GB2150002A - A power pack for an irrigator - Google Patents

Abstract

The power pack has a frame generally indicated by arrow 1 which, in use, is placed on the ground with ground engaging means 2 adapted to engage with the ground to hold the frame 1 stationary. The rear of the power pack 1 has connections for the three-point linkage of a tractor (not shown). The frame 1 supports a prime mover 5 which may, for example, be a diesel or petrol driven internal combustion engine. The prime mover 5 is adapted to drive a rotary fluid/hydraulic pump 6 which is connected to a fluid reservoir 7 via hoses (not shown). The frame 1 additionally supports either or both, as is shown in the example, a winch drum 8 and a hose reel 9. The winch drum 8 is driven by a hydraulic motor, driven from prime mover 5, and a ratchet means to reel in a cable 10 connected thereto. The cable 10 is connected at its other end to any known irrigator which is to be pulled toward the power pack to irrigate the area therebetween. The hose reel is driven by hydraulic motor 15 actuated by prime mover 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A power pack for an irrigator This invention relates to irrigation and more particularly to travelling irrigators of the type in which water is supplied to the irrigator via a flexible rollable hose or tube.

A large number of different types of travelling irrigator are currently available and most of these have water supplied thereto via a flexible irrigation hose one end of which is coupled to the irrigator while the other end is connected to a water supply means. The irrigator itself may disperse the water via outlets in a stationary or rotating boom or from a rotating big gun from which high pressure water is thrown.

Most of these known irrigators move over an area being irrigated by a winch means driven by the water supply. This use of water pressure to move the irrigator or to rotate the boom or gun of the irrigator results in a reduction in the volume of water sprayed thereby.

An object of the present invention is to supply a power pack for a travelling irrigator which power pack is usable to move an irrigator and/or to move a flexible water supply hose thereto.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power pack for a travelling irrigator which overcomes at least in part the abovementioned disadvantages.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to the present invention there is provided a power pack for a travelling irrigator, the power pack including a frame supporting a prime mover means, a rotary fluid/hydraulic motor/pump and either or both of a winch drum and a hose reel, the arrangement being such that the prime mover drives the rotary fluid/hydraulic motor/pump which is adapted to drive either or both of the winch drum and hose reel to either pull an irrigator by a cable connected to the winch drum or to reel in an irrigation hose onto the hose reel.

The frame may be adapted for connection to a three-point linkage of a farm tractor or be mounted on a wheeled frame.

The prime mover means may be an internal combustion engine connected to drive a hydraulic pump which in turn drives through a hydraulic motor the winch drum and/or hose reel.

Further aspects of the present invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example only.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of an example of power pack for a travelling irrigator; Figure 2 shows a front view of the power pack shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a side view of the power pack shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The example of the present invention will be described with reference to a power pack adapted for connection to a three-point linkage of a farm tractor.

The power pack has a frame generally indicated by arrow 1 which, in use, is placed on the ground with ground engaging means 2 adapted to engage with the ground to hold the frame 1 stationary. The rear 3.of the power pack 1 has connections 4 for the threepoint linkage of a tractor (not shown).

The frame 1 supports a prime mover means 5 which may, for example, be a diesel or petrol driven internal combustion engine.

The prime mover means 5 is adapted to drive a rotary fluid/hydraulic pump 6 which is connected to a fluid reservoir 7 via hoses (not shown).

The frame 1 additionally supports either or both as is shown in the example a winch drum 8 and a hose reel 9.

The winch drum 8 is driven by a ratchet means intermittently if desired to reel in a cable 10 connected thereto. The cable 10 is connected at its other end to any known irrigator which is to be pulled toward the power pack to irrigate the area therebetween.

The ratchet drive 11 for the drum may be driven by a hydraulic motor 1 2 via an eccentrically mounted means and the reverse movement of the drum 8 is halted by the arms 1 3.

A friction brake 1 4 (spring biased) may be included to apply pressure to the drum 8 while running out the cable 10 initially before beginning irrigating.

The hose reel 9 when required to be operated is driven by a hydraulic motor 1 5 and reduction gears 1 6 and 1 7 to rotate and reel in an irrigation hose laid out and used to supply water to the irrigator. The hose reel and associated gears may include releasing means to allow the hose to be run out without causing damage to the hydraulic motor.

The front 1 8 of the frame 1 may have mounted thereon a quadrant 1 9 with a series of recesses 20 therein. The front 1 8 also supports an arm 21 with rollers (not shown) therein.

In use the power pack can be used with any travelling irrigator to supply the motive frame to pull the irrigator and/or to reel in its flexible water supply hose.

Initially the cable and hose are run out with the cable drum 8 and reel 9 in their free wheel condition. The arm 21 is used to space the hose and cable apart by moving the arm 21 anguiarly a required distance in the direction of arrows 22 and engaging a locking means (not shown) in one of the recesses 20.

While irrigating the prime mover 5 is operating and a control lever (not shown) is directing the hydraulic fluid to drive motor 1 2 so that ratchet 11 continuously moves to reel in the cable 10 onto the drum 8. The rate of movement is controlled by a variable control means (not shown) in the hydraulic hose to the motor 1 2. The variable control means can also be used to vary the rate at which the motor 1 5 operates. When the irrigator is drawn in until it is immediately in front of the power pack an automatic shut off (not shown) shuts down the motor 1 2 until an operator arrives to reel in the hose. The hose is uncoupled from the water supply and its connection attached to the reel which is then rotated until the hose is collected.

Thus by this invention there is provided a power pack for a travelling irrigator which is usable to move an irrigator and/or to move a flexible water supply hose thereto.

It will be understood that the irrigator may comprise a fixed or rotatable boom irrigator.

Further, a rotatable boom kind of machine is particularly applicable for the discharge of effluent the retroaction of the effluent being such as to cause the boom to rotate, so distributing the effluent from the irrigator over an area of land being irrigated.

Claims (11)

1. A power pack for a travelling irrigator, comprising a frame supporting a prime mover means, a fluid motor means and either or both of a winch drum and a hose reel, the arrangement being such that the prime mover drives the fluid motor means which is adapted to drive either or both of the winch drum and hose reel or drum to pull an irrigator during irrigation by a flexible connector connected to the winch drum and/or to reel in an irrigation hose onto the hose reel.

2. A power pack according to Claim 1, the fluid motor means comprising a hydraulic motor/pump arrangement.

3. A power pack according to Claim 2, the prime mover comprising an internal combustion engine operatively connected to drive a hydraulic pump which in turn is operatively connected through a hydraulic motor for driving the winch drum and/or hose reel.

4. A power pack according to any preceding claim, the frame being adapted for connection to a three-point linkage of a farm tractor or to be mounted on a wheeled frame.

5. A power pack according to any preceding claim, including a winch drum and a hose reel.

6. A power pack according to Claim 5, the axis of rotation of the winch drum and hose reel being substantially at right angles to one another.

7. A power pack according to Claim 6, including a ratchet drive means for rotating the winch drum for reeling in a cable attached thereto.

8. A power pack according to Claim 7, including stop arms opposite to the ratchet drive means to obviate reverse movement of the winch drum.

9. A power pack according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, the ratchet drive means being driven by a respective hydraulic motor and an eccentrically mounted means.

1 0. A power pack according to any one of Claims 2 to 9, including a respective hydraulic motor connected to the hose reel via gears.

11. A power pack according to any of Claims 5 to 10, including means to space the flexible connector and hose apart.

1 2. A power pack according to Claim 11, the spacer means comprising an arm pivotally mounted on the frame and with means for engaging with locking means of the frame.

1 3. A power pack according to Claim 12, the locking means of the frame comprising quadrant in which is a series of spaced recesses in which the engagement means can be received for separating the connector and the hose.

1 4. A power pack for a travelling irrigator, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A combination of a travelling irrigator and a power pack according to any preceding claim.