Abstract: A lateral move irrigation system more effectively irrigates a field by minimizing the portions of the field that receive no irrigation. The irrigation system includes a plurality of mobile towers, a plurality of elongated support structures attached to and extending between the towers, and a fluid delivery system. Each mobile tower has wheels and a motor for driving the wheels. A safety circuit stops the motors on all the mobile towers when any of the towers reaches an end-of-run position. Location determining components determine locations of the mobile towers as they traverse a field, and a control system stops or slows any of the towers before they trigger the safety circuit so that lagging mobile tower may catch up before the safety circuit shuts down or reverses all the motors.

Abstract: A remotely operable anchoring system for a mobile irrigation apparatus includes anchoring units mounted to irrigation towers. The anchoring units are remotely operable through a control module and have anchor members which, upon command, can be moved by the anchoring units from a retracted position to an extended position in which each anchor member penetrates and anchors itself into the soil beneath the irrigation tower. Upon command, after the danger of high wind has passed, each anchor member may be retracted from the extended position to the retracted position in preparation for future use.

Abstract: A hose heater for use in outdoor or unheated interior spaces of a home, construction office or farm. The hose heater includes an enclosure having a hose reel for storing the hose also having an electrical heating unit to warm the stored hose between uses. A heating core located in the center of the reel provides heat, keeping the hose from freezing. The enclosure which itself may be heated or unheated, blankets the hose to provide heat to the outer hose coils to ensure that the extremities are maintained at a freeze-free temperature. This can be used in small scale farming, outside use, and other areas where animals and ice rinks need watering in winter with a hose.

Abstract: Connecting apparatus for use with centre pivot irrigation equipment that includes a boom supported on ground wheels and made up of one or more pipes arranged to rotate about a water supply pipe to which the boom is connected. The apparatus is provided with a U-shaped flexible pipe assembly for connecting the boom to the water supply pipe so as to enable the boom to move radially towards and away from the water supply pipe as it rotates while remaining connected thereto. This radial movement causes the distance between the ground wheels and the water supply pipe to vary and reduces the damage caused to a crop and the land in the path of the wheels. The apparatus includes a structure that is rigidly connected to the inner end of the boom. The structure may include rails that slide over a seat mounted on the water supply pipe.

Abstract: A storage rack for an irrigation system, comprising at least a first pair of parallel rails arranged on a first substantially horizontal plane, operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, at least a second pair of parallel rails arranged on a second substantially horizontal plane, the plane located beneath the first plane, and the second pair of parallel rails located directly beneath the at least first pair of parallel rails, the second pair of parallel rails operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, cranking means operatively arranged to selectively engage and simultaneously drive two spools, where one of the two spools is located on one of the at least first pair of parallel rails, and a second of the two spools is located on one of the at least second pair of parallel rails.

Abstract: A device and method for inhibiting the spread of a fire to the roof of a building by placing a base supporting a sprinkler on the roof. A hose connected to the base and in fluid communication with the sprinkler provides a source of water ejected from the sprinkler onto the roof. The interior of the base may be wetted to increase its weight. A rope, normally stored on a spool removably attached to the base, may be used to reposition the base on the roof.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing fluid onto a hydrometallurgy leach field consists of individual modules having structure for operatively coupling the modules to one another to form the apparatus. Each module, which alone can form a fluid distribution apparatus, includes a frame and an elongated reel assembly on which a plurality of individual distributors, such as perforated hoses, are carried at axially spaced positions along the elongated reel assembly. A fluid supply conduit carries fluid from a fixed fluid supply line through the elongate reel assembly to each of the hoses carried on the elongated reel assembly and to an adjacent module. The frame is supported at its ends by frame translating mechanisms, preferably endless track crawler units, which serve to selectively move the apparatus forward and rearward. Adjacent modules are coupled at respective ends thereof to a common frame translating mechanism, thus coupling the adjacent modules to one another.

Abstract: The combination of a self-powered reel dolly and a traveling plow injector carriage joined together by a traveling hard hose supply line is disclosed. The plow injector carriage carries a multiple shank plow and a plurality of injector pipes which, when the plow blades are engaged in the ground, provide sub-surface injection of liquified sludge or other waste materials which is supplied to the carriage through the hard hose supply line. As the reel dolly winds in the supply line, the latter correspondingly pulls in or returns the plow injector carriage from an initial downfield position to a final "home" position adjacent the reel dolly. In addition to underground dispersion of the effluent through the injector pipes, an additional above-ground water gun and/or spreader manifold can be used as desired.

Abstract: An irrigation system has a mobile extractor tube rig for moving along a series of water supply standpipes, which are connected to a buried mainline. The rig and/or the standpipes have seals for engagement at the time of transfer. Each standpipe has an upper portion mounted for adjusting movement to insure flush contact between an extractor tube and a standpipe to reduce leakage that otherwise would occur.