Electrically driven circular irrigation system

Claim 2

An irrigation apparatus comprising an elongated pipe having a plurality of water discharge means thereon, means supporting one end of the elongated pipe for movement thereof in a circular path for irrigating a circular area, and wheeled means supporting said pipe at longitudinally spaced points along the length thereof, said wheeled means being independently driven for moving the pipe in a circular path about its supported end, said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the sections together to enable universal angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, and means responsive to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of each wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said means responsive to the angulation of one pipe section in relation to another including means connected with one pipe section and offset laterally from the articulate connecting means and disposed generally in horizontal alignment with the horizontal transverse axis of articulation of the articulate connecting means whereby angulation of adjacent pipe sections about a generally horizontal axis will not alter the speed of the wheeled means.

Claim 3

An irrigation apparatus comprising an elongated pipe having a plurality of water discharge means thereon, means supporting one end of the elongated pipe for movement thereof in a circular path for irrigating a circular area, and wheeled means supporting said pipe at longitudinally spaced points along the length thereof, said wheeled means being independently driven for moving the pipe in a circular path about iTs supported end, said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, and means responsive to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of each wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said means connecting the pipe sections together including a segment of flexible hose flexibly interconnecting the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections outboard of the wheeled means, and a mechanical hinge structure disposed interiorly of the flow path defined by the pipe sections and hose and including a universal connection disposed centrally of the flow path and substantially centrally between the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections.

Claim 4

An irrigation apparatus comprising an elongated pipe having a plurality of water discharge means thereon, means supporting one end of the elongated pipe for movement thereof in a circular path for irrigating a circular area, and wheeled means supporting said pipe at longitudinally spaced points along the length thereof, said wheeled means being independently driven for moving the pipe in a circular path about iTs supported end, said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, and means responsive to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of each wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said means connecting the pipe sections together including a segment of flexible hose flexibly interconnecting the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections outboard of the wheeled means, and a mechanical hinge structure disposed interiorly of the flow path defined by the pipe sections and hose and including a universal connection disposed centrally of the flow path and substantially centrally between the adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections.

Claim 5

The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means at one end of the pipe to retain it in position includes a stationary upright standpipe connected with a source of water and journaling and communicating with said elongated pipe to supply water thereto.

Claim 6

An irrigation apparatus comprising an elongated pipe having a plurality of water discharge means thereon, means supporting one end of the elongated pipe for movement thereof in a circular path for irrigating a circular area, and wheeled means supporting said pipe at longitudinally spaced points along the length thereof, said wheeled means being independently driven for moving the pipe in a circular path about its supported end, said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, and means responsive to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of each wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said elongated pipe including a truss structure disposed along the undersurface thereof between the wheeled means, said structure including a plurality of pairs of V-shaped braces having the upper ends connected to the pipe in longitudinally spaced relation with the braces in each pair depending downwardly in converging relation to each other and in diverging relation to the braces in an opposed pair, means interconnecting the apices of the pairs of braces to retain them rigidly in spaced-apart relation, and tension rods connected longitudinally of the apices of the braces along each side of the pipe with the ends thereof being connected to the pipe at the end of each section thereof thereby rigidifying and supporting the pipe.

Claim 7

An irrigation apparatus comprising an elongated pipe having a plurality of water discharge means thereon, means supporting one end of the elongated pipe for movement thereof in a circular path for irrigating a circular area, and wheeled means supporting said pipe at longitudinally spaced points along the length thereof, said wheeled means being independently driven for moving the pipe in a circular path about its supported end, said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, and means responsive to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of each wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said elongated pipe including a truss structure disposed along the undersurface thereof between the wheeled means, said structure including a plurality of pairs of V-shaped braces having the upper ends connected to the pipe in longitudinally spaced relation with the braces in each pair depending downwardly in converging relation to each other and in diverging relation to the braces in an opposed pair, means interconnecting the apices of the pairs of braces to retain them rigidly in spaced-apart relation, and tension rods connected longitudinally of the apices of the braces along each side of the pipe with the ends thereof being connected to the pipe at the end of each section thereof thereby rigidifying and supporting the pipe.

Claim 8

The structure as defined in claim 4 together with an end gun at the end of the elongated pipe for irrigating areas exteriorly of the circular area, and means-controlling operation of the end gun for actuating the end gun at the corner areas of a square area thus enabling a larger portion of a square area to be irrigated by the pipe moving in a circular path.

Claim 9

The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said means-controlling operation of the end gun includes a stationary cam mounted at the end of the pipe remote from the end gun for automatically actuating the end gun when the end of the pipe reaches a predetermined point in its circular path of movement.

Claim 10

The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said wheeled means includes a pair of wheels oriented in longitudinal alignment, an electric motor driving said wheels, said electric motor being stopped and started in response to alignment conditions between adjacent pipe sections for correcting misalignment thereof.

Claim 11

The structure as defined in claim 7 together with limit means for stopping the wheeled means when misalignment between any adjacent pipe sections reaches a predetermined maximum angle thereby stopping the apparatus prior to damage thereto.

Claim 12

In an irrigation system of the type having a sectional boom pipe movable over a land area, a articulate connection between adjacent sections of pipe incLuding tubular means flexibly interconnecting adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections, and mechanical-connecting means disposed in the flow path articulately connecting the pipe sections to enable relative movement therebetweeen in a vertical plane and horizontal plane to enable angulation of adjacent pipe sections in both a vertical and horizontal plane.

Claim 13

In an irrigation system of the type having a sectional boom pipe movable over a land area, a articulate connection between adjacent sections of pipe incLuding tubular means flexibly interconnecting adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections, and mechanical-connecting means disposed in the flow path articulately connecting the pipe sections to enable relative movement therebetweeen in a vertical plane and horizontal plane to enable angulation of adjacent pipe sections in both a vertical and horizontal plane.

Claim 14

The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said mechanical connecting means includes a hook mounted within the flow path and rigid with one pipe section, and apertured means disposed in the flow path and rigid with the other pipe section.

Claim 15

In an irrigation system having a boom movable over a relatively large land area and including an elongated pipe receiving water for discharge through a plurality of sprinkler heads, that improvement comprising a supporting truss structure for the pipe including a plurality of longitudinally spaced brace assemblies fixed to said pipe and depending therefrom, each brace assembly including a pair of opposed brace members of V-shaped configuration having the upper ends thereof attached to the pipe and depending in diverging relation, means retaining the lower apices of opposed pairs of brace members in spaced relation, and tension members connected to the apices of the brace members and extending and attached to the pipe at remote points for rigidifying the pipe and forming a truss support therefor.

Claim 16

In an irrigation system having a boom movable over a relatively large land area and including an elongated pipe receiving water for discharge through a plurality of sprinkler heads, that improvement comprising a supporting truss structure for the pipe including a plurality of longitudinally spaced brace assemblies fixed to said pipe and depending therefrom, each brace assembly including a pair of opposed brace members of V-shaped configuration having the upper ends thereof attached to the pipe and depending in diverging relation, means retaining the lower apices of opposed pairs of brace members in spaced relation, and tension members connected to the apices of the brace members and extending and attached to the pipe at remote points for rigidifying the pipe and forming a truss support therefor.

Claim 17

In an irrigation system having a boom movable over a relatively large land area and including an elongated pipe receiving water for discharge through a plurality of sprinkler heads, that improvement comprising said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the pipe sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, wheeled means supporting said pipe sections, said wheeled means being driven for propelling the pipe, and means connected with adjacent pipe sections controlling said wheeled means in response to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of the wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said means responsive to the angulation of one pipe section in relation to another including means connected with one pipe section and offset laterally from the articulate connecting means and disposed generally in horizontal alignment with the horizontal transverse axis of articulation of the articulate connecting means whereby angulation of adjacent pipe sections about a generally horizontal axis will not alter the speed of the wheeled means.

Claim 18

In an irrigation system having a boom movable over a relatively large land area and including an elongated pipe receiving water for discharge through a plurality of sprinkler heads, that improvement comprising said pipe being constructed of a plurality of sections, means articulately connecting the pipe sections together to enable angulation of one section of the pipe in relation to another, wheeled means supporting said pipe sections, said wheeled means being driven for propelling the pipe, and means connected with adjacent pipe sections controlling said wheeled means in response to the angulation of one section of pipe in relation to another to control the speed of the wheeled means to retain the sections of pipe generally in alignment, said means responsive to the angulation of one pipe section in relation to another including means connected with one pipe section and offset laterally from the articulate connecting means and disposed generally in horizontal alignment with the horizontal transverse axis of articulation of the articulate connecting means whereby angulation of adjacent pipe sections about a generally horizontal axis will not alter the speed of the wheeled means.

Claim 19

The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said controlling and offset means includes a fork attached to one pipe section and including free ends spaced from opposite sides of the pipe substantially in horizontal alignment with the horizontal axis of articulation of the articulation means, force transmitting members connected with the free ends of the fork for movement therewith, and a control means mounted on the wheeled means on the adjacent pipe section, the force transmitting means being connected with the control means for operation thereof in response to change angular relation of the adjacent pipe sections only about the vertical axis of articulation of the articulating means.

Claim 20

In an irrigation system of the type having a sectional boom pipe movable over a land area, an articulate connection between adjacent sections of the pipe including a tubular member interconnecting adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections and enabling universal angulation between adjacent pipe sections, and mechanical hinge means articulately connecting the pipe sections to enable relative movement therebetween in a substantially vertical plane and a substantially horizontal plane with the axes of angulation intersecting within the flow path at a point generally located centrally of the tubular member.

Claim 21

In an irrigation system of the type having a sectional boom pipe movable over a land area, an articulate connection between adjacent sections of the pipe including a tubular member interconnecting adjacent ends of adjacent pipe sections and enabling universal angulation between adjacent pipe sections, and mechanical hinge means articulately connecting the pipe sections to enable relative movement therebetween in a substantially vertical plane and a substantially horizontal plane with the axes of angulation intersecting within the flow path at a point generally located centrally of the tubular member.

Claim 22

The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein each wheeled means includes an elongated frame member Generally in perpendicular relation to the boom, a wheel journaled at each end of the elongated frame member for engaging the ground surface, and a reversible drive assembly including an electric motor and a reduction gear unit drivingly connected with at least one of said wheels thereby imparting drive force thereto in response to said control means and independent of water flow in the pipe.

Claim 23

The structure as defined in claim 15 wherein said wheels on the frame member are positively drivingly interconnected for rotating the wheels in a constant timed relation to assure tracking of lugs provided on the wheels.

Claim 24

The structure as defined in claim 13 wherein said force transmitting members are in the form of flexible cables extending longitudinally alongside of the other pipe section and entrained over cable pulleys mounted thereon, said control means mounted on the wheel means including a control box having an actuating arm projecting upwardly therefrom and terminating in a horizontally disposed member with the force transmitting cables being attached to the outer end of the horizontal member for oscillation thereof about substantially a central vertical axis, said control box being mounted adjacent its lower end to the wheeled means for pivoting movement about substantially a transverse, horizontal axis to enable pivotal movement of the control box when both of the cables are effectively shortened in the event of relative twisting movement of the pipe sections about a generally longitudinal axis of the pipe sections whereby relative twisting of the adjacent pipe sections about their longitudinal axis will not vary the speed of the wheeled means, and spring means returning the control box to the normal position when the adjacent pipe sections return to normal position about their longitudinal axis.

Claim 25

The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said articulate connecting means between pipe sections is disposed outwardly of and adjacent to the wheeled means whereby the position of the outer end of an inner pipe section will be controlled by varying the speed of the wheeled means in response to lead or lag of the adjacent outer pipe sections.