US20090138132A1 - Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head - Google Patents
Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head Download PDFInfo
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- US20090138132A1 US20090138132A1 US12/321,502 US32150209A US2009138132A1 US 20090138132 A1 US20090138132 A1 US 20090138132A1 US 32150209 A US32150209 A US 32150209A US 2009138132 A1 US2009138132 A1 US 2009138132A1
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- Prior art keywords
- water
- sprinkler head
- flow rate
- processor
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- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D7/00—Control of flow
- G05D7/06—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means
- G05D7/0617—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials
- G05D7/0629—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means
- G05D7/0635—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for fluid materials characterised by the type of regulator means by action on throttling means
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/085—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
- B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
- B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
- B05B12/124—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
- B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
- B05B3/14—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with oscillating elements; with intermittent operation
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S239/00—Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
- Y10S239/15—Sprinkler systems with controls
Definitions
- the keyboard and display are only included in the detachable programming unit which is possible since the keyboard and display are only needed at one or the other location when a sprinkler head is being programmed.
- the display and keyboard are also useful at the master controller location when in normal operation of the sprinkler system for displaying time or status of the system or for use by the user to inquire about various functions and status of the system.
- a save function is initiated to save values that define the point such that the local processor of the sprinkler head can repeatedly direct a water stream to it.
- the local processor is prepared to deflect the stream of water from the nozzle throughout the area of interest at the single point, along the line defined by two points, or within the line segments that connect to points at the three or more corners, when the master controller instructs the local processor to proceed. That being done, the water flow is stopped until the master controller instructs that it be restarted.
- FIG. 26 is a modified block diagram of the electronic circuitry of the sprinkler head for use with a fail safe valve.
- Impulse sprinkler heads 45 are usually used in installation situations where coverage is needed in larger areas where one impulse sprinkler head would replace many of the other type of sprinkler heads, e.g., in a golf course or large park setting. Even so, various water circuits are still needed and with the larger coverage area of each impulse sprinkler head one is even more limited to the use of a variety of plantings with a variety of watering needs.
- FIG. 7 is a combined cross-section/block diagram of a first embodiment sprinkler head 102 of the present invention.
- a threaded port 113 is provided to plumb sprinkler head 102 to water main 106 by means of a riser and couplers as necessary to deliver water to washer seat 112 , and then into water chamber 121 .
- the end shown as threaded port 113 in FIG. 7 can be unthreaded with an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the riser to which sprinkler head 102 is to be attached so that port 106 of sprinkler head 102 can be glued to the riser in the same way that the other parts are glued together.
- FIG. 8 provides a first embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional units.
- one sprinkler head 102 is shown interconnected to the other electronic subsystems of the present invention.
- Each additional sprinkler head 102 would connect to electric/data line 104 in the same way as does the single sprinkler head 102 shown in FIG. 8 with each of the other subsystems interfacing with all connected sprinkler heads 102 in the same way as shown for the one sprinkler head 102 .
- FIG. 8 provides a first embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional units.
- FIG. 8 provides a first embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional units.
- FIG. 8 provides a first embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional units.
- flow stepper motor 128 is provided under control of local microprocessor 184 and feedback from flow rate Hall sensor 138 as discussed above relative to the first embodiment sprinkler head.
- the shaft of flow stepper motor 138 extends downward through pc board 152 with flow stepper motor helical gear 252 mounted on the shaft.
- valve stem helical gear 254 is mounted on valve stem 256 with gears 252 and 254 meshed with each other to cause the selected rotation of valve body 244 within valve shell 226 .
- Microprocessor 170 thus monitors the intermediate point of voltage divider 272 to determine if there is data on electric/data line 104 from one of the sprinkler heads 102 / 102 ′ or weather station 108 , and if there is, to count the length of time that voltage level is low to determine whether the bit is “0” or “1”, as discussed above.
- FIG. 20 illustrates the mechanical relationship of the combination of power hub 115 and programming unit 110 ′ when interconnected to form controller 100 ′.
- Programing unit 110 ′ is physically mounted beside power hub 115 with direct communication being provided between secondary microprocessor 214 of programming unit 110 ′ and microprocessor 170 of power hub 115 provided by line 109 ′ that is plugged into a connector on power hub 115 (see FIG. 9 ).
- line 109 ′ is disconnected from power hub 115
- programming unit physically moved to a sprinkler head of interest where line 109 ′ is plugged jack 156 to make a direct connection with local microprocessor 184 .
Abstract
The present invention includes a unique irrigation sprinkler system with a unique sprinkler head design; a unique method of defining the planted area to be served by the sprinkler head; a unique method for determining when that planted area needs to be watered; a unique way of providing even coverage throughout the planted area when being watered; the ability to use one sprinkler head to individually water multiple, non-overlapping planted areas; a unique way of addressing multiple sprinkler heads in the same sprinkler system; and a unique method for remotely determining the integrity of the sprinkler system.
Description
- The present invention is for a sprinkler system and a sprinkler head design, namely, a sprinkler system having one low pressure water feed line that serves a plurality of individually actuated and programmed sprinkler heads. The individually programmed and actuated sprinkler heads make it possible to deliver an accurate amount of water at a frequency desired for the specific type of plant being served by the individual sprinkler head.
- One of the major problems with horticultural sprinkler systems using the presently available components is devising a system design that provides the appropriate amount of water with the proper frequency for all of the various plants in the area to be automatically sprinkled. Some plants need deep watering while others require shallow watering; others require that the foliage not be wet during sprinkling to minimize the development of various diseases and infestations, while other plants are immune to such infestations or require wetting of the foliage during watering; some plants require watering daily or on alternate days particularly in warm or hot weather, while others are drought tolerant and need watering only once or twice a month. Then there are those plants that require protection from frost in cold weather while others do not. And how do you deal with a tropical plant that requires heavy and frequent watering that is planted in close proximity to drought tolerant plants that only require sparse watering, or different soil types which occur throughout a large planted area? These are very serious problems that may not be solvable with the present sprinkler equipment and controls that are currently available once the landscaping has been established.
- Due to problems such as those recited above, in today's market one's landscaping and sprinkler system are usually designed and installed simultaneously so that all of the plants served by each circuit of the sprinkler system have similar watering requirements. Thus, sprinkler systems that are currently in use today require multiple watering circuits and various types of sprinkler heads with various coverage patterns.
- It would be desirable if there was a horticultural sprinkler system that had none of the drawbacks of those presently available, and particularly a system that can just as readily be installed in an established landscaped area as together with the installation of new landscaping. Even more desirable would be a sprinkler system that easily permitted the introduction or removal of plants throughout the landscaped area and corresponding reprogramming of sprinkler heads, or even the enlarging of the landscaped area. A system that provides unrestricted creativity in the selection and placement of types and species of plants would also be very desirable. In addition it would be desirable to have a sprinkler system that requires the least number of parts, particularly different types, styles and coverage pattern sprinkler heads, preferably a single style sprinkler head. The present invention meets all of these requirements.
- The present invention presents a unique irrigation sprinkler system with a unique sprinkler head design; a unique method of defining the planted area to be served by the sprinkler head; a unique method for determining when that planted area needs to be watered; a unique way of providing even coverage throughout the planted area when being watered; the ability to use one sprinkler head to individually water multiple, non-overlapping planted areas; a unique way of addressing multiple sprinkler heads in the same sprinkler system; and a unique method for remotely determining the integrity of the sprinkler system.
- Each sprinkler head of the present invention irrigation sprinkler system is disposed to be coupled to the same water feeder line to deliver water to a planted area of interest. Each sprinkler head of the present invention includes an input port disposed to be coupled to the water feeder line with a control value coupled to the input port to provide controlled water flow through the control valve to the interior of the sprinkler head. In addition there is a flow rate monitoring unit adjacent the control value to monitor the water flow rate as it exits the control valve for delivery to a nozzle with a proximate end adjacent the flow rate monitoring unit to receive the water flow from the control valve and to expel the water from the distal end of the nozzle to the planted area of interest. The sprinkler head further includes a drive means affixed to the nozzle for angularly positioning the distal end of the nozzle, and an angular position monitoring unit to determine the position of the drive means. To control the operation of the various components of the sprinkler head, there is also a sprinkler head control subsystem coupled to the control valve, the flow rate monitoring unit, the drive means and the angular position monitoring unit to monitor and control the water flow rate through, and the angular position of, the nozzle to deliver water to the planted area of interest.
- One embodiment of the flow rate monitoring unit could include a flexible finger having a proximate end mounted to a fixed position relative to the water flow and a distal end extending into the path of the water flow. In this embodiment, the distal end of the flexible finger is in a relaxed position when the water flow rate is zero and a displaced position when the water flow rate is non-zero, with the extent of the displaced position being directly related to the water flow rate. Additionally there is a magnet mounted at either a fixed position adjacent the distal end of the flexible finger or on the distal end of the flexible finger. Working in cooperation with the magnet, there is a flow rate magnetic field sensor at the other position adjacent the magnet to provide an electrical signal that is directly related to the strength of the magnetic field detected from the magnet. The strength of that detected magnetic field in turn is strongest when the water flow rate is zero and of decreasing strength the greater the water flow rate, i.e., the signal strength is greatest when the magnet is closest to flow rate magnetic sensor with the signal strength decreasing the further apart the magnet and the flow rate magnetic sensor are from each other.
- An embodiment of the angular position monitoring unit similarly includes a magnet mounted at either a fixed position adjacent the drive means or on the drive means. The corresponding angular position magnetic field sensor is then mounted at the other location with the angular position magnetic field sensor providing the strongest electrical signal when the magnet is adjacent the angular position magnetic field sensor to define the zero degree angular position for the nozzle. The zero position is then determined before the control subsystem causes the drive means to operate between selected angular positions in the delivery of water to the planted area of interest.
- The overall sprinkler system of the present invention, as stated above, provides water from a water source to the planted area of interest, with the sprinkler system including a water feeder line disposed to be coupled to the water source which could provide water from a marginal water pressure, perhaps as low as 20 psi (pounds per square inch) or normal city water system pressures in the range of 60 to 90 psi, or at even higher pressures. Coupled to that water feeder line is at least one a sprinkler head of the type discussed above, or equivalent to that sprinkler head. Additionally, each sprinkler head is individually electrically controllable during the watering cycle to continuously vary the angular position of, and the water flow rate through, the nozzle to the planted area of interest to provide even coverage of that area. The overall system also includes a power and data line coupled to each of the sprinkler heads to provide power and control data to each one from a master controller disposed to be connected to a power source and coupled to the power and data line to provide power and control data to the sprinkler heads and other elements of the system.
- In sprinkler system of the present invention each sprinkler head can be individually programmed either from the master controller or remotely with a programming unit that plugs into the sprinkler head that is to be programmed. Two embodiments are included to accomplish that programming. In the first embodiment, an optional remote programming unit is provided. In the second embodiment, the master controller is divided into a power hub and a detachable programming unit that is plugged into the power hub when not in use remotely at one of the sprinkler heads. In the first of these embodiments, both the master controller and the remote programming unit includes a display and keyboard for the user to program each sprinkler head. Whereas in the second embodiment, the keyboard and display are only included in the detachable programming unit which is possible since the keyboard and display are only needed at one or the other location when a sprinkler head is being programmed. The display and keyboard are also useful at the master controller location when in normal operation of the sprinkler system for displaying time or status of the system or for use by the user to inquire about various functions and status of the system.
- Additionally there is an optional weather station coupled to the power and data line to provide weather related data to the master controller. That data might include temperature, humidity, wind direction and strength, etc.
- Another element of the present invention is a method of watering a contiguous planted area of interest with a processor controlled automatic sprinkler head as described above connected to a water line with that water being delivered through the nozzle. That is accomplished by selectively oscillating the particular sprinkler head from side to side to direct the water stream from the nozzle from side to side within the planted area of interest under control of the processor. In coordination with the back and fourth oscillation of the nozzle, the water flow rate through the nozzle is selectively varied to direct the water from the nozzle at varying distances from the nozzle within the planted area of interest. Alternately, the flow rate through the sprinkler head could be varied to direct the water stream in and out (closer and farther) from the sprinkler head while coordinating the angular position of the sprinkler head to direct the water stream throughout the planted area of interest. Using either of these techniques, water is directed to the planted area of interest in a in a zig-zag fashion to cover the entire planted area of interest.
- The method of programming each sprinkler head for delivery of water to a planted area of interest is also unique, as is the method of determining when and how much water to deliver to the planted area of interest. First, the area of interest must be determined and programmed into the corresponding sprinkler head. Typically the shape of that area will be a point, a line, a triangle or a multi-sided polygon in which case, one, two, three or more points, respectively, with corresponding electronic signal values that define the point, ends or corners of the area of interest must be programmed into the sprinkler head. For each point, a value corresponding to an electrical signal to positions the nozzle at the angular position where the water from the nozzle is in the direction of the point, and a value corresponding to the electrical signal to control the flow rate through the nozzle to direct the water the necessary distance from the sprinkler head to the point, are stored in local memory in the sprinkler head. The values of the necessary angular and distance positions are determined by the use, either with the master controller or with a unit remotely at the sprinkler head first initiates water flow from the nozzle, and then using the keyboard adjusts the angular position of, and the water flow rate from, the nozzle until the stream of water hits the point in question. In each case, a save function is initiated to save values that define the point such that the local processor of the sprinkler head can repeatedly direct a water stream to it. Once all of the values for necessary points to define the area of interest are entered, the local processor is prepared to deflect the stream of water from the nozzle throughout the area of interest at the single point, along the line defined by two points, or within the line segments that connect to points at the three or more corners, when the master controller instructs the local processor to proceed. That being done, the water flow is stopped until the master controller instructs that it be restarted.
