Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Fields of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a system of valves subject to activation by automatically controlled irrigation system, and more particularly, to valves activated by solenoid switches for automatic water supply which can work to force close solenoid controlled water passage way. 
     2. Descriptions of Related Art 
     In one prior patent application filed by the current inventor, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/926397, the disclosed technical features show a magnetic control valve, comprising a connection pipe ( 40 ), a rubber ring ( 50 ), a magnetic control switch ( 600 ); wherein the connection pipe ( 40 ) has a water inflow passage ( 41 ) and a water outflow passage ( 42 ), and an engaging place between an outlet end of the water inflow passage and an inlet end of the water outflow passage has a circular seat having an outward opening; the rubber ring fit in a bottom of the circular seat, wherein a bottom of the rubber ring seals the outlet end and the inlet end, and the rubber ring has a valve corresponding to the inlet end and communicating water passages corresponding to the outlet end; the magnetic control switch assembled to the circular seat and comprising a pipe seat wound by an electromagnetic coil, the electromagnetic coil connected to a magnetic pole switch, an inside of the pipe seat divided into an upper pipe body space and a lower pipe body space, a magnetic sucking element installed to the upper pipe body space, a valve rod capable of moving installed to the lower pipe body space, a bottom of the valve rod having a valve plug to seal or open the valve by displacing and regulating the valve plug, the characterized in that: the rubber ring combined to a metal plate capable of being attracted by magnetic force, the valve rod being a magnetic element carrying permanent magnetic force so that a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil is regulated by the magnetic pole switch to drive the valve plug of the valve rod to seal the valve of the rubber ring, thereby achieving an optimum sealing effect through mutually magnetic attraction between the metal plate and the valve rod. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a valve system that has streamlined maneuverability of operating and closing of valves. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing objective for providing a valve system used for multiple regional irrigation, the current invention comprises a system having more than one valve for specifically dispensing for irrigation toward a target area, for example the target area may cover multiple unit areas, and each valve moderates the connection between a water conduit and a water sprinkler head. The water sprinkler head receives the water introduced from the conduit, for which the conduit is connected to a solenoid valve switch and a manual valve switch, which mechanically actuate the valve in the valve system to open or seal the conduit. 
     The irrigation friendly valve system is designed in such a way to handle opening or closing for receipt of fluid and guidance for the fluid going to a conduit, water may be an example of the fluid. Irrigation fluid refers any fluid that can be used for fostering vegetation. Therefore, the irrigation system as understood in the context of one for designating multiple water conduits to specific target areas refers to any device targeted for distributing water supply, such as pop-up sprinklers, rotating sprinklers, sprinkler tip, or a drip irrigation system. Water is provided with water conduit and distributed to each target irrigation area (now shown in Figures). Water flow regulation is defined and controlled by the valve, which can be chosen at the user&#39;s discretion to allow water flow to go to a specified water conduit in a specified period of time, thereby effectively designating water supply from the conduit to the specified irrigation system. 
     The irrigation oriented valve system involves a group of valves operating under direction of a control unit. The valve system comprises a main body, a water inlet, a manifold, a water outlet, a solenoid switch and a manual switch, wherein the main body is a casing for building an assembly, the water inlet is disposed on one end of the main body, the manifold is a part that diverges into one or more than one water channels, wherein each manifold is internally disposed with a manual switch and a solenoid switch, the manual switch is disposed at a position relative to the solenoid switch, and extends in one body from one terminal of the manifold to connect with a water outlet pipe. 
     The solenoid valve switch houses an electrical wire extending to a control unit, the solenoid valve switch comprises: a connecting pipe, a valve, a valve stem, and a magnet; wherein one end of the connecting pipe is a sealed end and another end of the connecting pipe is an open end, the valve is disposed at an engaging place between the open end of the connecting pipe and the first water passage. 
     The valve is encapsulated inside the connecting pipe, having a valve plug with a conical shape on one of its terminal, and a magnet on another terminal. The valve plug can work to provide an actuating mechanism to seal or open the valve at the open end of the connecting pipe. The valve connects with the first water passage relatively to the aforementioned open end. 
     The valve stem is attached to the connecting pipe and there is disposed on the outside of the connecting pipe with a solenoid wire, the solenoid wire is connected to a magnet, and the connecting pipe has a partition wall for partitioning a space into a front-end space and a back-end space, a magnet is disposed inside the back-end space, and a movable valve stem is disposed inside the front-end space, a distal end of the valve stem has a conical valve plug, which can work, by way of mechanical displacement, to seal or open the aforementioned valve. 
     Additionally, the manual valve switch comprises: a rotating lever, a valve, a positioning device, the function of the rotating lever is to allow an axial rotational motion for the valve so as to provide another mechanism for controlling sealing and opening of the valve. The valve discussed here is a cylindrical valve, and has an opening end for serving as a water outflow window, the positioning device comprises a spring and a protruding peg, the protruding peg has an expansion portion and a shrinkage portion, an end of the spring is inserted into the shrinkage portion to push against the expansion portion, another end of the spring is inserted into a predetermined storage portion of the manifold, and the expansion portion is configured to protrude outwardly from an outer surface of the manifold after assembly is complete so as to allow multi-tiered positioning capability for the rotating lever. 
     With the above summary, it should now be apparent to skilled persons in the related field of technology to recognize that the manual switch can be used as a means to preemptively close the water outlet of the solenoid valve, so as to prevent the default sealing functionality of the solenoid valve as directed by the control unit when it is operating under an automatic mode to open the valve for water outflow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional-sectional view of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 3-1  is an enlarged view of a third water passage of the solenoid switch. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the valve shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of first embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a frontal cross-sectional view of first embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of first embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of second embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of second embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a frontal cross-sectional view of second embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view of third embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of third embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a side cross-sectional view of fourth embodiment of the valve according to the current invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the drawings show that the irrigation oriented valve system comprises a main body  1 , water inlet conduit  11 , manifold  4 , water outlet conduit  5 , multiple water chambers  41 , multiple solenoid switches  3  and multiple manual switches  2 , wherein the main body  1  is a basic outer casing of a valve, the main body  1  is disposed with multiple pores for use in connection with water inlet conduit  11 , manifold  4 , water outlet conduit  5 , the water inlet conduit  11 , manifold  4 , water outlet conduit  5  and water chamber  41  are formed into a single structure and disposed inside the main body  1 . 
     In the present embodiment of the current invention, the valve is disposed with more than one valve, where the valve has a manual switch  2  and a solenoid switch  3 .  FIG. 1  shows a frontal view of the manual switch  2 , an end of the main body  1  is disposed with a water inlet conduit  11 , the manifold  4  extends into a first water outlet opening  411  and further into a water chamber  41 , which is further connected to a second water outlet  412  and then introduced into a third water passage  44 , a third water outlet opening  51  and a water conduit (not shown in FIGs.). The third water outlet opening  51  extends away from the main body  1 , the frontal face of the main body  1  is disposed with a manual valve switch  2  having a rotating lever  21 , the rotating lever  21  is a controller for an operable valve  22 . In one embodiment of the present invention, there is an instruction label showing on one surface of the rotating lever  21  that the surface of the main body  1  is labeled with symbols A, B, C, where A represents automatic mode (AUTO), indicating that the solenoid switch  3  is turned to an automatic mode, B represents on-state (ON), indicating that the manual switch  2  is turned on, C represents off-state (OFF), indicating that the manual switch  2  is engaged in forcing the solenoid valve to exit a water discharge mode; and third water outlet openings  51  are installed on corresponding ends of each valve. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 10 , the water inlet conduit  11  is disposed on one end of the main body  1 , the manifold  4  stems from a part of the water inlet conduit  11  and extends to form into a number of bifurcating water conduits. Inside each manifold  4  there is disposed with a manual switch  2  and a solenoid switch  3 , the manual switch  2  is disposed on a corresponding position relative to the solenoid switch. More specifically, the manual switch  2  communicates with one end of the third water passage  44  of the solenoid switch  3 . With regard to the manifold  4 , each manifold houses a water chamber  41 , an inside of the water chamber is disposed with a valve, the valve comprises interchangeably corresponding manual switch  2  and solenoid switch  3 , the solenoid switch  3  comprises: a connecting pipe  31 , a valve stem  32 , a seat  33 , an electromagnetic coil  34  and a magnet  35 , the water outlet conduit  5  is disposed on its inside two stabilizers  52 , which are designed to provide a means for arranging the two default grooved sections  441   c  of the water leakage prevention device  441  to service a rail track function. The water leakage prevention device  441  has a first port  441   a  and a second port  441   b  and two grooved sections  441   c . The first port  441   a  appears as a pipe opening, the first port  441   a  faces toward the second water outlet opening  412 , and a third gasket is inserted on the first port  441   a , so as to offer an equipment for sealing for resolving dripping of the second water outlet opening  412 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner diameter and width of the third gasket  442  substantially matches the outer diameter and width of the first port  441   a , and is inserted onto the first port  441   a  and has a surface protruding away from the first port  441   a , the third gasket  442  is made of a soft plastic material. 
