Self-Leveling Irrigation Tower Height Control for Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Irrigation systems face challenges due to uneven terrain, high winds, and varying crop heights, leading to unlevel mobile towers, stress on conduits, and potential tipping, which disrupt the operation and efficiency of the irrigation process.
Innovation Solution
A self-leveling mobile tower system with height adjustment assemblies and a controller that uses sensors to maintain the frame's tilt angle within a range, lowering the conduit and components during high winds, and adjusting sprayer heights for optimal crop coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the mobile tower operates on uneven terrain without height adjustment, then the structure remains simple, but the conduit experiences damaging stresses and the tower becomes unlevel
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment system is segmented into independent assemblies at each mobile tower location, allowing individual adjustment without affecting other towers. Each assembly operates autonomously to maintain levelness despite terrain variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The height of each mobile tower can be dynamically changed in response to terrain conditions, enabling the system to adapt and maintain stability on uneven ground.
2Reliability
If the mobile tower maintains high position during operation, then irrigation coverage is effective, but the tower is vulnerable to tipping during high wind events
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by lowering the mobile tower before high wind events occur or when wind conditions are detected. This preemptive measure reduces the lever arm and moment of force that winds can exert on the tower, preventing tipping while maintaining irrigation capability through subsequent height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile tower height is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system can adjust height in real-time based on environmental conditions, lowering during high winds to improve stability and raising during calm periods to maintain irrigation effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sprayer height is fixed, then the structure is simpler, but crops of varying heights cannot be irrigated optimally
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer height is made dynamically adjustable through the height control system. This allows the sprayers to be positioned at optimal heights for different crop types and growth stages, enabling the system to adapt to varying crop heights while maintaining irrigation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The height adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it levels the mobile tower on uneven terrain, positions sprayers at optimal heights for different crops, and lowers the tower to reduce wind vulnerability. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile tower for use with an irrigation system comprises a frame, first and second spindles, a first height adjustment assembly, and a second height adjustment assembly. The frame is configured to support a fluid-carrying conduit of the irrigation system. The first and second spindles each include a generally upright beam. The first height adjustment assembly is rigidly connected to a first side of the frame and movably coupled to the first spindle. The first height adjustment assembly includes a first mechanism configured to raise or lower the first side of the frame relative to the first spindle. The second height adjustment assembly is rigidly connected to a second side of the frame and movably coupled to the second spindle. The second height adjustment assembly includes a second mechanism configured to raise or lower the second side of the frame relative to the second spindle.