Abstract: A control system for use with an irrigation system that includes a plurality of towers comprises a plurality of node controllers and a main controller. Each node controller is associated with a successive one of the towers and is configured to monitor operation of a plurality of components of the tower and to transmit data that includes a node identification number which corresponds to a positional number of the associated tower. The main controller is configured to receive the data. The control system executes a configuration process in which each node controller is assigned the node identification number in a sequence.

Abstract: A mobile irrigation system including a number of spans, a number of mobile irrigation towers supporting the spans, and a control system. The control system includes a position switch configured to be triggered and transmit a trigger signal and a controller configured to receive the trigger signal from the position switch. Upon receiving the trigger signal, the controller is configured to determine whether a current position of the mobile irrigation system equates to an auto-reverse position. If the current position equates to the auto-reverse position, the controller is configured to transmit a reverse direction signal to a drive motor of one of the mobile irrigation towers to reverse direction so that the drive motor reverses direction.

Abstract: An irrigation control panel, an irrigation system, and a method of monitoring operations of the irrigation system are provided. The irrigation control panel comprises a display and a processing element. The display comprises an electrophoretic portion. The processing element is configured to determine an operating condition of the irrigation system, and display an indication representative of the operating condition on the electrophoretic portion so that the indication representative of the operating condition displayed on the electrophoretic portion persists after disconnecting power.

Abstract: An irrigation system comprises a plurality of towers, a time domain reflectometry (TDR) unit, and a central controller. Each tower includes a successive one of a plurality of safety switches, with each safety switch being either closed or open. The safety switch of each tower is electrically connected to at least one safety switch of another tower. The TDR unit is electrically connected to at least one safety switch and is configured to output data regarding an open safety switch. The central controller is configured to receive data from the TDR unit, and determine, according to the data from the TDR unit, at least one of a location of the open safety switch and an identifier of the tower associated with the open safety switch.

Abstract: A smart irrigation system including a mechanized irrigation machine having a main machine controller, a plurality of distributed controllers, and a communications network. The distributed controllers may be located at a plurality of spaced apart locations on the mechanized irrigation machine. The communications network may communicably couple the plurality of distributed controllers, the main machine controller, and local or remote cloud storage. Furthermore, the main machine controller and the plurality of distributed controllers may retrieve or store information from the local or remote cloud storage for maintenance, firmware updates, or troubleshooting of the mechanized irrigation machine. The distributed controllers may perform the following functions: individual tower motor control, span joint control, corner arm control, GPS guidance or positioning of one or more actuatable features of the smart irrigation system, and/or valve control of individual sprinklers for variable rate irrigation.

Abstract: A mobile irrigation system including a number of spans, a number of mobile irrigation towers supporting the spans, and a control system. The control system includes a position switch configured to be triggered and transmit a trigger signal and a controller configured to receive the trigger signal from the position switch. Upon receiving the trigger signal, the controller is configured to determine whether a current position of the mobile irrigation system equates to an auto-reverse position. If the current position equates to the auto-reverse position, the controller is configured to transmit a reverse direction signal to a drive motor of one of the mobile irrigation towers to reverse direction so that the drive motor reverses direction.

Abstract: An alignment control system for controlling an alignment of a plurality of mobile towers, each mobile tower supporting a section of conduit in an irrigation system comprises a plurality of tower angle measurement devices and a control processing element. Each tower angle measurement device is associated with a successive one of the mobile towers and is configured to measure an angle value which varies according to a rotation angle of the associated mobile tower relative to one or more of the other mobile towers. The control processing element is configured or programmed to receive the angle value from each tower angle measurement device, compare the angle value to a threshold angle value, and generate and transmit control signals, data, or both that include an activation hysteresis value to a drive motor associated with each mobile tower that has an angle value greater than the threshold angle value.

Abstract: A tilt monitoring system for a mobile irrigation system including a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect a tilt magnitude of the span and generate a corresponding tilt signal. The controller is configured to receive the tilt signal representing the tilt magnitude, generate a deactivation signal representing an instruction to deactivate the drive motor if the tilt magnitude is greater than a tilt threshold, transmit the deactivation signal to the drive motor, generate a notification signal representing a notification that the drive motor has been deactivated due to the tilt magnitude, transmit the notification signal, receive a follow-up input signal representing a follow-up input, generate a follow-up command signal representing a command for implementing the follow-up input, and transmit the follow-up command signal so that the mobile irrigation system implements the follow-up input.

Abstract: An irrigation control panel, an irrigation system, and a method of monitoring operations of the irrigation system are provided. The irrigation control panel comprises a display and a processing element. The display comprises an electrophoretic portion. The processing element is configured to determine an operating condition of the irrigation system, and display an indication representative of the operating condition on the electrophoretic portion so that the indication representative of the operating condition displayed on the electrophoretic portion persists after disconnecting power.

Abstract: An alignment control system for controlling an alignment of a plurality of mobile towers, each mobile tower supporting a section of conduit in an irrigation system comprises a plurality of tower angle measurement devices and a control processing element. Each tower angle measurement device is associated with a successive one of the mobile towers and is configured to measure an angle value which varies according to a rotation angle of the associated mobile tower relative to one or more of the other mobile towers. The control processing element is configured or programmed to receive the angle value from each tower angle measurement device, compare the angle value to a threshold angle value, and generate and transmit control signals, data, or both that include an activation hysteresis value to a drive motor associated with each mobile tower that has an angle value greater than the threshold angle value.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a mobile irrigation system that monitors the conditions or states of various electrical and/or mechanical components of the irrigation system and alerts an operator or automatically takes corrective action when conditions that may adversely affect operation of the irrigation system are detected. The monitoring system also monitors and records the locations of the irrigation system as it monitors the conditions or states of the electrical and/or mechanical components.

Abstract: An above-ground well shut-in safety apparatus, structure, and method useful for shutting-in wells during a blow-out is provided. The apparatus includes a top portion closing an upper end of an apparatus, a side wall with a long axis, a sleeve inside the side wall, and a bottom portion including an open end. A structure for shutting in a well, comprising a rig, a drive rigidly connected to the rig, and an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including a tubular side wall, a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall, and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall. A method for shutting-in a well including driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including a closed end opposite the open end and a tubular side wall with a sealing sleeve, and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.

Abstract: Systems and methods for biasing reroute to a user selected alternate route or a required route segment is provided. A network system receives an origin and a destination and determines a plurality of routes to navigate from the origin to the destination. The plurality of routes includes an optimal route and an alternate route. The network system receives, from a user device, a selection of the alternate route for navigation. The network system then monitors navigation of the alternate route by a user associated with the user device and detects deviation from the alternate route. In response to the detection, the network system determines a reroute by biasing to the alternate route over the optimal route. The reroute is then presented on the user device.

Abstract: A method of magnetization reversal, time stable ferrimagnetic material, a product and a domain comprising said material, a system for magnetization reversal, and information storage. Therein, a ferrimagnetic material is one in which magnetic moments of the atoms on different sublattices are opposed, as in antiferromagnetism; however, in ferrimagnetic materials, the opposing moments are unequal and a spontaneous magnetization remains.

Abstract: A bearing isolator seal includes a rotor and stator wherein the stator has inboard and outboard radial projections which define a groove bounded by groove side faces and a groove bottom face. The rotor extends radially and then axially so as to lie closely adjacent to the terminal end of the outboard radial projection on the stator to define an entrance passageway. The bearing isolator seal includes a surface geometry which is believed to result in improved exclusion of contaminants, particularly from high velocity water spray, wherein the entrance passageway is angled to increase the rotational effects of exclusion during shaft rotation, and wherein the groove side faces are also angled to assist in redirecting spray and other contaminants away from the passageway.

Abstract: A method of magnetization reversal, time stable ferrimagnetic material, a product and a domain comprising said material, a system for magnetization reversal, and information storage. Therein, a ferrimagnetic material is one in which magnetic moments of the atoms on different sublattices are opposed, as in antiferromagnetism; however, in ferrimagnetic materials, the opposing moments are unequal and a spontaneous magnetization remains.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved gas transfer apparatus designed for enhanced purging of a pigtail and a process for effecting such purging. The improvement in the apparatus resides in an integrated system of components comprising: a surge chamber having a first end, a body and a second end, said first end in communication with the pigtail conduit, said body section of said surge chamber having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of said pigtail conduit and a second end in communication with said vessel containing said gas source; and, a purge gas source for delivery of a purge gas to said pigtail conduit whereby during an alternating cycle of pressurization of said pigtail with said purge gas and depressurization, optionally with application of vacuum within said pigtail conduit, impurities can be removed from within the pigtail conduit.

Abstract: A harness assembly for being removably positioned on a ball and used for retaining an elongate luminescent member on the ball is provided that includes a pair of collars positioned in spaced-apart, opposing relation to each other for receiving the ball therebetween. The harness further includes support segments adapted for receiving opposing ends of the luminescent member therein, thereby retaining the luminescent member by the ends thereof in a tensioned condition relative to the harness assembly when the harness assembly is in use.

Abstract: A harness assembly for being removably positioned on a ball and used for retaining an elongate luminescent member on the ball is provided that includes a pair of collars positioned in spaced-apart, opposing relation to each other for receiving the ball therebetween. The harness further includes retention means adapted for receiving opposing ends of the luminescent member therein, thereby retaining the luminescent member by the ends thereof in a tensioned condition relative to the harness assembly when the harness assembly is in use.

Abstract: A performance regulator program monitors and controls in real time, the performance level which an application program achieves when it is executed on a digital computer. With this performance regulator program, any external units which are coupled to the computer are prevented from being overloaded by excessive performance in the application program. Also with this performance regulator program, several models of the application program can be easily generated such that each model achieves a different performance level.