US 12,446,499 B2
Path-based water capacity determination for ancillary spans
Ty Dane Rempe, Superior, NE (US); and Josiah John Carey, Deshler, NE (US)
Assigned to Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc., Deshler, NE (US)
Filed by Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc., Deshler, NE (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/094,677.
Application 18/094,677 is a continuation of application No. 16/376,343, filed on Apr. 5, 2019, granted, now 11,547,067.
Prior Publication US 2023/0157226 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01G 25/16 (2006.01); A01G 25/09 (2006.01); G01B 21/28 (2006.01); G01C 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 25/16 (2013.01) [A01G 25/092 (2013.01); G01B 21/28 (2013.01); G01C 21/00 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a path of travel for a steering tower of an ancillary span of an irrigation system, the irrigation system having a central pivot point about which a primary irrigation pipeline swivels and having a hinge point at which the ancillary span is coupled with the primary irrigation pipeline, the method comprising:
defining a boundary of a field-of-interest;
based, at least in part, on the defined boundary, determining optimal placement of the central pivot point so as to maximize a portion of the field-of-interest capable of being irrigated by the primary irrigation pipeline;
based, at least in part, on the defined boundary and the determined optimal placement of the central pivot point, selecting one or more spans for the primary irrigation pipeline;
based, at least in part, on the defined boundary and a location, relative to the central pivot point, of an outer end point of a last span of the primary irrigation pipeline, selecting the ancillary span for coupling with the primary irrigation pipeline at the hinge point so as to optimize water capacity for portions of the field-of-interest that are not capable of being irrigated by the primary irrigation pipeline; and
determining the path of travel for the steering tower of the ancillary span based, at least in part, on the selected ancillary span and a location of the steering tower relative to a length of the ancillary span;
wherein a portion of the ancillary span comprises one or more sprinkler nozzles, and wherein water capacity for at least a portion of the one or more sprinkler nozzles is adjusted based upon the path of travel.