WO1986006579A1

WO1986006579A1 - Watering system

Info

Publication number: WO1986006579A1
Application number: PCT/AU1986/000141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert John Ganley
Original assignee: Sabco Limited
Priority date: 1985-05-16
Filing date: 1986-05-16
Publication date: 1986-11-20

Abstract

A timer watering tap in which the water control valve (2) is operated by an electromagnetique latching valve, the electromagnet (11) being energised by a battery only when latching occurs to turn the valve on and off. The initiation of water flow is by an electrical signal either manually or from an outside source, and the duration of watering by manually setting a knob. The taps can be arranged in cascade, the signal turning off a first tap initiating the turning on of a second tap.

Description

"WATERING SYSTEM"

This invention relates to a watering system, particularly for watering systems for use on gardens in which timing and duration of watering of selected 5. areas can be accurately controlled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various watering systems are known for the watering of gardens, and these include mechanical timing taps in which the time of watering is manually set and the

10. tap is switched off by the timer after the preset time. Also mechanical clockwork drive units are known where the time and duration of watering over a number of days, such as 14 days are known in which the time tap switches on the water at a preset time for each day

15. and terminates it after the preset time for the day.

It is an object of the recent invention to provide a watering system which can include an electronic timing tap for use on a single watering point and as a further object to provide a tap so that the taps may be connected 20. in a series or cascade formation whereby the turning off of one tap initiates the turning on of the next tap in the series.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a control unit which initiates the turning on of the 25. timing tap of a cascade of taps preselected times for each day. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Thus there is provided according to the invention a watering system, said system including an electronic timer tap having an inlet and an outlet, a battery 5. operated timer within the timer tap to control an electro¬ magnetic valve, said timer being set manually for a selected watering time, and a button or switch to initiate said timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

10. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the timer tap and control unit,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the timer tap,

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

15_ FIG. 4 is a cross-section on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 there is shown a master controller 1 remote from the timer tap 2 and connected thereto

20. electrically, the master controller being a battery powered timer, able to be set to initiate the start of a predetermined number of watering times per day, the master controller forwarding only an initiate signal to the timer tap, the timer tap itself being set for

25 the length of watering. In a preferred form of the invention the electronic timer tap 2 can comprise a small electronic timer powered by a 9 volt battery mounted in compartment 3, the timer operating a pilot operated latching solenoid type washer 5. valve 4. A connection is produced for the water inlet 5 and a water outlet 6 and on the timer 2 there is provided a knob 7 calibrated in minutes that can be set for any period of time, for example from 5 to 120 minutes. A push button knob or switch 8 on the knob 7 or the like is provided to 10. turn the unit on. Preferably the calibration is on a logarithmic scale, for often more precise watering is required for shorter times, while if watering is required for two or three hours or more the precise cut-off time is not so critical.

15. The timer tap 2 is provided with two electrical connection sockets 8, 9, socket 8 having connected thereto the electrical lead from the controller 1. The electrical circuit for the tap is provided in the interior of the knob 7 and incorporates a capacitor

20. 10.

An electro-magnetic coil 11 is electrically connected to the circuit in the knob 7, the electro-magnet having a centre core 12, the coil being mounted on a base plate 13 sealed by a gasket 14 and an 0-ring to a valve 25. cover 16. The valve cover 16 clamps a diaphragm 17 to the body 18 incorporating a valve seat 19.

A valve washer 20 is provided between a nut 21 and the diaphragm 17 to clamp the diaphragm to a back-up disc 22. A pilot valve stem 23 is provided to be actuated by a latch plate 24. Adjacent the coil 11 there is provided a magnet 25, this being connected magnetically to the core 12 by a metal plate 26.

5. It will be seen that when the coil is energised, the latch plate would be pulled down onto the core thus operating the pilot valve. The coil is only energised instantaneously and the latch plate remains in its attracted position due to the closed lube magnetic flex 10. passing from the magnet 25, latch plate 24, core 12, metal plate 26 back to magnet 25.

To further operate the pilot valve, the coil is again energised but with reverse current flow destroying the permanent magnet latch so that the plate returns to its 15. normal position, this energisation of the coil also being instantaneous, the latch plate thus operating the pilot valve.

