초록 ▼

A mixing body for diverting a portion of a liquid, e.g., water flow, into a cartridge of fertilizers, fungicides, hormones, pesticides or the like to form effluent. The effluent is reintroduced to the water flow and goes to a downstream sprinkler or application system. The cartridge, which may conta

A mixing body for diverting a portion of a liquid, e.g., water flow, into a cartridge of fertilizers, fungicides, hormones, pesticides or the like to form effluent. The effluent is reintroduced to the water flow and goes to a downstream sprinkler or application system. The cartridge, which may contain liquid concentrate, is inserted into the mixing body, which has inlet and outlet one way valves that puncture a sealing layer of the cartridge. The diluted effluent exits through the outlet one way valve and is thus delivered to the irrigation system. The amount of effluent can be regulated by a needle valve that controls the amount of effluent exiting the manifold. The mixing body has a locking system to securely hold the cartridge in place. There is also a plate to protect a user from the sharp inlet and outlet valves when the cartridge is removed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A mixing device with a cartridge for mixing concentrate into a main flow, the device comprising: (a) a cartridge containing a concentrate for mixing in water and having a membrane; (b) a mixing body having an inlet for receiving diverted water from a main water flow an inlet

What is claimed is: 1. A mixing device with a cartridge for mixing concentrate into a main flow, the device comprising: (a) a cartridge containing a concentrate for mixing in water and having a membrane; (b) a mixing body having an inlet for receiving diverted water from a main water flow an inlet passage communicating with the main water flow; (c) a receptacle in the mixing body for slidably receiving and holding a cartridge having concentrate; (d) an inlet valve for receiving the water flow from the inlet passage and for directing the flow into the cartridge through the membrane for mixing with the concentrate; (e) an outlet valve in the mixing body extending through the membrane for receiving water mixed with concentrate from within the cartridge and communicating with an outlet passage; and (f) the outlet passage communicating with the main water flow at an outlet opening for reintroducing the diverted flow containing the concentrate into the main fluid flow, thereby mixing concentrate into the main flow, wherein the inlet and outlet valves each comprise a sharp tip for puncturing the membrane of the cartridge, wherein at the receptacle, the mixing device further comprises means for securing the cartridge, and wherein a portion of the mixing body containing the inlet and the outlet opening is disposed in the main flow to create venturi effect. 2. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the means for securing comprises arms biased for securing the cartridge in response to pushing the cartridge into the receptacle. 3. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet valves each have a substantially conical tip, and an opening formed proximate a side of the tip. 4. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the outlet passage communicates with the main flow passage downstream of a point where the inlet passage communicates with the main flow passage. 5. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the inlet, inlet passage, inlet valve, outlet valve, outlet passage and outlet opening are always in fluid communication when the cartridge is in the receptacle. 6. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is disposable. 7. An irrigation system comprising a mixing device and a cartridge for mixing concentrate into a main water flow, the mixing device comprising: (a) a cartridge containing a concentrate for mixing in water and having a membrane; (b) a mixing body having an inlet for receiving diverted water from an inlet passage communicating with the main water flow; (c) a receptacle in the mixing body for slidably receiving and holding the cartridge having the concentrate therein; (d) an inlet valve for receiving the water from the inlet passage and for directing the water through the inlet valve; (e) an outlet valve in the mixing body extending through the membrane for receiving water mixed with concentrate and communicating with an outlet passage; (f) the outlet passage communicating with the main water flow at an outlet opening for reintroducing the diverted flow into the main water flow, thereby mixing concentrate into the main water flow; and (g) wherein the inlet and outlet valves each comprise a sharp tip for puncturing the membrane of the cartridge, and sealing the cartridge's membrane once the sharp tips penetrate the membrane, wherein there is also a means for securing the cartridge; wherein the irrigation system further comprises irrigation lines having a main irrigation line connected to manifold lines, each manifold line being connected to an anti-siphon valve, and each anti-siphon valve being connected to sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads, and the fitting being disposed in a main irrigation line wherein a portion of the mixing body is disposed in the main flow with the inlet upstream of the outlet opening to create a venturi effect. 