Golf course environmental management system and method
First Claim
1. A system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course, comprising:
- a plurality of subsurface aeration subsystems associated with said areas of interest;
subsurface aeration conduits for providing to said areas of interest at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum;
air pumps in fluid communication with said subsurface aeration conduits configured to provide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum with said conduits;
drive motors mechanically connected to said air pumps;
local control modules responsive to a directive operatively coupled to said drive motors; and
sensors for measuring at least one environmental parameter at said areas of interest in communication with said local control modules; and
a master control module in communication with said local control modules;
whereby said master control module receives from said local control modules area information including information representing said at least one environmental parameter and, in response to said area information, said master control module issues a directive to said local control modules to operate said subsurface aeration subsystems.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for managing a plurality of areas of interest of a golf course. The system comprises a plurality of subsurface aeration subsystems and a programmable master control module. Each subsystem provides to a specific area at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum. In each area of interest, a local control module is responsive to a directive and to a datum (environmental or operational parameter). The local control module is configured to operate the subsystem and is in communication with the programmable master control module. The programmable master control module receives from the local control modules area information representing a status of the respective specific area to which the local control module is dedicated, and in response to the area information and to a command, the programmable master control module issues a directive to the local control module to operate the subsurface aeration subsystem.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course, comprising:
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a plurality of subsurface aeration subsystems associated with said areas of interest; subsurface aeration conduits for providing to said areas of interest at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum; air pumps in fluid communication with said subsurface aeration conduits configured to provide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum with said conduits; drive motors mechanically connected to said air pumps; local control modules responsive to a directive operatively coupled to said drive motors; and sensors for measuring at least one environmental parameter at said areas of interest in communication with said local control modules; and a master control module in communication with said local control modules; whereby said master control module receives from said local control modules area information including information representing said at least one environmental parameter and, in response to said area information, said master control module issues a directive to said local control modules to operate said subsurface aeration subsystems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for managing the environment of a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course wherein subsurface aeration systems are provided at the areas of interest, each subsurface aeration system being dedicated to a specific area of interest and including a conduit for providing to the specific area at least a partial vacuum, an air pump in fluid communication with the subsurface aeration conduit, the air pump configured to provide said at least a partial vacuum in the conduit, a drive motor mechanically connected to the air pump, and at least one sensor that provides a moisture reading of the specific area, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing control modules responsive to a directive and to the moisture reading and coupled to said drive motors for controlling the subsurface aeration systems; providing a master control module in communication with said control modules; receiving at the master control module area information sent from the control modules, representing the moisture content; determining whether the moisture content exceeds a setpoint value; and operating said subsurface aeration systems at the specific areas of interest to provide at least a partial vacuum when the moisture reading exceeds said setpoint value to remove excess water from the specific areas.
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21. A method for managing the environment of a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of subsurface aeration systems at the areas of interest, each subsurface aeration system being dedicated to a specific area of interest and including a conduit for providing to the specific area one of a vacuum and air under pressure for reducing a temperature of the soil, an air pump in fluid communication with the subsurface aeration conduit configured to establish said one of a vacuum and air under pressure in the conduit, a motor mechanically connected to the air pump, and a sensor that measures an ambient air temperature; providing local control modules coupled to associated ones of said subsurface aeration systems to control the operation thereof in response to a directive; providing a master control module in communication with said local control modules; receiving at the master control module area information sent from said local control modules representing the ambient air temperature; determining whether a condition exists for reducing the temperature of the soil at an area of interest in response to receiving said ambient air temperatures; if the condition exists, issuing a directive from the master control module to one or more local control modules causing operation of an associated subsurface aeration system to create a an air flow in an aeration conduit for reducing a temperature of soil at the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for managing the environment of a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of subsurface aeration systems at the areas of interest, each subsurface aeration system being dedicated to a specific area of interest and including an aeration conduit for providing to the specific area one of a vacuum and air under pressure for increasing a temperature of the soil, an air pump in fluid communication with the subsurface aeration conduit configured to establish one of said vacuum and air under pressure in the conduit, a motor mechanically connected to the air pump, and a sensor that measures an ambient air temperature; providing local control modules coupled to associated subsurface aeration systems to control the operation thereof in response to a directive; providing a master control module in communication with said local control modules; receiving at the master control module area information sent from said local control modules representing the ambient air temperature; determining whether a condition exists for increasing the temperature of soil at one or more areas of interest in response to receiving said ambient air temperature; if the condition exists, issuing a directive from the master control module to one or more local control modules causing operation of an associated subsurface aeration system to establish one of said vacuum and air under pressure in the aeration conduit for increasing a temperature of soil at the area of interest. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification