Hose Pull Apparatus for Lateral Move Irrigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lateral-move irrigation systems face limitations in hose length, requiring multiple hydrants and manual hose manipulation, which is labor-intensive and prone to hose damage due to their weight and susceptibility to kinking.
Innovation Solution
A hose-fed lateral move irrigation system with a movable cart equipped with onboard winches that pull a hose assembly in an alternating fashion, allowing the cart to pull double the length of hose and enabling automated operation by connecting to a single hydrant, using a combination of flexible and rigid hoses with expansion-compression zones to facilitate movement without transferring force between hose sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional hoses are used in lateral-move irrigation systems, then the system can be simple in structure, but the hose length is limited and requires multiple hydrants and manual manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The hose assembly is divided into multiple sections that can be independently managed. The system uses a first hose and a second hose that can be selectively connected to hydrants, allowing the cart to service longer distances by segmenting the total hose length into manageable sections that are pulled and connected sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positions multiple hydrants along the cart path before irrigation begins. This allows the cart to connect to the next hydrant in advance before the current hose becomes fully extended, enabling seamless transitions and continuous operation without stopping the irrigation process.
2Ease of operation
If conventional manual hose manipulation is used, then the system structure can be simple, but labor intensity increases and hose damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation cart is equipped with automated mechanisms including winches and hose manipulation devices that perform hose pulling, connecting, and disconnecting operations automatically. The system self-manages the complex tasks of hose handling, reducing dependency on manual labor and enabling continuous automated operation throughout the irrigation process.
3Strength
If heavier conventional hoses are used, then hose strength and durability improve, but hose weight increases making manual manipulation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical handling of heavy hoses with automated mechanical systems mounted on the cart, including winches and hose manipulation devices. These automated mechanisms provide the necessary force to handle heavy-duty hoses without requiring manual labor, enabling the use of stronger, more durable hoses that can withstand the demands of long-distance irrigation.
4Weight of moving object
If lighter-weight hoses are used to reduce weight, then ease of handling improves, but susceptibility to kinking and blockage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated winch and hose manipulation systems on the cart provide controlled tension and positioning that prevents kinking and blockage in lighter-weight hoses. These mechanisms ensure that lighter hoses are handled properly throughout deployment and retrieval, maintaining their reliability despite reduced weight by eliminating the manual handling issues that cause kinking.
5Length of moving object
If the cart stops frequently for hydrant changes, then hose length can be managed, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hydrants are pre-positioned along the cart path, and the system is configured to connect to the next hydrant in advance before the current hose becomes fully extended. This allows seamless transitions between hydrants without stopping the cart or interrupting the irrigation process, maintaining continuous productivity while managing effective hose length.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated hose manipulation and hydrant change systems operate continuously without interrupting the irrigation process. The cart maintains constant forward motion while hoses are automatically pulled, connected, and disconnected, ensuring that the useful action of irrigating crops continues uninterrupted and maximizing productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, automated irrigation over longer distances without the need for frequent hydrant changes, reducing labor and minimizing hose damage by distributing the pull force effectively across multiple winches, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
A hose-fed lateral move irrigation system with a movable cart equipped with onboard winches that pull a hose assembly in an alternating fashion
Implementation Method 2
using a combination of flexible and rigid hoses with expansion-compression zones to facilitate movement without transferring force between hose sections
Data Source
AI summary
A hose-fed lateral move irrigation system and method that utilizes a pipe with a plurality of sprinklers attached to a wheeled cart that pulls a flexible-hose assembly therebehind using at least one onboard winch and travels laterally with the pipe and sprinklers relative to a field so that a sufficient amount of hose may be used to enable total automation of the system.