US3766937A — A drive for the towers of a self-propelled sprink…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 408 words

An individual drive for each tower of a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel mounted towers which are movable forwardly to rotate the pipe about its pivot and which include a response means at each tower responding to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers, said drive comprising in combination therewith: a. a sprocket means on a wheel of the tower; b. a cylinder with a double acting piston, having its axis alongside a tangent projection from the periphery of the sprocket means; c. a ratchet means on the piston engaging the wheel sprocket means, to rotate the wheel to drive the tower forwardly when the piston is moving in one direction and to slide over the sprocket means when the piston is moving in the opposite direction; d. an electrical power supply to each tower; e. an electrically driven pump at each tower connecting with the power supply at the tower and adapted to run continuously when the sprinkler is in operation; f. a self-contained fluid system associated with the pump and with the cylinder at each tower, including a pressure discharge line from the discharge side of the pump and an intake line to the intake side of the pump; g. a reciprocating valve connecting with the lines of the pump to receive flow from the pressure discharge line and to return flow to the intake line, and having output lines which extend to the respective ends of the cylinder, said reciprocating valve shifting the flow of the pressure discharge line from one output line to the other to effect reciprocation of the piston to drive the tower; h. a bypass line, shunting the pressure discharge line and the intake line to normally divert flow from said reciprocating valve when the tower is not being driven; i. a control valve means in the bypass line, actuated by the aforesaid response means, to normally remain open to permit flow through the bypass and not through the pressure line, but to close to prevent flow through the bypass and direct flow through the pressure line to the reciprocating valve whenever the response means responds to the aforesaid flexing of the pipe, whereby to effect reciprocation of the piston to move the tower forwardly, to alignment with other towers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 408 words

An individual drive for each tower of a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel mounted towers which are movable forwardly to rotate the pipe about its pivot and which include a response means at each tower responding to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers, said drive comprising in combination therewith: a. a sprocket means on a wheel of the tower; b. a cylinder with a double acting piston, having its axis alongside a tangent projection from the periphery of the sprocket means; c. a ratchet means on the piston engaging the wheel sprocket means, to rotate the wheel to drive the tower forwardly when the piston is moving in one direction and to slide over the sprocket means when the piston is moving in the opposite direction; d. an electrical power supply to each tower; e. an electrically driven pump at each tower connecting with the power supply at the tower and adapted to run continuously when the sprinkler is in operation; f. a self-contained fluid system associated with the pump and with the cylinder at each tower, including a pressure discharge line from the discharge side of the pump and an intake line to the intake side of the pump; g. a reciprocating valve connecting with the lines of the pump to receive flow from the pressure discharge line and to return flow to the intake line, and having output lines which extend to the respective ends of the cylinder, said reciprocating valve shifting the flow of the pressure discharge line from one output line to the other to effect reciprocation of the piston to drive the tower; h. a bypass line, shunting the pressure discharge line and the intake line to normally divert flow from said reciprocating valve when the tower is not being driven; i. a control valve means in the bypass line, actuated by the aforesaid response means, to normally remain open to permit flow through the bypass and not through the pressure line, but to close to prevent flow through the bypass and direct flow through the pressure line to the reciprocating valve whenever the response means responds to the aforesaid flexing of the pipe, whereby to effect reciprocation of the piston to move the tower forwardly, to alignment with other towers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 180 words

In the drive defined in claim 1, wherein: the tower has two wheels in alignment with one constituting a front wheel and the other a rear wheel and with a sprocket means at each wheel; the aforesaid cylinder is mounted adjacent to, and with its axis being alongside and substantially parallel with the common tangent projection from the top points of the periphery of the sprocket means; wherein said ratchet means includes: a pair of trojan bars connected with the piston with each trOjan bar extending from the piston of the cylinder to the sprocket means of a wheel; and an abutment on each trojan bar adapted to engage the sprocket means to rotate its wheel when the piston and trojan bars are moving in one direction and to slide over the sprocket means when the piston and trojan bars are moving in the opposite direction, and wherein the abutments of the two trojan bars are oriented in the same direction, whereby they may reciprocate in unison and engage both sprocket means to drive both wheels in the same direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

In the organization defined in claim 2, including: a detent means adapted to engage a sprocket means to prevent a reverse rotation of the wheel thereof and a backward free roll of the tower.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the organization defined in claim 2, wherein: said cylinder has a piston rod extending from each end thereof; and a trojan bar is connected to each end of the piston rod to extend to the adjacent sprocket means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 71 words

In the organization defined in claim 3, wherein: each trojan bar has a pair of oppositely-directed abutments at opposite sides of the bar, whereby the corresponding abutments of the bars will engage with their sprocket means for driving the tower in one direction, and the trojan bars may be rotated 180 degrees about their longitudinal axes to change the direction of abutment engagement and the direction of movement of the tower.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

In the organization defined in claim 5, wherein: each trojan bar is pivotally connected to the piston, and wherein: both trojan bars and the piston are rotated simultaneously when rotating the same to reverse the driving direction of the trojan bars.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 101 words

In the organization defined in claim 2, including: a lock bar slidably carried on the tower frame to extend between the lugs of each sprocket means with the length of the arm being such that it can engage a lug of only one sprocket means at a time; and a means to shift the arm from engagement with a lug of one sprocket means and into engagement with a lug of the other sprocket means, whereby to prevent a forward free roll of the tower a distance which is not greater than the spacing between the lugs of the sprocket means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 90 words

In the organization defined in claim 7, including: a lever connecting the lock bar with the piston, whereby when the piston commences its normal movement to engage the sprocket means, the movement disengages the lock bar from the sprocket means and wherein: the length of the piston is greater than the spacing between lugs of the sprocket means, whereby to provide a slack movement of the piston to permit the lock bar to be disengaged from a sprocket lug before the trojan bar engages the sprocket to move the wheel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 115 words

In the organization defined in claim 1, wherein the pipe includes: a flexible coupling adjacent to the tower where pressure occurs whenever the pipe is out of alignment; wherein said control valve means includes a lever which is pulled to operate the valve; and wherein the response means includes: an arm outstanding from the pipe at one side of the flexible coupling; a line connected to the pipe at the other side of the coupling and extended to the outer end of the arm; said line extending from the outer end of the arm and thence to the control valve lever, whereby flexing of the pipe will pull the line and operate the valve lever.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

In the organization defined in claim 9, wherein the two pipe sections interconnected by the flexible coupling are held in position, longitudinally, by a connector comprising: a flange upstanding from each pipe section adjacent to the coupling; a shaft extending between the flanges and secured thereto; and a universal joint in the shaft to permit horizontal and vertical freedom of movement.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 257 words

In a drive for the tower of a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by A plurality of wheel mounted towers which are movable to rotate the pipe about its pivot and which includes a response means at each tower responding to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. a pair of aligned, tower-supporting wheels constituting a front wheel and a rear wheel; b. a sprocket means at each wheel; c. a cylinder mounted on the tower between the wheel sprocket means, with its axis being alongside and substantially parallel with a common tangent projection from the top points of the sprocket means; d. a double acting piston rod extending from each end of the cylinder; and e. a trojan bar connected to each end of the piston rod to extend to the adjacent sprocket means, each trojan bar carrying a pair of oppositely-directed, stepped ratchet abutments, at opposite sides of the bar, whereby the abutment at one side of each bar will engage with its sprocket means for driving the tower in one direction and the abutment at the other side of each bar will engage with the sprocket means for driving the tower in the opposite direction and the trojan bars may be rotated 180* about their longitudinal axis to change the direction of abutment engagement and the direction of movement of the tower.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 257 words

In a drive for the tower of a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by A plurality of wheel mounted towers which are movable to rotate the pipe about its pivot and which includes a response means at each tower responding to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. a pair of aligned, tower-supporting wheels constituting a front wheel and a rear wheel; b. a sprocket means at each wheel; c. a cylinder mounted on the tower between the wheel sprocket means, with its axis being alongside and substantially parallel with a common tangent projection from the top points of the sprocket means; d. a double acting piston rod extending from each end of the cylinder; and e. a trojan bar connected to each end of the piston rod to extend to the adjacent sprocket means, each trojan bar carrying a pair of oppositely-directed, stepped ratchet abutments, at opposite sides of the bar, whereby the abutment at one side of each bar will engage with its sprocket means for driving the tower in one direction and the abutment at the other side of each bar will engage with the sprocket means for driving the tower in the opposite direction and the trojan bars may be rotated 180* about their longitudinal axis to change the direction of abutment engagement and the direction of movement of the tower.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

In the organization defined in claim 11, wherein: each trojan bar is pivotally connected to the piston, and wherein: both trojan bars and the piston are rotated simultaneously when rotating the same to reverse the driving direction of the trojan bars.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 281 words

In a drive for the tower of a self propelled sprinkler, of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel-mounted towers which are movable to rotate the pipe about its pivot, wherein the drive includes: an aligned front wheel and rear wheel, supporting the tower, a sprocket means on each wheel, a cylinder having its axis alongside and substantially parallel with a common tangent projection of the sprocket means, a pair of trojan bars connected with the piston with each trojan bar extending from the piston of the cylinder to the sprocket means of a wheel, a ratchet means on each trojan bar engaging the sprocket means to rotate its wheel when the piston and trojan bar are moving in one direction and to slide over the sprocket means when the piston and trojan bar are moving in the other direction, or whenever the wheel is rotating forwardly, and a detent means adapted to engage the lugs of a sprocket means to prevent a forward free roll of the wheel; wherein the detent means includes: a. a lock bar slidably carried on the tower frame to extend between the lugs of each sprocket means with the length of the arm being such that it can engage only one sprocket lug at a time; and b. a means to shift the arm from engagement with one sprocket lug and into the line of the lugs of the other sprocket means, whereby to prevent a forward free roll of the tower a distance which is not greater than the spacing between the lugs of the sprocket means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 281 words

In a drive for the tower of a self propelled sprinkler, of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel-mounted towers which are movable to rotate the pipe about its pivot, wherein the drive includes: an aligned front wheel and rear wheel, supporting the tower, a sprocket means on each wheel, a cylinder having its axis alongside and substantially parallel with a common tangent projection of the sprocket means, a pair of trojan bars connected with the piston with each trojan bar extending from the piston of the cylinder to the sprocket means of a wheel, a ratchet means on each trojan bar engaging the sprocket means to rotate its wheel when the piston and trojan bar are moving in one direction and to slide over the sprocket means when the piston and trojan bar are moving in the other direction, or whenever the wheel is rotating forwardly, and a detent means adapted to engage the lugs of a sprocket means to prevent a forward free roll of the wheel; wherein the detent means includes: a. a lock bar slidably carried on the tower frame to extend between the lugs of each sprocket means with the length of the arm being such that it can engage only one sprocket lug at a time; and b. a means to shift the arm from engagement with one sprocket lug and into the line of the lugs of the other sprocket means, whereby to prevent a forward free roll of the tower a distance which is not greater than the spacing between the lugs of the sprocket means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 89 words

In the organization defined in claim 13, including: a lever connecting the lock bar with the piston, whereby when the piston commences its normal movement to engage the sprocket means, the movement disengages the lock bar from the sprocket means and wherein: the length of the piston is greater than the spacing between lugs of the sprocket means, to provide a slack movement of the piston to permit the lock bar to be disengaged from a sprocket lug before the trojan bar engages the sprocket to move the wheel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 294 words

In a tower for a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel mounted towers and wherein each tower carries an independent driving means to move it when the pipe rotates about its pivot and each driving means includes a lever means which is shifted to initiate movement of its tower responsive to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind adjacent towers, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. a flexible coupling in the pipe joining two pipe sections adjacent to each tower, and at a point where the pipe will flex whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers; b. a connector connecting the two pipe sections at the flexible coupling including a flange means upstanding from each pipe section adjacent to the coupling, a shaft extending between the two flange means and secured thereto and a universal joint in the shaft to permit both horizontal and vertical movements between the pipe sections at the coupling; and c. a response means responsive only to horizontal movements between the aforesaid pipe sections, connecting to the two pipe sections at each side of the coupling and extending to the lever means, including: an arm outstanding horizontally from one pipe at one side of the flexible coupling and a line connecting to the other pipe at the other side of the coupling and extending to the outer end of the arm and thence to the lever means to pull the lever means responsive to flexing of the pipe in a horizontal plane which varies the reach of the line between the connection to the pipe and the outer end of the arm.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 294 words

In a tower for a self-propelled sprinkler of the type which consists of a sprinkler pipe having one end connected to a water supply pivot and supported by a plurality of wheel mounted towers and wherein each tower carries an independent driving means to move it when the pipe rotates about its pivot and each driving means includes a lever means which is shifted to initiate movement of its tower responsive to the flexing of the pipe at the tower whenever the tower lags behind adjacent towers, the improvement comprising, in combination: a. a flexible coupling in the pipe joining two pipe sections adjacent to each tower, and at a point where the pipe will flex whenever the tower lags behind the adjacent towers; b. a connector connecting the two pipe sections at the flexible coupling including a flange means upstanding from each pipe section adjacent to the coupling, a shaft extending between the two flange means and secured thereto and a universal joint in the shaft to permit both horizontal and vertical movements between the pipe sections at the coupling; and c. a response means responsive only to horizontal movements between the aforesaid pipe sections, connecting to the two pipe sections at each side of the coupling and extending to the lever means, including: an arm outstanding horizontally from one pipe at one side of the flexible coupling and a line connecting to the other pipe at the other side of the coupling and extending to the outer end of the arm and thence to the lever means to pull the lever means responsive to flexing of the pipe in a horizontal plane which varies the reach of the line between the connection to the pipe and the outer end of the arm.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-10-22	1977-04-23	1977-10-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-10-22	1981-04-23	1981-10-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-10-22	1985-04-23	1985-10-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

A drive for the towers of a self-propelled sprinkler

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