Irrigation apparatus

Abstract

Self-propelled irrigation apparatus for watering non-circular areas includes a main arm assembly pivoted at one end and supported at intervals by self-propelled support towers. An extension arm assembly is mounted on self-propelled support towers and has one end pivotally connected to the free end of the main arm assembly for irrigating portions of the field outside the circular area traversed by the main arm. Electrical control means are provided to rotate the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the latter rotates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly .Iadd.mounted at one end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable thereabout .Iaddend.for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly at the .Iadd.other .Iaddend.end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, .Iadd.said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, said main arm assembly support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, .Iaddend.means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving means pivots said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly. 
     
     
       3. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly pivotally mounted at the end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, .Iadd.said main arm assembly and said extension arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers with each assembly including a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, .Iaddend.means for .Iadd.pivoting .Iaddend.said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly, and control means for operating said .[.moving.]. means .Iadd.for pivoting .Iaddend.in response to the angular position of the main arm assembly relative to said area. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further including stress switch means located on said main arm assembly for initiating movement of said main arm assembly, said stress switch being actuated by stresses applied to said main arm assembly by movement of said extension arm assembly. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said main arm assembly includes a plurality of colinear sections, each of said sections including independent driving means, the driving means of the outermost section being responsive to the forces applied to the main arm assembly by movement of said extension arm assembly. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the support towers of said extension arm assembly .Iadd.has .Iaddend.steerable wheels, and wherein said means .Iadd.for pivoting .Iaddend.is adapted to steer said steerable wheels. 
     
     
       7. Irrigating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means includes a main arm position angle encoder for producing a mutli-bit digital signal representative of discreet positions of the main arm assembly, a steering wheel position encoder for producing a multi-bit digital signal representing the position of said steering wheel, and comparison means responsive to said multi-bit digital signals. 
     
     
       8. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly .Iadd.pivotably .Iaddend.mounted at the free end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said main arm assembly and said extension arm assembly being supported on .Iadd.support .Iaddend.towers having wheels .Iadd.and wheel driving means, .Iaddend.at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, and steering means responsive to the angular position of the main arm assembly relative to said area for changing the direction of said steerable wheels to thereby .Iadd.pivot .Iaddend.said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 8, further including stress switch means located on said main arm assembly for initiating movement of said main arm assembly, said stress switch being actuated by stresses applied to said main arm assembly by movement of said extension arm assembly. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said main arm assembly includes a plurality of colinear sections, each of said sections .Iadd.being mounted on at least one support tower with the .Iaddend.driving means .Iadd.for each section being independently operable, .Iaddend.the driving means of the outermost section being responsive to the forces applied to the main arm assembly by movement of said extension arm assembly. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said steering means includes a member rotatable through 360°, and means coupling said member to said steering wheels with full rotation of said member turning said steering wheels a desired amount in one direction and then back that amount in the other direction. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said steering means includes means for comparing said angular position of the main arm assembly to the position of said steerable wheels. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 12, further including a main angle encoder for producing a digital signal representing the angular position of said main arm assembly and a steering wheel angle encoder for producing a digital signal representing the angular position of said steering wheels, said means for comparing being responsive to said digital signals. 
     
     
       14. Self-propelled irrigation apparatus of the center-pivot type comprising: a main arm assembly pivotally coupled at a first end to a fixed base pivot;   an extension arm assembly pivotally coupled to the other end of the main arm assembly;   a fluid carrying conduit associated with the main and extension arm assemblies;   fluid discharge means spaced at intervals along the fluid carrying conduit .Iadd.on both of said assemblies;   a plurality of support towers having wheels and wheel driving means for supporting said main arm assembly and said extension arm assembly above the ground to be irrigated; .Iaddend.   means for moving the extension arm assembly with respect to the main arm assembly; and   control means for operating said moving means to vary the angular position of the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the main arm assembly rotates.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the extension arm assembly is mounted on at least one support tower having steerable wheels. 
     
