# US 2017/0280640 A1 · Pivot irrigation system and components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280640 A1 - Document ID: US20170280640A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/625,270 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-04 - Assignees: 7A9, LLC - Applicants: 7A9, LLC - Inventors: Brian G. Hansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280640A1 ## CPC - A01G 25/092: {movable around a pivot centre} - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts - F16H 55/06: Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties - B05B 1/20: Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor - B60Y 2200/224: Boom carrying vehicles, e.g. for irrigation - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16H: GEARING - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract In one example, a continuous track transport system for an irrigation system is provided that includes a continuous track with multiple track plates arranged so that adjacent plates are directly connected to each other, and also includes a gear train connected with the continuous track and operable to transmit an input torque to the continuous track to effect movement of the continuous track. The gear train includes a drive gear having an interface that is connectible to a gearbox of an irrigation system chassis, first and second driven sprocket-gears engaged with the continuous track, each of first and second driven sprocket-gears including a respective driven gear engaged with the drive gear, and a frame to which one or more gears of the gear train are rotatably mounted. Any one or more of the drive gear, sprocket-gear, and frame may comprise, or consist of, molded, glass-filled nylon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A continuous track transport system (CTTS) suitable for use in connection with an irrigation system, comprising: a continuous track that includes a plurality of track plates configured and arranged so that adjacent track plates are directly connected to each other; a gear train, comprising: a drive gear configured and arranged to receive a rotary input by way of an interface that is connectible to a portion of an irrigation system chassis; and first and second driven sprocket-gears engaged with the continuous track, each of the first and second driven sprocket-gears including a respective integral driven gear engaged with the drive gear to enable transfer of the rotary input from the drive gear to the first and second driven sprocket-gears, wherein the drive gear and/or the first and second driven sprocket-gears comprise glass-filled nylon; and a frame which rotatably supports one or more gears of the gear train. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, wherein the track plates comprise glass-filled nylon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive gear comprises acetal and PTFE. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises glass-filled nylon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hub connected at least indirectly to the drive gear, the hub comprising either: plastic; or, ductile iron and having a zinc chromate coating on at least a portion of the hub. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rub rail engaged with an edge of the frame, the rub rail comprising nylon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The CTTS as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of track plates includes first and second adjacent track plates comprising respective first and second complementary structures that are rotatably engaged with each other. ### Claim 8 A continuous track transport system (CTTS) suitable for use in connection with an irrigation system, comprising: a continuous track that includes a plurality of track plates configured and arranged so that adjacent plates are directly rotatably connected to each other, and the track plates each comprise glass-filled nylon; a gear train operable to transmit an input torque to the continuous track to effect movement of the continuous track, the gear train including: a drive gear configured and arranged to receive the input torque by way of an interface that is connectible to an irrigation system chassis; first and second driven sprocket-gears engaged with the continuous track, each of the first and second driven sprocket-gears including a respective driven gear engaged with the drive gear, and the first and second driven sprocket-gears each comprise glass-filled nylon; and a frame which rotatably supports one or more gears of the gear train. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The CTTS as recited in claim 8, further comprising a hub connected at least indirectly to the drive gear, the hub comprising either: plastic; or, ductile iron and having a zinc chromate coating on at least a portion of the hub. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The CTTS as recited in claim 8, wherein the drive gear comprises acetal and PTFE. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The CTTS as recited in claim 8, wherein one or both of the first and second driven sprocket-gears is in the form of a unified, single piece structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The CTTS as recited in claim 8, wherein the frame comprises first and second frame portions between which a portion of the gear train is disposed, and the first and second frame portions each comprise glass-filled nylon. ### Claim 13 A continuous track transport system (CTTS) suitable for use in connection with an irrigation system, comprising: a continuous track that includes a plurality of track plates configured and arranged so that adjacent plates are directly connected to each other; a gear train operable to transmit an input torque to the continuous track to effect movement of the continuous track, the gear train including: a drive gear configured and arranged to receive the input torque by way of an interface that is connectible to an irrigation system chassis; and first and second driven sprocket-gears engaged with the continuous track, and each of the first and second driven sprocket-gears including a respective driven gear that is engaged with the drive gear, wherein the first and second driven sprocket-gears comprise glass-filled nylon and are each formed as a respective unified, single piece structure; and a frame which rotatably supports one or more gears of the gear train. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, wherein the frame comprises first and second frame portions between which a portion of the gear train is disposed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, wherein the interface comprises a drive shaft, and the CTTS further comprises a hub that is connected to the drive shaft and supported in the frame by a hub bushing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, further comprising a hub 1216 connected to the drive gear and supported in the frame by a bushing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, wherein the drive gear comprises acetal and PTFE. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, wherein the drive gear is positioned between the first and second driven sprocket-gears. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, further comprising a pair of rub rails engaged with an edge of the frame, the rub rails each comprising nylon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The CTTS as recited in claim 13, further comprising a gear guard disposed within the frame and configured and arranged to help prevent ingress of foreign matter to the sprocket-gears and the drive gear.