- Another unique feature of the present invention is the determination of how much water to deliver to the planted area of interest when the local processor of the sprinkler head is instructed by the master controller to water that area. Also during the programming of the area of interest into the sprinkler head, the dose (number of inches) of water that is to be delivered in a single watering cycle is input to memory along with the corner definitions. Then, using the corner definitions, the area (number of square feet) of the planted area of interest is calculated by the local processor. Then, knowing that area, the dose and the nominal flow rate through the nozzle for the various points, the local processor calculates the length of time needed to evenly deliver the desired dose throughout the planted area of interest. That time is then also stored in memory in the sprinkler head.
- If the planted area of interest is a single point, then a nominal area is used as the area of the planted area of interest for the watering duration calculation. Similarly, if the planted area of interest is a line, then the area of the planted area of interest is calculated by multiplying the distance between to the two points the define the ends of the line by a nominal width for the duration calculation.
- Then to get even coverage throughout the planted area of interest the stream of water is varied throughout the area by a technique such as zig-zagging the stream of water.
- The method for determining when each area of interest needs to be watered also requires that two additional pieces of data be known: a stress tolerance level in inches of water (the number of inches of water loss that a plant can withstand before experiencing damage) for the plants in the area of interest, and a typical value of the evapotransporation rate (ET0) in the geographic area where the planted area is located. That stress tolerance level is entered and saved in the sprinkler head by the user when programming for dose and the points that define the area of interest. Since ET0 is dependent on the weather in the geographic area where the sprinkler system is located, the same ET0 is used for calculating when watering is needed by all of the planted areas of interest served by the sprinkler system, thus ET0 is preprogrammed into the master controller, or is determined by the master controller as needed.
- With those values being available, it is possible to determine at any particular time whether each planted area of interest being served by the sprinkler system needs to be watered. This is done by the master controller sending each sprinkler head attached to the sprinkler system the ET0 for that point in time to be used in the calculation to determine if watering is needed. Each local processor of each sprinkler head then subtracts the ET0 value either from the programmed stress tolerance level or the results of a previous one of these calculations which has been stored as the effective stress value. The resulting effective stress value is then updated in memory to the value just calculated. Next the local processor determines if the effective stress value is zero or a negative value. If so, the corresponding area of interest requires watering for the period of time determined based on the square footage of that area and other values.
- The next step in the watering process is for each local processor to communicate the number of minutes that are required by that sprinkler head to water those areas that have reached the zero or negative threshold. Knowing the number of sprinkler heads that need to water and the length of time need by each, the master controller calculates the maximum number of sprinkler heads that can be active at the same time using the information provided by the sprinkler heads and knowing the available water pressure of the water line. Next the master controller prepares a sequence of steps for activating the ready sprinkler heads with no more than the determined maximum number sprinkler heads in each step of the sequence using the maximum number and the individual watering cycle durations needed by the sprinkler heads that are ready to water. Then the master controller communicates individually with each sprinkler head at the beginning of each sequence step in which that sprinkler head has been included to commence watering for a predetermined period of time until all sequence steps have been completed. Then when each sprinkler head has completed watering, for those areas of interest that have just been watered, resets the stored effective stress value to the stress tolerance level programmed into the sprinkler head by the user.
- Another feature of the present invention is a technique for determining the integrity of the automatic sprinkler system at any time. To do so, each local processor is programmed to report to the master controller: an inability to water an area when authorized to do so by said master controller; and when there is water flow through the corresponding sprinkler head at a time when unauthorized to initiate water flow. Additionally, the master controller individually interrogates each local processor in each sprinkler head at will to request an acknowledgment from each local processor as being on-line. From the information provided by the local processor, or processors, by the lack of a response to the individual interrogations, the master controller is able to identify a possible problem and the sprinkler head where that problem is located.
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FIG. 1 is a line drawing representation of a typical interconnection of the various components of a horticultural sprinkler system of the prior art; -
FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are top and side views, respectively, of the passive type of sprinkler head of the prior art; -
FIGS. 3 a-3 d are representations of typical coverage patterns available with various types of sprinkler heads of the prior art; -
FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are top and side views, respectively, of the impulse type of sprinkler head of the prior art; -
FIG. 5 is a typical interconnection diagram of the various components of the horticultural sprinkler system of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a line drawing representation of a typical interconnection of the various components of a horticultural sprinkler system of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional and block diagram representation of the mechanical relationship of the various components of a sprinkler head of the present invention without the details of the electrical interconnections within the sprinkler head; -
FIG. 8 is a representative interconnection block diagram of a first embodiment of the interconnection of the various electrical components of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a representative interconnection block diagram of a second embodiment of the interconnection of the various electrical components of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a side plan view of a second embodiment sprinkler head of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a partially cut-away side plan view of the sprinkler head of the present invention to show some of the internal parts thereof; -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment sprinkler head of the present invention with the cross-section having been taken at about 30° to vertical; -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the valve body of the second embodiment of the sprinkler head of the present invention; -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the valve of the second embodiment sprinkler head of the present invention; -
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the meter plate of the second embodiment sprinkler head of the present invention; -
FIG. 16 is a graphical representation of bi-phase data modulation of power line; -
FIG. 17 is a graphical representation of a counter technique for determining whether an encoded bit is a “0” or a “1”; -
FIG. 18 is a simplified schematic diagram of the power hub power line modulation/demodulation circuit; -
FIG. 19 is a simplified schematic diagram of the sprinkler head power line modulation/demodulation circuit; -
FIG. 20 is a simplified representation of thesecond embodiment controller 100′, and the continuant parts—power hub and programming unit—joined together; -
FIGS. 21 a, 21 b and 21 c illustrate the screens of the programming unit when a sprinkler head is initially programmed, or reprogrammed; -
FIGS. 22 a and 22 b together, or 22 a and 22 c together, are alternative flow charts of the programming/reprogramming of a sprinkler head; -
FIG. 23 is a flow chart of the local programming of the controller for local conditions; -
FIGS. 24 a and 24 b together are a flow chart of the operation of the sprinkler system of the present invention; and -
FIGS. 25 a, 25 b, 25 c and 25 d are illustrations of a four points example used to program a sprinkler head to cover a quadrilateral area, a triangular area, a straight line, and a single point, respectively. -
FIG. 26 is a modified block diagram of the electronic circuitry of the sprinkler head for use with a fail safe valve. -
FIG. 27 a is a side cross-sectional view of a fail safe valve of the present invention in the activated position. -
FIG. 27 b is a partial side cross-sectional view of the fail safe valve of the present invention in the non-activated position. -
FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view of the sprinkler head embodiment of the present invention that includes the fail safe valve of the present invention. -
FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art horticultural sprinkler system installation in a residential backyard that is perhaps no bigger than an area of 30 feet by 75 feet. There is a central, substantiallyrectangular lawn area 1 with a plantededge area 3 which borders two sides of afence 5. Given the shape and size of thelawn 1, to achieve full coverage when watering, it is typically necessary to provide both perimeter and central sprinkler heads. Once that is determined it is necessary to determine what angular coverage must be provided by each sprinkler head, the necessary minimum water flow rate through each sprinkler head, and the minimum water pressure level that is required to achieve the desired coverage. For the example inFIG. 1 , two separate water circuits are shown for wateringlawn 1 taking into account the available water pressure, and the angles of coverage and the necessary flow rates of each sprinkler head. Onewater circuit 17 is provided for the sprinkler heads located around the perimeter oflawn 1, and thesecond water circuit 19 is provided for the sprinkler heads located in the central area oflawn 1. - Then for watering the plants in
edge 3, it is also necessary to determine how many sprinkler heads of what type and coverage are need. Then it must be determined if a separate water circuit is needed to support the sprinkler heads foredge 3 either due to lack of sufficient pressure to include them with one of the lawn circuits, or because the sprinkler time and frequency will be different than for the lawn area. Typically shrub and flower plantings require watering less frequently than does a lawn. If it is determined that the plants inarea 3 will have the same watering time and frequency aslawn 1, then it must be determined that there is sufficient water pressure in either of the two water circuits for watering thelawn 1 to support the additional sprinkler heads needed forarea 3. If there is sufficient water pressure in either, or both, lawn watering circuits and the watering time and frequency are to be the same, then some of the necessary sprinkler heads can be included in one or both of the lawn watering circuits. However, since the watering time and frequency for edge plants is typically different than that for a lawn, thus aseparate watering circuit 21 is necessary, regardless as to whether or not there is sufficient water pressure in one of the other circuits to support the sprinkler heads foredge 3. - For simplicity of the example of
FIG. 1 there are only three wateringcircuits FIG. 1 could easily require a total of five or six watering circuits. - The overall system of
FIG. 1 includes the water being supplied by water main 7 to all three electrically activatedcontrol valves circuits control values clock 15 on preselected particular days of the week, times of day and duration of each watering cycle for each circuit. Due to water pressure limitations and the usual design of such water circuits, nearly all of the available water pressure is needed for a single watering circuit, thus only one valve is actuated for any period of time, with perhaps each valve being actuated sequentially when the operational period for a previous water circuit has been completed, i.e., no two water circuits will be operating at the same time. - Note that in
FIG. 1 the individual sprinkler heads are indicated with four different symbols, namely a circle, a diamond, a square and a triangle. Inwater circuit 17 note that there are two sprinkler head types included, a firstsprinkler head type 23 shown as a circle to indicate that the spray pattern provided is 180°, and a secondsprinkler head type 25 shown as a diamond to indicate that the spray pattern provided is 90°. Then inwater circuit 19 there is only one sprinkler head type included, a thirdsprinkler head type 27 shown as a square to indicate that the spray pattern provided is 360°. The fourthsprinkler head type 29 is included inwater circuit 21 and is shown as a triangle to indicate that it has a very localize spray pattern, perhaps it is only the drip type of head. -
FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate top and side views of typical passivetype sprinkler head 31 that is currently available.Passive sprinkler head 31 includes apressure adjusting screw 33 on top ofhead 31 which is adjusted when the watering system is installed to set the distance of the spray that is provided by that individual sprinkler head. In the side view,spray port 35 is shown to provide the water spray at the selected angle.FIGS. 3 a-3 d show that sprinkler heads 31 can be obtained with different spray angles θ:FIG. 3 a with substantially a 90° spray angle to provide amaximum coverage area 37;FIG. 3 b with substantially a 180° spray angle to provide amaximum coverage area 39;FIG. 3 c with substantially a 270° spray angle to provide amaximum coverage area 41; andFIG. 3 d with substantially a 360° spray angle to provide amaximum coverage area 43. In addition there are sprinkler heads of this type available that permit the adjustment of spray angle θ within a limited range to provide more specific angular coverage where the planting or lawn angles are not multiples of 90°. - A second type of sprinkler head that is currently available is the impulse type which is shown in top and side views in
FIGS. 4 a and 4 b.Impulse sprinkler head 45 includes ahead 46 that is swivelly mounted on a water feeder stem 49 that is plumbed into a water circuit. Located approximately 45° down from the top ofhead 46 is awater nozzle 47 from which the water sprays during use. Extending out of the top ofhead 46 is ashaft 48 on which is mountedimpulse arm 53 and areturn spring 58. At the end ofimpulse arm 53proximate water nozzle 47 is awater finger 55 and at the distal end fromwater nozzle 47 is aweight 57.Water finger 55 is angled to extend immediately in front of the water spray fromwater nozzle 47 so that in use the water spray strikes onwater finger 55 forcingimpulse arm 53 to rotate away from the water stream from water nozzle 47 (as shown inFIG. 4 aimpulse arm 53 rotates counter clockwise, alternately if the configuration of impulse arm is a mirror image of that shown and mounted to the other side ofwater nozzle 47 the motion will be in the clockwise direction) through an angle determined by several factors including water pressure, tension ofspring 58, size ofweight 57, the friction betweenhead 46 andstem 49, and other factors, dragginghead 46 in the same direction to a new position onstem 49. Once the motion ofimpulse arm 53 stops, returnspring 48 causes the impulse arm to rotate back in the opposite direction bringingwater finger 55 again in the path of the water spray which again causes a partial rotation ofhead 47. Thus, if no stops are incorporated that would stop the rotation ofhead 46,head 46 would continue to rotate in small steps so long as water pressure is provided viastem 49. For installations where less than 360° coverage is desired, two angularlyadjustable stops 51 are provided onstem 49 against which stopfinger 59 onhead 46 comes into contact at the end of a rotation in that direction. Oncestop 51 in the forward direction is encountered, the angle through whichimpulse arm 53 can move is restricted, virtually keepingwater finger 55 in the water stream fromnozzle 47, thus forcinghead 46 to rotate in the opposite direction untilfinger 59 reaches the starting point rotation stop and then the above described operation resumes withhead 46 then again rotating in the first described direction with the operation continuing to proceed and reverse repeatedly as described. - Impulse sprinkler heads 45 are usually used in installation situations where coverage is needed in larger areas where one impulse sprinkler head would replace many of the other type of sprinkler heads, e.g., in a golf course or large park setting. Even so, various water circuits are still needed and with the larger coverage area of each impulse sprinkler head one is even more limited to the use of a variety of plantings with a variety of watering needs.
- Thus it can be seen that the prior art watering systems require that planting patterns be considered at the same time that the sprinkler system is installed, and are very rigid and fixed once installed. Once such a system is installed the plant types cannot be easily changed, nor can a new plant type with different watering needs be placed where the watering provided may be too little, too much, too often or not often enough. Also additional sprinkler heads cannot be added later to a water circuit without effecting the water pressure delivered to each existing sprinkler head, thus making it necessary to add yet another water circuit to accommodate the changes. In addition, the prior art sprinkler systems require the use of at least six different sprinkler head types, even more if drip irrigators are included among the choices. Prior art sprinkler systems are clearly rich in the numbers of different components that one must consider using in designing prior art sprinkler systems installations. Thus the existing watering systems stifle creativity in locating and mixing plant types within a particular area, and just as importantly, stifle the changing and adding of plants in an area after the sprinkler system has been designed and installed.
