Sprinkler control module

• US 9,332,696 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Salsberg
• Original Assignee: Paul Salsberg
• Inventors: Salsberg, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greenlund, Joseph A
• Application Number:
  US13/894,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/64, 239/67, 239/69, 137/78.2, 137/78.3, 700/284, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/72 symmetric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/12 using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping

Abstract

Sprinkler control units, that are designed to control water usage in residential and commercial above ground sprinkler systems, are disclosed herein. The sprinkler control units operate with any above-ground sprinkler system. They require reduced external power, and use the water flowing through the device to generate power. and are powered by the water flowing through the module. The modules are built with buried sensors that measure the ground saturation level, thus altering the water supply provided through the sprinkler system(s).

Claims

1. A water sprinkler control irrigation unit comprising:

a body of the water sprinkler irrigation control unit, comprising;

a frame comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, a middle box, and containing the components;

a water inlet opening connected to a hose for water to flow horizontally into the middle box;

a water outlet opening connected to a hose for water to flow horizontally out of the middle box;

a horizontal channel for water to flow between the water inlet and water outlet;

a means for generating electrical power through the flow of water through the channel comprising two vertical turbines, positioned such that the water flowing through the channel causes each turbine to spin, and causes one electrical generator coupled to each turbine to a solenoid and a control system that is attached to said solenoid;

two or more support legs comprising sensors for measuring water content in the ground, said leg protruding down from a leg attachment for affixing the legs and the sensors to the body of the water sprinkler irrigation control unit, so that the legs and the sensors are partially or fully buried in the ground, and the body of the unit is above the ground, and wherein said leg attachment is attached to the lower plate;

a means for stopping the flow of water through the channel when the sensors detect that the water has reached a pre-programmed level comprising within the box, a valve, a spring, said solenoid, and said control system able to automatedly shut the valve, and comprising a valve lever on the upper plate able to manually open the valve; and

wherein the sensors are configured to electronically communicate through the legs to the control system and the solenoid when the pre-programmed level is met, and the solenoid is configured to cause the valve to shut off, and stop the flow of water through the body.

2. The unit of claim 1 where the control system comprises an electronic control mechanism that causes the solenoid to shut the valve when the water content in the ground reaches a pre-programmed level.

3. The unit of claim 1, where the turbines and generator have two pairs of magnets affixed between them, and the pair of magnets affixed to the turbines cause the pair of magnets affixed to the generator to move as they spin.

4. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a means for fastening a hose to the water inlet.

5. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a means for fastening a hose to the water outlet.

6. The unit of claim 1, where the water inlet is circular.

7. The unit of claim 1, where the water outlet is circular.

8. The unit of claim 1, further comprising that the number of legs is four.

9. The unit of claim 1, further comprising that the frame is made out of plastic.

10. The unit of claim 1, where the opening for water to flow out of the unit is designed for a garden hose to be fastened to it.

11. The unit of claim 1 further comprising a battery charged by the generator to provide electrical power to the unit.

12. The unit of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism to open the valve to turn on the flow of water.

13. The unit of claim 1 wherein the control system is wirelessly controllable.

14. A water sprinkler control irrigation unit comprising:

a body of the water sprinkler irrigation control unit, comprising;

two or more support legs comprising sensors for measuring water content in the ground, each leg protruding down from a leg attachment for affixing the legs and sensors to a body of the water sprinkler irrigation control unit, so that the legs and sensors are partially or fully buried in the ground, and the body of the unit is above the ground;

a frame comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a middle box, and containing the component;

a water inlet opening connected to a hose for water to flow into the middle box;

a water outlet opening connected to a hose for water to flow out of the middle box;

a horizontal channel for water to flow between the water inlet and water outlet;

a battery to provide electrical power to the unit;

a means for stopping the flow of water through the channel when the sensors detect that the water has reached a pre-programmed amount comprising within the box, a valve, a spring and a solenoid to shut the valve, and comprising a valve lever on the upper plate to manually open the valve; and

,

a control system attached to the solenoid by which the means for stopping the flow of water through the channel can be controlled;

wherein the leg attachment is attached to the lower plate; and

,

wherein the sensors are configured to electronically communicate through the legs to the control system and the solenoid when the pre-programmed level is met, and the solenoid is configured to cause the valve to shut off, and stop the flow of water through the body.

15. The unit of claim 14 where the control system comprises an electronic control mechanism that causes the solenoid to shut the valve when the water content in the ground reaches a pre-programmed level.

16. The unit of claim 14, further comprising a means for fastening a hose to the water inlet.

17. The unit of claim 14, further comprising a means for fastening a hose to the water outlet.

18. The unit of claim 14, where the water inlet is circular.

19. The unit of claim 14, where the water outlet is circular.

20. The unit of claim 14, further comprising that the number of legs is four.

21. The unit of claim 14, further comprising that the frame is made out of plastic.

22. The unit of claim 14, further comprising that the number of legs is two.