Rainfall detection and disable control system

• US 5,355,122 A
• Filed: 07/24/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Erickson
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Erickson
• Inventors: Erickson, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Tim
• Application Number:
  US07/918,845
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/64, 239/65, 239/69, 239/67, 239/70, 137/78.2, 137/392, 340/602, 340/618
• US Class Current: 340/602
• 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: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

Disclosed in a Rainfall Detection and Disable Control System which provides detection and a visual display of both a trace level and a variable accumulation level of natural rainfall. The dual interacting rainfall detection system provides a unique sprinkler system control function that disables sprinkler system watering both during and after a rain shower, based upon the amount of rainfall accumulation, and user selectable disable time periods. A short variable disable time period is initiated by the trace rainfall detection probe and a long variable time period is initiated by the accumulation rainfall detection probe. The trace rainfall detection probe provides the control function of preventing watering, at the onset of, and during a rain shower. The short disable time period of the trace detection function allows the next watering cycle to occur, if no significant rainfall accumulation is detected. The adjustable accumulation rainfall detection level and the long disable time period of the accumulation detection function prevents the next watering cycle from occurring if sufficient natural rainfall has occurred. The 2 probes and their individual positions in the rain gage along with their separate disable time periods provide versatile lawn watering control. It allows the user to prevent watering during a rain shower, and allows the user to chose the disable time period and rainfall accumulation level the best suits his type of turf and programmed watering cycle.

Claims

1. A dual function Rainfall Detection and Disable Control System for interfacing to an existing lawn sprinkler clock controller providing to the user water conservation that prevent watering both during and after a rain shower, said system comprising:

means for collecting natural rainfall with dual internal detection means mounted therein;

said dual internal detection means comprising trace rainfall detection means and variable level accumulation rainfall detection means;

said trace rainfall detection means includes a probe mounted near the bottom of said rainfall collecting means;

said trace rainfall detection means having a short selectable sprinkler system disable time;

said means for variable level accumulation rainfall detection includes a probe adjustably mounted in said rainfall collecting means;

said means for variable level accumulation rainfall detection having a long selectable sprinkler system disable time;

control means for the interaction of disable times of said trace rainfall detection and accumulation rainfall detection means;

control means for tandem control of the time intervals for both said short selectable sprinkler system disable time and said long selectable sprinkler system disable time;

means visually displaying the detection of rainfall collected in said collecting means by both the trace rainfall detection means and the accumulation rainfall detection means with separate light emitting diodes, respectively;

control means for remotely testing both the trace and accumulation rainfall detection means and the visual display means;

control means for remotely clearing said remote control testing means of the dual internal detection means.