Ebb and flow watering system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9176503-B2
Application number	US-201414275737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 27, 2011
Publication date	Nov 3, 2015
Grant date	Nov 3, 2015

Abstract

An ebb and flow watering system having controls for starting an internal timing clock when a fluid in a control bucket reaches a fill level, restarting the internal timing clock if the fluid drops below the fill level, and shutting off the fill pump if the internal timing clock runs for a complete fill period; and starting an internal timing clock when the fluid in the control bucket reaches a drain level, restarting the internal timing clock if the fluid raises above the drain level, and shutting off the drain pump if the internal timing clock runs for a complete drain period.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling an ebb and flow watering system comprising:
starting an internal timing clock when a fluid in a control bucket reaches a fill level;
restarting the internal timing clock if the fluid drops below the fill level;
shutting off the control bucket filling operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete fill period;
starting an internal timing clock when the fluid in the control bucket reaches a drain level;
restarting the internal timing clock if the fluid raises above the drain level; and
shutting off a control bucket draining operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete drain period.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the complete fill period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of filling the ebb and flow garden system, and the complete drain period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of draining the ebb and flow garden system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the complete fill period is less than 15 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the complete drain period is no less than 3 seconds.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of blinking a fill LED when a fill time period is running or the internal timing clock is running, so long as a fill pump is powered on.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering continuously on a fill LED when a fill time period is running and a fill pump is off.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of blinking a drain LED when a drain time period is running or the timing clock is running, so long as a drain pump is powered on.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of powering continuously on a drain LED when a drain time period is running and a drain pump is off.

9. An ebb and flow watering system controller adapted to start an internal timing clock when a fluid in a control bucket reaches a fill level,
restart the internal timing clock if the fluid drops below the fill level,
shut off the control bucket filling operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete fill period,
start an internal timing clock when the fluid in the control bucket reaches a drain level,
restart the internal timing clock if the fluid raises above the drain level, and
shut off a control bucket draining operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete drain period.

10. The controller of claim 9 wherein the complete fill period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of filling the ebb and flow garden system, and the complete drain period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of draining the ebb and flow garden system.

11. The controller of claim 9 wherein the complete fill period is less than 15 minutes.

12. The controller of claim 9 wherein the complete drain period is no less than 3 seconds.

13. The controller of claim 9 adapted to blink a fill LED when a fill time period is running or the internal timing clock is running, so long as a fill pump is powered on.

14. The controller of claim 9 adapted to power continuously on a fill LED when a fill time period is running and a fill pump is off.

15. The controller of claim 9 adapted to blink a drain LED when a drain time period is running or the timing clock is running, so long as a drain pump is powered on.

16. The controller of claim 9 adapted to power continuously on a drain LED when a drain time period is running and a drain pump is off.

17. An ebb and flow watering system comprising a control bucket in fluid communication with one or more plant containers, and an ebb and flow watering system controller adapted to start an internal timing clock when a fluid in a control bucket reaches a fill level,
restart the internal timing clock if the fluid drops below the fill level,
shut off the control bucket filling operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete fill period,
start an internal timing clock when the fluid in the control bucket reaches a drain level,
restart the internal timing clock if the fluid raises above the drain level, and
shut off a control bucket draining operation if the internal timing clock runs for a complete drain period.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the complete fill period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of filling the ebb and flow garden system, and the complete drain period is no greater than the hydraulic delays of draining the ebb and flow garden system.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising a reservoir with at least one fluid line connected to the control bucket.

Assignees

• Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Carskadon Martin
• Barrett Patrick

Classifications

• Y10T137/27

  Liquid level responsive · CPC title

• Y10T137/7323

  By float · CPC title

• Y10T137/2577

  Liquid level responsive · CPC title

• Y10T137/267

  Control by filling auxiliary gravitating or float operating tank · CPC title

• G05D9/12

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title