Mobile irrigation apparatus and alignment control

Claim 2

In a mobile irrigation apparatus comprising an elongate horizontally disposed water distributor pipe, an inlet at one end for the introduction of water under pressure, a plurality of discharge nozzles spaced along said distributor pipe for spraying water as the distributor pipe is carried over the ground, a plurality of mobile supports in laterally spaced apart relation along the length of the distributor pipe for support of the pipe at corresponding laterally spaced apart portions, individual power operated drive means on each support for actuation of the mobile supports individually for movement in the forward or rearward directions, and means for maintaining alignment between adjacent supports comprising a cable extending substantially parallel to the distributor pipe and spaced therefrom, a pendulum vertically suspended from a pivot at its upper end fixed to the respective mobile support for free rocking movement of the pendulum about its pivot, an operative connection between the flexible cable and the pendulum at a portion offset from the pivot for rocking movement of the pendulum about its pivot in response to movement of the mobile support relative to adjacent supports, contacts in position to be engaged by the pendulum in response to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports and means for dampening movement of the pendulum comprising resilient means operatively engaging the pendulum at a point offset from the pivot in alignment therewith.

Claim 3

An irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for dampening movement of the pendulum comprises a coil spring having one end connected to the pendulum above the pivot while the other end is connected to a fixed support vertically spaced from the connection to the pendulum by a distance greater than the normal length of the coil spring.

Claim 4

An irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which includes means to compensate for the wind effect on the cable comprising a wind vane and an operative connection between the vane and the pendulum to offset the pendulum by an amount to compensate for the wind effect on the cable.

Claim 5

An irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which includes means for protecting the controls against inadvertent movement comprising a control housing fixed to the mobile support having a bottom wall with an elongate slot extending lengthwise in alignment with the pendulum and means mounting the pendulum for rocking movement about its pivot with the major portion of the pendulum concealed within the housing and only a minor segment of the pendulum extending downwardly through the slot in the bottom wall for engagement with the control cable.

Claim 6

An irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the contacts responsive to pendulum movement by the cable are positioned within the housing alongside the pendulum.

Claim 7

In a mobile irrigation apparatus comprising an elongate horizontally disposed water distributor pipe, an inlet at one end for the introduction of water under pressure, a plurality of discharge nozzles spaced longitudinally along the distributor pipe for spraying water as the distributor pipe is carried over the ground, a plurality of mobile supports in spaced apart relation along the length of the distributor pipe for support of the distributor pipe, individual power operated drive means on eacH support for actuation of the mobile supports individually for movement in the forward or rearward directions, and means for maintaining alignment between adjacent supports comprising a flexible cable extending substantially parallel to the distributor pipe in spaced relation therewith and contacts in position to be engaged by the cable responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports, the improvement which comprises a link member between the contacts and operatively engaged by the cable, a pendulum suspended for free swinging movement from a pivot fixed to the tower, a pivotal connection between one end of the link member and a portion of the pendulum offset vertically from the pivot, a rocker arm mounted for free rotational movement about a pivot which is also fixed to the support offset from the pivot from the pendulum, and a pivotal connection between the other end of the link member and a portion of the rocker arm vertically offset from its pivot but at substantially the same level as the pivotal connection to the pendulum whereby the connecting link is horizontally disposed while being supported therebetween, and in which the contacts are in endwise alignment with the link member for engagement thereby responsive to movement of the mobile support out of alignment with adjacent supports.

Claim 8

In a mobile irrigation apparatus comprising an elongate horizontally disposed water distributor pipe, an inlet at one end for the introduction of water under pressure, a plurality of discharge nozzles spaced longitudinally along the distributor pipe for spraying water as the distributor pipe is carried over the ground, a plurality of mobile supports in spaced apart relation along the length of the distributor pipe for support of the distributor pipe, individual power operated drive means on eacH support for actuation of the mobile supports individually for movement in the forward or rearward directions, and means for maintaining alignment between adjacent supports comprising a flexible cable extending substantially parallel to the distributor pipe in spaced relation therewith and contacts in position to be engaged by the cable responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports, the improvement which comprises a link member between the contacts and operatively engaged by the cable, a pendulum suspended for free swinging movement from a pivot fixed to the tower, a pivotal connection between one end of the link member and a portion of the pendulum offset vertically from the pivot, a rocker arm mounted for free rotational movement about a pivot which is also fixed to the support offset from the pivot from the pendulum, and a pivotal connection between the other end of the link member and a portion of the rocker arm vertically offset from its pivot but at substantially the same level as the pivotal connection to the pendulum whereby the connecting link is horizontally disposed while being supported therebetween, and in which the contacts are in endwise alignment with the link member for engagement thereby responsive to movement of the mobile support out of alignment with adjacent supports.

Claim 9

An irrigation apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the rocker arm is pivoted intermediate its ends and which includes a wind vane connected to a portion of the rocker arm offset from the pivot whereby the link member will be offset by an amount fo compensate for the wind effect on the cable.

Claim 10

In a mobile irrigation apparatus comprising an elongate horizontally disposed water distributor pipe, an inlet at one end for the introduction of water under pressure, a plurality of discharge nozzles spaced longitudinally along the distributor pipe for spraying water as the distributor pipe is carried over the ground, a plurality of mobile supports in spaced apart relation along the length of the distributor pipe for support of the distributor pipe, individual power operated drive means on each support for actuation of the mobile supports individually for movement in the forward or rearward directions, and means for maintaining alignment between adjacent supports comprising a flexible cable extending substantially parallel to the distributor pipe in spaced relation therewith and contacts in position to be engaged responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports, the improvement which comprises a pendulum pivoted at one end portion and operatively engaged by the cable at a portion offset from the pivot for rocking movement of the pendulum about its pivot responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports and in position to engage said contacts, a vane mounted to face in the direction of movement of the mobile support and an operative connection between said vane and the pendulum to offset the pendulum by an amount to compensate for the wind effect on the cable.

Claim 11

In a mobile irrigation apparatus comprising an elongate horizontally disposed water distributor pipe, an inlet at one end for the introduction of water under pressure, a plurality of discharge nozzles spaced longitudinally along the distributor pipe for spraying water as the distributor pipe is carried over the ground, a plurality of mobile supports in spaced apart relation along the length of the distributor pipe for support of the distributor pipe, individual power operated drive means on each support for actuation of the mobile supports individually for movement in the forward or rearward directions, and means for maintaining alignment between adjacent supports comprising a flexible cable extending substantially parallel to the distributor pipe in spaced relation therewith and contacts in position to be engaged responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports, the improvement which comprises a pendulum pivoted at one end portion and operatively engaged by the cable at a portion offset from the pivot for rocking movement of the pendulum about its pivot responsive to movement of the support out of alignment with adjacent supports and in position to engage said contacts, a vane mounted to face in the direction of movement of the mobile support and an operative connection between said vane and the pendulum to offset the pendulum by an amount to compensate for the wind effect on the cable.