Patents by Inventor Jerry D. Gerdes

Jerry D. Gerdes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6085999
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. A plurality of first sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof and a plurality of second sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof. The water which is normally allocated to the end gun on the outer end of the extension boom is supplied to the second sprinkler during certain periods of time that the end gun is not activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry D. Gerdes, Dale A. Christensen
  • Patent number: 6045065
    Abstract: The method of controlling the speed of the last regular drive unit (L.R.D.U.) of a center pivot irrigation machine having a corner span pivotally connected thereto comprising: placing an angle sensor at the pivotal connection of the main boom and the extension boom for monitoring the angle therebetween upon predetermined time increments; changing the speed of the L.R.D.U. according to the formula:NEW SPEED=(LS).sup.2 /(LS+PC).sup.2 .times.L.R.D.U. Speed Settingwhere PC is the projected corner length, LS is the corner length and wherein PC is computed according to:PC=[(LC).sup.2 +(LS).sup.2 -(2.times.LC.times.LS.times.cos AC.degree.)].sup.1/2 -LSwhere AC is the corner angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 6045066
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. A plurality of sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof and are controlled by a computer which is programmed with a table of sprinkler sequences. The computer calculates the areas being covered by the extension boom as the system is moved through the field and determines the best sprinkler sequence for the sprinkler on the extension boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry D. Gerdes, Rudy R. Unruh
  • Patent number: 6036122
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. First and second lines of sprinklers are provided on the main boom along the length thereof with the nozzle size thereof increasing from the inner to outer ends thereof. A third line of sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the inner end of the extension boom to the outer end thereof. A fourth line of second sprinklers are also positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the outer end of the extension boom to the inner end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry D. Gerdes, Rudy R. Unruh
  • Patent number: 6036121
    Abstract: The method of controlling the speed of the last regular drive unit of a center pivot irrigation system having a corner irrigation system pivotally connected thereto is disclosed comprising the steps of: placing a pressure transducer at the downstream side of the main water line for monitoring the changes in main water line pressure as the sprinklers on the extension water line are sequenced; driving the last regular drive unit at a predetermined speed; recording the output of the pressure transducer at predetermined intervals; comparing the recorded output at the predetermined intervals to the pressure recorded when all the sprinklers on the extension line are turned off; and varying the speed of the last regular drive unit according to the formula NEW SPEED=(END PRESSURE/RETRACTED END PRESSURE).sup.1/2 .times.L.R.D.U. SPEED SETTING.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 6029914
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed which includes a center pivot support having an elongated main water boom pivotally connected thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. An elongated extension boom is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A corner arm sensor is provided for sensing the angle of the extension boom with respect to the main boom. A plurality of first sprinklers are positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the inner end of the extension boom to the outer end thereof. A plurality of second sprinklers are also positioned on the extension boom along the length thereof, the nozzle size of which increases from the outer end of the extension boom to the inner end thereof. By utilizing the two lines of sprinklers in combination, the proper amount of water can be applied for all corner arm positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry D. Gerdes, Rudy R. Unruh
  • Patent number: 4543985
    Abstract: A fluid pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure of fluid passing through a pipe is provided for use with irrigation sprinklers or the like. The pressure regulator has a housing having a passageway therethrough, which has a throttling stem slidably mounted in the housing passageway and having a passageway therethrough. A compression spring is mounted between the throttling stem and the housing to bias the throttling stem relative to the housing. A throttling stem seat is attached in the passageway through the housing and has a passageway therethrough and has the end of a throttling member extending thereinto for adjusting the passageway through the throttling member seat so that fluid pressure is adjusted between the input and output of the fluid pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Senniger Irrigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Healy, Jerry D. Gerdes