     
       16. .[.Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the.]. .Iadd.Self-propelled irrigation apparatus of the center-pivot type comprising: a main arm assembly pivotally coupled at a first end to a fixed base pivot;   an extension arm assembly pivotally coupled to the other end of the main arm assembly;   a fluid carrying conduit associated with the main and extension arm assemblies;   fluid discharge means apaced at intervals along the fluid carrying conduit on both of said assemblies;   a plurality of support towers for supporting said main arm assembly and said extension arm assembly above the ground to be irrigated;   at least one support tower for the extension arm assembly having steerable wheels;   means for moving the extension arm assembly with respect to the main arm assembly; and .Iaddend.control means .[.includes.]..Iadd., including .Iaddend.means responsive to the angular position of the main arm assembly with respect to the area being .[.irrigated.]. .Iadd.irrigated, for operating said moving means to vary the angular position of the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the main arm assembly rotates..Iaddend.   
     
     
       17. For use with a center-pivot irrigation apparatus which includes a main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound, the main arm assembly including a fluid carrying conduit having fluid discharge means spaced at intervals there.[.along,.]..Iadd.along and being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, .Iaddend.the improvement comprising: an extension arm assembly pivotally mounted to the other end of the main arm assembly for supporting a fluid carrying conduit .Iadd.and a plurality of spaced fluid discharge means;   at least one support tower for supporting said extension arm assembly above the ground to be irrigated; .Iaddend.   means for moving the extension arm assembly with respect to the main arm assembly, and   control means for operating said moving means to vary the angular position of the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the main arm assembly rotates.   
     
     
       18. .[.The improvement of claim 17, wherein.]. .Iadd.For use with a center-pivot irrigation apparatus which includes a main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound, the main arm assembly including a fluid carrying conduit having fluid discharge means spaced at intervals therealong, the improvement comprising: an extension arm assembly pivotally mounted to the other end of the main arm assembly for supporting a fluid carrying conduit and a plurality of spaced fluid discharge means;   at least one support tower for supporting said extension arm assembly above the ground to be irrigated;   each support tower for the extension arm assembly including steerable wheels;   means for moving the extension arm assembly with respect to the main arm assembly including .Iaddend.means for steering and driving said wheels responsive to the angular position of the main arm assembly relative to the area being .[.irrigated.]. .Iadd.irrigated; and   control means for operating said moving means to vary the angular position of the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the main arm assembly rotates..Iaddend.   
     
     
       19. .[.The improvement of claim 17, wherein said.]. .Iadd.For use with a center-pivot irrigation apparatus which includes a main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound, the main arm assembly including a fluid carrying conduit having fluid discharge means spaced at intervals therealong, the improvement comprising: an extension arm assembly pivotally mounted to the other end of the main arm assembly for supporting a fluid carrying conduit and a plurality of spaced fluid discharge means;   at least one support tower for supporting said extension arm assembly above the ground to be irrigated;   means for moving the extension arm assembly with respect to the main arm assembly; and .Iaddend.   control means .[.is.]. responsive to the position of the main arm assembly relative to said .[.area..]. .Iadd.area for operating said moving means to vary the angular position of the extension arm assembly relative to the main arm assembly as the main arm assembly rotates..Iaddend.   
     
     
       20. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein said moving means pivots said extension arm assembly first in one direction and then in the other, with the maximum angle between the main arm assembly and the extension arm assembly being less than 180°. .Iadd.21. The irrigating apparatus of claim 17 wherein each support tower for the extension arm assembly includes steerable wheels and said moving means includes means for 
     
     
        steering and driving said steerable wheels..Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly connected at the other end of said main arm assembly for swinging movement of said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith, the fluid carrying conduit of said main arm assembly comprising a series of conduit sections connected end to end, each assembly being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinkler, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for driving and steering said steerable wheels, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly between a retracted position defined by an inward swing position of the extension arm assembly and an extended position defined by an outward swing position of the extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The irrigating apparatus of claim 22 wherein each support tower for the extension arm assembly includes steerable wheels..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The irrigating apparatus of claim 22 wherein each main arm conduit section is supported on at least one support tower with the driving means for each section being independently operable..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly at the other end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least one of the support towers for the extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for steering said steerable wheels, and control means operatively connected to said steering means, thereby operating said moving means, to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.26. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, the main arm assembly having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith defined by a series of conduit sections connected end to end and further including means to maintain said main arm conduit sections substantially in a predetermined alignment as said main arm assembly rotates, an extension arm assembly at the end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers, said main arm assembly support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for driving and steering said steerable wheels, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The irrigating apparatus of claim 26 wherein said moving means causes said extension arm to swing relative to said main arm..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The irrigating apparatus of claim 26 wherein each support tower for the 
     
     
        extension arm assembly includes steerable wheels..Iaddend. .Iadd.29. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly connected at the other end of said main arm assembly for swinging movement of said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers, said main arm assembly support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly between a retracted position defined by an inward swing position of the extension arm assembly and an extended position defined by an outward swing position of the extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The irrigating apparatus of claim 29 wherein said extension arm assembly swings relative to said main arm assembly from a retracted position generally normal to the main arm assembly, out to an extended position with the extension arm assembly swung outwardly from its retracted position, and then back to a retracted position generally normal to said main arm assembly, as said irrigating apparatus moves through a 
     
     
        non-circular area..Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  The irrigating apparatus of claim 29 wherein at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly has steerable wheels, and said moving means includes means for steering said wheels..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The irrigating apparatus of claim 29 wherein at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly has steerable wheels and wheel driving means, and wherein the control means controls the steerable wheels of said extension arm 
     
     
        assembly..Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly at the other end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers, said main arm support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.34. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly at the other end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, steering means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, and control means for operating said steering means to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. Irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a non-circular area, comprising a rotatable main arm assembly mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound for supplying water to a first portion of said area, an extension arm assembly connected at the other end of said main arm assembly for swinging movement of said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly and main arm assembly each having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith, the fluid carrying conduit of said main arm assembly comprising a series of conduit sections connected end to end, each assembly being supported on a plurality of support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least two of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, with each assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for driving and steering said steerable wheels, and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly between a retracted position defined by an inward swing position of the extension arm assembly and an extended position defined by an outward swing position of the extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of 
     
     
        said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  For use with an irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a noncircular area which includes a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, the main arm assembly having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith defined by a series of conduit sections connected end to end, the main arm assembly being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means and supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, said main arm further including means to maintain said main arm conduit sections substantially in a predetermined alignment as said main arm assembly rotates, the improvement comprising: an extension arm assembly connected at the end of said main arm assembly for swinging movement of said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith and being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means, at least one of the support towers for said extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, said extension arm assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers;   means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for driving and steering said steerable wheels;   and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly between a retracted position defined by an inward swing position of the extension arm assembly and an extended position defined by an outward swing position of the extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.37. For use with a center-pivot irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a noncircular area which includes a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, the main arm assembly being mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound, the main arm assembly being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means and supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, the improvement comprising:   an extension arm assembly at the end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly being supported on one or more support towers at least one of the support towers for the extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, the extension arm assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers;   means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for steering said steerable wheels;   and control means operatively connected to said steering means, thereby operating said moving means, to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend. .Iadd.38. For use with a center-pivot irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a noncircular area which includes a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, the main arm assembly being mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound, said main arm assembly being supported on one or more support towers having wheels and wheel driving means and supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, the improvement comprising:   an extension arm assembly at the other end of said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly being supported on one or more support towers at least one of the support towers for the extension arm assembly having steerable wheels, said extension arm assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers;   means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly including means for driving said steerable wheels;   and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     For use with a center-pivot irrigating apparatus for supplying water to a noncircular area which includes a rotatable main arm assembly for supplying water to a first portion of said area, the main arm assembly being mounted at a first end to a fixed base pivot and rotatable therearound and having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith, the fluid carrying conduit of said main arm assembly comprising a series of conduit sections connected end to end, the main arm assembly being supported on a plurality of self-propelled support towers, said main arm assembly having means to maintain said main arm conduit sections substantially in a predetermined alignment as said main arm assembly rotates, the main arm assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers, the improvement comprising: an extension arm assembly connected at the other end of said main arm assembly for swinging movement of said extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly for supplying water to portions of said area outside of said first portion, said extension arm assembly having a fluid carrying conduit associated therewith and being supported on at least one self-propelled support tower having steerable wheels, said extension arm assembly supporting a plurality of spaced irrigating sprinklers;   means for moving said extension arm assembly with respect to said main arm assembly, said moving means including means for driving and steering said steerable wheels;   and control means for operating said moving means to move said extension arm assembly between a retracted position defined by an inward swing position of the extension arm assembly and an extended position defined by an outward swing position of the extension arm assembly relative to said main arm assembly to irrigate said portions outside of said first portion as said main arm rotates..Iaddend.