# US 5,348,227 A · Irrigation system having ground moisture responsive control jar valve regulation

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- Number: US 5,348,227 A
- Document ID: US5348227A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/048,504
- Filed: 1993-04-20
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1993-04-20
- Inventors: Eli Polonsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348227A

## CPC

- A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors}
- B05B 12/12: responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature {position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus (B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence)}
- Y02A 40/22: Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
- Y10T 137/189: Soil moisture sensing
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An irrigation control system for regulating the fluid flow to a plurality of spray heads, including a fluid flow controller for each individual spray head, including a pressure operated, biased valve closure member and a slow release control operable in response to ground moisture to operate the valve closure member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An irrigation control system for regulating fluid flow to a plurality of individual spray heads; wherein the improvement comprises:
a source of irrigation fluid;
a plurality of spray heads in fluid communication with said source of irrigation fluid;
an irrigation fluid flow controller for each individual spray head, said controller including an individual control valve for regulating the flow of irrigation fluid to the spray head and a ground moisture regulated control means for closing said individual control valve when sufficient ground moisture is present in the vicinity of the controller to shut off the flow of irrigation fluid to the spray head;
said individual control valve having a fluid inlet fluid communication with said source of irrigation fluid;
a fluid outlet in fluid communication with at least one of said spray heads;
a valve seat formed at a distal end of said fluid inlet;
a valve chamber;
a valve closure member in said chamber biased in a normally open position away from said valve seat whereby in said open position irrigation fluid is permitted to flow through the valve between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet;
a fluid conduit between said fluid outlet and said ground moisture regulated control means;
said ground moisture regulated control means including a fluid chamber in fluid communication with said fluid conduit and said valve chamber, said fluid chamber having a slow release outlet for regulating the amount of fluid in said fluid chamber; the rate of release of said slow release outlet being controlled by the moisture content of the surrounding soil;
said fluid chamber, when filled with fluid from said fluid outlet through said fluid conduit by being in fluid communication with said valve chamber, creates a pressure, causing said valve closure member to engage the valve seat and close the valve, cutting off the flow of irrigation fluid to the spray heads.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 wherein said valve closure member is a spring biased pressure responsive diaphragm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 further including a means for metering fluid flow into said fluid chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The irrigation control system of claim 3 wherein said metering means is a metering valve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 wherein said slow release outlet is an opening having a wick disposed therein in contact with the surrounding soil wherein the rate of fluid flow from said slow release outlet is controlled by the amount of moisture in the soil, which in turn controls the wicking rate of said fluid flow through the wick.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 wherein said valve closure member includes a solenoid coil to maintain the closure member in a normally open position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The irrigation control system of claim 6 wherein said fluid chamber includes a fluid pressure chamber and a hydraulic fluid chamber, and further including a pressure operated switch in said hydraulic fluid chamber to control the operation of the solenoid coil in response to pressure within said fluid pressure chamber and said hydraulic fluid chamber to maintain the closure member in a normally open position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The irrigation control system of claim 7 wherein said hydraulic fluid chamber includes a hydraulic pressure chamber and a pressure reservoir, and wherein hydraulic fluid is movable between said hydraulic pressure chamber and said pressure reservoir in response to pressure within said fluid chamber and said hydraulic fluid chamber.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The irrigation control system of claim 8 wherein fluid flow of hydraulic fluid between said hydraulic pressure chamber and said pressure reservoir is regulated by a metering device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 further including means responsive to fluid pressure in said fluid conduit between said fluid outlet and said ground moisture regulated control means for permitting fluid flow therethrough.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The irrigation control system of claim 10 wherein said fluid pressure responsive means is a ball valve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The irrigation control system of claim 1 wherein said fluid chamber includes a fluid pressure chamber and a hydraulic fluid chamber and further including a float chamber in fluid communication with said hydraulic fluid chamber, said float chamber including a float and plug valve attached thereto, whereby hydraulic fluid in said float chamber regulates the position of said plug valve attached to said float; a bypass line connected between said source of irrigation fluid and said valve chamber and a closure in said bypass line cooperating with said plug valve to regulate irrigation fluid flow therethrough in response to the hydraulic fluid level within said float chamber.