IRRIGATION SYSTEM APPARATUS, AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20010045230A1
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: List AG
• Original Assignee: List AG
• Inventors: DELABY, AARON, OLSON, DONALD O., PETERSON, GERALD
• Granted Patent: US 6,460,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/363
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0491 Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5987 Solenoid or electromagnetically operated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6035 Rotary ball valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6991 Ground supporting enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6995 Valve and meter wells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86461 Variable cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets

Abstract

An improved apparatus and method are provided for irrigation systems such as automated sprinkler systems. A pre-assembled housing or valve box includes an inlet for receiving water and one or more outlets for distribution of water to other components in the irrigation system, and also includes manifolding and power and valve means for selectively controlling the flow of water from the outlets. Many of the manifold components are integrally molded with each other and provided in modular form so that the system can be relatively compact and can be customized into a variety of configurations. The manifold can consist of or include integrally formed or interconnected valve bases. The electrical power system includes a main terminal box with power lines leading to connectors adjacent each outlet, so that solenoid valves may be readily connected thereto and replaced as necessary. O-rings, non-conducting gel, and similar mechanisms are provided to ensure the water-tightness of the electrical connections. The box and its components may be manufactured, assembled, and installed more reliably, conveniently and economically than conventional irrigation systems, and may also be tested before installation.

Claims

1. An improved irrigation apparatus, including:

housing means for housing various other components of the apparatus;

manifold means assembled with said housing means and adapted for transporting water;

valve means assembled with said manifold means for directing the flow of water therethrough; and

control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, in which said apparatus is integrally assembled prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site.

2. The apparatus of

claim 1

, in which said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water.

3. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which at least some adjacent portions of said manifold means are assembled with each other with snap-on clamp means.

4. The apparatus of

claim 3

, in which said clamp means consists of interchangeable, interengageable portions.

5. The apparatus of

claim 3

, in which said clamp means consists of halves assembled about said manifold components, each half having a spring-like detent on a first portion and a mating receiving means on a second portion.

6. The apparatus of

claim 3

, in which said clamp means consists of more than two portions.

7. The apparatus of

claim 3

, in which said clamp means consists of two or more portions engaged with each other by one or more mating snapping portions.

8. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which said valve means includes an integrally-formed valve and tee.

9. The apparatus of

claim 8

, in which said integrally-formed valve is a ball valve.

10. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which said control means includes electrical power lines, and said housing means includes retaining means integrally formed therein for retaining said power lines in a desired position relative to said housing means.

11. The apparatus of

claim 10

, in which said power lines include one or more connecter means for connecting said lines to other components of said control means, and said retaining means includes a retaining member for holding one or more corresponding water-tight connectors in relationship with said housing means.

12. The apparatus of

claim 10

, in which said manifold means includes a plurality of outlet pipes through which water may be directed, and said valve means includes one or more valve members assembled with corresponding such outlets, and said control means further includes solenoid actuator means associated with each said valve member.

13. The apparatus of

claim 12

, in which said outlet pipes are mounted and retained in sidewall portions of said housing means.

14. The apparatus of

claim 13

, in which a plurality of openings are provided through said sidewalls of said housing means, and said outlet pipes extend through said openings and are retained therein prior to shipment of said apparatus to an installation site.

15. The apparatus of

claim 12

, in which said power lines include one or more connector means for connecting said lines to said solenoid actuators, and said retaining means includes a retaining member for holding one or more corresponding water-tight connectors in relationship with said housing means.

16. The apparatus of

claim 11

, in which said manifold means includes one or more integrally-formed manifold members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted for connection with distribution lines for downstream distribution of the water, said valve means including solenoid valve means adjacent one or more of said outlet ports for controlling flow of water therethrough, said solenoid valve means also constituting at least a part of said control means.

17. The apparatus of

claim 16

, in which said manifold means includes attachment sections along each said outlet port, said attachment sections being configured to selectively receive either a plug member to prevent flow through said port or to receive one of said solenoid valve means.

18. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which said manifold means is attached to said housing means by positioning one or more outlet ports of said manifold means through corresponding openings in said housing means and by using attachment means for holding said manifold outlet port in relationship to said corresponding opening.

