Automatic soil-sprinkling arrangements

• US 3,905,551 A
• Filed: 03/18/1968
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles (Neuilly-Sur-Seine Ayme De La Chevreliere
• Original Assignee: Charles (Neuilly-Sur-Seine Ayme De La Chevreliere
• Inventors: Ayme de la Chevreliere, Charles (Neuilly-sur-Seine
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US04/713,645
• Time in Patent Office: 2,738 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116,118 239/63,64 137/78
• US Class Current: 239/63
• 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

Abstract

An arrangement for controlling the operation of a groundmoistening sprinkler comprising an electrode lying within the upper actually sprinkled layer and an electrode lying within the permanently moist layer at a sufficient depth. The resistivity of the soil including the generally dry section between the two layers shows the degree of moisture in said section and forms a criterion releasing the operation of the sprinkler. To obtain a sufficiently true average, the electrodes are also spaced horizontally.

Claims

1. A soil moistening system, comprising in combination, a first isolated electrode, in an upper layer of the soil which is adapted to be moistened, a second isolated electrode in a lower layer of the soil which incorporated a permanent residual moisture, means for measuring the electrical resistivity of the soil between said electrodes and thereby the moisture content of the soil including circuit means connecting said electrodes to a source of electric power whereby to pass electric current from one electrode to the other through the soil between the electrodes, said means being operatively connected to the actuating means of a sprinkler system and being adapted to activate said sprinkler system until the moisture in said upper layer has sunk sufficiently for it to reach the upper surface of the lower soil layer which incorporates permanent residual moisture, said first and second electrodes being substantially spaced from each other in a horizontal direction.

2. A soil moisture detecting system, comprising in combination, a first isolated electrode in an upper layer of the soil which is adapted to be moistened, a second isolated electrode in a lower layer of the soil which incorporates a permanent moisture, a source of electric power, circuit means connecting said power source to said electrodes thereby causing an electric current to flow from one electrode to the other through the soil disposed therebetween, means for measuring the electrical resistivity of the soil between said electrodes thereby measuring the moisture content of the soil, said first and second electrodes being substantially spaced from each other in a horizontal direction.