Segmented variable rate drip irrigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9877438-B2
Application number	US-201414565515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A segmented variable drip irrigation system, comprised of a first horizontally disposed conduit and a second horizontally disposed conduit encompassing the first horizontally disposed conduit. The first horizontally disposed conduit passes through a forward end section, a middle section and exits through a rear end section of the second horizontally disposed conduit. The second horizontally disposed conduit contains a drain mounted to its end, at least one flow control valve and a plurality of drip emitters connected to the second horizontally disposed conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A segmented variable drip irrigation system comprising: one or more sections of pipe adapted to carry fluid, each section of pipe comprising:
a first conduit inside a second conduit such that the first conduit passes through an entire length of the second conduit, wherein the first conduit of each section of pipe is capable of being removably attached end-to-end to one another such that fluid flows through consecutive sections of the first conduit and fluid is prevented from flowing between consecutive sections of the second conduit;
a drip irrigation nozzle vertically mounted to a bottom section of the second conduit, wherein fluid is capable of flowing from the second conduit through the drip irrigation nozzle;
a drain mounted to the second conduit near at least one end of the section of pipe wherein fluid is capable of flowing from the second disposed conduit through the drain;
at least one flow control valve located at one end of the first conduit to regulate fluid flow from either an adjoining section of pipe or a water supply pipe each fluidly connected to the first conduit;
an inlet conduit fluidly connected to the first conduit, and fluidly connected to a solenoid control valve;
an outlet conduit fluidly connected to the solenoid control valve and fluidly connected to the second conduit, the solenoid control valve is capable of regulating flow from the first conduit into the second conduit through the solenoid control valve; and
a control station operably coupled to the solenoid control valve, wherein the control station is operably coupled to one or more electronic sensors for measuring fluid metric potential, the control station dynamically monitoring the one or more electronic sensors for one or more electrical signals, the one or more electrical signals representing one or more commands for the solenoid control valve and flow control valve.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second conduit comprises a cylindrical enclosure over a section of the first conduit.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first conduit extending through the second conduit is fluidly sealed from the second conduit.

4. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a disposable check valve located nearest to three way connection between the water supply pipe and the first conduit to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction.

5. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a controllable disposable valve located nearest to connection between the water supply pipe and the first conduit to permit isolation of irrigation branches.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each second conduit comprises one or more flow control valves to regulate the fluid flow each individual second conduit.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein each second conduit comprises one or more electronic sensors connected to the one or more flow control valves and a control computer.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein a control and power cabling electrically connected to the one or more flow control valves and the one or more electronic sensors passes inside the first conduit.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the control and power cabling is insulated from fluids, and debris.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the controlling and power cabling comprises insulated connections between a plurality of sections on the first conduit.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sections of the first conduit are disposable.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the drip irrigation nozzle is adjusted for variable fluid flow.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the drain comprises a solenoid control valve to flush the segmented variable drip irrigation system.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a computer control module operates the solenoid control valve in a closed loop configuration based on sensor feedback.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein each of the solenoid control valve are configured to acknowledge command receipt of the one or more commands and to report that the one or more commands were performed.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit is disposable.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Bermudez Rodriguez Sergio A
• Hamann Hendrik F
• Klein Levente
• Schappert Michael A

Classifications

• A01G25/02 Primary

  Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation · CPC title

• Y02A40/22

  Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion · CPC title