Irrigation system apparatus, and related method
First Claim
1. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein at least some adjacent portions of said manifold means are assembled with each other with snap-on clamp means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method are provided for irrigation systems such as automated sprinkler systems. A pre-assembled housing or valve box includes an inlet for receiving water and one or more outlets for distribution of water to other components in the irrigation system, and also includes manifolding and power and valve means for selectively controlling the flow of water from the outlets. Many of the manifold components are integrally molded with each other and provided in modular form so that the system can be relatively compact and can be customized into a variety of configurations. The manifold can consist of or include integrally formed or interconnected valve bases. The electrical power system includes a main terminal box with power lines leading to connectors adjacent each outlet, so that solenoid valves may be readily connected thereto and replaced as necessary. O-rings, non-conducting gel, and similar mechanisms are provided to ensure the water-tightness of the electrical connections. The box and its components may be manufactured, assembled, and installed more reliably, conveniently and economically than conventional irrigation systems, and may also be tested before installation.
51 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein at least some adjacent portions of said manifold means are assembled with each other with snap-on clamp means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
-
6. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein said control means includes electrical power lines, and said housing means includes retaining means integrally formed therein for retaining said power lines in a desired position relative to said housing means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
-
14. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein said manifold means is attached to said housing means by positioning one or more outlet ports of said manifold means through corresponding openings in said housing means and by using attachment means for holding said manifold outlet port in relationship to said corresponding opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
-
17. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein said manifold means includes attachment means at one or more ends thereof for selectively attaching either cap means for terminating said manifold means or attaching further manifold components.
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
-
18. An irrigation apparatus, including:
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation sitei wherein said control means includes a battery-powered controller mounted in said housing means.
- housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
-
19. A substantially compact, pre-assembled apparatus for installation in a sprinkler system, including:
- a housing for containing other components of said assembly;
an inlet for receiving water;
a plurality of outlet pipes mounted in said housing and capable of receiving water from said inlet; and
a corresponding plurality of fittings affixed to said outlet pipes, said fittings configured to selectively receive either a plug member to prevent flow through said corresponding outlet pipe or to receive a solenoid valve means for selectively permitting flow through said corresponding outlet pipe, at least one of said fittings being integrally formed with at least another of said fittings, said integrally-formed fittings constituting manifold means for distributing water to selected of said outlet pipes;
further including electrical control means for controlling the operation of said solenoid valve means, said electrical control means including one or more water-tight electrical connections between said solenoid valve means and power lines for providing power to operate said solenoid valve means.
- a housing for containing other components of said assembly;
-
20. A method for installing an automated sprinkler system, including:
-
pre-assembling a valve box prior to shipment of said box to an installation site, said pre-assembly including providing said box with an inlet affixed to said box for receiving water, one or more outlets affixed to said box for receiving water from said inlet and distributing that water to other components of the sprinkler system, and one or more solenoid valves positioned between said inlet and said one or more outlets for selectively controlling the flow of water from said outlets;
transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site;
connecting a water source to said inlet;
connecting other components to said outlets;
testing the pre-assembled apparatus for water leakage prior to said transporting step;
wherein said pre-assembling step includes providing said box with electric power lines affixed to said box for operating said one or more solenoid valves; and
further including the step of connecting an electric power source to said power lines after transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An irrigation apparatus, including:
-
housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means;
wherein said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site, said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water; and
at least some adjacent portions of said manifold means are assembled with each other with snap-on clamp means.- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An irrigation apparatus, including:
-
housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means;
wherein said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, and said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water; and
said control means includes electrical power lines, said housing means includes retaining means integrally formed therein for retaining said power lines in a desired position relative to said housing means.- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. An irrigation apparatus, including:
-
housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means;
wherein said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, and said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water; and
said manifold means is attached to said housing means by positioning one or more outlet ports of said manifold means through corresponding openings in said housing means and by, using attachment means for holding said manifold outlet port in relationship to said corresponding opening.- View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
-
-
44. An irrigation apparatus, including:
-
housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water; and
wherein said manifold means includes attachment means at one or more ends thereof for selectively attaching either cap means for terminating said manifold means or attaching further manifold components.
-
-
45. An irrigation apparatus, including:
-
housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;
manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;
valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and
control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site;
wherein said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water; and
wherein said control means includes a battery-powered controller mounted in said housing means.
-
-
46. A substantially compact, pre-assembled apparatus for installation in a sprinkler system, including:
- a housing for containing other components of said assembly;
an inlet for receiving water, a plurality of outlet pipes mounted in said housing and capable of receiving water from said inlet; and
a corresponding plurality of fittings affixed to said outlet pipes, said fittings configured to selectively receive either a plug member to prevent flow through said corresponding outlet pipe or to receive a solenoid valve means for selectively permitting flow through said corresponding outlet pipe, at least one of said fittings being integrally formed with at least another of said fittings, said integrally-formed fittings constituting manifold means for distributing water to selected of said outlet pipes;
including an inlet port also integrally-formed fittings for receiving water into said manifold; and
further including electrical control means for controlling the operation of said solenoid valve means, said electrical control means including one or more water-tight electrical connections between said solenoid valve means and power lines for providing power to operate said solenoid valve means.
- a housing for containing other components of said assembly;
-
47. In an method for installing an automated sprinkler system, including:
-
pre-assembling a valve box prior to shipment of said box to an installation site, said preassembly including providing said box with an inlet affixed to said box for receiving water, one or more outlets affixed to said box for receiving water from said inlet and distributing that water to other components of the sprinkler system, and one or more solenoid valves positioned between said inlet and said one or more outlets for selectively controlling the flow of water from said outlets;
transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site;
connecting a water source to said inlet; and
connecting other components to said outlets;
wherein said pre-assembling step includes providing said one or more outlets integrally formed with each other to provide a manifold for distributing the water, and providing said manifold with mounting ports adjacent said outlets for selectively receiving said one or more solenoid valves or plug members for blocking water flow therefrom; and
wherein said pre-assembling step includes providing a main electrical junction box on said valve box for said connecting to an electrical power source, and providing connector means affixed to said valve box adjacent said mounting ports so that said power lines distribute power from said main electrical junction box to said connector means, and said connector means being configured for receiving corresponding connector means on said solenoid valves to accomplish the distribution of electric power to said solenoid valves.- View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
-
-
50. In an method for installing an automated sprinkler system, including:
-
pre-assembling a valve box prior to shipment of said box to an installation site, said preassembly including providing said box with an inlet affixed to said box for receiving water, one or more outlets affixed to said box for receiving water from said inlet and distributing that water to other components of the sprinkler system, and one or more solenoid valves positioned between said inlet and said one or more outlets for selectively controlling the flow of water from said outlets;
transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site;
connecting a water source to said inlet;
connecting other components to said outlets; and
testing the pre-assembled apparatus for water leakage prior to said transporting step;
wherein said pre-assembling step includes providing said one or more outlets integrally formed with each other to provide a manifold for distributing the water, and providing said manifold with mounting ports adjacent said outlets for selectively receiving said one or more solenoid valves or plug members for blocking water flow therefrom; and
wherein said pre-assembling step includes providing a main electrical junction box on said valve box for said connecting to an electrical power source, and providing connector means affixed to said valve box adjacent said mounting ports so that said power lines distribute power from said main electrical junction box to said connector means, and said connector means being configured for receiving corresponding connector means on said solenoid valves to accomplish the distribution of electric power to said solenoid valves.- View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
-
Specification