Area-programmable sprinkler
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0804417
(2010-07-21)
|
등록번호 |
US-8302882
(2012-11-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nelson, Rodney Lee
- Nelson, LaLonni Lee Nilsson
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area to be sprinkled includes a sprinkler head to move between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler system further includes a sprinkler head positioner to move the sprinkler head between the first and second positions,
A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area to be sprinkled includes a sprinkler head to move between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler system further includes a sprinkler head positioner to move the sprinkler head between the first and second positions, a sprinkler head position determiner to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second positions, a flow control valve to control flow of water from a water supply to the sprinkler head, a flow control valve positioner to establish a current control valve position for the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position, and a controller to receive a sprinkler head position signal from the sprinkler head position determiner and send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto.
대표청구항
▼
1. A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area desired to be sprinkled, comprising: a sprinkler head having a water discharge nozzle and adapted to move between a first sprinkler head position and a second sprinkler head position to thereby apply water to the area desired to
1. A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area desired to be sprinkled, comprising: a sprinkler head having a water discharge nozzle and adapted to move between a first sprinkler head position and a second sprinkler head position to thereby apply water to the area desired to be sprinkled;a sprinkler head positioner adapted to move the sprinkler head between the first and second sprinkler head positions;a sprinkler head position determiner adapted to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second sprinkler head positions;a flow control valve adapted to control flow of water from a water supply to the water discharge nozzle;a flow control valve positioner adapted to establish a current control valve position of the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position; anda controller adapted to receive a sprinkler head position signal from the sprinkler head position determiner and to send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto. 2. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and further comprising: a flow control valve position determiner adapted to determine the current control valve position, and to generate a current flow control valve position signal in response thereto;a means for a user to position the flow control valve positioner during a program mode in the controller;a memory device to record a plurality of the current control valve position signals during the program mode; andwherein the controller is further adapted to record in the memory device the plurality of current control valve position signals during the program mode and correlate each of the current control valve position signals with a corresponding current sprinkler head position as determined by a contemporaneous sprinkler head position signal received by the controller, and thereafter use the correlated current control valve position signals and the current sprinkler head position signals from the program mode in a run-mode to send the control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner. 3. The sprinkler system of claim 2 and wherein the means for the user to position the flow control valve positioner during the programming mode comprises a manual positioned attached to one of the flow control valve or the flow control valve positioner. 4. The sprinkler system of claim 2 and wherein flow control valve positioner is driven by an electrical control valve positioner driver, and the means for the user to position the flow control valve positioner during the programming mode comprises a flow control keypad adapted to drive the electrical control valve positioner driver in response to actuation thereof. 5. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and further comprising: a water flow detector adapted to determine at least an approximation of water flowing out of the water discharge nozzle and to send a water flow signal to the controller;and wherein the controller is configured to record a plurality of current water flow signals during a program mode and correlate each of the current water flow signals with a corresponding current sprinkler head position as determined by a contemporaneous sprinkler head position signal received by the controller, and thereafter use the correlated current control valve position signals and the sprinkler head position signals from the program mode in a run-mode to send the control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner. 6. The sprinkler system of claim 5 and wherein the water flow detector comprises a pressure sensor adapted to detect pressure of water downstream of the flow control valve and prior to the water discharge nozzle. 7. The sprinkler system of claim 5 and wherein the water flow detector comprises a rotary vane disposed in a water conduit between the flow control valve and the water discharge nozzle. 8. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and wherein: the controller comprises a memory device and a user interface, and the user interface allows a user to operate the controller in one of a program mode or a run-mode;in the program mode the user interface enables the user to record in the memory device a plurality of desired flow quantities of water emanating from the discharge nozzle, and the controller is adapted to correlate corresponding current sprinkler head positions associated with each of the plurality of desired flow quantities; andin the run-mode, the controller is adapted to use the recorded flow quantities correlated with the corresponding current sprinkler head positions to send the control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner. 9. The sprinkler system of claim 8 and wherein the user interface comprises a remote control unit configured to wirelessly transmit the plurality of desired flow quantities to the controller. 