IRRIGATION SYSTEM HAVING AN APPLICANT DISPERSAL ASSEMBLY

• US 20120253530A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valmont Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Malsam, Craig S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• 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 comprising:

a pump assembly configured to couple to an irrigation conduit, the irrigation conduit configured to provide an applicant to the pump assembly for dispersing over a cultivation area, the pump assembly configured to pump the applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant; and

an applicant dispersal device coupled to the pump assembly, the applicant dispersal device configured to disperse the applicant.

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

8. A method comprising:

determining a position associated with an applicant dispersal assembly, the applicant dispersal assembly including a conduit configured to couple to an irrigation conduit, the irrigation conduit configured to provide an applicant to the applicant supply conduit for dispersing over a cultivation area;

determining a desired flow rate associated with the position, the applicant dispersal assembly including a pump assembly configured to pump an applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant; and

transmitting a signal representing the desired flow rate to the applicant dispersal assembly for instructing the pump assembly to pump at the desired flow rate.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining a position further comprises determining a rotational position associated with the applicant dispersal assembly, wherein the rotational position comprises a rotational position of an irrigation span with respect to a center pivot irrigation structure.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein a desired flow rate further comprises determining a desired flow rate associated with the rotational position, the applicant dispersal assembly including a pump assembly configured to pump an applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the pump assembly comprises a variable-frequency drive pump assembly.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, 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).

13. An irrigation system comprising:

a main fluid displacement device for displacing an applicant;

a section assembly coupled to the main fluid displacement device, the section assembly including a conduit supported upon a plurality of tower structures, the conduit configured to carry the applicant for dispersing over a cultivation area; and

an applicant dispersal assembly configured to couple to the conduit, the applicant dispersal assembly comprising;

a variable-frequency pump assembly coupled to the conduit, the variable-frequency pump assembly configured to pump the applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant;

a sprinkler coupled to the variable-frequency pump assembly, the sprinkler configured to disperse the applicant.

14. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein the variable-frequency pump assembly comprises an electrically controlled magnetic pump that includes a magnet rotor and a frequency convertor.

15. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, 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).

16. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein the variable-frequency pump assembly is configured to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant based upon a position associated with the variable-frequency pump assembly.

17. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, 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.

18. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a U-pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein the U-pipe is coupled to the conduit at the first end, and wherein the U-pipe is coupled to the pump assembly at the second end.

19. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, wherein the main fluid displacement device is configured to furnish the applicant to the conduit at a pressure of no more than ten pounds per square inch (10 psi).

20. The irrigation system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a control device in electronic communication with the applicant dispersal assembly, the control device comprising:

a communications module configured to electronically communicate with the applicant dispersal assembly;

a memory operable to store one or more software modules;

a processor operable to execute the one or more modules to;

determine a desired flow rate associated with a position associated with the applicant dispersal assembly; and

cause transmission of one or more signals to instruct the pump assembly to pump at the desired flow rate.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a signal representing a position associated with an applicant dispersal assembly, the applicant dispersal assembly including a conduit configured to couple to an irrigation conduit, the irrigation conduit configured to provide an applicant to the applicant supply conduit for dispersing over a cultivation area;

determining a desired flow rate associated with the position, the applicant dispersal assembly including a pump assembly configured to pump an applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant; and

causing the pump assembly to pump at the desired flow rate.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein determining a position further comprises determining a rotational position associated with the applicant dispersal assembly, wherein the rotational position comprises a rotational position of an irrigation span with respect to a center pivot irrigation structure.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein a desired flow rate further comprises determining a desired flow rate associated with the rotational position, the applicant dispersal assembly including a pump assembly configured to pump an applicant and to selectively adjust a flow rate of the applicant.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the pump assembly comprises a variable-frequency drive pump assembly.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, 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).