Modular irrigation control system

Claim 2

Apparatus for programming the cyclic actuation of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals on selected days of the week at selected hours of the day, comprising in combination: a. a central control unit for generating starting signals at selected hours of selected days; b. a chain of at least two individual zone control units, each responsive to a starting signal successively to actuate selected ones of a respective set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preselected schedule, and each generating a starting signal when the selected actuation of the last of its associated set of valves has been completed; c. means for applying the starting signal from said central control unit to the first zone control unit in said chain; and d. means for applying the output signal from said first zone control unit to the next zone control unit in said chain, so that successive zone control unit sand their associated valves are actuated in response to the completion of a schedule by the preceding zone control unit in said chain.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and characterized further by a. means in each zone control unit in said chain for producing a monitor signal while that zone control unit is in operation; b. display means in said central control unit for producing an indication in response to said monitor signal; and c. means at each said zone control unit for relaying said monitor signal from the next succeeding zone control unit to the preceding zone control unit in the chain so that said display means is made to respond to the operation of each of said zone control units.

Claim 4

means for applying power to said motor in response to a given control signal while said rotary switch is in a given one of its positions and continuing to apply power until said rotary switch reaches its next position.

Claim 5

means for applying power to said motor in response to a given control signal while said rotary switch is in a given one of its positions and continuing to apply power until said rotary switch reaches its next position.

Claim 6

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied unDer pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit for generating starting signals at selected hours of selected days and having a pump control unit for controlling power to said central pump; b. at least one remotely located zone control unit responsive to a starting signal successively to actuate selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time, said zone control unit having means for generating a pump-actuating signal while any of said set of valves is being actuated; c. means for transmitting said starting signals to said zone control unit; and d. means for transmitting said pump-actuating signal to said pump control unit so that said pump shall become actuated when any of said valves is actuated.

Claim 7

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied unDer pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit for generating starting signals at selected hours of selected days and having a pump control unit for controlling power to said central pump; b. at least one remotely located zone control unit responsive to a starting signal successively to actuate selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time, said zone control unit having means for generating a pump-actuating signal while any of said set of valves is being actuated; c. means for transmitting said starting signals to said zone control unit; and d. means for transmitting said pump-actuating signal to said pump control unit so that said pump shall become actuated when any of said valves is actuated.

Claim 8

Apparatus for programming the cyclic actuation of a set of valves for selected time intervals on selected days of the week at selected hours of the day comprising in combination: a. a central control unit for generating starting signals at selected hours of selected days; b. a remotely located electrically powered zone control unit responsive to a starting signal from said central control unit to actuate said set of valves in accordance with a preselected program; c. power supply means in said central control unit; d. means for transmitting the output of said power supply means to said zone control unit; e. means in said zone control unit for terminating a partially executed program in response to the interruption and subsequent resumption of electric power; and f. means in said central control unit for manually interrupting the supply of electric power to said zone control unit, thereby to permit manual termination of a partially executed program.

Claim 9

Apparatus for programming the cyclic actuation of a set of valves for selected time intervals on selected days of the week at selected hours of the day comprising in combination: a. a central control unit for generating starting signals at selected hours of selected days; b. a remotely located electrically powered zone control unit responsive to a starting signal from said central control unit to actuate said set of valves in accordance with a preselected program; c. power supply means in said central control unit; d. means for transmitting the output of said power supply means to said zone control unit; e. means in said zone control unit for terminating a partially executed program in response to the interruption and subsequent resumption of electric power; and f. means in said central control unit for manually interrupting the supply of electric power to said zone control unit, thereby to permit manual termination of a partially executed program.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 4 characterized further by rain switch means in said control unit associated with an external rain sensor for preventing said central control unit from generating starting signals and for momentarily interrupting the supply of electric power to said control unit automatically when said rain sensor detects rain.

Claim 11

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means while any of said set of valves is being actuated; and j. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 12

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means while any of said set of valves is being actuated; and j. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 6 characterized further by a. a third wire connecting said alternating current source to said zone control unit; b. control means in said zone control unit powered by current from said alternating current source through said third wire and through the wire which is in series with said alternating current source and responsivE to the interruption of said current to abort a schedule in progress when said current is reapplied; and c. means in said central control unit for interrupting the supply of said current to said control means.

