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...that the Slinky toy was the result of a failed attempt by engineer Richard James to produce an antivibration device for ship instruments? His goal was to develop a spring that would instantaneously counterbalance the wave motion that rocks a ship at sea. Instead, he developed the Slinky.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8104498 | Soil moisture sensor and controller Moisture sensor devices and methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment includes an integrated moisture sensor and controller to be placed in soil comprising a controller circuit for controlling a switch; a sensor circuit comprising a probe and adapted to provide t... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8051871 | Irrigation control system A tensiometer for use in determining matric potential of a soil comprising: a water inlet; a hydraulic coupler comprising a porous material for providing hydraulic coupling between water that enters the inlet and the soil; and a septum that seals water that enters t... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8001990 | Device for measuring thermal properties in a medium and method for determining the moisture content in the medium The invention relates to a method and device for determining the water content of a medium, particularly of soils and the like, in which a probe or sensor (8) located in the medium is heated. A temporary change in temperature is effected by dissipating the th... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7997294 | Soil moisture sensing apparatus for preventing overwatering A soil moisture sensing system includes a housing embedded in the soil and having a water chamber adapted to receive water from a water source. A controlled drainage assembly includes a semi-permeable membrane coupled to said water chamber for controllably releasing... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7931045 | Water sensor apparatus A water sensor apparatus used in connection with a watering system. The water sensor apparatus includes a main housing comprising an inlet and an outlet. A valve mechanism is provided inside the main housing. The valve mechanism opens and closes the outlet of the ma... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7921865 | Stand-alone mechanical device for controlled watering The invention concerns an exclusively mechanical stand-alone device for controlled watering by sprinkling, wherein a soil simulating member, having an absorbent body associated with a reclinable cup arranged beneath, contributes to determination of the interval betw... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7836910 | Soil moisture sensor and controller Moisture sensor devices and methods associated with operation of the moisture sensor devices are disclosed herein. One embodiment includes a moisture sensor and controller device adapted to be placed in soil comprising a switch adapted to be coupled to a power contr... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7810515 | Smart water timer A smart water timer which includes a water timer, a receiving unit connected to the water timer, and a moisture sensing unit which is in wireless communication with the receiving unit. The smart water timer can sense when the moisture level in the soil is too moist ... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7506658 | Liquid flow control devices A liquid flow control device includes an annular housing having an inlet for liquid in one periphery of the housing and an outlet for liquid in the other periphery. An annular block of water swellable material is located in the housing. A layer of sealing material e... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7469707 | Irrigation control valve and system An irrigation control valve has two movable members that can independently or in combination block the flow of water in a conduit, or be fully retracted of at some point in-between. A moisture sensitive element is arranged to be placed in contact with the soil and e... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7413380 | Golf course turf conditioning control system and method A system and method for conditioning turf at of one or more golf course areas includes an aeration subsystem having subsurface aeration conduits for aerating the area, and an air blower unit in fluid communication with the aeration conduits configured to provide one... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7398139 | Remote programming and diagnostic of decoder irrigation system A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedic... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7363112 | Digital moisture monitor controller with wide applications soil, and hydroponics moisture sensors, and optional X10 multi-sensor, multi-pump controller Utilizing the latest microprocessor technology, the digital moisture monitor controller along with its wide applications alternating current conduction moisture sensors and optional X10 multi sensor multi pump controller, controls moisture levels in all soils and al... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7347384 | Multi-zone sprinkler system with moisture sensors and configurable spray pattern An irrigation system comprises sprinkler heads with an electrically configurable spray pattern, moisture sensors, and a controller. Based upon input signals from the moisture sensors, the controller dynamically configures the spray pattern of the sprinkler head to a... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7342375 | Automatic storm shutter control The present invention provides wireless and direct wired methods and devices for automatically closing electrically-driven roll-down storm shutters in the presence of rain on one or more rain sensors. ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7325567 | Pneumatic retarder acutator valve The present invention pertains to an electro-pneumatic retarder control (EPRC) valve for a pneumatic retarder that controls the speed of railroad cars in a marshaling yard. The EPRC valve has a housing that generally encloses and protects its various components. The... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7317972 | Management of peak water use The present invention provides systems and methods in which an irrigation management system reduces high peak water use values by utilizing a microprocessor (220) disposed in an irrigation controller (100) to receive peak water use information from a w... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7286904 | Systems and methods for adaptation to wireless remote control of irrigation valves from existing hardwired control devices A low cost system and method for retrofitting an existing control device to communicate wirelessly with one or more water-flow devices is provided. For example, an existing wired irrigation system may be adapted to allow wireless communication between a commercially... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7280047 | Real-time electronic spray deposition sensor An electronic spray deposition sensor for sensing deposition of liquid on an exterior surface is disclosed. The deposition sensor has a sensing surface comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed across the sensing surface. The conductive ele... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7264177 | Methods, systems and apparatuses for automated irrigation and chemical treatment An automated irrigation and chemical treatment system comprising a user input device adapted to communicate with a control unit; a mixing chamber adapted to communicate with the control unit and connected to a water supply and chemical canisters, wherein each canist... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7266428 | Irrigation controller water management with temperature budgeting The present invention provides methods for water conservation with AC, DC, or ambient light powered irrigation controllers without the use of complex ET (evapotranspiration) data or ET related service fees. Programming may consist of the operator entering a prelimin... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7261245 | Adaptive irrigation of vegetation Adaptive irrigation of vegetation is achieved with a probe implanted into the soil for detecting rootage wetness needs by measuring soil impedance with contacts distributed along the probe. When a dryness threshold indicating rootage needs is met at a depth ZBE... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258129 | Moisture sensor and control system for sprinklers and method therefor A landscaping watering system has a probe for monitoring a moisture content of an area. A control unit is coupled to the probe for sending an activation signal to activate a flow of water when a signal from the probe indicates the moisture content of the area is bel... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7248945 | Remote programming and diagnostic of decoder irrigation system A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedic... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7245991 | Distributed architecture irrigation controller A processor is connected by a bus to a plurality of station modules, each station module being connected to a corresponding valve and having a micro-controller. The processor executes a stored watering program and controls the station modules in accordance with the ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7239154 | Soil penetrating electrode with conical taper This disclosure describes a Soil Penetrating Electrode with Conical Taper for use with instrumentation for measurement of the electrical properties of soil in situ. The Electrode shape and configuration solves problems of stable and reliable contact with the soil, r... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7231298 | Environment detection system An environment detection device for detecting a plurality of environmental conditions comprising a housing unit. The housing unit contains a plurality of sensors, a battery, and a memory storage device. The housing unit further includes a circuit board electrically ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7216659 | Low power system for wireless monitoring of an environment and irrigation control The present invention relates to a system and components thereof for intelligently watering an environment. The system comprises at least one sensor for monitoring particular environmental conditions, and at least one electrically powered valve that receives wireles... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7216020 | Method and system for controlling an irrigation scheduling engine using computed evapotranspiration values A system for providing irrigation control is provided. The system includes a number of non-local data sources for providing data, a processor and an irrigation system. The processor is configured to receive data from one or more of the non-local data sources and cal... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7203576 | Moisture sensor timer A timer that facilitates a user's scheduling and controlling of the operation of an irrigation system for irrigating a property, the timer including a base unit electrically connected to the valve, and a handheld unit including a power source, a CPU, a valve control... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7182272 | System and method for facilitating control of irrigation systems A system for providing reliable communications between components of an irrigation system is provided. The system includes a central control, a number of communication systems each representing a transmission channel, an irrigation controller having a receiver that ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7178391 | Insertion tube methods and apparatus A drill string comprises a first drill string member having a male end; and a second drill string member having a female end configured to be joined to the male end of the first drill string member, the male end having a threaded portion including generally square t... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7181319 | Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedic... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7172366 | Golf course environmental management system and method The invention is a system and method for managing a plurality of areas of interest of a golf course. The system comprises a plurality of subsurface aeration subsystems and a programmable master control module. Each subsystem provides to a specific area at least one ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7168632 | Multi-zone sprinkler system with moisture sensors and configurable spray pattern An irrigation system comprises sprinkler heads with an electrically configurable spray pattern, moisture sensors, and a controller. Based upon input signals from the moisture sensors, the controller dynamically configures the spray pattern of the sprinkler head to a... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7133749 | Method and apparatus for optimizing soil moisture A self-adjusting irrigation controller takes a pre-irrigation soil moisture reading prior to irrigation, chooses an amount of water to be dispensed corresponding to that reading from a table, and dispenses that amount of water. A predetermined length of time after t... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7091830 | Subterranean two-wire power and communications network A combination of frequency and time division multiplexed signals communicates using bursts of higher frequency sinusoidal waves superimposed upon the alternating current in a two-wire power distribution network. A synchronization pattern precedes data, all bursts ha... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7066192 | Valve shut off device The invention is a valve shut off device that is easy to install and remove. The valve shut off device has at least one sensor, a receiver a set of interchangeable adapters, and a motor unit. The motor unit is attached to a valve handle by an adapter, and the sensor... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7069115 | Hybrid modular/decoder irrigation controller A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedic... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7063270 | Moisture sensor sprinkler control systems Irrigation systems, moisture sensors and related methods having a sensor embedded in the ground to sense moisture and help control watering. The sensor is responsive to capacitance changes from ground moisture variations. The sensor uses spaced insulated electrodes ... | 06/20/2006 |
