Abstract:
This above ground sprinkler system for a water supply provides a main supply hose having an inlet connected to the water supply and an outlet. A main valve is disposed between bib end of the hose and the water supply. A central station including a water supply inlet is connected to the main supply hose outlet and a plurality of hose outlets, each having an associated flow control valve, supplies water to sprinklers, or similar devices at the outer end of hoses which are connected at their inner ends to the outlets. A control system for directing the water supply to the individual hose outlets is provided including a timer. A relief valve is provided for draining water from the main supply hose and a backflow preventor valve is provided for preventing back-siphonage into the water supply.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to sprinkler systems and particularly to portable, above ground sprinkler systems for lawns and gardens having a main line from the water supply to the sprinkler system and a valve system for draining the main line and for preventing backflow siphonage into the water supply.  
           [0002]    Sprinkler systems used for lawns and gardens are well-known and may be divided generally into above ground systems and below ground systems.  
           [0003]    Above ground systems are exemplified by the system sold under the trademark WaterMonster by the company of the same name located at Lancaster, Ga. Such systems include a central unit having an inlet connected to a domestic water supply and several outlet valves each having a connection for one end of a conventional garden hose, the other end of each hose being connectible to a watering attachment. The valves are controlled by a timer so that they operate consecutively at selected time periods. Known above ground systems do not provide back-siphonage protection of supply hose drainage.  
           [0004]    Below ground systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,403. This patent discloses a system having a plurality of sprinkler heads mounted in series and connected to a common water supply for consecutive operation by a timer. The sprinkler heads are of the pop-up type which have the advantage of being below grade when not in use which facilitates lawn mowing but below ground system lack the versatility of the above ground systems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,403, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses the use of backflow preventer and each sprinkler is provided with a self-contained timer system. Below ground systems are much more elaborate than above ground systems and accordingly are much more expensive with respect to the cost of components and require professional installation.  
           [0005]    This sprinkler system overcomes the above disadvantages in a manner not revealed in the known prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    This sprinkler system is a portable above ground system which provides controlled sprinkling for prescribed periods of time starting at preselected times. The system includes a relief valve which automatically opens when the watering operation is completed to drain water from the main supply line so that the main line supply hose is substantially free from pressure after the watering is complete. The system also includes a backflow prevention valve to guard against reverse flow into the water supply.  
           [0007]    This above ground sprinkler system for a water supply provides a main supply hose with a main flow control valve, said hose having an inlet operatively connected to the water supply and an outlet. A central station is provided including a water supply inlet; operatively connected to the main supply hose outlet and a plurality of hose outlets, each having an associated flow control valve. A control system for directing the water supply to the individual hose outlets is provided including a timer. A relief valve is provided for draining the main supply hose.  
           [0008]    It is an aspect of this invention that a backflow prevention valve is provided for preventing backflow siphonage into the water supply.  
           [0009]    It is an aspect of this invention to provide that the central station includes a portable container housing for the flow control valves.  
           [0010]    It is another aspect of this invention to provide that the flow control valves are normally closed, solenoid-operated valves; and the relief valve is a normally open solenoid-operated valve.  
           [0011]    It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a 24 volt power supply for the solenoid-operated valves.  
           [0012]    It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that supplying power to any of the normal closed valves energizes the normally open valve.  
           [0013]    It is an aspect of this invention to provide that the timer is remotely located from the central location and, as an alternative to provide that the timer is housed in the portable container.  
           [0014]    It is another aspect of this invention to provide that the central station includes a cover simulating a natural object.  
           [0015]    It is another aspect of this invention to provide that the main flow control valve is normally closed and at least one flow control valve in the central station is normally open to perform the function of the relief valve.  
           [0016]    It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that the main flow control valve is normally closed and all other flow control valves and the relief valve are normally open.  
           [0017]    It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide that the main flow control valve and the relief valve are energized simultaneously while the central station flow control valves are energized sequentially for normal demand watering, as controlled by the timer and all solenoid-operated valves are de-energized when watering is not required, as controlled by the timer.  
