Master-satellite irrigation control system with remote proportional timing

Claim 2

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means located at a master control unit, for supplying timing signals which will in part determine the durations of energization of a plurality of valves; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to the timing signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of the plurality of valves; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the durations of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree.

Claim 3

Remote proportional timing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said timing signal source means includes timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states; and said means for controlling said timing signal source means includes means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states.

Claim 4

Remote proportional timing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said timing signal has a constant frequency and period; and said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state includes variable impedance means for varying the time that the signal is in one state while maintaining a constant period.

Claim 5

Remote proportional timing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said timing signal comprises a train of pulses of constant width; said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state comprises means for varying the frequency of the signal.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 5, and further including the steps of: varying the proportion of time that the timing signal is in a particular state; and varying the duty cycle of a timing motor at each satellite in accordance with the state of the timing signal.

Claim 9

In a master-satellite irrigation control system, apparatus for actuating a selected group of a satellite units to advance the units through their sequence of valve operations, said apparatus comprising: a single pair of control signal conductors between a master unit and a plurality of satellite units; means at the master unit for generating a "start" control signal of a first kind for transmission over said pair of conductors when satellites of one designation are to be started in their sequences of valve operations, and for generating a "start" signal of a second kind when satellites of a different designation are to be started in their sequences of valve operations; means also at the master unit for generating a "reset" signal on said same pair of conductors when it is desired to reset all of the satellite units to a "home" position; means at each satellite unit for decoding said "start" signals of the first and second kinds and said "reset" signals; and means responsive to said decoding means, for starting the sequence of valve operations at each satellite unit, or advancing each satellite unit to its home position, as required.

Claim 10

In a master-satellite irrigation control system, apparatus for actuating a selected group of a satellite units to advance the units through their sequence of valve operations, said apparatus comprising: a single pair of control signal conductors between a master unit and a plurality of satellite units; means at the master unit for generating a "start" control signal of a first kind for transmission over said pair of conductors when satellites of one designation are to be started in their sequences of valve operations, and for generating a "start" signal of a second kind when satellites of a different designation are to be started in their sequences of valve operations; means also at the master unit for generating a "reset" signal on said same pair of conductors when it is desired to reset all of the satellite units to a "home" position; means at each satellite unit for decoding said "start" signals of the first and second kinds and said "reset" signals; and means responsive to said decoding means, for starting the sequence of valve operations at each satellite unit, or advancing each satellite unit to its home position, as required.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for generating "start" signals of the first and second kind includes: means for supplying an alternating-current signal; rectifier means connectable to conduct the alternating-current signal in only a selected direction; and switching means for selectively connecting said means for supplying the alternating-current signal through said rectifier means to said pair of control signal conductors, to transmit in only a selected direction along said conductors, the transmission in respective directions being equivalent to said "start" control signals of the first and second kinds.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said decoding means includes: further rectifier means at each satellite unit; first and second switching means at each satellite unit, operative in response to receipt of said "start" control signals of the first and second kinds, respectively; and selector switch means coupled with said first and second switching means, for selecting the group designation of each satellite unit.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said means for generating a "reset" signal includes manually initiated means for connecting said means for supplying an alternating-current signal directly to said pair of control signal conductors; and said first and second switching means in each satellite unit are operated simultaneously in response to operation of said means for generating a "reset" signal.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said switching means includes: automatically actuated switching means to initiate transmission of "start" control signals of the first and second kinds in accordance with a programmed sequence of operations; and manually actuated switching means to initiate transmission of "start" control signals of the first and second kinds.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, and further including: timing signal source means at the master unit; a timing signal conductor from the master unit to the satellite units; timing signal utilization means at each satellite unit connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of remote valve stations; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, whereby the irrigation times of all of the valves in the system can be adjusted to the same proportionate degree by operating said means for controlling said timing signal source means.

Claim 16

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states and a constant frequency and period; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the durations of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state includes variable impedance means for varying the time that the signal is in one state while maintaining a constant period, said timing signal source means includes relay means responsive to the two-state timing signal to control flow of a power signal to the satellite unit along said timing signal conductor means, and said timing signal utilization means includes a synchronous motor responsive to signals received on said timing signal conductor means, whereby the duty cycle of said motor may be controlled by varying said variable impedance means, thereby to vary the durations of irrigation at the valve stations.

Claim 17

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states and a constant frequency and period; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the durations of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state includes variable impedance means for varying the time that the signal is in one state while maintaining a constant period, said timing signal source means includes relay means responsive to the two-state timing signal to control flow of a power signal to the satellite unit along said timing signal conductor means, and said timing signal utilization means includes a synchronous motor responsive to signals received on said timing signal conductor means, whereby the duty cycle of said motor may be controlled by varying said variable impedance means, thereby to vary the durations of irrigation at the valve stations.

Claim 18

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the durations of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said timing signal comprises a train of pulses of constant width, said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state comprises means for varying the frequency of the signal said timing signal utilization means includes pulse counting means and comparator means for determining the durations of irrigation at the valve stations.

Claim 19

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means; and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the durations of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said timing signal comprises a train of pulses of constant width, said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state comprises means for varying the frequency of the signal said timing signal utilization means includes pulse counting means and comparator means for determining the durations of irrigation at the valve stations.

Claim 20

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means, and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the duration of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said timing signal comprises a train of pulses of constant width, said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state comprises means for varying the frequency of the signal, said timing signal source means includes relay means responsive to the two-state timing signal to control the flow of a power signal along said timing signal conductor means, and said timing signal utilization means includes a synchronous motor responsive to signals received on said timing signal conductor means, whereby the duty cycle of said motor may be controlled by varying said means for varying the frequency of the timing signal, thereby to vary the duration of irrigation at the valve stations.

Claim 21

Remote proportional timing apparatus for controlling an irrigation system having master and satellite control units, said apparatus comprising: timing signal source means at a master control unit, and including timing circuit means for generating a timing signal having two states; timing signal utilization means at a satellite control unit, connected to operate in response to signals transmitted from said timing signal source means and including means for controlling the durations of energization of a plurality of valve stations; and timing signal conductor means connecting said timing signal source means to said timing signal utilization means, and means for controlling said timing signal source means, thereby to vary the rate of operation of said timing signal utilization means, and to vary the duration of energization of the valves all to the same proportionate degree, said means for controlling said timing signal source means including means for varying the proportion of time that said timing signal is in one of the two states; and wherein said timing signal comprises a train of pulses of constant width, said means for varying the proportion of time that the signal is in one state comprises means for varying the frequency of the signal, said timing signal source means includes relay means responsive to the two-state timing signal to control the flow of a power signal along said timing signal conductor means, and said timing signal utilization means includes a synchronous motor responsive to signals received on said timing signal conductor means, whereby the duty cycle of said motor may be controlled by varying said means for varying the frequency of the timing signal, thereby to vary the duration of irrigation at the valve stations.