- The watering system of the present invention provides for total creativity and flexibility, works with water lines of any pressure, including marginal pressure below that of city water systems, does not require the use of multiple watering circuits, permits the addition or deletion of sprinkler heads at any time in any area, accommodates differing watering patterns, automatically varies watering frequency from sprinkler head to sprinkler head, calculates when watering is needed in each planted area and can accommodate changes, as well as the addition of sprinkler heads and/or planted areas to be watered, as well as the removal of one or more sprinkler heads, at any time after the watering system is installed.
-
FIG. 5 shows a simplified installation of a watering system of the present invention that is representative of every sprinkler system installation using the present invention components. Such a system consists of three basic components: acontroller 100 with a display and keyboard, sprinkler heads 102 1, 102 2 . . . 102 N, and a water main 106. FromFIG. 5 it can be seen that all of sprinkler heads 102 x are each connected to the common water main 106 andcontroller 100 by a common low voltage electric power/data line 104 (e.g., two or three wires). - Two optional components are also shown in
FIG. 5 , namelyweather station 108 connected to low voltage electric power/data line 104, andremote programming unit 110 with adata line 109 with a plug that mates with a jack in the side ofsprinkler head 102.Weather station 108 can provide temperature, dew point, wind speed, humidity, evaporation rate, frost/freeze level information tocontroller 100 so that the time, frequency and flow rates of individual ones of sprinkler heads 102 x can be adjusted for particular weather conditions which may adversely effect the plantings that theindividual sprinkler head 102 x serves. Alternatively, some or all of the functions ofweather station 108 can be included within some, or all, of sprinkler heads 102 to provide information to the internal electronics that the sprinkler head needs to best serve the plantings addressed by that specific sprinkler head. -
Remote programming unit 110 also includes a display and keyboard similar to those included withcontroller 100.Remote programming unit 110 is basically provided as a convenience for the user since all of its functions can also be performed fromcontroller 100. For example, when anadditional sprinkler head 102 x is added to the system by connecting it to power/data line 104 and water main 106, the plant type, planting dose and stress levels, the area to be covered (i.e., flow rate and angle of oscillation variations), etc., for thatspecific sprinkler head 102 x must be programmed into the system. Since some experimentation may be necessary to adjust the water flow rate and angle of oscillation for eachindividual sprinkler head 102 x, the user may find it more convenient to be able to do the programming in close proximity to the sprinkler head rather than having to go back and forth between the sprinkler head of interest andcontroller 100. The operation and programming ofsprinkler head 102 x will be discussed further below after introducing the operational components and construction of thesprinkler head 102 of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 shows what might be a more typical installation for the sprinkler system of the present invention. Here there is an irregular plantedarea 111 which might have the same plants occupying the entire area, e.g., a lawn, putting green, fairway, rough or tee area. Then surroundingarea 111 there may be any variety of different plants of varying types and sizes.Area 111, as well as the surrounding free planted area, are both served by the plurality of individually programmed sprinkler heads 102 x that are all connected to the same water main 106 and the same electric power/data line 104 from onecontroller 100. Additionally, the present invention can also be used to water adjacent irregular areas which each have a different species or type of plant occupying the same area, e.g., a golf courses with various types and lengths of grasses in each area, with perhaps various free planted areas at random locations with everything being served by the same single water main 106 and asingle controller 100 and corresponding electric power/data line 104. -
FIG. 7 is a combined cross-section/block diagram of a firstembodiment sprinkler head 102 of the present invention. A threadedport 113 is provided to plumbsprinkler head 102 to water main 106 by means of a riser and couplers as necessary to deliver water towasher seat 112, and then intowater chamber 121. Alternately, where the sprinkler water main and risers are made of PVC with various parts glued together, the end shown as threadedport 113 inFIG. 7 can be unthreaded with an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the riser to whichsprinkler head 102 is to be attached so thatport 106 ofsprinkler head 102 can be glued to the riser in the same way that the other parts are glued together. In a normally closed position,washer 114 abutswasher seat 112 withwasher 114 mounted on amovable washer base 116 which is biased in the closed position byreturn spring 120 pressing downward on the top side ofwasher base 116. To control the timing and flow rate of water from water main 106 intowater chamber 121, affixed towasher seat 116, is one end of alever arm 117 that passes through watertight seal 118 in the side ofwater chamber 121 and extends intoouter chamber 123. There, the other end oflever arm 117 is coupled to ball-screw follower 122 onscrew 124. In turn,screw 124 is coupled to the shaft offlow stepper motor 128 via aflexible coupler 126. Then as ball-screw follower 122 is advanced in one direction or the other asflow stepper motor 128 causes screw 124 to rotate,lever arm 117 in turn causeswasher seat 116 to move away from, or closer to,washer seat 112 thus controlling the water flow rate intowater chamber 121. The control offlow stepper motor 128 is discussed more fully below. Once water begins flowing throughvalve seat 112, that water advances to and throughnipple 130, passedleaf spring 132 and eventually is expelled fromsprinkler head 102 throughangled nozzle 150, typically angled at approximately 22° to 45° to horizontal outsideouter shell 154, or any other selected angle or adjustable angle to match the location. - One end of
leaf spring 132 is mounted on one side ofnipple 130 withfastener 134 and extends across the opening ofnipple 130. Mounted on the top side of the opposite end ofleaf spring 132 is a smallpermanent magnet 136 with aflow Hall sensor 138 mounted at a fixed location adjacent the opposite end ofleaf spring 132. In the quiescent state with no water flowing throughwater chamber 121,magnet 136 is biased into close proximity withflow Hall sensor 138.Flow Hall sensor 138 is provided to determine the proximity ofleaf spring magnet 136 to itself withmagnet 136 being closer when the water flow rate is low and further away as the flow rate increases. Thus, flowHall sensor 138 provides a signal that is directly related to the flow rate of water throughwater chamber 121. Once water flows throughnipple 130, it advances tonozzle assembly 140 at the top ofwater chamber 121 and then outnozzle 150 at the rate provided byflow stepper motor 128 in conjunction withflow Hall sensor 138 as will be described more fully below. Note: the location ofmagnet 136 and flowHall sensor 138 can be mounted in opposite position to that described above. -
Nozzle assembly 140 includes several components withstem 144 ofnozzle 150 passing through the center of acircular disk 142.Disk 142 has a portion thereof that extends throughwasher 162 into the top portion ofwater chamber 121 and is captured in that position with freedom to rotate continuously in either direction through 360°+ with no stops to prevent continuous travel in either direction. External towater chamber 121 and within outer chamber 123 (which does not contain pressurized water, and preferably no water), completely around the top edge ofdisk 143 there is defined nozzlepositioning gear teeth 143. Meshing withgear teeth 143 ofdisk 142 isdrive gear 146 which is, in turn, mounted onmotor shaft 147 ofrotation stepper motor 148. Additionally, at one point on the outer edge of the bottom ofdisk 142,magnet 160 is mounted at the 0° point ofdisk 142. Mounted in a fixed position on the inside surface ofwater chamber 121,opposite magnet 160 whendisk 142 is in the 0° position, isposition Hall sensor 158. Beforesprinkler head 102 begins to spray water fromnozzle 150,rotation stepper motor 148 is actuated to turnnozzle gear 142 to positionmagnet 160 oppositeposition Hall sensor 158 to initialize the position ofnozzle 150 to 0°. That having been done, and the gear ratio betweennozzle gear 142 and drivegear 146 being known, the angular position ofnozzle 150 is determined during operation by keeping track of the number, and direction, of revolutions of rotation ofstepper motor 148. Note:position Hall sensor 158 andmagnet 160 can be mounted in the opposite positions to those described above. - Also shown in
FIG. 7 is a printed circuit board to which all of the electronic components ofsprinkler head 102 are attached and/or mounted (details as to what is included is discussed further with respect toFIGS. 8 and 9 ) with power/data line 104 connected thereto. Additionally,jack 156 is wired to printedcircuit board 152 and mounted throughouter shell 154 to provide a point of connection forremote controller 110. -
FIG. 8 provides a first embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional units. Here only onesprinkler head 102 is shown interconnected to the other electronic subsystems of the present invention. Eachadditional sprinkler head 102 would connect to electric/data line 104 in the same way as does thesingle sprinkler head 102 shown inFIG. 8 with each of the other subsystems interfacing with all connected sprinkler heads 102 in the same way as shown for the onesprinkler head 102. At the top ofFIG. 8 is a block diagram ofcontroller 100 with 115 vAC applied to an AC/DC converter 182 to provide the internal voltage levels for the components withincontroller 100, as well as a DC voltage level (e.g., 34 vDC) to be applied to electric power/data line 104. Also included incontroller 100 is amicroprocessor 170 and corresponding crystal oscillator which is connected via internal data bus 171 toRAM 172,ROM 174,display 176,keyboard 178 and data encoder/decoder 180. Data encoder/decoder 180, in turn is connected to AC/DC converter 182 to apply or detect a pulse data signals to/from the DC voltage signal on electric power/data line 104. The encoded data includes identification of thespecific sprinkler head 102 to or from which the data is directed or from which it originates. There is further discussion of the pulsed data technique used on electric power/data line 104 below. -
Controller 100 is the master control of the entire system of the present invention. As such,microprocessor 170 performs various functions which are controlled by the firmware prestored inROM 174 withRAM 172 containing information, individually, for eachsprinkler 102 connected to electric power/data line 104, with that data being loaded intoRAM 172 as eachsprinkler head 102 is added to the overall system. The data inRAM 172 is initially loaded into the system either fromcontroller 100 viakeyboard 178 with user interaction based on information requests presented ondisplay 176. The information for eachsprinkler 102 loaded intoRAM 172 includes a numerical designation for each sprinkler together with additional information relative to that specific sprinkler head.Display 176 andkeyboard 178 could also be used during normal operation of the system to review or edit the settings for eachsprinkler head 102, to show the overall status of the system, date and time of day, and temperature and humidity ifweather station 108 is included with the system. Then data encoder/decoder 180, under control ofmicroprocessor 170, encodes data on bus 171 for eachsprinkler head 102 individually and applies that data to electric/data line 104 for transmission, or to decode incoming data which is then placed on bus 171 for use bymicroprocessor 170 and storage inRAM 172. In a typical installation, electric/data line 104 that carries 34 vDC modulated with a pulsed data signal that goes to all sprinkler heads 102 andoptional weather station 108, if used. - Given the various data relative to each
sprinkler head 102, and knowing the available water pressure in water main 106,microprocessor 170 could also calculate the possibility and options of combinations of having more than onesprinkler head 102 activated at the same time without impacting the delivery and coverage of water from each activatedsprinkler head 102. Then adjusting the activation times of eachsprinkler head 102 accordingly. - The second block from the top of
FIG. 8 presents an electrical block diagram representative of the electronics ofsprinkler head 102. Included in each sprinkler head is alocal microprocessor 184 and corresponding crystal oscillator.Local microprocessor 184 interfaces viadata bus 186 withRAM 188,ROM 190, data encoder/decoder 192 andstepper motor controller 196. Herelocal microprocessor 184 performs various functions which are controlled by the firmware prestored inROM 190 withRAM 188 being provided for temporary data storage and storage of the data programmed into the sprinkler head when the sprinkler head is first installed in the overall system, e.g., sprinkler head number, stress and dose levels and plant type, area to be watered in each pass and the corresponding flow rate of water through, and rotational angle of the sprinkler head when used to deliver water to the programmed area. Data encoder/decoder 192 functions similarly to data encoder/decoder 180 ofcontroller 100 interfacing data to and fromelectric data line 104 in a preset pulse format viapower supply 194. -
Power supply 194 performs a dual function insprinkler head 102. First, using the DC voltage level on electric/data line 104 provided bycontroller 100,power supply 194 provides the operating voltage level for each of the components in the sprinkler head, e.g., 12 vDC and 5 vDC (for simplicity the voltage lines from power supply 195 to each of the other components are not shown). Second,power supply 194 is the conduit for the pulsed data signal on the DC voltage level of electric/data line 104 to and fromsprinkler head 102. - Thus when
sprinkler head 102 is to turned on,controller 100 encodes data on electric/data line 104 with the sprinkler head number which is then received by all sprinkler heads 102 and only acted on by the sprinkler head identified in the message which is provided tolocal microprocessor 184 viadata bus 186. Once activated, the angular position ofnozzle 150 is reset usingHall sensor 158 in conjunction withmagnet 160 as discussed above in relation toFIG. 7 . Then,local microprocessor 184, using the data inRAM 188 and firmware inROM 190, provides flow rate and rotational angle information which is applied tostepper motor controller 196 to activate and control the operation of flowrate stepper motor 128 androtation stepper motor 148 to apply water throughnozzle 150 to the programmed area. Eachindividual sprinkler head 102 has at least one particular water coverage pattern or individual plant that has been programmed intoRAM 188 by the user to be used when activated. To maintain the desired coverage pattern from the sprinkler head, a flowrate Hall sensor 138 operating in conjunction with magnet 136 (FIG. 7 ) provides feedback tostepper motor controller 196 throughout the operation of the actual flow rate of water through the sprinkler head corresponding to the flow rate valve setting ofnozzle 150. - Also, a direct connection from
