GB2149633A

GB2149633A - Distribution of a liquid over an area of land

Info

Publication number: GB2149633A
Application number: GB08329657A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Robert Latta
Original assignee: ARDLEIGH SWIFT Ltd
Current assignee: ARDLEIGH SWIFT Ltd
Priority date: 1983-11-07
Filing date: 1983-11-07
Publication date: 1985-06-19
Also published as: GB8329657D0

Abstract

Irrigation equipment comprises a tractor-mounted support frame (8) which carries hose reels (12) and a rain gun (10). Lengths of hose (26) are laid out on the ground and are connected to one another. The hose length at one end is connected to a supply point, such ass pump (50). The hose length at the other end is connected to the rain gun (10). After the required amount of water has been discharged over the land, the tractor is moved towards the pump (50) and the rain gun (10) is connected to the next length of hose (26). The previously used length of hose is retracted back onto its reel (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Distribution of a liquid over an area of land This invention relates to a method of, and equipmentfor, distributing a liquid over an area of land, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with the irrigation of agricultural land.

According to a first aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a method of distributing a liquid over an area of land, the method comprising: (i) laying end-to-end a plurality of lengths of hose from a prime mover; (ii) interconnecting the lengths of hose to provide a supply line; (iii) connecting one end ofthe supply line to a liquid supply point; (iv) connecting the other end ofthe supply line to liquid ejection means mounted on the prime mover; (v) supplying liquid from the liquid supply point along the supply lineto the ejection means and discharging the liquid into the airfrom the ejection meanstofalloverafirstportion of the area; (vi) disconnecting the supply line from the ejection means;; (vii) moving the prime mover and the ejection means to a position adjacent the connection between the lengths of hose furthestfrom the liquid supply point; (viii) disconnecting from the remainder of the supply line the length of hose furthest from the liquid supply point; (ix) retracting the length of hose furthest from the liquid supply point on to the prime mover; (x) connecting the nre end of the remainder ofthe supply line to the ejection means; (xi) supplying liquid from the liquid supply point along the remainder of the supply line to the ejection meansto discharge the liquid over a second portion of the area.

It is not essential to the first aspect ofthe present invention that the steps ofthe method are performed in the order in which they are set out above. Thus, for example, step (vii) or step (viii) may be performed after step (ix).

According to a second aspect ofthe present invention there is provided equipment for distributing a liquid over an area of land, comprising: a prime mover; liquid ejection means mounted on the prime mover; hose support means mounted on the prime mover; at least two lengths of hose carried by the hose support means, and means for retracting the lengths of hose onto the hose support means, each length of hose being provided with coupling means at each end whereby the lengths of hose are interconnectible end to end, whereby one end of each hose is connectible to the liquid ejection means, and whereby the other end of at least one of the hoses is connectibleto a liquid supply point.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for distributing a liquid over an area of land, comprising a support carrying: a liquid ejection means; hose support means; at least two lengths of hose carried bythe hose support means; and means for retracting the lengths of hose onto the hose support means, wherein each length of hose is provided with coupling means at each end whereby the lengths of hose are interconnectible end-to-end, whereby one end of each hose is connectibletothe liquid ejection means, and whereby the other end of at least one ofthe lengths of hose is connectible to a liquid supply point.

Wherethe method and equipment is usedfor irrigation,the liquid will be water. The liquid supply point may receive water drawn, for example, from a reservoir or a river by a pump. Alternatively, the liquid supply point may constitute, or be supplied from, a hydrant.

In a preferred embodiment of equipment or appar- atus in accordance with the present invention, the hose support means may comprise, for each length of hose, a hose reel which may be rotated manually or under power to retract the length of hose. Means may be provided for guiding the lengths of hose during laying or retraction.

A preferred form of ejection means comprises a device for discharging the liquid into the air at high velocity, the liquid then falling to the ground in the form of droplets. the device may be adapted to perform a sweeping movement in order to discharge the liquid over a sector-shaped area. Means may be providedforshutting offthe supply of liquid automati cally to the ejection means after a predetermined time.

The equipment may include a high-pressure pump for pressurising the liquid supplied to the ejection means, and the meansforautomaticallyshutting offthe supply of liquid may operateto shut down the high-pressure pump. Where the liquid supply point is fed from a low-pressure pump, a relay system may be provided for shutting down the low-pressure pump when the high-pressure pump is shut down.This relay system may operate, for example, to shut down the low-pressure pump in response to an increase in pressure attheoutputofthe low pressure pump resulting from shutting down the high-pressure pump.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of irrigation equipment during a hose laying operation; Figure 2 is a plan view of the equipment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the equipment of Figures 1 and2; Figure 4 is a partial view corresponding to Figure 1, but represents the equipment during a hose retraction operation; Figure 5 is a side view ofthe equipment during an irrigation operation; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the equipment illustrating areas covered at different stages of operation.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the equipmentcompris- es a prime mover in the form of a tractor 2 and hose carrying and liquid ejection apparatus4which is hitched to a three point lifting device 6 at the rear ofthe tractor2. The apparatus 4 comprises a supporting frame 8 on which are mounted liquid ejection means 10 (which will be referred to in this description as a "rain gun") and a hose support means constituted by eight hose reels 12. The hose reels 12 are arranged in two banks offour, disposed one above the other. The hose reels 12 in the upper and lower banks are mounted on shafts 14 and 16 respectively. At one end, each shaft 14,16 is provided with a sprocket wheel overwhich runs a chain 18.The sprocket wheel 14 is a double sprocket wheel which is drivably connected by a chain 20to a sprocket wheel 22 mounted on the output shaft of a hydraulic motor 24. The motor 24 can be supplied with fluid under pressure from the hydraulic system ofthe tractor 2.

Each hose reel 12 carries a 50-metre length of lay-flat hose 26. Behind the hose reels 12, with respect to the normal forward direction oftravel of the tractor 2, the supportframe 8 is provided with guide means for guiding each length of hose during travel on to and offitsreel 12.This guide means comprises a long horizontal roller 28, a hose laying roller30, a pair of guide rollers 32, a pair of vertical restraining rollers 34 and a reversing roller 36.

The horizontal roller 28 extends substantially the full width of the supporting frame 8 and serves to provide a take-off position ata fixed height, regardless ofthe reel 12which is being used. The hose laying roller 30 is mounted on a substantially horizontal bar38 of the supportframe 8 in such a mannerthat it can be moved along the bar 38 and secured in any desired position.

The reversing roller 26 is removable from the support frame 8.

The rain gun 10 is removable mounted forswivelling movement on an upright pipe section 40. Means (not shown) is provided for automatically swivelling the rain gun lOon the pipe section 40 through a predetermined angle during operation. This swivelling means may, for example, be operated by the flow of liquid through the rain gun 10. Atthe bottom of the pipe section 40, there is a coupling 42 which is adapted for connection to corresponding couplings 44 provided at each end of each length of hose 26.

A high pressure pump (not shown) is provided on the supporting frame 8 for raising the pressure of liquid in the pipe section 40 before it is supplied to the rain gun 10. The supportframe8 is also provided with feet46forsupportingtheapparatus4when itis uncoupled from the tractor 2.

Although the equipment described above may be usedfordistributing various liquids, it is presently envisaged that it will primarily be used in the irrigation of agricultural land. For an irrigation operation, a required numberofthe hose lengths 26 are laid on the ground and coupledtogetherto provide a supply line between the rain gun 10 and a suitable water supply point. As shown in Figure 5, thewater supply point is represented by the outlet 48 of a low pressure pump 50. The inletto the pump 50 comprises a suction hose 52 which is immersed in a body of water 54 such as a reservoir, river or dyke.

The operation of laying outthe hose lengths 26 proceeds as follows. One end of the length of hose 26 taken from one ofthe hose reels 12 is fed past the roller 28 and the hose laying roller 30, between the guide rol lers 32 and over the reversing rol ler 36. It is then brought underneath the tractor 2 and connected to the outlet 48. The hose laying rol ler 30 is fixed to the bar 38 in line with the hose reel 12from which the hose 26 is taken. The guide rollers 32 are mounted so thatthey can be moved apart to allowthe coupling 44to pass between them, after which the rollers 32 move together again to pinch theflathose 26 between them.

