Patent Publication Number: US-2021178809-A1

Title: Farm irrigation wheel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of 15/979,429, filed on May 14, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to utility wheels and more particularly, to wheels used in farming applications, such as wheels used in conjunction with crop irrigation equipment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Currently, center pivot irrigation is a form of overhead sprinkler irrigation, which uses a machine having pipe segments arranged in linear arms, with sprinklers positioned along the arms which may be supported by trusses mounted on wheeled units with such units set at several points along the arms. In one version, the arms are driven in a circular pattern and is fed with water from a pivot point at the center of the circle. For a center pivot to be used, the terrain upon which it rotates must be reasonably flat; but may move over an undulating surface. The arms typically may be between 1200 and 1600 feet in length forming a circle radius. These systems may be water-powered, hydraulic powered or electric motor-driven. The outermost wheels set the pace of rotation with a full circle made once every three days for example. The inner wheels are auto-controlled to keep the arms relatively linear during movement. Sprinkler sizes are progressively larger over the distance from the pivot point to the outer circumference of the circle. Crops may be planted in straight rows or in circles to conform to the travel of the irrigation system. 
     Additionally, center-pivot irrigation typically uses less water and require less labor than furrow irrigation. This results in lower labor costs, reduces the amount of soil tillage required, and helps reduce water runoff and soil erosion. Less tillage also encourages more organic materials and crop residue to decompose back into the soil and reduces soil compaction. Inflatable tires are widely used on center-pivot irrigation rigs because they have excellent performance on soft soil and mud due to their compliance causing flattening as they roll in contact with a surface. During flattening the tire&#39;s footprint (contact surface) grows thereby reducing contact pressure and reduced contact pressure reduces the tendency to sink into the ground ruts are less pronounced. 
     Furthermore, current center pivot irrigation wheels lack strength and durability in the wheels because of pneumatic tires typically used. Moreover, current center pivot irrigation wheels also do not have any traction support for once the wheel has already entered a rut. Pneumatic tires in the irrigation application also require air pressure maintenance due to air loss and typically have rutting issues. 
     Therefore, there is a need to solve the problems described above by proving a device for improved traction for crop irrigation equipment. 
     The aspects or the problems and the associated solutions presented in this section could be or could have been pursued; they are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their presence in this section of the application. 
     BRIEF INVENTION SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In an aspect, a farm irrigation wheel having a hub, a circular ring, a plurality of spokes, and a plurality of lugs is provided. The circular ring has a central axis, an outer surface having a first outer edge and a second outer edge, and a plurality of holes disposed on the outer surface. Additionally, the wheel has a plurality of spokes each being adapted to attach to both the hub and the circular ring, and each of the plurality of spokes being concaved and arranged in an alternating pattern. The plurality of lugs is disposed on the outer surface of the circular ring, and each of plurality of lugs has a first leg and a second leg, each extending from a center rib and a lug plate adapted to connect the first leg to the center rib. Thus, an advantage is better traction due to the lugs having a protrusion and the concavity of the spokes. Further improving the traction is the spokes of the wheel because they may penetrate the soil and help the wheel not slip if it is moving through an existing rut. Additionally, outer surface of the wheel help to reduce the formation of ruts and maintenance of traction in soft earth. 
     The above aspects or examples and advantages, as well as other aspects or examples and advantages, will become apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a center pivot irrigation system as used in farming, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a wheel used in center pivot irrigation systems, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a further perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial vertical section view of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevation view of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a lug of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an aspect. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a perspective view of the lug, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a perspective view of the lug, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7C-7F  illustrate a side view of the lug, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7G  illustrates a perspective view of the lug, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7H  illustrates a perspective semitransparent view of the lug, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel hub, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel without the lugs attached, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel during a von Mises stress simulation, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel during a von Mises stress simulation, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10C  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel during a vibration simulation, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or examples in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects, embodiments and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. 
     It should be understood that, for clarity of the drawings and of the specification, some or all details about some structural components or steps that are known in the art are not shown or described if they are not necessary for the invention to be understood by one of ordinary skills in the art. 
     In the foregoing description, embodiments are described as a plurality of individual parts, and methods as a plurality of individual steps and this is solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some additional parts or steps may be added, some parts or steps may be changed or omitted, and the order of the parts or steps may be re-arranged, while maintaining the sense and understanding of the apparatus and methods as claimed. 
