Flow control for irrigation machines
First Claim
1. An irrigation machine, comprising:
- a main pipeline supported on movable towers and connectable to a fluid supply, the towers being capable of moving the main pipeline such that it sweeps across a primary field space;
an auxiliary span supported on at least one auxiliary tower and in fluid communication with the main pipeline, the auxiliary tower being capable of traveling either within a secondary field space generally outside of the primary field space or from the primary field space into and out of a secondary field space, such that the auxiliary span selectively sweeps across the secondary field space;
a plurality of auxiliary fluid emitters connected to the auxiliary span, each emitter being adapted for selectively emitting fluid, at least some of said emmiters being arranged in a plurality of banks with each bank containing several emitters; and
a control system connected to the auxiliary emitters for controlling the emitters such that the fluid flow rates from the emitters produce a selectable, pre-determined fluid application rate across the secondary field space, said control system being operable to cycle each bank of emitters through repeated operating cycles at predetermined time intervals as the auxiliary span moves through the secondary field space and to cause the on times of at least some of the banks to differ from those of other banks during at least some of the operating cycles, the length of on time of a bank of emitters during an operating cycle depending at least in part upon the position of the auxiliary span.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a fluid flow control method that enables a self-propelled irrigation machine to apply varying amounts of fluid as might be required to suitably treat the surface area affected by each of the individual fluid application devices thereon. The control method regulates the total volume of fluid emitted by each application device to a predetermined value as it responds to a suitable control signal to permit or prevent fluid flow. This fluid flow control method involves time-based rapid cycling of the flow control apparatus to provide continuously variable fluid flow as is required to meet the desired average output of each emitting device as the flow requirement varies from time to time as needed to produce a selected, pre-determined application rate throughout the treated surface area.
33 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An irrigation machine, comprising:
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a main pipeline supported on movable towers and connectable to a fluid supply, the towers being capable of moving the main pipeline such that it sweeps across a primary field space;
an auxiliary span supported on at least one auxiliary tower and in fluid communication with the main pipeline, the auxiliary tower being capable of traveling either within a secondary field space generally outside of the primary field space or from the primary field space into and out of a secondary field space, such that the auxiliary span selectively sweeps across the secondary field space;
a plurality of auxiliary fluid emitters connected to the auxiliary span, each emitter being adapted for selectively emitting fluid, at least some of said emmiters being arranged in a plurality of banks with each bank containing several emitters; and
a control system connected to the auxiliary emitters for controlling the emitters such that the fluid flow rates from the emitters produce a selectable, pre-determined fluid application rate across the secondary field space, said control system being operable to cycle each bank of emitters through repeated operating cycles at predetermined time intervals as the auxiliary span moves through the secondary field space and to cause the on times of at least some of the banks to differ from those of other banks during at least some of the operating cycles, the length of on time of a bank of emitters during an operating cycle depending at least in part upon the position of the auxiliary span. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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17. In an irrigation method using an irrigation machine of the type including a main pipeline supported on movable towers and connectable to a fluid supply, the towers being capable of moving the main pipeline such that it sweeps across a primary field space, an auxiliary span supported on at least one auxiliary tower and in fluid communication with the main pipeline, the auxiliary tower being capable of traveling either within a secondary field space generally outside of the primary field space, or from the primary field space into and out of a secondary field space such that the auxiliary span selectively sweeps across the secondary field space, a plurality of auxiliary fluid emitters connected to the auxiliary span, each emitter being adapted for selectively emitting fluid onto a zone of responsibility, at least some of the emitters being arranged in a plurality of banks with each bank containing several emitters, the improvement comprising:
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cycling each bank of emitters through repeated operating cycles at predetermined time intervals as the auxiliary span moves through the secondary field space; and
during at least some of the operating cycles, causing the on times of at least some of the banks to differ from those of other banks, the length of on time of a bank of emitters during an operating cycle depending at least in part upon the position of the auxiliary span. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification