Wheel assembly for an irrigation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159151-A1
Application number	US-201615040657-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Jan 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the wheel assembly comprising a central support and an airless flexible covering mounted on the central support and having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The outwardly protruding spokes urge the rigid sections into the layer of soil when the rigid sections contact the ground surface. The flexible sections include a set of traction lugs for gripping peaks of a corrugated pattern in the ground surface for improved traction.

First claim

1 . An airless flexible covering configured to be mounted on a central support of a wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the airless flexible covering comprising:
an outer surface; an inner surface opposite the outer surface; a plurality of rigid sections each including an inwardly facing mounting boss on the inner surface for aligning with and engaging outwardly protruding spokes of the central support; a plurality of flexible sections for aligning with recesses of the central support; and a plurality of primary traction lugs and a plurality of secondary traction lugs disposed on the outer surface, each primary traction lug being configured to be substantially aligned with a center of one of the recesses, each secondary traction lug being spaced from the primary traction lugs and spaced from adjacent secondary traction lugs a greater distance than from the primary traction lugs, the rigid sections being configured to be urged into the layer of soil by the outwardly protruding spokes of the central support when the rigid sections contact the ground surface and the flexible sections being configured to flex inwardly towards the recesses when the flexible sections contact the ground surface so that the rigid sections and the flexible sections cooperatively form a corrugated track in the ground surface without urging the soil to side margins of the airless flexible covering, the corrugated track having a plurality of valleys formed by the rigid sections and a plurality of spaced peaks formed by the flexible sections, and the primary traction lugs and the secondary traction lugs being configured to grip the peaks when the flexible sections contact the ground surface.

2 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the primary traction lugs define a height greater than a height of the secondary traction lugs for maintaining the grip on the peaks.

3 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein each primary traction lug is adjacent at least one of the secondary traction lugs, each secondary traction lug being configured to turn slightly inward towards an adjacent primary traction lug for gripping a side of one of the peaks when the flexible section is urged into the recess.

4 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein one of the primary traction lugs and two of the secondary traction lugs are positioned between each rigid section.

5 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the airless flexible covering is configured to automatically rotationally align itself with the corrugated track in the ground surface by slipping with the central support until the rigid sections of the airless flexible covering engage the valleys of the corrugated track.

6 . The airless flexible covering of claim 5 , wherein the rigid sections of the airless flexible covering are configured to retain the rotational alignment of the airless flexible covering with the corrugated track by repeatedly engaging the valleys of the corrugated track.

7 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein each primary traction lug and each secondary traction lug has a middle section having a maximum width and two opposing ends having a minimum width.

8 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bosses each include a V-shaped channel for receiving one of the outwardly protruding spokes of the central support.

9 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bosses include a gradually curving contour for reducing wear on the airless flexible covering.

10 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the airless flexible covering increases towards the mounting bosses for reducing wear near the mounting bosses.

11 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the airless flexible covering includes ten mounting bosses.

12 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the airless flexible covering has a width of 12.5 inches.

13 . The airless flexible covering of claim 1 , wherein the airless flexible covering is formed of molded rubber.

14 . An airless flexible tire configured to be mounted on a central support of a wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the airless flexible tire comprising:
an outer surface; an inner surface opposite the outer surface; a plurality of rigid sections each including an inwardly facing mounting boss on the inner surface for aligning with and engaging outwardly protruding spokes of the central support; a plurality of flexible sections for aligning with recesses of the central support; and a plurality of primary traction lugs and a plurality of secondary traction lugs disposed on the outer surface, each primary traction lug being configured to be substantially aligned with a center of one of the recesses, each secondary traction lug being spaced from the primary traction lugs and spaced from adjacent secondary traction lugs a greater distance than from the primary traction lugs, the rigid sections being configured to be urged into the layer of soil by the outwardly protruding spokes of the central support when the rigid sections contact the ground surface and the flexible sections being configured to flex inwardly towards the recesses when the flexible sections contact the ground surface so that the rigid sections and the flexible sections cooperatively form a corrugated track in the ground surface without urging the soil to side margins of the airless flexible tire, the corrugated track having a plurality of valleys formed by the rigid sections and a plurality of spaced peaks formed by the flexible sections, and the primary traction lugs and the secondary traction lugs being configured to grip the peaks when the flexible sections contact the ground surface.

15 . The airless flexible tire of claim 14 , wherein the primary traction lugs define a height greater than a height of the secondary traction lugs for maintaining the grip on the peaks.

16 . The airless flexible tire of claim 14 , wherein each primary traction lug is adjacent at least one of the secondary traction lugs, each secondary traction lug being configured to turn slightly inward towards an adjacent primary traction lug for gripping a side of one of the peaks when the flexible section is urged into the recess.

17 . The airless flexible tire of claim 14 , wherein one of the primary traction lugs and two of the secondary traction lugs are positioned between each rigid section.

18 . The airless flexible tire of claim 14 , wherein each primary traction lug and each secondary traction lug have a middle section having a maximum width and two opposing ends having a minimum width.

19 . The airless flexible tire of claim 14 , wherein the airless flexible tire is formed of molded rubber.

20 . An airless flexible covering configured to be mounted on a central support of a wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the airless flexible covering comprising:
an outer surface; an inner surface opposite the outer surface; a plurality of rigid sections each including an inwardly facing mounting boss on the inner surface for aligning with and engaging outwardly protruding spokes of the central support, each mounting boss including a V-shaped channel for receiving one of the outwardly protruding spokes of the central support and a gradually curving contour for reducing wear on the mounting bosses; a plurality of flexi

Assignees

• Lindsay Corp

Inventors

• Fredenburg Michael S
• Korus Thomas J

Classifications

• B60B25/02

  Segmented rims, e.g. with segments arranged in sections; Connecting equipment, e.g. hinges; Insertable flange rings therefor · CPC title

• B60C7/10 Primary

  characterised by means for increasing resiliency · CPC title

• B60C11/0311 Primary

  Patterns comprising tread lugs arranged parallel or oblique to the axis of rotation · CPC title

• B60B15/02

  Wheels with spade lugs · CPC title

• B60C7/00

  Non-inflatable or solid tyres (B60C1/00 takes precedence) · CPC title