IRRIGATION RAMP

Abstract: An irrigation ramp, for irrigating fields, intended to be advanced over the field mounted on a carriage (1, 2) or the like and connected via said carriage (1, 2) to a water supply mains. The ramp is characterized in that it comprises two identical self-supporting beam systems (4, 5), one on each side of the longitudinal direction of said carriage (1, 2), where each beam system (4, 5) comprises a first carrying partial system (6, 7) assembled of pipe lengths (8) or the like. These pipe lengths are hingedly connected end (9) to end (9) in a row after one another and pivotal in relation to each other and the carriage (1, 2) in a horizontal plane. Each beam system (4, 5) comprises also a second guiding partial system (12, 13) corresponding to the first one (6, 7) but assembled of flat iron lengths (14) or the like. The said first (6, 7) and the said second partial system (12, 13) are hingedly connected to each other centrally on said lengths (8, 14) and hingedly connected to the carriage, so that the partial systems together form a folding-out and folding-in shears-like self-supporting structure. Each beam system (4, 5) is intended to carry a hose (22) provided with a plurality of nozzles (21) for spreading water. A further characterizing feature is that the beam systems (4, 5) are located at and connected to a yoke (23), which is hingedly suspended on the carriage by means of an axle (27) extending in the longitudinal direction of the carriage, which axle (27) is located considerably over the gravity centre of the beam systems (4, 5) and yoke (23), whereby the ramp with the beam systems (4, 5) maintains a horizontal alignment even when the carriage heels over.

Description: Irrigation ramp This invention relates to a ramp for irrigation which can be folded out and in and is intended to be moved mounted on a carriage or the like. Conventional ramps for this purpose normally are assembled of lattice sections with a magnitude of 10 m, which are •jointed to a rigid ramp of substantial length. The ramp is intended to be attached to and driven by a drive means, which normally also comprises pumps etc. for supplying the ramp with water. Ramps constructed in this way are not self-supporting,but are carried on a •number of wheel pairs, which are arranged along the ramp and in most cases are driven. A ramp of this kind is intended to be advanced over the field to be irrigated either in a usually rectilinear path perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ramp, or rotatingly so that the free end of the ramp de¬ scribes a circle, the radius of which is the ramp, and the drive means is located in the central point of the circle. Along the ramp water is supplied by means of one or more pipes or the like, in connection to which nozzles are located for spreading the water. Ramps of the aforesaid kind show several disadvantages. They are expensive, due to the fact that the supporting wheel pairs must be driven-.- This separate drive of the wheels normally cannot be avoided, because the require¬ ments on a drive means for the ramp in its entirety would be too high, and so would also be the strength require¬ ments on the ramp. Considering that the wheels must ad¬ vancedon uneven ground, i.e. the field to be irrigated, the resistance is substantial. It is possible to establ¬ ish courses for the wheels in order to reduce the drive demand, but also this is expensive from an initial cost as well from a maintenance aspect. The wheels, irrespect¬ ive of whether courses are established or not, give rise to damages on the crop and reduce the utilization degree OMPI of the field. They also imply, of course, an increased en¬ ergy demand. A further disadvantage is that extensive mounting work usu¬ ally is required when the ramp is to be transported, for example from one field to another. The present invention relates to an irrigation ramp, at which the aforesaid disadvantages and problems are not involved. The invention, thus-, relates to an irrigation ramp for cultivated fields or the like which is intended to be ad¬ vanced over the field mounted on a carriage or the like, and which via said carriage is connected to a water supply mains. The invention is characterized in that the ramp comprises two identical self-supporting beam systems, one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the carriage, each beam system comprising a first carrying partial system assembled of pipe lengths or the like hingedly connected at their ends one after the other in a row, so that the pipe lengths can be pivoted relative to each other and to the carriage in a substantially horizontal plane, which first partial system, thus, comprises two end lengths, one of which is intended to be attached to the carriage and the other one is intended to constitute the free end of the beam system, where successively smaller ' pipe sections or corresponding sections are used in the direction outward to the free end, that each beam system comprises a second guiding partial system attached to and preferably beneath said first partial