Valmont Industries, Inc.

Other

John A Chapman

Carl R Ostrom

Owen W Sherwin

Thomas M Johnson

Vince G Segal

Donald L Newbold

An irrigation system for a field, wherein a circular central portion of the field is irrigated by a center pivot irrigation machine, comprising a buried primary water line which extends from a source of water to the vicinity of the field area to be irrigated. At least one, and normally several, header water lines are in fluid communication with the primary water line and extend therefrom with a three-way pulse valve being imposed in each of the header water lines. A plurality of distribution water lines are in fluid communication with each of the header water lines and extend therefrom downstream of the pulse valve. A plurality of spaced-apart, in-line pulse emitter valves are imposed in each of the water distribution lines and have a water discharge orifice associated therewith for discharging water outwardly from the water distribution line to the area immediately adjacent thereto.

Irrigation system

A drive tower for a self-propelled irrigation system is described which is of the track type. The drive tower includes an elongated frame having opposite ends. A drive pulley is mounted at one end of the frame while a tail pulley is mounted at the other end of the frame. The drive pulley comprises a pair of spaced-apart, disc-shaped plates having spaced-apart rods secured thereto and extending therebetween at the periphery thereof for engagement with the interior surface of the belt. The interior surface of the traction belt is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart lugs which are received between the rods on the drive wheel. The tail pulley and the idler pulleys have peripheries which receive the lugs on the inner surface of the belt. The exterior surface of the belt is also provided with a plurality of transversely extending traction lugs. The belt is driven by means of a double reduction gear drive.

Tracked drive tower for a self-propelled irrigation system

A self-propelled irrigation machine including an elongated main boom pivoted at one end to a center pivot and supported on a plurality of self-propelled, non-steerable drive towers. An extension boom is pivotally secured to the other end of the main boom for irrigating corner areas of the field. A steerable drive tower supports the extension boom and includes a pair of steerable drive wheels. The guidance and control for the extension boom utilizes GPS receivers as position sensors. The system is comprised of two GPS units, two microprocessor based smart boxes, a communications link running from the pivot to the steerable drive unit, and an angle sensor to monitor the angle of the corner arm steerable wheels.

Corner irrigation system including a GPS guidance system

A chemical distribution system for use with a mobile irrigation system comprising a liquid chemical supply line vertically adjustably supported on the irrigation system and which is in operative communication with a pressurized source of liquid chemical. A liquid chemical distribution line is positioned beneath the chemical supply line between each pair of the drive towers for the irrigation system and which is in fluid communication with a remotely controlled, electrically operated solenoid valve which is in fluid communication with a chemical supply line. A plurality of spaced-apart emitter valves, having a sprinkler associated therewith, are provided on each of the distribution lines with the associated solenoid valve being operated by a control for activating selective distribution lines whereby liquid chemical may be applied to preselected portions of the area over which the irrigation system moves. An adjustable hydraulic accumulator is associated with each of the emitter valves to meter the amount of liquid chemicals being applied to the field.

Chemical distribution system

A water inlet for a linear move irrigation system wherein the water inlet is supported upon a wheeled frame means which travels along the bottom of an irrigation ditch adjacent one side thereof. The water inlet is fluidly connected to the end most support tower by a plurality of jointed pipes arranged such that the water inlet may be raised out of the irrigation ditch at times. The jointed connection of the pipes permits the water inlet to vertically move relative to the support tower to compensate for vertical differences in the irrigation ditch and the cart path upon which the support tower travels.

Water inlet for a linear move irrigation system

A water inlet for a linear move irrigation system wherein the water inlet is supported upon a wheeled frame which travels along the bottom of an irrigation ditch adjacent one side thereof. The water inlet is fluidly connected to the end most support tower by a plurality of jointed pipes arranged such that the water inlet may be raised out of the irrigation ditch at times. The jointed connection of the pipes permits the water inlet to vertically move relative to the support tower to compensate for vertical differences in the irrigation ditch and the cart path upon which the support tower travels.

In this invention, a means is described for seeding through a self-propelled irrigation system. In one form of the invention, the seeds are metered into an auxiliary water line, supported on the main water line, and are sprinkled onto the ground by way of sequentially operated sprinklers. In another form of the invention, the seeds are metered directly into the main water line and are broadcast onto the ground by sequentially operated sprinklers.

Means for seeding through a center pivot irrigation system

In this invention, a device is described for seeding through a self-propelled irrigation system. In one form of the invention, the seeds are metered into an auxiliary water line, supported on the main water line, and are sprinkled onto the ground by way of sequentially operated sprinklers. In another form of the invention, the seeds are metered directly into the main water line and are broadcast onto the ground by sequentially operated sprinklers.

A water delivery machine for delivering water under pressure from a pressurized main line to a linear irrigation system, the main line having spaced risers therealong, and wherein the water is delivered continuously as the linear system moves over the field being irrigated. The machine has fore and aft articulated booms, the inner ends of which are connected to the water conduit of the linear system, and the outer ends of which are connected to couplers. The booms provide water conduits to deliver water from the couplers to the linear system. Each boom includes a conduit section extending generally in the direction of travel of the linear system which is supported on a wheeled cart having inner and outer wheel bogeys. The cart wheels are steered, and at least one of the wheels is driven to drive each of the carts along the main line for alternately and automatically coupling and uncoupling each coupler successively with each riser as the linear system moves over the field to automatically and continuously deliver water first from one coupler and boom and then the other coupler and boom to the linear system.

Water delivery machine for an irrigation system

An irrigation system, such as of the self-propelled type with a series of self-propelled support towers for supporting and moving an irrigation conduit over a field to be irrigated, the conduit comprised of a series of conduit sections supported by the towers. The system is for use on sloping or uneven terrain causing tension or compression loads in the system, and includes a control for sensing such a load and for controlling the movement of selective support towers to relieve the load. Included is a coupling for joining adjacent conduit sections which senses the relative displacement of said sections caused by said load. Also included is a steerable support tower which is steered in response to the coupler sensing said displacement to relieve said load.

Growing community of inventors

Wahoo, NE, United States of America

John A Chapman