AUTOMATED FLOOD IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20160048135A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas S. Hill
• Original Assignee: Thomas S. Hill
• Inventors: Hill, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,254,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A method for flood irrigation includes releasing water from a riser valve for flooding a portion of a field through a control of a corresponding riser device of a plurality of riser devices, wherein the corresponding riser device is deployed at a location proximate to the riser valve, receiving a wireless signal from a corresponding sensor device of a plurality of sensor devices for a detection of a flood condition, wherein the corresponding sensor device is deployed at a location proximate to where the water from the riser valve is expected to flood; and stopping the release of the water from the riser valve.

Claims

1. A riser assembly, comprising:

a support structure;

an actuation mechanism coupled to the support structure for opening and closing a lid assembly, wherein the lid assembly impedes a flow of water from a riser valve in a closed position and releases the flow of water from the riser valve in an opened position; and

an electronic control for controlling the actuation mechanism to open and close the lid assembly, the electronic control comprising;

a processor; and

a wireless communication interface;

the wireless communication interface is configured to receive a signal from a corresponding sensor assembly when the corresponding sensor assembly senses a flood condition to control the actuation mechanism to close the lid assembly.

2. The riser assembly of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

3. The riser assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises one of a compressed gas mechanism and an electromechanical mechanism.

4. The riser assembly of claim 3, wherein the compressed gas vessel mechanism comprises a compressed gas vessel, a gas regulator, and an air spring, wherein the air spring compresses to open the lid assembly and decompresses to close the lid assembly.

5. The riser assembly of claim 4, wherein the air regulator includes a solenoid, the solenoid controlling a path of gas from the compressed gas vessel for compressing or decompressing the air spring.

6. The riser assembly of claim 3, wherein the electromechanical mechanism comprises one of a motor driven screw mechanism and a scissor jack mechanism.

7. A flood irrigation system comprising the riser assembly of claim 1 and the corresponding sensor assembly, wherein the riser assembly is deployed at a location proximate to the riser valve and the sensor assembly is deployed at a location proximate to where water from the riser valve is expected to flood.

8. A flood irrigation system, comprising:

a plurality of riser devices; and

a plurality of corresponding sensor devices each in wireless communication with one of the riser device, wherein

each of the riser device is deployed at a location proximate to a riser valve and configured to release water from the riser valve for flooding a portion of a field, wherein

the corresponding sensor device is deployed at a location proximate to where the water from the riser valve is expected to flood, and wherein

the corresponding sensor device is configured to send a wireless signal to the riser device that the corresponding sensor device is in wireless communication with to stop releasing the water when the corresponding sensor device sensors a flood condition.

9. The flood irrigation system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the riser devices is in wireless communication with at least another one of the riser devices, and wherein the one riser device is configured to send a wireless signal to the another one riser device to release water from the riser valve corresponding to the another one riser device when the one riser device stops releasing the water.

10. The flood irrigation system of claim 9, wherein the another one riser device is in wireless communication with a second one of the riser devices, and wherein the another one riser device is configured to send a wireless signal to the second one riser device to release water from the riser valve corresponding to the second one riser device when the another one riser device stops releasing the water in accordance to a pre-determined pattern.

11. The flood irrigation system of claim 8, wherein each of the riser devices comprises:

a support structure;

an actuation mechanism coupled to the support structure for opening and closing a lid assembly, wherein the lid assembly impedes a flow of water from the riser valve corresponding to the riser device in a closed position and releases the flow of water from the riser valve in an opened position; and

an electronic control for controlling the actuation mechanism to open and close the lid assembly, the electronic control comprising;

a processor; and

a wireless communication interface;

the wireless communication interface is configured to receive the wireless signal from the corresponding sensor device.

12. The flood irrigation system of claim 11, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a compressed gas vessel, a gas regulator, and an air spring, wherein the air spring compresses to open the lid assembly and decompresses to close the lid assembly.

13. The flood irrigation system of claim 12, wherein the gas regulator includes a solenoid, the solenoid controlling a path of gas from the compressed gas vessel for compressing or decompressing the air spring.

14. A method for flood irrigation, comprising:

releasing water from a riser valve for flooding a portion of a field through a control of a corresponding riser device of a plurality of riser devices, wherein the corresponding riser device is deployed at a location proximate to the riser valve;

receiving a wireless signal from a corresponding sensor device of a plurality of sensor devices for a detection of a flood condition, wherein the corresponding sensor device is deployed at a location proximate to where the water from the riser valve is expected to flood; and

stopping the release of the water from the riser valve.

15. The method for flood irrigation of claim 14, further comprising sending a wireless signal from the corresponding riser device to a second one of the plurality of riser devices to control a release of water from a riser valve corresponding to the second one riser device.

16. The method for flood irrigation of claim 15, further comprising sending a wireless signal from the second one riser device to a third one of the plurality of riser devices to control a release of water from a riser valve corresponding to the third one riser device a plurality of riser devices after the second one riser device has stopped the release of water from the riser valve corresponding to the second one riser device, wherein the third one riser device is determined based on a pre-determined pattern.

17. The method for flood irrigation of claim 16, wherein the pre-determined pattern comprises a sequence starting from a first one of the riser devices to a last one of the riser devices.

18. The method for flood irrigation of claim 14, wherein each of the riser devices comprises:

a support structure;

an actuation mechanism coupled to the support structure for opening and closing a lid assembly, wherein the lid assembly impedes a flow of water from the riser valve corresponding to the riser device in a closed position and releases the flow of water from the riser valve in an opened position; and

an electronic control for controlling the actuation mechanism to open and close the lid assembly, the electronic control comprising;

a processor; and

a wireless communication interface;

the wireless communication interface is configured to receive the wireless signal from the corresponding sensor device.

19. The method for flood irrigation of claim 18, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a compressed gas vessel, a gas regulator, and an air spring, wherein the air spring compresses to open the lid assembly and decompresses to close the lid assembly.

20. The method for flood irrigation of claim 19, wherein the gas regulator includes a solenoid, the solenoid controlling a path of gas from the compressed gas vessel for compressing or decompressing the air spring.