Automatic apparatus for irrigation, with timer

Claim 2

Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants and the like on a timetable and for a predetermined period comprising, in combination, an electro-valve for opening and closing a conduit for the distribution of water, a switch for controlling said electro-valve, a rotating timer disc having a peripheral edge portion, at least one cam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachably mounted on said timer disc peripheral edge portion at a selected location on the circumference of said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, a cam arranged to be mounted on said clamping element for operating said switch, said cam having an extension of a selected size in accordance with the desired length of the period of irrigation.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said switch is of the mercury bulb type, and including pivotally mounted lever means for supporting said mercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable into one position for opening said switch and into another position for closing said switch, means for urging said lever means into said one position, said lever means being engageable by said cam extension during the rotation of said disc in one direction for moving said lever means into said other position.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lever means include release means for maintaining said lever means in said one position with said switch in the open position during the rotation of said disc in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said timing disc is provided with graduationS to provide a visual indication of the hours.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for distributing the irrigating water over the surface to be watered, said means comprising a nozzle spraying element connected to the conduit for distribution of the water and a plate element disposed adjacent said nozzle in a selected spaced relationship therewith and ground insertion means for supporting said water distribution means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, including a spray-protecting cap on the upper portion of said plate element.

Claim 8

Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants or the like on a timetable and for a predetermined period comprising in combination, an electro-valve for opening and closing a conduit for the distribution of water, a switch for controlling said electro-valve, a rotating timer disc, a cam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachably mounted on said timer disc at a selected location on the circumference of said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, a cam comprising a roller rotatably mounted on said clamping element, said roller having a plurality of circumferentially spaced extensions of various sizes on its outer periphery, and being rotatable into a selected one of a plurality of angular positions for presenting a selected extension to said switch in accordance with the desired length of the period of irrigation.

Claim 9

Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants or the like on a timetable and for a predetermined period comprising in combination, an electro-valve for opening and closing a conduit for the distribution of water, a switch for controlling said electro-valve, a rotating timer disc, a cam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachably mounted on said timer disc at a selected location on the circumference of said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, a cam comprising a roller rotatably mounted on said clamping element, said roller having a plurality of circumferentially spaced extensions of various sizes on its outer periphery, and being rotatable into a selected one of a plurality of angular positions for presenting a selected extension to said switch in accordance with the desired length of the period of irrigation.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said roller includes a smooth peripheral portion free of said extensions, said roller being rotatable into another angular position to present said smooth peripheral portion for avoiding said switch, thereby omitting the irrigation at the hour established by said clamping element.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said switch is of the mercury bulb type, and including pivotally mounted lever means for supporting said mercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable into one position for opening said switch and into another position for closing said switch, means for urging said lever means into said one position, said lever means being engageable by said cam extension during the rotation of said disc in one direction for moving said lever means into said other position.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said lever means include release means for maintaining said lever means in said one position with said switch in the open position during the rotation of said disc in the opposite direction.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said timing disc is provided with graduations to provide a visual indication of the hours and wherein said clamping element is mounted for adjustable pivotal movement about the central axis of said disc and including circumferentially spaced means adjacent the outer periphery of said disc for fixing said element to said disc in an adjusted angular position and wherein said element is provided with a window for exposing said graduations on said disc corresponding to selected positions of said element on said disc.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means for distributing the irrigating water over the surface to be watered, said means comprising a nozzle spraying element connected to the conduit for distribution of the water and a plate element disposed adjacent said nozzle in a selected spaced relationship therewith and ground insertion means for supporting said water distribution means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 12, including a spray-protecting cap on the upper portion of the plate element.