초록 ▼

An irrigation system is disclosed for determining that the moisture content of various zones of the soil are irrigated to consistent levels. A moisture sensor has lateral spaced apart antennas which extend within a horizontal plane. The moisture sensor is disposed in the soil within one of the vario

An irrigation system is disclosed for determining that the moisture content of various zones of the soil are irrigated to consistent levels. A moisture sensor has lateral spaced apart antennas which extend within a horizontal plane. The moisture sensor is disposed in the soil within one of the various regions. An irrigation piping branch includes a control valve which controls the flow of water through the irrigation branch. When the control valve is open, an irrigation fluid will pass through the valve and the irrigation branch for distribution to an irrigation region of the soil. Once the moisture within the soil of the irrigation region reaches a preselected level within the horizontal plane proximate to the moisture sensor, the valve will automatically be closed, stopping the flow of the irrigation fluid from the irrigation branch to the irrigation region of the soil. The irrigation system includes an irrigation branch and a moisture sensor may be located proximate to a building foundation for maintaining consistent levels of moisture within the soil beneath the foundation. The irrigation system further includes a piping branch which extends into an irrigation zone having multiple regions. A master valve controls the flow of irrigation fluid into the piping branch, and secondary valves are disposed within separate sections of the piping branch for controlling the flow of irrigation fluids to corresponding ones of the multiple regions. Moisture sensors are disposed in various ones of the multiple regions for separately controlling corresponding ones of the secondary valves.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for distributing water to soil, comprising the steps of:providing a pipe system having at least one branch, with an electrically actuated valve disposed therein for controlling the flow of water through at least part of the branch;providing a primary system contr

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for distributing water to soil, comprising the steps of:providing a pipe system having at least one branch, with an electrically actuated valve disposed therein for controlling the flow of water through at least part of the branch;providing a primary system controller for selectively applying electric power to actuate the electrically actuated valve;providing a moisture sensor having an exterior housing and two laterally spaced apart antennas which extend from the exterior housing, each of the antennas including a short section and a main body section, wherein the short sections extend from the exterior housing and bend to define the main body sections, the main body sections are spaced apart to extend substantially within a laterally extending, singular horizontal plane, and the short sections extend in relation to the main body sections such that an effective region of investigation of the moisture sensor is defined within the singular horizontal plane;electrically connecting the electrically actuated valve to the primary system controller, with the moisture sensor connected directly therebetween for switching an electrical power leg extending between the primary system controller and the electrically actuated valve;burying the moisture sensor within the soil, such that the main body sections and the effective region of investigation defined by the main body sections of the antennas of the moisture sensor are disposed substantially within the laterally extending, single horizontal plane at a preselected depth, and the short sections of the antennas extend downward therefrom, such that the external housing of the moisture sensor is disposed beneath the main body sections of the antennas;actuating the primary system controller, such that power is applied to the electrical power leg, the moisture sensor and the electrically actuated valve to selectively actuate the electrically actuated valve and pass water through the pipe system to a portion of the soil;detecting with the main body sections of the antennas of the moisture sensor when the water level within the portion of the soil is disposed at a preselected depth, corresponding to the laterally extending, single horizontal plane disposed at the preselected depth; andautomatically closing the electrically actuated valve in response to detecting the water level being disposed at the preselected depth within the soil. [3.] A water distribution system for irrigating soil, comprising:a pipe system having at least one branch for distributing water to the soil;an electrically actuated valve for controlling a flow of the water through said branch;a primary system controller for selectively applying electric power to actuate said valve;a moisture sensor having an exterior housing and two laterally spaced apart antennas which extend from said exterior housing, each of said antennas including a short section and a main body section, wherein said short sections extend from said exterior housing and bend to define said main body sections, said main body sections are spaced apart to extend substantially within a laterally extending, singular horizontal plane, and said short sections extend in relation to said main body sections such that an effective region of investigation of said moisture sensor is defined substantially within the singular horizontal plane;wherein said moisture sensor is disposed within the soil for determining a level of moisture within a portion of the soil which is proximate to said moisture sensor and disposed within the laterally extending, singular horizontal plane; andwherein said moisture sensor is electrically connected to at least one of said primary system controller and said valve for selectively closing said valve to prevent the flow of water through said branch in response to said moisture sensor detecting the level of moisture within the portion of the soil proximate to said moisture sensor.