Underground irrigator

Underground irrigation apparatus (10) having a ground penetrating part (12) arranged for being inserted into ground to be irrigated with the assistance of a handle part (14) connected to the ground penetrating part. A fluid control assembly (16) associated with the ground penetrating part (12) and the handle part (14) provides a fluid flow under pressure to facilitate insertion into ground to be irrigated of the ground penetrating part (12) and subsequently a redirected flow to irrigate ground in which the ground penetrating part is inserted. The fluid control assembly (16) includes a valve (44) connectible to a suitable source of fluid for alternately directing same in a desired direction. A removable mixer portion (70) directs fluid along the path which irrigated ground in which the ground penetrating part (12) is inserted in order to add a fertilizer, and the like, to the irrigating flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to an apparatus capable of injecting water 
or other suitable fluid directly beneath the ground in order to water 
roots, and the like, and particularly to an underground irrigating 
apparatus capable of using the irrigating medium for assisting in 
inserting the apparatus in the ground to be irrigated. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It has long been known to treat soil used for various crops, by inserting 
appropriate device into the ground to be treated. For example, U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,762,171, issued Oct. 2, 1973, to I. Bjorheim, et al, discloses a 
ground heater which injects steam into the soil being treated in order to 
thaw same. More commonly, however, such apparatus is employed for purposes 
of direct irrigation of roots, and the like, for fertilizing crops, or for 
killing weeds. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 749,758, issued Jan. 19, 1904, to W. G. 
Templeton, discloses an underground irrigator device including two pieces 
of pipe connected at right angles by a shutoff valve. One of the pipes is 
designed for connection to a hose and the other for insertion into soil to 
be irrigated. The latter pipe is provided with a water outlet at its lower 
end and ground cutting teeth for facilitating insertion in the soil to be 
treated, and may be equipped with a nozzle if desired. A stream of water 
or other medium emerges only from the lower, or nozzle end of the ground 
insertable pipe so as to aid in penetration of the pipe as well as 
irrigating the soil. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,893,707, issued Jan. 10, 
1933, and 1,964,064, issued June 26, 1934, both to G. C. Karshner, 
disclose an apparatus for underground fertilization of tree roots, and the 
like, which are similar to the device discussed above in that a treating 
medium emerges only from a lower end of a longitudinally extending pipe, 
or tube, inserted into the soil to be treated. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,893,707, 
a hand-operated shutoff squeeze lever can be employed to control the flow 
of a liquid fertilizer into the soil being treated. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,992, issued Sept. 9, 1958, to J. J. Hooper, et al, 
discloses a garden watering tool which includes a plurality of prongs 
insertable into soil to be irrigated, but in which the irrigating medium 
flows out of a downwardly extending pointed tip of each of the prongs in 
the same manner as in the device as discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 
3,326,306, issued June 20, 1967, to B. B. Weir, discloses a water spade, 
which, although primarily intended as a space in which a fluid medium 
assists in digging, will inherently irrigate the soil in which the spade 
is being used. This device is similar to those discussed previously, 
however, in fact the flow of water or other fluid medium is only through 
the end of a pipe insertable into the ground being treated. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,058,138, issued Apr. 8, 1913, to A. C. Ballou, discloses a 
device primarily intended for preparing soil for transplanting purposes 
and in which an inner sleeve slidably disposed in an appertured outer 
sleeve causes a lateral flow of water when the device has been inserted 
into soil to be treated. A primary difference between this device and 
those discussed above is that the triggering flow is lateral of the ground 
insertable pipe member as opposed to axial flow. In a like manner, U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,900,962, issued Aug. 26, 1975, to S. F. Chan, discloses a 
fertilizing apparatus which is wind driven for metering air and collected 
rain directly into the soil to be treated. Like the device discussed 
immediately above, the flow of fluid from the portion of the device 
inserted into soil being treated is lateral as opposed to axial of the 
inserted portion. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,713, issued Mar. 3, 1959, to W. M. Schoffner, discloses 
a root feeder combining both lateral and axial discharge from a ground 
insertable portion. This combined flow, however, is constant in both 
directions, instead of the more desirable primarily axial flow drain 
during insertion and primarily exclusively lateral flow after insertion. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,336,522, issued Dec. 14, 1943, to J. K. Aiman, and 
3,659,536, issued May 2, 1972, to R. B. White, overcome the principal 
drawback of the device discussed immediately above by controlling axial 
and lateral flow as desirable. To accomplish this end, the former device 
employs separate control valves disposed in a portion of the apparatus 
which remains above ground, while the latter device permits axial flow at 
all times but has a sliding sleeve valve disposed in the ground 
penetrating portion thereof for blocking and unblocking the lateral 
apertures. A principal disadvantage of this construction is that the 
sliding parts can become clogged by dirt during the ground penetrating 
operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide underground irrigating 
apparatus which is capable of more precise control of penetrating and 
irrigating fluid flows than with known devices of this kind. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide underground 
irrigating apparatus which is simple and reliable of construction, and 
which will resist clogging and the like during operation. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an underground 
irrigating apparatus which assures sufficient flow pressure of the 
irrigating medium to effectively penetrate the soil being irrigated. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an underground 
irrigator apparatus which permits mixing of a water soluble soil additive 
into the irrigating stream. 
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present 
invention by providing an underground irrigator apparatus comprising a 
ground penetrating part capable of being inserted into the ground to be 
irrigated with assistance of a handle part connected to the ground 
penetrating part. A fluid control assembly associated with the ground 
penetrating and handle parts for providing a fluid flow under pressure to 
facilitate insertion into the ground to be irrigated of the ground 
penetrating part and subsequently a redirected flow laterally of the 
ground penetrating part to irrigate the soil in which the latter is 
inserted. 
The fluid control assembly advantageously includes a removable mixer 
portion disposed along a fluid path intended for irrigating ground in 
which the ground penetrating part is inserted. The advantage of this 
construction is that a water soluble soil additive can be entrained or 
dissolved in the stream, while assuring sufficient pressure of the 
irrigating medium in order to penetrate the soil in which the apparatus is 
inserted. 
The ground penetrating part preferably includes a longitudinally extending, 
hollow pipe having a pair of longitudinally spaced ends and terminating at 
a one of the ends in a fitting permitting removable attachment of the pipe 
to the handle part. At the other of the ends of the pipe preferably is a 
tapered nozzle providing a hollow, ground-insertion assisting tip. The 
pipe is provided with at least one orifice disposed adjacent the nozzle 
for diverting a fluid laterally of the pipe. A sleeve extending through 
the pipe from the fitting to the nozzle thereof is arranged separating the 
pipe into a central passage communicating with the nozzle and an outer 
annular passage communicating with the orifice. 
The handle part of the apparatus preferably includes a generally T-shaped 
housing forming a crossbar and depending leg, with the crossbar being 
arranged for facilitating insertion into soil to be treated of the ground 
penetrating part. The leg portion of the housing forms a connector for 
fastening the leg to the fitting of the pipe of the ground penetrating 
part. 
The fluid control assembly preferably includes a valve disposed in the 
crossbar of the handle part and connectable to a source of fluid for 
alternately directing fluid to the central passage and the annular passage 
by manipulation of a control knob of the valve by an operator of the 
apparatus. An advantageous feature of the present invention permits a 
portion of the flow directed to the annular passage to be bled to the 
central passage in order to direct some of the irrigating medium out of 
the nozzle of the ground insertable pipe as well as out of the orifice of 
same. Preferably, there are a plurality of orifices arranged for directing 
the triggering medium laterally of the ground-insertable pipe forming the 
ground penetrating part of the apparatus. 
