Abstract: A splice sleeve retainer for securing a sleeve to a leg of an electrical joint body has a retention axis and includes at least one connecting strap extending along the retention axis, and first, second and third coupling members secured to the at least one connecting strap at axially spaced apart locations along the at least one connecting strap. The splice sleeve retainer is configured such that, when the sleeve is installed on the leg and the splice sleeve retainer is installed on the sleeve: the first coupling member engages the sleeve at a first axial location; the second coupling member engages the sleeve at a second axial location nearer the leg than the first axial location; and the third coupling member engages the joint body to resist axial displacement of the sleeve relative to the leg.

Abstract: A hose-fed lateral move irrigation system and method that utilizes a pipe with a plurality of sprinklers attached to a wheeled cart that drags a flexible hose assembly therebehind while traveling laterally with the pipe and sprinklers relative to a field so that alternating the flexible hose assembly from one side of the cart to another as the cart traverses back and forth along a cart path is facilitated while kinking in the flexible hose assembly is avoided.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a central pivot and a series of mobile towers connected to the central pivot and to one another by support structure. Each mobile tower has wheels and a motor for driving at least one of the wheels. A control system for maintaining alignment of the mobile towers includes a location-determining component for determining a position or orientation of each of the mobile towers and a computing device operable to detect mis-alignment of the mobile towers based on the position or orientation of each of the mobile towers, determine a control sequence to re-align the mobile towers, and send commands to at least one of the motors for implementing the control sequence.

Abstract: A lateral irrigation system comprising a plurality of towers and a plurality of lateral structures extending between and connected to the towers. The support structures may comprise a first support structure, a second support structure pivotable relative to the first support structure, and a third support structure pivotable relative to the second support structure. The irrigation system may also comprise a fluid delivery system having conduits attached to or extending through the support structures and configured to output water from orifices formed therein. The irrigation system may further comprise joints at which the second and third support structures may pivot. The second and third support structures may be configured to pivot into a substantially zig-zag or “Z”-shaped configuration relative to the first support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for applying an agricultural material through a standing crop. The apparatus is capable of adjusting the height and width of the frame of the apparatus. A trailer is disclosed that is capable of adjusting trailer width to transport the apparatus.

Abstract: A roll-sprinkler system comprises with horizontal water conducting pipe portions as the supporting means for multiple wheels. The pipes conducting liquid to the sprinkler heads for irrigations have an opening adaptor allowing the system to connect with standard garden hose. The multi head sprinklers are mounted vertically to the horizontal pipes which are linked with wheels for easy displacing of the system during irrigation. The system may further comprise chemical tanks and valves controlling the tanks for adding chemicals into the irrigating water. The system may also be foldable or separable in two or three sections for shipping and storage. The system may further comprise a directional driving wheel, which is powered and can be programmed by an IC chip or controlled by a remote controller.

Abstract: Mobile towers of an irrigation system have drive wheel assemblies that propel the towers along the ground. At least certain of the wheel assemblies may comprise dual wheels that share a common axis of rotation but are separately driven by their own drive motor. By driving the two separate wheels in unison but with their own individual drive shafts, increased ground-engaging surface area can be obtained without a consequential increase in load for any one motor.

Abstract: The sprayer trailer has a trailer frame with a font end and a rear end. A pair of wheels are connected to the trailer frame. A hitch assembly includes a rear mast with a lower end connected to the trailer frame and a front mast with a front mast top end connected to a rear mast top end. A vertical guide assembly is mounted on the hitch assembly. A hitch connector assembly portion is mounted on a front mast lower end. A vertical guide assembly is mounted on the hitch assembly. A boom support frame is slidable on the vertical guide assembly. A sprayer boom center section is supported by the boom support frame. Nozzles on the boom center section move vertically between a lowered position below the rear mast and a raised position above the rear mast lower end.

Abstract: Foldable boom inner wings are attached to a boom center frame through a rocker attached to a breakaway hydraulic cylinder pressurized to full stroke and connected to an accumulator. When a wing impacts an object, the impact load is transmitted through the fold cylinder and rocker into the breakaway cylinder. As the breakaway cylinder retracts to allow the wing to pivot, pressure builds in the system in three stages. First pressure builds along an accumulator pressure curve until a relief valve in the hydraulic system actives to initiate the second stage wherein oil is dumped through the relief valve. Thereafter, pressure is again allowed to build along the same accumulator curve to absorb impact hydraulically before the cylinder reaches full stroke. The staged pressure buildup prevents boom momentum from gaining and loads from increasing above the strength of the overall structure.

