Methods and systems for aligning irrigation systems
US8763937B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01G25/092
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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 for maintaining alignment of the mobile towers includes a location-determining component for determining a position or orientation of each of the mobile towers and a computing device operable to detect mis-alignment of the mobile towers based on the position or orientation of each of the mobile towers, determine a control sequence to re-align the mobile towers, and send commands to at least one of the motors for implementing the control sequence.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.