Overhead irrigation assembly having three or more truss rods

Abstract

An overhead irrigation assembly having multiple truss rods is disclosed. In an implementation, an overhead irrigation assembly includes a first support, a second support, and a span of pipeline supported between the first support and the second support. The overhead irrigation assembly also includes a first truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support and a second truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support. Spreaders are suspended from the span of pipeline that are configured to separate the first truss rod from the second truss rod. The overhead irrigation assembly also includes a third truss rod is also tensioned between the first support and the second support. The first truss rod, the second truss rod, and third truss rod are configured to maintain a generally bow shape in the span of pipeline.

1 . An overhead irrigation assembly comprising:
 a first support;   a second support;   a span of pipeline supported between the first support and the second support;   a first truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support;   a second truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support;   a plurality of spreaders suspended from the span of pipeline for separating the first truss rod from the second truss rod; and   a third truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod configured to maintain a bow shape in the span of pipeline.   
     
     
         2 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the fourth truss rod configured to maintain the bow shape in the span of pipeline with the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         3 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first truss rod and the second truss rod each comprise a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         4 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the third truss rod comprises a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         5 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a fourth truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the fourth truss rod configured to maintain the bow shape in the span of pipeline with the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         6 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the fourth truss rod comprises a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         7 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the third truss rod comprises a suspended truss rod extending from the first support to the second support. 
     
     
         8 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the suspended truss rod is threaded at each span end to allow balancing of the tensioning in the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod. 
     
     
         9 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a vertical member extending from the span of pipeline downward towards the third truss rod; and   a visual indicator identifying a desired distance between the span of pipeline and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         10 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a proximity switch disposed between the vertical member and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         11 . The overhead irrigation assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spreaders is suspended by a plurality of diagonals. 
     
     
         12 . An irrigation system comprising:
 a center pivot structure;   an overhead irrigation assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the overhead irrigation assembly comprising:
 a first support; 
 a second support; 
 a span of pipeline supported between the first support and the second support; 
 a first truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support; 
 a second truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support; 
 a plurality of spreaders suspended from the span of pipeline for separating the first truss rod from the second truss rod; and 
 a third truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod configured to maintain a bow shape in the span of pipeline. 
   
     
     
         13 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a fourth truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the fourth truss rod configured to maintain the bow shape in the span of pipeline with the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         14 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first truss rod and the second truss rod each comprise a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         15 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the third truss rod comprises a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         16 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a fourth truss rod tensioned between the first support and the second support, the fourth truss rod configured to maintain the bow shape in the span of pipeline with the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod.   
     
     
         17 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the fourth truss rod comprises a plurality of truss rod segments extending longitudinally between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         18 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the third truss rod comprises a suspended truss rod extending from the first support to the second support. 
     
     
         19 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the suspended truss rod is threaded at each span end to allow balancing of the tensioning in the first truss rod, the second truss rod, and the third truss rod. 
     
     
         20 . The irrigation system as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a vertical member extending from the span of pipeline downward towards the third truss rod; and   a visual indicator identifying a desired distance between the span of pipeline and the third truss rod.