Valley vs. T-L _0

Transcription

1 _0 Valley vs. T-L

2 CONTENTS T-L Structures Comparison Pivot Point VTL-1 Introduction VTL-2 Valley 6 5 /8" Pivot Point VTL-3 Valley 8" Pivot Point / T-L 8" Pivot Point VTL-4 Valley 8 5 /8" Pivot Point VTL-5 Valley 10" Pivot Point / T-L 10" Pivot Point VTL-6 Valley Internal Collector Ring / T-L Internal Collector Ring Spans VTL-7 VTL-8 VTL-9 VTL-10 VTL-11 VTL-13 VTL-14 VTL-15 VTL-16 VTL-17 VTL-18 VTL-19 Introduction Valley Crown T-L Crown Valley Pipe Flange / T-L Pipe Flange Valley Truss Angle Attachment Assembly / T-L Truss Angle Attachment Bracket Truss Rod Introduction Valley 8000 Truss Rod / T-L Truss Rod Valley 7000 Truss Rod / T-L Truss Rod Valley 8000 series Socket / T-L Does Not Use a Socket Valley 7000 series Socket / T-L Does Not Use a Socket Valley 8000 Span Connection T-L Span Connection Drive Units VTL-21 Introduction VTL-22 Valley Drive Unit Braces / T-L Drive Unit Braces VTL-23 Valley Drive Unit Diagonal Brace / T-L Drive Unit Diagonal Brace VTL-24 Valley Drive Unit Leg Attachment / T-L Drive Unit Leg Attachment VTL-25 Valley 8000 series Tower Supports / T-L Tower Supports VTL-26 Valley Unitized Base Beam / T-L Base Beam VTL-27 Valley 7000 series Tower Supports / T-L Tower Supports VTL-28 Valley Booster Pump / T-L Booster Pump Test Results VTL-29 Certified Independent Test Results _0 VTL-i

3 CONTENTS T-L Drive Train Comparison Drive Train VTL-31 VTL-32 VTL-32 VTL-33 VTL-33 VTL-34 VTL-35 VTL-35 VTL-36 VTL-37 Introduction Valley Wheel Gearbox High-strength Ductile Iron Worm Gear 25 Tooth Pressure Angle vs Tooth Pressure Angle Fully Recessed Tooth Action Exclusive Patented Seal for Valley Large Diaphragm Longer Output Shaft NTN Bearings Valley Gearbox Features VTL-37 Patented Input and Output Seals Center Drive VTL-38 VTL-39 VTL-40 VTL-42 VTL-43 VTL-44 Valley Gearbox Only Introduction Center Drive Speed vs. Efficiency Valley Center Drive Features VS-7000 Gearbox / T-L Gearbox Valley Wheel Gearbox Test Results VS-7000 Center Drive Oil Hydraulic Drive VTL-45 Introduction VTL-45 T-L Pump Unit VTL-46 T-L Hydraulic Worm Drive Motor Option VTL-46 T-L Planetary Drive Option VTL-47 T-L Tower Alignment Valve VTL-48 Oil Hydraulic Operating Efficiency Tires & Rims VTL-49 Tires Designed to Handle All Field Conditions VTL-49 Exclusive Firestone ND Tire VTL-50 Rims Designed to Handle All Field Conditions VTL-50 Valley Exclusive Tire Rim Floatation Options VTL-51 Valley 3-Wheel Drive / T-L 3-Wheel Drive VTL-52 Valley Track Drive VTL-53 Valley Articulating 4-Wheel Drive VTL-53 Valley Articulating Track Drive VTL-54 Floatation Options VTL-ii _0

4 CONTENTS T-L Controls Comparison Control Panels VTL-55 Introduction VTL-56 Valley Classic Panel VTL-56 Valley ClassicPlus Panel VTL-57 Valley Select2 Panel VTL-57 Valley Pro2 Panel VTL-58 Valley TouchPro Panel VTL-59 Valley Panel Remote Monitor and Control Comparison VTL-60 T-L Manual End Tower Control VTL-61 Valley Classic Panel / T-L Point Control VTL-62 Valley ClassicPlus Panel / T-L Point Control VTL-63 Valley Select2 Panel / T-L Precision Point Control II VTL-64 Valley Pro2 Panel VTL-65 TLC Pivot Manager VTL-66 Valley TouchPro Panel Tower Box VTL-67 Valley Tower Box / T-L Alignment Arrangement GPS Pivot Position VTL-68 Valley GPS Positioning / T-L GPS Option Collector Ring VTL-69 Valley Internal Collector Ring / T-L Internal Collector Ring _0 VTL-iii

5 CONTENTS T-L Remote Communications Comparison VTL-71 VTL-72 VTL-72 VTL-72 VTL-73 VTL-73 VTL-73 VTL-74 VTL-75 VTL-75 Introduction Valley Tracker Mobile Valley Tracker Website Google Map Valley Tracker Website Tracker Device List View Valley TrackerLT Valley Tracker2 Valley TrackerSP Valley Tracker Remote Monitoring and Control Comparison T-L ipac Tracker Comparison with T-L ipac (AgSense Pivot Point) BaseStation VTL-76 Introduction VTL-77 BaseStation2-SM VTL-77 BaseStation2-SM Radio for Valley Computerized Panels VTL-77 PanelLink for Mechanical Panels VTL-78 BaseStation2-SM Key Features VTL-iv _0

6 CONTENTS Warranties VTL-79 VTL-80 VTL-82 VTL-83 VTL-84 All Warranties are Not the Same Valley New Machine Warranty Valley Corrosion Warranty Valley New Equipment / Aftermarket Warranty Highlights T-L Warranty _0 VTL-v

7 STRUCTURES PIVOT POINT More Pivot Point Choices to Meet Specific Field Requirements The pivot point s main function is to keep the spans centered in the field. There are two types of loads being applied to the pivot point s upper elbow. The most obvious is the pullout load as the spans move around the field. The spans want to move in a straight line, and the pivot point forces them to move in a circle. The pullout load increases as the number of spans increase. In addition to the pullout load, the pivot point supports half the weight of the first span. The second type, the weight load, becomes a significant factor only when a pivot flex is used since it adds to the bending load applied to the pivot bearing. Without a pivot flex, the pivot pipe prevents the upper elbow from bending down. These forces are transferred down the pivot point structure to the pivot pad. The legs are attached rigidly to a concrete pad, which effectively forms another set of braces at the base of the pivot point. The pivot point must be viewed as an overall design, not just individual components. The structure must be strong enough to prevent the pivot point legs from bowing as the spans move around the field. The weight or strength of an individual component is not nearly as important as the strength of the overall design. By offering four different pivot points with different design limitations, Valley can offer the grower the most cost-effective solution for his unique field situation. The design philosophy at Valley is to put the grower s safety first by minimizing potential design hazards. That is why both Valley and T-L chose to mount the pivot point cross brace angles inside the legs. This adds a little cost but eliminates the angle s sharp edges, which could create a safety hazard for the operator. To prevent attaching bolt tripping hazards, both Valley and T-L attach their pivot point to the pivot pad on the inside of the legs to eliminate exposed bolts. Valley offers an optional ladder for each pivot point, making it much easier to grease the upper pivot bearing. T-L requires the operator to climb up the cross braces (wide steps) to grease the upper bearing. To ensure long trouble-free seal life, all Valley pivots use a Teflon impregnated triple lip riser seal designed for Valley to ensure good sealing at both low and high water supply pressures. To minimize seal wear, the rotating seal surface is stainless steel, which has significantly better seal wear characteristics then the galvanized sealing surface T-L uses. The extra effort Valley takes to minimize operator hazards and increase seal life are examples of how Valley adds extra value _0 VTL-1