8. The irrigation system of claim 7, wherein the inlet and outlet valves each have an opening formed proximate a side of the tip. 9. The irrigation system of claim 8, wherein the openings in the sides of the inlet and outlet valves are oblong. 10. A mixing device for use with a cartridge for mixing concentrate into a main flow, the device comprising: (a) a mixing body having an inlet for receiving diverted fluid from a main fluid flow, and an inlet passage communicating with the main fluid flow; (b) a receptacle in the mixing body in which a cartridge having concentrate and a membrane; (c) an inlet valve for receiving the diverted fluid flow and for directing the flow through the valve for mixing with concentrate; (d) an outlet valve in the mixing body extending through the membrane for receiving fluid mixed with concentrate from within the cartridge and communicating with an outlet passage; (e) the outlet passage communicating with the main fluid flow at an outlet opening for reintroducing the diverted flow containing concentrate into the main fluid flow, thereby mixing concentrate into the main flow; and (f) wherein the inlet and outlet valves each having tips sufficiently sharp to pierce the membrane, and wherein the receptacle comprises means for protecting a user from the sharp tips of the inlet and outlet valves, wherein the means for protecting comprises a plate, biased to a position away from the sharp tips of the first and second valves, the plate having holes therein aligned with the sharp tips for allowing the sharp tips to extend therethrough when the plate is pressed inward to a use position with respect to the mixing body, so that the sharp tips extend through the holes in the plate. 11. The mixing device of claim 10, further comprising means for securing the cartridge to the mixing valve, with the cartridge mouth holding the plate in the use position. 12. The mixing device of claim 11, wherein the plate is biased by springs. 13. The mixing device of claim 10, wherein the outlet passage is adjustable for controlling flow to the outlet opening. 14. The mixing device of claim 10, wherein the receptacle comprises two openings in its side for ends of a U-shaped clip, for mechanically securing a container in the receptacle with the plate in its use position. 15. The mixing device of claim 11, wherein the membrane comprises PTFE. 16. The mixing device of claim 1, wherein the container has a membrane comprises PTFE. 17. The mixing device of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable valve disposed in the outlet passage for adjusting a flow rate through the mixing valve. 18. An irrigation system comprising: a mixing device with a cartridge for mixing concentrate into a main flow, the device comprising: (a) a fitting having first, second and third openings therein, and a main fluid flow through the first and second openings; (b) a mixing body having a portion protruding into the fitting at the third opening, and having an inlet opening for receiving liquid diverted from the main flow, and having a first passage communicating with the inlet opening for receiving the diverted fluid flow; (c) the cartridge having concentrate therein and a membrane for closing a mouth of the cartridge; (d) a receptacle in the mixing body for slidably receiving and holding the cartridge; (e) an inlet valve for receiving the diverted fluid flow and for directing the diverted flow into the cartridge through the membrane for mixing with concentrate; (f) an outlet valve in the mixing body extending through the membrane for receiving diverted fluid having concentrate therein from within the cartridge and communicating with an outlet passage; (g) the outlet passage communicating with the outlet valve and the diverted fluid having concentrate therein, and for reintroducing the diverted fluid having concentrate therein through an outlet opening into the main fluid flow, thereby mixing concentrate into the main flow; (h) irrigation lines having a main irrigation line connected to manifold lines, each manifold line being connected to an anti-siphon valve, and each anti-siphon valve being connected to sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads, and the fitting being disposed in a main irrigation line; and (i) wherein the outlet passage is adjustable for controlling flow to the outlet opening. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the cartridge contains one of herbicide, fungicide, and fertilizer in a concentrated form. 20. The irrigation system of claim 7, wherein the inlet, inlet passage, inlet valve, outlet valve, outlet passage and outlet opening are always in fluid communication when the cartridge is in the receptacle.