Irrigation control system

• US 4,934,400 A
• Filed: 01/18/1989
• Issued: 06/19/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Cuming
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Cuming
• Inventors: Cuming, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/298,373
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 137/78.3, 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 239/64, 239/69, 239/70
• US Class Current: 137/78.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

An irrigation control system includes a soil moisture sensor (S) that controls the common lines of various irrigation valves (VA) being controlled by a conventional irrigation time based controller (TC). The sensor is in a first zone of primarily shallow rooted plants. A timer (TR) is activated whenever the soil moisture sensor allows the first zone to be watered. The timer (TR) increments a counter (CR) which closes after a pre-set number of irrigation cycles of the first zone having been completed. When the counter (CR) close contacts (C), then the irrigation valves feeding a second zone of primarily deep rooted plants are activated.

Claims

1. An irrigation controller for controlling water supply in a water distribution system including separate valve means for directing or preventing water flow to first and second zones, wherein said first and second zones contain either primarily shallow rooted or primarily deep rooted plants, respectively, said controller comprising:

(a) a moisture sensing device adapted for location in said first zone for sensing soil moisture content of said first zone;

(b) first circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said valve means controlling water flow to said first zone;

(c) second circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said valve means controlling water flow to said second zone;

(d) first energizing means for energizing said first circuit means when said moisture sensing device determines that the soil moisture content of said first zone is below a predetermined level;

(e) counter means for counting a predetermined number of times that said first circuit means is energized; and

(f) second energizing means for energizing said second circuit means after said predetermined number of times that said first circuit means is energized.

2. An irrigation controller for controlling water supply in a water distribution system, said system including respective first and second valve means for directing or preventing water flow to respective first and second zones, said first zone and said second zone containing either primarily shallow rooted or primarily deep rooted plants, said controller comprising:

(a) a moisture sensing device adapted for location in said first zone for sensing soil moisture content of said first zone;

(b) first circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said first valve means for controlling water flow to said first zone in response to said moisture sensing device;

(c) second circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said second valve means for controlling water flow to said second zone; and

(d) ratio means adapted to interact with said second circuit means to provide less frequent watering to said second zone than to said first zone in accordance with a predetermined ratio.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ratio means includes:

counter means for counting a predetermined number of times that said first circuit means is energized.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predetermined ratio is based on a multiple of intervals resulting from the watering of said first zone.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ratio means includes:

timer means for timing a period which exceeds the desired interval in which said first zone would ordinarily be watered, and includes the occurrence of any repeated watering events, said ratio means being adapted to activate said second circuit means in response to the output of said timer means.