The guide rollers 32 may be slightly barrelled in order to centralize the hose length 26. When the first length of hose is connected to the outlet48 of the pump 50, the tractor is driven backwards, i.e. in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1, and the first length of hose 26 is drawn off its reel 12 to lie on the ground. The hose length 26 may be drawn off its reel 12 under its own tension (the reel 12 then freewheeling). Alternately, the reel 12 may be driven in the unwinding direction bythe motor 24. When the end of the first length of hose 26 is reached, it is connected to a second length of hose 26 taken from another one of the reels 12.The guide rollers 32 are moved apart again to enable the couplings 44to pass between them, and the hose laying roller30 is moved, if necessary, into line with the reel 12 from which the second length of hose 26 is being drawn. Once the couplings 44 have passed between the guide rollers 32, they move together again, and the tractor 2 continues its reverse travel, laying the second length of hose 26 on the ground.This operation is repeated until the outer end of the last length of hose to be laid is at a position from which the end ofthe field is within the practical range of the rain gun 10. The last length of hose is then connected to the coupling 42.The pump 50 and the high pressure pump on the supporting frame 8 are actuated so thatwater is supported along the interconnected hose lengths 26to the rain gun 10, which discharges the water into the air so that itfallsto the ground in droplets, simulating rainfall. As the water is discharged, the rain gun 10 swivels automati- cally on the pipe section 40 so as to distribute the waterovera sector-shaped area as indicated bythe hatched area in Figure 6. The angle of sweep ofthe rain gun 10may be adjustable to suit required conditions. In some circumstances, the rain gun 10 can be operated to turn through a complete circle.The rain gun is operated in this position fora length of time sufficientto achieve a predetermined equivalent rainfall. Forexample,a preferred embodiment of rain gun 10 iscapable of delivering approximately 1200 litres per minute with a maximum range of 40 metres.

This rain gun will providetheequivalentofapprox- imately 25 millimetres of rain over 0.5 hectare in 2 hours, with a sweep angle of 240".

The apparatus 4 may include a timing mechanism which automatically shots off the supply of water after a predetermined time, set to achieve the required equivalentrainfall.Thetiming mechanism may over ate to shut down the high pressure pump, so causing the pressure in the interconnected hose lengths 26 to rise, this automatically shutting down the low-pressure pump 50. By using this automatic control, it is not necessaryfortheequipmentto be manned permanently.

When the first sector has been covered, the end of the outermost length of hose 26, i.e. that length of hosefurthestfrom the pump 50, is uncoupled from the coupling 42 and the tractor2, with the apparatus 4, is driven towards the pump 50 until the coupling 42 is positioned over the other end of that hose length 26.

The connection between the outermost hose length and its neighbour is broken, and the hose length which isstill connected to the pump 50 is coupled tothe coupling 42. The outermost length of hose 26, now lying freely on the ground, is fed back onto its hose reel 12 through the guide rollers 32, and past the hose laying roller 30 and the horizontal roller 28. For retracting the hose iengths 26, the reversing roller 36 is not required and it is consequently removed. The retracting operation is shown in Figure 4.For retraction, the hose reels 12 are rotated in the appropriate direction by the hydraulic motor 24, operating through the chain and sprocket mechanisms 20,18. During retraction, any water remaining in the hose 26 is discharged asthehose length is liftedfrom the ground and by the squeezing action of the guide rollers 32.

The equipment is then readyto discharge water over a second sector-shaped area which only slightly overlaps the previous area (see Figure 6).

The above sequence of operations is repeated until a sector has been covered using the hose length 26 coupled to the pump 50. After that, the last length of hose 26 is uncoupled from the pump 60 and reeled back onto its hose reel 12 as for the preceding hose lengths 26. The overlapping sector-shaped areas covered at each position ofthe rain gun 10 will constitute a strip extending across the field and having a width of approximately 80 metres. The equipment can then be used to distribute water over an adjacent strip, using the same procedure, and soon until the entire field has been irrigated.

Although the present invention has been described with specific reference to irrigation, the equipment can also be used for distributing other liquids, for example slurry, overthe land. Also, it will be appreciated that the apparatus 4 could be mounted at the front of the tractor 2, ratherthan the rear. In another embodiment,the hose reels 12 and their associated equipment may be mounted at one end of the tractor, and the rain gun 10 mounted at the other.

Furthermore, it is not essential for the hose reels 12 to be mounted for rotation about horizontal axes. They could instead be rotatable about,forexample, vertical axes.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a liquid over an area of land, the method comprising; (i) laying end-to-end a plurality of lengths of hose from a prime mover; interconnecting the lengths of hose to provide a supply line; (iii) connecting one end of the supply line to a liquid supply point; (iv) connecting the other end ofthe supply line to liquid ejection means mounted on the prime mover; (v) supplying liquid from the liquid supply point along the supply lineto the ejection means and discharging the liquid into the air from the ejection means to fall over a first portion of the area; (vi) disconnecting the supply line from the ejection means; (vii) moving the prime mover and the ejection means to a position adjacent the connection between the lengths of hose furthest from the liquid supply point;; (viii) disconnecting from the remainder of the supply line the length of hose furthestfrom the liquid supply point; (ix) retracting the length of hose furthest from the liquid supply point on to the prime mover; (x) connecting the free end of the remainder of the supply line to the ejection means; (xi) supplying liquid from the liquid supply point along the remainder of the supply line to the ejection means to discharge the liquid over a second portion of the area.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the liquid is discharged over successive portions of the area by following further steps corresponding to steps (vi) to (xi).

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which, after the last length of hose has been disconnected from the liquid supply point, the ejection means is connected directly to the liquid supply point for discharging the liquid over a final portion ofthe area.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the liquid is water.

5. Equipmentfordistributing a liquid over an area of land, comprising: a prime mover; liquid ejection means mounted on the prime mover; hose support means mounted on the prime mover; at least two lengths of hose carried bythe hose support means, and means for retracting the lengths of hose onto the hose support means, each length of hose being provided with coupling means at each end whereby the lengths of hose are interconnectible end to end, whereby one end of each hose is connectible to the liquid ejection means, and whereby the other end of at least one ofthe hoses is connectibleto a liquid supply point

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, in which the hose support means comprises, for each length of hose, a hose reel.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, in which eight hose reels, each with a respective one ofthe lengths of hose, are provided.

8. Equipment as claimed in claim 6 or7, in which the retracting means comprises means for rotating the hose reels.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 8, in which the retracting means comprises a motorfor rotating the hose reels.

10. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5to 9, in which the ejection means is adapted to distribute liquid in the form of droplets over an area having the shape of a sector.

11. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10, in which means is provided for automatically shutting off the supply of liquid to the ejection means after a predetermined time.

12. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5to 11, in which a high-pressure pump is provided for airing the pressure of liquid supplied to the ejection means.

13. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 12, in combination with a pump adapted to draw liquid from a source and to supplythe liquid to the liquid supply point

14. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 12, in which guide means is provided for guiding the length of hose during movement to and from the hose support means.

15. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 5to 14, in which the prime mover is a tractor.

16. Equipment as claimed in claim 15, in which the liquid ejection means,thehosesupportmeanswith the lengths of hose, and the retracting means are mounted on a support which is hitched to the tractor.

17. Apparatus for distributing a liquid over an area of land, comprising asupportwhich is adapted to be hitched to a tractor, the support carrying: a liquid ejection means; hose support means; at leasttwo lengths of hose carried by the hose support means; and meansfor retracting the lengths of hoseontothe hose support means, wherein each length of hose is provided with coupling means at each end whereby the lengths of hose are interconnectible end-to-end, whereby one end of each hose is connectible to the liquid ejection means, and whereby the other end of at least one ofthe lengths of hose is connectible to a liquid supply point.

18. A method of distributing a liquid over an area of land as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described herein.

19. Equipmentfordistributing a liquid over an area of land substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.