Means for seeding through a center pivot irrigation system

• US 4,660,775 A
• Filed: 06/17/1985
• Issued: 04/28/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Chapman, John A., Ostrom, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forman, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US06/745,183
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 239/177.1, 239/177.2, 239/178, 239/183, 239/184, 239/709, 239/710, 239/711, 239/721, 239/310, 239/317, 239/325, 239/727, 47/48.5, 111/1, 111/7.1, 111/10
• US Class Current: 239/727
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions

Abstract

In this invention, a device is described for seeding through a self-propelled irrigation system. In one form of the invention, the seeds are metered into an auxiliary water line, supported on the main water line, and are sprinkled onto the ground by way of sequentially operated sprinklers. In another form of the invention, the seeds are metered directly into the main water line and are broadcast onto the ground by sequentially operated sprinklers.

Claims

1. In combination,

a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive tower adapted to move said primary water supply pipe over a predetermined area,

said primary water supply pipe being in operative communication with a source of water,

said primary water supply pipe having a plurality of spaced-apart sprinklers provided thereon for sprinkling water on said predetermined area,

a pump means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said sprinklers,

an auxiliary water line means supported on said irrigation system and being in operative communication with a source of water under pressure,

a plurality of spaced-apart sprinklers provided on said auxiliary water line means,

a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted,

metering means for metering seeds from said seed supply means into said auxiliary water line means,

and means for controlling the operation of said sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means whereby seeds will be substantially uniformly broadcast onto said predetermined area, through said sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means, as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover,

said metering means including a water tank means adapted to receive seeds from said seed supply means,

said water tank means comprising a bottom wall with upstanding side walls,

a vertically disposed hollow tube means positioned in said water tank means and having an open upper end which is in communication with said metering means so that the seeds are delivered to the interior of said tube means,

said water tank means having a water inlet means in communication with a source of water under pressure whereby water will be supplied to the interior of said tank means, means for controlling the level of water in said water tank means,

said tube means being in fluid communication with the water in said tank means,

said tube means also being in fluid communication with said auxiliary water line means whereby said seeds delivered to said tube means will be supplied to said sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means,

said tube means having openings formed thereon below its upper end in communication with the water in said water tank means so that water in said water tank means may enter said tube means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein tube means is substantially square in section and wherein said openings are offset from the longitudinal axis of said tube means to create a vortex effect in said tube means.

3. In combination,

a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a water supply pipe supported by a plurality of drive towers adapted to move said water supply pipe over a predetermined area,

said water supply pipe being in operative communication with a source of water,

said water supply pipe having a plurality of spaced-apart sprinklers provided thereon for sprinkling water on said predetermined area,

a pump means for pumping water through said water supply pipe to said sprinklers,

a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted,

metering means for metering seeds from said seed supply means into said water supply pipe,

and means for controlling the operation of said sprinklers whereby the seeds will be substantially uniformly broadcast onto said predetermined area, through said sprinklers, as said water supply pipe is moved thereover,

said metering means including a water tank means adapted to receive seeds from said seed supply means, said water tank means comprising a bottom wall with upstanding side walls, a vertically disposed hollow tube means positioned in said water tank means and having an open upper end which is in communication with said metering means so that the seeds are delivered to the interior of said tube means, said water tank means having a water inlet means in communication with a source of water under pressure whereby water will be supplied to the interior of said tank means, means for controlling the level of water in said water tank means, said tube means being in fluid communication with the water in said tank means, said tube means also being in fluid communication with said water supply pipe whereby said seeds delivered to said tube means will be supplied to said sprinklers,

said tube means having openings formed thereon below its upper end in communication with the water in said water tank means so that water in said water tank means may enter said tube means, said water supply pipe being in communication with said tube means below said openings.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein tube means is substantially square in section and wherein said openings are offset from the longitudinal axis of said tube means to create a vortex effect in said tube means.