System and method for maintaining irrigation accuracy of an irrigation system
First Claim
1. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region, the irrigation system comprising:
- a first alignment guide; and
an irrigation unit spaced apart from the alignment guide, the irrigation unit directing the irrigation fluid to a portion of the irrigation region, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide relative to the nozzle, (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the first alignment guide relative to the nozzle to adjust one of a flow rate of irrigation fluid through the nozzle and a position of the nozzle, and (iv) a housing having a portion that is fixed relative to the irrigation region, the housing retaining the nozzle so that at least a portion of the nozzle is positioned within the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation system (10) includes one or more alignment guides (38) and an irrigation unit (20). The irrigation unit (20) directs irrigation fluid (19) to at least a portion of an irrigation region (30). The irrigation unit (20) includes a nozzle (220), a sensor (260) that senses a change in position of a portion of the irrigation unit (20) relative to the alignment guides (38), and a unit control system (240). The sensor (260) can be an infrared sensor. The unit control system (240) receives information from the sensor (260) regarding the change in position and adjusts a flow rate of irrigation fluid (19) through the nozzle (220) and/or a position of the nozzle (220) relative to the alignment guides (38). The alignment guides (38) can be formed from a heat absorbing material that is sensed by the sensor (260).
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region, the irrigation system comprising:
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a first alignment guide; and an irrigation unit spaced apart from the alignment guide, the irrigation unit directing the irrigation fluid to a portion of the irrigation region, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide relative to the nozzle, (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the first alignment guide relative to the nozzle to adjust one of a flow rate of irrigation fluid through the nozzle and a position of the nozzle, and (iv) a housing having a portion that is fixed relative to the irrigation region, the housing retaining the nozzle so that at least a portion of the nozzle is positioned within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 54)
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19. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region, the irrigation system comprising:
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a first alignment guide that is fixed relative to the irrigation region; and an irrigation unit positioned within the irrigation region, a portion of the irrigation unit having a first orientation relative to the first alignment guide, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide relative to the portion of the irrigation unit, and (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor to determine if the portion of the irrigation unit has moved from the first orientation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 55)
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39. A method for increasing irrigation accuracy of an irrigation unit that irrigates an irrigation region, the irrigation unit being susceptible to unintended movement, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a position of an alignment guide that is fixed relative to the irrigation region with a sensor that is coupled to a housing of an irrigation unit, the housing having a portion that is fixed relative to the irrigation region, the alignment guide being spaced apart from the irrigation unit; locating the alignment guide with the sensor following movement of a portion of the irrigation unit relative to the alignment guide; and adjusting one of a flow rate through a nozzle that is at least partially positioned within the housing of the irrigation unit and a position of the nozzle based on the relative position of the alignment guide following the movement of the portion of the irrigation unit. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 56)
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50. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region having a perimeter, the irrigation system comprising:
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a plurality of alignment guides including a first alignment guide, a spaced apart second alignment guide, and a third alignment guide, wherein at least one of the alignment guides is not positioned along the perimeter of the irrigation region; and an irrigation unit that directs the irrigation fluid to a portion of the irrigation region, the irrigation unit being spaced apart from the first alignment guide, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide to determine an orientation of a portion of the irrigation unit, the sensor sensing the position of the second alignment guide, the sensor sensing the third alignment guide, and (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the portion of the irrigation unit and the second and third alignment guides to adjust one of a flow rate of irrigation fluid through the nozzle and a position of the nozzle relative to one of the alignment guides.
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51. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region having a perimeter, the irrigation system comprising:
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a plurality of alignment guides including a first alignment guide, a second alignment guide and a third alignment guide, wherein the alignment guides are not positioned along the perimeter of the irrigation region; and an irrigation unit positioned within the irrigation region, a portion of the irrigation unit having a first orientation relative to the first alignment guide, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide relative to the portion of the irrigation unit, the sensor sensing the second and third alignment guides, and (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor to determine if the portion of the irrigation unit has moved from the first orientation, the unit control system receiving a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the second and third alignment guides to adjust one of a flow rate of irrigation fluid through the nozzle, rotation of the nozzle about a first axis and rotation of the nozzle about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
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52. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region, the irrigation system comprising:
an irrigation unit that directs the irrigation fluid to a portion of the irrigation region, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that determines an orientation of a portion of the irrigation unit, and (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor regarding the position of the portion of the irrigation unit to adjust (a) one of a flow rate of irrigation fluid through the nozzle and a position of the nozzle, and (b) rotation of the nozzle about a first axis and rotation of the nozzle about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
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53. An irrigation system for applying an irrigation fluid from a fluid source to an irrigation region, the irrigation system comprising:
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a first alignment guide; and an irrigation unit positioned within the irrigation region, the first alignment guide being positioned remotely from the irrigation unit, a portion of the irrigation unit having a first orientation relative to the first alignment guide, the irrigation unit including (i) a nozzle that is in fluid communication with the fluid source so that the irrigation fluid from the fluid source is transferred to the nozzle, (ii) a sensor that senses the position of the first alignment guide relative to the portion of the irrigation unit, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an infrared sensor, a visible light sensor, an optical sensor and a pattern recognition sensor, and (iii) a unit control system that receives a signal from the sensor to determine if the portion of the irrigation unit has moved from the first orientation.
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Specification