Methods, systems and apparatuses for automated irrigation and chemical treatment

• US 20060027676A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Lawn Systems LP, Lawn Systems, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Lawn Systems LP
• Inventors: Buck, David Aaron, Storey, Thomas Daniel, Buck, Richard David
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/042 Adding fertiliser to watering systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0092 Adding active material used as well for the introduction of fertilisers in water A01C23/042
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An automated irrigation and chemical treatment system comprising a user input device adapted to communicate with a control unit; a mixing chamber adapted to communicate with the control unit and connected to a water supply and chemical canisters, wherein each canister has a sensor to monitor fluid level therein, and control valves for connecting the mixing chamber to a network of pipes. Sprinkler heads connected to the network of pipes each include, a control valve adapted to control fluid flow to a water delivery nozzle by an electro magnet controlled rubber coated ferric ball closure member. The sprinkler heads include water and chemical saturation sensors and the sprinkler heads also communicate with the control unit via wireless transceivers. Multiple zones covered by the system may be treated according to predetermined schedules.

Claims

1. An automated earth irrigation and chemical treatment system, comprising:

a control unit;

a mixing chamber adapted to communicate with the control unit, wherein the mixing chamber further comprises;

a body adapted to provide for flow of fluids therethrough;

an inlet valve connected to a water supply and the body; and

at least one chemical canister connected to the body;

a network of pipes adapted to distribute liquid from the mixing chamber, wherein the network of pipes further comprises;

pipe control valves adapted to control the flow of liquid to selected areas of the network of pipes and further adapted to communicate with the control unit; and

plural spaced apart sprinkler heads adapted to communicate with the control unit, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises;

a connector adapted to connect to the network of pipes;

a sprinkler head control valve;

a spray nozzle adapted to spray fluid from the sprinkler head; and

a water saturation sensor connected to the sprinkler head.

2. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a chemical saturation sensor connected to the sprinkler head.

3. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber is adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

4. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein the pipe control valves are adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

5. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the sprinkler heads are adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

6. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises a micro-hydro electric generator adapted to capture energy from the fluid flow in the sprinkler head.

7. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 6, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured from the micro-hydro electric generator.

8. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises a water delivery chamber further comprising:

an inlet fitting;

a closure member adapted to restrict fluid flow through the sprinkler head; and

an electromagnet adapted to control movement of the closure member.

9. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 8, wherein the closure member is a coated, ferric ball.

10. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 1 including:

a micro-hydro electric generator disposed in the system between the water supply and the network of pipes.

11. An automated earth irrigation and chemical treatment system, comprising:

a control unit;

a mixing chamber adapted to communicate with the control unit, wherein the mixing chamber further comprises;

a body adapted to provide for flow of fluids therethrough;

an inlet valve connected to a water supply and the body; and

at least one chemical canister connected to the body;

a network of pipes adapted to distribute liquid from the mixing chamber, wherein the network of pipes further comprises;

pipe control valves adapted to control the flow of liquid to selected areas of the network of pipes and further adapted to communicate with the control unit; and

plural spaced apart sprinkler heads adapted to communicate with the control unit, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises;

a connector adapted to connect to the network of pipes;

a sprinkler head control valve;

a spray nozzle adapted to spray fluid from the sprinkler head;

a chemical saturation sensor connected to the sprinkler head; and

a closure member adapted to restrict fluid flow through the sprinkler head.

12. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein the mixing chamber is adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

13. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein the pipe control valves are adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

14. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein at least selected ones of the sprinkler heads are adapted to wirelessly communicate system information with the control unit.

15. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises a micro-hydro electric generator adapted to capture energy from the fluid flow in the body.

16. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein each sprinkler head further comprises a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured from the micro hydro electric generator.

17. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a water saturation sensor.

18. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, further comprises an electromagnet adapted to control movement of the closure member.

19. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11 including:

a fluid pressure intensifier connected to the chemical canister operable to control flow of chemical from the chemical canister to the mixing chamber.

20. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11 including:

a flow control valve interposed between the mixing chamber and the chemical canister.

21. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein the pressure intensifier includes at least one differentiated piston assembly.