system, which second partial system is assembled of flat iron lengths or the like hingedly connected at their ends to each other in a row, so that pivotal mobility correspond¬ ing to that for the first carrying partial system is ob- teineά, that said first and said second partial system substantially correspond to each other, in such a manner, that all pipe lengths and flat iron lengths are equally OMPI long, except the end lengths, of which at least those in- tended to be attached to the carriage are half as long, that said first and said second partial system are hinged- ly connected to each other centrally on said lengths of full length, and hingedly attached to the carriage by the end lengths in a common point of attachment, so that the partial systems together form a folding-out and folding-in shears-like self-supporting structure intended to be fold¬ ed out and in in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carriage, that at and preferably beneath each one of said second guiding partial systems at least one hose or the like provided with a plur¬ ality of nozzles or the like is located for spreading water, that said two self-supporting beam systems are att¬ ached by the end lengths to a yoke and thereby are inter¬ connected by means of said yoke, which is hingedly suspend¬ ed on said carriage by an axle extending in the longitudin¬ al direction of the carriage, or in a similar way, which axle or corresponding member corresponding to a point of suspension is located considerably above the gravity centre of the beam systems and yoke, and that the ramp and. the beam systems substantially maintain horizontal alignment even when said carriage due, for example, to unevennesses in the surface, on which the carriage is advanced, is turned in relation to a vertical plane which is in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the carriage. The invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an irr¬ igation ramp according to the invention, corresponding to the view from below of the ramp in Fig. 3 where the ramp is fold- ed out, and Fig..l does not show the entire ramp, Fig. 2 shows the outermost free end of the right-hand part of the ramp according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 shows the ramp according to Fig. 1 seen from above in Fig. * , BURE OMPI Fig. 4 shows the outermost free end according to Fig. 2 seen from above in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 shows the ramp according to Fig. 3 in folded-in pos¬ ition, and Fig. 6 shows schematically means for driven folding-out and folding-in of a beam system associated with the ramp, which beam system is intended to carry a hose for water supply. In Fig. 1 , where a column corresponding to the lower column in Fig. 3, for carrying a yoke associated with the ramp is not shown, the reference numeral 1 designates a platform of a carriage 1,2 provided with four wheels 2. The carriage, which is shown schematically in the Figures, is intended to carry an irrigation ramp according to the invention and be advanced oλeer the field or the like to be irrigated. The carriage 1,2 is connected by a hose 3 to a water supply mains (not shown) . The irrigation ramp comprises two preferably identical beam systems 4,5 or arms, of which one is located on each side of the longitudinal axis of the carriage 1,2, and which are self-supporting, i.e. they are attached only to the carri¬ age and not intended to be supported in some other way. Each beam system 4,5 comprises a first carrying partial system 6,7 built-up of preferably pipe lengths 8 or pipe portions 8 or the like. The pipe lengths--8 are hingedly connected end to end in a row one after the other, preferably in such a mann¬ er that the ends 9 slightly overlap each other in a vertic¬ al plane and are connected by a vertical through bolt 10 or the like as shown in Fig. 1. The pipe lengths 8 prefer¬ ably are arranged alternatingly overlying and underlying as shown in Fig. 1. The pipe lengths 8, thus, are pivotal rel¬ ative to each other and to said carriage in a substantially horizontal plane. From the carriage 1,2 outward to the free end 11 of the beam system, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, preferably success¬ ively smaller pipe sections are used, in order to reduce BURE4 OMPI the dead weight to be carried by the partial system 6,7. In this way the self-supporting length of the beam system can be increased. Each beam system 4,5 comprises also a second guiding part¬ ial system 12,13 attached to and preferably beneath said first partial system 6,7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which second partial system is built-up of flat iron lengths 14 or the like, which in a suitable way are hingedly connected end to end, so that pivotal mobility corresponding to that for the said first partial system 6,7 is obtained. As regards the length and number of pipe lengths 8 and, respectively, flat iron lengths 14, said first and said second partial system correspond to each other in such a manner, that all pipe lengths and flat iron lengths are