Apparatus for Anchoring an Irrigation Tower
OwnerWesley Allen Bainterinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remotely operable anchoring system for a mobile irrigation apparatus includes anchoring units mounted to irrigation towers. The anchoring units are remotely operable through a control module and have anchor members which, upon command, can be moved by the anchoring units from a retracted position to an extended position in which each anchor member penetrates and anchors itself into the soil beneath the irrigation tower. Upon command, after the danger of high wind has passed, each anchor member may be retracted from the extended position to the retracted position in preparation for future use.
Claims10
An apparatus for anchoring a mobile irrigation tower in farm ground soil, comprising:
- an actuator mounted to the irrigation tower,
- an anchor member mounted to the actuator, the anchor member operable for moving between a retracted position and an extended position, the anchor member retracted above the soil surface when the actuator is in the retracted position and the anchor member penetrating the soil surface so as to secure the anchor member to the ground when the actuator is in the extended position,
- a control module in communication with the actuator for activating the actuator.
An anchor unit for anchoring a mobile irrigation tower in farm ground, comprising:
- a frame fixed to the mobile irrigation tower, an anchor member which is powered by a motor which is slidably mounted to the frame for movement between a first retracted position and a second extended position, the anchor member in the form of a twisted helical bar which is suitable for screwing into soil when the anchor member is advanced toward the extended position while being rotated by the motor,
- a control module operably connected to motor of the actuator unit for activating the motor, such that activation of the motor causes the anchor member to rotate and advance from the retracted position to the extended position, such that the anchor member screws into the farm ground soil, whereby the anchor member anchors the irrigation tower upon activation of the actuator.
An anchor unit for anchoring to underlying farm ground soil beneath a mobile irrigation tower, the anchor unit comprising:
- (a) a generally upright frame fixed to the irrigation tower having an upper end and a lower end,
- (b) a motor movably mounted to the frame for translation between a first retracted position and a second extended position wherein the motor is closer to the lower end of the frame than when the motor is in the first retracted position,
- (c) an elongated upright anchor member connected to the motor for rotation by the motor, the anchor member having an upper end connected to the motor and a lower end extending downwardly from the motor, the anchor member having a helical shape suitable for screwing into farm ground soil when the anchor member is rotated by the motor, the helical shape of the anchor member having a longitudinal pitch distance,
- (d) an anchor member engaging portion mounted to the frame, the anchor member engaging portion suitable for receiving the anchor member and causing the anchor member to advance between the retracted position and the extended position by the pitch distance when the anchor member turns a full revolution,
- (e) a control unit suitable for activating the motor to turn in a first direction for causing the motor and the anchor member to move from the first retracted position to the second extended position such that the anchor member screws into the soil beneath the irrigation tower, and for causing the motor and the anchor member to turn in a second direction suitable for causing the motor and the anchor member to move from the second extended position to the first retracted position, whereby activation of the motor of the anchor unit for extension of the anchor member causes the irrigation tower to be anchored, and whereby activation of the motor of the anchor unit for retraction of the anchor member causes the irrigation tower to be unanchored in preparation for further operations and movement of the irrigation tower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.