Patent ID: 7802738

Claim:
A mobile irrigation apparatus comprising: a frame assembly supporting at least one sprinkler and adapted for movement in a first linear direction along a path in a field to be irrigated; a docking station resiliently suspended from said frame assembly for floating movement in at least three mutually perpendicular directions and including in a first lateral direction substantially transverse to said first linear direction, said docking station adapted to automatically align with and, as said frame assembly moves along the path, engage a hydrant located in or adjacent the path and open a supply valve in said hydrant a first lateral alignment power actuator arranged to move said docking station in said first lateral direction in response to at least one lateral alignment sensor to thereby facilitate lateral alignment of said docking station with the hydrant; a second lateral alignment power actuator opposed to said first lateral alignment power actuator for moving said docking station in a second and opposite lateral direction in response to another lateral alignment sensor; and wherein said docking station includes a frame that mounts a first pair of substantially vertical guide wings on respective opposite sides of said docking station, extending forwardly of, and angling laterally away from said docking station, and wherein said one lateral alignment sensor is mounted on one of said first pair of vertical guide wings and said another lateral alignment sensor is mounted on the other of said lateral guide wings.