Means for seeding through a center pivot irrigation system
First Claim
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1. In combination,a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive towers 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,a plurality of spaced-apart first sprinklers on said primary water supply pipe for sprinkling water on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover,means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said first sprinklers,an auxiliary water line means supported on said irrigation system and being in operative communication with a source of water under pressure,means for pumping water through said auxiliary water line means,said auxiliary water line means extending for substantially the entire length of said primary water supply pipe,a plurality of spaced-apart second sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means for sprinkling the water in said auxiliary water line means on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area,an actuator means operatively connected to each of said second sprinklers for actuating said second sprinklers at times,a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted,metering means in operative communication with said seed supply means and said auxiliary water line means for metering seeds from said seed supply means, at a predetermined rate, into the water passing through said auxiliary water line means whereby the seeds will be conveyed to said second sprinklers,and control means operatively connected to said actuator means for selectively controlling said actuator means whereby the said second sprinklers will be selectively operated to sprinkle water and seeds therefrom, to achieve substantially uniform seed distribution on said predetermined area along the length of said auxiliary water line means as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area.
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Abstract
In this invention, a means 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In combination,
a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive towers 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, a plurality of spaced-apart first sprinklers on said primary water supply pipe for sprinkling water on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover, means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said first sprinklers, an auxiliary water line means supported on said irrigation system and being in operative communication with a source of water under pressure, means for pumping water through said auxiliary water line means, said auxiliary water line means extending for substantially the entire length of said primary water supply pipe, a plurality of spaced-apart second sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means for sprinkling the water in said auxiliary water line means on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area, an actuator means operatively connected to each of said second sprinklers for actuating said second sprinklers at times, a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted, metering means in operative communication with said seed supply means and said auxiliary water line means for metering seeds from said seed supply means, at a predetermined rate, into the water passing through said auxiliary water line means whereby the seeds will be conveyed to said second sprinklers, and control means operatively connected to said actuator means for selectively controlling said actuator means whereby the said second sprinklers will be selectively operated to sprinkle water and seeds therefrom, to achieve substantially uniform seed distribution on said predetermined area along the length of said auxiliary water line means as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area.
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10. In combination,
a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive towers 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, a plurality of spaced-apart first sprinklers on said primary water supply pipe for sprinkling water on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover, means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said first sprinklers, an actuator means operatively connected to each of said first sprinklers, a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted, metering means in operative communication with said seed supply means and said primary water supply pipe for metering seeds from said seed supply means, at a predetermined rate, into the water passing through said primary water supply pipe whereby the seeds to be planted will be conveyed to said first sprinklers, and control means operatively connected to said actuator means for selectively controlling said actuator means whereby said first sprinklers will be selectively operated to sprinkle water and seeds therefrom, as said primary water supply pipe is moved over said predetermined area, to achieve substantially uniform seed distribution on said predetermined area along the length of said primary water supply pipe.
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17. A self-propelled irrigation system comprising,
a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive towers 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, a plurality of spaced-apart first sprinklers on said primary water supply pipe for sprinkling water on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover, means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said first sprinklers, an auxiliary water line means supported on said irrigation system and being in operative communication with a source of water under pressure, means for pumping water through said auxiliary water line means, said auxiliary water line means extending for substantially the entire length of said primary water supply pipe, a plurality of spaced-apart second sprinklers on said auxiliary water line means for sprinkling the water in said auxiliary water line means on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area, an actuator means operatively connected to each of said second sprinklers for actuating said second sprinklers at times, a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted, metering means in operative communication with said seed supply means and said auxiliary water line means for metering seeds from said seed supply means, at a predetermined rate, into the water passing through said auxiliary water line means whereby the seeds will be conveyed to said second sprinklers, and control means operatively connected to said actuator means for selectively controlling said actuator means whereby the said second sprinklers will be selectively operated to sprinkle water and seeds therefrom, to achieve substantially uniform seed distribution on said predetermined area along the length of said auxiliary water line means as said primary water supply pipe and said auxiliary water line means are moved over said predetermined area, 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 therein 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.
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19. In combination,
a self-propelled irrigation system comprising a primary water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced-apart drive towers 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, a plurality of spaced-apart first sprinklers on said primary water supply pipe for sprinkling water on said predetermined area as said primary water supply pipe is moved thereover, means for pumping water through said primary water supply pipe to said first sprinklers, an actuator means operatively connected to each of said first sprinklers, a seed supply means adapted to supply seeds to be planted, metering means in operative communication with said seed supply means and said primary water supply pipe for metering seeds from said seed supply means, at a predetermined rate, into the water passing through said primary water supply pipe whereby the seeds to be planted will be conveyed to said first sprinklers, and control means operatively connected to said actuator means for selectively controlling said actuator means whereby said first sprinklers will be selectively operated to sprinkle water and seeds therefrom, as said primary water supply pipe is moved over said predetermined area, to achieve substantially uniform seed distribution on said predetermined area along the length of said primary water supply pipe, 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 therein 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.
Specification
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Current AssigneeValmont Industries Incorporated
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Original AssigneeValmont Industries Incorporated
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InventorsChapman, John A., Ostrom, Carl R.
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Primary Examiner(s)Kashnikow, Andres
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Assistant Examiner(s)Forman, Michael J.
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Application NumberUS06/919,040Time in Patent Office510 DaysField of Search239/727, 239/728, 239/310, 239/317, 239/325, 47/48.5, 111/1, 111/7.1, 111/10, 222/630, 222/133US Class Current239/727CPC Class CodesA01C 7/004 using liquid seeding techni...A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centreY10S 111/90 Methods of planting seeds a...
