Simplified battery operated automatic and manually operable valve

For use as apart of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising:

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• a battery power supply;
• and
• a digital controller having a microprocessor, a random access memory for temporary data storage and read only memory storing a predetermined operating program for said microprocessor, said digital controller being coupled to said latching actuator and said battery power supply, said digital controller having a first manually operative switch means coupled to said microprocessor for causing said microprocessor to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on responsive to the manual operation of said first manually operative switch means, and to turn said pilot operated valve assembly off responsive to a subsequent operation of said first manually operative switch means, said microprocessor also being responsive to the time of day said first manually operated switch means was used to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, respectively, at the same time of day on subsequent days.

A method of operating an automatic valve comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an automatic valve which will store information responsive to the time of day it is manually turned on and off;
• (b) manually turning the automatic valve on at a desired time of day;
• (c) manually turning the automatic valve off a desired time after manually turning the valve on in step (b);
• and
• (d) allowing the automatic valve to turn on and off on subsequent days at the same times of day as in steps (b) and (c) based on the information stored in step (a).

For use as part of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• and
• manually operable mechanical means disposed between said latching actuator and said pilot operated valve assembly for taking manual control of said pilot valve to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off independent of the state of said latching actuator and said controller.

For use as part of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising:

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said plot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• and
• a battery operated controller coupled to said latching actuator, said controller having a first manually operative switch means for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, said controller also having control means responsive to said first manually operated switch means as used to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, respective at the same time of day on subsequent days, said control means further being responsive to said first manually operative switch means for determining the number of ays to be skipped between each subsequent turn on and turn off of said pilot operated valve assembly.

For use as part of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising:

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• and
• a battery operated controller coupled to said latching actuator, said controller having a first manually operative switch means for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, said controller also having control means responsive to said first manually operated switch means as used to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, respective at the same time of day on subsequent days;
• and,
• manually operable mechanical means disposed between said latching actuator and said pilot operated valve assembly for taking manual control of said pilot valve to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off independent of the state of said latching actuator and said controller.

For use as part of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising:

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• a battery power supply;
• and
• a digital controller having in the form of a single chip computer, as microprocessor, a random access memory for temporary data storage and read only memory storing a predetermined operating program for said microprocessor, said digital controller being coupled to said latching actuator and said battery power supply, said digital controller having a first manually operative switch means coupled to said microprocessor for causing said microprocessor to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on, said microprocessor also being responsive to said first manually operated switch means as used to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, respectively, at the same time of day on subsequent days, and wherein said microprocessor is responsive to a prolonged operation of said first switch means to accept subsequent operations of said switch means to determine the number of days to be skipped between each subsequent turn on and turn off of said pilot operated valve assembly.

For use as part of an automatic valve, the improvement comprising:

• a pilot operated valve assembly operative between on and off positions for coupling to a valve body to provide a pilot operated valve operative between said on and off positions, said pilot operated valve assembly being responsive to a pilot valve therein;
• a latching actuator coupled to said pilot operated valve assembly for controlling said pilot valve therein for turning said pilot operated valve assembly on and off responsive to the state of said actuator;
• a battery power supply;
• a digital controller having in the form of a single chip computer, a microprocessor, a random access memory for temporary data storage and read only memory storing a predetermined operating program for said microprocessor, said digital controller being coupled to said latching actuator and said pattern power supply, said digital controller having a first manually operative switch means coupled to said microprocessor for causing said microprocessor to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on, said microprocessor also being responsive to said first manually operated switch means as used to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off, respectively, at the same time of day on subsequent days;
• and,
• manually operable mechanical means disposed between said latching actuator and said pilot operated valve assembly for taking manual control of said pilot valve to turn said pilot operated valve assembly on and off independent of the state of said latching actuator and said controller.