8 STRUCTURES PIVOT POINT Valley 6 5 /8" Pivot Point Three sets of bracing for extra leg strength to prevent leg bowing. Brace angles mount inside legs to prevent safety hazards. Short upper elbow above bearing results in less load on the bearing. Short upper elbow length to pivot pipe minimizes bearing load on the upper bearing. Galvanized upper elbow with corrosion-resistant stainless steel sealing surface and triple lip Teflon impregnated seal for long seal life. Optional ladder available for easy access to grease pivot bearing. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs to minimize tripping risk. T-L 6 5 /8" Pivot Point T-L does not offer a 6 5 /8" pivot point. VTL _0

9 STRUCTURES PIVOT POINT Valley 8" Pivot Point Legs are roll-formed, which are stronger than angles for the same thickness. Three sets of braces for strength. Brace angles mount inside legs for smooth outer edges for safety. Short upper elbow above bearing results in less load on the bearing. Short upper elbow length to pivot pipe minimizes bearing load. Powder-coated heavy wall upper elbow with corrosion-resistant stainless steel sealing surface and triple lip Teflon impregnated seal for long seal life. Optional ladder available for easy access to grease pivot bearing. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs to minimize tripping risk. Pivot point has towable option. T-L 8" Pivot Point 8" riser pipe (7 1 /2" equivalent diameter with 3" internal collector ring tube). Legs are 3 1 /2" x 3 1 /2" x 3 /16" angle iron (much smaller than 8 5 /8" legs). Four sets of braces. Brace angles mounted inside legs. Galvanized upper elbow with galvanized riser sealing surface causes premature seal wear, seal leakage and early replacement. Valley style internal collector ring. Internal oil collector ring. No ladder available must use cross braces for access. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs. Uses a small 8' x 8' pivot pad pull-out load puts more bending stress in legs. Pivot point is not towable _0 VTL-3

10 STRUCTURES PIVOT POINT Valley 8 5 /8" Pivot Point 8 5 /8" riser has less flow resistance than 8"; designed for longer pivots with higher water flow rates. Heavy duty legs are standard (4 x 4 x 1 /4). Three sets of bracing for extra leg strength to prevent leg bowing. Brace angles mount inside legs for smooth outer edges for safety. Short upper elbow above bearing results in less load on the bearing. Short upper elbow length to pivot pipe minimizes bearing load. Galvanized upper elbow with corrosion-resistant stainless steel sealing surface and triple lip Teflon impregnated seal for long seal life. Optional ladder available for easy access to grease pivot bearing. Optional stainless steel riser and lower elbows for corrosive water applications. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs to minimize tripping hazard. Pivot point has towable option. T-L 8 5 /8" Pivot Point T-L does not offer an 8 5 /8" pivot point. VTL _0

11 STRUCTURES PIVOT POINT Valley 10" Pivot Point 10" riser has lowest flow resistance and is designed for pivots up to 2800' long with high water flow rates. Heavy duty legs are standard. Service platform is standard. Pivot flex is standard. Three sets of bracing for extra leg strength to prevent leg bowing. Brace angles mount inside legs for smooth outer edges for safety. Short upper elbow length to pivot pipe minimizes bearing load. Two pivot bearings (one at the normal upper leg position and one at the service platform position) provide extra support to handle 10" spans and pivots up to 2800' long. Powder-coated upper elbow with corrosion-resistant stainless steel sealing surface and triple lip Teflon impregnated seal for long seal life. Optional ladder available for easy access to grease pivot bearing. Optional stainless steel riser and lower elbows for corrosive water applications. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs to minimize tripping hazard. Pivot point has towable option. T-L 10" Pivot Point Valley style internal collector ring. Internal oil collector ring. 10" riser pipe (9 1 /2" equivalent diameter with 3" internal collector ring tube). Pivot flex is standard. Four sets of bracing. Brace angles mounted inside legs. Galvanized upper elbow with galvanized riser sealing surface causes premature seal wear, seal leakage and early replacement. No ladder available must use cross braces for access. Pad attaching bolts located inside legs. Pivot point is not towable _0 VTL-5

12 STRUCTURES COLLECTOR RING Collector Ring The collector ring transfers the incoming 480-volt power to the rotating spans. The 480-volt power is supplied to non-rotating copper rings (one for each conductor). Brushes (one for each conductor) rotate with the spans. The brushes transfer the 480-volt power from the copper rings to the span wire. Valley Internal Collector Ring Mounts on a stainless steel J-Pipe above the upper elbow to minimize water contact. Sealed to prevent water and dust contamination inside. Positioning the collector ring above the upper elbow ensures that the brushes are always aligned with the slip rings no side forces. Small diameter means less brush wear and longer trouble-free life. Easy to replace / repair, if needed. Electronic positioning resolver is positively attached and protected from the elements. Mechanical controls are easy to adjust. The same collector ring is used on all Valley pivot points from 6 5 /8" through 10". T-L Internal Collector Ring T-L has a unique design because some applications require a transfer of both oil and electrical signals from a fixed pivot point to a rotating span. On top is a standard internal collector used to transfer 24-volt DC power to control the end gun, speed control valve, direction control valve and provide power to the speed sensor. The speed sensor return information also goes through the collector ring. Since all communication is between the control panel and the last regular drive unit, a continuous span wire goes the full length of the pivot. The lower can is used to transfer oil to the rotating spans. The oil can has three chambers which are separated from one another. One chamber is used to transfer the high pressure supply oil from the pump to the pivot spans. The second chamber is used to transfer the low pressure return oil back to the pump unit. The third chamber is used to control the booster pump if a mechanical switch is used instead of an electrical solenoid. If a mechanical switch is used, a separate 1 /2" hydraulic oil line is run the length of the pivot to supply oil to the booster pump. The oil tubes plus the electrical collector ring tube are all enclosed inside a 3-inch tube which goes up through the center of the riser. This allows the spans to continue to rotate without having to wrap the hoses as in the past. T-L still allows wrapping the hoses on part circle installations. VTL _0

