Automatic gated pipe actuator
First Claim
1. An automatic gated-pipe actuator for controlling flow of an irrigation material to an agricultural region through an irrigation gate in a gated-irrigation pipe, the automatic gated-pipe actuator comprising:
- a gate valve for coupling to the gated-irrigation pipe;
a gate actuator removably coupled to the gate valve and for actuating the gate valve; and
an automatic gated pipe gate control unit for controlling actuation of the gate valve, the control unit having a processor unit proximate to and communicatively coupled with the gate actuator, wherein the gate control unit is programmed with at least one operating instruction for independently and automatically the gate actuator without receiving instruction from a remote source;
wherein upon instruction from the gate control unit according to the at least one operating instruction, the gate actuator will actuate and alter the disposition of the gate valve, thereby altering the flow of irrigation material through the irrigation gate and to an agricultural region, and wherein the gate control unit is adapted to control the gate valve to alter the disposition of the gate valve between a plurality of different open positions and a closed position, each open position providing for a different flow rate of irrigation material through the irrigation gate.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic gated-pipe actuator for controlling flow of an irrigation material to an agricultural region through an irrigation gate in a gated-irrigation pipe. The automatic gated-pipe actuator includes a gate valve for coupling to the gated-irrigation pipe, a gate actuator removably coupled to the gate valve and for actuating the gate valve and an automatic gated pipe gate control unit for controlling actuation of the gate valve. The control unit has a processor unit communicatively coupled to the gate actuator. Upon instruction from the gate control unit, the gate actuator will actuate and alter the disposition of the gate valve thereby altering the flow of irrigation material through the irrigation gate and to a portion of the agricultural region adjacent the irrigation gate.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An automatic gated-pipe actuator for controlling flow of an irrigation material to an agricultural region through an irrigation gate in a gated-irrigation pipe, the automatic gated-pipe actuator comprising:
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a gate valve for coupling to the gated-irrigation pipe; a gate actuator removably coupled to the gate valve and for actuating the gate valve; and an automatic gated pipe gate control unit for controlling actuation of the gate valve, the control unit having a processor unit proximate to and communicatively coupled with the gate actuator, wherein the gate control unit is programmed with at least one operating instruction for independently and automatically the gate actuator without receiving instruction from a remote source; wherein upon instruction from the gate control unit according to the at least one operating instruction, the gate actuator will actuate and alter the disposition of the gate valve, thereby altering the flow of irrigation material through the irrigation gate and to an agricultural region, and wherein the gate control unit is adapted to control the gate valve to alter the disposition of the gate valve between a plurality of different open positions and a closed position, each open position providing for a different flow rate of irrigation material through the irrigation gate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for automatic irrigation having localized and independent irrigation control comprising:
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a gated pipe connected to a source of irrigation material for irrigating an agricultural region, the gated pipe including a plurality of irrigation gates for allowing the irrigation material to flow therethrough to the agricultural region; and a plurality of individually controllable automatic gated-pipe actuators operably coupled to the plurality of irrigation gates, each of the one or more automatic gated-pipe actuators including; a gate valve operably coupled to the gated pipe about one of the plurality of irrigation gates; a gate actuator removably coupled to the gate valve and for actuating the gate valve; and an automatic gated pipe gate control unit for controlling actuation of the gate valve, the control unit having a processor unit proximate to and communicatively coupled with the gate actuator, wherein each gate control unit is programmed with at least one operating instruction for independently and automatically the gate actuator without receiving instruction from a remote source; wherein upon instruction from the gate control unit according to the at least one operating instruction, the gate actuator will actuate and alter the disposition of the gate valve thereby altering the flow of the irrigation material through the one of the plurality of irrigation gates and to a portion of the agricultural region adjacent the irrigation gate and wherein the gate control unit is adapted to control the gate actuator to alter the disposition of the gate valve between a plurality of different open positions and a closed position, each open position providing for a different flow rate of irrigation material through the irrigation gate; and wherein the actuation of the plurality of irrigation gates controls an overall flow of irrigation material to the agricultural region. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification