Control system

• US 20080119948A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Optimizer, LLC
• Original Assignee: King Engineering Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Connor, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/02 Public or like main pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0664 the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a plurality of diverging flows from a single flow G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A control system is disclosed for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system. The distribution system has a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels providing the liquid to a multiplicity of users. A plurality of controllable user valves are interposed in the multiplicity of user channels. A liquid monitor senses a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel. A user control changes selective controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel.

Claims

1. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising;

a plurality of controllable user valves interposed in selected ones of said multiplicity of user channels;

a liquid monitor located in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel; and

a control connected to said monitor and said plurality of controllable user valves for changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said liquid monitor sensing said undesired liquid flow characteristic for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

2. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of controllable user valves is connected to said control by one of a wireless connection and a wire connection.

3. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid monitor provides a signal output upon sensing a liquid flow characteristic within one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

4. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selected liquid characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a liquid pressure characteristic, a liquid level characteristic and a liquid flow characteristic.

5. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid monitor is connected to said control by one of a wireless connection and a wire connection.

6. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control closes selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said liquid monitor sensing said undesired liquid flow characteristic for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

7. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control opens selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said liquid monitor sensing said undesired liquid flow characteristic for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

8. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising;

a plurality of controllable user valves interposed in selected ones of said multiplicity of user channels;

a pressure monitor located in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels for sensing a liquid pressure characteristic within the liquid distribution channel; and

a control connected to said monitor and said plurality of controllable user valves for changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said pressure monitor sensing said undesired liquid pressure characteristic for restoring a desired liquid pressure characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

9. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity users, comprising;

a plurality of controllable user valves interposed in selected ones of said multiplicity of user channels;

a level monitor located in one the major and minor liquid distribution channels for sensing a liquid level characteristic within the liquid distribution channel; and

a control connected to said monitor and said plurality of controllable user valves for changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said pressure monitor sensing said undesired liquid level characteristic for restoring a desired liquid level characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

10. A control system for regulating the flow a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising:

a plurality of controllable user valves interposed in selected ones of said multiplicity of user channels;

a monitor located in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel; and

a control connected to said monitor and said plurality of controllable user valves for changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said flow monitor sensing said undesired liquid flow characteristic for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

11. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the pressure of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

12. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the level of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

13. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the flow of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

14. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves includes closing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

15. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves includes opening selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.

10-1. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising the steps of;

monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels;

installing a plurality of controllable user valves in selective ones of the multiplicity of user channels; and

changing selective ones of said plurality of controllable user valves upon said liquid monitor sensing said liquid flow characteristic for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within a selected one of said liquid distribution channels.