Control system for regulating liquid flow

• US 8,615,329 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Optimizer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Water Optimizer, LLC
• Inventors: O'Connor, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPEZ ALVAREZ, OLVIN
• Application Number:
  US11/985,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 700/285, 700/282, 700/284
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/02 Public or like main pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0664 the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a plurality of diverging flows from a single flow G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A control system is disclosed for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system. The distribution system has a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels providing the liquid to a multiplicity of users. A plurality of controllable user valves are interposed in the multiplicity of user channels. A liquid monitor senses a liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel. A user control changes selective controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within the liquid distribution channel.

Claims

1. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the liquid distribution system having liquid monitors for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within a major and a plurality of minor distribution channels, the plurality of minor distribution channels connected to a multiplicity of user channels for providing a flow of liquid to each of a multiplicity of users, the liquid provider having a transmitter and receiver connected to the liquid monitors sensing the liquid flow characteristic within the major and the plurality of mirror distribution channels, comprising:

an irrigation channel connected to each of said multiplicity of user channels for receiving a flow of a liquid downstream from the user channel;

an irrigation system having an irrigation zone connected to each of said irrigation channels;

a controllable user valve located in each of said irrigation channels upstream from said irrigation system for controlling the liquid flow from said irrigation channel to said irrigation system;

a user transmitter and receiver connected to said controllable valve located in each of said irrigation channels;

the liquid provider transmitter and receiver transmitting a first signal to said user transmitter and receiver upon sensing an undesired liquid flow characteristic within one of the major and plurality of minor distribution channels to close said controllable user valves to terminate the flow of liquid to said irrigation system of said multiplicity of users to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and the plurality of minor distribution channels and the multiplicity of user channels; and

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver transmitting a second signal to said user transmitter and receiver upon sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and plurality of minor distribution channels to cause said controllable user valves to open to cause flow of liquid to said irrigation system of said multiplicity of users to irrigate the landscape of said multiplicity of users by causing a programmable user control connected to the user transmitter and receiver to continue a remainder of a pre-established program irrigation schedule which was cancelled due to the first signal.

2. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid provider is a municipal water plant

3. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid flow characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a liquid pressure characteristic, a liquid level characteristic and a liquid flow rate characteristic.

4. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid monitor is connected to said liquid provider control by one of a wireless connection and a wire connection.

5. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of controllable user valves is connected to said programmable user control by one of a wireless connection and a wire connection.

6. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid provider transmitter and receiver communicating with said user transmitter and receiver for transmitting information unrelated to liquid flow including information from an emergency center.

7. The control system for regulating the flow of a liquid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said liquid provider transmitter and receiver communicating with said user transmitter and receiver for transmitting information including information from an emergency center and weather center;

and

said user transmitter and receivers transmitting to said transmitter and receiver of said liquid provider for communicating information from said programmable user control to the liquid provider including information regarding fall or moisture.

8. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the liquid distribution system having liquid monitors for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within a major and a plurality of minor distribution channels, the plurality of minor distribution channels connected to a multiplicity of user channels for providing a flow of liquid to each of a multiplicity of users, the liquid provider having a liquid provider transmitter and receiver connected to the liquid monitors sensing the liquid flow characteristic within the major and the plurality of minor distribution channels;

comprising;

an irrigation channel connected to each of said multiplicity of user channels for receiving a flow of a liquid downstream from the user channel;

an irrigation system having an irrigation zone connected to each of said irrigation channels;

a controllable user valve located in each of said irrigation channels upstream from said irrigation system having an irrigation zone;

a programmable user control connected to each of said plurality of controllable user valves for controlling said plurality of controllable user valves to irrigate said user site in accordance with a pre-established program irrigation schedule;

a user transmitter and receiver connected to said programmable user control located in each of said irrigation channels;

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver generating an interruption signal to selected user transmitter and receivers upon said liquid monitors sensing an undesired liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels;

said interruption signal received by said selected user transmitter and receivers overriding said programmable user control and discontinuing said pre-established program irrigation schedule said programmable user control by closing at least one of said plurality of controllable user valves to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within said major and minor liquid distribution channels; and

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver communicating with said selected user transmitter and receivers upon the liquid monitors sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels by causing said programmable user control to continue a remainder of said pre-established program irrigation schedule by opening at least one of said plurality of controllable user valves.

9. A control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the liquid distribution system having liquid monitors for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within a major and a plurality of minor distribution channels, the plurality of minor distribution channels connected to a multiplicity of user channels for providing a flow of liquid to each of a multiplicity of users, the liquid provider having a liquid provider transmitter and receiver connected to the liquid monitors sensing the liquid flow characteristic within the major and the plurality of minor distribution channels;

comprising;

an irrigation channel connected to each of said multiplicity of user channels for receiving a flow of a liquid downstream from the user channel;

an irrigation system having an irrigation zone connected to each of said irrigation channels;

a controllable user valve located in each of said irrigation upstream from said irrigation system having an irrigation zone;

a programmable user control connected to each of said plurality of controllable user valves for controlling said plurality of controllable user valves to irrigate said user site in accordance with a pre-established program irrigation schedule;

a user transmitter and receiver connected to said programmable user control located in each of said irrigation channels;

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver generating a first signal to selected user transmitter and receivers upon said liquid monitors sensing an undesired low liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels;

said first signal received by said selected user transmitter and receivers overriding said programmable user control and discontinuing said pre-established program irrigation schedule of said programmable user control by closing any opened one of said plurality of controllable user valves for restoring a desired liquid flow characteristic within said major and minor liquid distribution channels;

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver communicating with said selected user transmitter and receivers upon the liquid monitors sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels by causing said programmable user control to continue a remainder of said pre-established program irrigation schedule,

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver generating a second signal to selected user transmitter and receivers upon said liquid monitors sensing an undesired high liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels;

said second signal received by said selected user transmitter and receivers overriding, said pre-established program irrigation schedule of said programmable user control by opening at least one of said plurality of controllable user valves to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within said major and minor liquid distribution channels; and

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver communicating with said selected user transmitter and receivers upon the liquid monitors sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and minor liquid distribution channels by causing said programmable user control to continue a remainder of said pre-established program irrigation schedule.

10. A process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the distribution system having a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising the steps of;

monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in the major and the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels;

sending the liquid flow characteristic from the major and the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to the liquid provider;

connecting an irrigation channel downstream from each of the multiplicity of user channels for directing a flow of a liquid from the user channel to an irrigation zone of an irrigation system.;

interposing a controllable user valve into the irrigation channel upstream from the irrigation zone;

transmitting a first signal from the liquid provider upon sensing an undesired liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to close the controllable user valve to terminate or delay the flow of the liquid from the user channel to the irrigation zone of the irrigation system to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels of the liquid distribution channels and the multiplicity of user channels; and

transmitting a second signal from the liquid provider upon sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to open the controllable user valve to cause the flow of liquid from said irrigation channel to said irrigation system to irrigate the landscape of said multiplicity of users a user transmitter and receiver connected to said controllable valve located in each of said irrigation channels;

the liquid provider transmitter and receiver transmitting a first signal to said user transmitter and receiver upon sensing an undesired liquid flow characteristic within one of the major and plurality of minor distribution channels to close said controllable user valves to terminate the flow of liquid to said irrigation system of said multiplicity of users to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and the plurality of minor distribution channels and the multiplicity of user channels; and

said liquid provider transmitter and receiver transmitting a second signal to said user transmitter and receiver upon sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major and plurality of minor distribution channels to cause said controllable user valves to open to cause flow of liquid to said irrigation system of said multiplicity of users to irrigate the landscape of said multiplicity of users by causing a programmable user control connected to the user transmitter and receiver to continue a remainder of a pre-established program irrigation schedule which was cancelled due to the first signal.

11. The process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the pressure of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

12. The for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the level of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

13. The process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of monitoring a liquid flow characteristic of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels includes monitoring the flow of the liquid in one of the major and minor liquid distribution channels.

14. The process for regulating the flow of a liquid form a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, including the step of transmitting a signal from a user transmitter and receiver to the liquid provider regarding rain fall and moisture at the user site.

15. The process for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider as set forth in claim 10, including the step of exchanging information between a user transmitter and receiver and the liquid provider unrelated to liquid flow characteristic including information from one of an emergency center, homeland security center and weather center.

16. A process a control system for regulating the flow of a liquid from a liquid provider through a liquid distribution system, the liquid distribution system having liquid monitors for sensing a liquid flow characteristic within a major liquid distribution channel connected to a plurality of minor liquid distribution channels and coupled to a multiplicity of user channels for providing the flow of the liquid to a multiplicity of users, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a liquid flow characteristic signal of the liquid in the major and the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels;

sending the liquid flow characteristic signal from the major and the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to the liquid provider;

connecting an irrigation channel downstream, from each of the multiplicity of user channels for directing a flow of a liquid from the user channel to an irrigation zone of an irrigation system;

interposing a controllable user valve into the irrigation channel upstream from the irrigation zone;

connecting a programmable user control to each of said plurality of controllable user valves for controlling said plurality of controllable user valves in accordance with a pre-established program irrigation schedule;

transmitting a first signal from the liquid provider upon sensing an undesired low liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to override the programmable user control and discontinuing said pre-established program irrigation schedule of the programmable user control to close any opened controllable user valves to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within said major and minor liquid distribution channels;

transmitting a second signal from the liquid provider upon sensing an undesired high liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels to override the programmable user control and discontinuing said pre-established program irrigation schedule of the programmable user control to close any opened controllable user valves to restore a desired liquid flow characteristic within said major and minor liquid distribution channels;

transmitting a restore signal from the liquid provider upon sensing a desired liquid flow characteristic within the major or the plurality of minor liquid distribution channels causing said programmable user control to continue a remainder of said pre-established program irrigation schedule.