Automatic timing of watering control systems

Claim 2

A control system for controlling the flow of fluid in a pipe having a valve therein comprising means including a movable control element for controlling said valve; a rotatable carrier, motor means for rotating said carrier, a timing device supported by said carrier for adjustment about an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said carrier, an a projection carried by said timing device and engageable with said control element, said projection extending eccentric to the axis of adjustment of said timing device whereby to engage said control element for different periods of time depending on the adjustment of said timing device.

Claim 3

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a camming surface engageable by said projection.

Claim 4

A control system according to claim 2 wherein said camming surface is non-linear.

Claim 5

A control system according to claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a disk having a bearing therein, and said timing device comprises a knob rotatably mounted in said bearing, said projection extending from said knob on one side of said disk, and indicia on the opposite side of said disk for indicating the extent of adjustment of said knob.

Claim 6

A control system according to claim 4 comprising a friction device extending between said knob and said disk for maintaining said knob in any adjusted position on said disk.

Claim 7

A control system for controlling the flow of fluid from a main supply pipe to a plurality of branch pipes, including control valves for respective ones of said branch pipes, and a rotatable control unit having a plurality of timing stations therearound; a first motor for rotating said control unit, a second motor for rotating said control unit at a slower speed than said first motor, a first circuit for energizing said first motor, a normally closed first switch in said first circuit, a second circuit for energizing said second motor, a normally open second switch in said second circuit, control means for said switches, and timing devices on said control unit at each of said timing stations, each of said timing devices being effective when a said timing station is passing a reference position to actuate said control means whereby to open said first switch and close said second switch, each of siad timing devices being selectively adjustable relative to said control unit whereby to vary the time during which said first switch is open and said said second switch is closed.

Claim 8

A control system for controlling the flow of fluid from a main supply pipe to a plurality of branch pipes, including control valves for respective ones of said branch pipes, and a rotatable control unit having a plurality of timing stations therearound; a first motor for rotating said control unit, a second motor for rotating said control unit at a slower speed than said first motor, a first circuit for energizing said first motor, a normally closed first switch in said first circuit, a second circuit for energizing said second motor, a normally open second switch in said second circuit, control means for said switches, and timing devices on said control unit at each of said timing stations, each of said timing devices being effective when a said timing station is passing a reference position to actuate said control means whereby to open said first switch and close said second switch, each of siad timing devices being selectively adjustable relative to said control unit whereby to vary the time during which said first switch is open and said said second switch is closed.

Claim 9

A control system according to claim 6 wherein each of said timing devices comprises a manually settable timing member carried by said control unit, and an actuator carried by each of said timing devices for actuating said control means, each of said timing members being adjustable to radially locate said actuator in different paths relative to said control means whereby to vary the period of time during which said first switch is open and said second switch is closed.

Claim 10

A control system according to claim 6 comprising indicia calibrated in minutes of time for indicating the adjusted positions of said timing devices.

Claim 11

A control system according to claim 6 wherein said timing devices each comprises a knob rotatably supported by said control unit, an actuator carried by said knob eccentrically of the axis of rotation of said knob, said knob being effective to adjust the path of movement of said actuator to engage said control means for different periods of time whereby to vary the period of time during which said first switch is open and said second switch is closed.

Claim 12

A control system according to claim 6 whErein said control means comprises a control member having a non-linear camming surface engagable by successive ones of said actuators.

Claim 13

A control system according to claim 6 wherein each of said timing devices is settable to a position to locate the respective said actuator out of cooperative relation with said control means.