GB2056239A - Irrigation or spraying boom - Google Patents

Abstract

An irrigation or crop spraying boom is mounted on a trolley 1 and may be pulled by a hose 2 which is wound onto a hose-drum of a hose- drum irrigation machine during irrigation or may be self-propelled or pulled by a cable or tractor. The boom is telescopic and there may be a boom extending, in use, from each side of the trolley and having three sections 7, 8, 9. The boom carries a sprinkler 46 mounted at the outer end of each boom section and at the upper end of a riser pipe 3 which is supplied with water or other liquid to be sprayed. Each boom section is suspended by two cables 11, 12, 13; each attached at one end to a respective boom section and wound at the other end on a drum 17, 18, 19. The cables pass through pulley blocks 21 and these are raised or lowered by winches to lift the respective boom into an operative position or to lower it into an inoperative position in which the boom sections can be telescoped together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Irrigation or spraying boom The invention relates to a crop irrigation or spraying apparatus of the type comprising a tubular boom supplying at least one sprinkler, spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device mounted on the boom, the boom being supported at or adjacent one end thereof on a support structure and also being suspended at at least one position spaced from said supported end by a cable extending from said spaced position to a location on the support structure at a level higher than that of the supported end of the boom.

Hereinafter the term "irrigation" has been used to mean either irrigation or spraying crops with a liquid other than water, for example with animal excrement slurry or liquid fertiliser or herbicide, insecticide or the like.

The support structure may be a vehicle to enable the irrigation apparatus to be moved during irrigation or between irrigation operations from one location to another To enable the vehicle to be moved between irrigation operations, especialiy where the boom extends laterally and cannot be turned to a fore-and-aft direction, it may be necessary to reduce the length of the boom.

Hitherto, it has been necessary to make the boom in readily dismountable sections or in sections which are hinged together to enable the boom to be folded to a stowed position.

An object of the invention is to provide irrigation apparatus having a long boom which is collapsible to enable the irrigation apparatus to be moved readily and then re-assembled readily for irrigation and in which the boom is supported in a stable and easily manoeuverable manner.

According to the invention, the irrigation apparatus (as hereinbefore defined) comprises a movable support structure and a tubular boom which is supported at or adjacent one end thereof on the support structure and is arranged to be connected at said one end to a supply pipe to deliver water and other liquid through the boom to at least one sprinkler, spray nozzle or other liquiddischarging device mounted on the boom, the boom comprising at least two tubular sections arranged to be extended and constructed telescopically and also arranged to be suspended, at at least one position spaced longitudinally of the boom from said supported end by a cable rigging system from a location in the support structure at a level higher than that of said supported end of the boom, the apparatus also including a winch mounted on the support structure and operable to adjust the cable rigging system to raise and lower the boom between a raised operative position and a lowered position in which the boom sections are telescopically extendible and contractible.

Each boom section is conveniently supported by a pair of cables, being part of said cable rigging system, each cable of said pair being attached at one end thereof to the boom section adjacent the axially outer end thereof, one cable of each said pair passing around a first pulley block suspended adjacent an upper part of said support structure adjacent the leading end thereof with respect to the intended direction of movement thereof and the other cable of each said pair passing around a second pulley block suspended adjacent the upper part of said support structure adjacent the trailing end thereof with respect to the intended direction of movement thereof, and each cable, being attached at the other end thereof to a drum mounted on the support structure and biased by spring means in a direction to wind-on the cables, the cable rigging system also including a further cable by which the first and second pulley blocks are suspended from said upper part of the support structure, said further cable being guided over further pulleys mounted on the support structure and arranged to be moved to raise or to lower both said first and second pulley blocks by turning said winch in the appropriate direction.

The support structure may carry a pair of said telescopic booms extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, there being one said cable rigging system and an associated winch mounted on the support structure to effect raising and lowering of one of the booms and another said cable rigging system and an associated winch to effect raising and lowering of the other of the booms.

Each pair of adjacent telescopic boom sections of the or each boom are preferably connected together when the radially inner of the pair of sections has been fully extended with respect to the radially outer of the pair of sections by a bayonet type of pin and slot connection, the slot being formed on the external peripheral surface of the radially inner boom section and the pin extending inwardly from the radially outer boom section of the pair at the adjacent end of the boom section and being engageable in the slot, the slot having a locking portion which is engaged with the pin by a combined turning and axial movement of the radially inner section with respect to the radially outer section and the slot being open in the direction towards the opposite end of said inner boom section, whereby the pin is disengageable from the slot after appropriate relative turning and axial movement to permit the inner boom section to be telescopically retracted within the outer boom section of the adjacent pair.

