US 4,877,189 AGranted

Irrigation system

OwnerChristopher G. Williamsinventor

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Abstract

A fully automated land irrigation system to irrigate regular and irregular shapes of land. The system includes an expanse of water delivery pipe moved laterally while irrigating adjacent to a stationary row of spaced access valves supplied by a water main. The invention includes a new connection apparatus for hydraulically connecting the traveling delivery pipe along the row of stationary access valves. A swing arm is pivotably mounted to one end of the delivery pipe and a valve coupler is mounted to the opposite free swinging swing arm end. Valve connection is made and the delivery pipe irrigates traveling the same distance found between successive access valves. The coupler is then disconnected from the valve and the free swing arm end, with coupler, is ground pivoted to the next valve where connection is again made. Delivery pipe travel results in rotation of the swing arm about the valve connection. This rotation feature also enables the swing arm and the water delivery pipe to be pivoted about a valve as an anchor to a similar position on the opposite side of the water main. The new connector also provides inherent geographic positioning for the traveling delivery pipe. The invention is enhanced by elongated rotatable discharge booms mounted atop the transport carts of the traveling delivery pipe and selectively rotated.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An agricultural irrigation system for operation along an elongated pressurized water main having sections of land adjacent to opposite sides thereof, said water main including spaced, normally closed, access valves, the irrigation system comprising:

a length of water delivery adapted to extend substantially perpendicular to the water main;
a plurality of cart means supporting the length of water delivery pipe for movement along the ground surface in a forward direction of travel;
drive means on said cart means for moving the cart means and water delivery pipe substantially transverse to the delivery pipe length;
water applicator means located along the delivery pipe length for selective water application therefrom;
water delivery piper rotation means for selectively controlling the drive means to rotate the length of water delivery pipe to a position along said water main from one side thereof to an opposite side thereof so that the same length of water delivery pipe may irrigate two sections of land;
connector means on the water delivery pipe for selectively connecting the delivery pipe to and opening the normally closed access valves, said connector means further comprising:
valve coupling means on the delivery pipe for selective engagement with the individual access valves to open the valves such that water is delivered therefrom through the delivery pipe,
swing arm means having a free swinging end mounting said valve coupling means and a remaining end attached to one end of the traveling water delivery pipe for guided transport of the coupling means between access valves,
pivot means mounting the swing arm means to the water delivery pipe for angular movement relative thereto,
valve coupling travel means for supporting and moving the free swinging end of the swing arm means so as to transport the valve coupling means between valves,
valve coupler rotation means for allowing horizontal rotation of the swing arm means when connection is made to an access valve and the remaining swing arm end is carried forward by the delivery pipe,
delivery pipe positioning means for maintaining the delivery pipe directionally aligned with the main during forward travel of the delivery pipe and subsequent water application,
control means associated with the valve coupling means, valve coupling travel means, and delivery pipe positioning means for controlling the uncoupling, travel, and coupling of the valve coupling means along the series of access valves.

10 more elements

In the operation of a land irrigation system including a series of access valves spaced along a water main and an elongated water delivery pipe mounted by carts for travel in a direction transverse to the delivery pipe length and adjacent to the series of access valves;

a method of successively connecting the series of access valves in response to forward travel of the delivery pipe with said method providing to regulate the distance between the water main and the elongated delivery pipe during said forward travel and said new method also providing to maintain an alignment between the elongated delivery pipe and the series of access valves, comprising the steps of:
engaging a valve coupler to a water main access valve for establishing water flow from the access valve to the water delivery pipe,
moving the water delivery pipe for applying water across the land,
pivoting a swing arm about a coupler mounted end coupled to a stationary access valve by pivotably connecting the other end of said swing arm to the traveling water delivery pipe for maintaining water flow when the delivery pipe travels,
disengaging the valve coupler from the water main access valve for discontinuing water flow and for releasing the coupler mounted end of the swing arm,
arcing the coupler mounted end of the swing arm along the ground about the other end of the swing arm for carrying the valve coupler between successive access valves and consequently forwarding connection on of the water delivery pipe along the series of access valves,
monitoring the geographic position of the swing arm relative to the water main and the forward travel of the delivery pipe and in response controlling the directional alignment between the delivery pipe and the water main.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.