10. The sprinkler system of claim 8 and wherein: the sprinkler head positioner comprises a sprinkler head drive device adapted to selectively move the sprinkler head at a first speed and a second speed, and wherein the second speed is faster than the first speed; andthe controller comprises a run-mode control program stored within the memory device and configured to run during the run-mode, and the run-mode control program is configured to identify a sprinkler head position corresponding to a recorded flow quantity of essentially zero flow, and to send a signal to the sprinkler head positioner to operate the sprinkler head positioner at the second faster speed until a sprinkler head position is determined which corresponds to a flow of greater than essentially zero flow, at which time the run-mode control program is configured to send a signal to the sprinkler head positioner to operate the sprinkler head positioner at the first speed. 11. The sprinkler system of claim 8 and wherein: in a plan view the sprinkler head is configured to rotate through a circular arc of 360 degrees, such that the first and second sprinkler head positions correspond to positions of zero degrees and 360 degrees within the circular arc;the sprinkler head positioner comprises a sprinkler head drive device adapted to selectively reverse a direction of rotation of the sprinkler head between the first and second sprinkler head positions; andthe controller comprises a run-mode control program stored within the memory device and configured to run during the run-mode, and the run-mode control program is configured to identify a largest area between the first and second sprinkler head positions which corresponds to a region of recorded flow quantity of essentially zero flow, and to send a signal to the sprinkler head positioner to reverse the direction of rotation of the sprinkler head upon encountering the sprinkler head position corresponding to an initiation of the largest area between the first and second sprinkler head positions which corresponds to a region of recorded flow quantity of essentially zero flow. 12. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and wherein the flow control valve, the flow control valve positioner, and the controller are integrated into a control unit adapted to be connected to a water supply, and the sprinkler head is adapted to be connected to the control unit via a water conduit. 13. The sprinkler system of claim 12 and wherein the water supply comprises a faucet, and the water conduit comprises a garden hose. 14. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and wherein in a plan view the sprinkler head is configured to rotate through a circular arc of 360 degrees, such that the first and second sprinkler head positions correspond to positions of zero degrees and 360 degrees within the circular arc. 15. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and further comprising a keyed base adapted to be placed in a fixed position relative to the area to be sprinkled, and wherein the keyed base is further adapted to receive the sprinkler head, and the keyed base comprises a key feature to ensure that the sprinkler head position determiner is oriented in a common position relative to the area to be sprinkled each time the keyed base receives the sprinkler head. 16. The sprinkler system of claim 1 and wherein the flow control valve consists of one of a ball valve adapted to rotate through approximately 90 degrees between the essentially fully closed control valve position and the essentially fully open control valve position, or a globe valve having a stem adapted to rotate through approximately 360 degrees between the essentially fully closed control valve position and the essentially fully open control valve position. 17. A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area desired to be sprinkled, comprising: a plurality of sprinkler heads, each sprinkler head adapted to move between a first sprinkler head position and a second sprinkler head position to thereby apply water to the area desired to be sprinkled, each sprinkler head comprising:a water discharge nozzle;a sprinkler head positioner adapted to move the sprinkler head between the first and second sprinkler head positions; anda sprinkler head position determiner adapted to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second sprinkler head positions;a sprinkler water manifold comprising:a water supply connection adapted to be connected to a water supply:a plurality of water outlet conduits, each water outlet conduit in fluid communication with a respective sprinkler head; anda plurality of sprinkler selector valves configured to selectively place each water outlet conduit in fluid communication with the water supply connection;a flow control valve disposed between the water supply connection and the sprinkler selector valves, and adapted to control flow of water from the water supply to the water outlet conduit currently selected by a one of the sprinkler head selector valves;a flow control valve positioner adapted to establish a current control valve position of the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position;a flow control valve position determiner adapted to determine the current control valve position, and to generate a current flow control valve position signal in response thereto;a controller adapted to selectively receive a sprinkler head position signal from each sprinkler head position determiner and to send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto;a means for a user to position the flow control valve positioner during a program mode in the controller;a memory device to record a plurality of the current control valve position signals during the program mode; andwherein the controller is further adapted to record in the memory device the plurality of current control valve position signals during the program mode for each sprinkler head and to correlate each of the current control valve position signals with a corresponding current sprinkler head position as determined by a contemporaneous sprinkler head position signal received by the controller, and thereafter use the correlated current control valve position signals and the current sprinkler head position signals from the program mode in a run-mode to send the control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
-
Collins,Galen, Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head.
-
Galen Collins, Accurate horticultural sprinkler system and sprinkler head.
-
Beckman, Alfred James, Adjustable pattern irrigation system.
-
Taylor Robert E. (309 SW. 11th St. Andrews TX 79714), Automatic water sprinkler for irregular areas.
-
Beal Glenn I. (Vista CA), Contour control device for rotary irrigation sprinklers.
-
Hummel ; Jr. Frank (817-14TH St. Greeley CO 80631) King Edmond B. (Box 1781 Boulder CO 80302), Remote control for large-area sprinkler systems.
-
Iggulden Jerry R. (21600 Cleardale St. Newhall CA 91321) Streck Donald A. (832 Country Dr. Ojai CA 93023) Pender Joseph W. (21550 Cleardale St. Newhall CA 91321), Smart irrigation sprinklers.
이 특허를 인용한 특허 (3)
-
Klinefelter, Gary; Haugen, Ivan Tony, Multi-nozzle rotary sprinkler.
-
Matson, David R., Product applicator system.
-
Matson, David R., Product applicator system.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.