TRICKLE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

• US 3,843,056 A
• Filed: 11/30/1973
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John R. Nye
• Original Assignee: John R. Nye
• Inventors: Nye, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Application Number:
  US05/420,626
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63-65,67,68,70,71,450,542 137/624.11,624.12,624.27
• US Class Current: 239/64
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/02 Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A trickle irrigation system which includes a water supply source connected by a flow control unit to a field of discharge pipes. The flow control unit includes a pump and a first switch connected to a power source for actuating the pump. A water flow responsive switch which constitutes a part of the flow control unit serves upon a specified reduction of water flow through the system to deactivate or shut off the pump. A time delay switch which also constitutes a part of the flow control unit serves to isolate or deactivate the flow responsive switch for a selected period of time upon initial actuation of the pump.

Claims

1. A trickle irrigation system comprising a water supply source, a field of water discharge means for dispensing water from said supply source over the ground, a pump including an electrical motor actuating means and having an outlet and an inlet, conduit means placing said inlet in flow communication with said supply source, conduit means placing said outlet in flow communication with said field, an electrical power source, a first switch connecting said power source to said motor actuating means and having an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position causing said motor actuating means to be activated and an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position causing said motor acuating means to be deactivated, a second switch connecting said power source to said motor actuating means and including means responsive to the rate of water flow through said pump for deactivating said motor actuating means with said first switch in its '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position When said water flow drops below a selected rate, and means for deactivating said second switch when said first switch is first shifted into its '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position until there is water flow through said pump from said water supply source.

2. The irrigation system of claim 1 and warning means associated with said second switch for indicating a lack of water flow through said pump when said pump motor actuating means is deactivated by said second switch.

3. The irrigation system of claim 2 wherein said warning means is a light indicator.

4. The irrigation system of claim 3 and metering means for regulating the rate of water flow through said conduit means between said pump and field.

5. The irrigation system of claim 4 and timer means for maintaining said first switch in its '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position for a selected period of time.

6. The irrigation system of claim 5 and a portable housing member resting upon said ground, said pump and said first and second switches and said second switch deactivating means and said metering means all located within said housing member.

7. The irrigation system of claim 4 wherein said first switch includes moisture-sensing means embedded in said ground for shifting said first switch into its '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position as the moisture in said ground falls below a selected amount and for shifting said first switch into its '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position as the moisture in said ground exceeds another selected amount.