There is conveniently an annular clearance space between the adjacent ends of the pair of boom sections when fully telescopically extended and engaged together by the pin and slot connection and an outlet port and connector leading from said annular clearance space is provided in the radially outer of the pair of boom sections to receive said sprinkler, spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device.

Figure 1 is a side view of the irrigation apparatus which comprises a trolley having a telescopic boom extending laterally from each side of the trolley; Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 from which boom-supporting cables have been omitted; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing the arrangement in plan of the boom-supporting cables; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the trolley and the booms and showing the boom-supporting cables therefor; Figure 5 is a perspective, part-sectional view of a junction between two adjacent boom sections, and Figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of the outer end of the outermost boom section of a boom.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the aforesaid support structure is mounted on a wheeled trolley 1 which is intended to be used with a hose-drum irrigation machine in which a trolley or sledge is pulled by a hose which is rewound around a stationary but rotatable drum. An irrigation machine of this type is disclosed and claimed in our copending Patent Application GB 2036693A. The trolley 1 is pulled to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, by the winding-in on the hose-drum (not shown) of a flexible hose 2 connected to a riser pipe 3 mounted on the trolley 1. The riser pipe 3 has an upper end 4 providing a pair of oppositely-facing pipe sockets 5, 5' facing outwardly towards the sides of the trolley and an upright pipe 6 leading to a sprinkler 46 at the top of the trolley 1.The trolley 1 is initially moved in the reverse direction by manual pulling, pulling by a tractor or by a cable. The wheeled trolley may alternatively be a sledge; a self-propelled vehicle when not connected by the hose to the hose-drum or it may be attached to a tractor.

Each socket 5, 5' receives the largest diameter section 7 of a telescopic boom formed by three tubular sections 7,8,9 of which the section 8 is telescopically slidable in the section 7 and the section 9 is telescopically slidable in the section 8.

The boom sections at the right-hand side as viewed in Figures 2 to 4 are distinguished by the suffix (').The boom shown in Figures 2 to 4 are shown in their operative positions in which each boom is directed laterally outward from the trolley and the sections thereof have been extended telescopically, as hereinafter explained. Although the trolley 1 is shown supporting a pair of booms, it may support only one boom supplied by the riser pipe 3. Aithough each of the booms illustrated have three telescopic sections, the booms may each have two or a greater number than three telescopic sections.

Each boom is supported, in use, at outward positions by pairs of cables 11, 12, 13 connected to attachment points 14, 15, 16 at the outer end of each section 7, 8, 9 respectively. The cables at the right-hand side of the trolley 1, as viewed in Figures 2 to 4, are like the boom sections distinguished by the use of the suffix (').The inner end of each cable is attached to a respective drum 17,18,19; 17', 18', 19' which is biased bya spring 20 acting in the cable-rewinding sense to rewind the cables, the respective cables passing freely through and being supported by four pulley blocks 21 suspended from the top of a superstructure frame 22 mounted on the trolley 1, two of the blocks 21 being illustrated in Figure 1.

The superstructure frame 22 is of trapezium shape as viewed from the side in Figure 1 and of triangular shape as viewed from one end in Figure 2. The two blocks 21, shown in Figure 1, are suspended at each end of a cable 23, passing through fixed pulley blocks 24, mounted at the top of the frame 22. One of the blocks 21 is located at the leading end of the frame 22 and the other of the blocks 21 is located at the trailing end of the frame 22. The cable 23 also passes around pairs of pulleys 25, 26 near the centre of the top of the frame 22. Between each pair of pulleys 25, 26, the cable 23 is connected to a block 27. Around the block 27 there is a further cable 28 anchored at end 29 to the frame 22 and having its other end wound around a hand winch 30 also mounted on the frame 22.Turning the winch 30 in the direction to wind-on the cable 28, causesthe block 27 to be pulled downwardly, thereby pulling the cable 23 between the pulleys 25 and 26 and thereby raising both blocks 21 to raise the boom 7, 8, 9. The cables 11, 12, 13 supporting the boom 7, 8, 9 are automatically partially re-wound on the drums 17, 18, 19. The boom 7', 8', 9' is similarly raised and suspended by a cable rigging system comprising cables 11 12', 13'; blocks 21'; a cable 23' supported by blocks 24' and pulleys 25', 26'; a block 27'; a cable 28', and a winch 30'.

The booms are raised to their operative positions in which they are suspended by the cables 11,12, 13; 11', 12', 13' by winding both winches 30, 30' in the winding-on sense. The booms are them permitted to pivot downwardly through a small angle until stops 31 fixed to the respective cables on the drums 1 7, 1 8, 1 9 and 17', 18', 19' are pulled away from the drums and engage underneath a fixed part of the frame 22 and therefore hold the booms suspended and remove the weight of the booms from the springs on the drums. To dismantle the booms, as will be described hereinafter, after irrigation, the booms are lowered by means of the winches until the innermost boom sections 7, 7' rest on supporting arms 32, 32' extending from each side of the trolley 1.

The winches 30, 30' may be replaced by a single winch to raise both pairs of blocks 21, 21' simultaneously. The winch or winches 30, 30' may aiternatively be power-driven although the load acting on the cable 28, 28' is not excessive in view of the design of the rigging. Turnbuckles 33 are provided to adjust the effective length of the cables 28, 28' and 23, 23'. Turnbuckles 34 are provided at the outer ends of the cables 11, 12, 13; 11 12', 1 3' to adjust the effective length of the respective cables.

The inboard section 7, 7' of each boom is of largest diameter and has an end which is insertable into the socket 5 or 5' and is held therein by a releasable claw type locking member 35, 35'. This type of socket and locking member is well-known for irrigation pipe-lines. The next section 8, 8' is of smaller diameter and is loosely slidable telescopically within the section 7, 7'. The axially outer end of the largest diameter section 7, 7' contains an inwardly-extending pin 36 (see Figure 4) which is engaged in a bayonet type slot 37 in a collar 38 fixed to the axially inner end of the respective section 8, 8', when the section 8, 8' is fully extended with respect to the section 7, 7'.

A seal 39 prevents leakage outwardly of the section 8, 8' from the annular space 40 between the two telescopic sections 7, 8; 7', 8'. The bayonet slot 37 has a locking recess 41 in which the pin 36 is located when the section 8, 8' has been fully extended and appropriately turned to lock the two sections from inadvertent closing movement. To insert the small diameter section 8, 8' telescopically into the larger diameter section 7, 7', the section 8, 8' must be moved axially with respect to the section 7, 7' until the section 8, 8' can be turned relatively to the section 7, 7' to permit the main part of the bayonet slot 37 to be aligned with the pin 36. Then the section 8, 8' can be collapsed telescopicaily into the section 7, 7'.

A similar collar 38 with bayonet slot 37, 41 and a co-operating pin 36 is provided at the inner end of the smallest diameter boom section 9, 9' and the outer end of the intermediate boom section 8, 8'.

The outer end of the outer section 9, 9' of each boom is closed by a plug 42, 42' which is held in place by a claw type locking member 43, 43' engaging in a recess 44, 44'.

The outer end of each of the boom sections has a socket outlet 45, 45' communicating with the interior of the boom and into which a sprinkler 46 is screwed. There are therefore seven sprinklers 46, one connected to the upright pipe 6 at the centre and three mounted at spaced intervals on each boom.

During irrigation, the boom sections are fully extended telescopically and are held in their raised positions as shown particularly in Figure 4 by the cables 11,12,13; 11', 12', 13'afterthestops31 of the latter have engaged underneath a part of the frame 22 to remove the weight from the springs of the drums 17,18,19; 17', 18', 19', as aforesaid. Water is admitted to the riser pipe 3 from the hose and therefore through the pipe 6 and each boom to the seven sprinklers 46. When irrigation has been completed and the apparatus is to be moved, water is allowed to drain from the booms, by removing a drain plug, not shown. The booms are then lowered until the inner sections 7, 7' rest on the arms 32, 32'.The turnbuckles 34 at the outer ends of the cables 11,12,13; 11 12', 13' are removed from the respective attachment points 14, 15, 16; 14', 1 5', 16' and the cables are permitted to be wound by the return springs 20 on to the respective drums 17, 18, 19; 17', 18', 19'.

Then the turnbuckles 34 can be hooked onto convenient parts of the superstructure 22. The boom sections 9, 8; 9', 8' are moved axially and turned to disengage the bayonet slots 37 from the pins 36 and are telescopically collapsed into the boom sections 7, 7'. The turnbuckles 35 can then be re-engaged with the respective attachment points on the boom sections. If complete telescopic closure is not required, the outer boom sections 9, 9' may be telescopically closed into the boom sections 8, 8' and the sections 8, 8' may be left in their extended positions.

If the movement of the apparatus is to be over a long distance or through a narrow space, the fully telescoped boom sections may be disengaged from the sockets 5, 5' and the collapsed tubes lifted into storage positions in which they are supported as indicated in chain-lines at 9" in Figure 1 , in inclined positions on pairs of upper and lower brackets 47, 48 (see Figures 1 and 2 respectively). The boom sections are held in these positions by a tie-bar 49, as shown in Figure 1.

The arrangement described and illustrated therefore makes it possible for a pair of long booms (e.g. each boom section may be approximately 6 metres in length) to be retracted and then stowed in an inoperative position on the trolley 1 by one man or perhaps a few men, very quickly and easily. Therefore the trolley 1 can be made ready to be moved to a different location quickly or to be lifted on to a hose-drum irrigation machine, where the hose is intended to have pulled the trolley during irrigation to a position where it is to be lifted on to a hose-drum irrigation machine. The collapsed boom may readily be recoupled to the pipe sockets 5, 5' and the telescoped boom sections quickly and easily extended.

Claims (8)

1. Irrigation apparatus (as hereinbefore defined) comprising a movable support structure and a tubular boom which is supported at or adjacent one end thereof on the support structure and is arranged to be connected at said one end to a supply pipe to deliver water or other liquid through the boom to at least one sprinkler, spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device mounted on the boom, the boom comprising at least two tubular sections arranged to be extended and contracted telescopically and also arranged to be suspended, at at least one position spaced longitudinally of the boom from said supported end by a cable rigging system from a location in the support structure at a level higher than that of said supported end of the boom, the apparatus also including a winch mounted on the support structure and operable to adjust the cable rigging system to raise and lower the boom between a raised operative position and a lowered position in which the boom sections are telescopically extendible and contractible.

2. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which each boom section is supported by a pair of cables, being part of said cable rigging system, each cable of said pair being attached at one end thereof to the boom section adjacent the axially outer end thereof, one cable of each said pair passing around a first pulley block suspended adjacent an upper part of said support structure adjacent the leading end thereof with respect to the intended direction of movement thereof and the other cable of each said pair passing around a second pulley block suspended adjacent the upper part of said support structure adjacent the trailing end thereof with respect to the intended direction of movement thereof, and each cable, being attached at the other end thereof to a drum mounted on the support structure and biased by spring means in a direction to wind-on the cables, the cable rigging system also including a further cable by which the first and second pulley blocks are suspended from said upper part of the support structure, said further cable being guided over further pulleys mounted on the support structure and arranged to be moved to raise or to lower both said first and second pulley blocks by turning said winch in the appropriate direction.

3. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the support structure carries a pair of said telescopic booms extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, there being one said cable rigging system and an associated winch mounted on the support structure to effect raising and lowering of one of the booms and another said cable rigging system and an associated winch to effect raising and lowering of the other of the booms.

4. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which each pair of adjacent telescopic tubular boom sections of the or each boom are connected together when the radially inner of the pair of sections has been fully extended with respect to the radially outer of the pair of sections by a bayonet type of pin and slot connection, the slot being formed on the external peripheral surface of the radially inner boom section and the pin extending inwardly from the radially outer boom section of the pair at the adjacent end of the boom section and being engageable in the slot, the slot having a locking portion which is engaged with the pin by a combined turning and axial movement of the radially inner section with respect to the radially outer section and the slot being open in the direction towards the opposite end of said inner boom section, whereby the pin is disengageable from the slot after appropriate relative turning and axial movement to permit the inner boom section to be telescopically retracted within the outer boom section of the adjacent pair.

5. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 in which an annular clearance space is provided between the adjacent ends of the pair of boom sections when fully telescopically extended and engaged together by the pin and slot connection and an outlet port and connector leading from said annular clearance space is provided in the radially outer of the pair of boom sections to receive said sprinkler, spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device.

6. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which the or each boom comprises three telescopic boom sections, there being a sprinkler spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device at the remote end,.with respect to the support structure, of each of the two boom sections nearer to the support structure and supplied from the respective annular clearance space between that boom section and the adjacent radially inner boom section and there being a third sprinkler spray nozzle or other liquid-discharging device at the remote end, with respect to the support structure, of the boom section furthest from the support structure.

7. Irrigation apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the support structure is a trolley or sledge in which the supply pipe is arranged to be connected to a hose to be wound around a rotatable hose-drum of a hose-drum type of irrigator, whereby winding of the hose around the hose-drum which is fixed in position while being rotated will pull the trolley or sledge with the boom or booms thereon towards the hosedrum.

8. Irrigation apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.