Self-protecting irrigation hose and method

摘要

In a method for protecting an irrigation hose from attack by the elements, an elongated flat sheet of flexible water impervious plastic film is bent along its length to form an overlapping longitudinal seam between opposing longitudinal margins of the sheet. The longitudinal seam is sealed with first and second rib like adhesive beads extending longitudinally uninterrupted along the opposing margins of the sheet in spaced apart relationship to form a continuous chemical storage channel defined by the beads and the opposing margins and to form a water supply channel defined by the remainder of the sheet. The chemical storage channel is fluidically isolated from the water supply channel. The sheet is laid on or under the ground. The ends of the chemical storage channel are sealed so that the only means of egress therefrom is through the interstices of the material of the sheet and the beads. A hose protecting chemical is injected into the chemical storage channel. The irrigation hose is put into service by pressurizing the water supply channel. The hose protecting chemical defuses slowly through the interstices of the sheet material so as to protect the exterior surface of the hose from insects, root intrusion, and or other damaging environmental conditions.