Moisture sensitive irrigation valve control
First Claim
1. For a ground irrigation system including a water valve operated by periodic energization, a device for controlling the valve comprising:
- (a) a controller comprising;
(1) means for selecting a moisture level threshold,(2) means for producing a first signal, the first signal corresponding to a selected moisture level threshold,(3) means for receiving a second signal, and(4) means, responsive to the second signal, for de-energizing the water valve;
(b) a detector remotely spaced from the controller comprising;
(1) sensor means for producing a third signal, the third signal corresponding to the moisture level of the ground,(2) means for receiving the first signal, and(3) means for comparing the first and third signals and for producing the second signal in response to the comparison showing a predetermined relationship between the first and third signals, and;
(c) means for interconnecting the controller and detector to allow transfer therebetween of the first and second signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A moisture control system which overrides power supplied to electrically operated irrigation control valves such that a preset amount of moisture content of soil is not exceeded. The system is composed of two components, a remote detector, which is disposed in soil distant from its controller, and a controller which is placed near the valve it controls or the valve'"'"'s source of power.
The controller is electrically placed between the source of power for a valve, such as a time clock, or 24 VAC transformer and the valve. The controller receives its power from the source of power and the valve receives its power from the controller. The controller supplies electrically isolated power to the remote detector, sets the desired moisture level at the remote detector, and controls power to the valve.
The remote detector receives its operating power and desired moisture setting from the controller and the controller receives data as to whether the moisture is above or below the desired moisture from the remote detector via two connecting wires.
Attached to and part of the remote detector is a probe having electrical characteristics that change with respect to the moisture content of the soil. The remote detector contains probe signal conditioning and level detecting circuits normally placed in the controller. Locating moisture sensing and detector circuits in the remote detector allows the use of low power probes, and effectively eliminates problems associated with electrical noise, probe plating, and distance between the sensing device and the valve control electronics.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. For a ground irrigation system including a water valve operated by periodic energization, a device for controlling the valve comprising:
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(a) a controller comprising; (1) means for selecting a moisture level threshold, (2) means for producing a first signal, the first signal corresponding to a selected moisture level threshold, (3) means for receiving a second signal, and (4) means, responsive to the second signal, for de-energizing the water valve; (b) a detector remotely spaced from the controller comprising; (1) sensor means for producing a third signal, the third signal corresponding to the moisture level of the ground, (2) means for receiving the first signal, and (3) means for comparing the first and third signals and for producing the second signal in response to the comparison showing a predetermined relationship between the first and third signals, and; (c) means for interconnecting the controller and detector to allow transfer therebetween of the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification