Irrigation unit having a control system and a data storage unit

• US 20060091245A1
• Filed: 10/30/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Original Assignee: Norman Ivans
• Inventors: Ivans, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/723
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An irrigation unit (20) for irrigating an area (12) with a fluid (19) from a fluid source (18) includes a housing (200), a nozzle (220), one or more electronic components (221), and a unit control system (240). The nozzle (220) is directly or indirectly secured to the housing (200) and the nozzle (220) is in fluid communication with the fluid source (18) so that fluid (19) from the fluid source (18) is transferred to the nozzle (220). The unit control system (240) can include an electronic processor (240B) and/or an electronic storage device (240C). The unit control system (240) is in electrical communication with the electronic components (221). The unit control system (240) can process and/or store electronic data generated by one or more electronic components (221). Further, the unit control system (240) can precisely control one or more electronic components (221).

Claims

1. An irrigation unit for irrigating an area with a fluid from a fluid source, the irrigation unit comprising:

a housing;

a nozzle that is secured to the housing, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid source so that fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle;

a unit control system secured to the housing, the unit control system including an electronic processor for processing electronic information.

2. The irrigation unit of claim 1 further comprising an electronic component positioned near the housing, the electronic component being electrically connected to the unit control system.

3. The irrigation unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is controlled by the unit control system.

4. The irrigation unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic component is an electronic valve that is controlled by the unit control system to control the flow of the fluid to the nozzle.

5. The irrigation unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic component includes an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the nozzle.

6. The irrigation unit of claim 2 further comprising a sensor, and wherein the electronic component includes an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the sensor.

7. The irrigation unit of claim 2 wherein the electronic component generates electronic data that is transferred to the unit control system.

8. The irrigation , unit of claim 7 wherein the unit control system processes the electronic data that is transferred from the electronic component.

9. The irrigation unit of claim 7 wherein the unit control system includes a data storage device that stores the electronic data transferred from the electronic component, the data storage device being secured to the housing.

10. The irrigation unit of claim 1 further comprising a first sensor that generates a first electronic data that relates to a parameter of the fluid, a second sensor that generates a second electronic data that relates to a parameter of the atmosphere, the sensors being positioned near the housing, the sensors transferring the electronic data to the unit control system.

11. The irrigation unit of claim 10 further comprising an electronic valve that is controlled by the unit control system to control the flow of the fluid to the nozzle and an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the nozzle.

12. The irrigation unit of claim 11 further comprising a subregion sensor that measures a condition of one or more subregions positioned by the housing, and wherein the electronic component includes an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the subregion sensor.

13. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system is directly secured to the housing.

14. The irrigation unit of claim 1 wherein the unit control system is positioned within the housing.

15. A method for irrigating an area with a fluid from a fluid source, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing;

securing a nozzle to the housing, the nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid source so that fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle;

positioning a unit control system within the housing, the unit control system including an electronic processor for processing electronic information.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of positioning an electronic component near the housing, and electrically connecting the electronic component to the unit control system.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of controlling the electronic component with the unit control system.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of connecting an electronic valve in fluid communication with the nozzle, and controlling the electronic valve with the unit control system to control the flow of the fluid to the nozzle.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of mechanically connecting an electronic mover assembly to the nozzle and controlling the electronic mover assembly with the unit control system to move and position the nozzle.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of providing a sensor, mechanically connecting an electronic mover assembly to the sensor, and controlling the electronic mover assembly with the unit control system to move and position the sensor.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of generating electronic data with the sensor and processing the electronic data with the unit control system.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of providing a first sensor that generates a first electronic data that relates to a parameter of the fluid, and providing a second sensor that generates a second electronic data that relates to a parameter of the atmosphere, the sensors being positioned near the housing, the sensors transferring the electronic data to the unit control system.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of providing an electronic valve that is controlled by the unit control system to control the flow of the fluid to the nozzle and providing an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the nozzle.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of providing a subregion sensor that measures a condition of one or more subregions positioned by the housing, and wherein the electronic component includes an electronic mover assembly that is controlled by the unit control system to move and position the subregion sensor.