Patents by Inventor MARK WHALLEY

MARK WHALLEY 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: 10485190
    Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system is described that includes a controller that makes use of a particular flow rate of input water to deliver differing or variable depths of irrigation to two or more user-defined areas under a pivot irrigator. The controller operates to pulse control valves for the nozzles/sprinkler heads on and off as the sprinkler arm rotates. The valve pattern along the span of the sprinkler arm is chosen during each operating cycle such that the total water flow through all the open valves matches the flow rate of the input or supply water to the pivot irrigator. To ensure the variable application depth, the speed may be changed during valve duty cycles. A farmer may define an irrigation plan that defines the variable rate irrigation (VRI) zones and also defines exclusion or no spray zones in which no irrigation should occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TRIMBLE INC.
    Inventor: Mark Whalley
  • Publication number: 20190060976
    Abstract: A method of forming a hollow article (2) comprises the steps of providing a metal blank in the form of a disk. Subsequently, a metal blank is transferred to a first forming station which comprises a punch and a die. A metal blank is formed into a cup having a sidewall and a closed base. A boundary lubrication is provided between the die and the metal blank by application of a lubricant. Hereinafter, the metal cup is provided to a set of forming stations in a deep drawing transfer press. The set of forming stations comprises at least one set of punches and dies. Said metal cup is deep drawn into a hollow article (2) having a sidewall (4) and a closed base (7) with an inner and an outer surface (, 8, 6, 9) by the action of said at least one set of punches and dies. Subsequently, the hollow article (2) is provided to a subsequent forming station in the deep drawing transfer press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Krätzig, Mark Whalley, Alan William Noble, Richard Turner, Matthias Seiler
  • Patent number: 10123492
    Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system adapted for variable depth application of water under the corner sprinkler arm. The system includes a pivot sprinkler arm with a first set of nozzles, and a first set of control valves each provided on the pivot sprinkler arm upstream of a nozzle. The irrigation system includes a corner sprinkler arm pivotally coupled to an end of the pivot sprinkler arm, and the corner sprinkler arm includes a second set of spaced apart nozzles and a second set of control valves. The irrigation system includes a controller transmitting control signals to the first and second sets of control valves to open and close in a pattern that includes a valve pulsing pattern for the corner sprinkler arm, whereby input water is applied at a variable rate under the corner sprinkler arm to apply different depths to various user-defined zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TRIMBLE INC.
    Inventor: Mark Whalley
  • Publication number: 20180054982
    Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system adapted for variable depth application of water under the corner sprinkler arm. The system includes a pivot sprinkler arm with a first set of nozzles, and a first set of control valves each provided on the pivot sprinkler arm upstream of a nozzle. The irrigation system includes a corner sprinkler arm pivotally coupled to an end of the pivot sprinkler arm, and the corner sprinkler arm includes a second set of spaced apart nozzles and a second set of control valves. The irrigation system includes a controller transmitting control signals to the first and second sets of control valves to open and close in a pattern that includes a valve pulsing pattern for the corner sprinkler arm, whereby input water is applied at a variable rate under the corner sprinkler arm to apply different depths to various user-defined zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: MARK WHALLEY
  • Publication number: 20170359974
    Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system is described that includes a controller that makes use of a particular flow rate of input water to deliver differing or variable depths of irrigation to two or more user-defined areas under a pivot irrigator. The controller operates to pulse control valves for the nozzles/sprinkler heads on and off as the sprinkler arm rotates. The valve pattern along the span of the sprinkler arm is chosen during each operating cycle such that the total water flow through all the open valves matches the flow rate of the input or supply water to the pivot irrigator. To ensure the variable application depth, the speed may be changed during valve duty cycles. A farmer may define an irrigation plan that defines the variable rate irrigation (VRI) zones and also defines exclusion or no spray zones in which no irrigation should occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: MARK WHALLEY