Irrigation motor and gearbox temperature monitoring and control system

A method of monitoring a motor and wheel drive gearbox of an irrigation system drive train, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data from a motor sensor representing an operating state of the motor;
• receiving data from the gearbox sensor representing an operating state of the wheel drive gearbox;
• determining whether the motor operating state exceeds a motor operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above a motor operating state rate of change threshold;
• if the motor operating state exceeds the motor operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above the motor operating state rate of change threshold, generating and transmitting a command and/or enacting an operating change so that the irrigation system drive train continues operating such that the motor operating state does not exceed the motor operating state threshold or indicates that the motor operating state rate of change does not exceed the motor operating state rate of change threshold;
• determining whether the gearbox operating state exceeds a gearbox operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above a gearbox operating state rate of change threshold;
• and
• if the gearbox operating state exceeds the gearbox operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above the gearbox operating state rate of change threshold, generating and transmitting a command and/or enacting an operating change so that the irrigation system drive train continues to operate such that the gearbox operating state does not exceed the gearbox operating state threshold or indicates that the gearbox operating state rate of change does not exceed the gearbox operating state rate of change threshold.

A control system for monitoring a motor or a wheel drive gearbox of an irrigation system drive train, the control system comprising:

• a controller;
• and
• at least one of:
• a motor sensor for sensing an operating state of the motor;
• and
• a gearbox sensor for sensing an operating state of the wheel drive gearbox, the controller being configured to:
• receive data from the motor sensor representing the motor operating state or from the gearbox sensor representing the gearbox operating state;
• if the data is received from the motor sensor:
• determine whether the motor operating state exceeds a motor operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above a motor operating state rate of change threshold;
• and
• if the motor operating state exceeds the motor operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above the motor operating state rate of change threshold, generate and transmit a command and/or enact an operating change so that the drive train continues to operate such that the motor operating state does not exceed the motor operating state threshold or indicates that the motor operating state rate of change does not exceed the motor operating state rate of change threshold;
• and
• if the data is received from the gearbox sensor:
• determine whether the gearbox operating state exceeds a gearbox operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above a gearbox operating state rate of change threshold;
• and
• if the gearbox operating state exceeds the gearbox operating state threshold or indicates a rate of change above the gearbox operating state rate of change threshold, generate and transmit a command and/or enact an operating change so that the drive train continues to operate such that the gearbox operating state does not exceed the gearbox operating state threshold or indicates that the gearbox operating state rate of change does not exceed the gearbox operating state rate of change threshold.