Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomie, Mazour & Niebergall
  • Patent number: 6663028
    Abstract: A wheel track closing assembly is described for use with a drive unit of a mechanized irrigation system. Each of the wheel track closing assemblies includes an elongated rigid arm which is longitudinally and pivotally connected to either the drive wheel or the gearbox for the drive wheel. A replaceable soil-engaging member in the form of oppositely disposed shovels is secured to the free end of the rigid arm for engaging the soil adjacent the wheel track to move the soil into the wheel track to close the same. When the direction of movement of the drive tower is reversed, the drive wheels walk-over the soil-engaging members so that the soil-engaging members are repositioned in a trailing position with respect to the associated drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Malsam, Dale A. Christensen