Method for detecting a malfunction in an automated irrigation system

• US 20050156067A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Original Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Inventors: Ivans, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 8,443,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/723
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0452 Detecting or repairing leak
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A method for detecting a breach in an irrigation line (32) of an irrigation system (10) includes comparing a fluid condition at a first point along the irrigation line (32) with the fluid condition at a second point located at an irrigation unit (20) to determine whether a disparity of at least a predetermined percentage in the fluid conditions exists. The fluid condition can include a measurement of irrigation fluid pressure, quantity of irrigation fluid (19), rate of flow of the irrigation fluid (19), voltage and/or electrical current through the irrigation fluid (19). The method can include selectively monitoring the fluid condition at the irrigation unit (20) over time using a main control system (22). In another embodiment, the method includes comparing the fluid condition at the first point along the irrigation line (32) with the fluid condition at each of a plurality of second points. In still another embodiment, the method includes the main control system (22) selectively activating one or more of the irrigation units (20) so that irrigation fluid (19) flows to or through one or more of the irrigation units (20) to measure the fluid condition.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a malfunction in an irrigation system, the method comprising the step of:

comparing a fluid condition at a first point along an irrigation line with the fluid condition at a second point located at an irrigation unit of the irrigation system to determine whether a disparity of at least a predetermined percentage in the fluid conditions exists.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of irrigation fluid pressure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a quantity of irrigation fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a rate of flow of the irrigation fluid.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a voltage signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of an electrical current.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of comparing includes selectively monitoring the fluid condition at the irrigation unit over time using a main control system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined percentage is at least approximately 5 percent.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined percentage is at least approximately 20 percent.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing the fluid condition at the first point along the irrigation line with the fluid condition at each of a plurality of second points, each second point being located at a corresponding spaced apart irrigation unit of the irrigation system to determine whether a disparity in the fluid conditions that is at least a predetermined percentage exists.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of selectively activating one of the irrigation units so that irrigation fluid flows through the one irrigation unit to measure the fluid condition at the one irrigation unit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of selectively activating includes methodically changing the irrigation unit that is selectively activated to facilitate a determination of a breach in the irrigation line.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of methodically changing the irrigation unit that is selectively activated is controlled by a main control system of the irrigation system.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of methodically changing includes determining when a disparity in the fluid condition exists between two of the irrigation units.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of determining includes the main control system identifying a section of the irrigation line that is positioned between the two irrigation units as being at least partially breached.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of deactivating each of the plurality of irrigation units so that no irrigation fluid continually flows through each of the plurality of irrigation units.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting data regarding the fluid condition between the irrigation unit and a main control system of the irrigation system.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of storing the data regarding the fluid condition at the irrigation unit at the main control system.

19. A method for detecting a malfunction in an irrigation system, the method comprising the step of:

measuring a fluid condition at a plurality of irrigation units of the irrigation system; and

determining whether a disparity in the fluid conditions exists above a predetermined percentage between two of the plurality of irrigation units.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of irrigation fluid pressure.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a quantity of irrigation fluid.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a rate of flow of the irrigation fluid.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of a voltage signal.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the fluid condition includes a measurement of an electrical current.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of comparing includes selectively monitoring the fluid condition at the irrigation unit over time.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of at least two of the irrigation units transmitting data regarding the fluid condition to a main control system.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of the main control system selectively activating the irrigation units to locate the disparity between two adjacent irrigation units.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of selectively activating includes identifying a section of an irrigation line between the two irrigation units as being at least partially breached.