13 STRUCTURES SPANS The Leader in Span Design All spans consist of a pipeline to transfer and distribute water over the field, a trussing system to support the pipeline and a drive unit to support the pipeline in the air. While all pivots have spans, there is no comparison between the Valley span design and the competition s designs. The Valley design philosophy has been developed over more then 55 years and is recognized as the industry leader by which everyone else is compared. Valley utilizes the latest computer design technologies (3-D modeling and finite element analysis) to ensure that its spans are the strongest with the longest life. The design quality is confirmed using both field testing and accelerated life testing. Valley spans are more than just a combination of components. While the competition uses modular designs to reduce their manufacturing and inventory costs, Valley optimizes the various components to provide the correct fit for each span length. The Valley design results in a superior span to ensure the best long-term value for our customers. Our continued commitment to not cut corners to save a few dollars is why more than 50 percent of pivots in use today are Valley, and Valley pivots continue to deliver a significant resale premium over competitive brands. Valley builds the strongest, most durable spans in the industry, and we have the certified test data to prove it _0 VTL-7

14 STRUCTURES SPANS UNIfORm PIPELINE CROwn DEEP TRUSSING Valley Crown UNIfORm CROwn with DEEP TRUSSING Valley starts with the optimum crown shape. Properly designed components NOT A MODULAR DESIGN result in a uniform crown along the length of the span. A uniform crown provides uniform component loading throughout the span. Deeper trussing optimized for each span length is used to obtain the desired crown. Deeper trussing reduces the compressive loading in the pipe so 12-gauge pipe can be used. Utilizing the proper length truss rods provides a smooth trussing shape under the span resulting in uniform truss rod loads for longer life. Deeper trussing reduces the truss rod loads ensuring long, trouble-free life. Deeper trussing improves stability on rough rolling ground and 8000 series spans use the same pipes for interchangeability and 8000 series spans use the same truss depths for optimum design life. Professional, well-engineered design. Provides the longest life and highest resale value available in the industry, providing the grower the best overall value at the lowest total life cost. VTL _0

15 STRUCTURES SPANS UNIfORm PIPELINE CROwn ShALLOw TRUSSING T-L Crown UNIfORm CROwn with ShALLOw TRUSSING Shallow trussing increases component loads. Shallow trussing results in increased span roll on rough terrain. Stub pipes are inserted in some spans to obtain different span lengths, resulting in flat spots, additional stress and long-term flange gasket maintenance. Shallow trussing combined with the addition of stub pipes to obtain different lengths result in higher loads along the span. Increased loads result in shorter field life and lower resale value _0 VTL-9

16 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley Pipe Flange Eight bolts for more uniform clamping force and closer spacing between bolts. Full flange surface for gasket contact provides more surface area for uniform gasket sealing, preventing leakage. 3 /8" flange thickness and eight bolts combined with a full gasket surface minimize the potential for flange warpage, preventing gasket leaks. Overall result a superior design resulting in long-term leak-free life. T-L Pipe Flange 5 /16" thick flange material. Six bolts wider space between bolts allows flange to distort between bolts. Six-bolt design combined with the 5 /16" flanges result in flange bending during assembly. Shallow span shape puts increased load on the flanges and truss rods. Thinner flanges and smaller diameter gaskets reduce manufacturing costs but results in a weaker design. T-L puts cost ahead of the needs of the grower. VTL _0

17 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley Truss Angle Attachment Assembly Wrap-around welded attachment assembly. Distributes load uniformly to pipe over a wider area both radially and along the pipe Distributed loads mean less pipe stress and longer pipe life Heavy.135" trapezoid gusset plate provides rigid pipe to angle connection to reduce span roll on rough terrain. The Valley design is more expensive to build, but by distributing the load over a larger section of pipe, 12-gauge pipe can be used, providing both a superior design and a longer span life. T-L Truss Angle Attachment Bracket Simple low-cost piece of bent steel. Concentrates more loads into pipe. Higher loads means shorter span life due to weld cracking where the bracket is welded to the pipe. Light trapezoid plates are used on vertical angles to support the oil pipe lines. Simple bent steel bracket is designed for ease of manufacturing. The design concentrates the loads in a small area. Again, T-L puts ease of manufacturing ahead of the needs of the customer _0 VTL-11

18 VTL _0 NOTES

19 STRUCTURES SPANS Truss Rods The truss rods are the structural members that hold the pipeline together and support the water weight plus the forces exerted by the drive unit on the span (the pulling in and out forces due to wheel tracks and rough ground see drive unit section for load description). While the pipeline is always in compression, the truss rods are always in tension. The truss rod loads vary as a function of the load applied to the drive unit. Therefore, the key to long life is the strength ofthe overall design. Steel strength is only one factor that determines the overall strength of the span. Truss rods are designed to meet two conditions minimum yield strength and long-term fatigue life. Yield strength prevents the truss rods from stretching when the drive unit is pulled out away from the pivot point. Yield strength becomes the critical factor in situations such as towing or when the tires are in deep wheel tracks. If a truss rod stretches, its diameter becomes smaller and the rod loses some strength. Valley spans are designed so that yield is not the limiting factor. The second criterion is fatigue life. Fatigue failures occur when a crack develops in a metal component and then proceeds to the point when the component fails. Since every grower s conditions are different, the maximum possible loads that might be applied to a span are unknown. However, over the years by testing many different spans, both Valley and competitive, and knowing when or if they failed in the field, Valley was able to develop a test to evaluate relative span life. If a span passes our standardized life test, you can feel confident that the span will not experience a fatigue failure during its expected life. Certified test data shows that Valley spans have the longest life in the industry. The most important consideration is that the overall design is balanced for long-term life, which is what the grower expects from a Valley. The fatigue life is affected by many factors in addition to steel strength, including rod diameter, rod head size and shape, socket design, truss depth and span crown. Part of the difference is the Valley deep trussing which reduces the average working load on the truss rods, increasing their life _0 VTL-13

