US3580504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Irrigation control apparatus
Assignee: Hydrotech Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-24
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-01-24
Abstract
Abstract Automatic, remote operation of irrigation systems is provided without the use of central power facilities by controlling periodic water delivery to the irrigating heads through the use of battery charged capacitors to sequentially operate an electrically responsive valve actuator to open and close a valve in a predetermined time relation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph E Benham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:37
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16; A01G25/162; G; G04; G04C; G04C23/00; G04C23/14; G04C23/16; H; H01; H01H; H01H36/00; H01H36/0006; H01H36/0046; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In an irrigation system having a water supply and one or more irrigating heads connected thereto, self-contained control means for controlling water delivery to said heads, said means including a valve and an electrically responsive valve actuator, and a control circuit therefor, said circuit comprising a battery, capacitive means for storing charge from the battery and relay means including an SCR through which said capacitive means and said valve actuator are connectable to operate the valve, and timing means including a battery operated clock mechanism for operating said relay means in a predetermined time relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an irrigation system having a water supply and one or more irrigating heads connected thereto, self-contained control means for controlling water delivery to said heads, said means including a valve and an electrically responsive valve actuator, and a control circuit therefor, said circuit comprising a battery, capacitive means for storing charge from the battery and relay means including an SCR through which said capacitive means and said valve actuator are connectable to operate the valve, and timing means including a battery operated clock mechanism for operating said relay means in a predetermined time relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Irrigation system according to claim 1 including also a water supply pipe and in which said control means are secured to said pipe in spaced relation to said valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Irrigation system according to claim 1 in which said timing means further includes a member moveable by said clock mechanism relative to said relay means and magnet means carried by said member for timed movement to said relay means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an irrigation system having a water supply and one or more irrigating heads connected thereto, self contained control means for controlling water delivery to said heads, said means including a valve and an electrically responsive valve actuator, and a control circuit therefor, said circuit comprising a battery, a capacitor for storing charge from the battery and an SCR through which the capacitor and valve actuator are connectable to operate the valve, and timing means for actuating the SCR in predetermined time relation including a battery operated clock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
In an irrigation system having a water supply and one or more irrigating heads connected thereto, self contained control means for controlling water delivery to said heads, said means including a valve and an electrically responsive valve actuator, and a control circuit therefor, said circuit comprising a battery, a capacitor for storing charge from the battery and an SCR through which the capacitor and valve actuator are connectable to operate the valve, and timing means for actuating the SCR in predetermined time relation including a battery operated clock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Irrigation system according to claim 4 including also a trigger circuit for said SCR, said trigger circuit including a capacitor for storing charge from said battery and trigger relay means for connecting said capacitor and SCR, and in which said timing means comprises trigger relay actuating means having time related movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
Irrigation system according to claim 5 including also a pair of SCR''s to respectively open and close said valve by corresponding actuation of the valve actuator, a pair of trigger relay means each connected to one of said SCR''s, and pair of trigger actuating means moveable relative to said trigger relay means in predetermined time sequence to thereby define the relative opened and closed periods of said valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Irrigation system according to claim 6 in which said trigger relay actuating means are permanent magnets and are carried angularly about a central axis toward and away from said trigger relays and including also a clock mechanism to drive said magnets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Irrigation system according to claim 7 in which said valve actuator is a reversing magnet solenoid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
Irrigation system according to claim 8 in which said timing device includes a rotatable dial having time-related subdivisions and in which said trigger relay actuating means are positionable relative to one another on said dial and are movable therewith and relative to said trigger relay means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |