Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides a fertigation process comprising providing a nitrification inhibitor composition; providing a urea ammonium nitrate fertilizer composition; combining the nitrification inhibitor composition with the fertilizer composition; and applying the combined composition during a growing cycle of a crop using an overhead irrigation system. The present disclosure also relates to this fertigation process wherein the nitrification inhibitor comprises dicyandiamide and dimethyl sulfoxide and the crop is corn.

Abstract: A self-propelled filling pipe for a liquid manure spreader has a frame, an elongated pipe on the frame having a lower inlet end and an elevated outlet end, at least two wheels mounted on the frame, a caster wheel mounted on the elongated pipe proximate the lower inlet end and a fluid drive system. The fluid drive system includes a hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic circuit connecting the hydraulic pump to a plurality of hydraulic motors drivingly connected to the wheels. The fluid drive system also includes a second hydraulic circuit connecting the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the caster wheel. A prime mover provides power to the hydraulic pump to power the hydraulic motors to rotate the caster wheel thereby steering the filling pipe and/or to drive the wheels thereby propelling the filling pipe on the ground.

Abstract: An irrigation system with a variable-speed drive assembly compares electric power data of a motor as a function of the location of the motor against stored historical electric power data for the motor to determine acceptable electric power data thresholds for purposes of diagnosing and predicting pending functionality complications of the variable-speed drive assembly.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a central pivot and a series of mobile towers connected to the central pivot and to one another by support structure. Each mobile tower has wheels and a motor for driving at least one of the wheels. A control system operates the motors to maintain alignment of the mobile towers and the central pivot while preventing power usage of the system from exceeding a maximum power threshold. The control system determines in which sequence to operate the motors to maintain alignment of the mobile towers while operating no more than a selected number of the motors simultaneously.

Abstract: A self-propelled irrigation system includes a drive tower configured to cross over a drainage ditch or other watercourse in an irrigated field without the use of a bridge or other support structure to support the load of the drive tower.

Abstract: Directional spray heads on each side of each tower over the wheels spray water behind the trailing wheel and not in front of the wheels. A control box activates the direction of travel of the wheels at the towers through a tower box at each tower. Solenoids wired to the tower box for switching power alternately to each wheel, switch the water flow via the solenoids to directional spray sprinklers spraying behind the trailing wheel.

Abstract: A boom breakaway assembly for a spray boom used by a vehicle. The boom breakaway assembly includes a reciprocating system having a first position and a second position, a retention system, and a bias system. In the first position, the bias system applies a maximum effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system applies a holding force upon the spray boom to maintain the spray boom in a desired outward position. In the second position, the bias system applies a minimal effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system reduces or disengages the holding force upon the spray boom, thereby allowing the spray boom to move from the outward position to a breakaway position when the spray boom encounters an obstacle. The bias system returns the reciprocating system to the first position once the spray boom clears the obstacle.

Abstract: An irrigation assembly has a main pipeline supported at intervals by mobile towers, a plurality of drop tube assemblies at spaced intervals along the pipeline and a collector positioned to receive water from the drop tube assembly. A plurality of targets are positioned on the ground in the paths of motion defined by the movement of the collectors. The targets may be dishes. Each dish preferably has a perforated drain that penetrates beneath the surface of the ground. Interaction between the collector and the target causes the water stored within the collector to be released into the target. The irrigation assembly may provide for underground irrigation without a collector where a dish or trough receives water from the drop tube assembly and underground drains allow for water to be dispersed below the ground.

Abstract: A roll-sprinkler system comprises with horizontal water conducting pipe portions as the supporting means for multiple wheels. The pipes conducting liquid to the sprinkler heads for irrigations have an opening adaptor allowing the system to connect with standard garden hose. The multi head sprinklers are mounted vertically to the horizontal pipes which are linked with wheels for easy displacing of the system during irrigation. The system may further comprise chemical tanks and valves controlling the tanks for adding chemicals into the irrigating water. The system may also be foldable or separable in two or three sections for shipping and storage. The system may further comprise a directional driving wheel, which is powered and can be programmed by an IC chip or controlled by a remote controller.

Abstract: A drive unit for a self-propelled irrigation system including an elongated pipeline supported upon a plurality of spaced-apart drive units. Each of the drive units includes a generally transversely extending base beam having first and second ends. A first drive assembly is pivotally connected to the base beam adjacent the first end thereof and a second drive assembly is pivotally connected to the base beam adjacent the second end thereof. Each of the first and second drive assemblies includes an elongated support member pivotally connected, about a generally horizontal axis, which is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the base beam, to the base beam adjacent the first end thereof. First and second driven wheels are rotatably mounted on the elongated support member adjacent the ends thereof. The driven wheels are driven by an electric motor and gearbox arrangement.

Abstract: A forward roll agricultural irrigation line includes an irrigation unit having a plenum pipe, a plurality of water delivery orifices in the plenum pipe, a water supply line in communication with the plenum pipe, and at least one drive wheel supporting the plenum pipe. Typically, there are a plurality of drive wheels supporting the plenum pipe. A drive unit includes a DC electrical motor mounted to the irrigation unit and engaged to controllably rotate the drive wheels, preferably by rotating the plenum pipe. A control/power unit includes a battery power supply, a control unit having as an input power from the battery power supply and as an output a control and power signal to the DC motor, and a photovoltaic battery charger providing recharging power to the battery power supply.

Abstract: A power washer that is foldable and that may be hung on a wall in the folded configuration. The power washer includes front and rear legs. The front legs and rear legs fold in toward one other and under a prime mover so as to make the power washer more compact when hung. The front legs are formed integral with a handle, and the front legs and handle rotate relative to the prime mover. This feature permits the folded power washer to be hung from the handle, and enables the power washer to be hung so that the prime mover is held in an upright position. The rear legs may be pivotally attached to the front legs, so that folding of the front legs causes a corresponding folding of the rear legs.

Abstract: Coverings, canopies, or housing each having a removable bottom wall which collectively substantially encapsulates each drive chain of an irrigation mover is disclosed, which prevent or substantially alleviate drive chain link corrosion and which statically extend fore and aft of an engine of the irrigation mover along the frame thereof.

Abstract: Mobile irrigation equipment includes a water delivery tube, a support frame mounting the tube, and a belt traction apparatus movably mounted to the support frame and operable for moving the support frame over the ground. The belt traction apparatus includes drive wheels rotatably mounted to the support frame and an endless traction belt entrained over the drive wheels for engaging the ground and moving the support frame when the wheels are rotated. Each drive wheel has an annular plate, a central hub rotatably mounted to support frame about an axis, spokes supporting the annular plate on the hub in concentric relation with the rotational axis of the hub, and a plurality of lugs attached to the periphery of the annular plate in circumferentially spaced relation to one another and extending in transverse relation to the annular plate and in radial relation to the rotational axis of the hub.

Abstract: Correction steering for a linearly movable irrigation system, consisting of interconnected pipes carried by motorized irrigation towers, whereby at least one irrigation tower constitutes a steering unit for correction of the irrigation system in the case of an angular deflection occurring with respect to the guideway, which deflection is automatically detected by sensors arranged on a bar located in the area of the irrigation tower pertaining to the steering unit, which sensors are in operational contact with the guideway; the bar is a sensor arm (12) which is supported to rotate about a vertical axle (13); the axle (13) is arranged at one of the irrigation towers (1) of the steering unit and the sensor arm (12) is connected with the support (24) located at the outer end of the pipe (5).

Abstract: Apparatus for precise water and liquid chemical application to agricultural fields is provided comprising a control platform with two motors, each motor driving a separate set of drive wheels. The speed of the first platform motor being selectable, the speed of the second motor being controlled by a variable frequency AC motor controller which receives a signal from a linear position transducer which senses the positional relationship of the control platform to a pre-determined path so as to maintain the platform on a pre-determined path. A second variable frequency AC motor controller receives a signal from a second linear position transducer between the control platform and a plurality of span sections supported by a plurality of motorized, wheeled towers which is operable to maintain alignment between the towers and the control platform, and the span sections are provided with switches operable to switch the motors of the towers on and off momentarily as required to keep them in alignment with each other.

Abstract: A method for spraying pesticides, herbicides or the like in a moving path from above includes extending a support cable across and over the area to be sprayed and tensioning the cable between two vehicles, one on each side of the area to be sprayed. One or more material spraying nozzles or outlets are supported on the cable and fed by a material-delivering conduit also supported on the cable and connected to a source of material supply on one of the vehicles. The cable is tensioned to a preselected tension sufficient to limit sag in the cable, and tension in maintained substantially constant as the two vehicles are advanced forward with the cable and spray nozzle over the path to be sprayed, irrespective of convergence and divergence of the two vehicles. Constant tension is maintained by a hydraulic motor driving a cable storage reel at constant force.

Abstract: A self-propelled, linear-forwardly, relatively slow-moving irrigating apparatus has a main frame and master drive unit carrying a rotating, water-supplying, pipe-like, axle shaft that provides a side-extending wheel-line along which are spaced what may be termed power, booster and wheeled spray units that enable a large area of ground crop to be irrigated at one time. Longitudinally spaced-apart hydrants are provided along the length of the field that is to be irrigated to detachably receive a flexible water-supplying hose that is also detachably carried by the main frame. The apparatus has automatic means for maintaining the main frame and the wheel-line in an aligned forwardly advancing relation, for stopping forward movement when a serious obstruction is encountered and when the desired full extent of its advance along a side-extending anchored guide cable has been attained.

Abstract: This is concerned with a drive for a center pivot or movable irrigation system and the like and is more specifically concerned with a gear drive arrangement which is structured and arranged so that service and performance is greatly simplified and improved.