Valmont Industries, Inc.

Benjamin J Toman

Shobhit Kumar

Steven C Santelman

A gearbox case which includes a gear cavity breather device contained within the gearbox case to allow pressure equalization between the interior gearbox cavity and the external environment, while ensuring lubricant is kept in the gearbox. According to a preferred embodiment, the breather device contained within gearbox case may be formed as a spring-loaded ball valve to ensure external contaminants are kept out of the gearbox while allowing air to pass.

Helical center drive gearbox for enclosing gearbox components

The present invention provides a sacrificial anodic plug for insertion within an irrigation span to provide anodic corrosion protection. According to a preferred embodiment, the anodic plug of the present invention includes a protective cap connected to a securing bushing, and an anodic coupler which extends into the interior of the irrigation span. Preferably, the securing bushing includes non-conductive threads for mating with the threads of a sprinkler outlet and for electrically isolating the anodic coupler from the protective cap. According to further preferred embodiments, the anodic coupler is formed of magnesium and extends down away from the protective cap and terminates in an anodic base. According to a further preferred embodiment, the protective cap may include a wear indicator indicating the amount of anodic material remaining in the central anodic coupler and anodic base.

System, method and apparatus for providing anodic corrosion protection for galvanized irrigation pipes

A string potentiometer attached between spans of an irrigation system. The string potentiometer is mounted on a first span with the measuring cable of the string potentiometer wrapped around a hitch socket or another structural element of an adjacent span. When the two spans move out of alignment, the measuring cable extends out from the potentiometer to wrap around the hitch socket or other structural element of the adjacent span. When the two spans move closer into alignment, the measuring cable retracts within the potentiometer and unwraps from around the hitch socket or other element of the adjacent span.

System and method for detecting span alignment within a mechanized irrigation system

The present invention discloses a hollow output shaft for a corner system that allows flotation and traction in difficult field conditions to reduce wheel rutting. According to a preferred embodiment, a system is provided which includes a rectangular tube leg, a gearbox, a substantially square tube extension member, a gear motor, a fully keyed shaft and a pair of hub units.

Hollow output shaft corner flotation drive

An irrigation alignment apparatus is described that couples a main section assembly to an extension section assembly. In an implementation, the irrigation alignment apparatus includes a ball connector configured to couple to the main section assembly and a socket for receiving the ball connector, which is configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector. The socket is coupled to the extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus also includes a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector and is configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector. The socket pulley is configured to connect to a linking member that is coupled to a camshaft via a camshaft pulley. The camshaft is configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.

Alignment apparatus for an articulating irrigation system

A flotation drive assembly for mechanized irrigation systems such as a corner pivot irrigation machine, a center pivot irrigation machine or a linear move irrigation machine wherein the flotation drive assembly improves upon the field traction of the mechanized agricultural irrigational systems and which improves the resistance to wheel track rutting that may occur during the normal operation of the systems. The flotation drive assembly of this invention is designed so that the gearbox which drives the wheel/tire assemblies at the opposite ends of the main frame of the drive unit or tower is mounted so as not to support the weight of the tower or the water contained therein.

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Omaha, NE, United States of America

Benjamin J Toman