20 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley 8000 Truss Rod Larger base radius increases fatigue strength for longer life. Hot forged increased rod diameter near head for added strength at socket. Smooth radius increases fatigue strength for longer life. Fits tight in socket centers rod for uniform load on rod head for longer life. Deeper trussing reduces truss rod loads. Valley truss rods are hot-dipped galvanized for maximum corrosion protection. 3 /4" diameter rods are standard on 8000 series spans. Deep trussing and a uniform shape lowers the loads on the truss rods, resulting in a stronger span for longer life. This is another reason Valley pivots are worth more, as indicated by their higher resale value. T-L Truss Rod T-L uses welded truss rod end assemblies to reduce cost and don t invest in hot heading equipment. T-L trades off cost for longterm life. The strength at a weld is lower than the parent metal strength. Once welded, the steel rods give up some of their strength. Any variation in the welding process could result in a rod failure and crashed span. Shallow trussing puts higher loads on the truss rods. Two 5 /8" bolts hold the entire truss assembly together (formed bent bracket and single bolt at drive unit). 3 /4" diameter rods are standard on 187.5' and shorter spans. Again, T-L puts ease of manufacturing ahead of the needs of the grower. VTL _0

21 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley 7000 Truss Rod Increased dome thickness for increased fatigue life. Smaller head diameter on 11 /16" rods reduces the stress effect at the radius, allowing the use of lower fatigue life higher-strength steel. Larger base radius increases fatigue strength for longer life. Long gradual taper for increased fatigue strength. Fits tight in socket centers rod for uniform load on rod head for longer life. Deeper trussing reduces truss rod loads. Valley truss rods are hot-dipped galvanized for maximum corrosion protection. 11 /16" diameter rods are standard on all 7000 series spans. Even though the 7000 series uses 11 /16" truss rods, it still exhibits significantly longer life than the competition because of its balanced design. T-L Truss Rod T-L uses welded truss rod end assemblies to reduce cost and don t invest in hot heading equipment. T-L trades off cost for longterm life. The strength at a weld is lower than the parent metal strength. Once welded, the steel rods give up some of their strength. Any variation in the welding process could result in a rod failure and crashed span. Shallow trussing puts higher loads on the truss rods. Two 5 /8" bolts hold the entire truss assembly together (formed bent bracket and single bolt at drive unit). 3 /4" diameter rods are standard on 187.5' and shorter spans. Again, T-L puts ease of manufacturing ahead of the needs of the grower _0 VTL-15

22 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley 8000 series Socket Two-piece stamped, sandwiched assembly designed for 3 /4" rods. Designed to fit rod and head diameters. Three bolts hold the assembly together around the truss rods. Rods come in smoothly to socket, providing a uniform loading on the rod head. Nut and bolt heads fit flush with socket surfaces so bolts will not loosen over time. 2" x 2" x 3 /16" angle is standard on 8000 series spans. 3 /4" diameter truss rods are standard on 8000 series spans. T-L Does Not Use a Socket Very short weld area. Assembly subject to welding variations. Any variation in the welding process could result in a rod failure and crashed span. Shallow trussing puts higher loads on the truss rods. Highly loaded bolts. 2" x 2" x 1 /8" truss angles. Spreader angle attaches to the vertical truss angle above the truss rod joint which can allow the vertical angle to bend under load (weaker design). 3 /4" diameter rods are standard on and shorter spans. Again, T-L puts lower cost and strength, resulting in shorter span life, ahead of the needs of the grower. VTL _0

23 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley 7000 series Socket Two-piece stamped, sandwiched assembly designed for 11 /16" truss rods. ALIGNmENT holes INDICATE this is a 7000 series span Designed to fit rod and head diameters (smaller openings and smaller size around rod). Centers rod head for uniform loading to increase fatigue life. Three bolts hold the assembly together around truss rods. Rods come in smoothly to socket, providing a uniform loading on the rod head. Nut and bolt heads fit flush with socket surfaces so bolts will not loosen over time. 2" x 2" x 1 /8" angle is standard on 7000 series spans. 11 /16" diameter truss rods are standard on 7000 series spans. T-L Does Not Use a Socket Very short weld area. Assembly subject to welding variations. Any variation in the welding process could result in a rod failure and crashed span. Shallow trussing puts higher loads on the truss rods. Highly loaded bolts. 2" x 2" x 1 /8" truss angles. Spreader angle attaches to the vertical truss angle above the truss rod joint which can allow the vertical angle to bend under load (weaker design). 3 /4" diameter rods are standard on and shorter spans. Again, T-L puts lower cost and strength, resulting in shorter span life, ahead of the needs of the grower _0 VTL-17

24 STRUCTURES SPANS Valley 8000 Span Connection Ball and socket design allows free movement in all directions. Torsional force is not transferred from one span to the next span on rolling ground. One-piece forged ball assembly for extra strength, eliminating the bolted assembly. REINfORCING GUSSETS Welded gussets at each end of the hitch distributes the load over a longer pipe area; minimizes pipe stress. Boot can be easily replaced without unhooking spans. Boot does not restrict water flow. Standard Valley drain accommodates a remote drain to keep water away from the wheel tracks. Simple yet superior design for rugged terrain, which provides longer trouble-free life. VTL _0

25 STRUCTURES SPANS T-L Span Connection Ball and socket design. Mounted under pipeline. Socket bolts on to swivel pipe with two bolts (not welded weaker assembly). Creates high stress on pipe where socket attaching plates are welded to pipe. Single bolt holds assembly from pulling apart and attaches alignment arm. More variation in alignment on rough ground _0 VTL-19

26 VTL _0 NOTES

27 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Designed for Strength, Durability and Long Life As the pivot moves around the field, the drive unit is designed to transfer the forces applied to the tires to the span pipeline and trussing. These forces can come from several different field conditions. As a pivot moves around the field, the drive unit goes from being parallel to the crop ridges to being perpendicular to the crop. During the transition, the tires are being either pushed inward or pulled outward as they cross the ridges. Likewise, when operating in deep ruts, any change in alignment will cause the tires to be either pushed inward or pulled outward as the span tries to get out of the rut. For long-term life, the span and drive unit must be strong enough to withstand these cyclic loads without any permanent stretching. The overall drive unit strength is determined by several components including the drive unit legs, cross braces, diagonal braces and tower supports. Each component by itself plays a part, but the overall design determines the strength and durability of the structure. The proven Valley design provides a strong and rigid structure that better distributes the loads into the span while maintaining good alignment. The four-leg balanced design spreads the loads over a long section of pipe, thereby reducing the effective bending force on the pipe. The diagonal braces form a triangular structural shape which greatly increases the overall strength and allows lighter components to be used. Valley uses the same number of cross braces on each side to provide a balanced design to support travel in both the forward and reverse direction. It is the overall Valley design philosophy that makes Valley the industry leader. Understanding these loads are key to a good design: Loads applied to the tires. Loads applied from one span to another. Twisting loads due to terrain _0 VTL-21

28 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley Drive Unit Braces Three braces per side. Balanced design on both sides for balanced strength in both directions. More strength to handle rough terrain in both directions. Braces can be used to climb up span. T-L Drive Unit Braces Four light tubular braces plus a light angle on one side and one tubular brace on the opposite side to reduce cost. Unbalanced design loads are different in one direction. T-L offers an option to add the additional four tubular braces to the other side. They may have had problems on certain field conditions. VTL _0

29 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley Drive Unit Diagonal Brace Diagonal braces are used on all Valley spans. Ties legs together to make them act as one large beam structure. Forms two triangular shapes for rigid strength. Adds strength to prevent leg bending. T-L Drive Unit Diagonal Brace Light diagonal angles. Not as strong as a tubular brace _0 VTL-23

30 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley Drive Unit Leg Attachment Wide spacing distributes load over long section of pipe to reduce the stress. No flange between legs stronger design without flange connection. Full-length swivel and fixed pipe is stronger no weak short stub pipes. Wrap-around welded leg-attaching brackets to distribute load around the pipe. Heavy.169" gusset plate ties the pipe and legs together to reduce span roll on rough terrain. T-L Drive Unit Leg Attachment Bent metal bracket welded to the pipe to hold the leg. Bracket concentrates loads in a small area of pipe, creating a high stress shorter life. Wide spacing. No flange between legs. No stub pipes. Light gusset to hold oil hydraulic pipes. With the holes it doesn t provide much support to resist span roll on rough terrain. VTL _0

31 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley 8000 series Tower Supports Tower support is a 2 7 /8" heavy tube. Attaches solidly to the pipeline tower-support attachment assembly to minimize span roll on rough terrain. Bolts solidly to the drive unit legs, connecting the leg, diagonal brace and tower support as one unit. Forms a rigid structure that keeps the span perpendicular to the base beam for improved alignment, reducing nuisance shut-downs. A tie brace ties the tower supports to the truss rods, improving tower support tube buckling strength. Engineered design produces a stronger structure, resulting in longer life on rough ground. T-L Tower Supports Tower support is a tube. Attaches to the truss with a single bolt. Attaches to the bottom of the truss, allowing more span roll on rough terrain. Span roll affects alignment more on T-L than on Valley because of the design. Bolts on to drive leg at brace. Lighter legs 3" x 3" x 3 /16" (same as 7000) but with much higher loads applied to the legs _0 VTL-25

32 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley Unitized Base Beam Gearbox mount welded directly to drive-leg mounting plate. Weight and wheel torque transferred directly to the drive unit legs, eliminating bending forces in the base beam tube for longer life. Mounting the drive unit legs on the inside, facing towards each other, increases structural strength, allowing smaller angles to be stronger (forms a channel-shaped structure). Wide spacing of leg angles at the base beam attaching plate reduces the bending force the legs have to handle when the tire is being pulled out or pushed in. Heavy gearbox mounting plates create a strong ridged structure to transfer the tire torque and pull out loads directly to the drive unit leg-attaching plate to prevent flexing which could shorten the life of the base beam. T-L Base Beam Unconventional design so T-L can run the drive shaft through the center of the base beam. High cantilevered load off the end of the base beam results in high bending stress not a good design for long life. Hole for oil lines significantly decreases plate strength, resulting in shorter life. Minimal weld of gearbox mounting plate to drive leg attaching plate high stress area. Narrow spacing of leg angles at the base beam attaching plate increases the bending force the legs have to handle when the tire is being pulled out or pushed in, requiring a back support gusset plate. Lighter legs 3" x 3" x 3 /16" (same as 7000) but with much higher loads applied to the legs. Simplifying the design so the drive shaft can run through the base beam results in shorter span life. T-L has again put its needs ahead of the customer s needs. VTL _0

33 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley 7000 series Tower Supports Drive legs 3" x 3" x 3 /16" instead of 3" x 3" x 1 /4". 2 7 /8" heavy tube tower supports go to first truss to reduce cost and are attached with a heavy plate for strength. Second drive unit gusset plate for reduced span roll on rough terrain for improved alignment, reducing nuisance shut-downs series base beam, braces and diagonals. Though not as strong as an 8000 series, the 7000 series has proven to have significantly longer life than competitive spans. Engineered design produces a stronger structure, resulting in longer life on rough ground. T-L Tower Supports Tower support is a tube. Attaches to the truss with a single bolt. Attaches to the bottom of the truss, allowing more span roll on rough terrain. Span roll affects alignment more on T-L than on Valley because of the design. Bolts on to drive leg at brace. Lighter legs 3" x 3" x 3 /16" (same as 7000) but with much higher loads applied to the legs _0 VTL-27

34 STRUCTURES DRIVE UNIT Valley Booster Pump Mounted at drive unit for easy servicing. T-L Booster Pump Mounted at end of overhang hard to service. Complicated because of hydraulic booster pump motor. Hydraulic oil flow control valve to adjust pump output (hard to adjust out at the end of the overhang) Small hydraulic cylinder (yellow) to shut off water Oil is supplied from and returned to last regular drive unit Plenty of places for oil leaks (hard to repair out at the end of the overhang) End gun controls. Can be controlled with a 24-volt electric solenoid at last regular drive unit (requires span cable from pivot point to last regular drive unit) Can be controlled by running a separate 1 /2" hydraulic oil line from the pivot point to the booster pump 2 HP booster pump increases hydraulic oil requirements by 30% to 40%. This increases energy requirements by the same amount when booster pump is operating. Offers 2 HP and 5 HP booster pump options. Limited to 5 HP because of too much oil pressure loss at higher flows. VTL _0

35 STRUCTURES TEST RESULTS Certified Independent Test Results Validate the Valley Design for Long Life When it comes to investing in irrigation equipment, structural life is critical. The grower is making a long-term investment that is expected to last for many years without requiring costly repairs. Valley has built its reputation by providing the most durable equipment available in the market. That is why Valley is recognized as the industry leader against which everyone else is compared and why used Valley equipment commands a significant premium over other competitive manufacturers equipment. To ensure this leadership position, Valley continuously makes product improvements and regularly tests its products against the competitors products using an accelerated life cycle test. Ultimately, the field determines how good a product is but it may take 10 or 20 years for a design weakness to show up, well beyond the warranty period. It is impractical to wait that long to determine how durable a product is going to be in the long term. As the structure moves through the field, going over crop ridges and potentially in and out of wheel tracks, the tires are subjected to repeated field loads. These repetitive loads can result in structural components developing cracks and ultimately failing. Over the past 50 years, Valley has developed a standard accelerated cycle test to simulate these field loads which can be used to predict the effect of future design changes on long-term durability. The test consists of a span attached to a fixed pivot point and the drive unit supported on a four-wheel cart. The cart is pulled away from the pivot point and then pushed back toward the pivot point, applying a known cyclic load to the bottom of the tires. The cyclic load is repeated until some component on the span fails. Tests certified by an independent consultant, Dr. James D. Summers, P.E., of the industry s most popular span (179' / 180') prove Valley spans on average last five to six times longer than our two closest competitors spans on a standardized test. The structure with the longest cycle life can be expected to exhibit the longest life in the field under similar conditions. Long life is just one of the reasons Valley is your best long term value and why over 50% of the pivots operating today are Valley. Cycle test simulates the push in and pull out loads applied to the tire, as a pivot moves around a field. *Outcomes may vary under different field conditions _0 VTL-29