Claim 14

In apparatus for programming the cyclic actuation of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals on selected days of the week at selected hours of the day, the combination comprising: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected one of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means while said schedule is in progress; and j. means in said central control unit for indicating that said schedule is in progress in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 15

In apparatus for programming the cyclic actuation of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals on selected days of the week at selected hours of the day, the combination comprising: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected one of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means while said schedule is in progress; and j. means in said central control unit for indicating that said schedule is in progress in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 16

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. switching means in said zone control unit for successively connecting selected ones of said valves to a current source of selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. load simulator means in said zone control unit for connecting a dummy load to said current source between the successive connections of valves thereto; j. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means in response to current from said current source; and k. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 17

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. means in each unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a respective one of mutually opposite directions; f. switching means in each unit for completing a respective circuit through said wires and through the sensing means in the other unit, the circuit completed by the switching means in a given unit being capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by the sensing means in the other unit; g. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; h. switching means in said zone control unit for successively connecting selected ones of said valves to a current source of selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by its sensing means; i. load simulator means in said zone control unit for connecting a dummy load to said current source between the successive connections of valves thereto; j. means in said zone control unit for closing its switching means in response to current from said current source; and k. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by its sensing means.

Claim 18

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. first and second sensing means in said central control unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a given direction, said first and second sensing means being responsive to current flow at first and second duty cycles respectively; f. third seNsing means in said zone control unit for sensing current flow through said wires in the opposite direction; g. switching means in said central control unit for completing a circuit through said wires and through said third sensing means capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by third sensing means; h. second and third switching means in said zone control unit, each for completing a circuit independently of the other through said wires and through said first and second switching means for carrying current in the direction sensed by said first and second sensing means; i. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; j. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by said third sensing means; k. means in said zone control unit for closing said second switching means at said first duty cycle while any of said set of valves is being actuated; l. means in said zone control unit for closing said third switching means at said second duty cycle while said schedule is in progress; m. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by said first sensing means; and n. means in said central control unit for producing an indication that said schedule is in progress in response to the detection of current by said second sensing means.

Claim 19

In an irrigation system wherein water is supplied under pressure by means of a central pump to a plurality of remotely located valves, a pump and valve control system comprising in combination: a. a central control unit; b. a remotely located zone control unit; c. a pair of wires connecting said units; d. an alternating current source in said central control unit connected in series with one of said wires; e. first and second sensing means in said central control unit for sensing current flow through said wires in a given direction, said first and second sensing means being responsive to current flow at first and second duty cycles respectively; f. third seNsing means in said zone control unit for sensing current flow through said wires in the opposite direction; g. switching means in said central control unit for completing a circuit through said wires and through said third sensing means capable of carrying current only in the direction sensed by third sensing means; h. second and third switching means in said zone control unit, each for completing a circuit independently of the other through said wires and through said first and second switching means for carrying current in the direction sensed by said first and second sensing means; i. means in said central control unit for closing its switching means at selected hours of selected days; j. means in said zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a set of valves for selected periods of time in accordance with a preset schedule in response to the detection of current by said third sensing means; k. means in said zone control unit for closing said second switching means at said first duty cycle while any of said set of valves is being actuated; l. means in said zone control unit for closing said third switching means at said second duty cycle while said schedule is in progress; m. means in said central control unit for actuating said central pump in response to the detection of current by said first sensing means; and n. means in said central control unit for producing an indication that said schedule is in progress in response to the detection of current by said second sensing means.

Claim 20

In a zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals in response to an externally produced starting signal, the combination comprising: a. switching means having a rest state, a plurality of intermediate states, and a plurality of outputs connected to cause power to be applied to respective ones of said valves during successive ones of said intermediate states; b. stepping means for advancing by one the state of said switching means in response to successive control signals; c. start signal sensing means for applying an initial control signal to said stepping means in response to one of said starting signals so as to cause said switching means to be advanced from its rest state to its first intermediate state; and d. timing means for applying a delayed control signal to said stepping means in response to each advancement of said switching means to one of its intermediate states.

