Patent ID: 6938842
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
1. An irrigation machine, comprising: a main pipeline supported on movable towers and connectable to a fluid supply, the towers being capable of moving the main pipeline such that it sweeps across a primary field space; an auxiliary span supported on at least one auxiliary tower and in fluid communication with the main pipeline, the auxiliary tower being capable of traveling either within a secondary field space generally outside of the primary field space or from the primary field space into and out of a secondary field space, such that the auxiliary span selectively sweeps across the secondary field space; a plurality of auxiliary fluid emitters connected to the auxiliary span, each emitter being adapted for selectively emitting fluid, at least some of said emmiters being arranged in a plurality of banks with each bank containing several emitters; and a control system connected to the auxiliary emitters for controlling the emitters such that the fluid flow rates from the emitters produce a selectable, pre-determined fluid application rate across the secondary field space, said control system being operable to cycle each bank of emitters through repeated operating cycles at predetermined time intervals as the auxiliary span moves through the secondary field space and to cause the on times of at least some of the banks to differ from those of other banks during at least some of the operating cycles, the length of on time of a bank of emitters during an operating cycle depending at least in part upon the position of the auxiliary span.