Sprinkler station expander
OwnerKenneth Green, Joseph Thinn +1inventors
InventorsKenneth Green, Joseph Thinn, Jan Wensink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch provides a sprinkler valve signal to a first sprinkler valve, and after a period of time, diverts the sprinkler valve signal to a second sprinkler valve. The switch is serially wired into sprinkler wires running between a timer and at least two sprinkler valves, and operates off the sprinkler valve signal present in the sprinkler wires. When the sprinkler valve signal comes on, the switch provides the sprinkler valve signal to the first sprinkler valve and starts a clock which counts for a period of time T. When the period of time T passes, the clock switches a relay which switches the sprinkler valve signal to the second sprinkler valve.
Claims20
A sprinkler system comprising:
- a timer adapted to generate a sprinkler valve signal;
- a switch serially electrically connected between the timer and a sprinkler valve, the switch comprising:
- a clock adapted to be powered by the sprinkler valve signal from the timer and to count to a period of time T;
- and
- a relay controllable by the clock, wherein the relay is electrically connected to the clock and adapted to be activated at the end of the period of time T, wherein the sprinkler valve is electrically connected to a normally closed terminal of the relay;
- and
- a first sprinkler line adapted to receive a flow of water from a water line until the relay is activated;
- and
- a second sprinkler line adapted to receive a flow of water from the water line after the relay is activated.
A method for expanding a sprinkler system, the method comprising:
- electrically connecting a switch between a timer and a first sprinkler valve and between the timer and a second sprinkler valve;
- providing a sprinkler valve signal to the switch;
- providing the sprinkler valve signal to a clock in the switch;
- counting a period of time T within the clock when the sprinkler valve signal is present;
- sending a clock signal from the clock to a relay when the period of time T has ended;
- and
- actuating the relay, thereby opening a normally closed circuit between the relay and the first sprinkler valve, and closing a normally open circuit between the relay and the second sprinkler valve.
A sprinkler system expander comprising:
- an input sprinkler wire connected between a sprinkler timer and a switch;
- a clock residing in the switch configured to receive power through the input sprinkler wire and to count a period of time T starting when power is provided on the input sprinkler wire;
- a first output sprinkler wire;
- a first electrical connection controlled by the clock and residing between the input sprinkler wire and the first output sprinkler wire, wherein the first electrical connection is closed while the clock is counting the period of time T and is open after the clock completes counting the period of time T;
- a second output sprinkler wire;
- and
- a second electrical connection controlled by the clock and residing between the input sprinkler wire and the second output sprinkler wire, wherein the second electrical connection is open while the clock is counting the period of time T and is closed after the clock completes counting the period of time T.
A sprinkler system expander comprising:
- an input sprinkler wire connected between a sprinkler timer and a switch;
- an output sprinkler wire connected between the switch and a sprinkler valve;
- a first clock residing in the switch and configured to receive power through the input sprinkler wire and to count a first period of time T1 starting when power is provided on the input sprinkler wire;
- a first electrical connection controlled by the first clock and residing between the input sprinkler wire and the output sprinkler wire, wherein the first electrical connection is closed while the first clock is counting the period of time T1 and is open after the first clock completes counting the period of time T1;
- a second electrical connection controlled by the first clock and residing between the input sprinkler wire and a second clock, wherein the second electrical connection is open while the first clock is counting the period of time T1 and is closed after the clock completes counting the period of time T1;
- a third electrical connection controlled by the second clock and residing between the input sprinkler wire and the output sprinkler wire, wherein the third electrical connection is open while the second clock is counting a period of time T2 and is closed after the second clock completes counting the period of time T2;
- and
- a sequential valve receiving a flow of water from the sprinkler valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.