System and method for variable rate, high speed irrigation control
AssigneeValmont Industries, Inc.
InventorJohn Kastl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method which combines sensor inputs, control systems, field mapping, motor controls, and high speed and variable speed motor designs within an irrigation machine. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides systems which are capable of full torque operation, even at speeds less than the rated speed of the motor. According to further preferred embodiments, the present invention utilizes a combination of motor types including Switch Reluctance, DC Permanent Magnet and AC Permanent Magnet motors in combination with Variable Frequency Drives.
Claims20
A control system for use with a mechanized irrigation system, wherein the mechanized irrigation system includes at least a first conduit secured to a first span which is supported by a first drive tower having a first drive tower controller, a first drive motor and a first drive wheel;
- and a second conduit secured to a second span which is supported by a second drive tower which includes a second drive tower controller, second drive motor and a second drive wheel;
- the control system comprising:
- a first motor control system, wherein the first motor control system receives inputs and adjusts the operational status of the first drive motor;
- and
- a second motor control system, wherein the second motor control system receives inputs and adjusts the operational status of the second drive motor;
- wherein the first and second motor control systems are configured to vary a drive motor characteristic in response to a drive command;
- wherein the drive motor characteristic is selected from the group of drive motor characteristics comprising:
- electrical pulse rate, voltage, RPM, current and frequency;
- wherein the drive command comprises a commanded speed of the irrigation machine;
- a drive control system, wherein the drive control system transmits drive commands to the first motor control system and the second motor control system;
- wherein the drive control system determines the commanded speed based on detected input condition data;
- wherein the detected input condition data comprises data selected from the group of detected input condition data comprising:
- slope of terrain, soil moisture levels, precipitation levels, soil compaction, obstacles, wind speed, wind direction, crop height, time remaining to start new irrigation cycle, irrigation scheduling forecast, crop type, growth stage, weather forecast, irrigation history, soil type, measured soil moisture, field equipment location, obstacle detection, chemical concentration levels, fertilizer concentration levels, chemical type, fertilizer type, NDVI, and Crop Water Stress Index;
- wherein the drive control system is configured to adjust a system parameter based on the commanded speed;
- wherein the system parameter is selected from the group of parameters comprising:
- alignment tolerance, timing of alignment checks, and timing of alignment corrections;
- wherein the alignment tolerance comprises a threshold limit for the angle between the first span and the second span.
A control system for use with a mechanized irrigation system, wherein the mechanized irrigation system includes at least a first conduit secured to a first span which is supported by a first drive tower having a first drive tower controller, a first drive motor and a first drive wheel;
- and a second conduit secured to a second span which is supported by a second drive tower which includes a second drive tower controller, second drive motor and a second drive wheel;
- the control system comprising:
- a first motor control system, wherein the first motor control system receives inputs and adjusts the operational status of the first drive motor;
- and
- a second motor control system, wherein the second motor control system receives inputs and adjusts the operational status of the second drive motor;
- wherein the first and second motor control systems are configured to vary a drive motor characteristic in response to a drive command;
- wherein the drive motor characteristic is selected from the group of drive motor characteristics comprising:
- electrical pulse rate, voltage, RPM, current and frequency;
- wherein the drive command comprises a commanded speed of the irrigation machine;
- a drive control system, wherein the drive control system transmits drive commands to the first motor control system and the second motor control system;
- wherein the drive control system determines the commanded speed based on detected input condition data;
- wherein the detected input condition data comprises data selected from the group of detected input condition data comprising:
- slope of terrain, soil moisture levels, precipitation levels, soil compaction, obstacles, wind speed, wind direction, crop height, time remaining to start new irrigation cycle, irrigation scheduling forecast, crop type, growth stage, weather forecast, irrigation history, soil type, measured soil moisture, field equipment location, obstacle detection, chemical concentration levels, fertilizer concentration levels, chemical type, fertilizer type, NDVI, and Crop Water Stress Index;
- wherein the drive control system is configured to adjust a system parameter based on the commanded speed;
- wherein the system parameter is selected from the group of parameters comprising:
- alignment tolerance, timing of alignment checks, and timing of alignment corrections;
- wherein the alignment tolerance comprises a threshold limit for the angle between the first span and the second span;
- wherein the detected input condition data comprises the slope of the terrain to be irrigated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.