MECHANIZED IRRIGATION SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20110248104A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Malsam, Craig S.
• Application Number:
  US13/083,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248104A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/723
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed toward a mechanized irrigation system having a variable valve assembly and a corresponding method of use. The variable valve assembly generally includes a valve and an adjustment mechanism. The valve can be any type of valve known in the art that can be configured to variably control the flow rate of a fluid through a delivery conduit. Generally, the adjustment mechanism includes a motor or actuator that can vary the position of the valve through various methods known in the art. The variable valve assembly is generally located on the mechanized irrigation system to control the flow of an applicant that is dispersed by the irrigation system.

Claims

1. A mechanized irrigation system comprising:

at least one water pipe section;

at least one delivery conduit removably coupled to the at least one water pipe section; and

at least one variable valve assembly coupled to the delivery conduit, the at least one variable valve assembly configured to variably control a flow rate of an applicant flowing through the at least one delivery conduit.

2. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one delivery conduit comprises a U-pipe and a drop hose, the U-pipe coupled to the drop hose via a coupler.

3. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 2, wherein the coupler includes the variable valve assembly.

4. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable valve assembly comprises a valve configured to control the flow rate of the applicant flowing through the at least one delivery conduit and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the valve.

5. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a rack and pinion gear assembly.

6. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a worm gear assembly.

7. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 4, wherein the at least one variable valve assembly further includes a circuit board with a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to furnish a signal to the adjustment mechanism to adjust the valve to set the flow rate of the applicant flowing through the at least one delivery conduit.

8. A mechanized irrigation system comprising:

at least one water pipe section; and

at least one variable valve assembly having a first end and a second end, the at least one variable valve assembly coupled to the water pipe section at the first end, the at least one variable valve assembly configured to variably control a flow rate of an applicant flowing through the at least one variable valve assembly.

9. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 8, further comprising at least one delivery conduit removably coupled to the second end of the at least one variable valve assembly.

10. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 9, wherein the at least one delivery conduit comprises a U-pipe and a drop hose, the U-pipe coupled to the drop hose via a coupler.

11. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 8, wherein the at least one variable valve assembly comprises a valve configured to control the flow rate of the applicant flowing through the at least one variable valve assembly and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the valve.

12. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 11, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a rack and pinion gear assembly.

13. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 11, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a worm gear assembly.

14. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 11, further comprising a control panel configured to furnish at least one signal to the at least one variable valve assembly to adjust the flow rate of the adjustment mechanism.

15. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 11, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts the valve based upon a position of the mechanized irrigation system.

16. The mechanized irrigation system of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable valve assembly further includes a circuit board with a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to furnish a signal to the adjustment mechanism to adjust the valve to set the flow rate of the applicant flowing through the at least one delivery conduit

17. A method comprising:

receiving a water application map in a computer executable format, the water application map including at least one pre-determined water flow rate corresponding to at least one pre-identified field position of a mechanized irrigation system;

receiving an actual field position of the mechanized irrigation system; and

adjusting a valve of the variable valve assembly via an adjustment mechanism to provide water at a pre-determined water flow rate furnished by the water application map corresponding to the actual field position.

18. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving an actual position further comprises receiving one or more signals communicating the actual field position from a control panel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the actual field position is compared to a corresponding pre-identified field position included in the water application map to determine the pre-determined water flow rate.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a rack and pinion gear assembly.