Abstract: An irrigation system having a pipeline supported by one or more towers includes an improved truss connection system having a means for readily adjusting a crown height of the pipeline. A pair of cooperating members define a joint which selectively couples headed ends of adjacent truss rods together to form a truss rail of a truss system that supports the pipeline. A single fastener may fasten the cooperating members, a strut, and a cross-member together at the joint. A length of the truss rail may be decreased by holding the truss rods closer together. In an aspect, the headed ends of the adjacent truss rods are held closer together by inserting a shim in one of the joints. Decreasing the length of the truss rail increases the deflection of the pipeline and raises the crown height.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein provide a system for improved control and monitoring of a movable tower in an irrigation system. A computer controller associated with a tower of an irrigation system receives an indication of parameter modification. The system is then able to change parameters at a component of the tower control system based on the received parameters. The system stores the current angle sensed between two adjacent span members. If the stored angle is between two threshold levels, a drive signal is provided to a motor. The system is operable to selectively apply a drive signal at a tower in an align mode. The system provides the ability to digitally modify a threshold that is used in a machine run-mode to operate the motor at a tower.

Abstract: A greaseless pivot center swivel and bearing device includes an outer housing having a sidewall with top and bottom portions, a top plate coupled with the top portion that includes an opening therein, and a bottom plate coupled with the bottom portion that includes an opening therein. The sidewall cooperates with the top and bottom plates to define an interior volume. A single, unitary bushing member formed of a low-friction material is positioned within the interior volume and includes a surface cylindrically curved about an axis extending between the top and bottom plates of the housing. The cylindrically curved surface cooperates with the openings in the top and bottom plates to define a cylindrical passage through the interior volume sized and shaped for receiving a cylindrical tube that rotates therein, e.g., a tube configured to connect with a water supply column of a mechanized irrigation system.

Abstract: A greaseless pivot center swivel and bearing device includes an outer housing having a sidewall with top and bottom portions, a top plate coupled with the top portion that includes an opening therein, and a bottom plate coupled with the bottom portion that includes an opening therein. The sidewall cooperates with the top and bottom plates to define an interior volume. A single, unitary bushing member formed of a low-friction material is positioned within the interior volume and includes a surface cylindrically curved about an axis extending between the top and bottom plates of the housing. The cylindrically curved surface cooperates with the openings in the top and bottom plates to define a cylindrical passage through the interior volume sized and shaped for receiving a cylindrical tube that rotates therein, e.g., a tube configured to connect with a water supply column of a mechanized irrigation system.

Abstract: A polymer-lined fluid transmission line includes various structures, including a first polymer-lined pipe, a second polymer-lined pipe, and one or more sleeve retainers installed at a pipe junction between the polymer-lined pipes. Among other things, the sleeve retainers may include one or more protuberances to frictionally engage the polymer-lined pipes or a one or more portions that protrude into a space between the polymer-lined pipes to help retain and protect polymer sleeves.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein provide a system for improved control and monitoring of a movable tower in an irrigation system. A computer controller associated with a tower of an irrigation system receives an indication of parameter modification. The system is then able to change parameters at a component of the tower control system based on the received parameters. The system stores the current drive value at a station to control drive. If the stored drive value is above a threshold level, a drive signal is provided to a motor. The system is operable to selectively apply a drive signal at a tower. The system provides the ability to digitally modify a threshold that is used in a machine run-mode to operate the motor at a tower.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a non-welded, clevis-type coupling assembly that provides two sheer planes and, accordingly, increases the load bearing capacity thereof. The assembly includes a coupling plate having a first section, a second section, and a third section. The second section is intermediate the first section and the third section and the first and third sections are oriented at an angle of 90° with respect to one another. The coupling plate includes a contiguous opening extending there through having a first part and a second part. The first part has a first dimension and the second part has a second dimension that is larger than the first dimension.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a theft-resistant cable clamp that increases the time and effort required to remove the cable from the irrigation equipment, thereby deterring thieves As the extensions that protrude from the cable-reception loop are forced together, the walls of the cable-reception loop compress against the cable. Openings in the extensions on the cable clamp allow the cable clamp to fit over a component of the irrigation equipment. A plurality of teeth can protrude from the perimeter of an opening to grip the exterior of the component. A coupler or other component may have a groove into which the teeth engage when the cable clamp is in a final location on the component.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a theft-resistant cable clamp that increases the time and effort required to remove the cable from the irrigation equipment, thereby deterring thieves As the extensions that protrude from the cable-reception loop are forced together, the walls of the cable-reception loop compress against the cable. Openings in the extensions on the cable clamp allow the cable clamp to fit over a component of the irrigation equipment. A plurality of teeth can protrude from the perimeter of an opening to grip the exterior of the component. A coupler or other component may have a groove into which the teeth engage when the cable clamp is in a final location on the component.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a theft-resistant cable clamp that increases the time and effort required to remove the cable from the irrigation equipment, thereby deterring thieves As the extensions that protrude from the cable-reception loop are forced together, the walls of the cable-reception loop compress against the cable. Openings in the extensions on the cable clamp allow the cable clamp to fit over a component of the irrigation equipment. A plurality of teeth can protrude from the perimeter of an opening to grip the exterior of the component. A coupler or other component may have a groove into which the teeth engage when the cable clamp is in a final location on the component.

Abstract: An improved suspension that may be used in any dynamically loaded beam structure, such as a trailer chassis. Specifically, an improved spring hanger and method for attachment are discussed, in which the improved spring hanger is welded to the web of a support beam, where stresses are lower, as opposed to the bottom flange thereof. Methods are provided for welding the spring hanger to said beam alongside as well as in contact with existing, transverse support members.

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: A GPS-based control system for irrigation systems includes a power supply, a nonvolatile memory for storing a first set of coordinates corresponding to a reference position for the irrigation system, circuitry for receiving GPS data and using the data to generate a second set of coordinates corresponding to a current position of the irrigation system, and a microprocessor for calculating the azimuth and the distance between the reference position and the current position using the first and second sets of coordinates. The control system communicates with a main controller of the irrigation system to control a function of the irrigation system, such as stopping, reversing, end gun operation, application rate, or other auxiliary output, at a selected distance or azimuth value of the current position relative to the reference position. The control system can be used with either a center pivot irrigation system or a linear move irrigation system.

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: A center pivot irrigation machine having a swing arm for irrigating corner areas of a field. The swing arm has a steerable support tower which follows a buried cable to guide the swing arm into and out of the field corners. A double hinge connection between the main irrigation boom and the swing arm includes one hinge joint which accommodates pivoting of the swing arm and another hinge joint which controls the operation of the tower drive motors. A cam switch monitors the steering angle of the swing arm tower and turns the sprinklers of the swing tower on and off in accordance with the steering angle to achieve uniform water application. A secondary set of sprinklers on the main boom is deactivated and the entire machine is slowed when the steering angle indicates that the swing arm is covering a rapidly increasing area.

Abstract: A center pivot irrigation machine having a swing arm for irrigating corner areas of a field. The swing arm has a steerable support tower which follows a buried cable to guide the swing arm into and out of the field corners. A double hinge connection between the main irrigation boom and the swing arm includes one hinge joint which accommodates pivoting of the swing arm and another hinge joint which controls the operation of the tower drive motors. A cam switch monitors the steering angle of the swing arm tower and turns the sprinklers of the swing tower on and off in accordance with the steering angle to achieve uniform water application. A secondary set of sprinklers on the main boom is deactivated and the entire machine is slowed when the steering angle indicates that the swing arm is covering a rapidly increasing area.

Abstract: A guidance system for a lateral move irrigation machine of the type having an elongate boom mounted on a plurality of motor driven towers which drive the boom along the field in a straight line path. A plurality of check points in the field are established by a series of magnetic and metallic elements placed in rows along the path of travel of the towers. The towers carry gradiometers or proximity switches which are sensitive to the elements and which deactivate the drive motors of the towers when the check points are reached. When all of the towers have reached the check points, the boom is properly aligned, and override circuits then activate the drive motors to resume movement of the machine.