Patents by Inventor Rudy R. Unruh

Rudy R. Unruh 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: 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: 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: 6007004
    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. A corner span is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. An angle sensor is provided at the pivotal connector of said main boom and said corner span. A span sensor is positioned on the corner boom for sensing shape changes in the corner span. A control connects the span sensor and angle sensor with the drive and steering for driving and steering the steerable drive tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudy R. Unruh
  • Patent number: 5947393
    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 corner span is pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of the main boom and is supported by a steerable drive tower. A span sensor is positioned on the corner span for sensing changes in shape of the corner span. A control connects the span sensor with the drive for driving the steerable drive tower and the motor on the last regular drive unit on the main water boom to adjust the speed thereof upon the span sensor sensing predetermined changes in the shape of the corner span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudy R. Unruh
  • Patent number: 4626984
    Abstract: A remote computer system for controlling a plurality of irrigation systems, each of which has a local controller for controlling an individual system, includes an intelligent remote unit associated with each local controller, each intelligent remote unit having a computer with a stored program for fully independently operating the local controller and the irrigation system associated therewith. A central base station controller includes its own computer which is linked by a communications link with each of the intelligent remote units, the stored program in the base station computer permitting operator monitor and control of the various parameters being monitored and controlled by the intelligent remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy R. Unruh, James A. Lamb, Richard A. Tejral