Moisture sensor and irrigation control system

• US 6,401,742 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dean L. Cramer, Flora Chavez-Cramer
• Original Assignee: Dean L. Cramer, Flora Chavez-Cramer
• Inventors: Chavez-Cramer, Flora, Cramer, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/435,849
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 137/78.3, 239/63, 324/664, 324/690
• US Class Current: 137/78.3
• 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: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic control assemblage for improving the watering habits to each zone in an irrigated parcel of land. The system consists of a 24 VAC transformer, a control unit, a sprinkler valve, and a probe assemblage for sensing the moisture level in a zone being watered. The electronic control unit is pre-modified to disable power to the sprinkler valve when the moisture level in the zone exceeds a prearranged level as measured by the moisture probe, buried in the zone area. In a preferred embodiment, the probe consists of a cylindrical stainless steel hollow metal shaft, a high purity dissembler metal point, separated with a dielectric material. The shaft, dielectric spacer, and point all have a predetermined length, wall thickness, and grade of material, pre-established to maximize the moisture detection characteristics of the probe. The control unit applies an electrical current along the shaft, energizing the dissembler metal point. The control unit records the soil impedance to determine the moisture content in the soil.

Claims

1. A removable soil moisture sensor system, configured to control the amount of soil moisture in a given area of turf or vegetative landscape, comprising:

a single moisture sensing probe comprised of a first electrode having an circular, tubular shape, said electrode having a length, an inner dimension of width, an outer dimension of width, and a wall thickness;

a second electrode having a cone shaped dimension, with an outer dimension of width matching said first electrode, a shaft matching the inner dimension of the first dielectric, said second electrode being oriented and substantially aligned to first electrode, said second electrode being spaced apart from said first electrode by a dielectric, a predetermined distance for maintaining the orientation of said first electrode relative to said second electrode when the electrodes are embedded in the soil;

a source of electrical power connected to said first and second electrode for applying a first electrical potential to said first and second electrode;

a first control unit for measuring the electrical potential between said first and second electrode when said first and second electrodes are imbedded in the soil, said first control unit configured to disarm a flow of electrical current from said source of electrical power to a first water valve if said first electrical potential drops below a pre-established value.

2. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, wherein said length of said first electrode is within a range of about 4 inches to 7 inches.

3. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 2, wherein said length of said first electrode is about 4½

inches.

4. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, wherein said outer dimension width of said first electrode is within a range of ¼

inch to ½

inch.

5. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 4, where in said outer dimension of said first electrode is about ¼

inch.

6. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, where in said inner dimension of said first electrode is within a range of {fraction (6/16)} inch to ¼

inch.

7. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 6, where in said inner dimension of said first electrode is about {fraction (7/16)} inch.

8. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, where in said gauge of tubing wall of said first electrode is within a range of {fraction (1/32)} to {fraction (4/64)} inch.

9. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 8, where in said gauge of tubing wall of said first electrode is about {fraction (3/64)} inch.

10. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, where in said total length of said second electrode is within a range of 1 inch to 1¾

inches.

11. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 10, where in said total length of said second electrode is about 1¼

inch.

12. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, where in said cone length of said second electrode is with in a range of b {fraction (3/8)} to ¾

inches.

13. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 12, where in said cone length of said second electrode is about ½

inch.

14. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, where in said shaft length of second electrode is within a range of about 1 inch to 2 inches.

15. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 14, wherein said shaft length of second electrode is about 1¼

inches.

16. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, wherein said top portion of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is within a circumference range of ⅛

inch to ⅜

inch.

17. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 16, herein said top portion of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is about ¼

inch circumference.

18. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, herein said top portion thickness of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is within a range of about {fraction (1/16)} inch to ¼

inch.

19. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 18, herein said top portion thickness of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is about {fraction (3/32)} inch.

20. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, herein said bottom portion thickness of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is within a range of about {fraction (3/32)} inch to {fraction (5/32)} inch.

21. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 20, herein said bottom portion thickness of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is about {fraction (7/64)} inch.

22. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 1, herein said bottom portion length of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is within a range of about to 1{fraction (1/12)} inches.

23. The soil moisture sensing probe of claim 22, herein said bottom portion length of dielectric spacer of soil moisture sensing probe is about 1¼

inch.

24. The soil moisture probe of claim 1, wherein said spacer is of dielectric material permanently interjected inside shaft of the first electrode.

25. The soil moisture probe of claim 16, wherein said spacer is drilled through the length of the dielectric material to accommodate an electric wire.

27. The soil moisture probe of claim 10, the second electrode is constructed of a material consisting of about 90% lead, and 10% metal hardeners.

26. A watering system for watering as series of soil watering zones comprising:

a 24 VAC power supply for supplying power along a power path;

a first soil probe system located along said power path and including a first water valve connected to a first sprinkler, a first soil moisture probe configured to measure the moisture level in a first soil watering zone, and a first control unit communicating with said first moisture probe and said first water valve, said first control unit configured to close the first water valve if said water moisture level is below a predetermined level;

a second soil probe system located along said power path, said second soil probe system including a second water valve connected to a second sprinkler, a second moisture probe configured to measure the moisture level in a second soil watering zone, and a second control unit configured to close the second water valve in the moisture level in the second soil watering zone is below said predetermined level;

a relay located in said power path between said power supply and said second soil probe system, said relay controlled by said first control system to allow power to flow across said relay to said second soil probe system when the moisture level in the first watering zone is greater than or equal to said predetermined level, and to inhibit power from passing across said relay when the moisture level in the first zone watering is less than the predetermined level;

wherein the first and second moisture probes each comprise a first electrode having a circular tubular shape, having a length, width and thickness, a second electrode having a length, width and thickness, being spaced apart from said first electrode by a predetermined distance, and spacers permanently connected to first electrode for maintaining the distance between said first and second electrodes.