Winch-driven irrigation apparatus

Claim 2

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal frame provided with supporting wheels; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving-mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to the external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for simultaneously braking said wheels and also braking said revolving output drive of said converter.

Claim 3

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having a inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for braking said revolving output drive of said converter, and wherein said braking means comprises: a friction brake means operatively disposed with respect to said revolving output drive of said converter, a lever, linkage intercoupling said lever with said friction brake means, spring means anchoring said lever to said frame, a latch mounted to said frame and maintaining said lever in an upward position, whereby to release said friction brake means, said latch being constructed to selectively release said lever to the action of said spring, whereby to apply said brake means, and means responsive to the contact of said stop abutment for withdrawing said latch from retentive engagement with said lever. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said withdrawing means comprises lever means pivoted to said frame, forwardly thereof, and including cable guide means receiving said winch cable but constructed for actuation abutment by said stop abutment means, a second cable, secured to said lever means, for pulling said latch out of engagement with said lever upon the pivoting of said lever means through contact therewith by said stop abutment.

Claim 4

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for braking said revolving output drive of said converter, and wherein said frame includes fluid-operated wheel braking means, and means responsive to the presence of slack in said winch cable for automatically applying said wheel braking means.

Claim 5

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for braking said revolving output drive of said converter, and wherein said frame includes fluid-operated wheel braking means, and means responsive to the presence of slack in said winch cable for automatically applying said wheel braking means.

Claim 6

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for braking said revolving output drive of said converter, and wherein said apparatus includes speed control means in said drive line including said transmission, and sensing means responsive to the diameter of said winch drum, including such winch cable as is wrapped thereon, for automatically adjusting said speed control means, whereby to advance said vehicle along said cable at a uniform speed, regardless of the amount of winch cable at any time disposed upon said winch drum.

Claim 7

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for braking said revolving output drive of said converter, and wherein said apparatus includes speed control means in said drive line including said transmission, and sensing means responsive to the diameter of said winch drum, including such winch cable as is wrapped thereon, for automatically adjusting said speed control means, whereby to advance said vehicle along said cable at a uniform speed, regardless of the amount of winch cable at any time disposed upon said winch drum.

Claim 8

The irrigation vehicle of claim 5 wherein sensing means comprises a roller, supporting structure journaling said roller and mounting the same to said frame, said roller being constructed for essentially radial movement relative to said winch drum in response to varying amounts of winch cable present upon said winch drum, and means coupled to said roller and responsive to the movement thereof for controlling said speed control means.

Claim 9

The irrigation vehicle of claim 6 wherein said supporting structure includes upright means fixedly mounted to said frame, bell crank means journaled to said upright means and journaling said roller, and spring means coupled to said bell crank means and to said frame for retaining said roller against said winch cable as wrapped upon said winch drum.

Claim 10

An agricultural irrigation vehicle including, in comBination, a frame; wheels journaled to said frame; a watery delivery system supported by said frame and having an input; a water-pressure-to-revolving-mechanical-power converter having a fluid inlet oriented rearwardly of said frame, a fluid outlet coupled to said input, and a revolvable output drive, winch means, including a winch drum and a winch cable wrapped thereon, mechanically coupled to said output drive and constructed to pull said vehicle forwardly by wrapping said winch cable upon said winch drum, and means supported by said frame for braking selected ones of said wheels at times of water surge pressure application to said fluid inlet.

Claim 11

An agricultural irrigation vehicle including, in comBination, a frame; wheels journaled to said frame; a watery delivery system supported by said frame and having an input; a water-pressure-to-revolving-mechanical-power converter having a fluid inlet oriented rearwardly of said frame, a fluid outlet coupled to said input, and a revolvable output drive, winch means, including a winch drum and a winch cable wrapped thereon, mechanically coupled to said output drive and constructed to pull said vehicle forwardly by wrapping said winch cable upon said winch drum, and means supported by said frame for braking selected ones of said wheels at times of water surge pressure application to said fluid inlet.

Claim 12

The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said winch cable includes an end-of-run stop abutment, said frame including means responsive to the impingement thereof by said stop abutment for braking said revolvable output drive.

Claim 13

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving-mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, releasably latched, spring-pressurized braking means operatively coupled to the combination of said drive line and said transmission output drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for unlatching said braking means to thereby effect spring-pressure braking of the combination of said revolving output drive of said converter and said drive line.

Claim 14

Agricultural irrigation apparatus comprising a horizontal, wheel-carrying frame; an erect, water delivery structure mounted to said frame and having a fluid input; a drive line including a speed-reduction transmission having input and output drives; a water-pressure-to-revolving-mechanical-power converter having water inlet structure constructed for coupling to an external water-carrying hose, a revolving output drive coupled to said transmission input drive, releasably latched, spring-pressurized braking means operatively coupled to the combination of said drive line and said transmission output drive, and a fluid outlet coupled to said fluid input of said water delivery structure; a winch drum journaled to said frame and having an input drive coupled to said output drive of said transmission; a winch cable having an inner end wound upon said winch drum and an outer end constructed for extension forwardly of said frame to be anchored to an external object; a stop abutment disposed upon said cable proximate said outer end thereof; and means mounted to said frame and responsive to the contact with said means of said stop abutment, for unlatching said braking means to thereby effect spring-pressure braking of the combination of said revolving output drive of said converter and said drive line.