Sprinkler Runoff Conservation System

Online, December 1, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of lawn sprinkler systems more specifically to systems for minimizing the unnecessary use of irrigation water and collecting and recycling water distributed by sprinkler systems.

Background of the Invention
In many areas automatic lawn sprinkler systems are used to water lawns and gardens. These systems use enormous amounts of potable water, a sizable portion of which is not absorbed and used efficiently by plants that the systems water, but rather ends up as runoff. This runoff exits lawns and flower beds through drainage piping and systems that divert the runoff into streets, sewers and eventually oceans, rivers and streams. As water for irrigating and drinking becomes increasingly scarce, systems to conserve and recycle irrigation water become increasingly desirable. It is estimated that 83 trillion gallons of water are used for irrigation each year in the United States alone. If even 3%-5% of this amount could be collected and recycled, the savings would be significant. The present invention addresses this problem. Various water collection systems have been developed by inventors.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a system for collecting runoff from lawn and garden sprinkler systems that include in ground drainage piping. It is a further objective to provide a system that is integrated with a water supply system insure that sufficient water is available for redistribution to lawns and gardens. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a conservation system that measures relative moisture at delivery sites and only provides watering when the moisture content of the soil reaches a predefined level. It is another objective to provide a system that senses a pressure drop in an irrigation line and closes off water flow to that line. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a system for collecting runoff from lawn and garden sprinkler systems that can be economically manufactured, installed and operated and that is durable and simple to use.

While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

Summary of the Invention
The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art sprinkler runoff conservation system inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

(1) A sprinkler runoff conservation system, providing all of the desired features can be constructed from the following components. A plant irrigating sprinkler system is provided. The sprinkler system includes a water source, at least one tubing section, and at least one sprinkler head. A drainage system is provided. The drainage system collects water from soil irrigated by the sprinkler system and provides a gravity-fed path to a collection point. A runoff collection sump is provided. The sump is connected to and located at a level below the collection point. An overflow drain is provided. The overflow drain is located at an upper level of the collection sump. The drain is fluidly connect to a community water runoff system and permits a volume of water exceeding a capacity of the sump to drain into the community runoff system.

A sump pump is provided. The sump pump is located within the sump and supplies pressurized water to the sprinkler system. A water fill line is provided. The fill line connects to the water source, is controlled by a water level shutoff switch, and provides a water supply to the collection sump. The water level shutoff switch allows the water fill line to fill the sump to a first predetermined level prior to operation of the sump pump and the sprinkler system. A sprinkler timer is provided. The sprinkler timer controls the water level shutoff switch, causing the sump to be filled to the first predetermined level at a predetermined time. The sprinkler timer controls the sump pump to provide pressurized water to the sprinkler system after the predetermined time and for a predetermined duration. A humidity sensor is provided. The humidity sensor is electrically connected to the sump pump and provides power to the pump only when humidity is determined by the sensor to be below a predetermined humidity level.

A pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor is fluidly connected to the sprinkler system between the sump pump and the sprinkler head and electrically connected to the sprinkler timer and the sump pump. The pressure sensor measures pressure in the tubing section during an irrigation period. The irrigation period begins a predetermined time after activation of the sump pump by the sprinkler timer and ends at shutdown of the sump pump by the timer. The pressure sensor terminates power to the sump pump upon detecting a predetermined pressure drop in the tubing section during the irrigation period. When water provided by either rain or the sprinkler system drains into the runoff collection sump, the water is reused for irrigation when the sump pump is controlled by the sprinkler timer, the humidity sensor and the pressure sensor to supply pressurized water to the sprinkler system.

(2) In a variant of the invention, at least one sprinkler line shutoff valve is provided. The shutoff valve is electrically operated and is connected between the sump pump and a first sprinkler head connected to any of the tubing sections. The first sprinkler head is connected to the tubing section at a point closer to the sump pump along the tubing section than any other sprinkler head connected to the tubing section. The shutoff valve permits water flow when energized by the sprinkler timer and prevents water flow either when the sprinkler timer ceases to energize the shutoff valve or when the pressure sensor detects the predetermined pressure drop in the tubing section during the irrigation period. The sprinkler timer energizes a subsequent shutoff valve connected between the sump pump and a subsequent tubing section and permits water flow during a subsequent irrigation period subject to control by a second pressure sensor.

(3) In another variant, the drainage system further includes at least one entry point. The entry point is located at a low elevation point of the soil irrigated by the sprinkler system. The entry point is fluidly connected to either underground piping or channels leading downwardly to the collection point.

(4) In still another variant, the drainage system further includes a layer of aeration material disposed below the soil irrigated by the sprinkler system. An accumulation pan is provided. The pan is formed of water impervious material, located below the aeration material and provides the gravity-fed path to the collection point.

(5) In yet another variant, the aeration material is selected from the group that includes rocks, concrete fragments and brick fragments.

(6) In a further variant, the drainage system further includes a mold and mildew resistant coating applied to any of the aeration material, the accumulation pan and the collection sump.

(7) In yet a further variant, the runoff collection sump further includes a removable, cleanable filter. The filter is located adjacent the collection point and provides a diversion path to the community runoff system should the filter be sufficiently clogged to prevent water flow through the collection point into the collection sump.

(8) In still a further variant, the sump pump further includes a float switch. The float switch cuts power to the pump if water in the collection sump falls below a second predetermined level.

(9) In another variant of the invention, the sprinkler line shutoff valve further includes a manual shutoff feature to permit timely repair of broken sprinkler heads or the tubing section to which the shutoff valve is fluidly connected.

(10) In a final variant, the sprinkler runoff conservation system further includes either a visual or auditory signal. The signal is activated when the pressure sensor detects the predetermined pressure drop in the tubing section during the irrigation period.

An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

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