A greaseless pivot center swivel and bearing device includes an outer housing having a sidewall with top and bottom portions, a top plate coupled with the top portion that includes an opening therein, and a bottom plate coupled with the bottom portion that includes an opening therein. The sidewall cooperates with the top and bottom plates to define an interior volume. A single, unitary bushing member formed of a low-friction material is positioned within the interior volume and includes a surface cylindrically curved about an axis extending between the top and bottom plates of the housing. The cylindrically curved surface cooperates with the openings in the top and bottom plates to define a cylindrical passage through the interior volume sized and shaped for receiving a cylindrical tube that rotates therein, e.g., a tube configured to connect with a water supply column of a mechanized irrigation system.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a flushing system for flushing debris from a sand trap of an irrigation system. The system includes a controlled valve fluidly coupled to a flush outlet of the sand trap. The valve is electronically controlled, such that when open and with the irrigation system running, water from the irrigation system entering the sand trap, flushes the sand trap via the valve. In one embodiment, the flush system comprises a valve connected to a purge outlet of the sand trap. A control unit in electrical communication with the valve and a sensor is associated with the control unit for sensing an operation of the irrigation system. The control unit is configured to control the valve to open or close based on input from the sensor relating to operation of the irrigation system, wherein when the valve is open fluid and/or debris can be purged from the sand trap.

The present invention teaches an irrigation motor and gearset which include an enveloping worm drive gearbox for use with a mechanized irrigation machine. According to a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention may include a gearbox which includes a worm drive and a reduction assembly. According to a preferred embodiment, the worm drive preferably includes a worm shaft, a worm, a first gear wheel, and a first wheel shaft. Preferably, the worm shaft and the first wheel shaft are oriented orthogonally to each other. According to a further preferred embodiment, the worm drive of the present invention is preferably a double enveloping worm drive with the worm and the first gear wheel each being throated, mated and fully enveloped gears.

Disclosed is a method for calculating instantaneous sprinkler strength comprising: ensuring that a translational sprinkler (1) maintains a stable operating state, placing b rain barrels (3) at a distance of a metres from the translational sprinkler (1), and moving the translational sprinkler (1) to obtain measurement data; calculating movement time, and the average sprayed water depth received by the rain barrels (3); assuming the distribution form of the amount of water of the translational sprinkler (1), establishing a function relationship between an instantaneous sprinkler strength ht and the movement time t, and calculating a variable in the function relationship; and substituting into the established function relationship a specific numerical value of an instantaneous point in time t of the movement of the translational sprinkler (1), so that the value of ht obtained is a numerical value of the instantaneous sprinkler strength of the translational sprinkler (1). The calculation method has a simple operation, is fast and can obtain a precise calculation result with relatively low experiment costs.

Disclosed is a method for calculating instantaneous sprinkler strength comprising: ensuring that a translational sprinkler (1) maintains a stable operating state, placing b rain barrels (3) at a distance of a metres from the translational sprinkler (1), and moving the translational sprinkler (1) to obtain measurement data; calculating movement time, and the average sprayed water depth received by the rain barrels (3); assuming the distribution form of the amount of water of the translational sprinkler (1), establishing a function relationship between an instantaneous sprinkler strength ht and the movement time t, and calculating a variable in the function relationship; and substituting into the established function relationship a specific numerical value of an instantaneous point in time t of the movement of the translational sprinkler (1), so that the value of ht obtained is a numerical value of the instantaneous sprinkler strength of the translational sprinkler (1). The calculation method has a simple operation, is fast and can obtain a precise calculation result with relatively low experiment costs.

An automated implement control system includes one or more distance sensors configured for coupling with an agricultural implement. The one or more distance sensors are configured to measure a ground distance and a canopy distance from the one or more sensors to the ground and crop canopy, respectively. An implement control module is in communication with the one or more distance sensors. The implement control module controls movement of the agricultural implement. The implement control module includes a confidence module configured to determine a ground confidence value based on the measured ground distance and a canopy confidence value based on the measured canopy distance. A target selection module of the implement control module is configured to select one of the measured ground or canopy distances as a control basis for controlling movement of the agricultural implement based on the comparison of confidence values.

An automated implement control system includes one or more distance sensors configured for coupling with an agricultural implement. The one or more distance sensors are configured to measure a ground distance and a canopy distance from the one or more sensors to the ground and crop canopy, respectively. An implement control module is in communication with the one or more distance sensors. The implement control module controls movement of the agricultural implement. The implement control module includes a confidence module configured to determine a ground confidence value based on the measured ground distance and a canopy confidence value based on the measured canopy distance. A target selection module of the implement control module is configured to select one of the measured ground or canopy distances as a control basis for controlling movement of the agricultural implement based on the comparison of confidence values.

Systems and methods automate the design and execution of randomized experiments. Portions of a field are planted using an agricultural vehicle configured to randomly vary planting parameters when planting a portion of the field. A resulting crop outcome across each portion or sub-portion of the field is observed. A training set of data is generated that includes the varied planting parameters and the associated crop outcomes for each portion of the field. A machine-learned model is trained using the training set of data and is configured to predict a crop outcome for a portion of the field based on historical and forecast conditions and a set of planting parameters applied to a portion of the field. For subsequent iterations, for a target portion of the field, the machine-learned model can be applied to identify a set of planting parameters for planting the target portion of the field to optimize a desired crop outcome.