19. The apparatus of

claim 18

, in which said attachment means includes at least one clip member received in a corresponding slot formed on said one or more outlet ports.

20. The apparatus of

claim 19

, in which said clip member and said slot include cooperating detent and receiving portions to help retain said clip member in said slot.

21. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which said manifold means includes attachment means at one or more ends thereof for selectively attaching either cap means for terminating said manifold means or attaching further manifold components.

22. The apparatus of

claim 1

or

claim 2

, in which said control means includes a battery-powered controller mounted in said housing means.

23. A substantially compact, pre-assembled apparatus for installation in a sprinkler system, including:

a housing for containing other components of said assembly;

an inlet for receiving water;

a plurality of outlet pipes mounted in said housing and capable of receiving water from said inlet; and

a corresponding plurality of fittings affixed to said outlet pipes, said fittings configured to selectively receive either a plug member to prevent flow through said corresponding outlet pipe or to receive a solenoid valve means for selectively permitting flow through said corresponding outlet pipe, at least one of said fittings being integrally formed with at least another of said fittings, said integrally-formed fittings constituting manifold means for distributing water to selected of said outlet pipes.

24. The apparatus of

claim 23

, further including an inlet port also integrally formed with said integrally-formed fittings for receiving water into said manifold means.

25. The apparatus of

claim 23

or

claim 24

, further including electrical control means for controlling the operation of said solenoid valve means, said electrical control means including one or more water-tight electrical connections between said solenoid valve means and power lines for providing power to operate said solenoid valve means.

26. In an improved method for installing an automated sprinkler system, including:

pre-assembling a valve box prior to shipment of said box to an installation site, said pre-assembly including providing said box with an inlet affixed to said box for receiving water, one or more outlets affixed to said box for receiving water from said inlet and distributing that water to other components of the sprinkler system, and one or more solenoid valves positioned between said inlet and said one or more outlets for selectively controlling the flow of water from said outlets;

transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site;

connecting a water source to said inlet; and

connecting other components to said outlets.

27. The method of

claim 26

, further including the step of testing the pre-assembled apparatus for water leakage prior to said transporting step.

28. The method of

claim 26

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing said box with electric power lines affixed to said box for operating said one or more solenoid valves;

and

further including the step of connecting an electric power source to said power lines after transporting said pre-assembled apparatus to an installation site.

29. The method of

claim 28

, further including the step of testing the pre-assembled apparatus for electrical power integrity prior to said transporting step.

30. The method of

claim 28

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing a main electrical junction box on said valve box for said connecting to said electrical power source.

31. The method of

claim 26

or

claim 27

or

claim 28

or

claim 29

or

claim 30

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing said inlet as an inlet integrally formed with a master valve and a tee.

32. The method of

claim 26

or

claim 27

or

claim 28

or

claim 29

or

claim 30

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing said one or more outlets integrally formed with each other to provide a manifold for distributing the water, and providing said manifold with mounting ports adjacent said outlets for selectively receiving said one or more solenoid valves or plug members for blocking water flow therefrom.

33. The method of

claim 32

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing a main electrical junction box on said valve box for said connecting to an electrical power source, and providing connector means affixed to said valve box adjacent said mounting ports so that said power lines distribute power from said main electrical junction box to said connector means, said connector means being configured for receiving corresponding connector means on said solenoid valves to accomplish the distribution of electric power to said solenoid valves.

34. The method of

claim 33

, in which said pre-assembling step includes providing moisture sealing means at said main electrical junction box and adjacent said connector means, for preventing moisture from damaging the electrical connections along said power lines.

35. The method of

claim 34

, including the step of labeling each valve and its corresponding said power lines at said main electrical junction box to permit ready correlation, repair and modification of the pre-assembled valve box apparatus.

36. A plurality of integrally-formed valve members having a single inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said outlet ports being adapted so that flow through said outlet ports is controlled by operation of said valve members.

37. Apparatus for attaching components together, including at least one clip member received in a corresponding slot formed in one of the components.

38. The apparatus of

claim 37

, in which said clip member and said slot include cooperating detent and portions to help retain said clip member in said slot.