     For the following description, it can be assumed that most correspondingly labeled elements across the figures possess the same characteristics and are subject to the same structure and function. If there is a difference between correspondingly labeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results in a non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particular embodiment, example or aspect, then the conflicting description given for that particular embodiment, example or aspect shall govern. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a typical center pivot irrigation operation in progress. As described in detail herein, a utility farm wheel (“wheel,” “farm wheel”)  10  as used in this type of irrigation as best illustrated in  FIG. 1B  is provided. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wheel  10  may be an assembly of individual parts that may be joined together in various ways. In an embodiment, the individual parts may include a ring  20 , a pair of rims  30 , one or two disk portions  40 , and a plurality of identical lugs  50 . In this embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1B  a tensioning device  60 B typically either a tension band (not shown) or a tension cable may also be used and may improve the alignment of the lugs  50 . The parts may be made of metal or other materials providing suitable tensile strength, elasticity, flexibility and other characteristics as will be known by those of skill in the mechanical arts and as described herein. 
     Additionally, the ring  20  may be manufactured by laser cutting a flat strip of metal and then rolling it to form a cylinder with ends overlapped and welded together. Therefore, the ring  20  may have an outer surface  22  an inner surface  24  and a pair of opposing edges  26 . The ring  20  may have a pattern of through holes  28  in its surface as shown in  FIG. 2 . The rims  30  may be secured to the edges  26  of ring  20  by welding, for instance, and the ends of legs  42  of disk portion  40  may be secured to rim  30  using common hardware. The lugs  50  may be bolted onto the outer surface  22  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Each lug  50  may be mounted on ring  20  by a bracket  80 , possibly of shaped sheet metal, and held in place by bolts  82  as shown. The holes  28  may be arranged in different patterns permitting lugs  50  to be arranged in alternative configurations as will be described. The wheel  10  has a central rotational axis  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lugs  50 , as sighted radially toward wheel  10  (see arrow R), are rectangular in shape having a long axis  52  positioned centrally between its opposing long sides, and a short axis  54  positioned centrally between its opposing short sides. The point where long axis  52  and short axis  54  cross is a central point  56  of lug  50 . 
     The lugs  50  may be fixed to the surface  22  such that long axes  52  are parallel to wheel rotational axis  12 , see  FIG. 1B . The lugs  50  may be placed in side-by-side positions around ring  20  with their short axes  54  aligned colinearly and centered between opposing edges  26 , that is, centered on ring  20 ; this is one mounting option. However, the lugs  50  may alternately be positioned on ring  20  in laterally offset positions (see  FIG. 5 ) with respect to each other to form a continuously and possibly smoothly varying locus of the central points  56  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, the smoothly varying locus of central points  56 , may execute a sinusoidal curve having a sinusoidal amplitude and a sinusoidal period. The sinusoidal amplitude may be varied by changing the magnitude of the lateral incremental positions of the centers  56  of one lug  50  relative to the next. On the other hand, the distance about the circumference of wheel  10  of a single sinusoidal cycle may be varied by changing the circumferential width of lugs  50 . In all cases, the positions of the lugs  50  are determined by the position of holes  28  in ring  20 . Those of skill in the art will be able to determine the locations of holes  28  to produce a desired sinusoidal or alternate arrangement of the lugs  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each lug  50  may have an outwardly directed roughly V-shape (as sighted along the circumference of wheel  10 ). The two opposing legs  58  of said V-shape diverges from surface  22  on either side of axis  54  where the lug  50  is fastened to ring  20 . During rotation of wheel  10  each lug  50  contacts a surface upon which wheel  10  rides. Such contact is initially made by the extreme lateral ends of lug  50  along axis  52 . Upon further wheel rotation greater weight is brought to bear on the legs causing the divergent angle to lessen and cause greater strain within lugs  50 . A rib  57  extends in the direction of axis  52  across the outfacing portion of leg  50  and provides a means for wheel  10  to develop greater traction especially in relatively soft farm soil. At the ends of the legs of lug  50  are ribs  59  positioned orthogonal to rib  57  in order to limit sideways slippage of wheel  10 . 
