Apparatus and method for adapting sensors to an irrigation controller

• US 4,921,001 A
• Filed: 05/22/1989
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tri-Phase, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tri-Phase, Inc.
• Inventors: Pittsinger, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/354,891
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/78.3, 137/624.12, 137/78.2, 361/178, 307/112, 239/70
• US Class Current: 137/78.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

There is provided a method and an apparatus for adapting a conventional freeze and rain sensors to be used with a water irrigation system in which a water valve is retracted by a latching solenoid.

Claims

1. A sensor adapter for use with a water irrigation controller having one or more climatic sensors comprising:

a housing;

a single-pole, double-throw switch enclosed in the housing and having a first and a second input lead and an output lead;

means for conducting current in two directions coupled to the first input lead;

two diodes with leads, the diodes being enclosed in the housing, one lead from each diode being soldered to the first input lead and the remaining lead of each diode being soldered to the second input lead, such that the diodes are oriented in the same direction and connected in parallel; and

a toggle coupled to the switch and protruding from the housing to enable manual actuation of the switch.

2. A sensor adapter in combination with the water irrigation system comprising:

a water irrigation controller;

a latching solenoid having an input and an output, the input being coupled to the controller;

a climatic condition sensor having a first and a second lead, the first lead being coupled to the controller and the second lead being coupled to the output of the latching solenoid, the climatic sensor opening a current path between the first and second leads when a predetermined climatic condition is sensed; and

a sensor adapter coupled between the controller and the output of the latching solenoid and in parallel with the climatic condition sensor, such that the controller is able to unlatch the latching solenoid when the climatic sensor opens the current path, the sensor adapter including a housing, switch means enclosed within the housing and having a first and a second input lead and an output lead, means for conducting current in two directions coupled to the first input lead, and first and second diodes enclosed within the housing coupled in parallel and in the same direction between the first and second inputs.