local microprocessor 184 is provided to jack 156 (e.g., phono jack) to provide external access for programming orreprogramming sprinkler head 102 when it is first installed in the system or when the coverage pattern is being changed, perhaps as a result of changing the plantings to be served by the particular sprinkler head.Jack 156 is provided so that the optionalremote programming unit 110 can be used directly at the sprinkler head for programming purposes, rather than performing programming fromcontroller 100 which may be some distance from theindividual sprinkler head 102 that is being programmed. -
Sprinkler head 102 must be first connected to electric/data line 104 before it can be programmed by eithercontroller 100 orremote programming unit 110 so that power internal tosprinkler head 102 is present.Remote programming unit 110 includes amicroprocessor 214 coupled viadata bus 216 toRAM 218,ROM 220,display 222 andkeyboard 224. Whenremote programming unit 110 is used, a remote/data line 109 provides a direct connection viajack 156 betweenmicroprocessor 214 inremote programming unit 100 andlocal microprocessor 184 in the sprinkler head that is being programmed. During programming,display 222 andkeyboard 224 ofremote programming unit 110 are used in the same way as the corresponding components incontroller 100 would be used if programming were performed usingcontroller 100. - The second optional unit for the system of the present invention is
weather station 108.Weather station 108 contains amicroprocessor 198 and corresponding crystal oscillator couple viadata bus 199 toRAM 200,ROM 202, data encoder/decoder 204,temperature sensor 208,humidity sensor 210 andwind sensor 212. Similar tosprinkler head 102,weather station 108 also contains a dualfunction power supply 206 that functions in the same way. In addition,weather station 108 is coupled to electric/data line 104 to transfer the detected weather condition information tocontroller 100 to be used to alter the timing and actual operation of the various sprinkler heads. For example,controller 100 may contain a subroutine to vary the flow rate and rotational angle of a sprinkler head given certain wind conditions. The weather information might also be used to modify the frequency and duration of activation of each sprinkler head based on various combinations of the weather information. For example, low temperature and high humidity with low, or no, wind could be used as an indicator of potential frost conditions, and knowing that a particular plant served by a particular sprinkler head is subject to frost damage,controller 100 could activate that particular sprinkler head at a time other than the usual time programmed into the system for that sprinkler head. Other types of weather conditions could also be detected withcontroller 100 similarly modifying the operation schedule of some or all of the sprinkler heads. -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the internal block diagrams for each of the various components of the present invention and the interconnections between those components, including the optional weather station. InFIG. 9 each block that is the same as the blocks inFIG. 8 retains the same reference number to simplify the comparison and discussion of the two embodiments. By comparingFIGS. 8 and 9 it can be seen that the blocks ofsprinkler head 102 andoptional weather station 108, respectively, are identical, including the interconnections between them. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is basically the merging of the remoteness of remote programming unit 110 (FIG. 8 ) intodetachable programming module 110′ as part ofcontroller 100′. Referring toFIG. 8 , it can be seen that there is shown a display and a keyboard in each ofcontroller 100 andremote programming unit 110. By eliminatingdisplay 176 andkeyboard 178 from controller 100 (seeFIG. 8 ) createspower hub 115 ofcontroller 100′ which alone controls the operation of the sprinkler system. By interfacingsecondary data line 109′ (inFIG. 8 it is remote data line 109) directly betweensecondary microprocessor 214 ofprogramming module 110′ withprimary microprocessor 170 ofpower hub 115, the addition ofprogramming module 110′ provides the user interface tocontroller 100′ which power hub does not independently include. Withpower hub 115 andprogramming module 110′ interconnected, akeyboard 224 anddisplay 222 are provided atcontroller 100′ so that the user can program individual sprinkler heads fromcontroller 100′, as well as permitting the user to interface withcontroller 100′ during normal standby and operation of the sprinkler system. - So that the second embodiment can also perform remote programming of the sprinkler heads,
programming module 110′ is detachable frompower hub 115 by unpluggingsecondary data line 109′ frompower hub 115. Then at the location of thesprinkler head 102 to be programmed, or reprogrammed,secondary data line 109′ is plugged intojack 156 of that sprinkler head which is tied directly tolocal microprocessor 184. In this configuration,programming module 110′ is powered viasecondary data line 109′ either fromprimary microprocessor 170 inpower hub 115, orlocal microprocessor 184 in sprinkler head 102 (as isremote programming unit 110 in the first embodiment ofFIG. 8 ). Thus the actual operation of the second embodiment ofFIG. 9 functions the same as described above with respect to the first embodiment inFIG. 8 . - In actual operation, a connector is provided between
programming module 110′ and power hub to make the necessary electrical connection ofsecondary data line 109′ topower hub 115, as well as to provide a mechanical fastener to retainprogramming module 110′ in place. This mechanical retaining feature offers an advantage over the first embodiment since it will reduce the possibility of misplacingprogramming module 110′, unlikeremote programming unit 110 which could be left anywhere when not in use with a good chance that the location will be forgotten. - The present invention also includes a second
embodiment sprinkler head 102′ as shown inFIGS. 10-12 .FIG. 10 a side plan view of the secondembodiment sprinkler head 102′ illustrating the five externally visible components: the lower extension ofvalve body 226;lower hemisphere 228; printed circuit (pc) board/control component housing 230;top dome 232; andnozzle tube 150′. As can be seen in this view,top dome 232 is spaced apart from the top surface of pc board/control component housing 230 so thatdome 232 is free to rotate relative tohousing 230, together withnozzle 150′, which will become clear fromFIGS. 11 and 12 . -
FIG. 11 is a partial cut-away view ofsprinkler head 102′ ofFIG. 10 with portions ofvalve shell 226,lower hemisphere 228, pc board/control component housing 230,top dome 232 andseal cap 238 cut-away to permit partial viewing of internal components.FIG. 12 , similarly, is a cross-sectional view of the secondembodiment sprinkler head 102′ with the cross-section having been taken at about 30° to vertical and from the opposite side from that shown inFIG. 11 . - From
FIGS. 11 , 12 and 13,valve shell 226 can be seen to have aninternal cavity 240 in the portion that extends outward from lower hemisphere 288 withinternal cavity 240 having an internal diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of a PVC plastic riser tube thatsprinkler head 102′ is to be mounted on. By makingvalve shell 226 also from PVC plastic,sprinkler head 102′ can be glued to the PVC riser to minimize the possibility of vandalism, either by taking thesprinkler head 102′, or by rotatingsprinkler head 102′ so that other than the programmed area is watered whensprinkler head 102′ is activated. Extending upward withinvalve shell 226,internal cavity 240 bottoms out to limit the distance that the PVC riser can extend therewithin. Opening into the internal end ofcavity 240, and extending upward throughvalve shell 226, iswater channel 242 that has an internal diameter that is much smaller than that ofcavity 240.Water channel 242 also extends downward fromchannel outlet 262 in the top ofvalve shell 226 with both portions ofwater channel 242 aligned with each other on opposite sides ofvalve passage 260 with the longitudinal center line ofvalve passage 260 oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis ofvalve shell 226. - Additionally,
FIG. 14 showsvalve body 244, having a circular cross-section along the entire length taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof and having three sections:main body 245;valve stem 256; and retainer stem 257 having a smaller diameter thanmain body 245.Valve body 244 fits withinvalve passage 260 of valve shell 226 (seeFIGS. 11-13 ) with theretainer stem 257 end inserted first withwater passage 260 inmain body 245 alignable, perpendicular to, or partially or completely aligned with, both portions ofwater channel 242 to control the water flow rate throughvalve shell 226 and eventually out fromnozzle 150′ as valve stem 256 is rotated as discussed below. To keepvalve body 244 in position, a retainer ring, or “O” ring, is placed ingroove 258 inretainer stem 257. - Above the top of
valve shell 226 is a central hole through printedcircuit board 152. Mounted above that hole is flow meter plate 234 (seeFIG. 15 ) which has a central hole of substantially the same dimension as the hole in printedcircuit board 152.Flow meter plate 234 is shown here secured to printedcircuit board 152 by means ofholes 264. Attached to the inner edge of, and extending substantially across the center of, the hole inflow meter plate 234 ismeter finger 236 withtab 237 extending to the side offlow meter finger 236 near the free end. When mounted in place on printedcircuit board 152,tab 237 offlow meter finger 236 is directly abovechannel outlet 262 ofvalve shell 226 when no water is flowing (seeFIGS. 11 and 12 ). Printedcircuit board 152 is sandwiched betweenflow meter plate 234 and the top ofvalve shell 226 with the fastening devices used passing throughholes 264 and printedcircuit board 152 with the distal end of each fastener secured to the top ofvalve shell 226. Mounted ontab 136 ispermanent magnet 136, which in conjunction with flowrate Hall sensor 138 mounted adjacent thereto outside the central hole inflow meter plate 234, provides a measure of the water flow rate pastflow meter finger 236 andtab 237 which function in the same way described above in the first embodiment sprinkler head. Note, while the holes shown inFIGS. 12 and 15 are round, they may be of any shape. - To prevent water coming into contact with the conductive traces and electronic components on printed
circuit board 152,seal cap 238 surroundsflow meter plate 234 and extends from printed circuit board to the inside of the top surface of pc board/control component housing 230 and seals with both surfaces. The conductive traces and the electronic components shown in thesprinkler head 102 electronics block inFIGS. 8 and 9 are located onpc board 152outside seal cap 238. For simplicity, the only electronics shown mounted onpc board 152 areflow stepper motor 128 androtation stepper motor 148. In addition, internal electric/data line 250 runs betweenpc board 152, throughlower hemisphere 228, and electric/data line connector 248 into which electric/data line 104 connects (seeFIGS. 8 and 9 ); and a line extends from local microprocessor 184 (seeFIGS. 8 and 9 ) onpc board 152 toremote control connector 156 also inlower hemisphere 228. - To control the position of
water passage 246 invalve body 244, relative towater channel 242 throughvalve shell 226,flow stepper motor 128 is provided under control oflocal microprocessor 184 and feedback from flowrate Hall sensor 138 as discussed above relative to the first embodiment sprinkler head. The shaft offlow stepper motor 138 extends downward throughpc board 152 with flow stepper motorhelical gear 252 mounted on the shaft. Similarly, valve stemhelical gear 254 is mounted onvalve stem 256 withgears valve body 244 withinvalve shell 226. - Extending downward through a water tight seal in the center of the top of pc board/
control component housing 230 is the lower end ofnozzle tube 150′ which is secured in place with a rotatable fitting (not shown) withinhousing 230. Abovehousing 230,nozzle gear 142 is secured aroundnozzle tube 150′ withpermanent magnet 160 mounted in one position near the edge. Mounted in a fixed position on the top ofhousing 230, a fixed distance from the furthest extent ofgear 142, is rotation/position Hall sensor 158. Additionally,shaft 147 ofrotation stepper motor 148 extends upward through the top ofhousing 230 withdrive gear 146 mounted onshaft 147 and positioned to mesh withgear 142 to turnnozzle 150′ to direct angular placement of thewater exiting nozzle 150′. Finally,top dome 232 is secured tonozzle 150′ spaced apart from the outer edge of the top ofhousing 230 to prevent foreign matter from being captured bygears Hall sensor 158 andmagnet 160. - Any power line modulation scheme can be used with the present invention. One such scheme, generally known as bi-phase, is illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17 with the signal going in either direction, and that direction can not be determined by merely looking at the signal, on electric/data line 104. In such a communication technique, the unit sending the signal waits a predetermined length of time after sending a signal to listen for a response from the unit being communicated with. ViewingFIG. 16 a modulated portion of the electric/data signal 266 is illustrated. Here the power line is modulated by turning the power online 104 on and off. In this illustration there are three bit times illustrated. Each ofbits Bit 3 on the other hand shows the power being turned off for one third, and on for two-thirds, of the time to represent a logical “0”. Data modulation of this type on the power line is a self clocking scheme by virtue of the modulation timing technique described. In the classical form, and as illustrated inFIG. 16 , one bit time occurs between falling edges of the signal. - There are several different ways to decode a data signal modulated on a power line. One way is to use the falling edge into a one-shot so that edge can clock off of the same signal and get a 1 or a 0. A more reliable method to decode the data from the power line is to use a counter (e.g., an internal function of a microprocessor) to count up during the time when the modulated power signal is low and down when that signal is high at the same rate in both directions. Thus, since in this illustration power is applied for at least the last third of each bit and the 0 vDC period is always at the beginning of a bit, the resulting count at the end of the bit time when a “1” is being transmitted will always be a positive value, whereas the resulting count at the end of the bit time when a “0” is being transmitted will always be a negative value.
- That technique is illustrated
FIG. 17 with thecount value trace 268 versus time for the signal inFIG. 16 . Thus, forBit 1, the counter counts up for two thirds of the bit time and down at the same rate for one third of the bit time resulting a positive value at the end ofBit 1. Also at the end ofBit 1 the count is reset to 0 and begun again forBit 2 with the same result since a “1” is also being transmitted inBit 2. Again at the end ofBit 2 the count is reset to 0 and begun again forBit 3. Since a “0” is being transmitted inBit 3, the count is up for the first third of the bit time and down for two-thirds of the bit time resulting in a negative final count forBit 3. - Using a modulation scheme such as the one described above, a bit length of 3 ms might be used. Since the power is pulsed only when a message is being sent, the resulting duty cycle is in the range of 20%. Thus, with this modulation scheme power is also being applied both when a message is sent, as well as when one isn't.