     The tensioning device  60 B may be made of high-strength Nylon® cable or stainless-steel band stock and may be fixed to lugs  50  on both left and right lateral underside surfaces of the legs by cleats  62  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The device  60 B may allow a gap between adjacent lugs  50 , if any, is, and remains consistent and also may allow lugs  50  to be pre-tensioned for a desired stiffness, that is, drawing the divergence angle of the legs of lugs  50  away from surface  22  to a greater or lesser degree. This also enables adjacent lugs  50  to share and transfer loads between them which is important for sharing and distributing shock loads when obstacles such as rocks are encountered. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel, according to an aspect. In another embodiment, the individual parts may include a ring  20  (shown in  FIG. 9 ), a hub  70 , a plurality of spokes  71 , and a plurality of identical lugs  50 A. As shown, the farm irrigation wheel  10  may have a hub  70 , spokes (“fins”)  71 , lugs  50 A, and a ring  20 . As described herein, the disk portion  40 , shown in FIG. 2 , may be broken up into hub  70  and spokes (“fins”)  71  components. Furthermore, having the hub  70  and the spokes  71  as separates parts may allow for better durability. Additionally, having each spoke  71  as a separate component may allow for easier maintenance. For example, if a spoke  71  were to be damaged, the single spoke  71  may be replaced without the need of replacing the entire wheel  10 . Again, instead of legs  58  on a rim  30 , the farm irrigation wheel  10  may have a hub  70  with spokes  71 , which may provide additional strength to the wheel and more traction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the spokes  71  may be concaved and attach at alternating locations. The spokes  71  of the wheel  10  can act as traction and help the wheel not slip if it is moving through an existing rut. Typically, wheel hubs and spokes only have a purpose to handle loads, while, as described herein, the spokes  71  provide additional traction. The spokes  71  may aid in traction, if necessary, by cutting into the ground surface (i.e., soil or dirt). For example, if the wheel  10  begins to sink below ground level (i.e., in a ‘rut’ or ‘trench’) the wheel  10  may continue to function due to the spokes  71 . 
     The spokes (“fins”)  71  may have a concave surface  71 C increase strength. This allows for an increase in strength but may keep costs down due to the spoke&#39;s  71  thin structure. while keeping the metal very thin for cost purposes. Additionally, the spokes  71  allow the center of gravity of the wheel to be at the center of the hub at times, allowing the wheel  10  to be well-balanced, which will be described in more detail herein. 
     The wheel  10  is ‘compliant’ and may bend and flex to absorb heavy loads. Furthermore, both the spokes  71  and the lugs  50 A may be compliant to allow for the appropriate flex in the  10  to handle larger loads. Additionally, outer surface of the wheel may help to reduce the formation of ruts and maintenance of traction in soft earth. 
     The lugs  50 A may also have lug plates that are horizontal and raised higher than the lugs  50  shown in  FIG. 5 , the lugs  50 A provide additional traction to the wheel  10 . Furthermore, the spokes  71  may provide traction for the wheel  10 if the wheel does sink in the soil. The sine wave of the ring  20  may further help with traction because the sine wave pushing the soil towards the center to provide more traction for the wheel  10 . The geometric shape of the spokes  71  may act as, for example, a person swimming, the spokes  71  help grip soil to dig out of a hole similar to arms while swimming. Furthermore, the spokes  71  may act as paddles to help dig the wheel  10  out of any soil or rut. Additionally, if the wheel  10  sinks in soft soil, the spokes  71  act similarly to the arms and hands of a swimmer to advance and move forward in the alternating arm or paddle like motion. 
     For example, a pair of the spokes  71  cut into the ground evenly and push the wheel upwards when necessary (i.e., in a rut). Current wheels do not usually have a center traction element that the spokes  71  provide. Moreover, the crossing and curvature of each spoke  71  may contribute to the traction, only when the wheel  10  has sunk into soft soil. 
     As shown, each spoke  71  may have a narrow end  71 B and a wider end  71 A, and each wider end  71 A may be mounted to a sinusoidal peak  78  on the ring  20 . The changing width of each spoke  71  may eliminate, or reduce, the resonance force. The each spoke  71  attaches with the narrow end  71 B to the hub  70  to help reduce the resonance force reaching the hub  70  as the vibrations move through the wheel  10 . Reducing the resonance force reaching the hub  70  may help avoid deterioration of the wheel  10 . 
     Additionally, the spokes  71  may act as shocks and absorb vibration, stresses and loads of the wheel, which increases the strength of the wheel  10  by adding a compliant aspect to the design. The concavity of the spokes  71  may increases the strength geometrically speaking, which will be discussed in more detail when referring to  FIG. 10C . The concavity of the spoke  71  may be manufactured through metal forming. In another example, the concavity of the spoke  71  may be created during installation of the spokes  71  into the ring  20 . 
