Self-propelled irrigating apparatus

Claim 2

In self-propelled irrigation apparatus which includes a center pivot structure, a master support driven at predetermined speed, a sectional water distributing pipe having an end supported by the center pivot structure and another end supported by the master support, and intermediate supports each pivotally supporting one of said pipe sections at one end of said section, the improvement which comprises a. drive means on each support for moving said support, b. a hydraulic motor on each intermediate support operatively connected to the drive means, c. a hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support, said valve having a spool reciprocably movable in the valve to extend beyond opposite ends of the valve in directions transversely of the distributing pipe, d. a pressurized hydraulic fluid line and a return line extending along the outside of the water distributing pipe to and from the hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support, e. a hydraulic fluid line between each control valve and motor and a hydraulic fluid return line between each motor and control valve, and f. control mechanism connected to the distributing pipe and to opposite ends of a hydraulic valve spool responsive to misalignment of the pipe sections for actuating the control valve and controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to its associated motor.

Claim 3

The improvement defined by claim 1, in which the spool is moved in the valve to extend beyond opposite ends of the valve to varying extents by the control mechanism to limit the amount of flow to the motor, permit free flow to the motor, or to dump the hydraulic fluid into the return hydraulic line, depending on the degree of misalignment of the distributing pipe sections.

Claim 4

The improvement defined by claim 1, in which the control mechanism includes cables extending longitudinally on opposite sides of and parallel to a distributing pipe section from the valve spool to the control mechanism.

Claim 5

The Improvement defined by claim 3, in which the control mechanism includes a control bar actuated by bending of the distributing pipe, said bar being connected to the cables.

Claim 6

A self-propelled irrigation apparatus which includes a center pivot structure, a master support driven at predetermined speed, and intermediate supports, comprising a. a water distributing pipe comprising a plurality of relatively rigid pipe sections and flexible joints consisting of short lengths of rubber tubing flanged at their ends connected to said sections between their ends, said pipe being supported at one end by said center pivot structure, at the opposite end by said master support, and said pipe sections being pivotally supported at one end by said intermediate supports, b. each intermediate support including a fixed platform supporting part of a pipe section and a pivotally movable platform supporting a flexible joint, c. drive means on each support for moving said support, d. a hydraulic motor on each intermediate support operatively connected to the drive means, e. a hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support, said valve having a spool reciprocably movable in the valve to extend beyond opposite ends of the valve in directions transversely of the distributing pipe, f. means supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through said control valve to the motor on a support, and g. control mechanism connected to the pivotally movable platform and to opposite ends of a hydraulic valve spool responsive to misalignment of the flexible joint for actuating the control valve and controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to its associated motor.

Claim 7

A self-propelled irrigation apparatus which includes a center pivot structure, a master support driven at predetermined speed, and intermediate supports, comprising a. a water distributing pipe comprising a plurality of relatively rigid pipe sections and flexible joints consisting of short lengths of rubber tubing flanged at their ends connected to said sections between their ends, said pipe being supported at one end by said center pivot structure, at the opposite end by said master support, and said pipe sections being pivotally supported at one end by said intermediate supports, b. each intermediate support including a fixed platform supporting part of a pipe section and a pivotally movable platform supporting a flexible joint, c. drive means on each support for moving said support, d. a hydraulic motor on each intermediate support operatively connected to the drive means, e. a hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support, said valve having a spool reciprocably movable in the valve to extend beyond opposite ends of the valve in directions transversely of the distributing pipe, f. means supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through said control valve to the motor on a support, and g. control mechanism connected to the pivotally movable platform and to opposite ends of a hydraulic valve spool responsive to misalignment of the flexible joint for actuating the control valve and controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to its associated motor.

Claim 8

The improvement defined by claim 5, in which the spool is moved in the valve to extend beyond opposite ends of the valve to varying extents by the control mechanism to limit the amount of flow to the motor, permit free flow to the motor, or to dump the hydraulic fluid, depending on the degree of misalignment of the flexible joint.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined by claim 5, in which the control mechanism includes cables extending longitudinally on opposite sides of and parallel to the distributing pipe from the valve spool to the control mechanism.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined by claim 7, in which the control mechanism includes a control bar actuated by bending of the flexible joint, said bar being connected to the cables.

Claim 11

The apparatus defined by claim 5, in which the means supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through the control valve to the motor on a support comprises a pressurized hydraulic fluid line and a return fluid line extending along the outside of the distributing pipe to and from each hydraulic control valve and a hydraulic fluid line between each control valve and motor and a hydraulic fluid return line between each motor and control valve.

Claim 12

A self-propelled irrigation apparatus which includes a center pivot structure, a master support driven at predetermined speed, and intermediate supports, comprising a. a water distributing pipe comprising a plurality of relatively rigid pipe sections and flexible joints connected to said sections between their ends, said pipe being supported at one end by said center pivot structure, at the opposite end by said master support, and at said ends by said intermediate supports, b. each intermediate support including a fixed platform supporting part of the pipe sections and a pivotally movable platform supporting the flexible joint, c. drive means on each support, d. a hydraulic motor on each intermediate support operatively connected to the drive means, e. a hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support comprising a spool movable in opposite directions transversely of the flexible joint, f. means supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through said control valve to the motor on a support, and g. control mechanism connected to the pivotally movable platform and to a hydraulic valve responsive to misalignment of the flexible jOint for actuating the control valve and controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to its associated motor, said control mechanism including cables extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the distributing pipe from the valve spool to the control mechanism, said control mechanism comprising a control bar connected to the cables, sheaves located on opposite ends of the valve spool, said cables extending from the spool ends to the sheaves in axial alignment with the spool and extending from the sheaves to the control bar in directions at right angles to the axis of the spool.

Claim 13

A self-propelled irrigation apparatus which includes a center pivot structure, a master support driven at predetermined speed, and intermediate supports, comprising a. a water distributing pipe comprising a plurality of relatively rigid pipe sections and flexible joints connected to said sections between their ends, said pipe being supported at one end by said center pivot structure, at the opposite end by said master support, and at said ends by said intermediate supports, b. each intermediate support including a fixed platform supporting part of the pipe sections and a pivotally movable platform supporting the flexible joint, c. drive means on each support, d. a hydraulic motor on each intermediate support operatively connected to the drive means, e. a hydraulic control valve on each intermediate support comprising a spool movable in opposite directions transversely of the flexible joint, f. means supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid through said control valve to the motor on a support, and g. control mechanism connected to the pivotally movable platform and to a hydraulic valve responsive to misalignment of the flexible jOint for actuating the control valve and controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to its associated motor, said control mechanism including cables extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the distributing pipe from the valve spool to the control mechanism, said control mechanism comprising a control bar connected to the cables, sheaves located on opposite ends of the valve spool, said cables extending from the spool ends to the sheaves in axial alignment with the spool and extending from the sheaves to the control bar in directions at right angles to the axis of the spool.