36 VTL _0 NOTES

37 DRIVE TRAIN INTRODUCTION The Leader in Drive Train Design The drive train is critical to moving the pivot around the field in an efficient and timely manner. It must be strong enough to handle rough terrain and deep wheel tracks. The drive train consists of three major components: the wheel gearboxes, the center drive motor and gearbox, and the rims and tires. Our goal is to deliver sufficient power to the tires to handle the worst field conditions while using the least amount of electrical energy. While saving energy is important, long-term reliability and durability are critical to meeting grower expectations. Through the years Valley has developed a reputation as the industry leader in technology and innovation. As span lengths increased and larger pipe diameters became standard, Valley continued to improve the load capability of the drive train. This applies to the drive train package from the center drive through the tires. Since 1974, Valley has built its own gearbox because a commercial gearbox that would meet our endurance requirements was not available. The philosophy at Valley always has been to provide the most durable gearbox in the irrigation industry even if it costs more. That still holds true today. Valley could purchase a less expensive gearbox from China, as our competitors do, but it wouldn t provide the long life that growers expect when they purchase a Valley. Valley has continued to improve its gearbox to handle the longer and larger diameter spans now in use. In 1995, Valley introduced the most efficient center drive in the industry. To obtain the performance required, Valley specified the operating design parameters. These included a high efficiency motor, an aluminum motor housing for cooler operating temperatures and superior corrosion resistance, a built-in crop guard to keep crop residue away from the seals, and precision-machined helical steel gears combined with a double reduction gear set to provide the highest efficiency available. Although Valley features increase the cost of the center drives, they provide long-term benefits for the grower. Even with respect to rims and tires, Valley uses only the best. All Valley rims match the manufacturer s recommended widths while T-L s standard rims are narrower to save money _0 VTL-31

38 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX Valley Gearbox: The Strongest Gearbox Designed for the Longest Field Life Since 1974, Valley has built its own gearbox because a commercially produced gearbox that would meet our endurance requirements did not exist. The Valley philosophy always has been to provide the most durable gearbox in the irrigation industry even if it costs more. This philosophy still holds true today. So what makes Valley different than all the rest? The Valley gearbox is built in Valley, Nebraska. This has several advantages over the UMC Chinese gearboxes our competitors use. We control the quality of our components, instead of getting components from the lowest cost supplier in China. All of our vendors are in the United States. We perform random inspections of their facilities on a regular basis to ensure they are meeting our quality standards. All Patented seal Ductile iron worm gear 25 pressure angle Large diaphragm NTN bearings Long output shaft Made in USA Gearbox Test Lab major components are machined at Valley, which provides a second level of quality control. A final quality control inspection is performed by testing each gearbox before it is painted and shipped. To further ensure quality control, random Valley gearboxes are life tested in our gearbox test lab. High-strength Ductile Iron Worm Gear Valley uses high-strength ductile iron worm gears instead of steel worm gears. Gears typically fail in one of two ways. The first is due to tooth wear when the surface oil film breaks down under heavy loads, causing metal-to-metal contact to occur at raised surface points (surfaces are not completely smooth). Over time enough wear can occur to cause a tooth to fail. The American Gear Manufacturers Association s (AGMA) worm gear design guide states that the allowable wear load for steel worms is only 60% of the allowable load for ductile iron worms when operating against a cast iron bull gear. Ductile iron has significantly higher wear capabilities because the surface is somewhat porous. This porous nature of ductile iron can hold some lubricating oil, and the imbedded graphite also provides some lubrication under extreme load conditions. High-strength Steel production in China is not as consistent, which leads to wide variations in performance. This extra load capacity is especially important with 38" tires, which require significantly more torque to drive them. VTL _0

39 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX 25 Tooth Pressure Angle vs Tooth Pressure Angle The second most common gear failure is when a tooth breaks off due to fatigue. If a tooth breaks in a properly designed gear set, it will break at the base or root of the tooth. Again according to the AGMA s worm gear design guide, a 25 pressure angle provides 40% more strength at the root than a 14.5 pressure angle. The 14.5 tooth is wider at the top of the tooth so it appears stronger, but because teeth fail at the root not the tip the wider width at the root of a 25 tooth actually gives it more strength. Machining hobs at 25 cost more because they are not standard, but they help Valley gears last longer. This extra load capacity is especially important with 38" tires which require significantly more torque to drive them Tooth Comparison Valley T-L Fully Recessed Tooth Action 52:1 vs. 50:1 reduction ratio 52:1 ratio gearboxes go 4% slower and require 4% less input energy to drive the tires. This means less load on the gear teeth. But more important is the fact that the 52:1 design has fully recessed tooth action. The input worm gear is fixed in the housing, and as it is rotated, it pulls on the bull gear teeth, causing it to rotate. With conventional gear designs, the input worm gear makes its initial contact with the bull gear in the upper portion of the bull gear tooth and then moves downward toward the root of the tooth. During the downward motion (called approach action), the worm actually rubs part of the oil film off the bull gear and resists the bull gear s rotating motion. Once the worm gear reaches its fully engaged depth, it then moves back out (called recess action). Energy is transferred to the bull gear only during the recess action portion of travel. The fully recessed action gears make contact only during the recess action portion of travel, thereby preventing the oil from being squeezed out before the recess action starts. Fully recessed action gear designs have reduced friction, are capable of carrying higher loads and have longer life than non-recessed action gear designs. Competitor s Non-recessed Gear Action Approach Recess Action Action BULL GEAR Valley Fully Recessed Gear Action No Approach Action No Approach Action Recess Action BULL GEAR _0 VTL-33

40 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX Exclusive Patented Seal for Valley Seven barriers keep out dirt and protect against contamination. Valley seals have four times the life of competitive cartridge seals based on independent tests. That means reduced maintenance cost and down time. Grease-packed for extended life Steel housing for protection External seal lip keeps contamination out No contact with shaft 1 2 Worm Gear Spring-loaded for positive contact to keep oil in Primary seal keeps oil in Seal sleeve turns with shaft reduces wear and extends life of seal and shaft Positive seal against shaft In the past, seal life had a major impact on gearbox life. If the oil leaked out, the gearbox would fail prematurely due to nonlubrication (teeth wear or rusted bearings). Starting in 1995, Valley worked with several different seal manufacturers to come up with a better seal design that would still be cost effective. The manufacturers tested several conventional cartridge type seal designs using the industry s standard mud wear test. The cartridge seals did reduce shaft grooving, and the fact that the seal lip rubbed against an internal sleeve instead of the axle seemed like positive benefits. However, cartridge seals didn t prevent mud from working its way inside the seal and destroying the seal lip. Nothing they proposed lasted any longer than the existing Valley dual seal package. After failing to find a better available seal, in 1997 Valley entered into an agreement to work with a major seal manufacturer to develop a new design which would have significantly longer life when operating in a mud slurry environment. The key to longer life would be to prevent the mud mixture from getting inside the seal. After extensive testing, a 7 lip seal design proved to meet our objective, which was 3 1 /2 times the life of currently available seals using the industry s standard mud test. The seal life results were independently validated by Environ Laboratories, Inc. The U.S. patent office determined that the seal was a significantly improved design over cartridge seals and issued a patent. The key difference is in the internal design which prevents mud / liquid from entering the rear portion of the seal. If contamination can t reach the seal lip which is lubricated with oil, it will last a long time. Only Valley can use this patented seal in its irrigation gearboxes. The Valley seals cost more to manufacture, but will pay for themselves over time given the longer seal life and therefore longer gearbox life. Relative Seal Life Seal Industry Mud Test Exclusive Valley 7 Lip Seal exhibited 3.6 times the life of the cartridge seal without failure Cartridge seals failed 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Independent Life Tests Conducted by Environ Laboratories, Inc. VTL _0

41 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX Large Diaphragm A large diaphragm is used to minimize pressure fluctuations inside the gearbox. This diaphragm has a corrosion resistant aluminum housing and four vent holes to prevent pressure buildup. During operation, the oil inside the gearbox heats up, causing the volume to expand. After shut down, the oil cools to the ambient temperature. The diaphragm expands and contracts, compensating for the change in oil volume due to temperature changes, thereby maintaining a constant pressure inside the gearbox. Without a diaphragm, the increase and decrease in oil volume causes the pressure inside the gearbox to increase and decrease. This fluctuation in pressure can result in water vapor being drawn into the gearbox as the pressure decreases and then condensing as water inside the gearbox. The diaphragm solves this problem. Large diaphragm NTN bearings Long output shaft Made in USA Longer Output Shaft There is a specific reason for the exclusive longer output shaft designed by Valley. The longer output shaft moves the wheel hub 2" away from the output seal area. This creates an area where mud from the tires can fall off the shaft rather than being packed up against the seal, which is what happens on competitive gearboxes. In addition, the longer shaft prevents the crop from being wrapped between the seal and wheel hub, forcing it into the seal. The longer shaft length costs more, but it increases the output seal life. Our offset rims compensate for the longer shaft and actually moves the center of the tire closer to the gearbox output bearing, reducing the overhung load on the bearing _0 VTL-35

42 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX NTN Bearings Valley uses only NTN or Timken bearings made in the United States. They are made using ultra pure steel that is precision ground and surface hardened. The surface hardening provides superior wear characteristics while maintaining the inner toughness of the base metal (not subject to cracking under high loads like through-hardened Chinese bearings). The ultra pure steel is stronger than the steel available in China. Because of their design, NTN and Timken bearings have a 40% higher load rating than the throughhardened Chinese bearing in the UMC gearbox T-L uses. All these unique features add up to one thing the strongest and longest life gearbox available as demonstrated by the standard competitive test data. Gearbox Ultimate Output Torque Test Accelerated Gearbox Life Comparison ULTImATE TORqUE In lbs. 180, , , , , , , , ,000 T-L UMC gearbox Valley gearbox RELATIVE LifE RANGE 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 T-L UMC gearbox Valley gearbox 100% represents the upper test life range of a series of Valley gearboxes. VTL _0

43 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY WHEEL GEARBOX Valley Gearbox Built to Last Largest capacity rubber diaphragm expands with heat and pressure to minimize water condensation. Input and output bearings American-made and case-hardened to provide the highest quality and load rating available in the industry to ensure long trouble-free life. Worm gear high-strength ductile iron provides significantly longer wear life then steel when combined with a cast iron bull gear. Tooth design industry exclusive 25 tooth angle provides 40% longer life and better reliability in tough conditions compared to typical 14.5 tooth designs. Largest bull gear neck and keyway for strength in critical load-bearing area. All these features add up to one thing the best quality gearbox in the industry, giving you long, trouble-free, economical equipment life. Expansion chamber cap made of noncorrosive cast aluminum; rubber diaphragm allows oil to expand and contract during operation. Vented cap prevents pressure buildup, prevents seal from leaking. Threaded endcap allows accurate bearing preload, to increase bearing life. 52:1 gear ratio full recessed tooth design keeps oil engaged between gears. Multi-viscosity gearbox oil Custom blended with additional additives to exceed 85w140 GL5 oil for long gear wear under extreme load conditions. A tackifier (similar to STP) is added to prevent the oil from draining off the gears and bearings when not operating. Bull gear high-strength cast iron provides the highest load capacity in the industry and longest life. Optional bronze gear is available for extreme conditions. Strongest gearbox housing more material in high-stress areas. Designed to distribute loads more evenly. Longest output shaft (steel) exclusive to Valley gearboxes. Provides extra clearance between the gearbox and wheel flange, reducing mud buildup, resulting in reduced seal damage and extended gearbox life. Special offset rims position the tire back close to the gearbox to minimize bearing loads another Valley exclusive. Made in USA Patented Input and Output Seals Valley Gearbox Only Seven barriers keep out dirt and protect against contamination. Valley seals have four times the life of competitive cartridge seals based on independent tests. That means reduced maintenance cost and down time. Grease-packed for extended life Steel housing for protection External seal lip keeps contamination out No contact with shaft 1 2 Worm Gear Spring-loaded for positive contact to keep oil in Primary seal keeps oil in Seal sleeve turns with shaft reduces wear and extends life of seal and shaft Positive seal against shaft _0 VTL-37