Abstract: A method and means for reducing stress in a pivot irrigation pipeline by permitting the pipeline to be separated from the center pivot structure while maintaining the pipeline in alignment with the center pivot structure. The alignment assembly of this invention facilitates the reconnection of the pipeline to the center pivot structure when the irrigation system is going to be used to irrigate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid flow control method that enables a self-propelled irrigation machine to apply varying amounts of fluid as might be required to suitably treat the surface area affected by each of the individual fluid application devices thereon. The control method regulates the total volume of fluid emitted by each application device to a predetermined value as it responds to a suitable control signal to permit or prevent fluid flow. This fluid flow control method involves time-based rapid cycling of the flow control apparatus to provide continuously variable fluid flow as is required to meet the desired average output of each emitting device as the flow requirement varies from time to time as needed to produce a selected, pre-determined application rate throughout the treated surface area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spray boom comprising an end section connected to a second section by an articulation, a holding device intended to keep the end section in an initial position as long as a pivoting force has not reached a certain triggering threshold. After triggering, the return of the boom to the initial position is due solely to the weight of the end section. The present invention advantageously makes it possible to reduce the knocks generated by the devices of the prior art.

Abstract: A high torque driveline coupler is provided for use in the driveline between a drive motor and a wheel drive of a sprinkler irrigation system. The coupler has first and second yoke assemblies with intermeshed pairs of legs, and a floating rubber member with radially extending arms positioned between the intermeshed legs of the yoke assemblies. The legs of the yoke assemblies and the floating rubber member are arranged to allow the coupler to be quickly and easily coupled and decoupled without the use of separate means for securing the yoke assemblies together. The coupler has a unique alignment system for aligning the floating member with the yoke assemblies. The alignment system includes first and second recesses formed in opposite sides of a center portion of the floating rubber member, and first and second projections extending from the first and second yoke assemblies, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus attachable to a center pivot irrigation system provides for the raising and lowering of all sprinkler heads simultaneously. The apparatus includes a bar along the length of the system rotatably mounted in brackets attached to the bottom of the existing water supply pipe. Cables from each sprinkler head are wound around and fixed at the other end to the bar, and if several towers are arranged in a line, the bars are joined together with flexible spring couplings to transmit the torque from one bar to the next smoothly even if they are somewhat misaligned. Flexible hoses are used between the sprinkler heads and the water supply line to allow them to lift vertically upwardly or downwardly as the height is adjusted, and such height adjustment is accomplished by rotating the bar to either wind or unwind the sprinkle head support cables as desired.

Abstract: A flexible joint accommodates relative horizontal motion between the main pipeline of a center pivot irrigation machine and a swing span without unduly stressing the spans. The flexible joint has a spindle mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in a socket at the outer end of the main pipeline section. The spindle has a horizontal pivot shaft mounting an arm assembly for rotation about the shaft. The opposite end of the arm assembly carries a second pivot shaft pivotally mounting a link. The swing span is attached to the link. A brake is provided to limit coasting of the swing span.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural water cannon to transfer water from sloughs and shallow ponds to adjoining land has (1) a suction pod to collect the water into a suction chamber, (2) a tail boom assembly to lower the suction pod into the water from adjoining land, (3) a suction boom to move the water through the tail boom assembly from the suction pod to a high pressure pump on the suction boom, and (4) a pressure boom to discharge the water from the high pressure pump; there is a priming pump on the suction pod to prime the high pressure pump. The suction and pressure booms are mounted on wheels, the other parts being attached to these to pivot between operating and transport positions for operation and towing by a motive power source which can power the high pressure pump and the priming pump, and pivot the tail boom assembly.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage comprises a frame member, two independently swivelling ground-engaging wheels mounted spaced apart below the frame member, and at least one pipe support member mounted below the frame member for pivotting about a substantially horizontal axis transverse a notional line joining the swivel axes of the wheels. The pipe support member is adapted to support a pipe between the wheels. The carriages are used to form a pipe train comprising a series of connected pipe sections supported by a plurality of wheeled carriages connected together in pairs by pivotal link bars bridging the frame members of connected pairs of carriages, the pipe sections being flexibly connected together between each connected pair of carriages.