Corner irrigation system including an ultra wide band (UWB) guidance system

• US 6,726,132 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Malsam, Craig S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren
• Application Number:
  US09/877,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 239/69, 239/728, 239/729, 239/731, 318/16
• US Class Current: 239/729
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion

Abstract

A self-propelled irrigation machine including an elongated main boom pivoted at one end to a center pivot and supported on a plurality of self-propelled, non-steerable drive units. An extension boom is pivotally secured to the other end of the main boom for irrigating corner areas of the field. A steerable drive tower supports the extension boom and includes a pair of steerable drive wheels. The guidance and control for the extension boom includes a UWB receiver and a computer positioned on the steerable drive tower for receiving and processing UWB information as to the location of the steerable drive tower and for determining the optimal steer angle for the steerable drive wheels relative to the movement of the main boom. At least one UWB transmitters are located within receiving range of the UWB receiver. Signals transmitted by the UWB transmitters are received by the UWB receiver on the steerable drive unit and are used to determine current location and optimal steer angles relative to the main boom.

Claims

1. A self-propelled irrigation machine having an elongated main boom pivoted at one end to a center pivot apparatus and mounted on a plurality of self-propelled, non-steerable drive towers, an extension boom pivotally secured to the other end of the main boom for irrigating corner areas of the field, a steerable drive tower supporting said extension boom including a pair of steerable drive wheels and steering means for steering said steerable drive wheels for guiding said steerable drive tower along a preselected path thereby causing the pivotal extension of said extension boom into the corner areas of the field as said main boom approaches the same and pivotal retraction of said extension boom out of the corner areas of the field as said main boom departs the same, the improvement comprising:

control means for controlling the operation of said means for steering said steerable drive wheels;

said control means including at least one UWB transmitter which transmits UWB radio signals towards said steerable drive tower;

said control means also including a UWB receiver and a computer means for receiving and processing UWB information from said UWB transmitter as to the location of said steerable drive tower and for determining the optimal steer angle of said steerable drive wheels relative to the movement of said main boom and for causing the steering means to position said steerable drive wheels in the optimal steer angle.

2. The self-propelled irrigation system of claim 1 wherein at least two UWB transmitters are provided which transmit UWB radio signals to said UWB receiver.

3. The self-propelled irrigation system of claim 1 wherein said UWB receiver is located on said steerable drive tower.