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 Title: |
US5241786:
Irrigation control system
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Burns, Ivey L.; Orlando, FL
Muller, Eldon R.; Orlando, FL
Bell, Edward; Orlando, FL
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| Assignee: |
The Walt Disney Company, Burbank, CA
other patents from WALT DISNEY COMPANY (617665) (approx. 101)
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| Published / Filed: |
1993-09-07
/ 1991-03-29
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| Application Number: |
US1991000677487
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A01G 27/00;
IPC-7:
A01G 25/16;
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| ECLA Code: |
A01G27/00D;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
047/079;
047/062.R;
Original:
047/079;
047/062;
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| Field of Search: |
047/062,79-82,48.5,18 R,59,60
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| Priority Number: |
| 1991-03-29 |
US1991000677487 |
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| Abstract: |
An irrigation control system is disclosed for controlling the irrigation of horticultural plants or crops grown in containers The system includes a beam assembly for supporting the plant media system and a load cell for providing an electrical output signal proportional to the load applied to the beam assembly by the plant media system. The load cell is interfaced with a microcomputer which executes a control program of the present invention. The control program reads the signal from the load cell at selected intervals and signals for an irrigation event if the current weight of the plant media system is less than a predetermined base weight. A new predetermined base weight is calculated and reset after each irrigation event. In this way, the system bases the initiation of an irrigation event on real time, short term, differential weight change of the plant media system due to evapotranspiration, while allowing for compensation of weight change effects due to other factors such as fruit set, plant weight, pruning and harvesting.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Pretty, Schroeder, Brueggemann & Clark ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Friedman, Carl D.; Wood, Wynn E.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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| Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 9 claims |
We claim:
1. An irrigation control system, comprising:
- (a) a movable beam assembly adapted to support a plant media system;
- (b) load sensing means for sensing the weight of the plant media system, and for providing signals corresponding to that weight; and
- (c) control means for controlling irrigation of the plant media system in response to the signals received from the load sensing means, the control means being adapted to read the signals from the load sensing means and to signal an irrigation event when the signals indicate that the weight of the plant media system has dropped below a predetermined base weight, the control means further being adapted to calculate and set a new predetermined base weight after each irrigation event by subtracting a predetermined weight from the actual sensed weight of the plant media system after an irrigation event.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 1 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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