Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"AN IRRIGATING SPRINKLING MACNINE n
I . Background of the art
The present invention relates to an irrigating
sprinkling machine by means of which a large piece of land
can be irrigated; characterized in that - apart from being
relatively light - it can be folded and adapted according to
the wind.
As it is known, one of the main objectives of the
irrigation of crops is to provide the soil with the level of
humidity that the soil has not got from rainfalls.
One of the best systems to irrigate is through
sprinkling, by means of revolving sprinklers and pipes or
tubes comprising a plurality of small holes, expelling the
water which waters the soil like rainfall.
Related art
There are many machines and devices used for
sprinkling.
One of them comprises a cart or carriage on which
there is assembled a revolving sprinkler tube connected to a
hose which is on a rolling drum which in turn is assembled on
its own portable chassis.
It works as follows: the cart moves away from the
rolling drum as the hose unwinds. Then, as water flows, the
sprinkler tube expels water covering a certain area, and thus
covers a semicircular piece of land. Meanwhile, a hydraulic
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turbine, makes the sprinkler tube go back towards the drum,
around which the hose winds until irrigation is over.
This conventional device is effective in one
aspect, but at the same time it embodies a number of
drawbacks, such as the following:
* it comprises only one water expelling source, so
should some malfunctioning or fault occur in the sprinkler
tube all the irrigation process will become difficult.
* if the ground happens to be rough or hilly the
movement of the sprinkler tube may either be stopped or
blocked, and therefore, so may the direction and maximum
distance of the jet.
* the wind effect, which in the case of these
systems affects irrigation. Though orienting means have been
included, the variations of the winds still affect the
performance of the system.
Another well-known irrigation device is a long
watering duct, which forms a series of arcs comprising
structural reinforcement, which at least in the joints, have
a supporting base with a wheeled gear. The set of these
carts/carriages enables the whole device to move, so that it
either rotates around one of its ends, or it moves straight
ahead.
In this case, irrigation is accomplished
successfully, but said device is complex and expensive, and
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above all, it is very heavy. Therefore, it is difficult to
move along some kinds of ground, and it is difficult to
store.
Moreover, said structure needs engines to drive
both the tower and the cart/carriage.
In brief, this is a highly expensive device which does not
solve all the operation drawbacks.
But, the irrigating machine of the present
invention overcomes all the limitations and drawbacks of the
irrigation systems known in the art. It comprises two
watering wings that support the watering ducts. Each of these
wings, which extend from one of the sides of the cart,
comprises a meshed structure/framework of blocks joined by
hinges or joints.
Both long wings are supported by a main tower by
means of a plurality of arms that shape triangular supports
that secure the resistance of the structure, and support the
set by means of main and secondary reins. In this way, the
structure becomes significantly light and balanced, and does
not require wheels or additional supporting carts.
One of the most important aspects is the
relationship among the joined blocks, and the many reins that
enable the wings to move even when winds are strong; and
among said blocks there are washers o stretching means acting
as separators.
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Furthermore, because of its features, this machine
can be placed in a fixed location, and can cover a large
piece of land, which reduces operative costs.
Finally, it should be underlined that the whole set
of this machine is not sophisticated at all; for this reason
it can be produced at a very low cost.
II . Il lus tra tions
For a better understanding of the object of the
invention, reference is made to the accompanying figures that
represent one of the preferred embodiments, as an
illustration only.
In Figure 1 there is shown a perspective view
showing the general shape of the irrigating machine.
In Figure 2 there is shown a detail of a schematic
partial front view of the watering wings, projected from the
bars of the main tower, showing the large area the machine
can irrigate.
In figure 3 there is shown a plane view like figure
2.
In figure 4 there is shown a detail of the top
crossbar of the frame of the watering or irrigating wings,
where the arms of triangular supports are hinged. In a
partial view there is shown the shape of a sleeve which is
rotatably assembled on a said crossbar, to which said arms
are linked.
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In figure 5 there are shown 4 schematic plane views
of a watering wing under the action of the winds (according
to the arrows). As the wind becomes stronger, the joint
blocks rotate faster, even faster around the free ends of the
watering wings.
In figure 6 there is shown a perspective view of a
detail of the meshed structure, of the arms that shape the
triangular supports and the connections of the many main and
secondary reins.
In figure 7 there is shown a perspective view of
the end of a wing having arms that form complementary
triangular supports with their corresponding reins, in the
lower part of the irrigation wing.
In figure 8, there is shown a detail of the joint
among the many blocks forming each of the wings, with a
rubber ring inserted, working both as a separator and shock
absorber. It should be noted, however, that this ring can be
proportionally wider than what is illustrated; the figure
also shows the bolt without its corresponding nut o
latching means.
In figure 9, there is shown a cross section of the
triangular frame of the watering wing, whose lower end vertex
is formed by the duct or pipe along which water flows to the
wings.
In figure 10 there is shown a perspective view of
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the device in a new embodiment, in which the device is
assembled on a cart that is drawn by a tractor. In this
figure, there is also shown a number of hydraulic devices
which facilitate the building of the main tower and its
downward movement as well.
In figure 11, there is shown a cross section of the
supporting triangular arms. It is clear to see the way they
disassemble (following the dotted lineJ so that they are
disassembled /unlatched from the watering arm.
In figure 12, there is shown a detail of the
watering arm showing the way the stabilizing reins are
supported and crossed and "anchored " by means of their three
ends to the corresponding free vertexes of the supporting
arms.
In figure 13, there is shown another detail of the
watering arm, showing the way in which the top corners of the
triangular shapes of the supporting arms are linked, in
relation to the meshed structure of said watering arm; and
finally,
in figure 14 there is shown another detail of the
same arm, but showing another way of support of the
stabilizing reins - in relation to the one shown in figure
12 - linked directly to the top vertexes facing each of the
triangular shapes of the supporting arms.
In the figures, same reference numerals indicate
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same or corresponding parts, and the sets of many element
have been pointed out by letters.
List of main references
(a) hose rolling drum
(a') rolling drum, embodiment of figure 10.
(b) main tower.
(b') main tower
(c)(c') irrigating wings
(t) tractor
(1) rolling drum groove
(2) rotation axis of (a)
(3) vehicle structure (t)
(3') vehicle framework according to the embodiment of figure
10 .
(4) water supply duct
(4') sprinkling duct
(4") water supply
(5) bars of the main tower (b)
(5') bars of the main tower, embodiment of figure 10.
(6) top ends of (b).
(6') wire stretchers
(6") wire stretchers, embodiment of figure 10.
(8) arms forming wire stretchers in a triangular arrangement
(8') latches of arms (8), for the assembling/disassembling
thereof
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(9) wings block joints (c) (c")
(10) sprinkling nozzles
(11) main reins
(12) triangular meshed structure of each wing.
(12') blocks of structure (12)
(13) stabilizing reins
(13') lower secondary reins (converging)
(14) rubber pad or washer
(15) joint end
(16) joint axis (9) between blocks of (c) and (c")
(17) top crossbar of the meshed structure (12)
(17') rotating sleeve of (17) where the ends of (8) are
locked.
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III. Main objective
AN IRRIGATING SPRINKLING MACHINE of the kind
intended for irrigating a large area, comprising: a
supporting structure (3) assembled on a tractor (t), a
rotating drum (a), for winding a hose (4), which on the one
hand is connected to a water supply (4") and on the other
hand is connected to sprinkling ducts (4') of the machine,
comprising sprinkling nozzles which can be oriented towards
the soil; characterized in that said sprinkling ducts (4')
are assembled along two wings (c) and (c'), which are joined
in relation to tractor (t) against which they can be folded,
and are projected from the sides of said tractor (t); each of
wings (c) and (c') is a meshed triangular bar structure
(12), that forms a long arm which is the support of said
sprinkling ducts (4'), and comprises blocks (12') joined by
joining means (9), and is supported form the top by the
vertexes of supporting arms (8) in a triangular
arrangement which in turn is stretched by main reins (11),
and stabilizing reins (13) and secondary reins (13'); said
main reins (11) are stretched form top (6) of tower (b)
built on said tractor (t).
IV. Description
In general terms, the irrigating sprinkling machine
comprises a device for the irrigation of a large piece of
land. For this reason it comprises a supporting structure (3)
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which can be assembled either on a tractor (t) [figure 1], or
on a cart with wheels, drawn by the tractor [embodiment of
figure 10]. On said structure (3) of the embodiment
represented in figure 1, there is a main tower (b), and at
the sides of the tractor there are two irrigating wings (c)
and (c') on which there are sprinkling ducts (4'). The latter
are connected to a hose (4) wound around a rolling drum (a).,
which continues in a hose or rigid duct assembled on
irrigating wings (c) and (c').
In the embodiment shown in figure 10, the main
tower is identified as (b'), the main bars of the tower as
(5'), and the stretchers as (6"').
From now on, for the sake of brevity, reference
will be made to the assembling shown in figure 1. It should
be taken for granted that said assembling is equal to the one
shown in figure 10, except for the fact that in the latter
the device forms a cart, instead of being assembled directly
on tractor (t).
More particularly, water supply (4") is connected
to a rolling duct (4) rolled in a groove (1) of the rotating
drum (a) . The latter can rotate around its own axis (2)
which is assembled on structure (3) of tractor (t).
The other end of water duct (4) is connected to sprinkling
ducts (4') comprising sprinkling nozzles (10) oriented to
the soil.
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Said sprinkling ducts (4') comprise a plurality of
sprinkling nozzles (10) arranged along two joint irrigating
wings (c) and (c'), each of which projects from its
corresponding side of tractor (t), against which they fold.
Then tightness of the cables that support said watering or
irrigating wings (c) and (c') is achieved by means of a winch
(m) or similar, represented schematically in figure 2.
Each of these wings (c) and (c') comprises a
triangular meshed structure (12) - especially as shown in
figure 9 - which comprises blocks (12') jointly related by
means of joints (9), such as shown schematically in figure 8.
In said figure 8, two blocks of structure (12) are shown
which correspond to the same wing (c), from which terminal
complementary and punched pieces (15) are projected.
Said pieces are linked to an axis (16) which performs as a
braking link, and a rubber washer (14) is inserted which
performs as a shock absorber (figure 8).
It is noted that the way joint (9) is built is not
relevant; it could also be a bolt, projected from one of the
blocks (not shown), which fits loosely inside the other, plus
the use of said rubber washer (14) acting both as a separator
and shock absorber.
The link between both pipes is achieved by means of
the tightness of the reins, driven from winch (m), whereas
there are terminal caps which serve as the beginning of said
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bolt and also as insertion means of said bolt, and are wide
enough to limit the folding of the structure, therefore
performing as stops; in this case, the lower reins and the
supports indicated as (8'), (12') and (13") in figure 7.
In this way, each wing (c) and (c') forms a long
arm that is a support for the sprinkling ducts (4) , together
with their nozzles (10) [figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9].
Moreover, part of blocks (12') of the structure
(12) can have any appropriate resistant shape, such as in the
case of supporting arms (8), arranged in a triangular
fashion, whose low vertex is in one of the ends of each block
(12).
From the top vertexes of the arms there is a pair
of converging low secondary reins (13') which end clamped to
the low vertex of the next triangular support (8), arranged
in such a way that they converge towards the free end of the
corresponding irrigating arm (c) and (c').
Also from the top vertexes of the triangular support of arms
(8), there is another pair of stabilizing reins (13). In this
case, said reins (13) cross to finally get clamped the top
vertexes.
The clamping of the set is complemented by means of
two main reins (11) - which link the two top aligned
vertexes of all the triangular supports (8) of each wing (c)
and (c')- and finally get clamped by means of the
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corresponding stretching bars (6') to the top ends (6) of
bars (5) of main tower (b).
Supporting arms (8) end in latches (8') which hold
on to a top crossbar (figure 11), and get latched to a sleeve
(17') which is rotatably assembled on a crossbar (17)
provided by the triangular frame of the winds (c), [figures
4 and 11]. In this way, once said arms are unlatched, they
fold once again such as shown in figure 11, so that the
system gets smaller and folds completely for storage.
Also, in order to put up bars (5) of the main tower
(b), the device can comprise a winch (not shown) which
tightens o loosens the supporting or stabilizing cables, o
preferably, hydraulic arms as those illustrated schematically
in figure 1 on the same device; said hydraulic means comprise
hydraulic devices whose plunger projects outside of the
cylinder together with a rod or shank joint to the bars of
said main tower so that depending on the driving force said
rod or shank projects more or less, thus enabling the
complete building of the main tower (b), or partial building
of main tower (b) (in case of strong winds).
In another embodiment, the irrigating wings (c) and
(c') comprise complementary triangular detachable supports
(8') held by means of corresponding lower reins (13") and
arranged in the opposite lower part of main supports (8) [see
figure 7J.
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As for the frame itself of the corresponding blocks
of each wing (c) and (c'), it can be a resistant triangular
structure of blocks (12) or (12') as shown in detail in
figure 9, in which each lower pipe (4) is, as shown, the
rigid duct along which water flows which is connected to the
hose described above, and comprises sprinkling nozzles (10)
which are in fact the sprinklers, oriented up or down o in
the direction the machine moves.
The set works as follows:
When tractor (t) advances, the rolling drum (a)
unrolls the hose or flexible pipe, which allows the permanent
connection between hose (4) and the wings (c) and (c') with
the water supply (4").
Said wings (c) and (c') are perfectly open and
balanced because of the connection between main tower (b) and
triangular supporting arms (8) and the main and secondary
reins (13'), tightening by means of winch (m), or loosening
if necessary (even reaching the soil) if necessary because of
strong winds.
More particularly, while converging lower secondary
reins (13') are affected by the tension because of the
corresponding block weight (12') the arms forming triangular
supports (8) are affected by compression.
With the arrangement described above, the tensions
go directly to main reins (11) tightened in the main tower
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(b).
Moreover, if the machine is subjected to the action
of winds of different intensity, wings (c) and (c') are not
rigid (as said above) since the joints (9) enable the partial
rotation of blocks (12') which form the meshed structure
(12), starting from the final wing block (c)-(c') to continue
with the lower block. (as shown in figure 5.)
Besides, each of blocks (12') rotates partially ,
the tightness of said lower secondary reins (13') decreases,
blocks (12') diverge, whereas the tightness in those reins
(13') decreases. (se figure 4.)
Also, there is a certain movement of the arms
forming the triangular supports (8) limited by stabilizing
reins (13).
Under these conditions and in spite of strong
winds, the machine can advance with its wings (c) and (c') in
perfect balance.