The foregoing and other objects of this invention as well as the invention 
itself, may be more fully understood when read in conjunction with the 
following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an apparatus 10 
according to the present invention for underground irrigating comprises a 
ground penetrating part 12 arranged for being inserted into ground (not 
shown) to be irrigated, and a handle part 14 connected to the ground 
penetrating part 12 for assisting in insertion of the latter. A fluid 
control assembly 16 associated with the ground penetrating part 12 and the 
handle part 14 provides a fluid flow under pressure to facilitate 
insertion into ground to be irrigated of part 12 and subsequently a 
redirected flow to irrigate ground in which the ground penetrating part 12 
is inserted. 
Ground penetrating part 12 includes a longitudinally extending, hollow pipe 
18 having a pair of longitudinally spaced ends and terminating at a one of 
the ends in a fitting 20 provided with conventional screw threads and 
arranged for permitting removable attachment of pipe 18 to handle part 14. 
At the other of the ends is disposed a tapered nozzle 22 providing a 
hollow ground-insertion assisting tip 24. Pipe 18 also is provided with at 
least one orifice disposed adjacent nozzle 22 for directing a fluid flow 
laterally of pipe 18. Preferably, pipe 18 is provided with a plurality of 
orifices 26 as illustrated. A sleeve 28 extends through pipe 18 from 
fitting 20 to nozzle 22 and is arranged coaxially with pipe 18 for 
separating same into a central passage 30 communicating with nozzle 22 and 
an outer annular passage 32 communicating with the orifices 26. Sleeve 28 
is anchored at its lower end by screw threaded engagement with a threaded 
bore provided in the upper end of nozzle 22, and at its upper end by 
action of handle part 14 in a manner to be described below. 
As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, handle part 14 includes 
a generally T-shaped housing forming a crossbar 34 and a depending leg 36. 
Crossbar 34 extends substantially equally in opposite directions from leg 
36 and is provided in each section with a grip portion 38 and 40 arranged 
for facilitating insertion into ground of part 12. Leg 36 is provided with 
a screw threaded socket 42 for forming a connector which permits removable 
fastening of leg 36 to the fitting 20 of pipe 18 of part 12. 
Fluid control assembly 16 includes a valve 44 disposed in crossbar 34 of 
handle part 14 and connectible to a source of fluid such as water, for 
alternately directly fluid to the central passage 30 and the annular 
passage 32. Partially forming valve 44 is a void 46 provided in one 
section of crossbar 34 of handle part 14 for receiving a fluid from a 
suitable source. Also included in valve 44 is a pair of passageways 48 and 
50 each in communication with void 46 and with a respective one of central 
passage 30 and annular passage 32 of pipe 18. A valve spool or element 52 
is rotatably mounted in void 46 of crossbar 34 adjacent the passageways 48 
and 50, as by the illustrated shaft 54 extending from element 52 to the 
outside of crossbar 34 as through an opening 56. A suitable knob 58 is 
affixed to shaft 54 for permitting manual rotation of same to position 
valve element 52 as desired. Each of the passageways 48 and 50 
advantageously is provided with a conventional O-ring seal 60 and 62, and 
the like, for assuring a proper seal between valve element 52 and 
passageways 48, 50. Valve element 52 has provided therein a pair of ports 
64 and 66 disposed at approximately 90.degree. with respect to one another 
and selectively alignable with passageways 48 and 50, respectively, so 
that only one of the passageways 48, 50 will be unblocked for a given 
position of valve element 52. As seen in FIG. 3, port 64 and passageway 48 
are unblocked, while port 66 is at right angles to its associated 
passageway 50 for blocking flow betwee the two. 
