Irrigation system
First Claim
1. An irrigation system, comprising:
- a water delivery pipe;
cart means for movably supporting the water delivery pipe;
drive means on the cart means for selectively moving the cart means and water delivery pipe;
sprinkler guns spaced longitudinally along the water delivery pipe, rotatable thereon about axes for delivering water in overlapping spray patterns;
selectively operable motor means for each gun for driving the sprinkler guns to rotate about the axes; and
rotational speed control means connected with the motor means for selectively controlling the individual motor means to vary the rotational speed of each gun such that water application rates can be selectively varied about the overlapping spray patterns.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-propelled irrigation system that is fully automated to irrigate regular and irregular shapes of land. The system includes a self powered cart and hose connection system by which access is made to various points along the length of a water supply main. The cart is powered to move along a prescribed path defined by a ground mounted electrical conductor wire. The cart will follow the path defined by the wire and perform various functions at points along the length of the conductor as initiated by signal emitters located along the path. Throughout the irrigation sequence, hose connection and disconnection, the entire hose length is kept suspended above the ground surface as not to interfere with the adjacent crop. Several sprinklers on the cart frame are independently controlled to produce an even application of water over the prescribed ground area. This is done by selectively varying the rotational speed of the sprinklers. Corners of selected areas are irrigated by a sprinkler head having a pressure control valve to vary the water throw distance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An irrigation system, comprising:
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a water delivery pipe; cart means for movably supporting the water delivery pipe; drive means on the cart means for selectively moving the cart means and water delivery pipe; sprinkler guns spaced longitudinally along the water delivery pipe, rotatable thereon about axes for delivering water in overlapping spray patterns; selectively operable motor means for each gun for driving the sprinkler guns to rotate about the axes; and rotational speed control means connected with the motor means for selectively controlling the individual motor means to vary the rotational speed of each gun such that water application rates can be selectively varied about the overlapping spray patterns.
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2. An irrigation system connectable to a water main, comprising:
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a cart frame ground engaging drive means on the cart frame for selectively moving the cart frame over the ground in prescribed circuitous paths from stations along the water main; water applicator means on the cart frame operable to apply water in a selected pattern over the ground surface as the cart frame is moved along, imperforate hose means having one end connected to the applicator means and a free end for connection to the water main at selected locations along the ground surface; control means associated with the drive means and water applicator means for selectively controlling motion of the cart frame and operation of the water applicator means such that the cart frame is moved in the prescribed circuitous paths about successive water main stations and the water applicator means is selectively operated to apply water over the ground surface along selected portions of the prescribed path; and wherein the water applicator means includes sprinkler booms on the cart frame extending to ends elevationally above the ground and remote from one another. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An irrigation system connectable to a water main, comprising:
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a cart frame; ground engaging drive means on the cart frame for selectively moving the cart frame over the ground; drive control means associated with the drive means for guiding the cart frame along a predetermined path leading in prescribed circuits from stations along the water main; water applicator means on the frame selectively operable for applying water over the ground surface as the cart frame is moved along; an elongated imperforate flexible hose attached at one end to the water applicator means and extending to a remote end; attachment means at the remote hose end for automatically connecting and disconnecting the remote hose end to and from the water main; hose elevating means mounting the hose between its ends for continuously suspending the hose above the ground surface when the remote hose end is connected to the water main, and for paying out and taking up the hose in response to movement of the cart frame about the predetermined path; and function control means including signal emitters stationed along the predetermined path for automatically activating and deactivating the ground engaging drive means and attachment means at selected stations along the predetermined path set by the drive control means, and for controlling the applicator means to vary the spray pattern at selected positions of the cart frame along the predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An irrigation system connectable to a water main having spaced access valves, comprising:
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a cart frame; ground-engaging drive means on the cart frame for selectively moving the cart frame over the ground; a rigid upright standpipe carried by the cart frame, having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being releasably connectable to the water main at one of the access valves thereon; anchor means on the upright standpipe selectively operable to secure the standpipe in a stationery upright position over a selected access valve of the water main with the top end spaced elevationally above the ground surface; an elongated imperforate flexible hose having one end connected to the upright standpipe at the standpipe top end, and extending to a remaining end; sprinkler means on the cart frame connected to the remaining hose end; a motor driven hose reel on the cart frame for storing the hose and for paying out and taking up the imperforate hose between the cart frame and standpipe when the standpipe is secured by the anchor means, and for maintaining the imperforate hose elevationally above the ground surface; control means for selectively operating the drive means to move the cart in a prescribed path to a succession of the water main access valves; and function control means operatively connected with the anchor means and drive means, for selectively actuating the anchor means to secure and release the standpipe over selected access valves in response to positioning of the cart frame adjacent the access valve. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification