Abstract: Disclosed are example embodiments of an irrigation system with a plurality of drive tower structures each including a drive beam configured with left and right, right-angle wheel-drive gearbox mounts, each the mount configured with a plurality of bolt holes for attaching a corresponding legacy right-angle wheel-drive gearbox to the mount. The bolt holes being alternatively suitable for attaching a universal inline drive mount adapter, and configured with bolt holes at a first end of the adapter that correspond to bolt holes in the gearbox mounts, each the adapter further configured with bolt holes at a distal end suitable for attaching an inline wheel-drive gearmotor assembly with transfer case.

Abstract: An irrigation system with steady state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile, a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile, or a new fixed current speed.

Abstract: An irrigation system with transient state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile or a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile.

Abstract: An irrigation system with an alignment detector uses a plurality of discrete sensors to detect and measure each irrigator span's misalignment when moving in either direction. In particular, this sensor alignment detector utilizes a first sensor for the forward movement direction and a second sensor for the reverse movement direction, which provides a significant improvement in alignment optimization and sensitivity.

Abstract: An irrigation system with a variable-speed drive assembly compares electric power data of a motor as a function of the location of the motor against stored historical electric power data for the motor to determine acceptable electric power data thresholds for purposes of diagnosing and predicting pending functionality complications of the variable-speed drive assembly.

Abstract: An irrigation system with steady state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile, a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile, or a new fixed current speed.

Abstract: An irrigation system with transient state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile or a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile.

Abstract: An irrigation system with steady state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile, a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile, or a new fixed current speed.

Abstract: An irrigation system with transient state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile or a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a moving irrigation system lengthens the period of the on-and-off cycle specified by the speed timer to drive the pivot arm assembly. This reduces the frequency of the on-and-off cycles and thereby reduces wear and tear on the drive components. To modify the cycle period, a processor determines a modified on-time and a modified off-time having the same ratio of on-time to off-time as the speed timer to maintain the same average speed for the pivot arm assembly. The processor then controls operation of the pivot arm assembly to move in an on-and-off manner using the modified on-time and modified off-time.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a self-propelled irrigation system compensates for differences in expected wind drift and evaporative losses for time periods over the course of an irrigation cycle. Speed modifier values are determined for selected time periods to modify the base speed for the pivot arm assembly based on the corresponding expected wind drift and evaporative losses, with offsetting speed modifier values to modify the speed of the pivot arm assembly for other time periods, so that the period of time for completing an irrigation cycle remains unchanged. The pivot arm assembly is then controlled to move at the corresponding modified speed for each time period.

Abstract: An irrigation system with a variable-speed drive assembly compares electric power data of a motor as a function of the location of the motor against stored historical electric power data for the motor to determine acceptable electric power data thresholds for purposes of diagnosing and predicting pending functionality complications of the variable-speed drive assembly.

Abstract: An irrigation system with an alignment detector uses a plurality of discrete sensors to detect and measure each irrigator span's misalignment when moving in either direction. In particular, this sensor alignment detector utilizes a first sensor for the forward movement direction and a second sensor for the reverse movement direction, which provides a significant improvement in alignment optimization and sensitivity.

Abstract: An irrigation system that includes multiple interconnected spans that are supported by multiple tower structures. Each intermediate tower structure and end tower structure may include a dual-controller drive assembly that may include both a fixed-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the fixed-speed drive controller is selected and a variable-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the variable-speed drive controller is selected, and one or more selector switches configured to either manually, based on manual operator input, or automatically, based on automatic sensor input, select between the fixed-speed drive controller and the variable-speed drive controller.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a moving irrigation system lengthens the period of the on-and-off cycle specified by the speed timer to drive the pivot arm assembly. This reduces the frequency of the on-and-off cycles and thereby reduces wear and tear on the drive components. To modify the cycle period, a processor determines a modified on-time and a modified off-time having the same ratio of on-time to off-time as the speed timer to maintain the same average speed for the pivot arm assembly. The processor then controls operation of the pivot arm assembly to move in an on-and-off manner using the modified on-time and modified off-time.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a self-propelled irrigation system compensates for differences in expected wind drift and evaporative losses for time periods over the course of an irrigation cycle. Speed modifier values are determined for selected time periods to modify the base speed for the pivot arm assembly based on the corresponding expected wind drift and evaporative losses, with offsetting speed modifier values to modify the speed of the pivot arm assembly for other time periods, so that the period of time for completing an irrigation cycle remains unchanged. The pivot arm assembly is then controlled to move at the corresponding modified speed for each time period.

Abstract: An irrigation system that includes a plurality of interconnected spans that are supported by tower structures. Each tower structure includes a drive assembly with a drive controller controlling its speed, and a heat dissipation assembly mounted to the applicant conduit carrying an applicant, such as irrigation water. The heat dissipation assembly provides cooling via conductive heat transfer to remove heat generated by the drive controller during operation.

Abstract: An irrigation system that includes a plurality of interconnected spans that are supported by tower structures. Each tower structure includes a drive assembly with a drive controller controlling its speed, and a heat dissipation assembly mounted to the applicant conduit carrying an applicant, such as irrigation water. The heat dissipation assembly provides cooling via conductive heat transfer to remove heat generated by the drive controller during operation.

Abstract: An irrigation system that includes multiple interconnected spans that are supported by multiple tower structures. Each intermediate tower structure and end tower structure may include a dual-controller drive assembly that may include both a fixed-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the fixed-speed drive controller is selected and a variable-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the variable-speed drive controller is selected, and one or more selector switches configured to either manually, based on manual operator input, or automatically, based on automatic sensor input, select between the fixed-speed drive controller and the variable-speed drive controller.

Abstract: An irrigation system with transient state speeds of movement achieves and maintains substantial straight alignment of multiple interconnected spans with continuous movement over a range of speeds in a forward and reverse movement direction. A variable-speed drive controller monitors and processes the output of the corresponding alignment detector and, based on the output of the alignment detector, selects from memory and continuously furnishes to the corresponding span motor a predetermined progressively increasing speed profile or a predetermined progressively decreasing speed profile.