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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
First Claim
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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.

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