- The implementation of such a communications technique in
power hub 115 andsprinkler head 102/102′ is illustrated inFIGS. 18 and 19 , respectively.FIG. 18 showsprimary microprocessor 170 at power hub 115 (FIG. 9 ) or controller 100 (FIG. 8 ) showstransistor 270 with the base connected to an output terminal ofmicroprocessor 170, the emitter connected to ground and the collector connected to the 34 vDC supply line. In this configuration, to modulate electric/data line 104,microprocessor 170 turnstransistor 270 on to selectively pull the power line to ground. Additionally, there is avoltage divider 272 connected between the two wires of electric/data line 104 with the intermediate point connected to an input terminal ofmicroprocessor 170.Microprocessor 170 thus monitors the intermediate point ofvoltage divider 272 to determine if there is data on electric/data line 104 from one of the sprinkler heads 102/102′ orweather station 108, and if there is, to count the length of time that voltage level is low to determine whether the bit is “0” or “1”, as discussed above. -
FIG. 19 is a simplified electric/data line interface circuit oflocal microprocessor 184 in asprinkler head 102/102′. Included here aretransistors 270 andvoltage divider 272 which functions in the same way as discussed above forFIG. 18 inpower hub 115 orcontroller 100. In addition, since the sprinkler head is powered from thepower hub 115 orcontroller 100, adiode 274 in series with the power line followed by a capacitor to ground is used to rectify the signal on electric/data line 104. -
FIG. 20 illustrates the mechanical relationship of the combination ofpower hub 115 andprogramming unit 110′ when interconnected to formcontroller 100′.Programing unit 110′ is physically mounted besidepower hub 115 with direct communication being provided betweensecondary microprocessor 214 ofprogramming unit 110′ andmicroprocessor 170 ofpower hub 115 provided byline 109′ that is plugged into a connector on power hub 115 (seeFIG. 9 ). When in use at aremote sprinkler head 102,line 109′ is disconnected frompower hub 115, programming unit physically moved to a sprinkler head of interest whereline 109′ is pluggedjack 156 to make a direct connection withlocal microprocessor 184. - In addition,
FIG. 20 illustrates one possible configuration of the keyboard and display ofprogramming unit 110′ (FIG. 9 ), orremote programming unit 110 and controller 100 (FIG. 8 ). For user entry of data, four arrow keys (up, down, left, right) 278, and “NEXT” and “PREVIOUS”keys 279 are provided. The use of these keys is illustrated below in the discussion of the programming of a sprinkler head. - Before discussing the details of the programming of the present invention, some understanding of efficient watering, or irrigation, theory is needed. A recent book that covers much of the current thinking on efficient irrigation is Landscape Irrigation Design and Management by Stephen W. Smith, John Wiley & Sons, 1997.
- Initially, when the average home owner thinks about programming a sprinkler system they guess that they want to water a particular location for ten minutes, three times a week, and another for five minutes six times a week, and so on. That is exactly how most of the prior art commercially available sprinkler system timers are designed to be programmed. However when one thinks seriously about what is necessary to properly irrigate even one's yard, one soon realizes that it is not that simple. Depending on the size of the various patterns that one is going to water, it soon becomes apparent that ten minutes for one pattern delivers a different amount of water than for another pattern. Depending on the pattern size, a different amount of water, or ‘rainfall’, in terms of inches of rainfall, will vary both with the size of the pattern and the amount of time that water is applied. The next thing that comes to mind is that some plants need more water than others, and if your landscape plantings include a variety of plants with a variety of water requirements in the same pattern that is being watered, some plants will likely be over watered, and others under watered. In reality, given the guesses that one uses to program the existing timers, or for manual watering, it is more likely that all of the plants will be dramatically over watered.
- The next thing that will become apparent is that the cost of the irrigation system is soon dwarfed by cost of water which continues to become more expensive each year. This is true for the homeowner, and even more so for big water users such as farmers, golf courses and cities for public parks.
- Professionals, when they design and install a sprinkler system, put the conventional sprinkler heads close together to get an overlap of the watering pattern of those heads. That is necessary to get even coverage of the area being watered, but even doing that, the actual coverage can vary 50% across the watered area. Thus, if the variation is 50%, then double the amount of water needs to be applied so that the spots that get the least amount of water get a sufficient amount of water to prevent dead spots from occurring in the lawn. Therefore twice the amount of water will be needed just to keep marginal spots green. Evenness translates directly to dollars.
- There is another aspect to this, and that is how to water most efficiently. There are numerous theories as to how that can be done with the most popular theory being the “checkbook” method. To best understand the checkbook method it is necessary to provide some background information.
- If a piece of lawn is cut from the pattern to be watered, placed in an open top box, then saturated with water and monitored to determine how long it takes water to be lost from the box, the evapotransporation rate of the grass can be determined. Evapotransporation rate is the net loss of water from the soil plus the plant. It is easy to get that number for grass but not so for peach trees. If the evapotransporation rate is known for a particular plant, or crop, how water will be depleted will be known. For maximum efficiency it is necessary to know a lot of things about the irrigation setup, including the evapotransporation rate for the day. When the evapotransporation rate for a range of soil types is reviewed it is apparent that the rate varies by a factor on the order of 2:1. Soil, the water holding power of soil and the level where the water becomes depleted so that the plants can not get water, also does not vary that much.
- For the present invention the various aspects of irrigation theory were taken into account to develop a routine that is simpler to use than the text book method in making the determination of the amount of water needed, while retaining a substantial degree of accuracy. From that review it was determined that the real key to accurate watering is knowledge of the stress tolerance of each plant in the planted area. Stress tolerance for a particular plant is defined as the number of inches of water that can evaporate before the plant starts realizing stress due to lack of water. That is the basis of the “checkbook method”. For example, assume that the plant of interest has an actual stress tolerance of 5 inches of rainfall and each day the local evapotransporation rate is 0.1 inch of rainfall, each day that plant does not receive any water the effective stress level is reduced by the evapotransporation rate. Thus, in this example the next day the remaining effective stress level, or “checkbook” balance, for the plant is 4.9 inches, and at this rate it will be 50 days before the “checkbook” balance reaches zero and that plant will have to be watered.
- Knowing the stress tolerance of each plant, it is then necessary to know is how many inches of rainfall, or dose, need to be provided when the effective stress level of the plant reaches zero. For example, grass has shallow roots so the dose is relatively small with the stress point reached quickly. Thus, grass has a low stress point, it can not take much stress; cactus or an oak tree have very high stress points but require a different dose because it is a question of how deep does the water have to go.
- When programming each sprinkler head of the present invention for each separate area to be watered by that sprinkler head, the stress tolerance and dose need to be entered for the type of plant in each of the corresponding areas. The other piece of information that the irrigation system needs is the standardized evapotransporation rate (ET0) for the geographic location where the sprinkler system is installed with the standardized evapotransporation rate being used for all plants at the same location. Since the ET0 data is available for various locations within a state from the State Department of Agriculture, or an equivalent agency, at least on a monthly basis, the historical month by month average can be preprogrammed into the system controller, or power hub, for the area where the irrigation system is installed. The ET0 for January may average 1.5 inches of water with the ET0 increasing as summer approaches and then going back down through the fall into December and the winter months. An option would be to connect the controller, via telephone or the Internet, to the state agency that determines the ET0 information to receive the ET0 for the current month in the local area if the current ET0 is critical to the plants to be watered by the irrigation system. In California the ET0 information is available from CIMIS (California Irrigation Management Information Service) as determined by the California Department of Agriculture.
- While the above discussion relative to
FIG. 6 illustrated the use of a sprinkler head of the present invention to water a single area, it is clear that a single sprinkler head can be programmed to water non-overlapping areas, with the plants in each area having different stress and dosage levels from those in each other area. - Thus there are three values that are needed for each area to be watered: the historic ET0 pattern which is indigenous to the area where the sprinkler system is installed; stress tolerance of plants in a selected watering area; and dose level for the plants in each area. Since standardized ET0 is used for all plant types in the local area, the necessary ET0 information is programmed into
controller 100 orpower hub 115 for use by all of the sprinkler heads in the system. However, the stress tolerance and dose level being different values for each planted area of interest (plant type) to be watered, that information is programmed into eachsprinkler head 102 when each area to be watered by that particular sprinkler head is established. -
FIGS. 21 a-c and 22 a-c are provided to illustrate the programming of each sprinkler head individually.FIGS. 21 a-c show representative screens oncontroller 100,remote programming unit 110, ordetachable programming module 110′, depending on which embodiment of the present invention is used and whether the programming is performed at the controller or at theindividual sprinkler head 102.FIGS. 22 a and 22 b, andFIGS. 22 a and 22 c, provide alternative flow chart representations of the programming steps of the anindividual sprinkler head 102.FIGS. 22 a and 22 b together illustrate programming of a sprinkler head wherein the number of corners of the planted area of interest is always defined by four points. (Note: Four points have been selected to illustrate the programming method with a preselected number of points, however that selection has been done only for illustrative purposes and any number of four or greater could have been selected as a fixed number example.) WhereasFIGS. 22 a and 22 c together illustrate programming of a sprinkler head wherein the user determines the number of points needed to identify the planted area of interest. As discussed above, if the programming is to be performed at the sprinkler head, then the programming unit is plugged intoconnector 156. The program to perform sprinkler head programming is resident in eithercontroller 100 or the remote unit that is plugged into the sprinkler head. - In
FIG. 22 a atblock 300 the sprinkler head is interrogated to determine if it is a new sprinkler head or one that was previously installed in the system and is being reprogrammed. If the sprinkler head had been programmed previously,controller 100 would have assigned a number to it which is stored inRAM 188 of the sprinkler head. If a number had not been assigned, then the controller assigns a number (block 302) and updates the head number list within the RAM of the controller. If a number had been previously assigned, or after one has been assigned, control moves to block 306 where the value of variable “PASS” is set equal to “1”. “PASS” is the term used here for each area to be watered by the current sprinkler head and, as will be seen, multiple loops will be made through the flow chart to program the sprinkler head for each pass (area) to be watered. Atblock 308 the controller causes a first screen to be displayed on the programming console of the unit being used for programming. InFIG. 21 a an examplefirst screen 280 is shown with a pass #4 (area 4). That number is provided by the sprinkler head and corresponds to the area being programmed currently. The pass number can not be changed directly by the user, only indirectly by programming an additional pass or by deleting one. The user would enter the stress, dose and plant type information. - If data had previously been entered for the current pass (block 310), flow moves to block 312 and the user has an opportunity to change that information by pressing a predetermined key on the programming unit keyboard. For purposes of illustration here it is shown (block 316) that the user would press the down arrow, otherwise the user presses the “NEXT” button (block 314) on the console to leave the programmed variables as they were. If there was no data entered, or if the data is to be changed for the current pass, flow proceeds to block 318. If there was data that is not to be changed flow proceeds from
block 314 to block 348 which will be discussed below. - Then at
block 318 the user enters the stress tolerance for the plant in the corresponding pass, perhaps by pressing and holding the up arrow key to increase the number in tenths of an inch, or the down arrow in the same way to lower that number. Once the user has set the stress tolerance value, the “NEXT” key on the keyboard might be pressed to advance the operation to the entry of the dose level (block 320) which is accomplished in a manner similar to the entry of the stress value and then “NEXT” is pressed, advancing the operation tooptional block 322 for the user to enter a plant type by using the arrow keys on the keyboard to select one from a preprogrammed list, or to use the keys in a prescribed fashion to spell the type of plant. In a basic system, plant type could be eliminated with stress and dose alone being entered as the watering instructions, or in a more advanced system the entry of plant type could be used to check the stress and dose information to insure that correct values have been entered. In an even more advanced system, the user could merely be asked atscreen 1 to enter the plant type and the system would internally provide the stress and dose information unless overridden by the user. Pressing “NEXT” inblocks RAM 188 of the sprinkler head together with the current pass designation. - Thus, when block 322 is completed, the user again presses, for example, “NEXT” on the keyboard to advance to screen 2 (block 324 and
FIG. 21 b).Screen 2 is displayed and flow then continues from “A” ofFIG. 22 a to “A” of eitherFIG. 22 b orFIG. 22 c for the user to define the area to be watered by the sprinkler head in the current pass. At this point in the discussion flow continues inFIG. 22 b. Note that atblock 326 the variable “CORNER” is set equal to “1” by the system. - Before proceeding with the steps in this part of the programming of the sprinkler head, attention is directed to
FIGS. 25 a-d to better understand the definition of the area to be watered. To simplify the discussion of the present invention below, four points will be used to define each area that a particular sprinkler head is to water, however, the sprinkler heads could be programmed to use any number of points including a variable number, i.e. one, two, three, four or more. In the variable option, as will be seen inFIG. 22 c as discussed below, the user first informs the sprinkler head as to how many points will be used to define the area to be programmed into the sprinkler head. In the simplified example that is discussed inFIG. 22 b below, four points are used to program an area into the sprinkler head, whether the area consists of a single point, a line, a triangle or a polygon. Whichever approach is used depends only on the firmware included in each sprinkler head and does not otherwise impact the viability of the present invention. - In the four point example, to program an area into the sprinkler head, the user might place targets at four points that define the area, and with a water stream flowing from the sprinkler head adjust that flow to hit each target in turn.