     The wheel may be made of a low-grade carbon steel for cost purposes, but a preferred material may be spring steel. Spring steel may be preferred to control and increase the elasticity and compliance of the wheel  10  and lugs  50 A. The geometry of the spokes  71  may allow the spokes  71  to flex, and the spokes  71  may interfere with each other once the spokes  71  bend to a certain point. For example, under a large load, immediately adjacent spokes  71  may support a center flexing spoke  71 . The two adject spokes  71  may provide the resistance for the spoke  71  between them. While in a resting state, with no load applied the spokes  71  may not be touching. It should be noted the space between the spokes  71  is also narrowing as the spokes  71  move towards the hub  70  and are nearly touching before a load is applied. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a perspective view of the lug, according to an aspect. While  FIG. 7B  illustrates an interior view of the lug, according to an aspect. Additionally, the lug shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the lugs  50 A may have metal built into the lug  50 A interior. Moreover, a liquid rubber may be overmolded onto the metal for additional strength and durability. The metal interior may allow the lug  50 A to flex and twist, which is necessary in the typical abusive farming environment. For example, the lugs  50 A may be made of spring steel, and may have the additional rubber overmold. Each lug  50 A may be mounted on ring  20  by a bolt. The holes  28 , shown in  FIG. 9 , may be arranged in different patterns permitting lugs  50 A to be arranged in alternative configurations as will be described. The lugs  50 A may have a flat portion with bolt holes  93  to allow the lugs  50 A to easily secure to the ring  20 . 
     A lug plate  91  extends in the direction of axis  92  across the outfacing portion of leg  50  and provides a means for wheel  10  to develop greater traction especially in relatively soft farm soil. At the ends of the legs of lug  50 A are lug plate  91  positioned orthogonal to center rib  92  in order to limit sideways slippage of wheel  10 . It should be understood that the lug  50 A could be built in other ways such as having, for example, a metal interior frame with an overmolded rubber coat. 
     The lugs  50 A may have a lug plate  91  to further help with traction while the wheel  10  is in use. The both the lug plates  91  and the center peak (“center rib”)  92  on the lugs  50 A may allow the wheel  10  to have proper traction on the softer farming soils. Additionally, the orientation of the lugs  50 A may further help with traction over the farming landscapes. How they attach—bolt holes  93 . As shown, each of the plurality of lugs  50 A may opposing legs  95  forming a W-shaped structure aligned with said central axis. Moreover, the lug plate  91  may connect the lug legs  95  to lug center rib  92 , while also being connected to the flat portion  97  of the lug  50 A. As described herein, the lug plate  91  may provide additional structural support, while also providing additional traction for the wheel  10 . As another example, the lug  50 A may have a lug plate  91  on both sides of the center rib to provide additional traction and support, shown in  FIGS. 7C, 7F, and 7G . 
     Additionally, the lugs  50 A may be positioned in an alternating pattern, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The lugs  50 A may be oriented to have the lug plate  91  on one side while the next adjacent lug  50 A may have the lug plate  91  on the opposing side. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6  lug  50 B and lug  50 C depict the alternating pattern of the lugs  50 A orientation along the ring  20 . Each of the plurality of spokes  71  may be concaved and arranged in an alternating pattern. The alternating pattern may be, as shown, the top end  71 A of each of the plurality of spokes  71  being attached alternately to the first outer edge  20 A or the second outer edge  20 B of the circular ring  20  and the bottom end  71 B of each of the plurality of spokes is attached alternately to the first side  75  or the second side  74  of the hub. 
       FIGS. 7C-7F  illustrate a side view of the lug, according to an embodiment. As another example, the lug  50 A may have a lug plate  91  on both sides of the lug, shown in  FIGS. 7C and 7F . Furthermore, as shown the lug plate  91  may not attach to the flat portion  97 . Additionally, the lug plate  91  may have cutouts  98 , for example, to lower costs but maintain the structural integrity of the lug  50 A. Additionally, the cutouts  98  may allow mud and debris to escape and not get stuck in the lug  50 A. As shown in  FIGS. 7E and 7F , the lugs  50 A may have a solid center rib  92 . As an example, the lug  50 A may have a solid center rib  92  to provide additional strength. Also, as shown, the bolt holes  93  and bolts  94  may be in the center of the lug  50 A instead of positioned in the flat portions. 
       FIG. 7G  illustrates a perspective view of the lug, according to an embodiment. As shown, lugs  50 A may have a solid center rib  92 . For example, the lug  50 A may be made of a spring steel, while the interior  99  of the center rib  92  may be a rubber material. Having the spring steel as the exterior of the lug  50 A and as the material which is in contact with the ground allows the lugs  50 A and wheel  10  to be more durable. Additionally, shown in  FIG. 7G , the lug plate  91  may have a triangular cross section, where the widest portion of the lug plate  91  is where the lug plate mees the flat portions  97 . The triangular cross section of the lug  50 A, shown in  FIG. 7G , may allow the lug plate  91  to be stronger during use. The wide bottom of the lug plate  91  may help the lug plate from breaking off during use. As described herein, the lug plate  91  allows for improved traction for the wheel  10 . Furthermore, the highest point of the lug  50 A may be the solid center rib  92 , which would help when the wheel  10  may transverse hard surfaces. For example, this is due to the solid center rib  92  having a hard exterior surface while having the additional interior rubber support. Moreover, solid center rib  92  being the highest point of the lug  50 A may allow only the top surface of the center rib  92  to touch the ground while on a harder surface. 
       FIG. 7H  illustrates a perspective semitransparent view of the lug  50 A, according to an embodiment. As shown, the lug  50 A may have a metal frame  100  interior. The metal frame  100  may be a wire spring steel and overmolded rubber for maximal compliancy. Also, as shown, the bolt holes  93  and bolts  94  may be in the center of the lug  50 A instead of positioned in the flat portions. Again, the lug plates  91  allows for improved traction for the wheel  10 . For example, as shown, the metal frame  100  interior may be a plurality of wire components to create the lug shape. Furthermore, the highest point of the lug  50 A may be the center rib  92 , which would help when the wheel  10  may transverse hard surfaces, for example, when on a road prior to the soft farming soil. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel hub (“hub”) 70 , according to an embodiment. As shown, the hub  70  has a narrow end (“second side”)  74  and a wider end (“first side”)  75 , which allows the farm irrigation wheel  10 . Additionally, the hub  70  allows the farm irrigation wheel  10  to be attached to a center pivot irrigation system, as shown in  FIG. 1A . The hub  70  also allows the alternating pattern of the spokes  71  to be securely attached. As described herein, the spokes  71  allow the wheel  10  to have traction even if the wheel  10  becomes somewhat submerged in the landscape. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel  10  without the lugs  50  attached, according to an aspect. The plurality of lugs (not shown) may be mounted in side-by-side positions forms a circular ring where each of the lugs has laterally extending legs forming a W-shape aligned with a rotational axis of the wheel. The lugs may have an outfacing rib aligned with the rotational axis and a further outfacing rib orthogonal to the rotational axis. The lugs may be mutually offset around the circular ring in a sinusoidal pattern to further help with traction and wear and tear. 
     The ring  20  may have a pattern of through holes  28  in its surface as shown in  FIG. 2 . The spokes  70  may be secured to ring  20  using support pieces  76 ,  77  and common hardware (e.g., bolts). Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the spokes  70  may be attached to both the hub  70  and ring  20  by a combination of bolts  78  and support pieces  76 ,  77 . For example, as shown, the spoke  70  may rest on a support piece  77  and have a bolt secure the spoke  71  to the hub  70  by penetrating the holes in all three components. Additionally, the support pieces  76 ,  77  may follow the curvature of both the hub  70  and the ring  20  to be flush against each surface, respectively, allowing for more secure connection. As described herein, the lugs  50 A may have a flat portion with bolt holes  93  to allow the lugs  50 A to easily secure to the ring  20 . Additionally, the spokes  71  being removable allows for a decrease of fatigue on the wheel. Moreover, the modular aspect of the wheel  10  may reduce shipping costs, while also providing an ease of maintenance. 
     Furthermore, each spoke may attach to the peak  78  of the sine wave of the ring  20 . It should be noted that when the spokes connect to the sinusoidal ring it attaches to the peak  78  as opposed to the valley  79  of the respective sinusoidal edge of the ring  20 . It should be noted the alternating mounting of the spokes  71  contributes to the improved traction in soil while preserving a relatively light weight structure of the wheel. For example, the spoke  71  may be mounted with the top  71 A on the first side  20 A of the ring  20  and the bottom  71 B attached to the second side  74  of the hub  70 . Additionally, for example, the adjacent the spoke  71  may be mounted with the top  71 A on the second side  20 B of the ring  20  and the bottom  71 B attached to the first side  75  of the hub  70 . This alternating pattern may continue for the entirety of the mounting of the spokes  71 . Moreover, the spokes  71  may be mounted with their concave surface facing outward, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The alternating spoke orientation may allow for the weight to always be distributed and allowing the center of gravity to be perfectly balanced. It should be noted the spokes being built from a steel sheet provides the advantages of the light weight and lower cost of manufacturing the wheel  10 . In another example, the wheel  10  may be made of  1020  steel. 
