Patent ID: 7775610

Claim:
A flotation drive wheel for a self-propelled irrigation system, comprising: a circular hub portion having opposite sides and an outer peripheral portion; a ring-shaped band having inner and outer surfaces, secured to said outer peripheral portion so as to extend laterally from both sides thereof; a plurality of generally rectangular shoes; each of said shoes having a flat base portion with inner and outer surfaces, first and second ends, and first and second sides; each of said shoes being pivotally secured intermediate its length to said band about a horizontal axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel; said shoes being secured to said band in a radially-spaced manner; each of said shoes having a first inverted V-shaped angle member secured to said outer surface of said base portion at said first end thereof which extends between said first and second sides of said base portion; each of said shoes having a second inverted V-shaped angle member secured to said outer surface of said base portion at said second end thereof which extends between said first and second sides of said base portion; each of said shoes having a third inverted V-shaped angle member secured to said outer surface of said base portion between said first and second angle members; said third inverted V-shaped angle member extending between said first and second sides of said base portion.