Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Mechanical control system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2002-09-17
Black, Thomas (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Mechanical control system
C137S078200, C239S723000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06453216
ABSTRACT:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to methods of controlling an irrigation system. More specifically, the-present invention relates to methods of controlling an irrigation system to minimize the amount of irrigation water applied to a turf or crop while still meeting the crop or turf,s water requirements. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to methods of controlling an irrigation system that minimizes water use by setting irrigation schedules to take maximum advantage of natural rainfall, soil response to watering on a historical basis and the maturity of the turf or crop's root systems.
THE BACKGROUND ART
Normally, vegetation and greenery grow in soil watered by rain. Where rain is so seasonal that the quantity of rainfall fails to meet the requirements of particular types of vegetation, or when the amount of rainfall is deficient or practically nonexistent, the extreme drying of the soil may retard, and eventually prevent, vegetation growth. Irrigation can compensate for the vicissitudes of nature by supplying water directly to areas of vegetation and greenery in regular intervals and in sufficient volumes.
Earlier techniques and methods of irrigation which were utilized to provide supplemental watering to vegetation and greenery located remote distances from a water source, traditionally included, for example, such methods as supplying water manually by hand and bucket directly to the vegetation, or by such means as constructing simple aqueduct systems. Aqueduct systems of the prior art were generally constructed by forming long furrows or canals immediately alongside the vegetation or greenery to provide moisture and promote vegetation growth and productivity. Over time, various other types of irrigation techniques and devices were developed by those skilled in the art to simplify and supplement traditional methods of irrigation. For example, simple mechanical lifting aids and animal-powered irrigation devices were developed to assist users in transporting water from a water source to a localized area of vegetation requiring supplemental irrigation. The farmer, who used his skill and experience to determine when the flow of water should be started and stopped to yield a good crop, controlled these early devices.
As technology progressed with the advent of steam power, the internal combustion engine and electricity, irrigation systems became fully mechanized operations in many parts of the world. Many of the earlier traditional techniques and methods of providing irrigation were replaced by mechanical devices with internal programmable timer units. Moreover, mechanical irrigation devices of the prior art revolutionized the irrigation industry by providing a novel means for automating the control of water flow from a pressurized water source through such means, as for example, portable, lightweight aluminum piping, to numerous watering stations located remote distances from the water source.
Traditionally, automatic electromechanical controllers of the prior art incorporate multiple conventional motor-driven electric clocks which provide a mechanized means for programming individual start times for various irrigation cycles and watering stations. Calendar programs are generally incorporated to provide a means for selecting particular days of operational watering which normally includes a period over 14 days. Typically, calendar programs used in conjunction with prior art electromechanical controllers are functionally realized through the use of a disc being mechanically rotated to a next day position by a conventional motor-driven clock, once every 24 hours.
Employed in all but the simplest versions of electromechanical irrigation controllers of the prior art, cycle start circuits are typically provided to activate additional timer motors for advancing the irrigation controller through multiple preset watering cycles. Pins are generally placed in clock dials to close a switch at a preset time and, if the circuit is completed through a switch held closed by the calendar wheel pin on a day designated for irrigation, the watering cycle typically starts. In this regard, cycling water from station to station and programming watering intervals and timing durations for individual watering stations or zones may be accomplished by the placement and specific arrangement of various functional pins, cams, levers and other mechanical devices of prior art electromechanical controllers which interact with one another in concert to provide preprogramming automation for an irrigation system.
Increasing the number of watering zones or stations of prior art automatic electromechanical irrigation controllers to expand the watering capabilities of the irrigation system and provide water to larger areas of vegetation or greenery, such as golf courses, cemeteries, or parks, typically involves a significant number of mechanical disadvantages in the overall performance of the irrigation system. Moreover, in expansion of the watering capabilities of an irrigation system employing automatic electromechanical controllers of the prior art generally requires a dramatic increase in the number of working parts to realize and effectuate the additional programming capabilities typically required when increasing the number of watering stations or zones of an initial irrigation system.
In response to the problems associated with the dramatic increase in mechanical working parts required by prior art electromechanical irrigation controllers when expanding the watering capabilities of an irrigation system, those skilled in the art developed automatic solid state irrigation controllers which eliminated electric motors, mechanical switches, actuating pins, cams, levers, gears and other mechanical devices typically associated with electromechanical controllers and replaced them with solid state electronic circuitry. The programming potential of automatic solid state controllers of the prior art generally permits the user to program, for example, multiple start times and day programs for individual watering stations, repeat cycles, watering time selections in minutes (sometimes seconds), while maintaining the split-second accuracy of solid state timing without requiring the numerous interacting mechanical parts employed by prior art electromechanical irrigation controllers.
Automatic solid-state irrigation controllers of the prior art typically provide a user with several program sequences from which to select. Generally, the user has the option to choose from multiple program sequences offered by the controller and determine the specific program options which best accommodate the particular watering needs of the user's vegetation and greenery in a most advantageous manner. In this regard, each of the various program sequences typically has independent start times that may include several start times per day. In all the prior art known to the present inventors, the start time of the watering event is specified. The system then delivers water for a set amount of time.
To accommodate and sustain multiple program sequences, solid state irrigation controllers of the prior art generally incorporate a programmable microprocessor-controlled user interface that provides a user with the capability of programming several sprinkling stations or zones in a variety of timing scenarios, for example, daily, weekly, odd days, even days, etc. Each watering station or zone usually includes one or more sprinklers and a solenoid valve that is generally regulated by the microprocessor unit. Solenoid valves typically control the flow of water entering a particular watering station from a pressurized water source, and provide a means for monitoring the flow of water exiting the watering station through various sprinkler lines that typically terminate into a plurality of sprinkler heads strategically located throughout an irrigation area.
Other general features of automatic solid-state irrigation controllers of the prior art may include manual modes of operation that generally f
Hawkins Clifford R.
McCabe James F.
Barnes Crystal J
Black Thomas
Dula Arthur M.
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