Automatic wind brace for side roll irrigation system

An elongated brace member is attached adjacent its inner end pivotally to a base member clamped to the outer circumference of a wheel, a plurality of which support through their hubs an elongated assembly of interconnected irrigation pipes. The inner end of the brace member is connected to the base member through an extensible and retractable damper cylinder which functions to delay the pivotal movement of the brace member from a retracted, inoperative position in which it extends substantially parallel to the irrigation pipe line, to an extended, operative position in which it projects angularly outward and downward from the wheel into engagement of its outer end with the ground. In an alternate construction the base member is secured to the outer end of an elongated post which extends radially outward from the irrigation pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to wheel-supported side roll irrigation systems, and 
more particularly to a bracing mechanism by which to prevent movement of 
such an irrigation system under the influence of wind. 
Wheel-supported, side roll irrigation systems may extend for one-half mile 
or more and are moved by a central, power-driven mover or a plurality of 
such movers. When empty, and therefore quite light in weight, winds of 
even moderate velocity may cause the wheels to roll relative to the mover, 
in which case the irrigation pipes become twisted or otherwise damaged, 
often beyond repair. 
Wind braces have been provided heretofore by various types of attachments 
of an elongated brace to the irrigation pipe or wheel hub. Winds often 
reach magnitudes which cause the system to vault over the brace, resulting 
in damage to the system. Further, some of such braces heretofore have had 
to be adjusted manually to the downwind side of the system, and changed 
manually to the opposite side when the wind changes direction. Some have 
to be removed or anchored in inoperative position to allow movement of the 
system to the next location of irrigation. These problems incur the 
excessive cost of manual labor and irrigation down time. 
Typical of the foregoing types of wind braces which are attached to the 
irrigation pipe or wheel hub, are U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 3,071,327; 
3,618,859; and 3,726,366. The first listed patent also requires manual 
adjustment to the downwind side of the irrigation system. 
U.S. Letters Pat. No. 2,766,996 disclosed a wind brace which is secured to 
the outer periphery of a wheel of a wheel-supported irrigation system. 
However, it requires attachment to the wheel for projection in the 
downwind direction, and therefore requires detachment and relocation of 
the attachment every time the wind reverses direction. It also requires 
detachment from the wheel when the system is to be moved to the next 
location of irrigation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In its basic concept, this invention provides for wheel-supported, side 
roll irrigation systems an automatic wind brace which includes an 
elongated brace member mounted pivotally adjacent its inner end on a base 
member supported by the irrigation system at a location radially outward 
of the axis of the supporting wheels, and an extensible damper member 
pivotally interconnecting the base and brace members for delaying movement 
of the brace member from its retracted, inoperative position disposed 
substantially parallel to the irrigation pipeline, to its extended, 
operative position projecting angularly downward into engagement of its 
outer end with the ground. 
It is by virture of the foregoing basic concept that the principal 
objective of this invention is achieved; namely, to overcome the 
aforementioned disadvantages and limitations of prior wind braces. 
Another objective of this invention is to provide an automatic wind brace 
of the class described which is retained in inoperative position for 
sufficient time to afford movement of the irrigation system to a new 
location of irrigation without the labor cost of manual assistance. 
Still another objective of this invention is the provision of a wind brace 
of the class described that can be installed with space and facility on 
all conventional types of wheel-supported side roll irrigation systems, 
without modification of the system. 
A further objective of this invention is the provision of a wind brace of 
the class described that is of simplified construction for economical 
manufacture. 
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will 
appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with 
the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates diagrammatically a conventional side 
roll irrigation system. It includes a plurality of elongated sections of 
irrigation pipe 10 coupled together to form a continuous pipeline. The 
continuous pipe is supported at longitudinally spaced intervals by the 
hubs 12 of a plurality of wheels 14, and the assembly is moved along the 
ground by means of a centrally located power-driven mover 16. As is well 
known, the mover is connected to the central section of irrigation pipe in 
such manner as to rotate the entire pipeline about its longitudinal axis 
as the mover travels over the ground. Accordingly, axial rotation of the 
irrigation pipeline functions to rotate the supporting wheels 14. 
Wheel-supported, side roll irrigation systems of the foregoing type extend 
one-half mile or more, as previously mentioned. The irrigation pipeline 10 
is supported at varying heights above ground, to accommodate the 
irrigation of a variety of crops, by means of wheels 14 varying in 
diameter from three to twenty feet or more. 
In a typical irrigation system of this class, the irrigation pipeline 10 
extends about one quarter mile in length and is supported at the hubs of 
six foot diameter wheels 14 which are spaced apart about forty feet along 
the length of the pipeline. An irrigation sprinkler head 18 with automatic 
leveler, preferably with automatic drain valve 18' (FIG. 2), is located on 
the pipeline centrally between adjacent wheels. A source of water under 
pressure is coupled to one end of a pipeline, the opposite end of the 
pipeline being closed, and the sprinkler heads are arranged to irrigate an 
area of about fifty five feet in width, laterally the full length of the 
irrigation system. 
After a given area has been irrigated to the desired degree by the 
irrigation system, the water supply is turned off, the irrigation pipeline 
is drained of water to minimize the weight of the system, and the 
power-driven mover or movers 16 is activated to move the system a distance 
equal to three revolutions of the supporting wheels 14, or about fifty 
five feet. The source of water under pressure then is once again connected 
to the end of the pipeline to commence irrigation of the area to which the 
system has been moved. 
As explained hereinbefore, during the time that the irrigation pipeline has 
been drained of water, it is susceptible of being moved under the 
influence of winds. Thus, it is during this time that the wind brace of 
this invention functions automatically to be swung to either side of the 
pipeline to prevent such movement and the consequence damage to the 
system. 
Referring primarily to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the wind brace 
illustrated therein includes an elongated base plate 20 which is secured 
detachably to the outer periphery of one of the pipeline supporting wheels 
14. As illustrated, the attachment is provided by a clamp bar 22, in the 
form of an angle iron, which underlies the base plate and captures between 
them the peripheral rim portion of the wheel. A pair of clamp bolts 24 are 
secured to the base plate, on opposite sides of the wheel rim, and extend 
through registering openings in the clamp bar for reception of the clamp 
nuts 24'. Tightening of the clamp nuts thus draws the base plate and clamp 
bar together and clamps them securely to the wheel rim. 
To prevent twisting of the base plate and clamp bar relative to the radius 
of the wheel, at least one, and preferably two or three lengths of rod or 
pipe 26 is welded or otherwise secured to the clamp bar for reception in 
the annular central and side grooves of the wheel rim. Alternatively, such 
a length of rod or pipe may be secured to the clamp bar or to the 
underside of the base plate for abutting each lateral side of the wheel 
rim. 
The wind brace of this invention also includes an elongated brace member 28 
which is secured adjacent its inner end pivotally to the base member for 
movement between a retracted position (FIG. 4) in which the brace member 
extends substantially parallel to the pipeline 10, and an extended 
position projecting angularly downward into engagement of its outer end 
with the ground (FIG. 2). In the embodiment illustrated, the elongated 
brace member extends through a short reinforcing sleeve 30 and is there 
secured pivotally intermediate its ends to the base member by means of a 
pivot bolt 32. The outer end of the brace member is flattened or otherwise 
provided with a blade-shaped point 34 for penetrating the ground and thus 
forming a secure anchor. 
It is to be noted from the drawings that a substantial portion of the 
length of the brace member projects beyond the base plate 20, and 
therefore it would swing quickly to the operative position of FIG. 2 by 
gravity unless means were provided to delay it. Without such delay, 
movement of the brace member to the operative, ground-engaging position of 
FIG. 2 would prevent movement of the irrigation system by the central 
power-driven mover 16 to a new location of irrigation. 
Thus, means is provided for damping the speed of pivotal movement of the 
brace member 28 from the inoperative position of FIG. 4 to the operative 
position of FIG. 2. The damper mechanism illustrated comprises an 
elongated, extensible and retractable piston-cylinder unit. As 
illustrated, one end of the cylinder 36 of the unit is connected 
pivotally, by means of a pivot bolt 38, to the brace member 28 inwardly of 
the pivot bolt 32. The piston rod 40 extending from the opposite end of 
the cylinder is connected pivotally, by a pivot pin 42, to the base plate 
20. 
Means, such as check valves, are provided on the cylinder for allowing 
retraction of the piston rod quickly into the cylinder and for delaying 
extension of the piston rod outwardly from the cylinder. In this manner, 
the brace member is capable of swinging quickly from the operative 
position of FIG. 2 to the retracted, inoperative position of FIG. 4. This 
rapid retraction may be enhanced by connecting a coil spring 44 in 
parallel with the piston-cylinder unit, between the bolts 38 and 42. 
