Fluid control system

• US 4,993,640 A
• Filed: 06/12/1989
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Baugh
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Baugh
• Inventors: Baugh, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merritt, Karen B.
• Application Number:
  US07/364,864
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/64, 239/69, 239/70, 137/78.1, 137/78.2, 137/78.3, 137/624.11
• US Class Current: 239/64
• 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
• 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

Abstract

A fluid control system for controlling one or more branches of a fluid delivery system, which can be manually controlled or, under general operating conditions, automatically controlled by ambient moisture conditions. When applied to sprinkler and irrigation systems, for example, the system will include a ground moisture sensor which, with associated means, can modify or adjust the preset watering times in accordance with soil needs as sensed by the sensor structure. The programmable timer is used for respective watering stations; the timers can be separately set to desired average watering time needed for particular stations. Sequencing functions and apparatus are also provided.

Claims

1. In combination, a water delivery system having a series of branches, first means for controlling said water delivery system to sequence the operation of said branches and to time the operating times of said branches, and second means coupled to said first means, and including a pair of mutually spaced probes, for modifying and locking in, prior to water delivery startups, any preset water delivery timing, thereby so modifying water delivery, by increasing and decreasing the same, in accordance with ambient soil conditions.

2. An electronically controlled watering system having a count down timer and also watering means at a series of watering stations thereof, and ground moisture sensor means coupled to said watering means whereby to operate as a resistor for controlling countdown rate of said count down timer of said system, thereby permitting the employment of said ground moisture sensor means to vary water delivery at a preselected number of said watering stations.