Patent ID: 9468164
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: A01G,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. Apparatus for automatically purging an irrigation system having an irrigation controller controlling water flow and air flow into a plurality of irrigation zones, the apparatus comprising: a low-pressure switch for determining when pressure within the irrigation system passes a low-pressure threshold; a high-pressure switch for determining when pressure within the irrigation system passes a high-pressure threshold; a timer configured to measure pressure transition times based on the amount of time between a high pressure threshold and a low pressure threshold; a source of compressed air; and a purge controller including circuitry constructed and arranged to monitor the low-pressure switch and the high-pressure switch, to designate irrigation zones, and to apply compressed air to designated irrigation zones to blow water out of the designated irrigation zones based upon the low-pressure switch and the high-pressure switch; wherein the purge controller is further constructed and arranged to automatically blow out designated zones a specified number of blow-out cycles, wherein the number of blow-out cycles is specified based on a measured pressure transition time and wherein an irrigation zone is purged after it is blown-out the specified number of cycles.