INTELLIGENT PRECISION IRRIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20150053786A1
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosa, Uriel
• Application Number:
  US13/972,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations

Abstract

An intelligent precision irrigation system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the intelligent precision irrigation system comprises a power generator is coupled with a pipeline conveying a material. The power generator is configured to generate power when the material passes by the power generator. The intelligent precision irrigation system further comprises a valve coupled with the pipeline which is configured to control the flow of the material through the pipeline. The intelligent precision irrigation system further comprises an electronic controller configured to generate an instruction to the valve to control the flow of the material through the pipeline.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a pipeline, said system comprising:

a power generator coupled with a pipeline conveying a material and configured to generate power when said material passes by said power generator;

a valve coupled with the pipeline and configured to control the flow of said material through the pipeline; and

a controller configured to generate an instruction to said valve to control said flow of said material through the pipeline and wherein said power generator, and said electronic controller are disposed within a housing.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power storage system coupled with said controller and wherein said valve and said power storage system are disposed within said housing.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said power storage system comprises a capacitor.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said power storage system comprises a battery.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication device coupled with said controller and configured to communicatively couple said controller with a communication network and wherein said wireless communication device is disposed within said housing.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor coupled with said controller and configured to provide data used to determine the control of the flow of said material through the pipeline.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said power generator further comprises an impeller disposed within the pipeline and configured to convey mechanical energy to said generator.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said power generator further comprises a piezo-electric generator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said valve is coupled with a sprinkler head.

10. A sprinkler system comprising:

at least one sprinkler head coupled with a pipeline;

a valve coupled with a pipeline and configured to control the flow of water through a pipeline;

a controller coupled with said valve and configured to generate an instruction to said valve to control the flow of water through a pipeline; and

a power generator coupled with the pipeline and configured to generate power when water flows through the pipeline and wherein said valve, said controller, and said power generator are disposed within a housing.

11. The sprinkler system of claim 10 further comprising:

a power storage system coupled with said controller and disposed within said housing.

12. The sprinkler system of claim 11 wherein said power storage system comprises a capacitor.

13. The sprinkler system of claim 11 wherein said power storage system comprises a battery.

14. The sprinkler system of claim 10 further comprising:

a wireless communication device coupled with said controller and configured to communicatively couple said controller with a communication network and wherein said wireless communication device is disposed within said housing.

15. The sprinkler system of claim 10 further comprising:

a sensor coupled with said controller and configured to provide data used to determine the control of the flow of water through the pipeline.

16. The sprinkler system of claim 15 further comprising:

a wireless communication device coupled with said controller and disposed within said housing and wherein said controller is configured to report data from said sensor to a control center and to control the flow of water through the pipeline based upon a message from said control center.

17. The sprinkler system of claim 10 further comprising:

a sensor coupled with said controller and configured to provide data used to determine the control of the flow of said water through the pipeline.

18. The sprinkler system of claim 10 wherein said valve comprises a component of said at least one sprinkler head and is configured to control the flow of water from the pipeline through said sprinkler head.

19. The sprinkler system of claim 10 wherein said valve controls the flow of water to a plurality of sprinkler heads coupled with the pipeline.

20. The sprinkler system of claim 10 wherein said power generator comprises an impeller disposed within the pipeline and configured to convey mechanical energy to said generator.

21. The sprinkler system of claim 10 wherein said power generator further comprises a piezo-electric generator.

22. An irrigation network comprising:

a control center;

a controller communicatively coupled with said control center via a wireless communication network;

a valve coupled with a pipeline and configured to control the flow of water through the pipeline based upon a command originating from said control center; and

a power generator coupled with the pipeline and configured to generate power when water flows through the pipeline and wherein said controller, said valve, and said power generator are disposed within a housing.

23. The irrigation network of claim 22 wherein said power generator comprises an impeller disposed within the pipeline and configured to convey mechanical energy to said generator.

24. The irrigation network of claim 22 wherein said power generator further comprises a piezo-electric generator.

25. The irrigation network of claim 22 further comprising:

a power storage system coupled with said controller and disposed within said housing.

26. The irrigation network of claim 25 wherein said power storage system comprises a capacitor.

27. The irrigation network of claim 25 wherein said power storage system comprises a battery.

28. The irrigation network of claim 22 further comprising:

a sensor coupled with said controller and configured to provide data used to determine the control of the flow of water through the pipeline; and

a wireless communication device coupled with said controller and wherein said controller is configured to report data from said sensor to said control center and wherein said wireless communication device is disposed within said housing.

29. The irrigation network of claim 22 wherein said valve comprises a component of said at least one sprinkler head and is configured to control the flow of water from the pipeline through said sprinkler head and wherein said sprinkler head is disposed within said housing.

30. The irrigation network of claim 22 wherein said valve controls the flow of water to a plurality of sprinkler heads coupled with the pipeline.