     The connecting pipe  31  is disposed on one end of the water chamber  41 , and an inside of the connecting pipe  31  has a partitioning wall  311  to separate the space into a front space and a back space, a magnet  35  is disposed in the back space, a movable valve stem  32  is disposed inside the front space. The distal end of the valve stem is a valve plug having a conical shape, which can work to seal or open the seat  33  by way of mechanical displacement. The seat  33  is located at an engaging place between the outlet opening of the connecting pipe  31  and the first water passage  42 , the connecting pipe  31  has an electromagnetic coil wrung around the outside of the connecting pipe. The electromagnetic coil  34  is connected to the electrical circuit and provides for circuit conversion to turn on and off the conductive state of the electromagnetic coil  34  so as to change the polarity of the valve between positive or negative. Polarity of one end of the valve stem  32  is negative and another end of the valve stem  32  is positive, transition of state between each is obtained by way of electromagnetic coil  34 , so as to separate the valve stem  32  and the magnet  35 , or attract valve stem  32  and the magnet  35  together. The vale  33  is placed at an engaging place between a connecting pipe  31  and a first water passage  42 , or the valve stem  32  is attracted to the valve stem  32  to open the first water passage  42 . 
     The magnet  35  is disposed at one end of the connecting pipe  31  and is separated through a partitioning wall  311  and fixed at a specific location, and is electrically connected to an electromagnetic coil  34 . The valve stem  32  installed inside the connecting pipe is disposed on another surface of the partitioning wall  311 . The valve stem  32  is free to move in an axial direction inside the connecting pipe  31 , an end of the valve stem  32  is a valve plug, which can push against the valve  33  to provide a means for sealing the first water passage  42  or exit the valve  33  to provide a means for opening the first water passage  42 . When the electromagnetic valve closes the first water passage  42 , an electrically turned-on electromagnetic coil  34  would produce a magnetic polarity opposite to the magnetic polarity of one end of the valve stem  32 , which will make the valve stem  32  to detach from the magnet  35 , and instantly become subject to a reverse movement, making the vale stem  32  to closely push against the valve  33  and therefore close the first water passage  42 . Furthermore, when the electromagnetic coil  34  is electrically turned-on to produce a magnetic polarity attractive to an end of the valve stem  32 , making the valve stem  32  attracted to the magnet  35 , the valve stem  32  is dislodged from the valve  33 , leaving the valve  33  to an open sate to allow water flow at the first water passage  42  for directing the water flow to go into the third water passage  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the manual switch  2  comprises a rotating lever  21  and valve  22 , the rotating valve  21  is a means for controlling the axial rotation of the valve  22 . The rotation of the valve  22  is deemed as an option for opening or closing the first water passage  42  and second water passage  43 . The rotating lever  21  comprise a driver  211 , a base disc  213 , a shaft  214 , a positioning device  6  and a first gasket  23 . The driver  211  provides a torsional functionality of the rotating lever  21 , which is disposed on an outer surface of the main body  1 , which extends from an inside of the main body to expand into a base disc  213 . The base disc  213  is disposed with positioning hole  212 , the positioning hole  213  is used as a wedge to push against the positioning device  6  when the driver  211  turns. The shaft  214  is disposed on another end of the rotating lever  21 , and extends to stick outward to connect with the valve  22 . The first gasket  23  is inserted into onto the grooved section of the outer diameter of the shaft  214 , so as to prevent water leakage from the water chamber  41 . The first gasket  23  is made from a soft plastic material. 
     The valve  22  is a cylindrical valve and has a valve port  222 , a valve plane  221 , a closed portion  223 , a second gasket  224  and a valve blocking portion  225 . The valve port  222  provides a way for the water to flow from the first water passage  42  to the second water outlet opening  412 , and offers use for water discharge when the solenoid switch  3  is turned on. The valve plane  221  serves to direct water flowing from the manifold  4  to go into the second water outlet opening  412  via the second water passage  43 . The closed portion  223  serves to seal the first water outlet opening  411  so as to force close the on-state of the solenoid valve. The second gasket  224  is inserted onto grooved section of outer diameter of a cylindrical valve  22  such that water flow from the water inlet opening  226  of the second water passage  43 , through valve port, to the second water outlet opening, can be prevented. The second gasket  224  is made by a soft plastic material. The valve blocking portion  225  is disposed at the valve  22  facing one end of the first water passage  42 , or opens the first water passage  42  when the valve  33  is detached from the valve blocking portion  225 . 
     The positioning device  6  is disposed at an inside surface opposite to the base disc  213  of the rotating lever  21 . An inside of a pre-established assembly space  45  disposed on the outer surface of the water chamber  41  comprises an expansion portion  61  and a shrinkage portion  62 , which are installed with a spring inside the assembly space  45 . One end of the spring  7  is inserted onto the shrinkage portion  62  and pushes against the expansion portion  61 , another end of the spring  7  is disposed inside the assembly space  45 . The shrinkage portion  62  is placed in the inner storage space of the spring  7 , the expansion portion  61  substantially pushes against the outer wall of the spring, making the expansion portion  61  to protrude away from the exterior surface of the spring  7 &#39;s storage space, such that a distal end of the expansion portion  61  can always make the rotating lever  21  to hanker into a secured spot when the positioning hole  212  of the bas disc  213  is set into a desired location, when the every time the rotating lever  21  is turned. 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  show views of the valve operating in an automatic mode. When the rotating lever  21  is dialed to the automatic symbol A (AUTO), the valve port  22  of the valve will turn to face the second water outlet opening  412 , the second water passage  43  is sealed. The first water outlet opening  411  is opened and communicates with the first water passage  42 , and this is where the water of the water passage flows from. The objective to achieve automatic water turn-on by use of solenoid valve and water close-off by use of manual switch is such that when the solenoid valve is turned on, water discharging from the first water passage  42  can flow into the water inlet opening  226  through the valve  22 , and into the third water passage  44  through the valve port  222 . Furthermore, when the solenoid switch  3  presents a shut-down condition for the first water passage  42 , the valve stem  32  will seal the seat  33  with the valve plug. A wall of the corresponding seat  33  works to push against the valve blocking portion  225  of the valve  22 . This is essentially to mean that water discharge from the first water passage  42  and the second water passage  43  are sealed off at the same time. The purpose of this is to contribute to automatic water shut-down by use of solenoid switch. 
       FIGS. 8 and 10  show examples highlighting the instruction labels pointing to the symbol C (OFF), the closed portion  223  of the valve  22  pushes against the first water outlet opening  411  and the second water outlet opening  412  in order to prevent the water from the first water passage  42  and the second water passage  43  from leaking. Even if the solenoid switch  3  appears to be in an on-state, water discharge from the first water passage  42  and the second water passage  43  will be sealed by the valve port of the valve  22 . The purpose of this is contributive to enabling manual force shut-down of water. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 , examples are shown for situations where the rotating lever  21  points to the symbol B (ON). In this condition, the valve plane  221  of the valve  22  is turned to the second water outlet opening  412 . The design here is configured in such a way that even if the second water outlet opening  412  is opened and can communicate with the second water passage  43 , and this is where the water of the water passage flows from. When the first water passage  42  of the solenoid switch is closed, the water discharge from the second water passage  43  can flow into the second water outlet opening  412 , and the water discharge from the third water passage  44  can flow into the third water outlet opening  51 . This is designed to allow for force opening for water by use of manual switch. 
     The invention has been described herein by illustration of a preferred exemplary embodiment. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Further, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments having equivalent modification and change are possible within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: f