           [0018]    It is still another aspect of this invention to provide that all solenoid-operated valves are energized except one of the central station flow control valves, which is sequentially de-energized for demand watering, as controlled by the timer and all solenoid-operated valves are de-energized when watering is not required, as controlled by the timer.  
           [0019]    It is another aspect of this invention to provide that each solenoid-operated valve includes a plunger; and the plunger positioning of the normally closed and normally open valves is arranged to insure that the main supply hose is pressure relieved and evacuated to prevent back-siphonage in the event of power failure occur during system operation.  
           [0020]    This sprinkler system is relatively simple to manufacture and use and is particularly efficient in operation. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a simplified arrangement of sprinkler system components;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the electro-hydraulic circuitry;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a typical sprinkler system having four sprinkler outlets in parallel;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of the central station and illustrates a specific arrangement;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a typical timer;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a schematic of a normally closed solenoid-operated valve;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a schematic of a normally open solenoid-operated valve;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through a backflow preventer valve;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a modified arrangement of sprinkler system solenoid-operated valves;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a schematic view, similar to FIG. 9 of another modified arrangement of the solenoid-operated valves; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the central station concealed by a cover. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    Referring now by reference numerals to the drawings and FIGS.  1 - 5 , in particular, it will be understood that the above ground sprinkler system generally indicated by numeral  10  includes a portable central station  12  supplied with water from a domestic water supply located in a building such as a house  100  and having at least one outlet or bib  16  in a wall  18 .  
         [0033]    The central station  12 , in the embodiment shown, includes a manifold  20  mounted within a portable container  22  and having four outlets  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  each having an associated solenoid-operated central station flow control valve  25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31 , respectively, which is normally closed when no power is supplied. Water is supplied to the manifold  20  through an inlet  34  connected by a flexible hose  40  to the bib  16 , the hose  40  providing a main supply line.  
         [0034]    In the arrangement shown, the flexible hose  40  includes a normally closed main solenoid-operated valve  42  at the bib end and a normally open solenoid-operated relief valve  44  at the manifold end. Preferably, a backflow preventer valve  46  is provided at the bib end downstream of the solenoid-operated valve  42  which may be connected directly to the valve  42  outlet.  
         [0035]    The solenoid-operated valves are controlled by a control system, which includes a timer  50  supplied with 24 v power which, in the embodiment shown, is supplied from a transformer  51  connected to a conventional 120 v outlet but which could also be supplied from a battery source (not shown) as a backup.  
         [0036]    In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the timer  50  is arranged to actuate normally closed solenoid-operated valves  25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31  in sequence so that water is supplied to the associated outlets  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  at predetermined intervals for desired periods of time. When this is done, water is supplied to each hose  1 - 4  and each related sprinkler head S 1 -S 4  at full pressure for a predetermined time period.  
         [0037]    It will be understood that the timer  50  also controls the opening and closing of the solenoid-operated valves  42  and  44 . These two valves are actuated when any one of the valves  25 ,  27 ,  29  or  31  is actuated. Solenoid-operated valve  42  is normally closed and opens to admit water into the flexible hose  40  when the control system timer  50  supplies power through line  52 , which includes a common ground (not shown), going to all valves, and includes lines  54 - 59  going to individual valves. Solenoid-operated valve  44  is normally open and closes when the timer  50  supplies power through lines  52  and  55 . When valve  44  is closed, water flow via the manifold  20  is only passed through valves  25 ,  27 ,  29  or  31  as sequenced.  
         [0038]    In the embodiment described, the solenoid-operated valves manufactured by Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc. of North Salt Lake, Utah under the trademark WATERMASTER®) Series No. 57100, 57300 and 57400 has proven satisfactory for valves  25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  31  or  42 . Valve  44  is a modified version of the same valve.  
         [0039]    The normally closed solenoid-operated valves exemplified by valve  25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31  are shown in FIG. 6 and normally open solenoid-operated valve  44  is shown in FIG. 7. The basic features of both valves are the same Each valve includes a body assembly  60  having an inlet passage  62 , an outlet passage  64  and a main flow passage having a valve port  66 . Also provided are a diaphragm assembly (not shown), and a solenoid assembly  80 . In the case of the normally closed valve a solenoid plunger  82  is provided (FIG. 6) and in the case of the normally open valve a solenoid plunger  84  (FIG. 7) is provided.  
         [0040]    Flow control is achieved by applying a voltage to the solenoid coil thus creating a magnetic field that repositions the solenoid coil plunger. In FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be understood that the solenoid coil plunger either directly opens or closes the port. Alternatively, as well understood by those skilled in the art, the plunger opens or closes a pilot port (not shown). The opening or closing of a pilot port affects a pressure balance on a diaphragm or piston that causes an opening or closing of the main valve port.  
         [0041]    A solenoid valve can be designed to allow flow when a voltage is applied and to stop flow when voltage is removed. This is a normally closed valve design shown in FIG. 6. A solenoid valve can also be designed to allow flow when voltage is removed and to stop flow when voltage is applied. This is a normally open valve design. The solenoid coil plunger and/or pilot port are located to achieve either a normally closed or normally open valve arrangement. The normally closed valve in FIG. 6 and the normally open valve in FIG. 7 are identical except that the solenoid coil plunger in FIG. 6 is positioned to the underside of the solenoid coil when a voltage is not applied and the solenoid coil plunger in FIG. 7 is positioned to the upper side of the solenoid coil when a voltage is not applied.  
         [0042]    In the case of the normally closed valve shown in FIG. 6, the plunger is arranged so that energizing the coil will move the plunger up. A spring  86  may be used to maintain the plunger in the down position when the coil is de-energized. In the case of the normally open valve, the plunger is located so that energizing the coil will move the plunger down to close the valve. In this case, a spring  88  may be used to maintain the plunger in up position when the coil is de-energized.  
         [0043]    The backflow preventer valve  46  is used to prevent backflow siphoning into the water supply and a backflow preventer which may be used in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. A suitable backflow preventer is manufactured by Watts Industries, Inc. of Andover, Mass. under Model No. 8. A backflow preventer of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,423 which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIG. 8, the backflow preventer  46  includes threadedly connectible upper and lower body portions  120  and  122 . The upper body portion  120  is threadedly connectible to the male outlet of the solenoid-operated main valve  42  at its upper end and the lower body portion  122  is threadedly connectible to female inlet of hose  40 . The upper body portion  120  includes an annular abutment for receiving a rubber hose washer  124 . The lower body portion  122  includes a reduced diameter nozzle portion  126  and an annular shoulder  128  having a plurality of circumferentially arranged evacuation openings  130 .  
         [0045]    A diaphragm assembly  132  is held between the upper and lower body portions  120  and  122 . The diaphragm assembly  132  includes an upper metal washer  134 , having a plurality of openings  136  and a depressed center portion  138 , and a lower metal washer  140 . Sandwiched between the two metal washers  134  and  140  are an upper flexible washer  142  and a lower flexible washer  144  providing overlapping diaphragm portions. A spring loaded central rod  145  carries the diaphragm assembly, the rod including a shoulder  146  seating the diaphragm assembly  132  and a spring  148 , which extends between the upper metal washer  134  and an upper coined end of the rod  145 .  
         [0046]    When flow is in the normal downward direction, the diaphragm assembly  132  moves downwardly and the upper washer  142  flexes to seal off the openings  130 . The spring around the rod compresses and the lower washer  142  separates from the upper washer  144  and a flow path is created through openings  136  in the upper metal washer and between the two flexible washers  142  and  144 . The lower flexible washer wraps around the lower metal washer  144  which increases the flow area.  
         [0047]    When flow is cut off the diaphragm assembly  132  returns upwardly under spring pressure to the position shown in FIG. 8 and any water moving in the opposite direction tends to increase the seal between the flexible washers. Upward flow is directed from an axial direction through 180° to the evacuation openings  130 .  
         [0048]    A sprinkler hose arrangement is shown in FIG. 3 in use with a typical dwelling house  100 . However, it will be understood that the system can also be used in conjunction with commercial buildings if desired. As shown in FIG. 3, hoses  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  are connected, respectively, to each of the four outlets  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  of the central station  12  which is connected to the bib  16  of the house water supply by main supply hose  40 . The output from the central station  12  is controlled by the timer  50 , which preferably is located inside the house  100 . Each hose  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  may be provided at its end with a sprinkler head S 1 , S 2 , S 3  and S 4 , respectively. The sprinkler heads, or hose end sprinklers, may be varied to suit the requirements of the user. For example, they may include an impact sprinkler; an oscillating sprinkler; a stationary sprinkler or a rotary sprinkler, all of which are familiar to gardeners. In addition, and by way of example, a drip hose assembly  1   a  may be tee-connected to hose  1  and a soaker hose assembly  2   a  may be tee-connected to hose  2 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4 shows the carrying case  22  in use in the closed, upright position, in which it is supported by a stake  23  and, by way of hoses  1  and  2 , is used to provide drip hose watering through drip hose  200  and soaker hose watering through soaker hose  202  in addition to sprinkling heads S 1  and S 2 . Straight couplings, tee couplings and end caps may be provided as required.  
         [0050]    It is desirable in some instances to conceal the central station container  12  under a cover which simulates a natural object such as a rock. FIG. 11 illustrates a hollow plastic cover  15  for the container  12  shown in a horizontal condition and having openings  17  to receive the hoses  14 . It will be understood that the container can be dispensed with if desired and the manifold  20  be concealed by the cover  15 .  
         [0051]    The timer  50  is shown in FIG. 5 and the normally open solenoid-operated valves  25 ,  27 ,  29 ,  31  and  42  are shown in FIG. 6. Normally closed solenoid-operated valve  44  is shown in FIG. 7. The timer  50 , as shown in FIG. 1, is located in a remotely located central station  12 , for example in the basement of a house, but it could also be located in the case  22 .  
         [0052]    In the embodiment described, a timer  50  of the type supplied by Orbit Sprinkler Company of Bountiful, Utah under the trademark WATERMASTER® Series 57160, 57161, 57162, 57164, 57481 and WT2D has proven satisfactory.  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 5, this timer  50  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD)  100  that shows the time of day and various program settings associated with watering programs executed by the timer. Six push button keys  101 - 106  allow for user setup and entry of various parameters associated with each program. A dial-type rotary selector  108  allows the user to select various functions and/or modes of operation associated with the timer. Based upon the positioning of the rotary selector  108  and data input by the user via the push button keys  101 - 106  and shown on the display  100 , the user can set the time of day, the date, watering time duration, days on which watering is desired, start times and other functions. A reset button  110  is provided to clear all user-programmed parameters and reinstate default parameters associated with a factory-installed fail-safe program.  
         [0054]    The timer  50  runs one or more watering programs based upon the specific watering needs and preferences of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the timer  50  includes a factory installed fail-safe program and two user-defined programs (program A and program B discussed below). The factory installed fail-safe program waters every station in sequence every day for 10 minutes in the preferred embodiment. This program runs automatically if the timer  50  loses AC power by way of battery backup power. The timer also allows for convenient and flexible watering schedules based upon user-defined programs. These user-defined watering programs allow for selective control of water dispersion from the water stations based upon the watering requirements for each station. For example, the timer allows for watering of each station for a predetermined time duration ranging from one (1) minute to ninety-nine (99) minutes. The timer also can be set to cycle each watering program up to four times per day. The timer provides for multiple schedule options, namely, weekly, every day, 1 to 28 days, and an option for odd and even days.  
         [0055]    More specifically, the timer  50  of the preferred embodiment includes two user-defined programs, namely, program A and program B. Depending upon particular watering needs, the user can employ either or both programs A and B. In both programs A and B, the user inputs a watering schedule by setting the following parameters: (1) at least one start time using the + or −keys  104  and  105 , respectively, when the rotary selector  108  is turned to the Set Start Time position; and (2) a watering duration ranging from one (1) to ninety-nine (99) minutes for each watering station using the + and −keys  104 ,  105  when the rotary selector  108  is turned to the Station/Duration position in either the A or B program.  
         [0056]    Program A also allows the user to assign watering days by turning the rotary selector  108  to Watering Days in program A and then selecting from the display  100  either specific days of the week (i.e., any or all days in one week) or every second day for watering. Program A repeats continuously on a weekly basis.  
         [0057]    Program B allows the user to water at intervals between days  1  to  28 , or on odd or even days only based upon the date and time of day as previously programmed by the user. In this program, the user turns the selector  108  to the Watering Interval position and uses the + and −keys  104 , 105  to select the number of days between watering or to select either even or odd days.  
         [0058]    After setting parameters for programs A and B, the timer  50  can be set for a fully automatic, semi-automatic or manual mode of operation. In the fully automatic mode, each program operates sequentially, starting with program A. In the semi-automatic mode, all watering stations cycle once based upon water durations entered for both the A and B programs or based upon water durations entered in either the A or B programs. In the manual operation mode, the user can set the watering durations in any of the programs&#39; six stations for one (1) to ninety-nine (99) minutes.  
         [0059]    The timer  50  also includes an inhibit mode that stops automatic watering for a predefined time (preferably 24 hours). After this interruption, the timer returns to its initial watering schedule. This feature allows the user to easily override the programming in the event of rain.  
         [0060]    A modified arrangement of flow control and relief valves is shown in FIG. 9. In this arrangement, the separate normally open relief valve  44 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is eliminated and the normally closed flow control valve  25  is substituted by a normally open solenoid-operated valve  25 ′ which is used as a relief valve. The other central station flow control valves  27 ,  29  and  31  remain unchanged as a normally closed solenoid-operated valves. The main flow control valve  42  is unchanged as a normally closed solenoid-operated valve. With this arrangement, when the system is operational for watering the main normally closed flow control valve  42  is energized into the open condition, the normally open relief valve  25 ′ is energized into the closed condition and the normally closed flow control valves  27 ,  29  and  31  are energized sequentially into the open condition. When the system is not operational for watering, the main flow control valve  42  is closed and the flow control valves  27 ,  29  and  31  return to their normally closed condition and the relief valve  25 ′ is open to provide a drainage function.  
         [0061]    Another modified arrangement of flow control and relief valves is shown in FIG. 10. This arrangement is similar to that shown in FIG. 9 in that the normally open separate relief valve  44  is eliminated. It is distinguished from the arrangement shown in FIG. 9 in that all of the central station flow control valves  25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31  are substituted by normally open valves  25 ′,  27 ′,  29 ′, and  31 ′ and all of these valves are used as relief valves. The main flow control valve  42  is unchanged and is a normally closed solenoid-operated valve. All other components not shown remain the same. With this arrangement, when the system is operational for watering the main normally closed flow control valve  42  is energized into the open condition, the normally open relief valves  25 ′,  27 ′,  29 ′, and  31 ′ are sequentially de-energized into the open condition for watering and those not called upon for watering are energized into the closed condition. When the system is not operational for watering, the main flow control valve  42  is closed and the flow control valves  25 ′,  27 ′,  29 ′, and  31 ′ are de-energized into the open condition to provide relief valves for drainage. A reverse system can also be used in which the normally open relief valve  25 ′ is closed and the normally open flow control valves  27 ′,  29 ′, and  31 ′ are energized and de-energized sequentially for watering. When the system is not operational for watering, all of the normally open central station valves are de-energized as is dedicated relief valves  25 ′.  
         [0062]    Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to preferred embodiments, such detail is to be understood in an instructive rather than in any restrictive sense, many other variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.