Radio controlled sprinkler control system

• US 5,813,606 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond Ziff
• Original Assignee: Raymond Ziff
• Inventors: Ziff, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US08/826,569
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/67, 239/69, 239/99, 239/276, 239/562, 239/DIG. 15
• US Class Current: 239/67
• 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: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls

Abstract

A radio controlled sprinkler control system including at least one transmitter unit with a housing. Each housing has at least one moisture sensor with a cylindrical configuration having a top end coupled to a bottom face of the housing and a bottom end with a conical shape for allowing the moisture sensor to be inserted within the ground. The moisture sensor is adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of the moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted. Each transmitter unit further includes a radio transmitter connected to the moisture sensors for transmitting an activation signal upon the receipt of a moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a predetermined amount. Further provided are a plurality of sprinklers adapted to be actuated only upon the receipt of the activation signal by an associated radio receiver.

Claims

1. A new and improved radio controlled sprinkler control system comprising, in combination:

a plurality of transmitter units each including a housing having a rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces defining a front opening and interior space, each housing having a square transparent plate coupled via screws over the front opening wherein a rectangular gasket is situated between the housing and the transparent plate for preventing moisture from entering the interior space of the housing, each transmitter unit also including a pair of moisture sensors each with a cylindrical configuration having a top end coupled to the bottom face thereof and a bottom end with a conical shape for allowing the moisture sensors to be inserted within the ground, each moisture sensor adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of the moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted, each transmitter unit further including a radio transmitter situated in the interior space thereof and connected to the moisture sensors for transmitting an activation signal upon the receipt of a moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a predetermined level of moisture, an antenna situated on the top face of the housing thereof and connected to the radio transmitter for facilitating the transmission of the activation signal, and a control knob situated within the interior space of the housing adjacent the transparent panel for allowing a user to select the predetermined level of moisture, whereby the setting of the knob may be viewed from outside the housing;

a plurality of sets of sprinklers each dispersed throughout a lawn and situated adjacent an associated transmitter unit, each set of sprinklers connected to a water source via a common distribution pipe situated underground;

a plurality of valves each connected to an associated distribution pipe, each valve adapted to allow the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the corresponding sprinklers upon the receipt of a valve actuation signal, each valve further adapted to preclude the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the corresponding sprinklers upon the lack of receipt of the valve actuation signal; and

a receiver unit including a rectangular housing with an interior space, a radio receiver positioned within the housing and connected to each of the valves and adapted to transmit a valve actuation signal to a valve only upon the receipt of the activation signal from the corresponding transmitter unit, and an antenna situated on the rectangular housing for facilitating the receipt of the activation signals.

2. A radio controlled water apparatus control system comprising:

at least one transmitter unit including a housing, each housing having at least one moisture sensor having a top end coupled to the bottom face thereof and a bottom end for allowing the moisture sensor to be inserted within the ground, the moisture sensor adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of the moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted, each transmitter unit further including a radio transmitter situated in the interior space thereof and connected to the moisture sensor for transmitting an activation signal via free space upon the receipt of a moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a predetermined level of moisture;

at least one set of water apparatuses situated adjacent an associated transmitter unit, the set of water apparatuses connected to a water source via a common distribution pipe;

at least one valve connected to an associated distribution pipe, each valve adapted to allow the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the corresponding water apparatuses upon the receipt of a valve actuation signal, each valve further adapted to preclude the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the corresponding water apparatuses upon the lack of receipt of the valve actuation signal; and

a receiver unit including a radio receiver connected to each of the valves and adapted to transmit a valve actuation signal to a valve only upon the receipt of the activation signal via free space from the corresponding transmitter unit;

wherein the housing of the transmitter unit includes a rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces defining a front opening and interior space, the transmitter unit further including a transparent plate coupled over the front opening wherein a gasket is situated between the housing and the transparent plate for preventing moisture from entering the interior space of the housing and a control knob situated within the interior space of the housing adjacent the transparent panel for allowing a user to select the predetermined level of moisture, whereby the setting of the knob may be viewed from outside the housing.