US3856038A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Irrigation pipe walker
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An irrigation pipe walker consisting of one of a series of towers spaced along and adapted to support an irrigation pipe above ground level for movement transversely of itself, the tower including a rigid frame to which the pipe is affixed and having ground engaging feet, movable feet also carried by the frame, and power operating means for moving said movable feet vertically to levels respectively above and below the frame feet, and horizontally in respectively opposite directions, the horizontal and vertical movements being alternated whereby the tower is caused to walk along the ground in a direction transverse to the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 G Paul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:21
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/09; A01G25/092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A tower for supporting an irrigation pipe extending horizontally above ground level, said pipe being adapted to be secured to said tower and said tower having two sets of ground engaging feet, the feet of one set being movable relative to the feet of the other set, both vertically so that either set may be disposed higher than the other, and also horizontally in a direction transverse to said irrigation pipe, and operating means carried by said tower and operable to move one of said sets of feet relatively to the other set in a cyclically repetitive series of strokes consisting successively of an upward stroke, a horizontal stroke in one direction, a downward stroke, and a horizontal stroke in a direction opposite to said first horizontal stroke, whereby said tower is caused to walk in a direction transverse to the irrigation pipe, and whereby all of said feet move essentially only in a vertical direction as they engage and disengage the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A tower for supporting an irrigation pipe extending horizontally above ground level, said pipe being adapted to be secured to said tower and said tower having two sets of ground engaging feet, the feet of one set being movable relative to the feet of the other set, both vertically so that either set may be disposed higher than the other, and also horizontally in a direction transverse to said irrigation pipe, and operating means carried by said tower and operable to move one of said sets of feet relatively to the other set in a cyclically repetitive series of strokes consisting successively of an upward stroke, a horizontal stroke in one direction, a downward stroke, and a horizontal stroke in a direction opposite to said first horizontal stroke, whereby said tower is caused to walk in a direction transverse to the irrigation pipe, and whereby all of said feet move essentially only in a vertical direction as they engage and disengage the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tower as recited claim 1 with the addition of means operable to reverse the order and direction of said cyclically repetitive strokes, whereby said tower may be caused selectively to walk in either of two opposite horizontal directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
A tower as recited in claim 1 wherein said tower comprises: a. a main frame having one of said sets of feet affixed thereto, b. means for affixing said irrigation pipe to said main frame, the feet of said one set being at least two in number and disposed at respectively opposite sides of the vertical plane of said irrigation pipe when said pipe is so affixed, and c. supporting means carried movably by said main frame and carrying the other set of said feet, said other set of feet being at least two in number and spaced at respectively opposite sides of the vertical plane of said irrigation pipe in all operative positions thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tower as recited in claim 3 wherein said operating means is operable to move said other set of feet vertically between a position above the horizontal plane of said main frame feet and a position below said plane, and horizontally in relatively opposite directions between fixed limits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A tower as recited in claim 3 wherein said supporting means for said other set of feet comprises: a. a pair of vertically pivotal links carried by said main frame and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions of said irrigation pipe, b. an outrigger leg pivoted to the outer end of each of said links and depending therefrom, one of said other set of feet being affixed to the lower end of each of said legs, and c. means connecting said legs whereby they are maintained essentially parallel at all times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A tower as recited in claim 5 wherein said operating means comprises: a. a first power means operable to pivot said links relative to said main frame, whereby said outrigger feet are moved vertically, b. second power means operable to pivot said outrigger legs horizontally relative to said links, whereby said outrigger feet are mOved horizontally, and c. control means interrelating the operation of said first and second power means to produce movement of said outrigger feet in a cyclically repetitive series of movements, first in an upward direction at one limit of their horizontal movement, second in a horizontal direction to the opposite limit of their horizontal movement, third downwardly at said opposite limit of horizontal movement, and fourth horizontally to said one limit of their horizontal movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A tower as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises: a. a first double acting hydraulic cylinder carried by said tower and operable on opposite strokes thereof to respectively raise and lower said one set of feet between fixed limits, b. a second double acting hydraulic cylinder carried by said tower and operable on opposite strokes thereof to move said one set of feet horizontally in respectively opposite directions between fixed limits, c. means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said cylinders, and d. control means operable to alternate strokes of each cylinder with strokes of the other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A tower as recited in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises: a. a pair of control valves disposed respectively in the hydraulic supply lines of said first and second cylinders, each of said control valves being mechanically settable to deliver fluid respectively to either end of its associated cylinder, and b. mechanical means operable by each of said cylinders, as said cylinder reaches either limit of its travel, to reverse the setting of the control valve supplying fluid to the other of said cylinders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A tower as recited in claim 8 with the addition of a reversing valve in the hydraulic lines between each of said control valves and its associated cylinder, each of said reversing valves being manually operable to reverse the hydraulic connections between the associated control valve and cylinder, whereby the sequential order and direction of the cylinder strokes is reversed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tower as recited in claim 9 with the addition of a mechanical interlock between said two reversing valves, whereby they are constrained to reverse in unison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3302883A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |