Patent ID: 8285421
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: A01G,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of optimizing sprinkler nozzle size and lateral position for a plurality of sprinkler heads to be positioned along an irrigation system distribution boom/line, the irrigation system conforming to a specified required precipitation delivery rate/depth associated with one or more discrete segments of the distribution boom/line, comprising: computing an accumulated precipitation delivery depth produced by one or more sprinklers provisionally added and positioned along a segment of an irrigation system distribution boom/line based upon a summation of individual sprinkler precipitation depth profiles, each sprinkler precipitation depth profile associated with a particular sprinkler type and nozzle size, wherein the accumulated precipitation delivery depth is determined in an iterative manner in which sprinkler nozzle size and lateral position parameters for each said provisionally added and positioned sprinkler are varied during successive iterations until a computed accumulated precipitation delivery depth across the segment falls within a predetermined range of error tolerance of a required precipitation delivery rate/depth along the same segment; and outputting information indicative of respective optimized lateral position and nozzle size parameters of each sprinkler along a segment of the irrigation system distribution boom/line, as determined by said iterative computing, which results in the computed accumulated precipitation delivery depth being within the predetermined range of error tolerance over the length of each segment.