Cycle Soak Irrigation Control Unit Reducing Runoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional irrigation systems lack the cycle and soak functionality, leading to water runoff and inefficiency, and existing solutions often require costly upgrades to advanced controllers, which is not feasible for homeowners with functional but outdated systems.
Innovation Solution
A cycle and soak irrigation control unit that operates externally with existing irrigation controllers, using actuation line connectors, electrical pathways, and timing control circuits to implement cycle-on and soak-off sequences, reducing water runoff and consumption without modifying the existing irrigation system or controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional irrigation systems are used without cycle and soak functionality, then the system structure remains simple and cost-effective, but water runoff increases and irrigation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the irrigation control function into two separate components: a simple external irrigation controller that provides basic on/off control, and a dedicated cycle and soak control unit that implements the cycle-soak sequencing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the external controller remains simple and affordable, while the cycle-soak unit adds the necessary complexity only where needed to reduce water runoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The cycle and soak control unit acts as an intermediary device between the external irrigation controller and the irrigation actuatable devices. It receives activation signals from the simple external controller, processes them through its timing control circuit to generate cycle-on and soak-off sequences, and then controls the actuatable devices accordingly. This intermediary approach enables advanced water management without requiring replacement of the existing controller.
2Productivity
If advanced controllers with cycle and soak functionality are installed, then irrigation efficiency improves and water consumption reduces, but system cost increases due to controller replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cycle and soak control unit serves as a cost-effective intermediary solution that bridges simple external controllers and advanced integrated controllers. Rather than replacing expensive advanced controllers, this unit can be added to existing simple controllers, providing cycle-soak functionality at lower cost while maintaining irrigation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cycle and soak control unit is designed with universal compatibility to work with various types of external irrigation controllers and different irrigation actuatable devices. Its standardized connectors and generic control interface allow it to be integrated into different system configurations without requiring custom solutions, thereby reducing overall system cost.
3Loss of substance
If existing irrigation controllers are upgraded to include cycle and soak functionality, then water consumption reduces, but installation complexity increases requiring system modifications
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cycle-soak control functionality into a standalone unit rather than integrating it into the existing controller, the patent eliminates the need to modify the original controller hardware or software. The external controller continues to operate as-is, while the separate cycle-soak unit handles the sequencing logic, significantly reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cycle and soak control unit is designed to be self-contained with all necessary control logic, timing circuits, and connectivity interfaces included in a single unit. It automatically receives activation signals from the external controller and independently generates the cycle-soak sequences without requiring complex wiring modifications or system reconfiguration, making installation straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
Several embodiments provide cycle and soak irrigation control units, comprising: a housing; a plurality of pairs of actuation line connectors comprising input connectors to couple with output actuation lines of a separate irrigation controller, and output connectors to couple with actuatable devices; a plurality of electrical pathways each coupling a respective input connector to a corresponding output connector and allowing an activation signal to be passed; at least one switch configured to selectively allow or interrupt activation signals to pass to a corresponding output connector; and a timing control circuit controlling the switch, based on an application of an activation signal on an input connector, a duration of a series of cycle-on timings during which the activation signal is emitted from the output connector to activate an actuatable device and soak-off timings during which the activation signal is prevented from being emitted deactivating the actuatable device.