The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Rudy R Unruh, Omaha, NE (US);
Valmont Industries, Inc., Valley, NE (US);
Abstract
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.