     Additionally, each spoke  71  attaching to the peak  78  of the sinusoidal edge of the ring  20  may allow the wheel  10  to stay balanced even during hard or sharp turns. For example, for hard turns the peak  78  may support the weight more so and thus the spokes  71  and hub  70  may compensate for the force. Moreover, because each spoke  71  crosses the center and attaches to the peak  78  the weight may be distributed evenly, which allows the wheel  10  to be more balanced. For example, while the wheel  10  is moving and the sine shape of the ring  20  shifts from left to right puts the stress on the spoke  71  because it attaches to peak  78 . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel during a von Mises stress simulation, according to an embodiment. For example, in a simulation test, a 3D of the wheel  10  without the lugs  50 A was evaluated for it is strength under varying conditions. During the von Mises Stress test simulation, the wheel  10  without the lugs  50 A had a yield strength of 3.500e+08 N/m{circumflex over ( )}2. Thus, the wheel  10  can withstand a typical load and not deform in any way. Additionally, this farm irrigation wheel  10  has a better yield strength because of the alternating spokes  71 , while still being durable and providing traction. As testing showed, ach wheel may withstand over 20,000 lbs. of force before breaking with a max load is 6,000 lbs. per wheel (12,000 lbs. per tower). Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 10A , the darkest grey portion of the gradient is the outer most portion of the wheel  10 . This shows the ring  20  and hub  70  experience the least amount of stress. While the lightest portion of the gradient is the hub  70  and spoke  71  connection, meaning that connection experienced the most stress. However, as described herein, the stress the connection had was still minimal even under a large load. As shown in  FIG. 10B , the darkest grey portion of the gradient is the outer portion of the wheel  10 , while under a larger load. This shows the ring  20  may experience some stress under heavy loads, but the hub  70  is relatively stressless. 
       FIG. 10C  illustrates a perspective view of the farm irrigation wheel during a vibration simulation, according to an embodiment. It should also be noted that the wheel  10  may further ensure the hub  70  does not experience a large amount of vibration from the system. Through analysis testing, it showed the vibrations stayed near the outer portions of the wheel and did not permeate to the hub  70  of the wheel  10 . As shown in  FIG. 10C , the vibrations stay towards the outer portion of the wheel  10  and do not reach the hub  70 . The wheel  10  was specifically designed to keep the vibration from reaching the hub  70  of the wheel  10 . Typically, the hub  70  is where the drivetrain and gearbox sit, which is the first major part to fail on a pivot machine. Furthermore, on-pneumatic wheels typically accelerate the drivetrain&#39;s failure. The alternating positions of the spokes, along with their shape further help to ensure the vibrations do not resonate to the center hub  70 . The same spoke shape without concavity was also tested in an ansys computer simulation, the results showed the spoke with no concavity had  10 x less strength. Furthermore, the spokes  71  with a concave surface  71 C may increase the strength approximately by ten times. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 10C  the darkest grey portion of the gradient is the outer most portion of the wheel  10 . Again, this means the most vibration is near the ring  20  of the wheel  10 . While the black portion of the gradient is the hub  70 , meaning the hub  70  experienced the minimum amount of vibration. 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
     Further, as used in this application, “plurality” means two or more. A “set” of items may include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. 
     If present, use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. These terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used in this application, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items. 
     Throughout this description, the aspects, embodiments or examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus or procedures disclosed or claimed. Although some of the examples may involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. 
     Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one aspect, embodiment or example are not intended to be excluded from a similar role(s) in other aspects, embodiments or examples. 
     Aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention may be described as processes, which are usually depicted using a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may depict the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. With regard to flowcharts, it should be understood that additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the described methods. 
     If means-plus-function limitations are recited in the claims, the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed in this application for performing the recited function but are intended to cover in scope any equivalent means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function. 
     Claim limitations should be construed as means-plus-function limitations only if the claim recites the term “means” in association with a recited function. 
     If any presented, the claims directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Although aspects, embodiments and/or examples have been illustrated and described herein, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate of the same and/or equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may be substituted for the aspects, embodiments and/or examples illustrated and described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended to cover such alternate aspects, embodiments and/or examples. Hence, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Further, each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification.