Irrigation control device for decoder-based irrigation system

• US 8,793,025 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Lorenz, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US13/332,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700282-284, 702 45- 46
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

Control devices for use in decoder-based irrigation control systems, and related methods, are provided herein. In one implementation, an irrigation control device comprises decoder circuitry located within a first housing and having an electrical connection configured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system; a coil located within a second housing; a first wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of the coil; and a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection of the coil. The coil is configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry. The first housing, the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionally connected together.

Claims

1. An irrigation control device comprising:

decoder circuitry located within a first housing and having an electrical connection configured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system;

a coil located within a second housing;

a first wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of the coil; and

a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection of the coil;

wherein the coil is configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry; and

wherein the first housing, the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionally connected together.

2. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the second housing is directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of the irrigation equipment.

3. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first housing and the second housing are rigidly connected to the irrigation equipment.

4. The irrigation control device of claim 3, wherein the irrigation equipment comprises a solenoid activated rotor assembly having a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the second housing is directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of the solenoid activated rotor assembly, wherein the first housing and the second housing are rigidly connected to the solenoid activated rotor assembly at a portion thereof that will be underground.

5. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the irrigation equipment comprises a solenoid activated rotor assembly having a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the second housing is directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of the solenoid activated rotor assembly.

6. The irrigation control device of claim 5 wherein the device comprises a plunger of the valve assembly controlling water flow to the pop-up sprinkler device.

7. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection comprises a wire path extending from the first housing and configured to couple to the control wire path of the decoder-based irrigation control system.

8. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry is configured to decode data from a modulated power signal received from the control wire path and based on the data, output the signaling to the coil to cause the coil to develop the electromagnetic flux.

9. The irrigation control device of claim 8 wherein the data is addressed to and intended for use by the decoder circuitry.

10. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry is configured to decode data from a modulated power signal received from the control wire path, wherein the data is not intended for use by the decoder circuitry, wherein the decoder circuitry is not responsive to the data.

11. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry is configured to decode data from a modulated power signal received from an external irrigation control unit of the decoder-based irrigation system via the control wire path, wherein the external irrigation control unit is directly coupled to a plurality of other decoder circuitry of other irrigation devices via the control wire path.

12. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first housing is hermetically sealed and includes the first wire and the second wire extending therefrom.

13. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first housing defines a volume containing the decoder circuitry, and wherein a material substantially fills the volume and sealing the decoder circuitry and the connection of the first wire and the second wire to the decoder circuitry from external moisture.

14. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the second housing is hermetically sealed and includes the first wire and the second wire extending therefrom to the decoder circuitry.

15. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first housing and the second housing are watertight.

16. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a wire coil formed about a volume, and wherein an electromagnetic force is generated within the volume in response to the application of a current flowing through the wire coil.

17. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry is one of a plurality of other decoder circuitry of other irrigation control devices also configured to be coupled to the control wire path.

18. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first wire and the second wire are integrally connected to the decoder circuitry and the coil such that a user is not required by make a wireline coupling between the coil and the decoder circuitry during installation of the irrigation control device.

19. A method of irrigation control comprising:

receiving, at decoder circuitry located within a first housing, irrigation control signals from an electrical connection integrally coupled to the decoder circuitry and coupled to a control wire path of the decoder-based irrigation control system;

outputting, by the decoder circuitry and based on the received irrigation control signals, signals to a coil located in a second housing via a first wire electrically coupling a first connection of the coil to the decoder circuitry and via a second wire electrically coupling a second connection of the coil to the decoder circuitry, wherein the first housing, the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionally connected together;

developing an electromagnetic flux in the coil in response to the signals from the decoder circuitry; and

actuating a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to electromagnetic flux.

20. An irrigation control device comprising:

decoder circuitry located within a first housing and having wires extending from the first housing that are configured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system, wherein the first housing is watertight;

a wire coil formed about a volume and located within a second housing directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of a solenoid activated rotor assembly having a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the second housing is watertight;

a first wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of the wire coil; and

a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection of the wire coil;

wherein the first wire and the second wire each extend between the decoder circuitry and the wire coil;

wherein the decoder circuitry is configured to decode data from a modulated power signal received from an external irrigation control unit of the decoder-based irrigation control system via the control wire path, and based on the data, to output signaling to the wire coil based on the decoded data, wherein the data is addressed to and intended for use by the decoder circuitry;

wherein the wire coil is configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a plunger of the valve assembly controlling water flow to the pop-up sprinkler in response to current flowing through the wire coil from the signaling from the decoder circuitry; and

wherein the first housing, the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionally connected together;

wherein the decoder circuitry is one of a plurality of other decoder circuitry of other irrigation control devices also configured to be coupled to the control wire path;

wherein the first wire and the second wire are integrally connected to the decoder circuitry and the coil such that a user is not required by make a wireline coupling between the coil and the decoder circuitry during installation of the irrigation control device.