US Patent 7097113 Irrigation unit including a power generator

An irrigation unit (20) for irrigating an area (12) with a fluid (19) from a fluid source (18) includes a housing (200), a nozzle (220), an electronic component (221), and a power generator (230). The nozzle (220) is directly or indirectly secured to the housing (200) and the nozzle (220) is in fluid communication with the fluid source (18) so that fluid (19) from the fluid source (18) is transferred to the nozzle (220). The electronic component (221) is directly or indirectly secured to the housing (200). The power generator (230) generates electrical energy that is transferred to the electronic component (221). The power generator (230) directly transfers at least a portion of the electrical energy to the electronic component (221) of the irrigation unit (20). The electronic component (221) can be a power storage unit (222) for storing electrical energy for use by the irrigation unit (20).