(1) Figures 1-4 illustrate a sprinkler runoff conservation system 10, providing all of the desired features that can be constructed from the following components. A plant irrigating sprinkler system 14 is provided. The sprinkler system 14 includes a water source (not shown), at least one tubing section 22, and at least one sprinkler head 26. A drainage system 30 is provided. The drainage system 30 collects water from soil 34 irrigated by the sprinkler system 14 and provides a gravity-fed path 38 to a collection point 42. A runoff collection sump 46 is provided. The sump 46 is connected to and located at a level 50 below the collection point 42. An overflow drain 54 is provided. The overflow drain 54 is located at an upper level 58 of the collection sump 46. The drain 54 is fluidly connect to a community water runoff system (not shown) and permits a volume of water 66 exceeding a capacity 70 of the sump 46 to drain into the community runoff system.
A sump pump 74 is provided. The sump pump 74 is located within the sump 46 and supplies pressurized water 78 to the sprinkler system 14. A water fill line 82 is provided. The fill line 82 connects to the water source 18, is controlled by a water level shutoff switch 86, and provides a water supply 90 to the collection sump 46. The water level shutoff switch 86 allows the water fill line 82 to fill the sump 46 to a first predetermined level 94 prior to operation of the sump pump 74 and the sprinkler system 14. A sprinkler timer 98 is provided. The sprinkler timer 98 controls the water level shutoff switch 86, causing the sump to be filled to the first predetermined level 94 at a predetermined time 102. The sprinkler timer 98 controls the sump pump 74 to provide pressurized water 78 to the sprinkler system 14 after the predetermined time 102 and for a predetermined duration 106. A humidity sensor 110 is provided. The humidity sensor 110 is electrically connected to the sump pump 74 and provides power to the pump 74 only when humidity is determined by the sensor 110 to be below a predetermined humidity level.
A pressure sensor 122 is provided. The pressure sensor 122 is fluidly connected to the sprinkler system 14 between the sump pump 74 and the sprinkler head 26 and electrically connected to the sprinkler timer 98 and the sump pump 74. The pressure sensor 122 measures pressure in the tubing section 22 during an irrigation period 126. The irrigation period 126 begins a predetermined time 130 after activation of the sump pump 74 by the sprinkler timer 98 and ends at shutdown of the sump pump 74 by the timer 98. The pressure sensor 122 terminates power to the sump pump 74 upon detecting a predetermined pressure drop in the tubing section 22 during the irrigation period 126. When water 138 provided by either rain (not shown) or the sprinkler system 14 drains into the runoff collection sump 46, the water 138 is reused for irrigation when the sump pump 74 is controlled by the sprinkler timer 98, the humidity sensor 110 and the pressure sensor 122 to supply pressurized water 78 to the sprinkler system 14.
(2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 4, at least one sprinkler line shutoff valve 146 is provided. The shutoff valve 146 is electrically operated and is connected between the sump pump 74 and a first sprinkler head 150 connected to any of the tubing sections 22. The first sprinkler head 150 is connected to the tubing section 22 at a point closer to the sump pump 74 along the tubing section 22 than any other sprinkler head 26 connected to the tubing section 22. The shutoff valve 146 permits water flow when energized by the sprinkler timer 98 and prevents water flow either when the sprinkler timer 98 ceases to energize the shutoff valve 146 or when the pressure sensor 122 detects the predetermined pressure drop 134 in the tubing section 22 during the irrigation period 126. The sprinkler timer 98 energizes a subsequent shutoff valve 146 connected between the sump pump 74 and a subsequent tubing section 22 and permits water flow during a subsequent irrigation period 126 subject to control by a second pressure sensor 122.
(3) In another variant, as illustrated in Figure 2, the drainage system 30 further includes at least one entry point 154. The entry point 154 is located at a low elevation point 158 of the soil 34 irrigated by the sprinkler system 14. The entry point 154 is fluidly connected to either underground piping 162 or channels 166 leading downwardly to the collection point 42.
(4) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figure 1, the drainage system 30 further includes a layer of aeration material 170 disposed below the soil 34 irrigated by the sprinkler system 14. An accumulation pan 174 is provided. The pan 174 is formed of water impervious material 178, located below the aeration material 170 and provides the gravity-fed path 38 to the collection point 42.
(5) In yet another variant, the aeration material 170 is selected from the group that includes rocks, concrete fragments and brick fragments.
(6) In a further variant, the drainage system 30 further includes a mold and mildew resistant coating 180 applied to any of the aeration material 170, the accumulation pan 174 and the collection sump 46.
(7) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in Figure 3, the runoff collection sump 46 further includes a removable, cleanable filter 182. The filter 182 is located adjacent the collection point 42 and provides a diversion path 186 to the community runoff system should the filter 182 be sufficiently clogged to prevent water flow through the collection point 42 into the collection sump 46.
(8) In still a further variant, the sump pump 74 further includes a float switch 190. The float switch 190 cuts power to the pump 74 if water in the collection sump 46 falls below a second predetermined level 194.
(9) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 4, the sprinkler line shutoff valve 146 further includes a manual shutoff feature 198 to permit timely repair of broken sprinkler heads 26 or the tubing section 22 to which the shutoff valve 146 is fluidly connected.
(10) In a final variant, as illustrated in Figure 3, the sprinkler runoff conservation system 10 further includes either a visual or auditory signal 202. The signal 202 is activated when the pressure sensor 122 detects the predetermined pressure drop in the tubing section 22 during the irrigation period 126.
The sprinkler runoff conservation system 10 has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.
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