US3591850A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Irrigation control system
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1969-06-27
•
Granted: 1971-07-06
•
Expires: 1989-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A control system for opening and closing multiple irrigation valves. At desired time intervals a repeating timer actuates a stepping relay which drives pairs of rotary switches that sequentially energize independent pairs of conductors in a fiveconductor control cable assembly. Voltage and polarity discriminating control plugs are employed to tap the control cable at each valve to be actuated.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl E Holm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:48
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/07; A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16; A01G25/162; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A sequential irrigation system comprising a plurality of solenoid operated irrigation valves, direct current source and return lines, a control cable having at least three conductors, multipole switches for selectively connecting said source and return lines to various individual pairs of conductors for converting the selected conductors into current source and return lines, valve operating circuits respectively connecting individual valve solenoids across various pairs of said cable conductors, voltage limiters in said valve operating circuits for preventing those valve solenoids which have thus become seriesconnected from operating their valves, polarity discriminators in said valve operating circuits for increasing the selectivity of the circuit, and timer means for indexing said multipole switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A sequential irrigation system comprising a plurality of solenoid operated irrigation valves, direct current source and return lines, a control cable having at least three conductors, multipole switches for selectively connecting said source and return lines to various individual pairs of conductors for converting the selected conductors into current source and return lines, valve operating circuits respectively connecting individual valve solenoids across various pairs of said cable conductors, voltage limiters in said valve operating circuits for preventing those valve solenoids which have thus become seriesconnected from operating their valves, polarity discriminators in said valve operating circuits for increasing the selectivity of the circuit, and timer means for indexing said multipole switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage limiters and polarity discriminators of the valve operating circuits are contained in control plugs, a pair of mating one-way connectors in said control cable at each irrigation valve, each of said control plugs having a pair of one-way connectors insertable between said control cable connectors, a single connector between the control plug and the valve solenoid, said one-way connectors on the control plug being effective to connect two conductors of said control cable to the valve operating circuit and provide a through connection for the remaining conductors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for independently controlling multiple solenoid operated irrigation valves comprising the step of activating a relay at predetermined time intervals, incrementally advancing multipole switches, selectively and sequentially connecting current source and Return lines to individual pairs of conductors in a multiple conductor cable to which valve solenoid operating circuits are connected, blocking current of one polarity in said solenoid operating circuits while permitting current of opposite polarity to pass, and blocking said latter current if the potential is less than a predetermined minimum.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for independently controlling multiple solenoid operated irrigation valves comprising the step of activating a relay at predetermined time intervals, incrementally advancing multipole switches, selectively and sequentially connecting current source and Return lines to individual pairs of conductors in a multiple conductor cable to which valve solenoid operating circuits are connected, blocking current of one polarity in said solenoid operating circuits while permitting current of opposite polarity to pass, and blocking said latter current if the potential is less than a predetermined minimum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
A control system for sequentially actuating multiple irrigation valves having relay means actuated at predetermined intervals by a timer, said relay means being effective to cause incremental rotation of multiple rotary switch means, said switch means including pairs of switches operating in unison, a multiple conductor control cable connected to said pairs of switches so that a maximum number off independent pairs of conductors are formed as said switch pairs of incrementally rotated, multiple control plug means for tapping the control cable to connect the irrigation valve, said control plug further comprises a body portion having three one-way plugs, two of said plugs being insertable between similar opposed plugs in said control cable, and said third plug to a connector on the irrigation valve, said one-way plugs preventing improper insertion of the control plug in the control cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A control system for sequentially actuating multiple irrigation valves having relay means actuated at predetermined intervals by a timer, said relay means being effective to cause incremental rotation of multiple rotary switch means, said switch means including pairs of switches operating in unison, a multiple conductor control cable connected to said pairs of switches so that a maximum number off independent pairs of conductors are formed as said switch pairs of incrementally rotated, multiple control plug means for tapping the control cable to connect the irrigation valve, said control plug further comprises a body portion having three one-way plugs, two of said plugs being insertable between similar opposed plugs in said control cable, and said third plug to a connector on the irrigation valve, said one-way plugs preventing improper insertion of the control plug in the control cable.
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) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |