
the ports 9 and 10 in the fittings 11, 12 will create one single 
longitudinal central duct connecting the various elements and feeding all 
valves 15 of the distributor at a uniform pressure. 
The distributor system is supplied through a main duct 25 mounted on the 
fitting at one end of the system while the other end is closed by a plug 
26. 
The main duct 25 may be fitted with a shut-off valve (not indicated on the 
drawing) instead or with a timer for automatic control of the irrigation 
and rest time of the distributor according to the climate, humidity, type 
of soil etc.. 
Each branch tube 5 is connected to a spike base 27 with cross shaped spike, 
the top of which has a boring in which to fit the tube 5 by means of a 
threaded cap nut 6 linked up to a downwardly bent pipe section 28, from 
which the water flows either dropwise or in a jet. This spike is driven 
into the earth of the flower bed or pot deep enough to ensure stability. 
Large or particularly long pots can be watered with one single tube 5 and 
two parallel spike bases 27 interconnected by a Tee union 30, as shown in 
FIGS. 14 and 16. 
The above clearly shows the operation of the distribution system, complete 
with its accessories as illustrated in FIG. 16, in which some of the valve 
cocks are open and some are closed. 
So far, a description has been given of a multiple distributor system 
consisting of modular elements each having two outlets, but it is also 
possible to envisage a multiple distribution system consisting of four, 
six etc. outlets, always within the scope of the invention. 
FIG. 17 shows an example of a modular element with 10 watering points, 
consisting of a jacket 31, featuring along its longer sides five 
transverse tubular ducts adapted 3 to receive five pairs of stopcocks 15. 
Each transverse duct 3 has the same configuration as the element with two 
outlets already described above, i.e. it has two connectable branch tubes 
4 and two seats for the plugs 8, whereas the ports 9 and 10 through which 
the liquid flows are replaced by longitudinal pipe sections 32 connecting 
the various transverse ducts 3 and linked up at one end to the threaded 
recessed fitting 11 and at the other end to the projecting fitting 12. 
This multiple element will involve an indispensable number of expansions 13 
fitted with drilled cylindrical stubs 14 for wall mounting of the 
distribution system. 
This multiple element of FIG. 17 can be joined with other multiple elements 
and/or with other modular elements with two delivery outlets, to form the 
necessary distributor system. 
For instance, watering of 36 flower pots will require assembly of: 
3 elements each having ten branch tubes and 3 elements each having two 
branch tubes or else 
2 elements each having ten branch tubes plus 8 elements of two branch tubes 
each, or else 
18 elements each having two branch tubes, or 
6 elements each having six branch tubes. 
Obviously, construction of a multiple branch-point element will be simpler 
and cheaper than a two-branch element. Therefore, when a larger number of 
flower pots has to be watered, it is advisable to use a maximum number of 
multiple-branch elements. 
If the pots and flower-beds to be watered cover a large area, the 
distributor system should be located in the center of the pots, while 
covering a certain distance with the supply manifold. 
It would also be possible to split the manifold in two branches each 
supplying one multiple distributor. 
Therefore, according to this invention, the flower beds and pots can be 
watered uniformly and perfectly distributed, even at rather limited 
delivery rates, moderate installation costs and unlimited possibility to 
change the watering outlets, which do not affect in any way whatsoever the 
operation of the distribution system.