Power-assisted docking station for mobile irrigation apparatus

摘要

A mobile irrigation apparatus (10) includes a frame assembly supporting at least one sprinkler and adapted for movement in a first direction along a path in a field to be irrigated; a docking station (76) suspended from the frame assembly and adapted to engage and open one or more supply valves in a hydrant (28) located in or adjacent the path for movement in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction, and at least one power actuator arranged to move the docking station (76) in the second direction in response to at least one sensor (140,142,144,146) to thereby facilitate lateral alignment of the docking station (76) with the hydrant (28).