equally long,, except the 15,16 located at the carriage, which are half as long. Furthermore, the outermost flat iron 17 is half as long as the remaining ones. The short¬ er lengths 15,16 are hingedly attached to the carriage 1,2 by means of a vertical through bolt 18 or the like. The said first partial system 6,7 and the said second part¬ ial system 12,13 of each beam system k.S are hingedly connected to each other centrally on said lengths 8,14 of full length. The said outermost flat iron 17 is hingedly connected at its outer end 19 to the outermost length 20 of said first partial system centrally on the same at the embodiment here shown. In this way, each pair of partial systems form a folding-oαt and folding-in, shears-like self-supporting structure intended to be folded out and folded in in a dir¬ ection substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dir¬ ection of said carriage 1,2, as appears from Figs. 3 and 4. At and preferably beneath each of said second guiding part¬ ial systems 12,13 at least one hose 22 provided with a plur¬ ality of nozzles 21 or the like is located for spreading water, which hoses 22 are connected to said connection hose 3. The said two self-supporting beam systems 4-,5 are attached to a yoke 23 or the like, which extends substantially in vertical direction. The beam systems are hingedly attached to the lower portion 24 of the yoke 23 by means of flanges 25 or the like, which are provided with holes and intended to co-operate with the bolts 18. The beam systems 4,5, thus, are interconnected by said yoke 23. The yoke 23 is hingedly suspended at its upper portion 26 on said carriage 1 ,2 by means of an axle 27 extending in the longitudinal direction of the carriage, or in a similar way, which axle 27 or corresponding member, corresponding to a point of suspension for the yoke 23 and beam systems 4,5, is located considerably above the gravity centre of the beam systems 4,5 and yoke 23, as shown in Fig. 1. For carrying the axle 27, two columns 28 or the like are rigid¬ ly attached on the carriage, as shown schematically in Figs. 1 and 3. -By means of the suspension arrangement, the ramp with said beam systems 4,5 maintains a substantially horizontal alignment even when the carriage, due to, for example, unevennesses of the surface, on which the carriage is advanced, is turned in relation to a vertical plane which is in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the carr¬ iage. The folding-out and folding-in of the two beam systems 4,5 of the ramp preferably is carried out in a driven manner. According to one embodiment shown schematically in Fig. 6, a gear ring 29 is located on the pipe length 15 of each of said partial systems attached to the yoke 23. The gear ring 29 is located in connection to the attachment point of the pipe length on the yoke 23 and intended to co-act with a driven gearwheel 30 on the shaft 31 of a motor (not shown) which preferably is located on the yoke 23. The mode of operation of the irrigation ramp according to the present invention substantially should have become app¬ arent from the above description. On its transport, the ramp preferably is folded in, Fig. 5, and is then very compact. In state for irrigation, the two beam systems of the ramp are folded out ,whereby also the hoses 22 are folded out, and irrigation is carried out, as shown schematically in Fig. 3, while the carriage is advanced in a direction subst¬ antially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the beam systems. The invention, as should have become apparent, provides an irrigation ramp, which does not show the disadvantages of conventional ramps. Due to the design comprising a partial system dimensioned for carrying each "ramp arm" and a small lightweight partial system for guiding the carrying system in the shears-structure, a substantial self-supporting length can be obtained and, thus, a large surface can be irrigated simultaneously. The ramp * also can be folded out and in rapidly and simply,, whereby extensive and tedious mounting work is avoided. Due to the special suspension arrangement according to the invention, the ramp is maintained horizontal even when the carriage heels over, and thereby the outer ends of the ramp are prevented from striking on the ground or crop. This im¬ plies also that the requirements on construction works, courses etc, for advancing the carriage are relatively moderate, if any. _ It is, of course, possible to imagine minor changes of an irrigation ramp according to the invention as described above, without abandoning the invention idea. Another arrangement, for example, for the driven folding out and folding in can be imagined. A gear ring, for example, can be provided at the end surface of each pipe length 15 and co-act with a driven gearwheel. For the folding out and in also a hydraulic cylinder can be used which acts on the pipe length 15 and preferably is attached to the yoke. The invention, thus, must not be regarded restricted to the embodiments described above, but can be varied within the scope of the attached claims .

