Patent AU-2012244114-B2 (AU)
Title: Low-power startup and direction control circuitry for an irrigation system
Inventor: PICKERILL DAN
IPC: A01G25/16
Filed: 2012-02-17
Granted: 2014-11-20
Abstract: (12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date W O 2012/170083 Al 13 December 2012 (13.12.2012) W I P 0 I P C T (51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every A01G 25/16 (2006.01) A01G 25/09 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, (21) International Application Number: CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, PCT/US2012/025674 DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, (22) International Filing Date: HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, 17 February 2012 (17.02.2012) KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, (25) Filing Language: English OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SC, SD, (26) Publication Language: English SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: 13/157,014 9 June 2011 (09.06.2011) US (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): LIND- GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, SAY CORPORATION [US/US]; 2222 North 111th UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164 (US). TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, (72) Inventors; and DK, EE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, (75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): PICKERILL, Dan LVMC,TR) MK, MT, NL, CF, P, T, R, S, S , SK, [US/US]; 662 252nd Road, Milford, Nebraska 68405 (US). SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, RISCH, Eric [US/US]; 3723 North 84th Street, Omaha, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Nebraska 68134 (US). Published: (74) Agent: LUEBBERING, Thomas B.; Hovey Williams - with international search report (Art. 21(3)) LLP, 10801 Mastin Blvd. Suite 1000, 84 Corporate Woods, Overland Park, Kansas 66210 (US). (54) Title: LOW-POWER STARTUP AND DIRECTION CONTROL CIRCUITRY FOR AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM MAIN SPAN MOUNTED CONTROL PANEL PANEL FORWARDCONTROL 34 E64 RELAY 66 REVERSE CONTROL (-36 72 22 70 -- 62 s - MONITOR 28 76 OVERWTERING24 30 42 -T 38 RELAYI) 54 SAFETY OUT 342EA 54 18 40 44 52- RELAY SAFETY RETURN r3 460 45R 6 CONTROL TOWER SPAN VOLTAGE SAFETY SWITCH 50 6 43 -- -- 4 47 4 (57) Abstract: An electric circuit for remotely starting and controlling the direction of a center pivot irrigation system comprises a first transformer, a second transformer, a first relay, a second relay, a third relay, and a fourth relay. The first transformer is coupled to a voltage source with a first voltage and may step the first voltage down to a second voltage. The second transformer is coupled to f4 the first transformer, receiving a third voltage and stepping the third voltage up to a fourth voltage. The first relay may include con tacts that are open when the irrigation system is started remotely. The second relay may include contacts that are closed when the ir rigation system is started remotely. The third relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a first dir ection. The fourth relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a second direction.