Claim 21

In a zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals in response to an externally produced starting signal, the combination comprising: a. switching means having a rest state, a plurality of intermediate states, and a plurality of outputs connected to cause power to be applied to respective ones of said valves during successive ones of said intermediate states; b. stepping means for advancing by one the state of said switching means in response to successive control signals; c. start signal sensing means for applying an initial control signal to said stepping means in response to one of said starting signals so as to cause said switching means to be advanced from its rest state to its first intermediate state; and d. timing means for applying a delayed control signal to said stepping means in response to each advancement of said switching means to one of its intermediate states.

Claim 22

A zone control unit in accordance to claim 11 and further characterized in that a. said switching means includes a multiposition rotary switch connected to apply power to respective ones of said valves in successive ones of its positions; and b. said stepping means includes

Claim 23

The zone control unit of claim 11 characterized further by signal-blocking means for disabling said start signal sensing means when said switching means leaves its rest state in response to a given starting signal and for keeping said starting signal sensing means disabled so long as said given starting signal persists.

Claim 24

In a zone control unit for a set of valves wherein an externally generated starting signal causes selected ones of said set of valves to be actuated successively for individually selected time intervals during a first cycle, followed after a selected delay interval by a second cycle during which the successive actuation of said set of valves is repeated, the combination of: a. switching means having a rest position, a first series of valve positions, one position for each of said valves for controlling said first cycle, a delay position, And a second series of valve positions, one position for each of said valves for controlling said second cycle; b. means for actuating each of said valves while said switching means is in a position associated therewith; c. means for advancing said switching means in response to successive control signals; d. start signal sensing means for applying an initial control signal to said stepping means in response to one of said starting signals so as to cause said switching means to be advanced from its rest position to its first valve position; and e. timing means for applying an individually delayed control signal to said stepping means so as to advance it by one position a predetermined time after its advancement to each one of its valve and delay positions.

Claim 25

In a zone control unit for a set of valves wherein an externally generated starting signal causes selected ones of said set of valves to be actuated successively for individually selected time intervals during a first cycle, followed after a selected delay interval by a second cycle during which the successive actuation of said set of valves is repeated, the combination of: a. switching means having a rest position, a first series of valve positions, one position for each of said valves for controlling said first cycle, a delay position, And a second series of valve positions, one position for each of said valves for controlling said second cycle; b. means for actuating each of said valves while said switching means is in a position associated therewith; c. means for advancing said switching means in response to successive control signals; d. start signal sensing means for applying an initial control signal to said stepping means in response to one of said starting signals so as to cause said switching means to be advanced from its rest position to its first valve position; and e. timing means for applying an individually delayed control signal to said stepping means so as to advance it by one position a predetermined time after its advancement to each one of its valve and delay positions.

Claim 26

The zone control unit of claim 14 characterized further by the provision of means responsive to a moisture indication by a tensiometer only during said delay interval to apply a control signal to said control means of sufficient duration to return said switching means to its rest position.

Claim 27

In an electrically powered zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals in response to an externally produced starting signal the combination comprising: a. electrical switching means having a rest state, a plurality of intermediate states, and a plurality of outputs connected to cause electric power to be applied to respective ones of said valves during successive ones of said intermediate states; b. means responsive to said starting signals for advancing said switching means from its rest state through successive ones of its intermediate states back to its rest state, leaving said switching means in each of its intermediate states for a selected time interval; and c. means responsive to the interruption and subsequent return of electric power to said zone control unit while said switching means is in one of said intermediate states for directly returning said switching means to its rest state.

Claim 28

In an electrically powered zone control unit for successively actuating selected ones of a plurality of valves for selected time intervals in response to an externally produced starting signal the combination comprising: a. electrical switching means having a rest state, a plurality of intermediate states, and a plurality of outputs connected to cause electric power to be applied to respective ones of said valves during successive ones of said intermediate states; b. means responsive to said starting signals for advancing said switching means from its rest state through successive ones of its intermediate states back to its rest state, leaving said switching means in each of its intermediate states for a selected time interval; and c. means responsive to the interruption and subsequent return of electric power to said zone control unit while said switching means is in one of said intermediate states for directly returning said switching means to its rest state.