Irrigation System Automated Connector Vertical Coupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation systems face challenges in efficiently coupling and decoupling from access valves, leading to complex and costly automated connectors, with limited ground clearance and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a vertical coupler that raises and lowers to couple and decouple from access valves, using a fixed transport wheel position, along with a flexible conduit for water conveyance and an upwardly slanted plank for valve detection, enhancing clearance and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If transport wheels are configured to raise and lower relative to a swing arm for valve coupling, then automated connector functionality is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the transport wheels vertically to couple and decouple from valves, the patent inverts the mechanism by keeping the wheels fixed and moving the swing arm vertically. The swing arm lowers to couple with the valve and raises to decouple, eliminating the need for complex wheel movement mechanisms while achieving the same automated connection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the vertical movement function from the transport wheels and assigns it to the swing arm. By separating the wheel's primary function (horizontal transport) from the coupling mechanism, the design simplifies the overall system. The swing arm handles the vertical coupling motion independently, allowing the wheels to remain fixed and simpler in design.
2Ease of operation
If swing arm is lowered to couple with access valve, then valve coupling is achieved, but ground clearance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coupling mechanism into distinct functional parts: the swing arm for vertical movement and coupling, the fixed transport wheels for horizontal positioning, and the coupler body for valve engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising ground clearance, as only the swing arm moves vertically during coupling while the wheels remain at a fixed, clearance-providing height.
3Extent of automation
If complex automated connector is used for valve coupling, then automation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the traditional mechanism and keeping the transport wheels fixed while moving the swing arm vertically, the patent reduces the amount of work required for coupling. The fixed wheel position eliminates the energy-consuming vertical movement of wheels, and the swing arm's controlled vertical motion requires less energy than moving the entire wheel assembly up and down.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the energy-intensive vertical movement function from the transport wheels and relocates it to the swing arm. This separation allows the wheels to remain stationary, eliminating the continuous energy consumption associated with repeatedly raising and lowering heavy wheel assemblies, while still achieving automated valve coupling through the swing arm's controlled motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A fully automated land irrigation system to irrigate regular and irregular shapes of land. The system includes a water deliver pipe assembly configured to travel laterally while irrigating adjacent to a stationary row of spaced access valves supplied by a water main. The system includes a single coupler automated connector to automatically supply water to the water delivery pipe assembly. The connector includes a swing arm pivotably mounted to the water delivery pipe assembly, a valve coupler mounted to the swing arm to selectively access water from the water main via the spaced access valves and a water conveyance to operably flow water between the valve coupler and the swing arm. The valve coupler includes a vertical coupler travel configured to provide essentially vertical travel of the valve coupler relative to the swing arm. The water delivery pipe assembly can be center-pivot rotated employing a rotator. The rotator provides to anchor the delivery pipe assembly's rotation and to adjust the distance between the anchor and the delivery pipe assembly during the rotation.