Valve 44 further includes valve element 52 being provided with a bypass 68 
arranged extending from part 64, being associated with passageway 48 and 
the annular passage 32 of pipe 18 to a location in alignment with 
passageway 50, associated with central passage 30 of pipe 18, for bleeding 
a predetermined amount of fluid to the central passage 30 when port 64 is 
in alignment with passageway 48, as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
The fluid control assembly 16 further includes a mixer portion 70 disposed 
between passageway 48 and annular passage 32 of pipe 18 for permitting 
mixing of a water soluble soil additive as well as increasing the head of 
the fluid flow to orifice 26. A disc-shaped element 72 is arrangeable in 
the crossbar 34 of handle part 14 directly above leg 36 in watertight 
relation as by the use of the illustrated three O-ring seals 74. A bottom 
peripheral portion of element 72 rest on a shoulder formed in the bottom 
of a generally cylindrical recess 76 formed in crossbar 34, with a small 
area beneath recess 76 being hollow to form a sump 78 whose purpose will 
become clear below. Leading from the bottom of sump 78 are a plurality of 
guide slots 80 which permit passage of fluid from element 72 into annular 
passageway 32 of pipe 18. 
Element 72 includes a first manifold 82 which extends directly from 
passageway 48 and has extending laterally thereof upwardly away from leg 
36 a plurality of apertures 84 arranged on a circle 86. A second manifold 
88 included in element 72 is provided with a plurality of holes 90 
extending completely through element 72 between parallel, planar faces 
thereof and arranged on a circle 92 concentric with but of a smaller 
diameter than circle 86. Holes 90 preferably are provided in a boss 94 
provided on the upwardly facing planar face of element 72 in order to 
further separate the ring of holes 90 from the ring of apertures 84. 
A dome 96 forms a chamber 98 arranged for containing a water soluble soil 
additive (not shown), such as a conventional granulated fertilizer, and is 
disposed above manifold 82 for receiving a flow of fluid from same. 
Manifold 88 is arranged between chamber 98 and pipe 18 for receiving fluid 
from chamber 98 and feeding same to annular passage 32 of pipe 18. Threads 
100 are provided on the lower portion of dome 96 for threadingly engaging 
with matching threads 102 provided on the inner wall of a socket formed in 
the upper middle portion of crossbar 34 as by annular flange 104. 
As will be appreciated, the water passing into chamber 98 from manifold 82 
will pass upwardly to the top of dome 96 and then downwardly to holes 90 
of manifold 88. In this manner, not only will the pressure head on the 
fluid passing through holes 90 be increased, but any fluent material 
disposed in chamber 98 will be entrained or absorbed in the flow. Dome 96 
can be removed from crossbar 34 for refilling merely by unthreading same 
from flange 104 in order to permit cleaning of element 72. 
A hollow bushing 106 provided with internal screw threads matching those 
provided on fitting 20 of pipe 18 can be press fit, and the like, into a 
socket 108 provided in the lower face of element 72. Thus, pipe 18 is 
essentially hung to element 72 by the sleeve 28 extending to the center of 
pipe 18, with the upper end of pipe 18 itself abutting a shoulder provided 
at the top of the socket 42 provided in leg 36. Suitable O-ring seals, and 
the like, can be provided both in socket 42 and at the upper portion of 
flange 104 as illustrated in order to assure fluid tightness of the unit. 
The mouth of the void 46 formed in one arm or section of crossbar 34 is 
advantageously blocked by a conventional hose fitting 110 having a hollow 
plug portion 112 fittingly engaged within void 46. By this arrangement, a 
hose h (FIG. 1) can be coupled to fitting 110 in a conventional manner, 
not shown, in order to permit a flow of water, and the like, from a spigot 
s to be fed into void 46 and supply a working medium for apparatus 10. 
As can be understood from the above description and from the drawings, 
underground irrigation apparatus according to the present invention 
permits irrigation in an efficient and reliable, yet simple manner. Not 
only is apparatus according to this invention useful for watering of 
roots, and the like, but is particularly useful in areas having high 
temperatures coupled with low humidity, in as much as conventional surface 
watering in such areas is highly inefficient and wasteful of natural 
resources due to rapid evaporation of the water or other working fluid. 
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an 
illustrated embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled 
in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, 
the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the 
invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific 
environments and operation requirements without departing from those 
principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and 
embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit 
and scope of the invention.