Constant speed drive means for irrigation machines

Claim 1

In a self-propelled irrigating machine having a main frame, a steerable auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the main frame, an upright mast fixed to said main frame, standpipe means swingably connected intermediate its ends to said mast, water spray nozzle means carried at one end of said standpipe means and a water supply hose connected to the opposite end of said standpipe means for supplying water under pressure thereto, the improvement comprising cable reel means rotatably mounted on said main frame, said cable reel means including a winding reel and a storage reel in spaced relation to each other, cable means removably coiled on said storage reel and having at least one turn about said winding reel, one end of said cable means extending outwardly from said machine, means for anchoring said one end of said cable means in a position remote from said machine, means for driving said winding reel and said storage reel at constant speeds, drag brake means associated with said storage reel to prevent slack in the cable about said drive reel, and means carried by said cable means for stopping rotation of said reel means, whereby said winding reel pulls the machine along said cable means at a constant rate and said storage reel takes up the slack in the cable means as it is discharged from said winding reel.