Sprinkler System Accounting for Wind Effect

Abstract

A novel sprinkler system designed to take into account the effect of wind on water droplets. There is also disclosed a wind shifting algorithm which, when used, corrects the sprinkler water spray to counteract the effect of wind, such that good water coverage and precipitation uniformity can be achieved.

1 . A system for use in conjunction with at least one sprinkler, wherein said system comprises:
 a wind detector located proximate an area to be sprayed by the at least one sprinkler; said wind detector adapted to record and relay information relating to a wind;   a processor adapted to receive said information obtained from said wind detector and capable of modifying a sprinkler spraying program to compensate for said wind; said processor is operatively connected to the at least one sprinkler.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the information relating to a wind comprises: wind speed and wind direction 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor further comprises instructions for manipulating the water output from said at least one sprinkler through incorporation of at least one algorithm used to calculate a value. 
     
     
         4 . A system for use in conjunction with at least one sprinkler, wherein said system comprises:
 a wind detector located proximate an area to be sprayed by the at least one sprinkler; said wind detector adapted to record information relating to a wind comprising wind speed and wind direction;   a processor adapted to receive said information to obtained from said wind detector and capable of modifying a sprinkler program to compensate for said wind; said processor is operatively connected to the at least one sprinkler; and comprising:   computer coded instructions for manipulating the water output from said at least one sprinkler through incorporation of at least one windshifting algorithm used to calculate a value; and   wherein said at least one windshifting algorithm using the information collected by the wind detector to yield a value corresponding to at least one instruction and providing said at least one instruction to the processor to modify a water output of the at least one sprinkler to counteract, in whole or in part, the effect of the wind.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the wind detector is an anemometer. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the anemometer is a vane anemometer. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the wind detector is adapted to wirelessly relay information to the processor. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the processor receives the information from the wind detector and uses a pre-determined value corresponding to an instruction to modify the sprinkler spraying program. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the pre-determined value corresponding to an instruction is related to the information obtained from the wind detector. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the wind detector is adapted to wirelessly relay information to the processor, wherein the processor further comprises a database for storing data representing values obtained through the performing of at least one algorithm, wherein said value is used for manipulating the water output from said at least one sprinkler. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler is of the single head rotary type. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to any one of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold fluidly connected to a water supply via a flow control valve, wherein said manifold is operated by instructions from a controller. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller is a computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the value calculated corresponds to at least one of: droplet diameter; spray speed; spray angle etc. 
     
     
         15 . Method of spraying an area requiring watering under windy conditions, wherein said method comprises:
 providing at least one sprinkler in fluid connection with a water source and adapted to spray said area according to a spraying program;   providing at least one wind detector located proximate the area requiring watering;   providing a processor adapted to receive information on a wind detected from the at least one wind detector and capable of modifying a spraying program based on the wind detected in order to counteract, in whole or in part, the effect of the wind on the water being sprayed;   recording the wind information and sending the information to the processor;   modifying the spraying program by providing at least one instruction to the processor operatively connected to the at least one sprinkler, said instruction being pre-determined to counteract, in whole or in part, the effect of the wind.   
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises:
 at least one wind counteracting sprinkler fluidly connected to a water source and activated by the processor to perform the spraying program designed to counteract the wind effect.   
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein said processor receives the information from the wind detector and uses a pre-determined value corresponding to an instruction to modify the sprinkler spraying program. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the pre-determined value corresponding to an instruction is related to the information obtained from the wind detector. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 , wherein the wind detector is adapted to wirelessly relay information to the processor, wherein the processor further comprises a database for storing data representing values obtained through the performing of at least one algorithm, wherein said value is used for manipulating the water output from said at least one sprinkler. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises the use of at least one moisture sensor to evaluate the soil moisture and to evaluate water precipitation from a spraying program, wherein said moisture sensor is adapted to relay moisture information to the processor. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the processor uses the moisture information in its algorithm to modify the spraying program. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 , wherein the instruction from the processor to the sprinkler head is a modification of the speed at which the sprinkler head rotates. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 , wherein the instruction from the processor to the sprinkler head is a slowing down of the speed at which the sprinkler head rotates to increase the precipitation rate in a selected area. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 , wherein the instruction from the processor to the sprinkler head is an increase of the speed at which the sprinkler head rotates to decrease the precipitation rate in a selected area.