Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~2~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a new automated approach
toward forwarding a water main connection which as a result
enables novel irrigation practices.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Movable sprinklers, including a series of nozzles mounted
along a delivery pipe that moves laterally along a series of
access valves,~have been in use for decades. One approach has the
movable delivery pipe stationary while irrigating. After
irrigating, the delivery pipe is disconnected from the water main
and moved forward to a successive access valve and then
reconnected to the water main However, it is highly preferable
to slowly orward the delivery pipe during irrigation.
Many ways have been suggested to manually forward the
connection after intervals of forward ~raveling irrigation.
Manually forwarding a drag~able hose is today'~ common practice.
Manual connection forwarding introduces undesireable costs,
inefficiencies and operational limitations to what is otherwise
the most desireable method of irrigation water application.
Many methods have been suggested to automate the forwarding
of the supply main connection. Suggested me~hods found include:
Engel U.S. Pat. No. 2,750,228; Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3r381,893î
Purtell U.S. Pat~ No. 3,444,941; Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,175;
Von Linsowe U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,016; Standal U.S~ Pat. No.
'~
..
. . . .
~31~
4,036,436; Stafford ~.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,285; Nobel U.S. Patent
No. 4~295,607; and Nobel U.S. Pat. No. ~,27~,584~ All of these
methods are very elaborate. Furthermore, all of the methods
limit the delivery pipe to straight line travel only.
Consequently, after completing an irrigation across a field, the
delivery pipe must reverse travel the irriga~ed field in order to
assume its original starting position. While lateral move
irrigators display superior coverage and application qualities,
inadequate connection means continue to hamper and thus severely
restrict the use of these systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,607 to Nobel discloses a connec~or
mounted to one end of a rigid swing arm. The other end of the
rigid swing arm is pivotably mounted to one end of a jointed
elbow contrivance movably carried along tracks on a conveyance
means. Another end of ~he elbow pipe contrivance is attached to
one end of a water delivexy pipe. There is no suggestion to
eliminate the conveyance means, elbow arrangement and supporting
structure and simply pivotably attach the swing arm
to he water delivery pipe. Furthermore, there is no suggestion
to rotate the water delivery pipe between fields on both sides o
a water main.
A series of rotatable water discharge booms mounted to a
common delivery pipe has never been suggested in any orientation
to the inventor's knowledge. Ede U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,722 suggests
an oscillating set of booms mounted to a cart for travel with
pressurized water supplied by a manually forwardable length of
~ 3 ~
hose. It is noteworthy that the booms of the Ede reference do not
rotate but oscillate.
U S. Pat. No. 3,648,930 to Brown suggests a series of
oscillating low volume chemical delivery arms supplied by a low
volume piping network independant of an irrigation apparatus
which supports the chemical application system. The arms serve to
extend applicator nozzles outwardly to keep the applied chemical
off of the apparatus supporting the chemical spray system. There
is no suggestion to greatly enlarge and greatly elongate said
chemical discharge arm to create an elongated water discharge
boom and then mount a series of the discharge booms to a high
volume elongated movable supply pipe for rotation instead of
oscillation thereon.
In summary, lateral move sprinkler mounted wat~r delivery
pipes, adapted for continuous travel during water applica~ion,
of~r superior and uniform application properties while
irrigating rectangular areas. These three qualities are most
desirable. Unfortunately, all known suggested or practiced
methods of automatically connecting the traveling delivery pipe
to a stationary series of access valves are complicated, very
costly and unreliable.
The present invention provides a unique connection approach.
The delivery pipe travels while applying water and maintaining
connection to a water main access valve by utilizing a conduit
span AS a pivoted swingable arm between a series of access valves
and the traveling delivery pipe. The swing arm is pivotable at
one end about a valve connector thereon. The swing arm is
pivotably connected at its other end to the traveling delivery
pipe. When the delivery pipe moves forward to a position half way
between two successive access valves, the now trailing swing arm
is disconnected and the free swing arm end with valve connector
thereon is pivoted along the ground to the next access valve
where the connector is once again connected to the water main.
The present connection approach offers the exclusive
advantage of facilitating a controlled rotation of the delivery
pipe substantially 180 degrees to the opposite side of the water
main so that two fields may be irrigated with one length of water
delivery pipe.
After traversing the field on this side of the water main,
the water delivery pipe may once again be controlled to rotate
substantially 180 degrees and will th~n have returned to its
position when irrigation was begun with no back tracking across
the previously irrigated fieldO
The advantages of the pivoting swing arm connection
apparatus are many. First, the swing arm may be of sufficient
length so that access valves may typically be spaced twice as far
apart as presently practiced. Also, with the present system, only
one connection device is required. The apparatus weight may be
employed for opening the access valves while conventional
approaches employ connectors requiring additional means to secure
and then mechanically actuate said access valves. Furthermore,
the present pivotable swing arm connection approach inherently
~ 3 ~
offers simple and accurate control rneans for maintaining the
water delivery pipe at a constant distance from the water main,
for maintaining the delivery pipe perpendicular to said main and
also for facilitating the forwarding of the valve connector
along the series of access valves. The unique control means
eliminates the conventional need for a guide wire stretched along
the l~ngth of the field to be irrigated~
The pivoting swing arm connection apparatus enables rotation
of the entire water delivery apparatus between fields along
opposite sides of a common water main~ Consequently, one length
of delivery pipe can now traverse the same area that previously
required twice said length with the connection methods as
forementioned. Rotating the delivery pipe between adjacent fields
enables the delivery pipe to traverse both sides of the water
main in opposite direc~ions eventually to result in a circuitous
irrigation whereby the delivery pipe eventually assumes its
original starting position.
The present invention also includes a unique water
application approach, Elongated rotatable discharge booms may be
mounted along an elongated lateral move ~-ater delivery pipe, The
elongated rotatable booms greatly spread the area of coverage for
a given length of delivery pipe. This enables the length of water
delivery pipe to traverse great distances and thus irrigate large
acreages. For instance, elongated rotatable discharge booms may
be mounted to a lateral move delivery pipe allowing said delivery
pipe to traverse and irrigate two to three times as much
farmland as previously irrigated by standard lateral move
systems.
An ultimate irrigation means is presented when elongated
rotatable discharge booms are mounted along a lateral move
delivery pipe employing the present pivotable swing arm
connector. The resultant irrigator will traverse two to three
times the area capable with standard lateral move systems of the
same length. The connection means enhances the greatly increased
coverage capacity afforded with rotatable discharge booms by
allowing rotation of a water delivery pipe from one side to the
opposite side of a water mainO
The described present connection approach, by itself and in
addition to the elongated rotatable discharge boom concept create
a drastically less expensive, fully automated lateral move
irrigation meansO Coincidingly, a far simpler and much more
reliable irrigation apparatus results as predicted by an
approximate fifty percent relative reduction of the installed
cost to irrigate with prior automated lateral move irrigators.
, . ~ ' : .,
(~ ~ 3 ~. 2
B~ ~F DE~CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred form ~f the i.nvention is illustrated in the
accompanyinq drawings in whic:h:
FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of a valve coupler and swing
arm apparatus of the present invention located above an access
valve;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the apparatus
as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to the side elevation view of FIG.
2 with the valve coupler lowered onto the access valve;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of FIG. 3 with the valve
coupler in a retracted position along the swing arm apparatus;
~ IG. 5 is a fra~mented bottom plan view taken on line 5-5 of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged frag~entary sec~ional view of a valve
coupler engaged to an access valve ~aken on line 6-6 of ~IG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a side elevatio.n of a swing arm apparatus of the
present invention pivotably mounted at one end to a lateral move
water deliver~ pipe with the apparatus of FIG. 4 mounted at the
other swing arm end~
FI~. ~A is an enlarged elevation view ~aken on line 8-8 o~
FIG. 7 showing a universal pivot, a pivot angle measuring device,
a cyclometer and part of a rotatable discharge boom assembly,
~ IG. 8B is a fragmen~ary side elevation view o~ the
appara~us as shown in FIG~ 8A;
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E are diagramatic top plan ~iews
of a lateral move irrigator of the present invention at various
posltions during forward mov~ment;
:.
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FIGS. lOA, 10~, lOC, and lOD are top plan views of a lateral
move irrigator of the present invention at various positions
~uring rotation between two fields on opposite sides of an
adjacent water main;
FIG. 11 is a diagramatic top plan view of a lateral move
irrigator of the present invention illustrating a procedure for
irrigating corners;
FIG. 12 is a control diagram of various components for
operation of the present system;
FIG. 13A is a diagramatic illustration of a mainline flow
diverter utilized with the present invention;
FIG. 13B is the flow diverter shown in FIG. 13A including
optional additional components;
FIG. 14A is an elevation view of a rotatable discharge boom
assembly;
FIG. 14B is an altern~te form of the rotatable discharge
boom assembly shown in FIG. 14A;
FIG. 15A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the
hydraulic connection be~ween a rotatable discharqe boom assembly
and a water delivery pipe;
FIG. 15~ is an enlar~ed fragmentary sectional YieW of a
grooved wheel en~aged to the rolled ring of a rotatable discharge
boom assembly;
FIGS. 16~ and 16B are plan views of various sprinkler
coverage patterns for lateral move irrigators,
~ IG. 17 is a p~an YieW 0~ discharge boom coverage patterns
with a graph taken from the view plotting discharge ~oom rotation
\., ~
speed v~rsus discharge boom rotation position~
8
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention generally relates to lateral move
irrigators. The present invention iocorporates one or more
leng~hs of trussed water delivery pipe 13, mounted atop movable
carts 14 forming a linear series of trussed watex delivery pipes
as shown in FIG. 7. and FIG. 9A. A drive means 10 on each cart
maintains linear alignment of the water delivery pipes ;3 while
powering each cart 14 to travel in a direction perpendicular to
the length Or the trussed water delivery pipes 13. A water
applicator means 143 is connec~ed along the series of trussed
water delivery pipes 13 for selectively applying the water
supplied ~y the trussed water delivery pipes 13 on to the field
surface. The present invention may generally include trussed
water delivery pipes 13, movable carts 14, drive mean~ 10 and
water applicator means 143. Hereaftex the trussed water delivery
pipe~ 13, movable carts 14, drive means 10, and water applicator
means 143 will be grouped together and referred to as a lateral
move water delivery pipe means 15 as shown in ~I~. 7/ FIGS.
9A-9E, and FIGS. 10A-10D.
The present invention is intended for use in conjunc ion
with a water main 11, to be situated adjacent to one end of the
present lateral move water delivery pipe means 15. The water main
ll may be parallel to the travel direction of the wa~er delivery
pipe means 1~. Access valves 12 are mounted at appropriate
intervals along the wa~er main 11 enabling selective access ~o
the water therein.
.
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The present invention also involves a water delivery pipe
rotation means 103 ln combination with the forementioned water
delivery pipe means 15 and in combination with a means for
connecting the water deivery pipe means 15 to the succession of
access valves 12.
Water delivery pipe rotation means 103 controls the drive
means 10 of water delivery pipe means lS in order to
automatically rotate the water delivery pipe means 15 from the
typical lateral move irrigator position adjacent along one side
of the water main 11 to a diameterically opposed pos~tion on the
other side of water main 11. Rota~ion of the water delivery pipe
means enables automated connector ~orwarding and the subsequent
~pplication of wa~er along bo~h sides of a water main 11.
Water delivery plpe rstation means 103 synergistically
furnishes elements of a new mea~s for connecting a series o~
spaced access valves 12 mounted alon~ a water main 11 to a water
deliYery pipe means 15. The new eonnector means 18 ser~es as an
improved means of connectlng a forward traveling water delivery
pipe means 15 to the stationary series of access valves 12.
STR~CTURE
The present connector means lB includes a swing arm means 16
as shown generally in FIG. 7. The swing arm means 16 may be a
trussed span o~ wa~er supply pipe 36 similar to the lengths of
trussed water delivery pipe 13 utilized as part of the water
delivery pipe means 15~ The swing arm means 16 is aonnected to
one end of the water ~ellvery pipe means 15 as shown utili2ing a
pivo~ means 17 ~FIGS. 8A and 8B) to allow angular movement in all
~ 3 ~
directions be~ween the swing arm means 16 and the water delivery
pipe means 15.
The swing arm means 16 has an outer end 23 with a valve
coupling means 19 and a swing arm length regulating means 30
mounted thereon as shown in FIGS 1-5. The valve coupling means 19
provides selective connection and disconnection along the series
of access valves 12~ The swing arm length regulating means 30 is
controlled to enable the WateL delivery pipe 15 to travel forward
in a substantially straight line transverse to the delivery pipe
length.
The valve couplinq means 19 incorporates the availa~le
weight at the swing arm outer end 23 by employing downward travel
to forcably align with, connect to, and forcably open successive
access valves 12. Hydraulic cylinders 45 are pivotably mounted by
hydraulic cylinder mounts 70 between the swing arm.outer end
frame ~13 and a transport wheel frame 46 (FIGS. 1-5). ~ransport
wheel frame 46 mounts to the swing arm outer end frame 213 with
transport frame pivo~s 71 located therebetween allowing the
transport wheel frame 46 to swing up and down so as to raise or
lower a se~ of transport wheels ~1 mounted to the outward
swinging end of the ~ransport wheel frame 46 when hydraulic
cylinders 45 are retracted or extended respectively. T~e raising
of transport frame 46 and transport wheels 21 has the Pffect of
lowering the coupling means 19 ~o align and forcably open an
access valve 12 as shown in FIG. 6. The lowering of transport
wh~els 21 serves to raise the coupling means 19 and thus
disconnect the valve coupler body 24 from an access valve 1~ .
- 11
.. :
A valve coupler aliynment means 100 (FIG.6) includes a guide
means 127 oonsisting of a steel cone 85 attached to the bo~tom
end of coupler body 240 Raising the transpor~ wheels 21 lowers
the coupler body 24 with cone 85 attached. The cone 8S engages
the top edge of an access valve body 97. The lowering swing arm
outer end 23 places weight on the valve body 97. The engaged
inclined surfaces of the cone cam against the valve body causes
the cone 85 to travel h-orizontally to relieve the downward weight
force.
Valve coupler alignment means 100 enables cone 85 to travel
in the horizontal plane by utilizing ~vailable travel of the
coupler body 24 along a horizontal axis substantially parallel to
the length of the swing arm means 16 as furnished by the swing
arm length regulating means 30 (FIG. 5) described later~
~orizontal travel ~erpendicular to that of the swing arm length
regulating means 30 is fuxnished to the valve coupler alignment
means 100 by allowing the transport wheels 21 to rotate freely so
that the swing arm outer end 23 may move when the aligning cone
8S is forced against the ~top edge of an access valve body 97. The
horizontal force causing the ~ranspc>rt wheels 21 to rotate is
transmitted from the valve coupler body 24 to the swing arm outer
end frame 213 by four horizontal rollers 53 ~FIGS. 5 and 6).
Horizontal rollers 53 enable ~he horizontal force to be
transmitted to a set of H-beams 25 regardless of the couplers
position along ~he horizontal travel axis of the swing arm length
regulating means 30. Consequen~ly, the lowering cone 85 bears
against the top edge of the access valve body 97 and
subsequently serves to facilitate horizontal alignment of the
12
~1 3,~ t~
coupler body 24 SQ as to center the coupler body 24 directly over
an access valve 12.
When further lowered the coupling means 19 contributes to an
actuator means 101 as shown in FIG~ 6. The bottom edge of the
coupler body 24 slides over the the top edge of an access valve
body 97 locking the coupler body 24 from further horizontal
movement. Continued lowering of the coupling means 19 engages the
bottom edge of inner pipe 86 to the ~op surface of a three-
spoked plunger ring 90 situated inside an access valve body 97.
Spoked plunqer ring 90 is preferrably bolted to the top end of a
plunger shaft 91. A flat rubber seal 93 mounts between two round
plates 92 and 144. Flat rubber seal 93 is the same diameter as
the lower round plate 92 and is slightly larger in diame~er than
the upper plate 144. Plates 92 and 144 along with seal 93 are
mounted at the ~ottom end of plunger shaft 91. Pl~te 144 i~
pre~errably welded to plunger shaft 91 and plate 92 is bolted
against seal 93. Water pressure pushes upward agains~ the round
plate 92 to seal the flat rubber seal 93 against a valve seat 9~
when ~he access valve 12 is closed. When lowered, the coupling
mean~ 19 forces the inner pipe 86 against the spoked plunger ring
~90 pushing it dow~ward. Downward travel of ring 90 results in
coxresponding downward trav~l of plunger shaft 91 and round
plates 92 and 144 wi~h seal 93. Consequently, water is allowed to
pass around plate 92 seal 93 and plate 144, through valve seat
94, into ~he inside of inner pipe 86 and eventually to the water
delivery pipe means 1~ The bottom edge of inner pipe 86 is
mounted with a floppy seal 95 to prevent leakage between inner
. 13
3 ~ 2 ~
pipe 86 and the top surface of spoked plunger ring 90. The
perimeter of spo~ed plunger ring 90 is ~itted with a toleranced
seal 96 to prevent leakage between the outer surface of plunger
ring 90 and the inner wall of access valve body 97. A three-
spoked bearing mount 88 holds a shaft bearing 89. Plunger shaft
91 travels longitudinally through shaft bearing 89 and
conseyuently bearing mount 88 serves to hold plunger shaft 91
centered in the access valve body 97 and allows the plunger shaft
assembly to travel up or down. Plunger ring 90 also serves to
hold the top end of plunger shaft 91 centered in valve body 97.
Valve coupling means 19 also includes a telescoping conduit
assembly 35 (FIGS. 2-5) which serve~ to hydraulically connect the
movable valve coupler body 24 to the swing arm supply pipe 36.
The telescoping conduit assembly 35 includes lengths o conduit
37 each with a mouth end 3B and a water seal 39 mounted inside
the mouth end 38.Each conduit length 37 is mounted with a roller
wheel 40 at both sides along the bottom of its mouth end 38.
Roller wheels 40 roll along tracks 25 responsive ~o travel of the
valve coupler body 2~ alon~ the same trac~s 25o Cond~it leng~hs
37 are sequen~ial~y smaller in diameter approaching the coupler
body 24 to allow the coupler body 24 to push the conduit lengths
37 axially into each other when the coupler body 24 is moved
toward the pivot mean~ 17~ A straight pipe 51 is preferr~bly
welded to the side of coupler body 24 to serve as the innermost
p~pe o~ the telescoping con~uit assembly 35. Stop ~ables 41 are
attached along the bottom of telescoping conduit assembly 35
be~ween each successive mouth end 38 with the last cable 41
attachinq to the coupler body 24. The arrangement of stop cables
.
- 14
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41 serves to halt extension between conduit lengths 37 before
seperation occurs during travel of the coupler body ~4 away from
the pivot means 17.
The tele~coping conduit assembly 35 incorporates a modified
conduit length 42 (FIGS. 2-5). Modified conduit length 42 is of
sufficient diameter to allow th~ remaining conduit lengths 37 and
straight pipe 51 to slide inside of it. The mouth of conduit
length 42 is preferrably bolted to support beam 43 instead o~
mounting a set of roller wheels as do conduit lengths 37. The
outward end of modified conduit length 42 elbows~upward and is
preferrably bolted to a link pipe 44 (FIGS. 2-4). Link pip2 44
bolts to the bottom side of a main water valve 54 which bolts to
a flanged o~ening 119 along the bottom side of the swing arm
supply pipe 36 so as to hydraulically connect the telescoping
conduit assembly 35 with the swing arm supply pipe 3~. Flanqed
opening 119 also bl~cks off the unused end of water supply pipe
36 to eliminate unnecessary water weight at the swing arm outer
end 23 when water is flowing.
In a lowered position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
previously mentioned transport wheels 21 may be rolled along ~he
ground surface as part of a travel means 22 for transporting the
swing arm outer end 23 with the valve c:oupling means 19 and swing
arm length regulating means 30 mounted thereon between
successively connectable access valves 12 as indicated by the
dashed lines shown in ~IGS. 9D and 9E. Travel means 22 includes
an electric motor 47 (~IG.1) to rotate a spur ~èar reducer 75.
Spur geaF reducer 75 consequently rotates drive linPs 72 and
.
planetary ~ear reducers 73 (FIG. 2) connected to the other ends
of drive lines 72~ Planetary gear reducers 73 have output shafts
with hubs 74 which are bolted to and consequently rotate
transport wheels 21. Spur gear reducer 75 and planetary gear
reducers 73 are high efficiency and non-locXing which permits the
relatively free rotation required in the formentioned coupler
alignment means 100.
The swing arm length regulating means 30 (shown best in FIG.
5), mounted at the swing arm outer end 23, provides to
~ontrollably vary the distance between the valve coup~ling means
19 and the pivot means 17 when the coupler body 24 is engaged to
an access valve 12 and the water delivery pipe 15 travels
forward. Coupler body 24 is mounted with rollers 28 (FIG. 6)
enabling the coupler 24 to move along the length of a set of H
beam tracks 25 which act as guides ~or the ~ollers 28 and
subsequently guide the valve cou~ler body 24.
Coupler body 24 is structurally connected by two tubes 26 to
roller mounts 32 which are located on opposite sides of coupler
body 24. The roller mounts 32 provide spindles for mounting
support wheels 27. Rollers 48 are attached to mounts 3~ for
rotation about an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the
spindles~ Rollers 48 are guided during rotation and subsequent
travel by ~-beams 49. Consequently travel of coupler body 24
along tracks 25 resul~s in coresponding travel o~ rollers 48 and
support wheels 27 along H-beams 49.
Support wheels ~7 serve as a ground support me~ns 128 for
the swing arm outer end ~3 when the transport wheels 21 have been
raised in order to connect valve coupler body 24 to an access
~6
~ 3 ~ 3 ~
v~lve 12. When the coupler body 24 is connected to an access
valve 12, the support wheels 27 are subsequently anchored from
all ground movement except rotation about the access valve 12 as
utilized by a valve co~pler rotation means 102 described later.
With support wheels 27 anchored from travel, H-beams 43 and 25
travel geographically when the swing ar~ length regulating means
30 is operated.
As shown in FIG. 5, swing arm length regulating means 30
includes two lengths of cable 31 stretched ~round a group of
similar pulleys 50 with each cable 31 attached opposite the oth~r
cable 31 at each of the two roller mounts 32. Pulleys S0 are
mounted to the swing arm outer end frame 213 and also to support
beam 43 at the ends of H-beams 49. A cable drum 33 is posjtioned
in the place Gf one of the pulleys 50. The corresponding length
of cable 31 is wrapped around cable drum 33 lin place of the
pulley 50) with each end of this cable 31 attached to an
individual roller mount 32 as described and shownO
Electric motor 34 serves to drive a planetary gear box 182.
Gear box 182 in turn rotates oable drum 33. Rotation of cable
drum 33 in either direction produces a similar directional pull
on both roller mounts 32 to subsequently move H-beams 49
realative to support wheels 27 and simultaneously move H-beams 25
relative to coupler body 24.
A swing arm length measuring means 141 (FIG.2) includes a
coupler travel rotation counter 142 mounted and geared to gear
box 182. Gear box 182 spins rotation counter 1~2 which in turn
indicates ~he relati-~e position of coupler body 24 along H-beams
17
~3.L26~'~
25 for control purposesO
A valve coupler rotation means 102 includes the
forementioned support wheels 27. Support wheels 27 are rotatable
about a common axis with the .coupler body 24 located between
support wheels 27 along the axis. Such alignment provides
pivotable ground support for the swing arm means 16 at the swing
arm outer end 23 so that the swing arm means is freely rotatable
about connection to an access valve 12 irregardless of the
].ongitudinal position of the previously descri.bed swing arm
length regulating means 30 as indicated by the extre~es of
positioning shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The forementioned ~alve
actuator means 101 (FI~. 6) has featur~s that allow rotation
between the coupler body 24 and a stationary access valve 12
when the coupler body 24 is connected to the access valve 12.
Conse~uently, the swing arm means 16 may rotate wh~n the valve
cou~ling means 19 is connected to a stati.onary access valve 12.
Water delivery pipes 21~ and swing arm supply pipe 36
utilize truss rods 108 (FIG. 71 stretched alon~ the bottom sides
of a series OL supp~rt trusses 107 to rod mounts 103 at both ends
o each pi.p~ for the purpse of elevationally supporting each of
the pipes 212 and 36 by tensioning the truss rods 108 so as to
constitute a trussed pipe span. As shown in FIG. 7, an extra set
of truss rods 109 ex~end from an adapted truss 106 attached to
swing arm supply pipe 36 and extend toward the swing arm outer
end 23 to be connected to an extra set of rod mounts 105 (FIG.
23~ Truss rod~ 109 serve as a tie-in for utilizing the swing arm
supply pi.pe to counterbaiance the weight of the swlng arm outer
end 23 when the coupler body 24 approaches the position as shown
1~
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~2~ ..l.-~ ` .
in FIC.. 4. One end o~ suppor~ members 121 mount near rod mounts
105 along swing arm ~upply pipe 36 with the other end of support
members 121 mounted to support the ends of H beams 49.
Consequently, support member 121 is under maximum compression in
FIG. 4.
The pivot means 17 shown in FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B includes a
universal pivot 110a mounted between the swing ~rm supply pipe
36 of swing arm means 16 and a first delivery pipe span 13a of
the water delivery pipe means lS. Universal pivot 110a
i.ncorporates an inverted ball 111 seated in a ball`socket 112.
Universal pivot 110a allows vertical angular movement between the
swi.ng arm supply pipe 36 and the first deli.very pipe span 13a o~
the water delivery pipe means 15 as requ~red with elevational
variati.on in the terrain~ Universal pivot 110a also allows
horizontal angular movement between the trussed water supply pi~e
36 and the first delivery pipe span 13a. ~lorizontal angulax
movement is required when the travel means 22 is utilized ~o
transport the valve coupling ~eans 19 betw~en access valves 12
and also is required when the water delivery pi pe means 15
travels straight ~orward with the coupler body 24 connected to an
access valve 12.
Lateral move water delivery pipe means 15 require movable
cart~ 14 mounted a~ both ends of one of the delivery pipes 13
along water delivery pipe means 15 so that both ends of all
delivery pipes will ~e movably ground supported. First delivery
pipe span 13a was chosen because of control considerations,
First delivery pipe span 13a is similar to trussed water delivery
19
~ 3 ~ ~ ~3~.Jt ~!
pipes 13 of water delivery pipe means 15 excep~ that movable
carts 14a and 14b are mounted at ends of pipe span 13a instead of
just one end as is common to the remaining delivery pipes 13
along water delivery pipe means 15.
A pivot angle measuring means 104 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B
serves to record the horizon'al angular alignmen~ between swing
arm supply pipe 36 and first delivery pipe span 13a. Rotatable
tubes 114 independently moun~ ~ertical bearing support 115 so
each rotatable tu~e 114 may rotate in the horizontal plane about
the bearing support 115 extending through its center axis. Two
guy wires 116 mount at the ends of one of the rotatable tubes 114
and stretch to remote wire mounts 11~ (FIG. 2) located at the
swing arm outer end 23. Two similar guy wires 116 mount to each
end o~ the other rotatable tube 114 and stretch to wire mounts
117 at the rernote end OI first delivery pipe span 13a.
Consequently, horizontal angular movement between the swing arm
supply pipe 36 and the first delivery pipe span 13a will result
in ang~lar movement between rotatable tubes 114. A rack gear 118
mounts to one end of one of the rotatable tubes 114. Mounted to
the adjacent end of the other tube 114 is a pivot angle rotation
recorder 120. ~nsle recorder 120 includes a gear to mesh with
rack gear 118 so that angular movement between tubes 114 will
spin angle recorder 120 servins as a means to register the
ali~nment between swing arm supply pipe 36 and first deli~ery
pipe span 13a. A similar means may be utilized to linearly align
all of the trussed water delivery pipes 13 along water delivery
pipe means 15. However, alignment along delivery pipe means 15 is
not so critical and consequently simplex means for measuring the
alignment may be utilized.
A cyclometer means 130, shown in FIG. 8~, serves as a means
to measure or predict the distance traveled by the water delivery
pipe means 15 ollowing the most recent connection to an access
valve 12. Cyclometer means 130 is mounted to the movable cart
14a. Cyclometer means 130 includes a ground engaging w~eel 131.
Ground engaging wheel 131 includes an axle which mounts to
vertical fork 132. Vertical fork 132 has a pipe 139 preferably
welded to its top end. Pipe 139 slides inside an extension tube
133, A ~ork spring 134 is positioned outside extension tube 133
between the top end of extension tube 133 and a plate welded to
the top end of verti.cal fork 132 so as to furnish constant
~ownward pressure on ground engaqing wheel 131 for maintailling
wheel 131 in contact with the ground despite terrain
irregularities. A cyclometer register 135 mounts ~ertical forli
132 and i.s geared to the axle of ground engagins wheel 131.
Conse~uently, rotati.on of wheel with axle 131 drives cyclometer
register 135 which serves to measure ~orward travel of the
adjacent powered movable cart 14a. Optionally, ~orward travel of
movable cart 14a may be recorded by reyistering the rotation of
the ground engaging wheels attached to movable cart 14a or
forward travel distance may be predicted by monitoring a drive
motor 152 which powers the travel of movable cart 14a.
An access valve detection ~eans 99, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, ~rovides for detecting proximity to an access valve ~.2 i.n
orde~ to appropriately halt ~orwaxd travel of the swing arm outer
en~ 23. A ground anchored horizontal trip bar 136 is anchored
21
.
~3~t~`~f~
adjacent to a concrete pad 167 poured around each access valve
12. Trip bar 136 is engaged by a detector arm attached to a
tripswitch 137 which may be mounted to transport wheel frame 46.
The present invention provides a new means ol water
applicati.on. Rotatable water discharge boom means 77 are mounte~
on top of the movable carts 14 as shown in FIGS. 7, ~l 8B, 14A,
an~ 14B. (Rotatable discharge boom means 77 could be mo~nted to
the underside of each trussed water delivery pipe means 13 w~t,h
advantageous ~esults. However, movable carts 14 provide much
greater stability and thus allow much longer and heavier booms to
be mounted along the water deli~ery pipe means 15.
Rotatable discharge boom means 77 (FIG. 14A) may include an
elongated discha,ge boom 60 extending outward from a hydraulic
connection to a center mast 61. Hydraulic~lly connected and
axtending outwardly from center mast 61 in the opposite
direction of boom 60 is a counterweight boom 6~. Both boom 60 and
boom 6~ are elevati.onally supported by guy wires 63 attached
along the length of the booms wi.th each guy wire att3ched at its
other end to the top of center mast 61. Center mast 61 is
hydraulically connected to a trussed water delivery pipe 13. Boom
60 discharges water rPcei~ed from center mast 61 for the purpose
of irrigating. Boom 62 ills with water ~rom center mast 61 and
may discharge a smal 1 amount of water from a mechanical pressure
valve 69, located at the outer boom end, until all air has been
pushed out of ~he boom and the water pressure ~hen closes the
pressure responsive pressure valve 69. The water ~i.lled boom 62
acts as a counterweight to the water filled and di.scharging boom
60 .
A steel ring 64 is attached along the bottom side of both
booms 60 and ~2 as part cf a means to support the booms and also
to rotate the booms about an axis extending through the length of
the center mast 61. Ring 64 is T-shaped in cross section (FIG.
15B), with the leg of the T-shaped ring 64 projectin~
horizontally and outward. Grooved wheels 65 are constructed to
accept the l~g of the T-shaped ring 64 and consequently mo~lnt the
outer side of the ring 6~ as shown.
Each grooved wheel 65 includes two steel plates 20
preferably bolted together with a spacer 203 in between the
plates 202. Bolts 204 extend through the plates 202 and spacer
203 with nuts 20~ tightened onto bolts 204 to secure the
assembly. A bearing 206 is ~itted inside the peri.meter of spaeer
203 and between the plates ~02. Bolt 201 extends through the
inner race of beari.ng ~06 and is secured to a support frame 66.
Consequently, grooved wheel 65 with the outer race of bearing 206
may spin freely about the stati.onary inner race of bearinq 2~6
and subsequently about the bolt 201. Two nylon washer bearings
207 mount outside the perimeter of spacer 203 and between the
steel plates 202. The ]eg of the T shaped rolled ring 64 fits in
between the nylon bearinys 207 as shown.
Eiyht of the grooved wh~els 65 mount the rolled ri.ng 64 o~
rotatable discharge boom means 77 with each wheel 65 bolted to
the support frame 66 by bolt 201. Support rame 66 is attached to
a movable car~ 14 by two supports 57 and is also attached to the
associ.ated water delivery pipe 13 in two places by supports 68
Support frame 66 is mounted by a rotati~n drive motor 59 (FIG.
23
. :
.
~ ~2~
8B~. Drive motor 59 rota~es a rubber drive wheel 208 against th
leg of the T-shaped rolled ring 64 so as to rotate the ring 64
and subsequently the discharge boom 60 and counterweight boom 62.
Supports 55 (FIGS. BA and 8B) attach to the center mast 61
and to the rolled ring 64 in such a manner as to extend outward
and down~ard from center mast 61 to an extended end 56. Attached
at the extended end 56 are guy wires 57 stre~ched to attach along
the length of booms 60 and 62 for insuring that booms 60 and 62
are prevented from swaying sidways. A cable 146 extends between
the extended ends 56 of each set of two supports 55~10cate~ on
oppGsite sides of the same boom ~0 or 62. A cable 126 attachcs at
each extended end 56 and stretches to one of two ticlhteners 58
each mounted on one of two supports 52. Tighteners 58 provide ~or
tensioninq cables 126 and 146 and ultimately for tensioniny guy
wires 57. Supports 5~ and supports 52 also serve to provide
support between the center mast 61 and ring 64~
A plurality of spokes 122 (FXGS~ 8~ and ~B) hook to spoke
mount~ 123 located along center mast 61. Spokes 122 extend from
spoke mounts 123 and hook to rolled ring 64 for supplying added
support be~ween center mas~ 61 and rolled ring 64.
FIG~ lSA shows the bottom end of center mast 61 with a
support cup 760 The support cup 76 utili~es the surface of a
horizontal plate 79 attached to the bottom of the cup 76 for
bearing the apparatus weight on top of a nylon washer bearing 78.
Washer bear 78 sits on top of and acts against a similar flat
surface 79 preferably welded to an ~djusting nut 14g~. Adjusting
nut 149 threads onto an upwardly protruding outlet pipe 148
preferrably ~elded to the wat~r delivery pipe 13. Support cup 76
24
also holds a water seal ao which serves to prevent leakage
between the threaded outlet pipe 148 and the center mast 61.
Attached to the bottom of center mast 61 on the outside of
sup~ort cup 76 is a large diameter ring gear 81. Ring ~ear 81
meshes with the gear of a rotati.on counter indexer 82. In~exer 82
is mounted to the adjacent water delivery pipe 13 and serves to
monitor the rotation positiorl of the rotata~le discharge ~oom
means 77 as part of a rotation speed control 145 described la.ter.
It is advantageous to elongate the water di.scharge boom 60
as far as possi,ble. A 60 foot long discharge boom 60 is shown in
FIG. 14~. The boom 60 tapers to a smaller diameter approaching an
outer end ~3. The tapering serves to shift the c~nter of mass of
boom,60 to~ards the center mast 61 to reduce the r~ossibility of
tipping.
An end noæzle means 87 is attached to the boom outer end 83
to discharge water therefrom substantially in the outward
directi.on as shownO Noz~le means 87 may discharge a high volume
of water while retarding the potential available throw distance.
The available throw distance may be retarded i.n order to produce
higher quality ~ater droplets and also to reduce the effect of
wind. To achieve this, nozzle means 87 may be comprised of a
group of smaller nozzles directed in the same outward direction
thus achieving high volume output while reducing the throw
distance .
A series of discharge nozzles 84 may be mounted along the
bottom of the discharge boom 60. The series of nozzles is
arran~ed to proporti.onally increase th~ output of water
2S
.
~2~l~c~
approaching tl~e ou~er end 83. This may be acomplished by either
decr~asing the spacing between the discharge nozzles 84
approaching the outer end 83, as shown in FIG. 14A., or by
increasing the aperture size, along an eaually spaced series of
discharge nozzles 84, ~pproaching the outer end 83~
A modified rotatable boom embodiment shown in FIG. 14~ may
optionally be utilized as a rotatable boom means assembly 77 by
lateral move irrigators in place of the rotatable boom embodiment
shown in FIG. 14A. The embodiments of FI~S. 14A and 14B are
substantially identical except that an additional discharge boom
l25 is mounted in the place of counterweight boom 62 shown in
FIG. 14~. Discharge boom l25 is substantially identical to the
discharge boom 60 extendi.ng in the opposite direction.
Consequently, the embodiment of FIG. l4B discharges water from
booms extended in opposite directions from center mast 61 and i.s
rotatable about the axis that extends through the length of the
common center mast 61.
OPEP.ATION
The connector means 18 and subse~uently the water delive.ry
pipe means lS utili.ze a control means 150 to actualize operativn
of the present system. ~rhe various ~lectrical components and the
relations~i.p between them are illustrated in the control diayram
as shown in FIG. 12.
Control means l50 includes programmable controller 160.
Programmable controller 160 may be comprised of commercially
available components arranged to interpret signal impulses and,
according to the appropriate programmed response, initiate or
: . 2~
~ 3 ~ 3~
stop operation of various electrically controlled components over
selected time periods. Proqrammable controller 160 icludes logic
means 170 as the means to store the programmed infGrmation
utilized for providing automated and sequential operation. Logic
means 170 is a commercially available component~
A power means provides the electricity to power the drive
means 10 of the water delivery pipe means 15 and the control
components shown in FIG.12. The power means may include a diesel
generator 245 mounted to one of the movable carts 14 (FI~.7).
Alternately, electricity may be produced b~ a generator drive by
a water powered motor. The water motor would be hydraulically
connected to the water delivery pipe means 15 or the connector
means 18.
Describing operation of the present invention may best begin
when the water delivery pipe means 15 and connector means 18 are
positioned as shown in FIG. 9A. (The dashed lines in FIGS. 9A-9E
and lOA to lOD illustrate prævious positions of the connector
means 18 and the water delivery pipe means 15 wllere operational
changes occur and also illustxate the paths traveled by the
movable carts 14 preceeding the present position shown.) The
water delivery pipe means 15 has previously been applying water
while traveling forward adjacent to water main 11 and is now
situa~ed somewhere between ends o the field being irrigated.
Valve coupling means 19 has just been forwarded from a previous
connection to an access valve 12 and has now been again connected
along the series of access valves 12 to access valve 12a.
The valve couplin~ means 19, when connected to access valve
12a, has subsequently opened the access valve 12a allowlng the
~7
~ 3 ~
pressurized water in water main ll to flow into and thr~uyh the
connector means 189 through water delivery pipe means lS and
finally on to the ground surface. The flowing pressurized water
is detected by a water pressure sensor 155 (FIG. 2). Water
pressure se~sor 155 signals controller 160. Controller 160
respond~ according to logic means 170 by switchiny on percentage
timer 156.
Percentag~ timer 156 is a commercially available and
conventionally employed component providing man~ally adjustable
control ~or selectively prescribing the amount of water applied
when the water delivery pipe m~ans 15 traverses and su~se~uentl~
irrigates a field. Percentage timer 156 accomplishes this by
dictating the rate of simultaneous forward 'ravel at movabl~
carts ~a and 14b. Movable carts 14a and 14b are powered by drive
motors 152 and 157 respectively. Drive m~tors 152 and 157
typically have only one forward spePd. Conseq-lently, percentage
timer 156 dictates the rate of forward travel by regulating the
percentage o~ time drive motors 152 and 157 operateO For example,
percentage timer 156 miqht be manually set to power the motors
152 and 157 for ten seconds and then discontinue power for twenty
seconds. Maximum operation time of drive motors 152 and 157
results in a minimum amount of water applied. More ~7a~er is
applied when th~ drive motors 152 and lS7 are operated less
percentage of t;me.
When movable carts 14a an~ 14b (FIGS. 7 and 9A)
sim~lltaneously travel ~o~ward, the angular alignment between the
fiFst span 13a and the secon~ span 13b along water delivery pipe
~8
-
~ 3 ~
means 15 will be altered because movable cart 14c remains
stationary. The altered aliqnment i5 detected by means typical to
the industry (FIC-S. 9A and 9B) which operates the drive motor 158
of drive means 10 to forw~rdly move the movable cart 14c attached
to the outer end of the second span 13b. Movable cart 14c travels
forward until first span 13a and second span 13b are once again
in linear alignment at which point the drive motor 158 is
swi.tched off. The same means of control is employed for
maintaining linear aliqnment between the remaining trussed ~ter
delivery pipes 13 along the water delivery pip~ means 15.
Consequently, simultaneous forward travel of movable c~rts l~a
and 14b initiate~ subsequent similar for~1ard travel of all
remaining movable ca.rts 14 of the ~ater delivery pipe means 15~
The forementioned ~eans for forwarding and linearly alignin~ a
water delivery pipe means 15 is commonplace i n the i.ndustry.
The forwardly moviny water delivery pipe means 15 carries
the end o~ the swing arm means 16 connected atop movable cart
14a. When the water delivery pipe means 15 travels forward, the
swing arm means 16 and valve couplin~ means 19 rotate ~.bout tl,e
connection of coupler body 24 to an access valve 12. The rotati.ng
swing arm means 16 produces constant angular change o~ the
alignment be~ween the swing arm means 16 and the strai~ht for~-ard
traveling water deli~ery pipP means 15~ Coinciding with ~he
forementioned activation of percentage timer 156 is the
activation of the cyclometer rotation register 135 (FIG. 8~).
Progra~mable controller 160 monitors the signal from cyclometer
register 135 to measure the ~istance traveled by movable cart l~a
ater each most recent connection of valve coupling ~leans 19 to
~ 3 ~
an access valve 12. ~hen movable caxts 14a and 14b have just
completed an interval of forward travel as dictated by percentage
timer 156, the travel distance information from cyclometer
register 135 is interpreted by controller 160 by making reference
to logic means 170 in order to determine what the alignment angle
should be between the rotating swing arm su~ply pipe 36 and the
straight for~ard traveling first span 13a of the water delivery
pipe means 15. Programmable controller 160 then makes reference
to the pivot angle recorder 120 (FIGS. 8A and 8B) to determine
what the actual angle is between swing arm supply pipe 36 and the
first span 13a. If the angle as registered by pivot angle
recorder 120 ~iffers from the prescribed angle from logic means
170, then the water delivery pipe means 15 is out of
perpendicular ~lignment ~ith the water main 11 and an adjus~ment
must be made.
A delivery pip~ positioning means 20 (FIG 12) is employed
for adjusting the alignment between the water delivery pipe means
15 and the water main 11 responsive to the information from pivot
angle recorder 120, cyclometer register 135, and logic means 1,0
in order to retain a perpendicular orientation. Progr~mmable
controller 160 determines whether water delivery pipe means lS is
angled ahead or behind relative to a line perpendicular to the
water main 11. A position ahead of perpendicular is rectified by
operating drive motor 152 of movable cart 14a until the signal
from pivot angle recorder 120 indicates that the proper alignment
has been ~chieved and ~onsequently the programmable sontroller
160 switches off drive motor 152. I~ the water delivery pipe
. ~n
. . .
~ 3 ~
means 15 is found to be aligne~ behind a line perpendicular to
~he main line, the programmable controller 160 operates drive
motor 157 until the signal from pivot an~le recorder 120
indicates to the controller 160 that the alignment has been
corrected at which point controller 160 switches off drive motor
157.
As the water delivery pi.pe means 15 travels forward with the
coupler body 24 connected to an access valve 12, a fixed length
swing arm would cause the movable carts 14 of the delive.y pipe
means lS to follow the paths as shown by the dashes lines in FIG.
9E. This travel path i5 functional but will generate a large
horizontal force on the connected access valve 12 alo?lg wi.th
associated pushing and pulling along the length or the w~ter
~elivery pipe ~eans L5. In order to eliminate most o~ the
undes~rable horizonta~ force it is preferrable to adjllst the
length o the swing arm means 16 as the water del-very pi.pe mea~s
15 travels forward. Consequently, the distance between the access
valve 12 and ~he water delivery pipe means 15 may be regl~lated as
the ~ater delivery pipe means 15 travels forward. This allows the
delivery pipe nleans 15 to txavel fc.rward in a substantially
straight line. A previously descri.bed swing arm length regulati.ng
means 30 is utilized for this purpose.
After connection of co~pler body 24 to an access valve 12,
water delivery pipe means 15 begins forward tra~Jel and
irrigation. As described, the forward travel is measured by
cyc'ometer rotation register 135O Programmable controller 160 may
analyze the signal from cyclometer rotation register 135 in
relati.on to programrned. information lrom logic means 170 to
31
~3~
determine what the correct positioning of the swing arm length
regulating means 30 should be relative to the changin~ position
of the water delivery pipe means 15. The actual positioning of
the swing arm length regul~ting means 30 is measured b~ the
forementioned coupler travel rotation counter 142. Programmable
controller 160 compares the actual position measured by coupler
travel rotation counter 142 with the required position ~rom logic
means 170 and determines which ~irection to rotate electric motor
34 and subsequently cable drum 33 in order to obtain proper
positioning. Rotation of electric motor 34 is disconlinuea ~jhen
the pro~rammable con~roller 160 determines that the proper
alignment has been achieved.
~ hile the water delivery pipe means 15 travels from the
position shown in FIG. 9A, having just c~nnected to access valve
l~a, to the position as shown in FIG. 9B where swing arm delivery
pipe 36 and water delivery pipe means lS are longjtudinally
ali~ned, the swing arm length regulating means 30 is operated by
programmable controller 160 to shorten the distance between the
valve coupling means 19 and the pivot means 17 (FIG. 7). The
position shown in FIG. 9B const;tutes the shortest distance
between the pi~rot means 17 and an access valve 12 when the water
delivery pipe means 15 travels forward. Consequently the swing
arm length regultating means 30 is residing in a fully retracted
position similar to that shown in FIG~ 4. While the water
delivery pipe means 15 travels ~rom the position shown in FIG.9B
to the position shown in FIG. 9C, programmable controller 160
controls the swing arm length regulating means 30 so as to
32
,~ 3 ~ q t~
progressively increase the distance between valve couping means
19 and the pivot means 17.
Forward travel of water delivery pi.pe means 15 is halted by
programmabl~ controller 160 according to the signal from
cyclometer rotation register 135 when the water delivery pipe
mean~ 15 reaches the position as shown in FIG. 9C. Subsequently
the swing arm length regulating means 30 has been operated to
extend a distance approaching the maximum extension. (Enough
extension remains to enable coupler travel for alignment with the
next access valve.) The water delivery pipe means 15~is now in a
geographical position (~IG. 9C) ~here the distance between pivot
means 17 and the connected access valve 12a has been recorded by
cyclometer rotation register 135 to be the same as the distarce
between the pivot means 17 and the r.ext available access valve
12b.
The water delivery pipe means 15 may stop in the po5iti.0n as
shown in FIG. 9C. During this time the connector means 18 may be
controlled according to logic means 170, ~y pro~rammable
controller 160, to operate the valve coupling means 19 and ~alve
coupler travel means 22. This is done in order to disconnect and
transport the valve coupler 24 across the ground ~o a position
above the next access val~e 12b. ~Typically, to apply a minimum
amount of one half inch of water onto the ground surface, the
~ater delivery pi.p8 means 15 needs to travel only .05 miles per
hour. Consequentl~ forward travel of the water delivery pipe
means 15 could actually continue while the valve c~upling means
19 is transported between access valves ~2 at a speed of two to
~hree miles per hour~)
33
~ 3 ~ t 1.~
Programm~ble controller 160 begins disoonnection from access
valve ~2a by signaling an el~ctrically actuated up/down hydr~ulic
valve 168 to be s~itch to the down position and by signaling main
water valve 54 to close. In the down position, hydraulic valve
168 connects the pressure side of a h~draullic pressure means 16~
to the set of hydraulic cyli.nders 45. Hydxaullic pressure means
169 includ~s commonly available electrically powered pump and
pressure tank means for suppling fluid under pressure for
operati.on of the hydraulic cylinders 45. The fluid from pressure
means 169 serves to e~tend hydraulic cylinders 45. Extending
hydraulic cylinders 45 lowers the transport frame 46 with
transport wheels 21 and cons~quently raises the valve coupling
means 19. When hydrauli.c cylinders 45 ~re fu?ly e~.t~nded, the
connector means 18 is positioned similar t.o the positions shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the valve coupling means 19 will be
in substantially vertical alignment wi.th the access valve 12a.
The closed main water valve 54 prevents water from draining out
of the coupler body 24 and washing out the soil around pivot pad
167 when coupler body 2~ has been disconne~ted from access valve
12a.
With the transport wheels 21 in the lowered positi.on, the
vaive coupler travel means 22 is further operated by programmable
controller 160 which now signals a five positi.on switch 172 to
power drive motor 47 at a full speed forward setting. The five
settings of five position switch 172 include full speed forward,
slow speed forward, s'op, slow speed reverse, and full speed
r~verse. Drive motor 47 powers the transport wheels 21 in order
34
:~ 3 :~. 2 ~
to orwardly move the swing arm outer end 23 and the valve
coupling means 19. Swing arm outer end 23 moves along the ground
in an arc path as shown in FIG. 9D about the pivot means 17
(FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B).
Arc travel of the swing arm outer end 23 continues as fast
as the structure will allowl around 3 ~iles per hour, until a
sianal from the piYot angle recorder 120 indicates to the
programmable controller 160 that the next access valve 12b is
close ahead. Responding to the information fr~m angle recorder
120, programmable controller 160 switches five position switch
172 to the slow speed forward setting. Consequently, drive Motor
47 operates at a much slower r.p.m. and forward travel of the
swing ar~ outer end is reduced to around .5 miles per hour ir.
anticipation of stopping travel.
Arc travel of the swing arm outer end 23 conti.nues at the
slow speed for-~ard rate until a detector arm of a tripswitch 137
mounted to the s~ing arm outer end 23 engages a horizontal trip
bar 1~6 (FIG. 1). The trip sw~tch 137 signals programmable
controller 160 to switch five position switch 172 to the stop
position. Subsequently the dri~e motor 47 stops operating. When
dr;ve motor 47 stops operating, the swing arm outer end 23 also
stops. The swing arm outer end 23 is now positioned so that the
top ri.m of the access valve body 97 of access valve 12b i.s inside
the circumference of alignment cone 85. The alignment cone 85 may
be lowere~ to act against the rim of the valve body 97 in order
to align the coupler body 24 with the access valve 12b.
The distance bet~een access valve 12a and access valve 12b
may typically ~e 127 feet as is the distance between any two
successive access valves 12 along water main ll. This distance is
equal to three connected lengths of commonly avai.lable 42 foot
long plastic mainline pipe plus the width of an access valve 12.
Sixty feet is a standard distance between the access valves for
conventional automated connector lateral move irrigators.
The valve coupling means 19 is now posi.tioned similar to the
position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the connector means 18 and
water delivery pipe means 15 are positioned as shown in FIG. 9D.
Programmable controller 160 switches hydraulic valve 16~ from
the down position to the up position and activates the main water
valve 54 to open. The up switched hydraulic valve 168 connects
hydraulic cylin~ers 45 to the intake side of hydraulic pressure
means 169 c2using hydraulic cylinders 45 to retract and
subseqtlently causing transport frame 46 wi.th transp~rt wh~els 21
to be pivoted upward. The upwarcl pivoting frame and transport
wheels 21 cause the valve coupling means 19 to mo~e down on top
of access valve 12b in order to align with, connect to, and then
force open access valve 12b.
When hydraulic cyli.nders 45 are completely re.racted as
shown in FIG. 3, support wheels 27 contac~ the ground to support
the swing arm outer end 23. Transport wheels 21 have been lifted
off the ground surface and the valve 12b has been opened. Water
flow from the op~ned access valve 12b is detected by pressure
sensor 155 which signals programmable controller 160. In
response, controll~r 160 initi.ates ~orward travel and subsequent
water applicati.on by the water delivery pipe means 15. Initially/
controller 160 may operate swing arm length regulating means 30,
36
accoLding to loqic means 170, to reorient regulating means 30
back to the position which preceded the disconnection of coupler
body 24 from access valYe 12a. Alignment with access valve 12b
will have altered the position of the swing arm length regulating
means 30 and resetting the regulating means 30 to its
foreMentioned position acts to compensate or the margin of error
associated with the delivery pipe positioning means (FI~. 12)
which i.ncludes the formentioned cyclometer means 130 pivot angle
measuring means 104 an~ control means 150.
Connector means 18 and water delivery pipe means 15 have now
in effect been controlled to operate for one complete cycle of
forwa--d travel. Further forward travel and subsequent applicat on
of water will result by repeating the pl-eviousl~ descri~ed
operational procedure. ~uccessive repetili.ons of the
forementioned operational procedure correlating with each
successive connection to an access valve 12 along the water .~ain
11, enables the wa~er deli.very pipe means 15 to traverse and
apply water across a field.
Programmable controller 160 functions to count each
connection to an access valve 12 from the first connection to an
access valve 12c as shown in FIG. lOA unti.l the last connecti.on
to an access valve 12d as shown in FIG. 10B. Connection to access
valve 12d will initiate the operation of the delivery pipe
rotation means 103 accordin~J to the counting of the access valves
12 by programmable controller 160 with reference to the actual
number of access val~es installed as stored by logic means 170.
This second operati.onal procedure is for the purpose of rotating
the.water delivery pipe means lS su~stantîally 1~0 degrees, about
.
the connection to access valve 12dl from its current position in
a Field A (FIG. 10B) that i.s adjacent to one side of the water
main 11, to a similar perpendicular orientation on the opposite
side of the wat~r main 11. Consequently, after a completed
operation of the water delivery pipe rotation means 103, the
water delivery pipe means 15 and connector means 18 will reside
in a second field; Field B (FIG. 10C).
Operation of the water delivery pipe rotation means 103
begins in the same manner as the operati.on of the connector means
18. With access valve 16~ opened, water flows from water mai.n 11
to be applied onto the ground s~rface. Water pre.ssure is detected
b~ water pxessure sensor 155 which signals programma~le
controller 160. Progra~mable controller 160 activates percentage
timer 156 in order to s~art forward travel o~ the water delivery
pipe meàns 15. Forward travel Gf the water delivery pipe means
continues until the swing arm means 16 and the water delivery
pipe means 15 are longitudinally aligned as illustrated in FIG~
9B~
The signal from cyclometer rotativn reqis~er 135 indic~tes
to programmable controller 160 that water delivery pipe means 15
is sub~tanti.ally longitudinally aligned with t~le swing arm means
16 as shown. In response, programMable controller 160 begins the
operational procedure that is unique to the water delivery pipe
rotation means 10~, by switching the percentage timer 156 to a
special position, turning on a motor brake 171, switching the
main water valve 54 closed and opeliing a series of electrically
actuated line drains 2no~ Percentage timer 15~ has six
38
~3~2$~
operati.onal positions. ~The six operational positions are unique
to the present invention. The percentage timer i~self is a
conventional component.) Four of the positions are for use
during operation of the connector means 18 including a position
dictating forward travel and a positi.on dictati.ng reverse travel.
The speed of forward and reverse travels depends on the manually
determined setting of the percentage timer 156. The remaining two
setting positions utilized during operation of the connector
means 18 include a double speed forward positon and a double
speed reverse position. (These double speed positions are
utili7ed as part of a means for irrigati.ng corners described
later.) Each double speed positi~n serves to operate the
appropriate drive motors at twice the spee~ as manually s~t on
percentaye timer 156. The remaining two operational positions of
percentage timer 156 are for use duriny operation of the delivery
pipe rotation means 103 including a position dictating forward
travel and a posi.tion dictating rever~e travel. Both forward and
reverse positions employ a fi~ed travel speed equivelent to a 50
percent setting on the percentage timer 156.
Prcgrammable controller 160 begins operati.on of the delivery
pipe ro~ation means 103 and switches percentage timer 156 to the
position for fixed speed reverse operation of drive motors 152
and 157. Consequently, movable carts 14a and 14b begin travel in
a reverse direction and are traveling simultaneously about half
of the time. Percentage timer 156 operates drive motors 152 and
157 simultaneously as previously practiced during operation of
the connector means 18. However, because the water delivery pipe
means 15 is now rotating and the drive motors 152 and 157 are set
3g .
-~3~2J~
to po~er their respective movable carts 14a ancl 14b at the same
speed as part of the connector means 18, movable cart 14b lags
behind. Consequently, when perc~ntage timer 156 intermittently
shuts off drive motors 152 and 157, programmable control].er 160
will utilize an available procedure from the operation of the
connector means 18.. Controller 160 will analyze the signal from
pivot angle recorder 120 in order to operate drive mo~or 157 for
powering movable car-t 14b. Controller lG0 discontinues power to
drive motor 157 when first span 13a is once again longitudinally
aligned with t:he swing arm supply pipe 36 as determi~e~ by pivo-,
angle recorder 120.
The remainin~ movable carts 14 alcna the water delivery pipe
means 15 remain longitudinally aligr.ed with the first span 13a
duri.ng operation of the delivel-y pipe rot.ation means 103 by
utilizing the same conventional means of alignment as utilized
for that purpose during operation of the connector means lR.
However, in order to remain aligned, the movable carts 14 must
travel increasingly faster the farth~r they are from the sw~ng
arm outer end 23. This may be accom~.odated by proyressi.vely
increasing the horsepower size of the drive motors and decreasing
the ~ear ratios of the associated gear reducers ~or the movable
carts 14 as the distance increases from the swing ar~ outer end
23. Th~s arrangement enables progressively increased travel speed
for the movable carts 14 from a minimum cart speed at the swing
arm outer end 23 to a maximu~cart speed at the remote end of the
water deli.very pipe means 15, as required for proper~operati.on of
the water delivery pipe rotation means 1030 The successively
`~ 3 ~
increased travel speed of the movable carts 14 complies with the
requirements for slowly moving the water delivery pipe means 15
forward during irrigation and for maintaining the proper water
delivery pipe alignment during said forward travel. Maintai.ning
this alignment requires only the occasional operation of the
drive motors in response to a detected misalignment.
At the onset of operating the delivery pi.pe rotation means,
programmable controller 1~0 acti.vates the motor brake 171~ Brake
171 lccks the electric motor 34 and subsequently locks the swin~
arm length regulating means 30 in the retracted position as shown
in FIG. 4. Movable carts 14 will now travel along established
paths and will not wander during rotation of the water deliveri~
pipe means 15. Programmable controller 163 also clcses the main
water valve 54 in order to discontinue water application duri.ng
operation of the delivery pipe rotation means 103. In addition,
contoller 160 has opened a series of electrically actuated line
drains ~00 (FIG. 14A) mounted along the length o the water
delivery pipe means 15 in order to drain ~he water delivery pipes
20~ so as to lighten the traveling load.
Operation of the delivery pipe rotation means 103 is
continued, until the wa~er delivery pipe means 15 and swing arm
means 16 reach a position as shown in FIG. 10C. There the arm of
a tripswitch 180 IFIG. 8B) contacts a ground anchored rod 181
positioned adjacent to the circular travel path of movable cart
14a. The tripswitch lB0 signals programmable controller 160
indi.cating that operation o the delivery pipe rotation means 103
may be di.sconti.nued. Subsequently the connector means 18 may once
again be operated.
~1
~ 3~
As shown in FIG lOC, the delivery pipe xotates in a reverse
direction in relation to the previous forward linear travel of
the delivery pipe means 15. In some cases, it may be advantageous
to rotate the water delivery pipe means lS in the forward
direction. Controller 160 would then swi.tch the percentage timer
156 to the fixed speed forward travel position. Consequently,
operati.on of the delivery pipe rotation means 103 would result in
the water delivery pipe means lS rotating beyond Fields A and B
in order to achieve the necessary position to begin operation of
the connector means 18 and subsequent irri.gation of Field B.
Programmable controller 160 reinstates the connector means
i8 by tuxning o~f the motor brake 171, by switching percen~age
timer 156 back to the manually adjustable forward travel
positivn, by switc~ing ~he main water valve 5~ to be opened and
by ~losing the electric line drains 200.
Water delivery pipe means lS rnay no-~ begin forward travel
The water delivery pipe me~ns lS travels frorn the starting
positi.on as shown in FIG. lOC until the unit arrives at a
position similar to t~at shown in FIG. 9C utilizing the same
operational proceedure as previously described for moving the
water delivery pipe means 15 and connector means 18 ~rom the
posi.tion shown in FIG. 9B to the position shown in FIG. 9C. The
travel means 22 and valve coupling means 19 are now operated by
controller 160 in order to forward the connection to the next
access valve 12 as shown in FIG. 9~.
Water delivery pipe means 15 travels ~orward in conjuction
wit.h the repetative operati.on of the connector means 18; each
42
~ 3 ~
repetition corresponding with each successive disconnecti.on from
an access valve 12. ~ravel transpires from the position a~ one
end of ~he series of access valves 12 as shown in FIG. 10C to the
position at the other end of the series of access valves 12 as
shown ir. FIG. 10D. Once.again, programmabl~ controller 160 counts
the number of connections made along the series of access valves
12 in order to detect the last access valve 12 along this side of
water main 11. The last access valve 12 available for eonnection
during the irrigation of Fi.eld B is access valve 12c. Access
valve 12c was the first access valve 12 to be connected to and
opened at the onset of the irrigation process when the water
delivery pi.pe means 15 began orward travel to irrigate Fi.eld .
as shown in the forementioned position in FIGo 10A.
From the posi.tion shown in FIG~ 10D, the swin~ arm means 16
and water deliver~ pipe means 15 may be rotated ~ubstan~ially 180
degrees about the connection to access valve 12c to the posi.tion
shown in FIG. 10~. The deli~ery pipe rotation means lC3 is again
operated ~y programmable controller 160 according to the same
operational procee~ure employed for rotating the swing arm means
i6 and water delivery pipe means 15 from the posit,ion sho~n in
FIG. 10B to the position shown in FIG. 10C. Operation of delivery
pipe rotation means 103 is terminated when the arm of tripswitch
180 contacts another appropriatelY positi.oned ground anchored rod
181. Actuation of tripswitch 180 signals programmable controller
160, which in respons~, discontinues operation of the water
delivery pipe rotation means 103 and resumes ope~ation of the
connector nleans 18.
' Both Field A and Field B have now been i.rrigated and the
.
4~ .
water delivery pipe means 15 is positioned to begin a second
irrigation of Field A. Tne circuitous nature of the path traveled
by the water delivery pipe rneans 15 of the present invention
presents a distinct advantage over the travel path of suggested
automated i.rrigation approaches includi.ng present commercially
available approachesO Irri~ation of a field with present
commercially available automated lateral move irrigators leaves
the water delivery pipe the full length of the field away from
the original staring position. Presently available automated
lateral move irrigators must then be rolled dry or while
irrigating, backwards across the field.
The distanc~ tr~veled and ihe area cGver~d by the present
system of rotating the water delivery pipe means beween fields
and back to the original starting positon, is superior $o the
commercially available approaches.
The mos~ dramatic advantage of the present invention also
emerges from the circuitous nature of the path traveled by the
water delivery pipe means. Any field to be irrigated by presently
available a~ltomated lateral move irri.gators may now be irri.gated
with a water delivery pipe means 15 that is only one half of the
previ.ous required pipe length. In addition, the number of access
valves installed ~or o~erati.on of the present invention will
typi.cally be half that required with prior commercially available
systems.
Typically, all common day lateral move irri~ators require a
guide wire stretch~d along the travel path~The guide wire may be
eliminated with the present inventi.on~ All advantages considered,
~ 3 ~
the present invention repres~nts an automated irrigati.on system
that is considerably less expensive and drastically less
complicated than those presently available.
When the coupling means 19 is transported between access
valves 12 (FIG. 9D~ and when the delivery pipe rotation means 103
is operated (FIG5. lOC and lOA), water flow through the water
delivery pipe means 15 has been discontinued. In many inst.ances
it is preferable to keep the pump operati.ng by temporarily
diverting t~le water flow rather than shutting off the pump. Two
approach~s for diverting water are diagramatically illustrated in
FIGS. 13A an~ 13B.
The simplest a~proach towards tempo~-aril~ div~.rti.r,y water
from the water main 11 is ~hown in FIG. 13A. A mainline diverter
valve 185 is hydraulically connected somewhere along the water
main 11 typically near one of its ends~ Mainl.ine diverter valve
185 i~ ~perated to open in response to a signal from a m~inline
press~re sensor 186. Mainline pressure sensor 186 moni.tors the
pr~ssure in the water main 11. When water flow through the water
delivery pipe means 15 has been discontinued, the pressure ir.
~ater main 11 rises dramatically as the pump conti.nues to
vperate. Mainline pressure sensor 186 detects the obv.ious
pressure rise and responds by signaling the mainline diverter
valve 185 to be opened. When the mainline diverter valve 185 is
opened, the pressurized water from water main 11 flows into a
gravity applicator pi.pe 187. GraYity applicator pipe 187 may be a
common piece of pipe xunning from the mainline diverter valve 185
along the elevati.onally high side o~ a comparati.vely small
irregular shaped field in the vacinity of tlle much larger Fields
.
~S
- ~ 3 ~ 3~
A and B as shown in FIGS. lOA ~ lOD. Gravi~y applica~or pipe 187
includes spaced outlet holes along its length which allow the
intermittently suppli.ed water to flow freely from the holes and
into adjacent furrows extending out and downwar~ into the
adjacent small ~iel~. Utiliæing a ~ravity appli.cator pipe is
common to the industry o gravi.ty fed irrigation systems.
If a small irregular shaped field may not be accesse~ i.n the
vicinity of the much larger Fie]d ~ and Field B or it is
desireable to mor~ effectively apply the diverted water, then a
second approach may be incorporated as illustrated in FI~ B.
This optional approach utilizes the foremen~ioned mainline
di-~erter valve 1~5 and the mainline p-essure sensGr 186. However,
mainline diverter valve 185 dIverts water from water mail1 ll into
a reservoir l8g instead of gravity appli.cator pipe 187. h7hen
water is once again allowed to flow through wat.er delivery pipe
means 15 and subseque1tly mainline diver~er ~alve l85 closes, the
water filled reservoir may be emptied back into the water main ll
by operating an auxiliary pump l90. Typically, auxiliary pump l90
operates continuously until a f]oat switch 189 actuates when the
reservoi r has been emptied and signals to stop the operation ot
auxiliary pump l90. Float switch 189 may function as a
precautionary device and actuate when the reservoi.r is full and
Signal to stop the operation o~ ~he main pump l84~ Float switch
189 will also ~etect a full reservoir and si.gnal to stop
operati.on of main pump 184 when the wat.er delivery pipe rotation
rneans is operating~
It i.s advan1:ageous to expedite the operati.ons of the present
.l3~ iJ~f-~
sy~tem which re~.ire the water flow through the water delivery
pipe means 15 to be discontinued. As described, these operations
include transporting the valve coupling means 19 between access
valves 12 and operating the ~elivery pipe rotation means 103. As
mentioned these operations may be completed as quickly as the
associated structures will allow. This serves to reduce the
amoul~t of time water is not flowing through the water delivery
pi~e means 15 and subsequently the time that wat.er may need to be
diverted from the water main 11~ Typically, operation of the
connector mearl~ 18 and operation of the delivery pipe rotation
means 103 will constitute a combined time of between one and ten
percent of the time water flows through the water delivery pipe
means 15, depending in part on how fast the water delivery pipe
means 15 is traveling while applying water~
The present system may also be operated along a series of
spaced access valves 12 mounted to a water main 11 as shown in
FIG. ~1. The water main 11 may elbo-~ at a right angle in order to
irriyate an L-shaped :Eield.
Operation o~ the present system to irrigate an L-shaped
field, or to irrigate any of a miriad o multi-shaped fields, is
possible by uti.lizing the same group of previously descri~ed
controls (FIG.12). The present system is able to irrigate an L-
shaped field through its abi] ity to accomadate multiple 90 degree
elbows to the right or left and by its ability to modify the
direction of forward travel of the water delivery pipe means 15
by.any angle. However, 90 degree changes in travel directi~n will
result in perfectly uniorm coverage. Changes in travel directi.on
other than 90 degrees wil 1 erode the uniformity of covera~e.
47
Describing the ~rocedure of operation for irrigatiny an L-
shaped field may begin with the water delivery pipe means 15
traversing a field in conjunction with the typical operation of
the connector means 18 until connection is made to an access
valve 12e. Once again, programm~ble controller 160 has counted
the connections made to each access valve 12 along water main 11
while refering to logic means 170 and subseqllelltiy has
distinguished access valve 12e. Once valve 12e is detected,
programmab]e controller 160 switches percentage timer 156 to the
dou~led speed manually set forward position. The watèr dèlivery
pipe means 15 and connector means 18 continue forward operation
in the u~ual manner except now the water delivery pipe means ~5
is trave]ing at twice the previous speed and so is applyir-g one
half the amo~,nt of water.
Forward ~ravel of the water delivery pipe means 15 and
connector means 1~ continues at a doubled rate as access valves
12 are successively connected in the usual manner until
connection is finally made to an end access valve 12f. (Typically
the distance between access valve 12e and access valve 12f will
be similar to the distance from the swing arm outer end 23 to
the remote end of the water delivery pipe means 15.) After
connection to access valve 12f, forward travel continues until
the forward position where disconnection from the valve would
normally be expected during standard operation of the connector
means 18. Instead of disconnecting from access valve 12f,
controller 160 switches percentage timer 156 to the double speed
reverse position. Irrigation continues as the water delivery pipe
48
~ 3 ~
means 15 ~acktracks along the series o~ access valves 12 at
double the manually set speed until the connection again to
access valve 12e has been counted by controller 160. Backward
travel will continue after connection has again been made to
access valve 12e until the swing arn~ means 16 becomes
lo~gitudinally aligned with the water delivery pipe means 15.
Jrrigation of tl3e outside corner section of ~he L-shape h~s now
been completed.
When water delivery pipe means 15 and swin~ ar~, means lÇ
attain longitudlnal ali.qnment, the delivery pipe rotation means
103 may be operated by controller 160 as pre~iously described.
In this c~se th~ percentage timer 156 is switched to the r,on-
adjustable forward travel position. Forward rotation o~ the wate.r
deli~rery pipe means 15 transpires until d.iscont.inuance is
prescribed as in the usual manner when a ground anchored rvd 181
is encountered by the arnr of tripswitch 180 (FIG. 8B).
Water ~elivery pipe means 15 has been rotated 90 degrees and
may now proceed with ~orward tra~el in the usual manner wi.th the
percentage timer 156 se~ at the manually set forward travei
position. Typical operation of the connector means 18 continues
while the water delivery pipe means 15 travels forward until a
last access valve 12 is connected to and su~sequently counted by
controller 160. Contoller 160 acts accordingly and operates the
delivery pi.p~ rotation means 103 in the usual manner in order to
rotate the water delivery pi.pe means 15 to the opposite side of
the water main 11.
Controller 1~0 reinstates operati.on of the connector means
18 and ~orward irrigat.ion is continued along this side of the
49
~ 3 ~
water main 11 until controllex 160 recognizes an access valve
12g ~rom logic ~eans 170. Contxoller 160 swit,ches percentage
timel 1~6 to the double speed forward travel position, Forward
travel of the water delivery pipe means 15 then continues at
double speed until connecti.on is made to access valve 12h.
(AcCess valve 12h is also the forementioned access valve 12e.~
Again, travel continues on until the s~ing arm 16 and water
deliv~ry pipe means 15 are longi.tudinally aligned. At this point
the delivery pipe rotation means 103 is operated with the
percentaye timer 156 s~itched to the fixed-speed re~èrse travel
positior.. Reverse rotation of the water delivery pipe means l.5
commences and will continue through a 90 degree angle until
di.scontinue~ in the ~sual manner when tripswitch l.8~ is actuated
by a ground anchored ro~l 181.
The actuatec3 tripswitch 180 instructs controller 16n to
reinstate operation of the connector means 18 with the percentage
timer 156 in the double speed manually adjustable forward travel
position. Do~ble speed forward travel of the wat~r delivery pipe
means 15 will commence an~ continue unt~.l connecti.on is made to
an access valYe 12i. Connection to access valve 12i. indicates
that the irrigati.vn of the inside of $he corner has been
completed.
Controller 160 recognizes access valve 12i from logic means
170 and accordingly switches percentage timer 156 back to the
standard speed manually adjusted forward travel position so that
the remaind.er of the ~i.eld may be irrigated in the standard
fashion.
50
- ~ :
~3~2,~¢'
Together, the present connector means 18 and delivery pipe
rotation means lC3 presen~ a distinctly superior automated
lateral move irrigation system and present a superior automated
irrigation system for irrigati.ng irregular shapes.
The water delivery pipe means 15 of the present system may
incorporate the forementi~ned water applicator means l43 for
applying wa~.er from the water delivery pipes 13 onto the ground
surface.
Water applicator means 143 may include any conventional
means for applying the water from the water delivery pipes 13
onto t~le field surface. However, ~or i-riga~i.ng fields wit.h soil
that abso.-bs the a~plied water at a relativ~ly slow r~te, it
becomes incr~asin~ly advantayeous to utilize the present
rotatable disoharge ~oom means 77 for applying the water fron~
water delivery pipes 212 onto the field surface.
- The advantages of rotatable di.scha1ge boom means 77 may be
understo3d with reference to FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 17. (The
examples illustrated in FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 17 respr~sent a water
~elivery pipe mean~ 15 advanta~eously abou~ 1300 feet .ong
includi.n~ seven trussed delive~y pipes 13 each about 160 feet
lony and also i.ncludin~ eigh~ movable carts 14 with a rotatable
boom means 77 mounted atop each movable cart 14. Watex d~livery
pipe means 15 for use with the present i.nvention may range in
length from 1~0 feet to 2600 feet.) FIG. 16A represents the
typical throw diameter and thus width of coverage offered by
conventional sprinklers mounted along a given len~th of water
delivery pipe means. Conventional means of applying water include
i.mpe-lct sprinklers and spray nozzle~. All o~ the con~entional
51
~ ` ~
applicator m~ans discharge water from 30 feet, with the operation
of low pressure spray nozzles, to 60 feet with the operation of
hi~h pressure imp~ct sprinklers. (Low pressure operation is
generally most desirable when soil absorbtion rates will permit.)
FIG. 16A i~lustrates a throw distance of 60 feet and thus a khrow
dian~eter of 120.
A water delivery pipe means 15 utilizing rotatable discharge
boom means 77 as shGwn in detail in FIG. 14A and diagrammatically
in FIGS. 16B and 17 enables the applied water to be ~istributed
over a much greater area than the conventional app]icators cf
FIG. 16A for a giv~n leng~h of water delivery pipe meanr.. FlG.
16~ illustra~es a typically available throw diar,etel- and thus
wiclth o~ coverage when water is discharged unrestrict~d frcjm
sin~le end noz~.le 87 on each boom ~eans 77. (An exampie in FIGS~
1SB and 17 represenk a water flow rate through each rokatab]e
boom mear;s 77 of around 400 gallons per minute; around 200
gallons per minute discharged out of end nozzle 87 and the other
200 gallor.s per minute out of the series of discharge nozzles 84.
Rotatable booms 77 are most advantageous in the flow range from
100 to 500 gallons per minute.) The throw diameter s~own ir. FIG~
16B is so great due to the length of the xotatable dischar~e
booms 60 that end nozzles 87 may typically include means to
retard the available throw distance in order to afford low
pressure operation with excellent water droplet quality an~
excellent wind control. For instance, the available ~hrow
~istance may be rekarded from the 100 foot throw shown in FTG.
16B to a sn foot throw shown in FIGr 17~ The retarded end throw
52
(~`` `~3~2~
shown in FIG. 17 may represent a 220 foot throw diameter for
each dischar~e boom means 77, which ~enerates a width of coverage
almost twice as wide as the widest width of coverage typically
available with the convencional applicators as shown in FIG. 16A.
Width of coverage along a delivery pipe means is directly
proportional to the amount of land a given length of water
delivery pipe means is capable of irrigati.ng, providing that the
soil abso~tion rate is a lim.tin~ factor. Consequently, a given
length of wa~er delivery pipe means 15, incorporating the
rotatable ~Tater discharge boom means 77, wil~ be capable of
traver~in~ and su}~sequently irrigating two to three t3.mes the
amount of land capable ~-i.th the same gi.ven length of water
delivery pipe ~,eans 15 employing conventional means of applying
wat~r.
'~he rotat~ble discharge boom means 77 mounted atop the
movable carts 14 of a water deli.very pip~ means 15 (FIG. 14A) in
c~mbinati.on with any means of connection along the water main 11,
may include two operational modes.
The first operati.onal mode of rotatable discharge boom means
77 is employed when a water delivery pipe means is travelin~ and
suhsequently i.rrigating a field. The water delivery pi.pe means 15
of the present invention may travel from a position similar to
that shown in FIG. 10A, at one end of a field, to a positi on
similar to that shown in FIG. lOB~ at the opposite end of said
field and likewise when the water delivery pipe means 15 travels
between positions similar to those shown in FIGS. lOC and 10D.
As a lateral move water delivery pipe mealls 15 traverses a fi.eld,
the amount of water applied to the ground surface by a seri.es of
~ 3 ~ 2 ~ f.~
rota~able discharge boom means 77, each rotating at a constant
speed, will vary depending upon the position of the point of
applicati.on along the length of the water delivery pipe. The
fully retarded throw of end nozzle 87 as shown in FIG. 17
presents the greatest display of varyied time water is applied t~
the ground s~rface and thus the worst coverage uniformity.
(Sprialkler overlaps serve tv help even the water distribution for
conventional applicator means and the rotatable boom means 77
shown in FIG. 16B.) In order to attain the maximum uniformity of
coverage as exernplified in FIG. 17, it is advantageous to
selec~cjvely var~ the rotati.on speed of each boom means 77 during
each rotati.on and subsequent rotations. This practi.ce has been
discussed in U.S. Patent number 4~522,338.
When the outer end of the water throw from end nozzle 87 is
in a region where the series of discharge boom means 77 would,
wi.th constant rotation speeds, spend less time applying water and
thus apply less than the average amount of water, the rotation
speed of the rotatable boom means 77 is slowed. ~The amount of
water discharged from the discharge boom 60 of each boom assembly
77 will be proportionally increased approaching the outer region
of water application so ~hat the rate per hour that water is
applied to the ground surface by each discharge boom 60 will be
constant. Consequently, the outermost throw of water discharged
from end nozzle 87 will constitute the greatest concentration of
water and varying the rota~ion speed of boom assembly 77 in
response to the positi.on of the outermost end throw will have the
54 .
~ ~ '' ' .
` .3~1~Ç~$'~
greatest efect on the amount o~ water applied.) The graph shown
in FIG. 17 exemplifies a variation of rotation speeds for a
series of ro~atc~ble discharge boom means 77 mounted along a water
delivery pipe mean~ 15~ Certain regions will have water applied
by the discharge booms 60 of two adjacent discharge boom means
77. Consequently, the proportional time water is applied ~ay be
greater ir. these regions and, as JLhe graph illustrates, the speed
of rotation is ~ncreased when the extreme of a particular end
throw applies ~t.er in that regîon. (Because there is symmetry to
th~ application r~eeds on each side of a boom rotation axis
along tne deli.vel-y pipe length, rotatable boorn ~,eans 77 with t~.~o
di.scharse ~oom~ as shown in FIG. 14~ may be rotation speed
con~rOlled result.;.ng in unifol-m coverage.)
A second ~perational mode may be employed when the water
delivery pipe means 15 i.s positioned to begi.n irrigation of a
fleld as shown in FIGS. lOA and lOC or when the water delivery
pipe means 15 has completed irrigation of a field as shown in
FIGS. 10~ and lOD. In all cases, the water delivery pipe means 15
remains stationary with water flowing while the rotational speed
of each dischar~e boom assembly 77 is varied in order to
accomadate the regions which will not he completely traversed by
the water delivery pipe means 15.
In other words, the regi.on from the front edge of the width
of coverage, (the frollt edge is the edge the water delivery pipe
will be traveling toward,) to the rear edge o~ the width of
coverage, (the rear edge in this case will typically be the
boundary of the field), wi.ll receive pr~porti.onally less water
applied as a water delivery pipe means 15 wi.th conventional water
^1 3 ~ 2 ~
applicator means 143 begins to traverse a field from the
positions as shown in FIGS. lOA and lOC. To rectify this
inadequacy, the rotation speed cf the rotatakle boom means 77 as
chown in FIG. 14A may be proportionally slowed as the outermost
throw from end nozzle ~7 approaches the rearmost region. The
water delivery pipe means will remain stationary while applying
water from the rotatab]e boom means 77 for an amount of tirlie
proportional to the manually prescribed setting on percentage
timer 156. Upon completi.on of the established time period,
controller I60 initiates fo~ward travel of the water delivery
pipe means 15 and subsequently switches rotatable discharge booin
operation to the forementioned first operational mode.
When the wa~er deli.very pipe means 15 has completed z.n
irrigation across a field as shown in FIGS. lOB and lOD, th~
region of the width of coverage for the water applicator means to
the front of the water delivery pipe means 15 has received
proporti.onally less water applied, (in this case, the front edge
will typically be the boundary of the field). Here again, the
water delivery pipe means 15 remains stationary ~or a time period
proportional to the setti.ng on peL-cent2qe ~imer 156 while the
rotatab~e boom means 77 conti.nue to apply water. In this case,
the rotational speed of each rotatable discharge boom mean~ 77 is
proportionally slowed approaching the front o~ the wat~r deli~ery
pipe means. . .
An alternate embodiment of a ro~atable boom means 77 is
shown in FIG. 14~. As described earlier, an extra discharge boom
125, substantially identical to discharge boom ~0, ex~ends in the
56
f `
~3~2~
o~osite direction as the boom 60 shown in FIG. 14A. The two
discharge booms shown may be rotated about a common axis to
red~lce th~ water available for discharge from end noz21e 87 and
consequently reduce the ability to throw the water as Car.
Multiple booms thus reduce the abi.li.ty to spread out the applied
water. ~owever, because the length of the rotatable di~charge
booms serve to greatly cpread the applied water, multiple
dischargQ booms still represent an advantageous practice. Boom
assemblies 77 with more than two discharge booms do not aLford
the applicat.ion symmetry required to utili.ze varied rotation
speed iri order to pro~ide uniform coverage. Additionally, the
discharcJe boom means 77 shown in FIG. 14B as w~3] as boom means
with multip~e discharge booms are not capable of practi.cin~ the
applicatiol; c~pability of the loremelltioned second operational
mode .
Discharge boom means 77 may advantageously be employed on
water delivery pip2 mean~ of center pivot irrigators. Cer~ter
pivot irrigato~s uti.lize a water delivery pipe means
substantially identical in structure to that o~ lateral move
water delivery pipe means. Center pivot delivery pipes are
controlled to rotate about a p~rmanent connection to the water
sup~ly located at one end of the water delivery pipeO
Consequently, water application amounts per hour increase
approaching the delivery pipe end remote from the center pivot. A
se~ies of discharge boom means 77 may be mounted along the outer
end of ~ cen~er pivot delivery pipe to spread out the applied
water and thus to reduce the hi.gh app~.i.cation rate at the ollter
end of a center pivot deliver~ pipe. Because center pivot
.. .~7
~ ~ ~ 2 ~ ~
delivery pipes require increa~ed application amounts to~ard the
outer end, only dischar~e boom means 77 with one discharge boom
as shown in FIG. 14A are able to employ variati.on of rota-ti.on
speed in order to achieve uniform coverage.
A rotation speed c~trol means 145 IFIG. 12) includes a drive
motor 59. Motor 59 drives rubber ~heel 208 against ring 64 (FIG.
~B) causing the rotatable discharge means 77 to rotate. Position
o~ rotation is monitored by indexer 82. Controll~r 16C interprets
the signal from indexer 82 and refers to ~og~.c means 170 in order
to determine what t.he speed o~ motor 59 should be at the current
position of -otation. Con~roller 160 reponds by varying the speed
of motor 59 accordingly.
In compliance wi.th the statute, the inventi.on has been
described in lar.guage more or less specific as to structural
features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention i.s
not limi.ted to the specific features shown, sirlce the r.leans and
con~txuction herein disclosed comprise a preferred ~orm of
putting the in~ention into effect. The invention is, therefore,
clai~ed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper
scope of the appended claims, appropri.ately interpreted in
accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.
58
