Water supply system for a linearly moving sprinkler irrigation system

Abstract

A water supply system is described for supplying water to a linearly moving irrigation system. The water supply system is able to take water from a stationary water supply conduit (either a collapsible conduit or a rigid conduit) and feed it into one end of a feed pipe for the irrigation system. The water supply system includes a pickup shoe which extends into the water supply conduit through a traveling opening in the top side of the conduit. The pickup shoe intercepts substantially all of the water in the supply conduit and pumps it upwardly through the traveling opening to the feed pipe for the irrigation system. The pump is located in the portion of the shoe which extends into the supply conduit. In another embodiment, the water supply conduit can be an open channel.

1 . A water supply system for a moving irrigation system comprising: 
 (a) a stationary closed conduit with a traveling opening therein; wherein said conduit contains a supply of irrigation water;    (b) means for intercepting any water flowing in said stationary closed conduit before said water reaches said traveling opening; wherein said means for intercepting comprises a pickup shoe which closely conforms to the interior shape of said closed conduit;    (c) pump means within said pickup shoe for pressurizing the intercepted water and discharging the intercepted water upwardly through said pickup shoe; wherein said pickup shoe extends upwardly through said traveling opening in said stationary closed conduit; and wherein said pickup shoe is operatively connected to said moving irrigation system for supplying water from said stationary closed conduit to said irrigation system.    
   
   
       2 . The water supply system of  claim 1 , wherein said stationary closed conduit comprises a collapsible thin-walled plastic tube having a longitudinal slit, wherein said slit is sealed by a reclosable fastener assembly that can be parted to form said traveling opening.  
   
   
       3 . The water supply system of  claim 2 , wherein said reclosable fastener assembly comprises a pair of complementary-shaped fastener sections which fasten to each other to form a seam.  
   
   
       4 . The water supply system of  claim 3 , wherein said reclosable fastener assembly comprises first and second sliders which delineate said traveling opening; wherein said first slider is adapted to separate or join said fastener sections upstream of said pickup shoe, and said second slider is adapted to join or separate said fastener sections together downstream of said pickup shoe.  
   
   
       5 . The water supply system of  claim 3 , wherein said fastener sections fasten to each other by a press fit.  
   
   
       6 . The water supply system of  claim 1 , wherein said stationary closed conduit comprises a rigid conduit having a longitudinal slit that is normally closed by spring forces in the walls of said rigid conduit.  
   
   
       7 . A water supply system for a moving irrigation system comprising: 
 (a) a stationary open channel conduit carrying a supply of water;    (b) means for intercepting any water flowing in said stationary open channel conduit; wherein said means for intercepting comprises a pickup shoe; and    (c) pump means within said pickup shoe for pressurizing the intercepted water and discharging the intercepted water upwardly through said pickup shoe; wherein said pickup shoe extends upwardly and is operatively connected to said moving irrigation system for supplying water from said stationary open channel conduit to said irrigation system.    
   
   
       8 . A water supply system in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said open channel conduit has a cross-section that conforms to a flared inlet on said pickup shoe.