Roll-type field irrigation device with weight self-aligning riser outlet and automatic drain units

Claim 1

A roll-type mobile irrigation device adapted to be rolled across a field to be irrigated to locate the device at selected irrigation stations spaced on the field, said irrigation device comprising: a long roll pipe adapted for connection to a supply of water under pressure, ground wheels coaxially mounted on said pipe at intervals along the pipe, and a self-aligning unit mounted on said pipe including a sleeve surrounding and sealed at its ends to said pipe, bearing means rotatably supporting said sleeve on and in concentric relation to said pipe, a riser outlet in the wall of said sleeve between its ends, a drain port in said sleeve wall diametrically opposite said outlet, there being flow passage means communicating said outlet and port to the pipe interior in every angular position of said sleeve on said pipe, an automatic drain valve which closes said port in response to water pressure in said pipe and opens said port when the water pressure is cut off, and a solid weight attached to said sleeve diametrically opposite said riser outlet and having a fixed mass sufficient to retain said sleeve in a normal position wherein said outlet and drain port are located at the top and bottom of said pipe, respectively, regardless of the angular position of said pipe. CM,2Rigation device according to claim 1 wherein: said bearing means comprise bearing rollers on the normally upper portion only of said sleeve at circumferentially opposite sides of said outlet.