Moisture sensitive irrigation control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A moisture sensitive irrigation system for controlling irrigation of multiple volumes of soil, comprising:
- a supply of water;
means for containing a control volume of soil, the moisture content of which is indicative of the moisture content of said multiple volumes of soil;
means for detecting the moisture content of said control volume of soil; and
means for irrigating each of said multiple volumes of soil including said control volume when said means for detecting has detected that the moisture content of said control volume of soil has reached a predetermined low threshold, and for terminating said irrigation when the moisture content of said control volume of soil has reached a predetermined high threshold;
wherein said means for detecting comprises spring-biased weight responsive means for operating said means for irrigating by operatively communicating with said means for irrigating upon said control volume of soil reaching a weight corresponding to said predetermined low and high thresholds.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A moisture sensitive irrigation control system provides automatic watering of potted plants, lawns, crops, etc. The system utilizes a control valve to effect watering of the soil upon automatic detection of a predetermined level of dryness in a control sample of the soil. The system uses a weight-based method of detecting the amount of moisture in the control sample to regulate the automatic release of a predetermined amount of water into the entire soil for rehydration thereof. As the weight of the control sample increases with the volume of water, the valve is automatically closed to terminate the irrigation process.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A moisture sensitive irrigation system for controlling irrigation of multiple volumes of soil, comprising:
-
a supply of water; means for containing a control volume of soil, the moisture content of which is indicative of the moisture content of said multiple volumes of soil; means for detecting the moisture content of said control volume of soil; and means for irrigating each of said multiple volumes of soil including said control volume when said means for detecting has detected that the moisture content of said control volume of soil has reached a predetermined low threshold, and for terminating said irrigation when the moisture content of said control volume of soil has reached a predetermined high threshold; wherein said means for detecting comprises spring-biased weight responsive means for operating said means for irrigating by operatively communicating with said means for irrigating upon said control volume of soil reaching a weight corresponding to said predetermined low and high thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A moisture sensitive irrigation system, comprising:
-
a base unit including a plurality of platforms, each for holding a potted plant and soil, and a water tower including a supply of water and means for irrigating each of said potted plants; wherein one of said plurality of platforms includes moisture detecting means for detecting the level of moisture of the soil in the pot held thereon, said level of moisture being indicative of the moisture levels of soil in other pots held on said plurality of platforms, which other pots do not include moisture detecting means, for activating said means for irrigating upon detection of said level of moisture reaching a predetermined low threshold to irrigate the soil in said other pots, ad for deactivating said means for irrigating upon detection of said level of moisture reaching a predetermined high level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A moisture sensitive irrigation system for controlling irrigation of a large area of soil, comprising:
-
a liner filled with a control volume of soil installed in the ground within said large area, the weight of said liner being representative of the moisture content of said large area; a spring-biased platform on which said liner is mounted, the vertical level of said spring-biased platform varying according to the weight of said liner; means for irrigating said entire large area upon activation; activating means, coupled to said platform, for activating said means for irrigating when said platform reaches a first predetermined vertical level corresponding to a low moisture content of said soil, and for deactivating said means for irrigating when said platform reaches a second predetermined vertical level corresponding to a high moisture content of said soil. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification