Longitudinal Movement Of Pipeline Patents (Class 239/742)
  • Patent number: 9545063
    Abstract: An overhead irrigation assembly having multiple truss rods is disclosed. In an implementation, an overhead irrigation assembly includes a first support, a second support, and a span of pipeline supported between the first support and the second support. The overhead irrigation assembly also includes a first truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support and a second truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support. Spreaders are suspended from the span of pipeline that are configured to separate the first truss rod from the second truss rod. The overhead irrigation assembly also includes a third truss rod is also tensioned between the first support and the second support. The first truss rod, the second truss rod, and third truss rod are configured to maintain a generally bow shape in the span of pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kastl, Dale A. Christensen
  • Patent number: 8662424
    Abstract: An irrigation machine is selectively converted into a sprayer for applying chemicals that have been approved for use only by spraying equipment. A method is disclosed for irrigating and spraying crops using the same conduit connected to either an irrigation ground water source or a sprayer-approved chemical source, but at no time is the conduit connected to both sources simultaneously. The method includes connecting the input of a conduit to a ground water source, irrigating the crops with water from the ground water source, disconnecting the input of the conduit from the ground water source, connecting the input of the same conduit to a sprayer-approved chemical source, and spraying the crops with chemical from the chemical source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
    Inventor: Charles H. Meis
  • Patent number: 8657215
    Abstract: A wheel apparatus includes a hub that is configured to be received by an axle of an irrigation system. The wheel apparatus also includes a rim assembly that includes a plurality of substantially flat feet that form a faceted circular arrangement. A support structure is disposed between the hub and the rim assembly to at least partially support the rim assembly. At least one of the substantially flat feet is coupled to at least one of the plurality of spoke structures. The wheel apparatus also includes at least one cleat disposed on an outside surface of at least one of the plurality of substantially flat feet to provide traction to the rim assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Benjamin D. Blum
  • Patent number: 7740195
    Abstract: A wheeled lawn sprinkler assembly for easily moving a lawn sprinkler around a large or small size yard which assembly contains a shut off valve, a collapsible wheel assembly and a collapsible support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Grant Daniels
  • Patent number: 7156328
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the center and radius based on a least squares approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a farmer drives through a given arc of a circular field in question and periodically takes position measurements. In another embodiment, a Least-Squares Algorithm is used to estimate the best-fitting center and radius given the set of position measurements input by the farmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Ltd.
    Inventor: Alain Samaha
  • Patent number: 7121483
    Abstract: A liquid manure spreading tool bar for use on a manure spreader, wherein the manure spreader has a tank and a pump, and wherein the spreading tool bar has a supporting frame externally mounted onto the tank, a manure distributor mounted onto the supporting frame, a vertically extending telescopic conduit made of a rigid material, and at least one manure discharging pipes connected to a corresponding outlet of the manure distributor. The supporting frame is movable in an up and down position with respect to the tank. Each of the manure discharging pipes is made of a rigid material and is vertically movable together with the frame and the manure distributor. The telescopic conduit has one end connected to the manure distributor while the other end is connected to the pump so as to feed the manure pumped from the tank to the manure distributor. In as much as the telescopic conduit and discharging pipes are not flexible, they cannot break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: J. Houle & Fils Inc.
    Inventor: Alain Courtemanche
  • Publication number: 20010035468
    Abstract: A portable or stationary system which may be used either indoors or outdoors and provides accelerated growth of vegetation regardless of weather conditions as well as provides warmth, lighting, misting, nutrients and cover for such vegetation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Gordon E. Churchward
  • Patent number: 6068197
    Abstract: A pivoting lateral move irrigation system which operates to water in the pivot mode. The irrigation system includes a conduit extending over the field to be irrigated, and a series of support towers which are spaced along the length of the conduit and support the conduit. The power tower is designed for lateral movement and includes a pivoting top according to the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the irrigation system is a ditch fed system which moves laterally to a canal or ditch, from which water is obtained for irrigation. The power panel includes switches to allow the machine to pivot at the end or corner of the canal. According to the present invention, during pivoting, the irrigation system operates to irrigate, i.e., provide water to the field, during the pivot operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Hlavinka Equipment Company
    Inventor: Harold N. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5685497
    Abstract: This invention is a towing attachment for each wheeled tower in a center pivot irrigation system in the form of a pair of auxiliary support wheels rotatably supported for rotation about axes generally perpendicular to the pipe and which can be lowered to a position to lift the tower and tower supporting and driving wheels to a position spaced above the ground surface thereby enabling the center pivot irrigation pipe to be detached from the center pivot and towed longitudinally to another site of use with the center pivot pipe then being connected to a different center pivot forming an axial extension of another well casing with the towing attachment auxiliary support wheels then being elevated to lower the tower and tower supporting and driving wheels into engagement with the ground surface for irrigating the new site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Warren E. Cole
  • Patent number: 5341995
    Abstract: A relocatable irrigator for easily converting between irrigation and transport modes of operation. The irrigator includes a number of carriages separated by pipeline spans. The pipeline spans are bridged between adjacent carriages and define a spray line. There is a master carriage and a number of slave carriages coupled together. Each slave carriage includes a steerable wheel assembly and a steering mechanism wherein the slave carriages may be steered remotely from the master carriage between irrigation and transport positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Alfred T. Leatch
  • Patent number: 4858832
    Abstract: A mobile agricultural water cannon to transfer water from sloughs and shallow ponds to adjoining land has (1) a suction pod to collect the water into a suction chamber, (2) a tail boom assembly to lower the suction pod into the water from adjoining land, (3) a suction boom to move the water through the tail boom assembly from the suction pod to a high pressure pump on the suction boom, and (4) a pressure boom to discharge the water from the high pressure pump; there is a priming pump on the suction pod to prime the high pressure pump. The suction and pressure booms are mounted on wheels, the other parts being attached to these to pivot between operating and transport positions for operation and towing by a motive power source which can power the high pressure pump and the priming pump, and pivot the tail boom assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Flexi-Coil Limited
    Inventor: David R. Hundeby
  • Patent number: 4726529
    Abstract: Gated pipe is mounted upon trucks. A chain is provided at each end so that the gated pipe may be towed from one position to another. Tubes are connected to necks on the gated pipe to convey the water from a dry turn row upon the field to be watered. The gate valves are located in the tubes so that the tubes with the gate valves and other flexible material may be removed to be stored in a sheltered place. A surge valve and supply connection are placed upon a center truck for surge irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventors: Jerry N. Nislar, Dean J. Heinrich