Patent ID: 8352090
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: A01G,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for optimizing a design of a pivot irrigation system, said system comprising a pivot and one or more tubing spans provided with a plurality of components comprising distributors, each of said distributors including one or more elements, the method comprising the following steps: providing first data concerning a number of said spans within said pivot irrigation system, a number of possible distributors connectable to each of said spans and one or more hydraulic parameters representative of water transfer rate by said spans, and loading said data into a storage unit of a computer apparatus in which a computer program product is installed for designing said system, said computer program product comprising a database of said components and said elements; providing second data concerning indication of a water spray gun, hydraulic parameters representative of a water delivery rate of said spray gun, a presence indicator of one or more of a booster pump, or sand or particular drainage elements within said pivot irrigation system, and loading said second data into said storage unit; selecting one or more elements of said distributors from a group of sets of said elements contained in said database loaded in said computer program product; and generating at least one partial list of said components including at least said selected elements using said computer program product, wherein each of said sets of said group is processed by said computer program product by selecting, among all available elements, those elements having mechanical properties compatible with at least said first and said second input data and said elements, which have been previously selected among one or more of said sets to ensure mechanical continuity of said irrigation system during assembly thereof, and wherein said second data further comprise data concerning terminals of the last of said spans such to ensure mechanical continuity of said pivot irrigation system during assembly thereof and proper water sprinkling over crops.