US 11,980,141 B2
Irrigation system with pratt truss spans
Matthew John Dudik, Elkhorn, NE (US); Michael South, Council Bluffs, IA (US); and Troy Hanson, Blair, NE (US)
Assigned to Lindsay Corporation, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed by Lindsay Corporation, Omaha, NE (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/861,040.
Prior Publication US 2024/0008430 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. A01G 25/09 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 25/092 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An irrigation system comprising:
two support towers;
a first pipeline span extending between the two support towers along a central axis and having a middle region;
a second pipeline span adjacent to the first pipeline span and coaxial with the first pipeline span when the first pipeline span and the second pipeline span are aligned;
a joint pivotally connecting the first pipeline span to the second pipeline span and comprising—
a sleeve configured to provide a sealed fluid connection between the first pipeline span and the second pipeline span,
a first portion secured to the first pipeline span and having an upwardly facing hemispherical surface, and
a second portion secured to the second pipeline span and having a cavity that receives at least a portion of the hemispherical surface of the first portion to form a contact line coincident with the central axis when the first pipeline span and the second pipeline span are aligned; and
a truss section supporting the first pipeline span and comprising—
compression elements extending downward from the first pipeline span,
truss structures extending longitudinally along the first pipeline span and fixed relative to the compression elements, and
tension elements extending diagonally downward from the first pipeline span toward the middle region of the first pipeline span and fixed relative to the truss structures.