US3827459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water powered drive for automatic controllers
Assignee: Toro Co
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Filing: 1971-10-19
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1991-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic irrigation controller apparatus having a cam follower operated bank of pilot valves for operating selected pilot operated water valves throughout a watering or irrigation system is provided with a water powered means for receiving water under pressure from a source thereof and a member driven in a predetermined manner by the force of such water for driving a cam means to operate said cam followers via power transmission means between the water driven member and a cam shaft mounting said cam. A water piston is mounted in a cylinder with associated water valve means for selectively connecting the cylinder to a source of water under pressure and to a vent to provide a reciprocal movement for the piston, a return stroke for the piston being accomplished through the provision of a spring. A reciprocal piston movement is translated through a power transmission means including a drive ratchet wheel connected to the piston and a driven ratchet wheel connected to the cam shaft. An escapement mechanism is provided with a ring gear mounted about an engagement with a plurality of planetary gears mounted by a carrier about a sun gear driven by an input shaft of the apparatus connected to the cam shaft. Differences in the speed of rotation of the input shaft and the escapement means ring gear cause movement of the carrier which is connected to a valve restricting means for restricting the flow of water to the cylinder to regulate the speed of the water motor and rotation of the apparatus input shaft to that determined by the escapement mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:11
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16; A01G25/162; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389; Y10T137/86405; Y10T137/86413; Y10T137/86445; Y10T137/86461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: piston and cylinder means for receiving water under pressure in a cylinder portion thereof for forcing said piston to move in said cylinder in a drive stroke from a first to a second position; means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water for introducing water under pressure into said cylinder portion and to a vent to relieve said cylinder portion of said water; mechanical means for returning said piston to said first position upon connection of said cylinder portion to said vent; means connecting said piston to said caming means for converting reciprocal movement of said piston between its positions into a one-direction advancement of said caming means; and means for regulating the speed at which said drive means advances said caming means, said regulating means comprising: a sun gear secured to a drive shaft of said drive means; a plurality of planetary gears mounted aboUt and in engagement with said sun gear on a carrier rotatably mounted coaxially to said shaft, rotation of said sun gear causing opposite rotation of said planetary gears; a ring gear mounted about and in engagement with said planetary gears; means for restricting rotation of said ring gear to a predetermined speed or rotation, rotation of said sun gear at a speed other than that corresponding to said predetermined speed for said ring gear causing said carrier to be rotated due to planetary movement of said planetary gears about said sun gear within said ring gear; and means for varying the rate of flow of water to said cylinder means in response to movement of said carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: piston and cylinder means for receiving water under pressure in a cylinder portion thereof for forcing said piston to move in said cylinder in a drive stroke from a first to a second position; means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water for introducing water under pressure into said cylinder portion and to a vent to relieve said cylinder portion of said water; mechanical means for returning said piston to said first position upon connection of said cylinder portion to said vent; means connecting said piston to said caming means for converting reciprocal movement of said piston between its positions into a one-direction advancement of said caming means; and means for regulating the speed at which said drive means advances said caming means, said regulating means comprising: a sun gear secured to a drive shaft of said drive means; a plurality of planetary gears mounted aboUt and in engagement with said sun gear on a carrier rotatably mounted coaxially to said shaft, rotation of said sun gear causing opposite rotation of said planetary gears; a ring gear mounted about and in engagement with said planetary gears; means for restricting rotation of said ring gear to a predetermined speed or rotation, rotation of said sun gear at a speed other than that corresponding to said predetermined speed for said ring gear causing said carrier to be rotated due to planetary movement of said planetary gears about said sun gear within said ring gear; and means for varying the rate of flow of water to said cylinder means in response to movement of said carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
135 words
The improvement of a water powered motor drive of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water and to vent comprises: a valve means having an inlet line connected to said source, an outlet line connected to said vent, and a supply line connected to said cylinder portion, said three lines intersecting in a common intersection in a circular bore within said valve means; a valve shaft means having a cut-out portion thereof located in said bore, rotation of said shaft relative to said bore selectively connecting said cylinder connected supply line to said inlet or outlet lines; and reversing means for reversing the position of said valve shaft cut-out portion relative to said inlet and outlet lines in response to reciprocal movement of said piston means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The improvement of water powered motor drive of claim 1 wherein said means for varying the rate of flow of water to and from said cylinder means comprises: a second bore provided across said inlet line in said valve means; a second valve shaft means having a cut-out portion located in said second bore for varying the flow rate of water thereby through rotation of said second shaft; and means for rotating said second valve shaft in response to rotation of said carrier to maintain the speed of advancement of caming means virtually constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
274 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: piston and cylinder means for receiving water under pressure in a cylinder portion thereof for forcing said piston to move in said cylinder in a drive stroke from a first to a second position; means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water for introducing water under pressure into said cylinder portion and to a vent to relieve said cylinder portion of said water in response to reciprocal movement of said piston; means connecting said piston to said caming means for converting reciprocal movement of said piston into advancement movement of said caming means, said connecting means including speed control means for limiting the speed of advancement movement for said caming means imparted thereto from said piston means via said connecting means; flow control valve means for selectively controlling the volumetric flow rate of water to said cylinder portion to regulate the speed of said piston in said cylinder portion in a drive stroke; and means associated with said speed control means for operating said flow control valve means to vary the speed of said piston in said drive stroke when the latter is other than that required by said speed control means to maintain a generally constant rate of advancement for said caming means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
274 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: piston and cylinder means for receiving water under pressure in a cylinder portion thereof for forcing said piston to move in said cylinder in a drive stroke from a first to a second position; means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water for introducing water under pressure into said cylinder portion and to a vent to relieve said cylinder portion of said water in response to reciprocal movement of said piston; means connecting said piston to said caming means for converting reciprocal movement of said piston into advancement movement of said caming means, said connecting means including speed control means for limiting the speed of advancement movement for said caming means imparted thereto from said piston means via said connecting means; flow control valve means for selectively controlling the volumetric flow rate of water to said cylinder portion to regulate the speed of said piston in said cylinder portion in a drive stroke; and means associated with said speed control means for operating said flow control valve means to vary the speed of said piston in said drive stroke when the latter is other than that required by said speed control means to maintain a generally constant rate of advancement for said caming means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: a water powered motor means for driving said caming means past said series of cam followers; means for connecting said motor means to a source of water under pressure to operate the same; flow control valve means associated with said connecting means for regulating the rate of flow of water to said motor means and thereby the speed of operation of said motor means; speed control means, including an escapement mechanism, for limiting the speed of advancement of said caming means to a predetermined rate; and means for automatically operating said flow control valve means in response to changes in the operating speed of said water powered motor means above or below said predetermined rate for said caming means limited by said speed control means to thereby vary the rate of water flow to said motor means to maintain a virtually constant speed of operation for said motor means under changing water pressure conditions of its water source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
In an automatic irrigation control apparatus having a bank of pilot water valves connected to a source of water under pressure and operated by a series of cam followers to selectively supply water under pressure to associated pilot operated water valves in an irrigation system and drive means for advancing said caming means relative to said followers, the improvement in drive means comprising the provision of: a water powered motor means for driving said caming means past said series of cam followers; means for connecting said motor means to a source of water under pressure to operate the same; flow control valve means associated with said connecting means for regulating the rate of flow of water to said motor means and thereby the speed of operation of said motor means; speed control means, including an escapement mechanism, for limiting the speed of advancement of said caming means to a predetermined rate; and means for automatically operating said flow control valve means in response to changes in the operating speed of said water powered motor means above or below said predetermined rate for said caming means limited by said speed control means to thereby vary the rate of water flow to said motor means to maintain a virtually constant speed of operation for said motor means under changing water pressure conditions of its water source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvement in automatic control apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said water powered motor means includes piston and cylinder means for receiving water under pressure in a cylinder portion thereof for forcing said piston to move in said cylinder in a drive stroke from a first to a second position; said means for connecting said motor means to a source of water under pressure includes means for introducing water under pressure into said cylinder portion and alternatively to a vent; and means are provided for operating said means for selectively connecting said cylinder portion to said source of water and to said vent automatically in response to movement of said piston between said first and second positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement in automatic control apparatus of claim 6 wherein: mechanical means are provided for automatically returning said piston to said first position upon relief of water pressure in said cylinder portion through connection of said cylinder portion to said vent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
The improvement in automatic control apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for operating said flow control valve means comprise the provision of: a sun gear secured to a drive shaft of said drive means; a plurality of planetary gears mounted about and in engagement with said sun gear on a carrier rotatably mounted coaxially to said shaft, rotation of said sun gear causing opposite rotation of said planetary gears; a ring gear mounted about and in engagement with said planetary gears; means for restricting rotation of said ring gear to a predetermined speed of rotation, rotation of said sun gear at a speed other than that corresponding to said predetermined speed for said ring gear causing said carrier to be rotated due to planetary movement of said planetary gears about said sun gear within said ring gear; and means connecting said ring gear to said flow control valve means for operating the latter in response to movement of the former.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |