Apparatus for shifting irrigation pipe

Claim 2

A MOBILE PLATFORM INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR ENDS AND AN ELONGATED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOOM HAVING A FIRST INNER END PORTION THEREOF SUPPORTED FROM SAID PLATFORM AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID PLATFORM AT A SECOND OUTER END PORTION THEREOF, SAID BOOM INCLUDING CONVEYING MEANS, PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER LONGITUDINAL MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID BOOM FOR SEQUENTIALLY RECEIVING AND STATIONARILY SUPPORTING HORIZONTAL IRRIGATION PIPE SECTIONS ON THE OUTER END PORTION THEREOF WITH SAID PIPE SECTIONS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BOOM AND CONVEYING SAID PIPE SECTIONS ALONG THE UPPER MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID BOOM FROM THE OUTER END PORTION THEREOF TO THE INNER END PORTION THEREOF WITH SAID PIPE SECTIONS MAINTAINED IN HORIZONTAL POSITION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BOOM, AND REARWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SUPPORT CHUTE MEANS SUPPORTED FROM THE REAR END OF SAID PLATFORM ADJACENT THE INNER END PORTION OF SAID BOOM ADAPTED TO HAVE CONSECUTIVELY CONVEYED PIPE SECTIONS SUPPORTED THEREFROM AND SLID DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE THERETO AS SAID PLATFORM IS ADVANCED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said inner end portion of said boom is supported from said platform for rotation about an upstanding axis whereby said boom may be swung from one side of said platform to the other and also to a position projecting outwardly behind said platform.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said boom includes a base end section comprising said inner end portion thereof and an outer end section comprising said outer end portion thereof, the adjacent ends of said end sections being pivotally secured together for swinging of said outer end section about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said boom, and means operatively connected between said boom sections for adjustably swinging said outer section.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said inner end portion of said boom is supported from said platform for rotation about an upstanding axis whereby said boom may be swung from one side of said platform to the other and also to a position projecting outwardly behind said platform.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 wherein said boom includes transversely spaced opposite side portions extending longitudinally thereof, said conveying means including transversely spaced elongated conveyor means extending along said opposite side portions and adapted to engage and support the undersurface portions of longitudinally spaced central portions of a pipe section disposed transversely across the outer end portion of said boom.

Claim 7

A mobile platform including a front and rear ends and a generally horizontally disposed boom having a first inner end portion thereof supported from said platform and extending transversely outwardly from said platform at a second outer end portion thereof, said boom including conveying means projecting above the upper longitudinal marginal edge portion of said boom for sequentially receiving and stationarily supporting irrigation pipe sections on the outer end portion thereof and conveying said pipe sections along the top of said boom from the outer end portion of said boom to the inner end portion thereof with said pipe sections horizontally disposed and extending transversely of said boom, said platform including an operator''s position adjacent the inner end portion of said boom and means spaced above said platform for receiving and stationarily supporting conveyed pipe sections adjacent said operator''s position, and rearwardly and downwardly inclined support means supported from the rear end portion of said platform on the side of said operator''s position remote from said means for receiving and supporting conveyed pipe sections adapted to have consecutively conveyed pipe sections supported therefrom and slid downwardly relative to said inclined support means as said platform is advanced in a forward direction.

Claim 8

A mobile platform including a front and rear ends and a generally horizontally disposed boom having a first inner end portion thereof supported from said platform and extending transversely outwardly from said platform at a second outer end portion thereof, said boom including conveying means projecting above the upper longitudinal marginal edge portion of said boom for sequentially receiving and stationarily supporting irrigation pipe sections on the outer end portion thereof and conveying said pipe sections along the top of said boom from the outer end portion of said boom to the inner end portion thereof with said pipe sections horizontally disposed and extending transversely of said boom, said platform including an operator''s position adjacent the inner end portion of said boom and means spaced above said platform for receiving and stationarily supporting conveyed pipe sections adjacent said operator''s position, and rearwardly and downwardly inclined support means supported from the rear end portion of said platform on the side of said operator''s position remote from said means for receiving and supporting conveyed pipe sections adapted to have consecutively conveyed pipe sections supported therefrom and slid downwardly relative to said inclined support means as said platform is advanced in a forward direction.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein said outer end portion of said boom includes support means adapted to stationarily support a pipe section placed thereon and said conveyor means includes means operative to sequentially engage pipe sections sequentially placed on said support means and remove said pipe sections from said support means upon initial conveying of said pipe sections from said outer end portion of said boom toward said inner end portion thereof.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein said boom includes transversely spaced opposite side portions extending longitudinally thereof, said conveying means including transversely spaced elongated conveyor means extending along said opposite side portions and adapted to engage and support the undersurface portions of longitudinally spaced central portions of a pipe section disposed transversely across the outer end portion of said boom.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 wherein said boom includes a base end section comprising a said inner end portion thereof and an outer end section comprising said outer end portion thereof, the adjacent ends of said end sections being pivotally secured together for swinging of said outer end section about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said boom, and means operatively connected between said boom sections for adjustably swinging said outer section.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 6 wherein said inner end portion of said boom is supported from said platform for rotation about an upstanding axis whereby said boom may be swung from one side of said platform to the other and also to a position projecting outwardly behind said platform.

Claim 13

An elevated ground-supported mobile platform including front and rear ends aNd support means for supporting irrigation pipe sections thereon of the type including readily releasably axially engageable male and female ends and with the pipe sections extending longitudinally of the platform, said platform including a rearwardly and downwardly inclined chute having a forward upper end supported from said platform and a lower rear end adapted to be positioned in slightly elevated position relative to the ground from which said platform is supported a generally horizontally disposed elongated boom including a first inner end portion supported from said platform and a second outer end portion thereof disposed outwardly of one said side of said platform, said boom including conveyor means extending along its upper marginal portion for receiving pipe sections on the outer end thereof and conveying said pipe sections therealong with said pipe sections extending transversely of said boom and to a conveyor discharge point on the inner end portion of said boom spaced above said platform, said platform defining a surface upon which an operator may stand, said support means being operative to support said pipe sections in elevated position relative to said surface the upper end of said chute being disposed at an elevation below the elevation of said position in which said support means supports said pipe sections.

Claim 14

An elevated ground-supported mobile platform including front and rear ends aNd support means for supporting irrigation pipe sections thereon of the type including readily releasably axially engageable male and female ends and with the pipe sections extending longitudinally of the platform, said platform including a rearwardly and downwardly inclined chute having a forward upper end supported from said platform and a lower rear end adapted to be positioned in slightly elevated position relative to the ground from which said platform is supported a generally horizontally disposed elongated boom including a first inner end portion supported from said platform and a second outer end portion thereof disposed outwardly of one said side of said platform, said boom including conveyor means extending along its upper marginal portion for receiving pipe sections on the outer end thereof and conveying said pipe sections therealong with said pipe sections extending transversely of said boom and to a conveyor discharge point on the inner end portion of said boom spaced above said platform, said platform defining a surface upon which an operator may stand, said support means being operative to support said pipe sections in elevated position relative to said surface the upper end of said chute being disposed at an elevation below the elevation of said position in which said support means supports said pipe sections.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 wherein the upper end of said chute is disposed at an elevation below said discharge point and in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the platform adjacent said discharge point.