Positive station module locking mechanism for expandable irrigation controller

Abstract

A modular expandable irrigation controller has controls for manual entry or selection of a watering program and a memory for storing the watering program. A processor executes the stored watering program and controls one or more station modules each including a station module circuit for energizing at least one solenoid actuated valve in accordance with the watering program. The irrigation controller has a plurality of receptacles for each removably receiving a station module and for providing an operative connection to the processor. A manually movable locking member is grasped and moved between UNLOCKED and LOCKED positions to positively secure each station module in a corresponding receptacle.

1 . A modular expandable irrigation controller, comprising: 
 control means for manual entry or selection of a watering program;    means for storing the watering program;    processor means for executing the stored watering program and controlling one or more station modules each including a station module circuit for energizing at least one solenoid actuated valve in accordance with the watering program;    means for providing a plurality of receptacles for each removably receiving a station module and for providing an operative connection to the processor; and    means, including a manually movable locking member, for securing each station module in a corresponding receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the movable locking member is a rotating lever.  
   
   
       3 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the movable locking member is a slide bar.  
   
   
       4 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the station module circuit includes at least one switching device.  
   
   
       5 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the securing means further comprises UNLOCKED and LOCKED indicia and the securing means includes a pointer on the movable locking member that moves between first and second positions adjacent the UNLOCKED and LOCKED indicia, respectively.  
   
   
       6 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the means for providing an electrical connection includes a female electrical connector in each of the receptacles.  
   
   
       7 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the means for providing an electrical connection includes a card edge connector in each of the receptacles.  
   
   
       8 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the movable locking member is a rotating lever that is connected to a shaft that moves a locking tab underneath a portion of a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       9 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the movable locking member is a slide bar having a plurality of locking elements that move into and out of obstructing relationship with at least one projection on each of the station modules to simultaneously prevent and permit the removal of a plurality of station modules from their corresponding receptacles, respectively.  
   
   
       10 . The controller of  claim 1  and further comprising means for providing a receptacle for removably receiving a power module and for providing an electrical connection to the processor means.  
   
   
       11 . A modular expandable irrigation controller, comprising: 
 means for entry or selection of a watering program;    a memory that stores the watering program;    a processor that executes the stored watering program and controls one or more station modules each including a station module circuit for opening and closing at least one valve in accordance with the watering program;    a plurality of receptacles each configured to removably receive a station module and provide a connection to the processor; and    a locking member mounted adjacent the receptacles and manually moveable from an UNLOCKED position to a LOCKED position to positively secure the station modules in the receptacles.    
   
   
       12 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the locking member is a rotating lever.  
   
   
       13 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the locking member is a slide bar.  
   
   
       14 . The controller of  claim 11  and further comprising a pointer on the locking member that moves between positions adjacent UNLOCKED and LOCKED indicia formed adjacent at least one of the receptacles.  
   
   
       15 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein each of the receptacles includes a female electrical connector.  
   
   
       16 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein each of the receptacles includes a card edge connector.  
   
   
       17 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the locking member is a rotating lever that is connected to a shaft that moves a locking tab underneath a portion of a back panel in which the receptacles are located.  
   
   
       18 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the locking member is a slide bar having a plurality of locking elements that move into and out of obstructing relationship with at least one projection on each of the station modules to simultaneously prevent and permit the removal of a plurality of station modules from their corresponding receptacles, respectively.  
   
   
       19 . The controller of  claim 18  wherein the locking elements and the projection are configured so that they will collide and move the slide bar to its UNLOCKED position if a user plugs the station module into an empty receptacle when the slide bar is in its LOCKED position.  
   
   
       20 . A method of expanding a modular irrigation controller, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a microprocessor based irrigation controller with a plurality of receptacles for each receiving a station module that is controlled by the microprocessor to open and close at least one solenoid actuated valve operatively connected to the station module;    inserting a module into one of the receptacles; and    manually gripping and moving a locking member mounted adjacent the receptacle from an UNLOCKED position to a LOCKED position to positively secure the station module in the adjacent receptacle.