US3836078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring system for mobile irrigation apparatus
Assignee: Lockwood Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-09
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1992-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A control system for mobile irrigation apparatus which includes a pivot tower and a plurality of radially spaced motor driven mobile towers supporting a distribution pipe includes means for determining the direction of movement of the system, the amount of water to be supplied to the crop and monitoring means in the form of lights connected in the control system to provide an operator with an immediate means of determining whether the system is operating and has been operating properly and also aids in identifying the sources of particular malfunctions.
Inventors
- 👤 R Olson
- 👤 M Roland
- 👤 C Hammond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:30
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16; A01G25/09; A01G25/092; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A monitoring system for mobile irrigation apparatus including: a central pivot tower, a plurality of intermediate towers, an end tower, a distribution pipe having one end pivotally mounted on the pivot tower and supported along its length by said intermediate and end towers, sprinkler units spaced along the distribution pipe, drive motors on the intermediate and end towers, water pumping means connected to the distribution pipe, means supplying electrical power to the apparatus, means for controlling the water pumping means, means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers, means for controlling the drive motor on the end tower, and means for controlling the watering rate of the apparatus; the said monitoring system comprising a plurality of lamps, a number of said lamps being individually connected to different ones of said controlling means to provide an indication of the condition of said controlling means, means for supplying controlling electrical power to all said controlling means, a lamp connected to the controlling electrical power supply means for indicating that controlling electrical power is being supplied, a relay connected to said last mentioned lamp, said relay connected to said means for supplying controlling power to all said control means, a switch including contacts connected to said relay and effective upon operation to ennergize said relay, and said relay contacts upon energization of said relay interrupting a circuit to said last mentioned lamp and upon deenergizing completing a circuit to said lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A monitoring system for mobile irrigation apparatus including: a central pivot tower, a plurality of intermediate towers, an end tower, a distribution pipe having one end pivotally mounted on the pivot tower and supported along its length by said intermediate and end towers, sprinkler units spaced along the distribution pipe, drive motors on the intermediate and end towers, water pumping means connected to the distribution pipe, means supplying electrical power to the apparatus, means for controlling the water pumping means, means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers, means for controlling the drive motor on the end tower, and means for controlling the watering rate of the apparatus; the said monitoring system comprising a plurality of lamps, a number of said lamps being individually connected to different ones of said controlling means to provide an indication of the condition of said controlling means, means for supplying controlling electrical power to all said controlling means, a lamp connected to the controlling electrical power supply means for indicating that controlling electrical power is being supplied, a relay connected to said last mentioned lamp, said relay connected to said means for supplying controlling power to all said control means, a switch including contacts connected to said relay and effective upon operation to ennergize said relay, and said relay contacts upon energization of said relay interrupting a circuit to said last mentioned lamp and upon deenergizing completing a circuit to said lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A monitoring system for mobile irrigation apparatus including: a central pivot tower, a plurality of intermediate towers, an end tower, a distribution pipe having one end pivotally mounted on the pivot tower and supported along its length by its intermediate and end towers, sprinkler units spaced along the distribution pipe, drive motors on the intermediate and end towers, water pumping means connected to the distribution pipe, means supplying electrical power to the apparatus including a plurality of electrical conductors, means for controlling a water pump means, means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers, means for controlling the drive motor on the end tower, and means for conTrolling the watering rate of the apparatus; said monitoring system comprising a plurality of lamps, a number of said lamps being individually connected to different ones of said controlling means to provide an indication of the condition of said controlling means, and a plurality of lamps each individually connected between a pair of conductors so as to be energized when current is flowing in said conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A monitoring system for mobile irrigation apparatus including: a central pivot tower, a plurality of intermediate towers, an end tower, a distribution pipe having one end pivotally mounted on the pivot tower and supported along its length by its intermediate and end towers, sprinkler units spaced along the distribution pipe, drive motors on the intermediate and end towers, water pumping means connected to the distribution pipe, means supplying electrical power to the apparatus including a plurality of electrical conductors, means for controlling a water pump means, means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers, means for controlling the drive motor on the end tower, and means for conTrolling the watering rate of the apparatus; said monitoring system comprising a plurality of lamps, a number of said lamps being individually connected to different ones of said controlling means to provide an indication of the condition of said controlling means, and a plurality of lamps each individually connected between a pair of conductors so as to be energized when current is flowing in said conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers and the end tower includes contacts connected in said conductors and wherein said system includes a second plurality of lamps, each lamp of said second plurality being connected between a pair of said conductors on a side of said contacts opposite to that side on which said first plurality of lamps is connected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for controlling the drive motors on the intermediate towers and the end tower includes a contactor coil to provide forward movement of the apparatus, a contactor coil to provide for reverse movement of the apparatus and said system includes a lamp connected to said first-mentioned contactor coil to be energized when said first-mentioned contactor coil is energized and a lamp connected to said second-mentioned contactor coil to be energized when said second-mentioned contactor coil is energized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the mobile irrigation apparatus includes means for supplying controlling electrical power to all said controlling means and said system includes a lamp connected to the controlling electrical power supply means for indicating that controlling electrical power is being supplied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the mobile irrigation apparatus includes a conductor extending along the length thereof from one tower to another, means for supplying current to said conductor when said apparatus is in operation and means responsive to current flow in the conductor to interrupt the operation of the apparatus in the event of misalignment thereof and wherein said system includes a first lamp connected to said operation interrupting means so as to be energized when the apparatus is aligned and a second lamp connected to said operation interruting means so as to be deenergized when the apparatus is misaligned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mobile irrigation apparatus includes a timer for controlling the movement of the end tower and wherein said system includes a lamp connected to said timer so as to be periodically energized thereby to provide an indication that the timer is operating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 7 including a lamp connected to said means for supplying controlling power to all said controlling means, a relay including contacts connected to said lamp, said relay being connected to said means for supplying controlling power to all said controlling means, a switch including contacts connected to said relay and effective upon operation to energize said relay, said relay contacts upon energization of said relay interrupting a circuit to said lamp and uon de energization completing a circuit to said lamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2960657A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |