Irrigation pipe control system
US4191207A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1978 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A40/22
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A laser referenced control system for maintaining sequence and correcting the deflections of a moving irrigation pipe includes a laser positioned on a reference coordinate against which the irrigation program sequence and the motion of the pipe are taken. In typical use the pipe is supported on powered wheeled carriages which move across the irrigated terrain at a predetermined rate and it is these wheeled carriages that are controlled according to the deviation of the end of the pipe relative the laser optical axis. This deviation is measured in a fore and aft plane by a phototransducer array to provide the control inputs to the carriages, the vertical terrain undulations being compensated by way of a laser alignment servosystem. In this manner the vertical changes in pipe alignment are taken out, the only correction being made in the plane of translation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.