However, swinging of the brace member from the inoperative position of 
FIG. 4 to the operative position of FIG. 2 is delayed for a time 
sufficient to allow normal movement of the power-driven mover 16 over the 
ground, and hence corresponding movement of the supporting wheels 14, 
before the brace member reaches a downwardly projecting position in which 
it would prevent further movement of the attached wheel. 
By this means, the irrigation system is capable of being moved, by rotation 
of the supporting wheels, while the elongated brace member is retained in 
sufficiently retracted position to allow the attached wheel to roll over 
it. 
The pivotal mounting of the brace member 28 on the base member 20 
accommodates movement of the brace member to operative position on either 
side of the pipeline 10, depending upon the direction of wind. For this 
purpose, a wind vane 46 is secured to the outer portion of the brace 
member and projects downward therefrom for impingement by the wind. The 
force thus exerted against the vane by the wind functions to initiate 
movement of the brace member in the downwind direction, to move the brace 
member to operative position where its outer end engages the ground and it 
thereby braces the irrigation system against movement by the wind. 
It is to be noted that the wind vane projects downward from the brace 
member. In this position the wind vane is disposed under the brace member 
when the latter is in the inoperative position of FIG. 4. Accordingly, the 
vane is out of contact with the ground during rotational movement of the 
irrigation system. 
The wind vane preferably is provided with a bright surface color, such as 
silver or orange, so as to be visible to an operator located at one end of 
the irrigation system. The colored wind vanes are visible to the operator 
only when the brace members are in the operative position of FIG. 2, 
thereby giving evidence to the operator that the brace members are in the 
operative position. If the colored vane members are not visible to the 
operator, this evidences the fact that the brace members are in the 
inoperative position of FIG. 4, so that the system can be moved to a new 
irrigation position. 
With further reference to FIG. 4, it is to be noted that when the brace 
member is in the inoperative position, extending a substantial distance 
beyond the supporting base member 20, considerable force is exerted on the 
base member to twist it in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about 
the wheel rim 14. To resist this force, a length of chain, cable, rod, 
angle iron or other form of strap is provided to interconnect the end of 
the base member opposite the direction of extension of the base member and 
the wheel hub or irrigation pipe. In the embodiment illustrated, one end 
of a length of angle iron 48 is connected to the base member and the 
opposite end is clamped to a pair of the wheel spokes adjacent the hub 12. 
This twisting of the base member also may be minimized by providing a 
counterweight 50 on the end of the brace member 28 opposite the point 34. 
This counterweight also assists in delaying movement of the brace member 
from the inoperative position of FIG. 4 to the operative position of FIG. 
2. 
The operation of the wind brace described hereinbefore is as follows: Let 
it be assumed that the disposition of the brace members 28 is as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein they are disposed in the operative position 
to prevent movement of the side roll irrigation system in the downward 
direction, i.e. toward the bottom of the drawing. It is to be noted that 
the brace members extend outward from the pipeline angularly toward the 
center power-driven mover 16. This arrangement tends to stretch the 
pipeline outwardly to both sides of the mover, thereby keeping the system 
straight. 
Let it be assumed, further, that it is now desired to move the entire 
irrigation system further downward to the next location of irrigation. 
Accordingly, the pipeline 10 is drained of water, as previously described, 
to minimize its weight and thus minimize the load applied to the 
power-driven mover 16. The mover then is first activated to move the 
entire system upward toward the top of the drawing, a short distance of 
for example about 90.degree. to 110.degree. rotation of the wheels, 
sufficient to elevate the outer ends of the brace members 28 so that the 
latter will swing by gravity toward the retracted position of FIG. 4. The 
brace members reach this position of retraction rather quickly, since the 
damper cylinders allow very little restriction to retraction of their 
associated piston rods, and also because of the contraction of spring 44. 
However, further swinging movement of the brace members beyond the 
retracted position is dampened by virtue of the restricted extension of 
the piston rods from the cylinders, due to the action of the check valves 
and the counterweight. 
The center power-driven mover 16 then is activated to drive the entire 
irrigation system toward the bottom of the drawing in FIG. 1. This 
power-driven movement of the system occurs at a rate of speed which is 
faster than the dampened movement of the brace members from the retracted 
position of FIG. 4 to the extended position of FIG. 2. Accordingly, the 
supporting wheels 14 are allowed to continue their rotation, for the 
number of times necessary to bring the system to the next desired location 
of irrigation. At that position, the brace members will remain in the 
retracted position of FIG. 4 or they will be moved by wind or gravity 
automatically to the operative position of FIG. 2. 
If the wind reverses direction, the wheels 14 will rotate in the downwind 
direction until the brace members 28 are elevated and swung to the 
opposite side of the pipeline, as will be apparent. 
The action of the piston-cylinder damper unit also prevents excessive 
swinging of the brace member in response to transient gusts of wind, which 
otherwise would move the brace member to a position where gravity would 
cause it to continue moving to operative position. Prevention of these 
excessive movements contributes to quicker response to damaging winds and 
also minimizes wear of the moving parts of the wind brace. 
Means also preferably is provided for securing the irrigation system 
positively to the ground for storage over the winter months of non-use. 
For this purpose, a tab 52 is welded or otherwise secured to the outer end 
portion of each brace member 28, to extend laterally therefrom. A 
transverse opening 54 in the tab is dimensioned to freely receive an 
elongated stake (not shown), such as a metal fence post, which may be 
driven into the ground to form a rigid anchor for the outer end of the 
brace member. The entire irrigation system thus is secured firmly to the 
ground against movement by the wind. In this regard, the staking of the 
brace members preferably is made after the brace members have been moved 
to the down wind side of the system, with respect to the prevailing 
direction of wind. 
It is to be noted from the foregoing that the inner end of each brace 
member is secured to the periphery of a supporting wheel 14 and that in 
the operative position of the brace member the inner end thereof is 
located, with its supporting base member 20, near the top of the wheel. 
This arrangement provides maximum bracing action and substantially 
eliminates any possibility of the irrigation system vaulting over the 
brace, as frequently occurs with the prior systems in which the brace 
member is secured to the wheel hub or irrigation pipe. Although this 
position of the base member near the top of the wheel is preferred for its 
maximum bracing effect, the position of the base member may be somewhat 
lower on the wheel and still provide adequate bracing in most situations. 
It is important, however, that the base member be located no lower than 
about mid-way between horizontal and vertical planes extending through the 
axis of the wheel hub, i.e., no lower than about 45.degree. above 
horizontal. This is accomplished by providing the elongated brace member 
28 with a length at least twice the diameter, of the supporting wheel. 
Thus, in the exemplified embodiment wherein the supporting wheel is assumed 
to be about six feet in diameter, the brace member is chosen to be at 
least twelve feet in length from its pivotal mounting 32 on the base 
member 20 to its outer end. It is preferred that it be fifteen to eighteen 
feet in length. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the base member 20 is shown to be 
mounted at the outer end of an elongated post 56 which is secured 
detachably at its inner end to the irrigation pipe. This is provided, as 
illustrated, by securing the inner end of the post to one section of a two 
component clamp 58 which encircles the pipe and is clamped thereto by 
means of bolts 60 extending through aligned openings in laterally 
projecting flanges 62. The length of the post is selected to be 
substantially the same as the radius of the pipe-supporting wheels 14. 
Thus, the length of the associated brace member 28 is chosen to be at 
least four times the length of the post in order for the post to extend 
angularly upward at least forty five degrees from a horizontal plane 
through the axis of the pipeline, in the manner previously described. 
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that this invention provides an 
automatic wind brace of simplified construction for economical 
manufacture, which is readily adaptable for attachment to conventional 
wheel supported side roll irrigation systems available from a variety of 
manufacturers, without modification of the system in any way, and which 
functions effectively to brace the system against movement in either 
direction automatically in accordance with the direction of wind. Since 
the wind brace is operated automatically by wind velocity, it may remain 
permanently attached to the irrigation system, thereby limiting the cost 
of labor only to necessary maintenance and repair. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be 
made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of parts described 
hereinbefore. For example, the cylinder 36 may be connected to the brace 
member 28 at a point outwardly of the pivot 32, i.e. toward the point 34, 
rather than inwardly thereof as illustrated, by reversing the direction of 
damping. The connections of the piston rod and cylinder may be reversed 
from the arrangement illustrated. Although the piston-cylinder unit 
illustrated is of the pneumatic type, an hydraulic unit may be used if 
desired. The damping action may be provided for both extension and 
retraction of the piston-cylinder unit. These and other modifications and 
changes may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.