Wireless Irrigation Control

• US 20090126801A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sturman Diesel Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sturman BG, LLC
• Inventors: Kranz, Timothy P., Sturman, Oded Eddie, Grill, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/78.300
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/044 with movable valve members positioned between valve seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0033 using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86879 Reciprocating valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87096 Valves with separate, correlated, actuators

Abstract

A control valve has an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet. The control valve includes a poppet valve to selectably close one of the first outlet and the second outlet. A pair of diaphragms move from a first position to a second position when fluid is supplied to the control valve to permit the poppet valve to close the first passage when fluid is removed from the control valve. A magnet operably couples a wireless transmitter to a power source when fluid is supplied to the control valve. The wireless transmitter may send a signal to terminate irrigation by the control valve when the control valve is one of a plurality of control valves connected serially to a master valve only by a fluid supply line.

Claims

1. A control valve having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, the control valve comprising:

a poppet valve to selectably close one of a first passage between the inlet and the first outlet and a second passage between the inlet and the second outlet;

a first diaphragm, the first diaphragm moving from a first position in operative contact with the poppet valve to close the second passage and a second position that permits the poppet valve to close the first passage;

a second diaphragm;

a wall that separates the first and second diaphragms, the wall having an orifice that allows a control fluid to flow between volumes adjacent to the first and second diaphragms at a controlled rate and to cause the first and second diaphragms to move in unison;

a magnet coupled to the second diaphragm;

a power source; and

a wireless transmitter that is coupled to the power source, the wireless transmitter transmitting only when the magnet is moved into proximity with the wireless transmitter by movement of the second diaphragm as the first diaphragm moves to the second position.

2. The control valve of claim 1 further comprising a control circuit that is coupled to the power source, to the switch, and to the wireless transmitter, the control circuit to sense a moisture level from an attached moisture sensor and to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a signal when a high moisture level is sensed, and to turn off the transmitter for a substantial length of time after transmitting the signal.

3. The control valve of claim 2 further comprising a magnetically operated switch, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to the switch, the control circuit causing the wireless transmitter to transmit only when the magnet is in proximity to the switch.

4. The control valve of claim 1 wherein the power source includes a photovoltaic cell and a battery.

5. The control valve of claim 1 wherein the power source includes a photovoltaic cell and a capacitor.

6. The control valve of claim 1 further comprising a magnetically operated switch that is coupled to the power source and to the wireless transmitter, the switch coupling the power source to the wireless transmitter when the magnet is moved into proximity to the switch.

7. An irrigation system comprising:

a master valve including an inlet coupled to a water supply and an outlet that is controllably open to the water supply;

a plurality of control valves, each control valve including

a housing that includes an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the inlet being coupled to one of the outlet of the master valve or the second outlet of a preceding control valve,

a poppet valve to selectably close one of a first passage between the inlet and the first outlet and a second passage between the inlet and the second outlet,

a first diaphragm attached to the housing, the first diaphragm moving from a first position in operative contact with the poppet valve to close the second passage and a second position that permits the poppet valve to close the first passage,

a second diaphragm attached to the housing,

a wall that separates the first and second diaphragms, the wall having an orifice that allows a control fluid to flow between volumes adjacent to the first and second diaphragms at a controlled rate and to cause the first and second diaphragms to move in unison,

a magnet coupled to the second diaphragm,

a power source, and

a wireless transmitter that is coupled to the power source, the wireless transmitter transmitting only when the magnet is moved into proximity with the wireless transmitter by movement of the second diaphragm as the first diaphragm moves to the second position;

a controller to provide an irrigation cycle that includes opening the master valve for a first period of time and closing the master valve for a second period of time for each of the plurality of control valves, the controller ending the first period of time upon receipt of a wireless signal from any of the plurality of control valves.

8. The irrigation system of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a timer that ends the first period of time if the wireless signal is not received within a predetermined length of time.

9. The irrigation system of claim 8 wherein the controller includes an indicator that indicates if the timer ended the first period of time for one of the plurality of control valves.

10. The irrigation system of claim 9 wherein the indicator is associated with exactly one of the plurality of control valves and indicates if the timer ended the first period of time for the one of the plurality of control valves associated with the indicator.

11. The irrigation system of claim 7 wherein the control valve further comprises a control circuit that is coupled to the power source, to the switch, and to the wireless transmitter, the control circuit to sense a moisture level from an attached moisture sensor and to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a signal when a high moisture level is sensed, and to turn off the transmitter for a substantial length of time after transmitting the signal.

12. The irrigation system of claim 11 wherein the control valve further comprises a magnetically operated switch, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to the switch, the control circuit causing the wireless transmitter to transmit only when the magnet is in proximity to the switch.

13. The irrigation system of claim 7 wherein the control valve further comprises a magnetically operated switch that is coupled to the power source and to the wireless transmitter, the switch coupling the power source to the wireless transmitter when the magnet is moved into proximity to the switch.

14. A control valve having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, the control valve comprising:

means for selectably closing one of a first passage between the inlet and the first outlet and a second passage between the inlet and the second outlet;

a first diaphragm, the first diaphragm moving from a first position in operative contact with the means for selectably closing to close the second passage and a second position that permits the means for selectably closing to close the first passage;

a second diaphragm;

means for separating the first and second diaphragms and for providing a controlled rate flow of fluid between volumes adjacent to the first and second diaphragms to cause the first and second diaphragms to move in unison; and

means for making a wireless transmission only when the first diaphragm moves to the second position.

15. The control valve of claim 14 further comprising means for sensing a moisture level for making the wireless transmission when a high moisture level is sensed, means for preventing a subsequent wireless transmission for a substantial length of time after making the wireless transmission.

16. The control valve of claim 14 further comprising means for sensing a position of the second diaphragm coupled to the means for making the wireless transmission.

17. The control valve of claim 14 further comprising means for generating power from incident light and means for storing the power.

18. The control valve of claim 17 further comprising means for coupling the means for storing the power to the means for making a wireless transmission only when the first diaphragm moves to the second position.