Valmont Industries, Inc.

Rudy R Unruh

Jerry D Gerdes

James A Lamb

Richard A Tejral

An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. A plurality of sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof and are controlled by a computer which is programmed with a table of sprinkler sequences. The computer calculates the areas being covered by the extension boom as the system is moved through the field and determines the best sprinkler sequence for the sprinkler on the extension boom.

Corner irrigation system

An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. First and second lines of sprinklers are provided on the main boom along the length thereof with the nozzle size thereof increasing from the inner to outer ends thereof. A third line of sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the inner end of the extension boom to the outer end thereof. A fourth line of second sprinklers are also positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the outer end of the extension boom to the inner end thereof. By utilizing the two lines of sprinklers in combination, the proper amount of water can be applied for all corner arm positions. The flow rate in the first and third lines are equal and the flow rates in the second and fourth lines are equal. When the third line of sprinklers is activated, the first line of sprinklers is deactivated. When the fourth line of sprinklers is activated, the second line of sprinklers are deactivated.

An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. A plurality of first sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the inner end of the extension boom to the outer end thereof. A plurality of second sprinklers are also positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the outer end of the extension boom to the inner end thereof. By utilizing the two lines of sprinklers in combination, the proper amount of water can be applied for all corner arm positions.

An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. A corner span is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. An angle sensor is provided at the pivotal connector of said main boom and said corner span. A span sensor is positioned on the corner boom for sensing shape changes in the corner span. A control connects the span sensor and angle sensor with the drive and steering for driving and steering the steerable drive tower. The control means, when said extension boom is in a trailing position, actuates said steering means to follow the guidance means and actuating said speed control to maintain the shape of the corner span within predetermined parameters; said control means, when the corner span approaches full extension, actuates said speed control to keep the corner span in alignment with the main boom, as determined by the angle sensor and actuating said steering means to maintain the shape of the corner span within predetermined parameters as determined by the span sensor.

Center pivot irrigation system

An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated corner span is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A span sensor is positioned on the corner span for sensing changes in shape of the corner span. A control connects the span sensor with the drive for driving the steerable drive tower and the motor on the last regular drive unit on the main water boom to adjust the speed thereof upon the span sensor sensing predetermined changes in the shape of the corner span.

A remote computer system for controlling a plurality of irrigation systems, each of which has a local controller for controlling an individual system, includes an intelligent remote unit associated with each local controller, each intelligent remote unit having a computer with a stored program for fully independently operating the local controller and the irrigation system associated therewith. A central base station controller includes its own computer which is linked by a communications link with each of the intelligent remote units, the stored program in the base station computer permitting operator monitor and control of the various parameters being monitored and controlled by the intelligent remote units.

Growing community of inventors

Omaha, NE, United States of America

Rudy R Unruh