Apparatus for controlled grazing and pasture irrigation
OwnerGerald A. Elkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Two center-pivot irrigation systems utilized for controlled grazing. A preceding and succeeding center-pivot system contain electrified fences for containing herds and controlling the extent of their grazing. The preceding system contains water tanks for the herd and the succeeding system irrigates the pasture. Together the systems eliminate overgrazing and improve the quality of the herd.
Claims15
An apparatus for controlled grazing and irrigation, comprising:
- a center-pivot having a preceding radial arm and a succeeding radial arm, each of said radial arms being independently rotatably coupled to said center-pivot for revolution thereabout;
- a variable spacing angle being defined between said preceding radial arm and said succeeding radial arm, said spacing angle being alterable by varying at least one of said arm's speed of rotation about said center-pivot;
- and
- a stationary fence located about said center-pivot and said radial arms thereby defining a pie-shaped confining area within said stationary fence and said radial arms.
A method of controlling animal grazing about a center-pivot irrigation system, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling a plurality of radial arms to a center-pivot for rotation about said center-pivot, establishing a spacing angle between a pair of said radial arms within which a section of pasture is defined for animal grazing;
- independently rotating each of said radial arms about said center-pivot so that the area of the grazing section of pasture defined therebetween is variably adjustable by varying the spacing angle between the paired arms;
- and
- locating a circular stationary fence about said center-pivot and said radial arms thereby defining a pie-shaped grazing area bounded by said stationary fence and said radial arms.
A management system for controlling animal grazing about a center-pivot irrigation system, said management system comprising:
- an irrigation system having a center-pivot and a plurality of radially oriented elongate watering pipes extending therefrom, said elongate watering pipes comprising at least a preceding pipe and a succeeding pipe having a variable spacing angle therebetween, said spacing angle establishing a pie-shaped confining area for grazing animals bounded by said pipes;
- and
- each of said pipes being coupled to said center-pivot for independent rotation thereabout, said pipes being individually controlled with respect to speed of rotation about said center-pivot so that said spacing angle may be varied to increase and decrease said confining area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.