Anchor for center irrigation pivot

Abstract

An anchoring apparatus for an irrigation system is disclosed. The anchoring apparatus includes a support base for securing to an axle of a support tower of the irrigation system. A threaded sleeve is secured to the support base and holds a shaft. The shaft has a threaded portion and an anchor portion. A motor secured to the support base is configured to rotate the shaft in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the shaft to move the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards an anchoring position to secure and protect the system against wind and severe weather. The motor is also configured to rotate the shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft to move the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards a disengaging position to lift the anchor portion of the shaft off of the ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An irrigation system, comprising:
 a plurality of towers supporting an irrigation pipe, each tower of the plurality of towers including a pair of drive wheels and an axle extending between the pair of drive wheels; and 
 a plurality ofat least one anchoring units positioned on at least a subset ofunit coupled to at least one tower of the plurality of towers, eachthe at least one anchoring unit comprising: 
 a support base secured to the axle of a tower; 
 a threaded sleeve secured to the support base; 
 a shaft having a threaded portion and an anchor portion, at least a portion of the threaded portion of the shaft being enclosed within the threaded sleeve; and 
 a motor secured to the support base, the motor configured for rotating the shaft in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards an anchoring position wherein at least a portion of the anchor portion of the shaft is drilled into a ground surface, the motor further configured for rotating the shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards a disengaging position wherein the anchor portion of the shaft is lifted off of the ground surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the support base forms a sleeve around the axle of the tower, the sleeve being at least approximately 36 inches long in a direction along the axle of the tower. 
     
     
       3. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the support base is removably secured to the axle of the tower. 
     
     
       4. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the shaft is at least approximately 6 feet long and approximately 1 inch around. 
     
     
       5. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor portion of the shaft includes an auger. 
     
     
       6. The irrigation system of  claim 5 , wherein a diameter of the auger ranges between approximately 10 inches and approximately 15 inches. 
     
     
       7. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein each anchoring unit further comprises:
 a shaft housing secured to the support base, the shaft housing configured for enclosing at least another portion of the threaded portion of the shaft. 
 
     
     
       8. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein each anchoring unit further comprises:
 a switch electronically coupled to the motor, the switch configured for preventing the shaft being rotated beyond a movable range. 
 
     
     
       9. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is offset at an angle, and wherein the offset angle alternates for anchoring units positioned on adjacent towers. 
     
     
       10. The irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is generally perpendicular to the axle of the tower. 
     
     
       11. An anchoring apparatus for an irrigation system, the anchoring apparatus comprising:
 a support base adapted to be removably coupled for securing to an axle of a support tower of the irrigation system;   a threaded sleeve secured to the support base;   a shaft having a threaded portion and an anchor portion, at least a portion of the threaded portion of the shaft being enclosed within the threaded sleeve; and   a motor secured to the support base, the motor configured for rotating the shaft in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards an anchoring position, the motor further configured for rotating the shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards a disengaging position, wherein the support base defines a sleeve of at least approximately 36 inches long.   
     
     
       12. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the threaded portion of the shaft is at least approximately 6 feet long and approximately 1 inch around. 
     
     
       13. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the anchor portion of the shaft includes an auger. 
     
     
       14. The anchoring apparatus of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the auger ranges between approximately 10 inches and approximately 15 inches. 
     
     
       15. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein further comprising: a shaft housing secured to the support base, the shaft housing configured for enclosing at least another portion of the threaded portion of the shaft. 
     
     
       16. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a switch electronically coupled to the motor, the switch configured for preventing the shaft being rotated beyond a movable range. 
     
     
       17. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is offset at an angle and is not perpendicular to the axle of the tower. 
     
     
       18. The anchoring apparatus of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is generally perpendicular to the axle of the tower. 
     
     
       19. An anchoring apparatus for an irrigation system, the anchoring apparatus comprising:
 a support base adapted to be removably coupled for securing to an axle of a tower of the irrigation system, the support base defining a sleeve;   a threaded sleeve secured to the support base;   a shaft having a threaded portion and an anchor portion, at least a portion of the threaded portion of the shaft being enclosed within the threaded sleeve, the anchor portion of the shaft including an auger;   a motor secured to the support base, the motor configured for rotating the shaft in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards an anchoring position wherein at least a portion of the anchor portion of the shaft is drilled into a ground surface, the motor further configured for rotating the shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and moving the shaft along the longitudinal axis towards a disengaging position wherein the anchor portion of the shaft is lifted off of the ground surface; and   a switch electronically coupled to the motor, the switch configured for preventing the shaft being rotated beyond a movable range.   
     
     
       20. The anchoring apparatus of claim 19, wherein the support base further
 includes a lockable, quick-release device configured for attachment to the axle of the irrigation system.