FIG. 25 a illustrates aquadrilateral area 400 defined bypoints FIG. 25 b there is atriangular area 402 defined also by fourpoints points area 402.FIG. 25 c illustrates astraight line area 404 again with fourpoints FIG. 25 c points line segment 404, whilepoints FIG. 25 d with all four points located adjacent to each other. In a more advanced system the user could be asked the type of pattern desired and the system would therefore know how many points need to be programmed. - Returning to
FIG. 22 b following block 326, the next thing that is determined is whether or not data has already been entered for an area for the pass number under consideration (block 328). If there is data entered, flow goes to block 330 to determine if changes are needed, if not, the user presses the “NEXT” key on the keyboard (block 332) with flow continuing atblock 348 inFIG. 22 a, if changes are needed, then the user presses the “DOWN” arrow on the keyboard (block 331) with flow then directed to block 334. If the answer atblock 328 as to whether data has already been entered is no, flow continues to block 334 where the user uses the arrow keys 278 (up, down, left, right) (FIG. 20 ) to control rotation stepper motor 148 (left and right) and flow stepper motor 128 (up and down), with a water stream coming fromnozzle sprinkler head nozzle gear 142 relative to the “home” position wheremagnet 160 is oppositeposition Hall sensor 158, and the signal level received by flowrate Hall sensor 138 that is indicative of the water flow through the sprinkler head at the corresponding corner. Those values are stored inRAM 188 in the sprinkler head together with the pass and corner numbers, stress tolerance and dose level for that planted area of interest, or pass number. Then the value of variable “CORNER” is advanced by “1” (block 338), and the variable “CORNER” is checked to determine if the current value is “5”. If “CORNER” is not “5” the corner number is displayed,screen 2 is advanced and flow returns to block 334 for user positioning of the water stream for the next corner or point and saving that information in the same way as for the first corner. - Note, if two consecutive points that define the area of interest are the same, then when
screen 2 displays the next corner number, the user need only press the “NEXT” button if the sprinkler head has not rotated from the previous position. In this example, all four points need to be defined even if the area of interest is a triangle, line or single point, however, provision could be made in the firmware in each sprinkler head for the user to also select the type of area to be programmed with the system firmware then only asking for the corresponding number of points to be identified. - On the other hand, if at
block 340 “CORNER” equals “5”, all of the points of the current area have been entered and screen 3 (284) displays the message “calculating area, please wait” (blocks 342 and 344). Once that area is calculated, the length of time needed to deliver the selected dose to that area is calculated and stored with the rest of the data for that area, or pass number, of the system (block 346), the flow goes to block 348 inFIG. 22 a via “B” and “B” inFIGS. 22 b and 22 a. Atblock 348 the variable “PASS” is advanced by “1” for the next area to be watered, if there is another, by the same sprinkler head to be programmed. Flow then proceeds to block 350 to determine if there is another pass to be programmed for the same sprinkler head. If there is another pass to be programmed, the user presses the “DOWN” key on the keyboard (block 352) and flow continues atblock 308 to program that pass as the first pass was programmed. - If there are no other passes to be programmed for the current sprinkler head, the user presses the “NEXT” button (block 354),
screen 3 is extinguished and the system with respect to the current sprinkler head is switched to the programmed operational mode (block 356) and the remote unit, if used for programming, is unplugged fromconnector 156 on the sprinkler head. - In the alternative situation where the user specifies how many points define the planted area of interest is shown in
FIG. 22 c with flow from “A” ofFIG. 22 a going to “A” ofFIG. 22 c. InFIG. 22 c, each block that is the same as inFIG. 22 b has the same reference number. In comparing the two figures it can be seen that there are only two differences. The first difference is that flow from “A” inFIG. 22 c first goes to block 325 where the user enters the number of points, or corners, that are to be used to define the planted area of interest. That number can be 1 or greater. Fromblock 325 flow continues toblocks 326 through 336 which are the same as inFIG. 22 b and perform the same functions in the same sequence. Then fromblock 336, flow continues tonew block 337 where the variable “corner” is tested to determine if its value is equal to the number of points that the user entered atblock 325. If the value of “corner” equals the user entered number of points, then flow is directed to block 342 with the sequence and functions of the following blocks being the same as inFIG. 22 b after which flow returns toFIG. 22 a via “B”. If the value of “corner” is not equal to the number of points entered by the user, then flow continues withblock 338 where the value of “corner” is advanced by one and flow returns to block 334 for entry of the next corner. Other than the number of points being selected by the user and the subsequent number of loops through the routine for programming then into the sprinkler head, the rest of the programming sequence before, in that loop and after are the same as in the combination ofFIGS. 2 a and 22 b. - Attention is now directed to
FIG. 23 where a flow chart is presented to illustrate programming ofcontroller system controller - Then when
controller FIGS. 24 a and 24 b which present a flow chart of the operation of the sprinkler system of the present invention. Atblock 380 the controller, at the preprogrammed time of each day sends the current ET0 for the installed region to each sprinkler head together with instructions to recalculate the effective stress level for each pass that the sprinkler head has been programmed to serve. - At
block 382 each sprinkler head then subtracts the ET, value from the effective stress level for each pass and stores the new effective stress level inRAM 188. Next, atblock 384, each sprinkler head with at least one pass with an effective stress level that is zero, or a negative number, determines the total length of time that it needs to be activated for each pass to be watered and sends that information tocontroller data line 104. - With the information from the various sprinkler heads connected to the irrigation system,
controller block 390, each sprinkler head, for each pass that was watered, resets the effective stress level for each such pass to the originally programmed stress tolerance for that pass that was originally programmed into the sprinkler head. - Another valve configuration of the present invention is a fail safe valve which automatically closes when power an activation signal is not present. In
FIG. 26 there is shown a block diagram of the electronics included insprinkler head 102 that uses this valve. The differences between this diagram and those ofFIGS. 8 and 9 are: there is now only onestepper motor 148 to control the angular positioning ofnozzle stepper motor controller 196′ only controlsrotation stepper motor 148 and interfaces withrotation Hall sensor 158; a separateflow rate controller 197 is included and interfaces with flowrate Hall sensor 138; and the operation of failsafe valve 410 is controlled byflow rate controller 197. Otherwise the remainder of the sprinkler head electronics and the sprinkler system electronics is unchanged. This arrangement operates in substantially the same way as the other configurations. -
FIG. 28 is a view of asprinkler head 102″ that incorporatesvalve 410 and is otherwise the same assprinkler head 102′ shown inFIG. 12 . There is a standard sized PVC fitting 409 at the bottom ofsprinkler head 120″, to be connected to a riser that is connected to the water feed line, that leads into aninput chamber 412. Whenvalve 410 is activated the water flows frominput chamber 412 intobuffer chamber 418 and fromvalve output port 438 and pastflow rate finger 236 with the reminder ofsprinkler head 102″ operating as was described forsprinkler head 102′ inFIG. 12 . - From
FIGS. 27 a and 27 b the construction ofvalve 410 can be more easily seen.FIG. 27 a illustrates the details of the design ofvalve 410. Those portions that are shown with simple cross-hatching are ridged, while the one portion shown with the more complex cross-hatching is aflexible membrane 420. As described above, fitting 409 which couples to a riser and in turn to a water feed line leads the water intoinput chamber 412. Since water is flowing throughvalve 410 in this view, water flows in two directions. The main flow is frominput chamber 412, throughport 424 intocontrol chamber 414, and outoutput port 438 to flowfinger 236 and beyond, eventually tonozzle 150′. The secondary flow follows a control path throughfilter 426 andhole 428 intocontrol chamber 414, throughhole 434past needle valve 435 intobypass chamber 416, and then throughhole 432 intobuffer chamber 418. - Focus is directed to the control path and details thereof to better understand that operation of
valve 410. First some basics.Filter 426 is provided to prevent small particles that may be in the water from blockinghole 428 which is very small, e.g., having a diameter of perhaps 0.007 inches leading intocontrol chamber 414 which includesflexible membrane 420 as describe above. The control path continues throughhole 434 with the flow therethrough controlled by the extent to whichneedle 435 extends intohole 434. Hereneedle 435 is fully extracted fromhole 434 thus permitting the maximum flow rate through the main channel described above.Hole 434 leads intobypass chamber 416 and is directed to hole 432 and intobuffer chamber 418.Hole 434 has a larger diameter than does hole 428, e.g., perhaps 0.010 inches, andhole 432 has still a larger diameter thanhole 434, e.g., perhaps 0.012 inches. As will be seen in the discussion that followsholes hole 428. - Thus when
needle 435 is fully extracted fromhole 434 as shown in this view, the water pressure ininput chamber 412 andcontrol chamber 414 are substantially equalized withflexible membrane 420 in substantially a relaxed position. Additionally there will be water flowing throughholes control channel 416 and intobuffer chamber 418 also serving to improve linearity in the valve by reducing inherent positive feedback in the valve. To control the flow through the main path,needle 435 is controlled bysolenoid 436, e.g., a linear solenoid. - With
needle 435 being spring loaded to extend fromsolenoid 436,needle 435 is fully seated inhole 434 when no power is applied tosolenoid 436. When solenoid 436 is activated with varying control signals from flow rate controller 197 (FIG. 26 ) vialine 440,needle 435 is extracted a corresponding distance from being fully seated inhole 434 in proportion to the signal fromflow rate controller 197. Asneedle 435 approaches and extends intohole 434 from the position shown inFIG. 27 a, the water pressure incontrol chamber 414 slowly increases and causesflexible membrane 420 to slowly bulge outward fromcontrol chamber 414, thus eventually creating a seal with the open end ofport 424 thus reducing the flow rate of water intobuffer chamber 418 as well asbypass chamber 416. - As shown in
FIG. 27 b, which is a partial view ofvalve 410 inFIG. 27 a,needle 435 is fully seated inhole 434 resulting in the pressure incontrol chamber 414 increasing to bulgeflexible membrane 420 sufficiently to close and seal withport 424. Withflexible membrane 420 sealed withport 424 there is substantially no water flow intobuffer chamber 418 and fromoutput port 438. - The technique implemented in, and described above, for determining when and how much to water an area defined by the user is a modification of the “checkbook method” presented by Stephen W. Smith on pages 180-195 of his book entitled Landscape Irrigation Design and Management (John Wiley & Sons, 1997).
- While the various details have been provided relative to the various components of the system of the present invention, their mechanical construction and interaction with each other, and their method of operation as a system, no portion of the present invention is limited to only what is disclosed here. Equivalents of each could easily be constructed or devised. The scope of the present invention is only limited to the scope of the claims included herewith, and equivalents of what is described in those claims.
Claims (57)
1. A sprinkler head for use with an irrigation system having a water feeder line coupled to a water source to deliver water to a planted area of interest, said sprinkler head comprising:
an input port disposed to be coupled to said water feeder line;
a control valve coupled to said input port to provide controlled water flow through said control valve;
a flow rate monitoring unit adjacent said control valve to monitor said water flow as it exits said control valve;
a nozzle having a proximate end adjacent said flow rate monitoring unit to receive said water flow from said control valve and to expel said water from a distal end of said nozzle to said planted area of interest;
a drive means affixed to said nozzle for use in angularly positioning said distal end of said nozzle;
an angular position monitoring unit disposed to determine a position of said distal end of said nozzle; and
a control subsystem coupled to said control valve, said flow rate monitoring unit, said drive means and said angular position monitoring unit to monitor and control the flow rate through, and angular position of, said nozzle.
2. The sprinkler head as in claim 1 wherein said flow rate monitoring unit comprises:
a flexible finger having a proximate end mounted to a fixed position relative to said water flow and a distal end extending into a path of said water flow with said distal end of said flexible finger being in a relaxed position when said flow rate is zero and a displaced position when said flow rate is non-zero, with the extent of said displaced position being directly related to said flow rate;
a magnet mounted at one of a fixed position adjacent said distal end of said flexible finger and on said distal end of said flexible finger; and
a flow rate magnetic field sensor at the other of said fixed position adjacent said distal end of said flexible finger and on said distal end of said flexible finger adjacent said magnet, with said flow rate magnetic field sensor providing an electrical signal directly related to the strength of a magnetic field detected from said magnet.
3. The sprinkler head as in claim 1 wherein said angular position monitoring unit comprises:
a magnet mounted at one of a fixed position adjacent said drive means and on said drive means; and
an angular position magnetic field sensor at the other of said fixed position adjacent said drive means and on said drive means adjacent said magnet, with said angular position magnetic field sensor providing a strongest electrical signal when said magnet is adjacent said angular position magnetic field sensor to define a zero degree angular position for said nozzle.
4. The sprinkler head as in claim 1 wherein:
said drive means includes a nozzle gear attached near a proximate end of said nozzle;
said control valve includes a flow rate varying means for varying the flow rate through said control valve; and
said control subsystem comprises:
a local controller;
an activating means coupled to said local controller and said flow rate varying means for selectively controlling said flow rate varying means to adjust the flow rate through said control valve; and
an angular positioning stepper motor electrically coupled to said processor, having a shaft with a drive gear mounted thereon, and mounted in a fixed position to mesh said drive gear with said nozzle gear to position said nozzle.
5. The sprinkler head as in claim 4 wherein:
said control value further comprises a shaft coupled to said flow rate varying means;
said activating means comprises a flow stepper motor electrically coupled to said local controller and mounted to a fixed position and having a drive shaft interacting with said shaft of said control to adjust said flow rate through said control valve; and
said local controller comprises:
a local processor coupled to said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
local memory coupled to said local processor to provide temporary and permanent storage for said local processor; and
a stepper motor controller coupled to said local processor, and said flow and angular positioning stepper motors, to receive flow rate and angular position signals from said local processor and to convert said flow rate and angular position signals to corresponding drive signals to exercise said flow and angular positioning stepper motors, respectively.
6. The sprinkler head as in claim 4 wherein:
said control valve includes a fail-safe means with a zero flow rate therethrough when not activated;
said activating means is coupled to said fail-safe means to control flow therethrough in response to electrical signals from said local controller; and
said local controller comprises:
a local processor coupled to said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
local memory coupled to said local processor to provide temporary and permanent storage for said local processor;
a stepper motor controller coupled to said local processor, and said angular positioning stepper motor, to receive angular position signals from said local processor and to convert said angular position signals to corresponding drive signals to exercise said angular positioning stepper motor; and
a signal converter coupled to said local processor, and said activating means, to receive flow rate signals from said local processor and to convert said flow rate signals to corresponding activation signals to exercise said activation means.
7. The sprinkler head as in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a nozzle drive gear.
8. A sprinkler system to provide water from a water source to a planted area of interest, said sprinkler system comprising:
a water feeder line disposed to be coupled to said water source to receive water therefrom;
a sprinkler head coupled to said water feeder line to receive water therefrom, said sprinkler head being electrically controllable during said watering cycle to continuously vary angular position and flow rate of water to said planted area of interest;
a power and data line coupled to said sprinkler head to provide power and control data thereto; and
a master controller disposed to be connected to a power source and coupled to said power and data line to provide power and control data to said sprinkler head.
9. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein said sprinkler head comprises:
an input port coupled to said water feeder line;
a control valve coupled to said input port to provide controlled water flow through said control valve;
a flow rate monitoring unit adjacent said control valve to monitor said water flow as it exits said control valve;
a nozzle having a proximate end adjacent said flow rate monitoring unit to receive said water flow from said control valve and to expel said water from a distal end of said nozzle to said planted area of interest;
a drive means affixed to said nozzle for use in angularly positioning said distal end of said nozzle;
an angular position monitoring unit disposed to determine a position of said nozzle gear; and
a control subsystem coupled to said electric and data line, and to said control valve, said flow rate monitoring unit, said nozzle gear and said angular position monitoring unit to monitor and control the flow rate through, and angular position of, said nozzle.
10. The sprinkler system as in claim 9 wherein said flow rate monitoring unit comprises:
a flexible finger having a proximate end mounted to a fixed position relative to said water flow and a distal end extending into a path of said water flow with said distal end of said flexible finger being in a relaxed position when said flow rate is zero and a displaced position when said flow rate is non-zero, with the extent of said displaced position being directly related to said flow rate;
a magnet mounted at one of a fixed position adjacent said distal end of said flexible finger and on said distal end of said flexible finger; and
a flow rate magnetic field sensor at the other of said fixed position adjacent said distal end of said flexible finger and on said distal end of said flexible finger adjacent said magnet, with said flow rate magnetic field sensor providing an electrical signal directly related to the strength of a magnetic field detected from said magnet.
11. The sprinkler system as in claim 9 wherein said angular position monitoring unit comprises:
a magnet mounted at one of a fixed position adjacent said drive means and on said drive means near an edge thereof; and
an angular position magnetic field sensor at the other of said fixed position adjacent said drive means and on said drive means adjacent said magnet, with said angular position magnetic field sensor providing a strongest electrical signal when said magnet is adjacent said angular position magnetic field sensor to define a zero degree angular position for said nozzle.
12. The sprinkler system as in claim 9 wherein:
said drive means includes a nozzle gear attached near a proximate end of said nozzle;
said control valve includes a flow rate varying means for varying the flow rate through said control valve; and
said sprinkler head control subsystem comprises:
a local controller;
an activating means coupled to said local controller and said flow rate varying means for selectively controlling said flow rate varying means to adjust the flow rate through said control valve; and
an angular positioning stepper motor electrically coupled to said processor, having a shaft with a drive gear mounted thereon, and mounted in a fixed position to mesh said drive gear with said nozzle gear to position said nozzle.
13. The sprinkler system as in claim 12 wherein:
said control value further comprises a shaft coupled to said flow rate varying means to selectively vary water flow through said control valve;
said activating means comprises a flow stepper motor electrically coupled to said local controller and mounted to a fixed position and having a drive shaft interacting with said shaft of said control valve to adjust said flow rate through said control valve; and
said local controller comprises:
a local processor coupled to said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
local memory coupled to said local processor to provide temporary and permanent storage for said local processor; and
a stepper motor controller coupled to said local processor, and said flow and angular positioning stepper motors, to receive flow rate and angular position signals from said local processor and to convert said flow rate and angular position signals to corresponding drive signals to exercise said flow and angular positioning stepper motors, respectively.
14. The sprinkler system as in claim 12 wherein:
said control valve includes a fail safe means with a zero flow rate therethrough when not activated;
said activating means is coupled to said fail safe means to open same in response to electrical signals from said local controller; and
said local controller comprises:
a local processor coupled to said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
local memory coupled to said local processor to provide temporary and permanent storage for said local processor;
a stepper motor controller coupled to said local processor, and said angular positioning stepper motor, to receive angular position signals from said local processor and to convert said angular position signals to corresponding drive signals to exercise said angular positioning stepper motor; and
a signal converter coupled to said local processor, and said activating means, to receive flow rate signals from said local processor and to convert said flow rate signals to corresponding activation signals to exercise said activation means.
15. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises a nozzle drive gear.
16. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein:
said master controller comprises:
a master controller data bus;
a master processor coupled to said master controller data bus to control the operation of the overall sprinkler system;
a memory coupled to said master controller data bus to provide temporary and permanent data storage; and
data encoder/decoder coupled to said master controller data bus and said power and data line to encode data from said master processor to said sprinkler head and to decode data received from said sprinkler head for use by said master processor with said data being carried bidirectionally on said power and data line; and
said sprinkler head further comprising:
a sprinkler head data bus;
a local controller coupled to said sprinkler head data bus and being programmable to retain duration of flow, and angular and flow rate variations to deliver a desired amount of water evenly to said planted area of interest, when instructed to do so by said master controller via said power and data line, in response to signals from said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
a control valve to meter the flow of water through said sprinkler head;
a flow rate control means coupled to said local controller and said control valve to receive flow rate signals from said local controller for conversion to drive signals for application to said control valve;
a nozzle with a proximate end positioned to receive water after passing through said control valve to direct said water to said planted area from a distal end of said nozzle;
drive means coupled to said nozzle for angularly positioning said distal end of said nozzle to deliver water to said planted area of interest;
an angular position controller coupled to said local controller and said drive means to receive angular position signals from said local controller for conversion to drive signals for application to said drive means; and
local data encoder/decoder coupled to said sprinkler head data bus and said power and data line to encode data from said local processor to said master controller and to decode data received from said master controller for use by said local processor with said data being carried bidirectionally on said power and data line.
17. The sprinkler system as in claim 16 wherein said master controller further includes:
a display coupled to said master controller data bus to display status and programming information of said sprinkler system; and
a keyboard coupled to said master controller data bus for user selection of information on said display and entry of individual sprinkler head programming information.
18. The sprinkler system as in claim 17 further includes a remote programming unit comprising:
a remote data bus;
a remote processor coupled to said remote data bus and disposed to be connected to said local controller of a sprinkler head to be programmed to control programming of said sprinkler head when said remote programming unit is coupled to said local controller;
a memory coupled to said remote data bus to provide temporary and permanent data storage for said remote processor;
a display coupled to said remote data bus to display status and programming information of said sprinkler head while being programmed; and
a keyboard coupled to said remote data bus for user control of angular position and flow rate of said sprinkler head and water flow rate therethrough during programming and entering data into said local controller of said sprinkler head via said remote programming unit during programming.
19. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 wherein:
said master controller comprises:
a primary control section including:
a primary data bus;
a primary processor coupled to said primary data bus to control the operation of the overall sprinkler system;
a primary memory coupled to said primary data bus to provide temporary and permanent for said primary processor; and
a primary data encoder/decoder coupled to said primary data bus and said power and data line to encode data from said primary processor to said sprinkler head and to decode data received from said sprinkler head for use by said primary processor with said data being carried bidirectionally on said power and data line;
a secondary control section includes:
a secondary data bus;
a secondary processor coupled to said secondary data bus;
a secondary memory coupled to said secondary data bus to provide temporary and permanent data storage for said secondary processor;
a display coupled to said secondary data bus to, in one mode, display system information and, in a second mode, programming information of a sprinkler head; and
a keyboard coupled to said secondary data bus for user selection of information to be displayed on said display and entry of individual sprinkler head programming information; and
said sprinkler head further comprising:
a sprinkler head data bus;
a local controller coupled to said sprinkler head data bus and being programmable to retain duration of flow, and angular and flow rate variations to deliver a desired amount of water evenly to said planted area of interest, when instructed to do so by said master controller via said power and data line, in response to signals from said flow rate monitoring unit and said angular position monitoring unit;
a control valve to meter the flow of water through said sprinkler head;
a flow rate control means coupled to said local controller and said control valve to receive flow rate signals from said local controller for conversion to drive signals for application to said control valve;
a nozzle with a proximate end positioned to receive water after passing through said control valve to direct said water to said planted area from a distal end of said nozzle;
drive means for angularly positioning said distal end of said nozzle to deliver water to said planted area of interest;
an angular position controller coupled to said local controller and said drive means to receive angular position signals from said local controller for conversion to drive signals for application to said drive means; and
local data encoder/decoder coupled to said sprinkler head data bus and said power and data line to encode data from said local processor to said master controller and to decode data received from said master controller for use by said local processor with said data being carried bidirectionally on said power and data line;
wherein said secondary control section is mounted in proximity with said primary control section to provide user interface during overall operation of said sprinkler system and programming of said sprinkler head with said secondary processor coupled to said primary processor, or at a remote location coupled to said sprinkler head for programming of said sprinkler head with said secondary processor coupled to said local controller of said sprinkler head.
20. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 further comprises a weather station that includes:
a weather station data bus;
a weather station processor coupled to said weather station data bus;
a weather station memory coupled to said weather station data bus to provide temporary and permanent data storage;
environmental sensors coupled to said weather station data bus to detect and provide data corresponding to weather conditions; and
weather station encoder/decoder coupled to said weather station data bus and said power and data line to encode data from said environmental sensors via said weather station processor to said master controller and to decode data received from said master controller for use by said weather station processor with said data being carried bidirectionally on said power and data line.
21. The sprinkler system as in claim 20 wherein said environmental sensors include:
a temperature sensor;
a humidity sensor; and
a wind direction and strength sensor.
22. The sprinkler system as in claim 8 further comprising:
a plurality of sprinkler heads each connected to said water feeder line and said power and data line, with each sprinkler head including:
a local processor to control said angular position and flow rate of water through said individual associated sprinkler head; and
local memory coupled to said local processor to store angular position and flow rate values for use during watering said planted area of interest of said associated sprinkler head, and to store a unique identifier of said associated sprinkler head with said unique identifier being assigned to said associated sprinkler head by said master controller for use in communicating between said master controller and said associated sprinkler head via said power and data line.
23. The sprinkler system as in claim 22 wherein communication between said master controller and each of said local processor in each of said sprinkler heads is performed by modulating a voltage level on said power and data line with said communication being bidirectional.
24. A method of watering a contiguous planted area of interest with a processor controlled automatic sprinkler head connected to a water line, said sprinkler head having a nozzle from which to direct a water stream to said planted area of interest, said method including the steps of:
a. oscillating said sprinkler head from side to side to direct said water stream from said nozzle from side to side within said planted area of interest under control of said processor;
b. varying a flow rate of said water stream through said nozzle to direct water at varying distances from said sprinkler head within said planted area of interest under control of said processor; and
c. coordinating the performance of steps a. and b. to direct said water stream from said nozzle evenly throughout the entire planted area of interest.
25. The method as in claim 24 wherein step c. further includes the step of:
d. controlling said sprinkler head to direct said water stream from said nozzle to said planted area of interest in a zigzag fashion from one of side to side and near to far.
26. The method as in claim 24 further including the step of:
d. controlling said sprinkler head to water a plurality of non-overlapping planted areas of interest using steps a., b. and c. for each of said plurality of planted areas of interest.
27. The method as in claim 24 further including the step of:
d. controlling said sprinkler head to deliver an non-dispersing stream of water to said planted area of interest to minimize evaporation of water during watering.
28. The method as in claim 24 further includes the step of:
d. controlling said sprinkler head to water said planted area of interest wherein a shape of said planted area of interest is one of a single point, a line and a polygon.
29. A method of programming a processor controlled automatic sprinkler head connected to a water line to water a contiguous planted area of interest; said sprinkler head having a nozzle from which to direct a water stream to said planted area of interest, a processor and associated memory, an angular positioning drive means responsive to said processor for varying the angle of delivery of said water stream from said nozzle, and a flow rate control means responsive to said processor for varying the distance of delivery of said water stream from said nozzle; said method comprising the steps of:
a. physically identifying a first physical point to which said water stream is to be automatically delivered with a first target;
b. actuating said processor to start water flow through said nozzle of said sprinkler head;
c. following steps a. and b., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said first target;
d. following steps a. and b., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
e. repeating steps c. and d. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said first target; and
f. instructing said processor to save a first data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said first physical point at which said first target was located.
30. The method as in claim 29 wherein each planted area of interest is defined in said processor controlled automatic sprinkler head by four points.
31. The method as in claim 30 wherein said processor controlled sprinkler head waters said planted area of interest within line segments that join said four points and form the periphery of said planted area of interest.
32. The method as in claim 31 for programming said processor controlled sprinkler head to automatically water a single point as said planted area of interest, said method further comprising the step of:
g. following step f., instructing said processor to save a second, third and fourth data set each containing the same data as said first data set to define said planted area of interest as said single point.
33. The method as in claim 31 for programming said processor controlled sprinkler head to automatically water a line as said planted area of interest wherein said first physical point of interest is one end of said line, said method further comprising the steps of:
g. physically identifying a second physical point to which said water stream is to be automatically delivered with a second target, wherein said second physical point is another end of said line;
h. following steps f. and g., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said second target;
i. following steps f. and g., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
j. repeating steps h. and i. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said second target;
k. instructing said processor to save a second data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said second physical point at which said second target was located; and
l. following step k., instructing said processor to save a third and fourth data set each containing the same data as one of said first data set, said second data set, and a data set corresponding to a point on said line between said first and second points to define said planted area of interest as said line.
34. The method as in claim 31 for programming said processor controlled sprinkler head to automatically water a triangularly shaped area as said planted area of interest wherein said first physical point of interest is one corner point of said triangularly shaped area, said method further comprising the steps of:
g. physically identifying a second physical point to which said water stream is to be automatically delivered with a second target, wherein said second physical point is a second corner point of said triangularly shaped area;
h. following steps f. and g., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said second target;
i. following steps f. and g., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
j. repeating steps h. and i. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said second target;
k. instructing said processor to save a second data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said second physical point at which said second target was located;
l. physically identifying a third physical point as a third corner point of said triangularly shaped area to which water is to be automatically delivered with a third target;
m. following steps k. and l., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said third target;
n. following steps k. and h., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
o. repeating steps m. and n. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said third target;
p. instructing said processor to save a third data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said third physical point at which said third target was located; and
q. following step p., instructing said processor to save a fourth data set containing the same data as one of said first data set, said second data set, said third data and a data set corresponding to a point on said a line between said first and second physical points, said second and third physical points and said first and third physical points to define said planted area of interest as said triangularly shaped area.