Hence the battery is only drained during the latching movement, and due to this arrangement the coil does not

20. have to be energised to hold the latch plate in either its latched or unlatched condition. In order to provide a fail-safe unit to switch the tap off when it is desired to do so in the event of battery failure or removal, the circuit includes a capacitor 10 which is charged when the

25. coil is energised, and which is discharged when the watering time has expired to energise the coil to turn off the water flow.

The body is closed by a cover 27 and the knob 7 is mounted on a sleeve 28 in the body 18, the knob being rotated about the sleeve 28 by a concentric sleeve 29, a sealing ring 30 being provided between the two sleeves 28 and 29.

The time required for each of the units can then be 5. set on each unit individually, and in operation the first unit is initiated by pushing the button and this unit will operate for the selected time. On completion of its cycle the pulse to switch off cause.s the second unit to operate because of the electrical plug and 10. wire connection. This cascade will continue through the manifold units to the last one.

The timers can be electrically connected but separately fitted to different taps throughout the garden and the same cascade result can be obtained.

15. The master controller incorporating a 24 hour repeating timer with the facility to programme up to 7 discreet initiating pulses in any 24 hour period. The unit incorporates a liquid crystal display and push buttons for real times set and switch on functions

20. and this can be operated by a battery powered 9 volt system.

The master controller is programmed, and is only able to provide a switch on signal at the desired time, the length of watering time being controlled individually 25. by each tap.

The master controller will be connected to the electronic timer tap plug 8. At each initiation a pulse from the master controller to the first timer tap will switch on and operate for the preset time. At 30. the completion of its cycle the pulses for turning off this tap will turn on the next timer tap and so the cascade continues as previously described. Thus the master controller need only be connected to the first timer tap. If one of the timer taps in the cascade 5. is set to zero time, the signal is automatically fed to the next timer tap in the cascade.

The electronic timer tap can be manufactured and thus purchased at a reasonable price, and thus any number of these can be coupled together for cascade 10. operation.

With only one timer tap or with many timer taps a master controller can be purchased to make the whole system fully automatic if desired. However, this can be omitted if desired, the user then manually initiating 15. watering as and when desired by setting the first timer tap by pressing the appropriate button.

The master controller thus can incorporate the more complicated electronics and may feature a liquid crystal display. This master controller can be installed 20. remotely from the system out of the sun and rain where it is secure from larceny and mechanical damage.

Because the master controller is completely electronic and does not incorporate water valves or connections, its cost is low and its reliability is enhanced.

25. Thus it can be seen that according to the invention there is a requirement for a simple and effective watering system which can be provided at relatively low cost.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A watering timer tap having a water inlet and a water outlet, battery, pilot operated latching solenoid type valve, means for setting the period of watering time, a control circuit powered by the battery for 5_# actuating said valve at the termination of watering and means for initiating said watering period.

2. A watering timer tap as defined in claim 1, wherein said initiation of watering time is by an electrical signal, and said period of watering time is set manually by rotation of a knob on said timer tap.

3. A watering timer tap as defined in claim 2, wherein said initiation signal is by an electrical switch on said timer tap.

4. A watering timer tap as defined in claim 2, wherein said initiation signal is by an electrical signal supplied to said timer tap from an outside source.

5. A watering timer tap as defined in claim 4 wherein said electrical signal is provided by a programmable master controller for automatic operation, the master controller providing the initiation signal only to c the timer tap.

6. A watering timer tap as defined in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said initiation signal for the timer tap is provided from a further timer tap, the further timer tap on its signals to terminate watering of the c further timer tap providing an initiation signal for said first defined timer tap.

7. A watering system, said system comprising a plurality of electrically connected watering timer taps, each tap having battery powered means to operate a pilot operated latching solenoid valve, adjustable timer 5« means on each tap to close said valve on the termination of the watering cycle for each tap, said solenoid only actuating on the initiation and termination of each watering cycle, the terminating signal for one tap initiating the watering cycle of a second tap by its 1 * electrical connection.

8. A watering system as defined in claim 7, wherein each tap can be set to a different watering time.

- ._ _ 9. A watering system as defined in claim 7 or claim

8, wherein first of said plurality of taps is initiated by an electrical signal from a programmable master controller for automatic operation.