22. The automated irrigation and chemical treatment system of claim 11, wherein the pressure intensifier is operably connected to the water supply to receive pressure water therefrom.

23. A sprinkler head apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an inlet connector connected to the housing;

a control valve operably connected to the inlet connector;

a spray nozzle disposed in the housing and adapted to spray fluid from the sprinkler head; and

a water saturation sensor.

24. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a chemical saturation sensor.

25. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a transceiver to wirelessly communicate sprinkler head information with a remote control unit.

26. The sprinkler head of claim 23, wherein the control valve further comprises a closure member adapted to restrict fluid flow through the sprinkler head.

27. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 26, wherein the control valve further comprises an electro-magnet adapted to control movement of the closure member.

28. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 27, wherein the closure member is a coated ferric ball.

29. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim of claim 23, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a micro-hydro electric generator.

30. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 29, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured from the micro-hydro electric generator.

31. A sprinkler head apparatus comprising:

an inlet connector;

a control valve connected to the inlet connector;

a spray nozzle adapted to spray fluid from the sprinkler head;

a closure member adapted to restrict fluid flow through the sprinkler head;

an electromagnet adapted to control movement of the closure member;

a transceiver; and

a water saturation sensor.

32. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 31, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a chemical saturation sensor.

33. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 31, wherein the closure member is a rubber coated ferric ball.

34. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 31, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises an electromagnetic shield adapted to decrease electromagnetic interference between the transceiver and the electromagnet.

35. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim of claim 31, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a micro-hydro electric generator.

36. The sprinkler head apparatus of claim 35, wherein the sprinkler head further comprises a rechargeable battery to store the energy captured from the micro-hydro electric generator.

37. A method of irrigating and distributing chemicals to a field comprising:

parsing a field into zones;

providing a water and-chemical distribution system including plural spaced apart sprinkler heads and a control unit;

programming desired water saturation levels for each zone into the control unit; and

distributing water to each zone according to the programmed water saturation level for each zone, wherein distributing water further comprises;

(a) measuring the water saturation level at each sprinkler head in a given zone; and

(b) if a water saturation level is below the programmed water saturation level at any given sprinkler head, then activating the given zone wherein activation of the given zone allows water to be distributed only through the sprinkler heads that measured reduced water saturation levels in the given zone, wherein the step of allowing water to be distributed further comprises;

opening a valve at the given sprinkler head to allow water to flow through the sprinkler head; and

closing the valve when the water saturation level is at an acceptable level.

38. The method set forth in claim 37, including the steps of:

programming a desired chemical distribution schedule for each zone into the control unit; and

distributing chemicals according to the chemical distribution schedule.

39. The method set forth in claim 37, further including the repeating steps (a)-(b).

40. A method of irrigating and distributing chemicals to a field comprising:

parsing a field into zones;

providing a water and chemical distribution system including plural spaced apart sprinkler heads and a control unit;

programming desired chemical saturation levels for each zone into the control unit; and

distributing chemicals to each zone according to the programmed chemical saturation level for each zone, wherein distributing the chemical further comprises;

(a) measuring the chemical saturation level at each sprinkler head in a given zone; and

(b) if a chemical saturation level is below the programmed chemical saturation level at any given sprinkler head within a zone, then activating all sprinkler heads within the given zone, wherein the step of activating all sprinkler heads further comprises;

opening a valve at the given sprinkler head to allow chemicals to flow through the sprinkler head; and

closing the valve when the chemical saturation level is at an acceptable level.

41. The method set forth in claim 40, further including:

programming desired water saturation levels for each zone into the control unit; and

distributing water to each zone according to the programmed water saturation level for each zone, wherein distributing water further comprises;

(a) measuring the water saturation level at each sprinkler head in a given zone; and

(b) if a water saturation level is below the programmed water saturation level at any given sprinkler head, then activating the given zone wherein activation of the given zone allows water to be distributed only through the sprinkler heads that measured reduced water saturation levels in the given zone, wherein the step of allowing water to be distributed further comprises;

opening a valve at the given sprinkler head to allow water to flow through the sprinkler head; and

closing the valve when the water saturation level is at an acceptable level.

42. The method set forth in claim 40, further including the repeating steps (a)-(b).