Irrigation system with variable speed drive system
First Claim
1. An irrigation system for conveying a fluid from a fluid source, said system comprising;
- a first irrigator span having a first end and extending to a distal end, a first drive system for moving said first irrigator span, a second irrigator span extending from said distal end of said first irrigator span, a second drive system for moving said second irrigator span, an alignment mechanism interconnecting said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span for maintaining alignment between said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span within a predetermined limit, said system characterized by one of said drive systems being variable speed and said alignment mechanism including a potentiometer for measuring the magnitude of misalignment between said first and second irrigator spans to vary the speed of one of said drive systems to realign said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span to maintain said predetermined limit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation system for conveying a fluid is provided. The irrigation system comprises a first irrigator span having a first end and extending to a distal end. A first drive system moves the first irrigator span. A second irrigator span extends from the distal end of the first irrigator span. A second drive system moves the second irrigator span. An alignment mechanism interconnects the first irrigator span and the second irrigator span to maintain alignment between the first and second irrigator spans within a predetermined limit. One of the drive systems is variable speed and the alignment mechanism includes a potentiometer for measuring the magnitude of misalignment between the first and second irrigator spans. The potentiometer is used to vary the speed of one of the drive systems to realign the first and second irrigator spans to maintain the predetermined limit.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An irrigation system for conveying a fluid from a fluid source, said system comprising;
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a first irrigator span having a first end and extending to a distal end, a first drive system for moving said first irrigator span, a second irrigator span extending from said distal end of said first irrigator span, a second drive system for moving said second irrigator span, an alignment mechanism interconnecting said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span for maintaining alignment between said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span within a predetermined limit, said system characterized by one of said drive systems being variable speed and said alignment mechanism including a potentiometer for measuring the magnitude of misalignment between said first and second irrigator spans to vary the speed of one of said drive systems to realign said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span to maintain said predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An irrigation system, comprising;
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a first irrigator span having a first end and extending to a distal end, a first drive system including a variable frequency drive module and a variable speed drive motor for moving said first irrigator span, a second irrigator span extending from said distal end of said first irrigator span, a second drive system for moving said second irrigator span, an alignment mechanism including an alignment bar interconnecting said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span for maintaining horizontal alignment between said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span within a predetermined limit, said alignment mechanism including a potentiometer for measuring the magnitude of misalignment between said first and second irrigator spans and transmitting an output signal to said variable frequency drive module to vary the speed of said variable speed drive motor in proportion to the output signal to realign said first irrigator span and said second irrigator span within the predetermined limit, and said potentiometer having a signal arm movably responsive to pivotal movement of said alignment bar to generate the output signal wherein the output signal varies as the magnitude of misalignment varies.
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Specification