Variable-speed irrigation system

• US 8,948,979 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Malsam, Craig S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/549,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20130018553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 934 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/51, 701/52
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit

Abstract

An irrigation system is disclosed that is configured to maintain a near straight alignment. In an implementation, an irrigation system includes multiple interconnected spans which are supported by multiple tower structures. Each tower structure includes a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed. The irrigation system also includes multiple sensors that are each associated with a corresponding span to determine an alignment of the corresponding span with respect to adjacent spans. Each of the sensors is in communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit. Each of the variable-drive control units are configured to control the selected speed of a corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis (e.g., maintain alignment of the spans with respect to each other).

Claims

1. An irrigation system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected spans;

a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed;

a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans; and

a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis,

wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment.

2. The irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is configured to determine an angle between a first corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans and a second corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans;

wherein the corresponding variable-drive control unit is configured to determine a selected speed to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis, the selected speed based upon the angle.

3. The irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is in direct communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit of the plurality of variable-drive control units.

4. The irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the variable-speed drive units comprise switched reluctance motors.

5. The irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of a potentiometer, a captive alignment sensor, a laser based alignment sensor, or a non-contact proximity sensor.

6. The irrigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to continuously furnish a signal to the corresponding variable-drive control unit, wherein the variable-drive control unit is configured to continuously furnish a signal to a variable-drive unit of the corresponding interconnected span to continuously modify a speed of the corresponding tower structure to re-align the corresponding tower structure with the adjacent tower structure.

7. An irrigation system comprising:

a center pivot structure;

a main section assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the main section assembly including a plurality of interconnected spans;

a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed;

a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans;

a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis,

wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment.

8. The irrigation system as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one sensor is configured to determine an angle between a first corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans and a second corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans;

wherein the corresponding variable-drive control unit is configured to determine a selected speed to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis, the selected speed based upon the angle.

9. The irrigation system as recited in claim 7, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is in direct communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit of the plurality of variable-drive control units.

10. The irrigation system as recited in claim 7, wherein the variable-speed drive units comprise switched reluctance motors.

11. The irrigation system as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of a potentiometer, a captive alignment sensor, a laser based alignment sensor, or a non-contact proximity sensor.

12. The irrigation system as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to continuously furnish a signal to the corresponding variable-drive control unit, wherein the variable-drive control unit is configured to continuously furnish a signal to a variable-drive unit of the corresponding interconnected span to continuously modify a speed of the corresponding tower structure to re-align the corresponding tower structure with the adjacent tower structure.

13. An irrigation system comprising:

a center pivot structure;

a main section assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the main section assembly including a plurality of interconnected spans;

a plurality of tower structures for supporting the interconnected spans, each one of the plurality of tower structures including a switched reluctance motor for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed;

a plurality of sensors, each one of the plurality of sensors associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans and configured to determine an alignment of a corresponding one of the plurality of interconnected spans;

a plurality of variable-drive control units, each variable-drive control unit of the plurality of drive control units in communication with a corresponding variable-speed drive unit and a corresponding sensor, each variable-drive control unit configured to control the selected speed of the corresponding switched reluctance motor to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis,

wherein the selected speed of the corresponding variable-drive control unit is based upon the alignment.

14. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one sensor is configured to determine an angle between a first corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans and a second corresponding interconnected span of the plurality of interconnected spans;

wherein the corresponding variable-drive control unit is configured to determine a selected speed to maintain the plurality of interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis, the selected speed based upon the angle.

15. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is in direct communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit of the plurality of variable-drive control units.

16. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of a potentiometer, a captive alignment sensor, a laser based alignment sensor, or a non-contact proximity sensor.

17. The irrigation system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to continuously furnish a signal to the corresponding variable-drive control unit, wherein the variable-drive control unit is configured to continuously furnish a signal to a variable-drive unit of the corresponding interconnected span to continuously modify a speed of the corresponding tower structure to re-align the corresponding tower structure with the adjacent tower structure.