Irrigation And Fertigation Collection And Mixing Device, System And Associated Methods
First Claim
1. An irrigation and additive-introduction device comprising:
- a tank having a plurality of apertures into an interior space thereof, including a rain aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of rainwater, a fresh water aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of fresh water, a gray water aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of gray water, and an outlet aperture placeable in fluid communication with an irrigation system;
a gray water control valve placeable in fluid communication with the gray water source, for preventing gray water from entering the tank interior space when in a closed position;
a rainwater diverter valve placeable in fluid communication with the rainwater aperture, for preventing rainwater from entering the tank interior space when in a diverting position;
a fresh water shutoff valve placeable in fluid communication with the fresh water source, for preventing fresh water from entering the tank interior space when in a closed position;
a fresh water float control positioned within the tank at a first level and in controlling relation to the fresh water shutoff valve, for moving the fresh water shutoff valve into the closed position when a level of water within the tank reaches the first level; and
a gray and rainwater float control positioned within the tank at a second level higher than the first level and in controlling relation to the rainwater diverter valve and the gray water control valve, for moving the gray water control valve into the closed position and for moving the rainwater diverter valve into the diverting position when a level of water within the tank reaches the second level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method are provided for maintaining a low-pressure, substantially constant feed of water to an irrigation system. The system utilizes captured rainwater and/or gray water as available. The system can include an element for introducing an additive into the water, such as at least one of water-soluble fertilizer, insecticide, and pest repellent. Preferably the additive is provided so as not to be submerged in the water for maintaining a substantially constant concentration thereof in the water. The system and method are additionally advantageous in that fertigation, extermination, and/or and repelling only occurs when the plants call for water. In use with a typical lawn, the system allows the user to add less fertilizer to the lawn than in prior known systems, thus reducing nutrient (e.g., nitrate), insecticide, and repellant runoff into the aquifer and neighboring bodies of water.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An irrigation and additive-introduction device comprising:
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a tank having a plurality of apertures into an interior space thereof, including a rain aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of rainwater, a fresh water aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of fresh water, a gray water aperture placeable in fluid communication with a source of gray water, and an outlet aperture placeable in fluid communication with an irrigation system; a gray water control valve placeable in fluid communication with the gray water source, for preventing gray water from entering the tank interior space when in a closed position; a rainwater diverter valve placeable in fluid communication with the rainwater aperture, for preventing rainwater from entering the tank interior space when in a diverting position; a fresh water shutoff valve placeable in fluid communication with the fresh water source, for preventing fresh water from entering the tank interior space when in a closed position; a fresh water float control positioned within the tank at a first level and in controlling relation to the fresh water shutoff valve, for moving the fresh water shutoff valve into the closed position when a level of water within the tank reaches the first level; and a gray and rainwater float control positioned within the tank at a second level higher than the first level and in controlling relation to the rainwater diverter valve and the gray water control valve, for moving the gray water control valve into the closed position and for moving the rainwater diverter valve into the diverting position when a level of water within the tank reaches the second level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for irrigation and introducing an additive into irrigation water comprising:
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channeling rainwater, fresh water, and gray water into a tank; preventing an influx of fresh water into the tank when a level of water in the tank reaches a predetermined first level; preventing an influx of gray water and rainwater into the tank when a level of water in the tank reaches a predetermined second level higher than the first level; and channeling water from the tank to an irrigation system - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification