Infrastructures for variable rate water distribution systems

• US 9,693,511 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamann, Hendrik F., Bermudez Rodriguez, Sergio A., Marianno, Fernando J., Klein, Levente
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROGERS, ADAM JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/562,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 239542
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for deploying infrastructures for variable rate water distribution systems. Embodiments of the present invention can afford users with the ability to control water distribution as well as modify existing infrastructures to meet dynamic target water distribution area demands. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be used to provide users with accessibility to components for expedited servicing, modification, etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing water, the apparatus comprising:

a sub-supply line located on a first side of a plane, wherein an inlet of the sub-supply line is operatively coupled to a liquid source and an outlet of the sub-supply line is operatively coupled to an inlet of a first portion of an extension component;

the first portion of the extension component located at least on the first side of the plane, wherein an outlet of the first portion of the extension component includes a first releasable coupling to an inlet of the second portion of the extension component, and wherein the first releasable coupling is located on the second side of the plane;

the second portion of the extension component located on the second side of the plane including at least one control element located configured to regulate flow;

a branch line located on the first side of the plane, wherein an inlet of the branch line is operatively coupled to an outlet of a third portion of the extension component and an outlet of the branch line is operatively coupled to an inlet of a first portion of a rising line;

the third portion of the extension component located at least on the second side of the plane, wherein the third portion of the extension component passes through the plane to the first side of the plane;

the first portion of the rising line located at least on the first side of the plane, wherein an outlet of the first portion of the rising line includes a second releasable coupling to an inlet of a second portion of the rising line, and wherein the second releasable coupling is located on the second side of the plane;

the second portion of the rising line located on the second side of the plane, wherein an outlet of the second portion of the rising line is operatively coupled to a drip line using a third releasable coupling;

the drip line located on the second side of the plane configured to dispense liquid;

a communicative network operatively coupled to the at least one control element; and

one or more sensors located on the second side of the plane configured to monitor and transmit flow feedback information to components of the communicative network, wherein each of the one or more sensors is operatively coupled to the apparatus using a releasable coupling.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one control element comprises:

a control node operatively coupled to a distribution valve to control whether the distribution valve allows flow of liquid through drip line.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side of the plane is below ground and the second side of the plane is above ground.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the components of the communicative network includes a gateway computer system operatively coupled to the control node to transmit instructions for actuating the distribution valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein another one of the components of the communicative network includes a master computer system operatively coupled to the gateway computer system to transmit a distribution schedule to the gateway computer system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distribution schedule comprises a specified amount of time that the distribution valve should be open.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a plurality of extension components, wherein each of the plurality of extension components includes a respective control node operatively coupled to a distribution valve to control whether the distribution valve allows or blocks flow of liquid through a sub-supply line, or a branch line and the supply line to which the distribution valve is coupled; and

wherein each control node is configured to actuate a corresponding distribution valve in a sequential order to reduce pressure hammering effects in the apparatus.