35. The method as in claim 31 for programming said processor controlled sprinkler head to automatically water a four sided polygonally shaped area as said planted area of interest wherein said first physical point of interest is a first corner point of said four sided polygonally shaped area, said method further comprising the steps of:
g. physically identifying a second physical point to which water is to be automatically delivered with a second target, wherein said second physical point is a second corner point of said four sided polygonally shaped area;
h. following steps f. and g., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said second target;
i. following steps f. and g., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
j. repeating steps h. and i. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said second target;
k. instructing said processor to save a second data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said second physical point at which said second target was located;
l. physically identifying a third physical point as a third corner point of said four sided polygonally shaped area to which water is to be automatically delivered with a third target;
m. following steps k. and l., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said third target;
n. following steps k. and l., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
o. repeating steps m. and n. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said third target;
p. instructing said processor to save a third data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said third physical point at which said third target was located;
q. physically identifying a fourth physical point as a fourth corner point of said four sided polygonally shaped area to which water is to be automatically delivered with a fourth target;
r. following steps p. and q., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said fourth target;
s. following steps p. and q., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
t. repeating steps r. and s. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said fourth target;
u. instructing said processor to save a fourth data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said fourth physical point at which said fourth target was located.
36. The method as in claim 31 wherein said processor controlled automatic sprinkler head can be programmed to water multiple non-overlapping planted areas of interest.
37. The method as in claim 32 further comprising the step of:
h. calculating an area of said planted area of interest as an area within said line segments that define said periphery of said planted area of interest, with said calculated area having a minimum height and width for said one point area of interest and a minimum width for said line area of interest.
38. The method as claim 37 further comprising the steps of:
i. entering a water dose level to be delivered to said area between said line segments that define said periphery of said planted area of interest when instructed to do so by said processor; and
j. calculating, using said water dose level of step i. and said calculated area of step h., a time period necessary to deliver said water dose of step i. evenly over said planted area of interest.
39. The method as in claim 38 further comprising the steps of:
k. evenly delivering water to said planted area of interest for said calculated period of time in step j. by:
l. applying a constant stream of water to said planted area of interest if said planted area of interest is a single point;
m. oscillating said stream of water between end points of a line if said planted area of interest is a line by varying said angle of delivery and said flow rate for said water stream from said nozzle to follow said line; and
n. directing said water stream within said periphery of said planted area of interest if said planted area of interest is polygonally shaped by varying said angle of delivery and said flow rate for said water stream from said nozzle to deliver a uniform amount of water per unit of area throughout said planted area of interest.
40. The method as in claim 38 wherein step i. includes the steps of:
k. a user entering a plant type for plants within said planted area of interest; and
l. said processor determining said dose level from a look-up table in said associated memory.
41. A method of watering a plurality of non-overlapping planted areas of interest with an automatic sprinkler system having a master controller, a plurality of automatic sprinkler heads with each sprinkler head having a local processor and being programmed to water at least one of said planted areas of interest, and a communications link connecting said local processor of each sprinkler head to said master controller, all of said sprinkler heads being connected to a single water line, and each local processor being programmed to determine when watering is needed by said corresponding planted area of interest and the necessary duration of that watering cycle, said master controller performing the steps of:
a. interrogating each local processor of said plurality of sprinkler heads via said communications link to determine which ones of said sprinkler heads are ready to water at least one corresponding planted area of interest and the necessary duration of that watering cycle;
b. calculating the maximum number of sprinkler heads that can be active at the same time using said information from step a. and knowing the available water pressure of said single water line;
c. following step b., preparing a sequence of steps for activating said ready sprinkler heads with no more than said maximum number of sprinkler heads identified in each step of said sequence using said maximum number and said individual watering cycle durations of each of said sprinkler heads identified in step a. as ready to water; and
d. communicating individually with each sprinkler head at the beginning of each sequence step in which said sprinkler head is included until all sequence steps have been completed, using said sequence developed in step c.;
wherein said method minimizes the plumbing need for said automatic sprinkler system while permitting said water line to have any water pressure and flow rate.
42. The method as in claim 41 wherein:
said local processor of each sprinkler head, prior to step a., performs the step of:
d. programming, for each planted area of interest being served by each sprinkler head, a watering dose level and stress tolerance for the particular plants included in each planted area of interest, and setting a variable called effective stress level equal to said programmed stress tolerance;
said master controller, prior to step a., further performs the steps of:
e. determining an evapotransporation rate for the current date and location where said automatic sprinkler system is installed; and
f. communicating said evapotransporation rate of step e. to every one of said sprinkler heads; and
said local processor in each sprinkler head further performs the steps of:
g. determining a new effective stress level by subtracting said evapotransporation rate received in step f. from said effective stress level for each planted area of interest said corresponding sprinkler head is programmed to water;
h. saving each new effective stress level as said variable effective stress level in said local processor;
i. determining if said effective stress level of step h. is zero or less than zero for each planted area of interest said corresponding sprinkler head is programmed to water;
j. determining a total length of time needed to water each planted area of interest identified in step i. for said corresponding sprinkler head;
k. in response to step a., communicating said total length of time needed to said master controller for said corresponding sprinkler head;
l. in response to step d., initiating and completing watering of each planted area of interest identified in step i.; and
m. following step l., resting said variable effective stress level to said programmed stress tolerance for each planted area of interested watered in step l.
43. The method as in claim 42 wherein step e. includes the step of:
n. reading said evapotransporation rate for a current month from a look-up table in said master controller.
44. The method as in claim 42 wherein step e. includes the step of:
o. obtaining said evapotransporation rate electronically from a governmental source.
45. The method as in claim 42 being performed on a daily basis at a predetermined time of day.
46. The method as in claim 42 wherein step d. includes the steps of:
p. a user entering a plant type for plants within each of said planted areas of interest for said corresponding sprinkler head; and
q. said local processor of said corresponding sprinkler head determining said dose level and stress tolerance from a look-up table for each planted area of interest to said sprinkler head.
47. A method determining integrity of an automatic sprinkler system having a master controller, a plurality of automatic sprinkler heads with each sprinkler head having a local processor, and a communications link connecting said local processor of each sprinkler head to said master controller, and all of said sprinkler heads being connected to a single water line, said method comprising the steps of:
a. each local processor reporting to said master controller an inability to water an area when authorized to do so by said master controller;
b. each local processor reporting to said master controller water stream through a corresponding sprinkler head at a time when unauthorized to water;
c. said master controller individually interrogating each local processor in each sprinkler head at will to request an acknowledgment from each local processor as being on-line; and
d. said master controller identifying a possible problem in each sprinkler head identified in steps a. and b., and in step c. if no response is received by said master controller from a particular sprinkler head.
48. A method of programming a processor controlled automatic sprinkler head connected to a water line to water a contiguous planted area of interest; said sprinkler head having a nozzle from which to direct a water stream to said planted area of interest, a processor and associated memory, an angular positioning drive means responsive to said processor for varying the angle of delivery of said water stream from said nozzle, and a flow rate control means responsive to said processor for varying the distance of delivery of said water stream from said nozzle; said method comprising the steps of:
a. entering a number of physical points necessary to define an outline of said planted area of interest into said processor;
b. said processor setting a programming variable equal to one;
c. physically identifying a physical point corresponding to said programming variable to which said water stream is to be automatically delivered;
d. following step c., controlling said angular positioning drive means via said processor to direct said water stream from said nozzle in the direction of said physical point;
e. following step c., controlling said flow rate control means via said processor to vary the distance from said nozzle said water stream is projected;
f. repeating steps d. and e. until said water stream from said nozzle hits said physical point;
g. instructing said processor to save a data set corresponding to electrical signals to be applied to said angular positioning means and said flow rate control means to provide the angle and flow rate necessary for repeated automatic delivery of said water stream to said physical point together with a value of said programming variable;
h. following step g., testing said value of said programming variable if said value is equal to said number of physical points entering in step a.;
i. if test result of step h. is false, said programming variable is advanced by one and steps c. through h. are repeated; and
j. if test result of step h. is true all data sets for all physical points have been entered.
49. The method as in claim 48 further includes the steps of:
k. identifying an additional non-overlapping planted area of interest; and
l. repeating steps a. through j. for each such planted area of interest.
50. The method as in claim 48 further comprising the step of:
k. calculating an area of said planted area of interest as an area within line segments between said number of physical points that define said periphery of said planted area of interest, with said calculated area having a minimum height and width if said number of physical points is one, and a minimum width if said number of physical points is two.
51. The method as claim 50 further comprising the steps of:
l. entering a water dose level to be delivered to said area between said line segments that define said periphery of said planted area of interest when instructed to do so by said processor; and
m. calculating, using said water dose level of step l. and said area of step k., a time period necessary to deliver said water dose of step l. evenly over said planted area of interest.
52. The method as in claim 51 further comprising the steps of:
n. evenly delivering water to said planted area of interest for said calculated period of time in step m. by:
o. applying a constant stream of water to said planted area of interest if said planted area of interest is a single physical point;
p. oscillating said stream of water between end points of a line if said planted area of interest is two physical points by varying said angle of delivery and said flow rate for said water stream from said nozzle to follow said line; and
q. directing said water stream within said periphery of said planted area of interest if said planted area of interest is defined by three or more physical points by varying said angle of delivery and said flow rate for said water stream from said nozzle to deliver a uniform amount of water per unit of area throughout said planted area of interest.
53. The method as in claim 53 wherein step l. includes the steps of:
r. a user entering a plant type for plants within said planted area of interest; and
s. said processor determining said dose level from a look-up table in said associated memory.
54. The sprinkler head as in claim 1 wherein said control valve includes:
an input chamber in communication with said input port;
a buffer chamber having:
an input side defining an input port therethrough with said input port disposed to receive water from said input chamber; and
an output side defining an output port therethrough disposed to deliver water to said flow rate monitoring unit;
a control chamber having:
a first side defining a first small hole therethrough having a first diameter to provide a passage for water from said input chamber into said control chamber;
a second side defining a second small hole therethrough having a second diameter; and
a flexible membrane forming a third side adjacent said input port of said input side of said buffer chamber;
a bypass chamber:
sharing said second side of said control chamber with said second small hole providing a passage for water from said control chamber into said bypass chamber; and
having a buffer side defining a third small hole therethrough having a third diameter to provide a passage for water from said bypass chamber into said buffer chamber; and
an activation means coupled to said control subsystem and having a needle valve aligned with said second hole and sized to meter water flow through said second hole in response to different signals applied to said activation means by said control subsystem and said needle valve to close with said second hole when no signal is applied to said activation means;
wherein the distance between said flexible membrane and said input port of said buffer chamber increases proportionally as said needle valve moves away from said second hole and decreases proportionally as said needle valve is advances into said second hole with said flexible membrane sealing with said input port when said needle valve is seated in said second hole.
55. The sprinkler head as in claim 54 wherein said first small hole is smaller than said second small hole, and said second small hole is smaller than said third small hole.
56. The sprinkler system as in claim 9 wherein said control valve includes:
an input chamber in communication with said input port;
a buffer chamber having:
an input side defining an input port therethrough with said input port disposed to receive water from said input chamber; and
an output side defining an output port therethrough disposed to deliver water to said flow rate monitoring unit;
a control chamber having:
a first side defining a first small hole therethrough having a first diameter to provide a passage for water from said input chamber into said control chamber;
a second side defining a second small hole therethrough having a second diameter; and
a flexible membrane forming a third side adjacent said input port of said input side of said buffer chamber;
a bypass chamber:
sharing said second side of said control chamber with said second small hole providing a passage for water from said control chamber into said bypass chamber; and
having a buffer side defining a third small hole therethrough having a third diameter to provide a passage for water from said bypass chamber into said buffer chamber; and
an activation means coupled to said control subsystem and having a needle valve aligned with said second hole and sized to meter water flow through said second hole in response to different signals applied to said activation means by said control subsystem and said needle valve to close with said second hole when no signal is applied to said activation means;
wherein the distance between said flexible membrane and said input port of said buffer chamber increases proportionally as said needle valve moves away from said second hole and decreases proportionally as said needle valve is advances into said second hole with said flexible membrane sealing with said input port when said needle valve is seated in said second hole.
57. The sprinkler system as in claim 56 wherein said first small hole is smaller than said second small hole, and said second small hole is smaller than said third small hole.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/321,502 US20090138132A1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2009-01-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/491,165 US6402048B1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2000-01-26 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/134,340 US6688535B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2002-04-25 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/744,324 US7494070B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2003-12-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US12/321,502 US20090138132A1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2009-01-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/744,324 Division US7494070B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2003-12-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20090138132A1 true US20090138132A1 (en) | 2009-05-28 |
Family
ID=23951048
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/491,165 Expired - Lifetime US6402048B1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2000-01-26 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/134,340 Expired - Lifetime US6688535B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2002-04-25 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/744,324 Expired - Fee Related US7494070B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2003-12-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US12/321,502 Abandoned US20090138132A1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2009-01-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
Family Applications Before (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/491,165 Expired - Lifetime US6402048B1 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2000-01-26 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/134,340 Expired - Lifetime US6688535B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2002-04-25 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
US10/744,324 Expired - Fee Related US7494070B2 (en) | 2000-01-26 | 2003-12-22 | Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (4) | US6402048B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1251965A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU777907B2 (en) |
IL (1) | IL150517A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001054823A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20040135001A1 (en) | 2004-07-15 |
US7494070B2 (en) | 2009-02-24 |
IL150517A0 (en) | 2003-02-12 |
US6402048B1 (en) | 2002-06-11 |
EP1251965A4 (en) | 2003-04-09 |
AU777907B2 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
AU3650101A (en) | 2001-08-07 |
EP1251965A1 (en) | 2002-10-30 |
US6688535B2 (en) | 2004-02-10 |
WO2001054823A1 (en) | 2001-08-02 |
US20020125338A1 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
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