VARIABLE-SPEED IRRIGATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An irrigation system comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected spans;
a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed;
a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans; and
a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis,wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment.
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Abstract
An irrigation system is disclosed that is configured to maintain a near straight alignment. In an implementation, an irrigation system includes multiple interconnected spans which are supported by multiple tower structures. Each tower structure includes a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed. The irrigation system also includes multiple sensors that are each associated with a corresponding span to determine an alignment of the corresponding span with respect to adjacent spans. Each of the sensors is in communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit. Each of the variable-drive control units are configured to control the selected speed of a corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis (e.g., maintain alignment of the spans with respect to each other).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An irrigation system comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected spans; a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed; a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans; and a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis, wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An irrigation system comprising:
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a center pivot structure; a main section assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the main section assembly including a plurality of interconnected spans; a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed; a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans;
a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis,wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An irrigation system comprising:
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a center pivot structure; a main section assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the main section assembly including a plurality of interconnected spans; a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a switched reluctance motor for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed; a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans; a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding switched reluctance motor to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis, wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification