US4222520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Irrigation machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-12
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Granted: 1980-09-16
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Expires: 1999-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A framework mounted on wheels to follow a ditch path carries a plurality of siphon tubes suspended at their outer end from an arm pivotable in response to a float detecting the water level in the ditch, and the inner end of the tubes contain water impeller blades mounted on a common shaft through all tube heads, retaining the heads in submerged position in the ditch. The structure supporting the outer tube ends is spring biased to raise the tubes, and each tube has a flexible mid-portion and a water trap in the outer end. A silt remover agitator is mounted on a longitudinal track and powered to move between the opposite ends of the framework to entrain silt in the water for removal by the siphon tubes. A wheel trash remover at the upstream end of the framework is self-powered by the current to catch and eject debris from the ditch water, and a dam at the downstream end of the framework retains the ditch water under the framework. A clock timer controls the movement of the framework at fixed intervals by actuating an electric drive motor that also turns the impeller shaft at the conclusion of each movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Leland J. Melcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:32
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/09; A01G25/097; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855; Y10T137/6903; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86236; Y10T137/86252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A mobile irrigating machine for use along a water-carrying ditch, comprising: (a) a framework; (b) wheel means for mobilly supporting the framework along the ditch; (c) timer means for determining the passage of preselected time intervals; (d) motive means responsive to said timer means for moving the irrigating machine a predetermined distance along the ditch at the conclusion of one of said intervals; (e) a plurality of siphon tubes carried by said framework, each having an inner end adapted to be submerged in the ditch water and an outer end adapted to extend over the side of the ditch to supply ditch water to adjacent land; (f) selectively actuatable water impeller means in the inner end of each siphon tube for forcing water through the tube; (g) lifting means responsive to the timer means for elevating the outer end of the siphon tubes above the inner end thereof to unprime the tubes approximately when the motive means is starting a movement of the machine; and (h) activating means responsive to said timer means for actuating said water impeller means to prime the siphon tubes after the motive means has completed a movement of the machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A mobile irrigating machine for use along a water-carrying ditch, comprising: (a) a framework; (b) wheel means for mobilly supporting the framework along the ditch; (c) timer means for determining the passage of preselected time intervals; (d) motive means responsive to said timer means for moving the irrigating machine a predetermined distance along the ditch at the conclusion of one of said intervals; (e) a plurality of siphon tubes carried by said framework, each having an inner end adapted to be submerged in the ditch water and an outer end adapted to extend over the side of the ditch to supply ditch water to adjacent land; (f) selectively actuatable water impeller means in the inner end of each siphon tube for forcing water through the tube; (g) lifting means responsive to the timer means for elevating the outer end of the siphon tubes above the inner end thereof to unprime the tubes approximately when the motive means is starting a movement of the machine; and (h) activating means responsive to said timer means for actuating said water impeller means to prime the siphon tubes after the motive means has completed a movement of the machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, further comprising flow rate adjusting means responsive to the water level in the ditch for adjusting the attitude of the siphon tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
The irrigating machine of claim 2, wherein said flow rate adjusting means comprises: (a) a hinge bar extending longitudinally of the framework, above said siphon tubes, and carried on a pivotal longitudinal axis by the framework; (b) at least one pivot arm extending transversely of the framework and above the siphon tubes on a first side of the hinge bar, and having an inner end connected to the hinge bar; (c) a linearly adjustable coupling joining the outer end of said pivot arm to at least one of the siphon tubes; (d) a float bracket extending transversely of the framework on a second side of the hinge bar opposite from said first side and having an inner end connected to the hinge bar; (e) float means connected to the outer end of the float bracket and adapted to be received by the ditch water for pivoting the hinge bar in response to the water level in the ditch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The irrigating machine of claim 3, wherein said lifting means comprises means for pivoting the hinge bar to elevate the outer end of at least one siphon tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The irrigating machine of claim 3, wherein the flow rate adjusting means further comprises at least one spring arm connected at a first end to the hinge bar and extending in a plane transverse to the framework; and a resilient spring means connected between the second end of the spring arm and the framework for torsionally biasing the hinge bar to apply a lifting force to at least one siphon tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, wherein each siphon tube comprises an impeller head portion containing the inner end thereof and a body portion containing the outer end thereof, and a flexible sleeve portion connecting the impeller head and body portions for permitting the body portions to deflect during machine movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The irrigating machine of claim 6, wherein said water impeller means is located in the impeller head portion of each tube and further comprises a common shaft passing through a plurality of said impeller heads on the framework and having an impeller blade within each of the heads, said shaft having a connection to said activating means for commonly operating the impeller blades.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, wherein said siphon tube comprises a mouth at the outer end thereof and a water trap portion of the tube near the outer end, said water trap portion having top wall below the opening of the tube mouth when the tube is positioned to deliver water to the adjacent land.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a silt agitator extending below said framework for agitating silt on the bottom of the ditch; (b) a guide track extending longitudinally of the framework; (c) a carriage mounted for longitudinal motion along said guide track and carrying the silt agitator thereon; (d) means for moving the carriage along the guide track; and (e) means for imparting rotation to the agitator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a perforated rotatable water wheel for partial submersion in the ditch water on a transverse horizontal axis at one end of said framework adapted to be the upstream end thereof; (b) a first water impervious shield extending axially of the wheel from the lower axial edge of the wheel facing the framework, and adapted to span the area between the axial edge of the wheel and the ditch side to direct ditch water through the perforations of the wheel from the inside thereof; and (c) means for catching debris falling from the top inside of the rotatable wheel and conveying the debris axially of the wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The irrigating machine of claim 10, further comprising a second water impervious shield covering a lower portion of the outer circumference of said water wheel on the upstream face thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a dam gate connected to one longitudinal end of said framework adapted to be the downstream end thereof; (b) a forward stop connected to the framework and extending in front of the downstream face of said dam gate; and (c) hinge means connecting the top of the dam gate to the framework for allowing the bottom of the dam gate to move in the upstream direction during movement of the framework in response to an obstacle in the ditch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The irrigating machine of claim 12, wherein said forward stop comprises a releasable hinge pivotable to move the forward stop in the downstream direction for releasing the dam gate in the downstream direction; and means responsive to high water level in the ditch for releasing said releasable hinge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
The irrigating machine of claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance of movement is determined by the location of fixed objects spaced along the ditch, and said impeller activating means comprises: (a) a multipronged lever having at least three prongs radiating equally in a plane, mounted on said framework for rotation on an axis normal to said plane, and adapted move with the framework in the anticipated path to strike said fixed objects with a prong to rotate the lever; (b) a cam coaxially mounted with said lever for rotation therewith and having an equal number of lobes as said prongs; (c) a cam follower mounted pivotally on said framework and resting against said cam; (d) means responsive to the movement of the cam follower over a cam lobe for engaging said motive means with the water impeller means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-16 | 1984-03-17 | 1984-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-16 | 1988-03-17 | 1988-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-16 | 1992-03-17 | 1992-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |