LATCHING SOLENOID ENERGY RESERVE

• US 20100161144A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Crist, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

An irrigation device including an actuator configured to control water flow to at least one water delivery device, a first stored energy source configured to power the actuator to effect irrigation via the at least one water delivery device, and a second stored energy source which is separate from the first stored energy source, wherein the second stored energy source is configured to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation via the at least one water delivery device. The irrigation devices further includes a controller configured to cause the first stored energy source to power the actuator to effect the irrigation, responsive to an instruction to provide irrigation, and to cause the second stored energy source to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation responsive to a termination condition.

Claims

1. A method for controlling irrigation, the method comprising:

powering an actuator to open a valve responsive to an instruction to provide irrigation using power from a first stored energy source; and

powering the actuator to close the valve using power from a second stored energy source if a stored energy level of the second stored energy source falls below a first threshold level.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining the stored energy level of the second stored energy source.

3. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing power to a controller using the second stored energy source in the event of an interruption of power supplied to the controller by an external source.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a stored energy level of the first stored energy source, wherein the powering of the actuator to open the valve occurs only if the stored energy level of the first stored energy source exceeds a second threshold level.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source are implemented using separate devices.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source are implemented using separate capacitors.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the powering of the actuator to close the valve if a time period during which the valve is open exceeds a maximum time threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating the powering of the actuator to close the valve responsive to receiving an instruction to terminate irrigation.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the powering of the actuator to close the valve is accomplished using power from the second stored energy source and the first stored energy source.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a latching solenoid.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the instruction from an irrigation controller.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

decoding an alternating power signal received from a multi-wire path to retrieve the instruction.

13. A method for controlling irrigation, the method comprising:

powering an actuator to open a valve responsive to an instruction to provide irrigation using power from a first stored energy source; and

powering the actuator to close the valve responsive to a termination condition using power from a second stored energy source which is separate from the first stored energy source.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the termination condition occurs when a time period during which the valve is open exceeds a maximum time threshold.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the termination condition occurs when communication is lost between an irrigation device, which comprises the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source, and a remote irrigation controller.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the termination condition occurs after an occurrence of an interruption of power to an irrigation device comprising the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the termination condition occurs responsive to receiving an instruction to terminate irrigation.

18. An irrigation device, comprising:

an actuator configured to control water flow to at least one water delivery device;

a first stored energy source configured to power the actuator to effect irrigation via the at least one water delivery device;

a second stored energy source which is separate from the first stored energy source, wherein the second stored energy source is configured to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation via the at least one water delivery device; and

a controller configured to;

cause the first stored energy source to power the actuator to effect the irrigation responsive to an instruction to provide irrigation; and

cause the second stored energy source to power the actuator to terminate the irrigation responsive to a termination condition.

19. The irrigation device according to claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid.

20. The irrigation device according to claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a latching solenoid.

21. The irrigation device according to claim 18, wherein the first stored energy source and the second stored energy source individually comprise a capacitor.

22. The irrigation device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a valve coupled to the actuator, the actuator configured to control a position of the valve to control the water flow to the at one water delivery device.