Abstract: Set out herein is an electrical generator conformed for installation in a buoy, the generator comprising an inverted pendulum having two windings formed at the free end thereof and aligned to articulate between two end stops each provided with a magnetic circuit. As the loops thus pass through the magnetic circuit, electrical current is induced which may be rectified through a full way rectifier to charge up a storage battery. The buoy itself may be ballasted to have its fundamental resonance at more than double the wave frequency with the result that during each passing of a wave at least two induction cycles occur.

Abstract: A central photovoltaic collection array is used on a shared basis to recharge transportable fuel cell trailers each provided with an electrolysis cell. The electrolysis cell is fed by a container of water and when connected to the array the water is broken down into the constituent elements. The resulting oxygen is stored under pressure while the hydrogen is fed to a reactive bed to form metallic hydride. The heat of reaction of the metallic hydride is cooled by a heat exchanger immersed in the bed and connected between two insulated containers of water. Thus the water warmed up in the course of cooling the metallic hydride reaction is returned to an insulated chamber and in this manner serves as a source of heat for the decomposition thereof when hydrogen is desired. Once some hydrogen is released the heat of combination with oxygen may be used to continue the decomposition and as a source of power.

Abstract: Set out herein is a fuel cell power plant for use with irrigation systems wherein the fuel cell is utilized to generate electric current to drive a pump motor. This pump motor drives a first water pump which receives water for distribution through a traveling irrigation system, the output of the first pump first conveyed into a condenser heat exchanger connected to a steam engine or turbine cycle. The fuel cell itself is contained within a boiler assembly and the heat of production of the electric power is used to generate steam which is sent to the steam engine. In the course of cooling the condenser gases of the steam engine the irrigating water is passed through a second pump driven by the steam engine and it is through this second pump that the pressure is raised sufficiently to allow for the necessary spraying fans.

Abstract: A laser referenced control system for maintaining sequence and correcting the deflections of a moving irrigation pipe includes a laser positioned on a reference coordinate against which the irrigation program sequence and the motion of the pipe are taken. In typical use the pipe is supported on powered wheeled carriages which move across the irrigated terrain at a predetermined rate and it is these wheeled carriages that are controlled according to the deviation of the end of the pipe relative the laser optical axis. This deviation is measured in a fore and aft plane by a phototransducer array to provide the control inputs to the carriages, the vertical terrain undulations being compensated by way of a laser alignment servosystem. In this manner the vertical changes in pipe alignment are taken out, the only correction being made in the plane of translation.

Abstract: The present disclosure entails a program controlled multi-loop system for providing even distribution of irrigating water over normally square plots. More specifically the disclosure includes control loops connected to a center post irrigation system which control the advance rate, the flow rate, select an end gun nozzle, and select the elevation of the end gun under program control to provide even coverage. In this manner a telescopically extended system of the type described in our prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,508 is improved to both insure even irrigation and full coverage of corners.

Abstract: In a center pivot irrigation system, comprising a hollow tube advanced on a wheeled carriage around a pivot and including a plurality of spray heads thereon, the improvement comprising a telescopically received extension deployable from the end of the pivoting tube at the corners of a rectangular plot. A stepping switch, fixed to the pivot, provides the requisite deployment signals at predetermined angular positions, releasing the extension and turning the wheels on a sliding support frame for advancement or retraction. The signals from the stepping switch are furthermore combined with a plurality of status signals to indicate a failure.