Irrigation system having an applicant dispersal assembly

• US 9,119,355 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Malsam, Craig S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US13/429,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 239/722, 239/723, 239/726, 239/727, 239/67, 239/68, 239/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/09 Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

An applicant dispersal assembly is described that couples to an irrigation system. It is contemplated that the irrigation system may be a center pivot irrigation system, a linear move irrigation system, or the like. The applicant dispersal assembly is configured to receive an applicant and selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant. In an implementation, the applicant dispersal assembly includes a pump assembly configured to couple to an irrigation conduit. The irrigation conduit is configured to provide an applicant to the pump assembly for dispersing over a cultivation area. The pump assembly is configured to pump the applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant. The applicant dispersal assembly also includes an applicant dispersal device that is coupled to the pump assembly. The applicant dispersal device is configured to disperse the applicant.

Claims

1. An applicant dispersal assembly for irrigating a chosen field, the assembly comprising:

a main water conduit;

a plurality of drop hoses extending from the water conduit, wherein the plurality of drop hoses are comprised of a plurality of sprinkler heads connected to the ends of the plurality of drop hoses;

wherein each drop hose is connected to a pump assembly, wherein each pump assembly is positioned between each sprinkler head and the supply conduit;

wherein the pump assembly comprises a transceiver element which is configured to receive instructions regarding the applicant dispersal rate for the pump assembly;

a control element, wherein the control element is configured to monitor the operating conditions of the dispersal assembly;

wherein the operating conditions comprise the ground speed of the assembly, the field position of the assembly and an applicant depth parameter;

wherein the control element is further configured to receive and store a water application map for the chosen field to be irrigated;

wherein, the water application map is generated at a remote location and received at the control element via a wireless transmission;

further wherein the control device compares the determined field position of the assembly with the data from the water application map; and

further wherein the control element is further configured to dynamically adjust the disbursement rate of each drop hose based on data from the water application map and at least in part on the ground speed of the assembly, the field position of the assembly and an applicant depth parameter.

2. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pump assembly comprises a variably-frequency pump assembly.

3. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the variable-frequency pump assembly comprises an electrically controlled magnetic pump that includes a magnet rotor and a frequency convertor.

4. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pump assembly is configured to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant based upon a position associated with the pump assembly.

5. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the applicant is based upon a pre-determined flow rate corresponding to a rotational position associated with the pump assembly.

6. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pump assembly is configured to selectively adjust the flow rate of the applicant between about zero cubic meters per hour (0 m³/h) to about three and a half cubic meters per hour (3.5 m³/h).

7. The applicant dispersal assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an applicant supply conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the applicant supply conduit is coupled to the irrigation conduit at the first end, and wherein the applicant supply conduit is coupled to the pump assembly at the second end.