Lateral roll irrigation machine having remote end control

Claim 2

A lateral move irrigation pipeline system, comprising: an elongated irrigation pipeline; a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels coaxially mounted on the pipeline to support the pipeline above the ground level and to enable the pipeline to be moved laterally across a field; a wheeled power unit mounted to the pipeline intermediate the ends of the pipeline for moving the wheel-supported pipeline in either lateral direction; said power unit having an internal combustion engine with an engine starting means, an engine stopping means and a drive means selectively operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the pipeline; remote operation control means operatively connected to the engine starting means, the engine stopping means and the drive means for selectively rendering effective the engine starting means, the engine stopping means and the drive means remotely from the power unit; said remote operational control means having a remote control console having operator controlled switching means for selectively generating separate command digital signals (1) to energize the engine starting means to start the engine, (2) to stop the engine, and (3) to energize the drive means to drive the wheeled pipeline laterally; said remote control console having a multiplexer for converting the command digital signals and formulating a multiplex signal according to a selected code; a demultiplexer at the power unit for converting the multiplex signal and formulating separate instructional digital signals according to the selected code; a signal transmission means operatively interconnecting the multiplexer and the demultiplexer to transmit the multiplex signal therebetween; logic switching means at the power unit operatively interconnecting the demultiplexer with the engine starting means, the engine stopping means and the drive means to selectively activate same in response to the separate instructional digital signals. a tachometer operatively connected to the engine for generating an analog signal responsive to the magnitude of the engine RPM: and wherein said logic swiTching means further includes a logic interlock network means responsive to the analog signal generated by the tachometer for deactivating the engine starting means when the engine reaches a pre-selected RPM.

Claim 3

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the engine starting means includes an electrical solenoid and wherein the drive means includes at least one electrical solenoid and wherein the logic switching means includes a logic interlocking network responsive to the electrical current supplied to the solenoids for deactivating power to the solenoids when an excess current is supplied to any one of the solenoids

Claim 4

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the operator controlled switching means includes means at the remote control console for generating and terminating an operator initiated command digital signal; and said logic switching means having an engine start network that is responsive to the generation of said operator initiated command digital signal for energizing the engine starting means when the engine speed is below the pre-selected RPM and a drive means network that is responsive to the generation of said same operator initiated command digital signal for energizing the drive to move the pipeline in the one lateral direction when the engine speed exceeds the pre-selected RPM.

Claim 5

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said logic interlocking means being responsive to the generation and termination of the operator initiated command digital signal in addition to being responsive to signal generated by the tachometer for automatically rendering effective the drive means network when the engine speed exceeds the pre-selected RPM and the operator initiated command signal is sequentially terminated and then regenerated.

Claim 6

The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said logic interlocking means includes means for automatically rendering ineffective the drive means network to de-energize drive means when the engine speed falls below the preselected RPM.

Claim 7

The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said logic interlocking means includes means for preventing the engine start network from being rendered effective to restart the engine once the engine speed falls below the pre-selected RPM unless the operator initiated command signal is sequentially terminated and then regenerated.

Claim 8

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the drive means is reversible and capable of selectively moving the irrigation pipeline in either lateral direction and wherein the drive means network includes a one directional network for activating the drive means to move the pipeline in one lateral direction and an opposite directional network for activating the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction.

Claim 9

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the multiplexer generates a discrete level multiplex signal in response to each separate operator initiated digital command signal.

Claim 10

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein signal transmission means includes a single conductor wire for transmitting the multiplex signal from the multiplexer to the demultiplexer.

Claim 11

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the operator controlled means include means at the remote control console for generating a second operator initiated digital command signal; said drive means network being responsive to the generation of said second operator initiated digital command signal for energizing the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction when the engine speed exceeds the pre-selected RPM.

Claim 12

The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the operator controlled means includes means at the remote control console for generating and terminating a system ''''on'''' digital command signal; and wherein the logic switching network includes an engine stopping network responsive to the generation and termination of the systems ''''on'''' digital command signal for rendering ineffective the engine stopping means when the systems ''''on'''' digital command signal is generated and for rendering effective the engine stopping means when the system ''''on'''' digital command signal is terminated.

Claim 13

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote control console includes a visual indicator that is operatively connected to the logic switching means to provide a visual indicator that the engine is running when the engine RPM exceeds the preselected value.

Claim 14

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the power unit includes a battery for providing power to the remote control console and to the engine starting means.

Claim 15

The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the internal combustion engine has a choke and wherein the system further comprises: means for operating the choke; and wherein the operational control means is operatively connected to the choke operating means; said logic switching means having a network responsive to the signal from the tachometer for energizing the choke operating means when the RPM of the engine is less than the pre-selected value and for automatically de-energizing choke operating means when the RPM of the engine exceeds the pre-selected value.

Claim 16

The system as defined in claim 14 wherein the remote control console has switch means for generating operator initiated command signal; said logic switching means having a choke-start network that is reponsive to the generation of the operator initiated command signal for activating both the engine starting means and the means for operating the choke.

Claim 17

A lateral move irrigation pipeline system, comprising: an elongated irrigation pipeline; a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels coaxially mounted on the pipeline to support the pipeline above the ground level and to enable the pipeline to be moved laterally across a field; a wheeled power unit mounted to the pipeline intermediate the ends of the pipeline for moving the wheel-supported pipeline in either lateral direction; said power unit having an internal combustion engine with an engine starting means, an engine stopping means, an engine carburetor choke means and a drive means selectively operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the pipeline; remote operation control means operatively connected to the engine starting means, the engine stopping means, the engine carburetor choke means and the drive means for selectively rendering effective the engine starting means, the engine stopping means, the engine carburetor choke means and the drive means remotely from the power unit; said remote operator control means having a remote control console having operator controlled switching means for selectively generating a first command digital signal to inactivate the engine stopping means, a second command digital signal to activate either the engine starting means or activate the drive means to move the pipeline in one lateral direction, and a third command digital signal to activate either the engine starting means and the engine carburetor choke means or activate the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction; said remote control console having a multiplexer for converting the selected command digital signals and formulating a multiplex signal; a demultiplexer at the power unit for converting the multiplex signal and generating separate instructional digital signals corresponding to the selected command digital signals; a signal transmission means operatively interconnecting the multiplexer and the demultiplexer to transmit the multiplex signal therebetween; logic switching means at the power unit having (1) an engine stopping network responsive to the generated first instructional digital signal for inactivating the engine stopping means, (2) an engine starting network responsive to the generation of the second instructional digital signal for activating the engine starting means, (3) an engine choke network responsive to the generation of the thiRd instructional digital signal for activating the engine carburetor choke, (4) a one lateral direction drive network responsive to the generation of the second instructional digital signal for activating the drive unit to move the pipeline in one lateral direction; and (5) an opposite lateral direction drive network responsive to the generation of the third instructional digital signal for activating the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction; a tachometer operatively connected to the engine for generating an analog signal responsive to the magnitude of the engine RPM: and wherein said logic switching means further includes a logic interlock network means responsive to the analog signal generated by the tachometer (1) to render effective the engine starting network, and the engine choke network and to render ineffective the drive networks when the engine RPM is below a preselected value and (2) to render effective the drive networks and render ineffective the engine starting network and the engine choke network when the engine RPM is above the preselected valve.

Claim 18

A lateral move irrigation pipeline system, comprising: an elongated irrigation pipeline; a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels coaxially mounted on the pipeline to support the pipeline above the ground level and to enable the pipeline to be moved laterally across a field; a wheeled power unit mounted to the pipeline intermediate the ends of the pipeline for moving the wheel-supported pipeline in either lateral direction; said power unit having an internal combustion engine with an engine starting means, an engine stopping means, an engine carburetor choke means and a drive means selectively operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the pipeline; remote operation control means operatively connected to the engine starting means, the engine stopping means, the engine carburetor choke means and the drive means for selectively rendering effective the engine starting means, the engine stopping means, the engine carburetor choke means and the drive means remotely from the power unit; said remote operator control means having a remote control console having operator controlled switching means for selectively generating a first command digital signal to inactivate the engine stopping means, a second command digital signal to activate either the engine starting means or activate the drive means to move the pipeline in one lateral direction, and a third command digital signal to activate either the engine starting means and the engine carburetor choke means or activate the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction; said remote control console having a multiplexer for converting the selected command digital signals and formulating a multiplex signal; a demultiplexer at the power unit for converting the multiplex signal and generating separate instructional digital signals corresponding to the selected command digital signals; a signal transmission means operatively interconnecting the multiplexer and the demultiplexer to transmit the multiplex signal therebetween; logic switching means at the power unit having (1) an engine stopping network responsive to the generated first instructional digital signal for inactivating the engine stopping means, (2) an engine starting network responsive to the generation of the second instructional digital signal for activating the engine starting means, (3) an engine choke network responsive to the generation of the thiRd instructional digital signal for activating the engine carburetor choke, (4) a one lateral direction drive network responsive to the generation of the second instructional digital signal for activating the drive unit to move the pipeline in one lateral direction; and (5) an opposite lateral direction drive network responsive to the generation of the third instructional digital signal for activating the drive means to move the pipeline in the opposite lateral direction; a tachometer operatively connected to the engine for generating an analog signal responsive to the magnitude of the engine RPM: and wherein said logic switching means further includes a logic interlock network means responsive to the analog signal generated by the tachometer (1) to render effective the engine starting network, and the engine choke network and to render ineffective the drive networks when the engine RPM is below a preselected value and (2) to render effective the drive networks and render ineffective the engine starting network and the engine choke network when the engine RPM is above the preselected valve.