Claims: Claims 1. An irrigation ramp for cultivated fields or the like, intended to be advanced over the field mounted on a carr¬ iage or the like, which ramp via said carriage is connected to a water supply mains, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the ramp comprises two identical self-supporting beam systems (4,5), one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the carriage (1,2), eac-h beam system (4,5) comprising a first carrying partial system (6,7) assembled of pipe lengths (8) or the like hingedly connected end (9) to end (9) one after the other in a row, so that the pipe lengths (8) can be pivoted relative to each other and to the carriage (1,2) in a substantially horizontal plane, which first partial system (6,7), thus, comprises two end lengths, one (15) of which is intended to be attached to the carriage and the other one is intended to constitute the free end of the beam system (4,5), where successively smaller pipe sections (8) or corresponding sections are used in the direction outward to the free end (11) of the beam system (4,5), that each beam system (4,5) comprises a second guiding partial system (12,13) attached to and preferably beneath said first partial system (6,7), which second partial system is assembled of flat iron lengths (14) or the like hingedly connected at their ends to-each other in a row, so that piv¬ otal mobility corresponding to that for the first carrying partial system (6,7) is obtained, that said first (6,7) and said second partial system (12,13) substantially corr¬ espond to each other, in such a manner, that all pipe lengths and flat iron lengths (8,14) are equally long, ex¬ cept the end lengths, of which at least those (15,16) in¬ tended to be attached to the carriage are half as long, that said first (6,7) and said second partial system (12, 13) are hingedly connected to each other centrally on said lengths (8,14) of full .length, and hingedly attached to the carriage by the end lengths (15,16)- in a common point of attachment, > so that the partial systems together form a folding-out and folding-in shears-like self-supporting structure intend¬ ed to be folded out and in in a direction substantially perp¬ endicular to the longitudinal direction of the carriage, that at and preferably beneath each one of said second guid¬ ing partial systems (12,13) at least one hose (22) or the like provided with a plurality of nozzles (21) or the like is located for spreading water, that said two self-support¬ ing beam systems (4,5) are attached by the end lengths (15, 16) to a yoke (23) and thereby are interconnected by means of said yoke (23) , which is hingedly suspended on said carr¬ iage (1,2) by an axle (27) extending in the longitudinal direction of the carriage, or in a similar way, which axle (27) or corresponding member corresponding to a point of suspension is located considerably above the gravity centre of the beam systems (4,5) ' and yoke (23), and that the ramp and the beam systems (4,5) substantially maintain horizont¬ al alignment even when said carriage (1,2) due, for example, to unevennesses in the surface, on which the carriage is ad¬ vanced, is turned in relation to a vertical plane which is in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the carriage. 2. An irrigation ramp as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t¬ e r i z e d i n that the pipe lengths (8) or corresp¬ onding lengths of said first carrying partial system (6,7) are hingedly connected one end (9) to the other end (9) , in such a manner, that the .ends (9) slightly overlap each other in a vertical plane and are interconnected by means of a vertical through bolt (10) or the like, and that the pipe lengths (8) are arranged alternatingly overlying and under¬ lying. 3. An irrigation ramp as defined in claim 1 or 2 , c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that the folding-out and folding- in of the two beam systems (4,5) of the ramp are intended to occur in a driven way, where a gear ring (29) is located on each of the pipe length (15) of said carrying partial systems (4,5) attached to the yoke (23) in connection to the point of attachment of the pipe length (15) on the yoke (23), and where the gear ring (29) is intended to co-act with a driven gearwheel (50) located on the shaft (31) of a motor, which preferably is located on the yoke (23).

Inventors: KARL-ARNE KOCK, KOCK, KARL-ARNE (DECEASED)
Applicants: SIDLER HELEN LEGAL REPRESENTAT, SIDLER, HELEN (LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF KOCK, KARL-
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01G25
IPC codes: A01G25