Sprinkler control system

• US 3,911,955 A
• Filed: 03/29/1974
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gustav A. Link
• Original Assignee: Gustav A. Link
• Inventors: Link, Gustav A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/456,260
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11,624.13,624.15,624.18,624.2 239/66,69,70 251/30,31
• US Class Current: 137/624.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/162 Sequential operation
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/004 actuated by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86461 Variable cycle

Abstract

A sprinkler system for use on parkways and the like, which permits the use of a battery-powered timer to energize a large number of solenoid-operated operated sprinkler valves, by drawing battery current for only brief periods. Each valve includes a start solenoid which can be operated by a brief current pulse to apply water pressure to a valve member to open the valve and a passage connecting the outlet to the valve member so that pressured water at the outlet thereafter keeps the valve open. A stop solenoid can be operated by a brief current pulse, to drain water from one side of the valve member so that it closes and thereafter remains closed.

Claims

1. A sprinkler system comprising a central station having an electric energizing signal source, a plurality of water valves, each of said valves having a passageway with an inlet and an outlet, a valve closer movable between open and closed positions in said passageway, piston means coupled to said valve closer to operate said closer, means defining a first cavity facing one side of said piston, means forming a normally blocked first passage connected to said cavity to carry pressured water thereto to open said valve closer, a start solenoid energizable to unblock said first passage, means forming a normally blocked drain passage connected to said cavity to drain off water therefrom to permit said valve closer to close, and a stop solenoid energizable to open said drain passage;

a plurality of conductors at said central station, timing switch means at said central station to apply short signal pulses from said signal source at timed intervals sequentially to different ones of said conductors, a plurality of switch members manually settable into contact with different ones of said conductors, means comprising a distributor at said central station arranged to successively electrically connect the solenoids of different valves to said switch members for successively conditioning the said start and stop solenoids of said different ones of said valves to be energized by said signal pulses whereby operation of said timing switch means sends sequential pulses, through said switch members, to said start and stop solenoids conditioned by said distributor.

2. A sprinkler system as defined in claim 1 wherein said conductors have portions extending parallel to each other and said switch members are movable perpendicular to said parallel portions into contact with selected ones of said conductors.

3. A sprinkler system as defined in claim 1 wherein said timing switch means applies signal pulses to said solenoids for predetermined period of time less than the time interval between energization of a said start soleniod and a said stop solenoid of each of said valves.

4. A sprinkler system as defined in claim 1 wherein said timing switch means successively applies signal pulses at progressively different times to said conductors.

5. A sprinkler system as defined in claim 1 wherein said timing switch means applies each of said signal pulses to said conductors for a period of time equal to the time necessary to move said valve closer between open and closed positions.