Rain Bird, a manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, was awarded a patent for its "System and Method for Use in Controlling Irrigation and Compensating for Rain." This patent protects the design concept used in the company's RainWatch feature, an integral component of Rain Bird's central control software products, versions 4.0 and higher.
Developed by Rain Bird's engineering scientist Rene Evelyn-Veere, RainWatch is the industry's first active rainfall monitoring and response system. This highly innovative technology automatically reacts to rainfall and adjusts sprinkler application rates accordingly, taking full advantage of natural rain without over-watering.
RainWatch is so highly advanced that it can differentiate between a passing shower and a period of extensive rainfall. During brief periods of precipitation, RainWatch automatically suspends any running sprinklers while continuing to measure the falling rain. Once the shower passes, irrigation resumes, reducing sprinkler runtimes by an amount equivalent to the measured rain. If the rain turns into a lengthy episode of wet weather, RainWatch stops any running irrigation and prevents new irrigation from starting for a user-specified time period.
With its ground-breaking technology, RainWatch saves central control customers money by conserving water and electricity, eliminating needless wear and tear on irrigation systems and keeping courses open for more rounds of golf each and every year. According to Michael Roberts, director of Rain Bird - Golf Division, the RainWatch patent exemplifies Rain Bird's innovative spirit and its ongoing commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water.
"This new patent is a fitting reward for the technical expertise and hard work that went into the creation of the RainWatch design concept," Roberts said. "I sincerely congratulate Rene Evelyn-Veere for developing this revolutionary central control system technology that will continue to benefit Rain Bird customers for years to come."
For more information about Rain Bird's central control systems and the newly-patented RainWatch design concept, visit www.rainbird.com or call 520-741-6100.