44 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY CENTER DRIVE Valley Center Drives Efficient Choices for Long Life The center drive converts the electrical power to mechanical power using an electric motor and a gearbox. The center drive must be strong enough to push the pivot up hills and over deep crop ridges without overheating. To ensure long-term life, Valley actually underrates its motor horsepower with respect to its UL rating. The UL rating is the combination of the nameplate rating times the service factor (horsepower at which the motor can operate continuously). The service factor provides an additional margin of safety under extreme conditions. To match field conditions, Valley offers three custom-designed center drives which are built to Valley specifications. Each motor / gearbox assembly is tested for noise and amp draw before it is shipped. This ensures that the complete system is operating properly when it leaves our factory. Precision machined helical steel gears Valley uses helical steel gears because of their superior strength. The difference is in the final processing of the teeth. Valley uses a special heat-treating process which creates an extremely hard tooth surface for long-term wear while maintaining a softer internal core material for long-term fatigue life. Aluminum finned motor housing allows the motor to run approximately 20 F cooler than a steel housing, doubling the insulation life for longer motor life. Aluminum provides increased corrosion résistance over steel for long-term durability even in good water applications. By using both an aluminum motor housing and an aluminum gearbox housing, corrosion issues are significantly reduced. the motor so that any water running down the motor lead wire will drip off instead of being carried into the junction box, as it is with the horizontal wire. This reduces water entering into the junction box, minimizing wire nut corrosion. Internally vented junction box the junction box is vented into the motor housing rather than externally like other motors. This ensures that should any moisture get inside the junction box, it will be evaporated by the heat of the motor during operation. Any liquid will run down into the end of the motor housing and drain out through the housing drain holes. One piece rotor and pinion the pinion gear is machined directly on to the end of the rotor shaft. This is a more expensive design, but it ensures that the gear cannot come loose in the future, causing maintenance issues. One piece rotor & pinion Precision machined steel helical gears Aluminum finned housing Junction box internally vented Round junction box cover with trapped gasket the round junction box cover provides uniform gasket sealing pressure over the entire junction box compared to a square cover that seals only around the bolts. A thick square o-ring is trapped in the cover to prevent the gasket from being extruded during tightening. The round junction box allows the motor lead wire to come in from the bottom rather than coming in horizontally from the side. By coming in from the bottom, a loop is formed below Cast in crop shields Round junction box cover with trapped gasket VTL _0

45 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY CENTER DRIVE Center Drive Speed vs. Efficiency When irrigating, the pivot moves slowly around the field to apply the desired amount of water. Therefore, for maximum efficiency, a slow output RPM is desired to minimize the number of starts and stops, minimizing the high inrush current which occurs each time the motor starts. Likewise, the lower the output speed, the lower the amperage draw will be for a given output torque. With lower amperage draws, a smaller span wire size can be used. All this leads to greater efficiency. Therefore, the standard center drive speed for Valley is 34 RPM. This provides good rotation time while efficiently using energy. For long machines or when chemigation is going to be used, a higher speed is desired to get around the field in a shorter amount of time. Valley has this covered with the 68 RPM center drive. Valley offers three choices to better match the grower s individual needs. Valley also offers a 43 RPM center drive. Valley center drives require less amperage than competitive center drives. Valley center drives cost more to build but provide higher efficiency, which reduces grower operating costs year after year. Valley s center drives are much more efficient than T-L s oil hydraulic drives. Valley motors only draw power when the span is moving compared to oil hydraulic drives which require continuous power. The charts shows actual measured yearly energy savings to operate an electric vs. oil hydraulic center pivot. Center Drive Performance Comparison Valley Valley Valley Standard speed Mid-speed High Speed Output RPM Nameplate HP Rated AMPS Service Factor UL Continuous HP Rating YEARLY ENERGY SAVINGS Actual Performance Comparison The time to complete a revolution for a seven-tower Valley pivot can be varied as follows: Minimum rotation time in hours 11.2 x 38 tires 11.2 x 24 tires 34 RPM 43 RPM 68 RPM Yearly Energy Savings to Run an Electric vs. Oil Hydraulic Center Pivot $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $ (1" of water applied per revolution) Hours of OPERATION 7 tower 1 /4 mile pivot 16 tower 1 /2 mile pivot Assumption: electricity at $.07/kW-Hr _0 VTL-39

46 DRIVE TRAIN VALLEY CENTER DRIVE Valley Center Drive Engineered for Reliability Large 1 3 /16" motor shaft Stator can be replaced independent of rotor, and is held in place with corrosionresistant, stainless steel bolts for easy maintenance Pinion gear integral with motor shaft Extra-large intermediate gear bearings assure longer life 25 tooth angles provide 40% greater load capacity and wear resistance than other manufacturer s 14.5 tooth angles Double output shaft seals Built-in crop guard over U-joint prevents crop wrapping in or near oil seals Double reduction gearing requires fewer gears, shafts and bearings for greater reliability and efficiency Watertight seal between housing components Finned aluminum housing for cool-running efficiency. Operates at temperatures 20 F (11 C) lower than comparable motors with steel housing, because the Valley aluminum housing and fins dissipate heat more effectively. This doubles insulation life and increases motor life. Case-hardened steel helical gears more teeth meshed at all times for smoother power transmission Drain plug easily accessible, extra large Valley Center Drive is engineered for reliable service. The Valley Center Drive is built stronger, lasts longer and uses less energy than other irrigation drive motors. The standard-speed motor has the lowest power requirements in the industry. The high-speed option significantly reduces rotation time. Center Drive Features Steel gears Aluminum finned housing Internally vented junction box Crop guard Integral pinion gear Helical gears Special motor windings for high-torque applications Center Drive Benefits Provide more strength than powdered metal. Runs 20 F cooler for a longer motor life. No paint to chip, scratch or corrode. Prevents moisture and contaminants from corroding the wire connections. Protects shaft seals for extended life. Eliminates coupler, improves reliability. More tooth contact than spur gears, providing more torque capacity and quieter operation. 40% higher operating torque than the competition. VTL _0

47 NOTES _0 VTL-41

48 DRIVE TRAIN VS-7000 WHEEL GEARBOX VS-7000 Gearbox Built in China to Valley Specifications The VS-7000 gearbox is a lower price point option that is built exclusively for Valley. Although it is built in China like T-L s UMC gearbox, there are several major differences. It is built to Valley specifications by a Tier One gearbox manufacturer who supplies gearboxes to companies such as John Deere and Eaton. For long-term durability, the VS-7000 contains many of the same features that make the Valley gearbox the industry s leader. The VS-7000 has proven to be the second best gearbox in the industry, and it is available only from Valley dealers. Input and output bearings Chinese through-hardened bearings. Expansion chamber large open volume to reduce internal pressure changes with temperature changes. No diaphragm. Worm gear high-strength ductile iron worm gear provides significantly longer wear life than steel when combined with a cast iron bull gear. Shims used to set bearing preload. 52:1 gear ratio full recessed tooth design keeps oil engaged between gears. Tooth design 14.5 tooth angle. Shorter bull gear neck and keyway matching non-valley gearboxes. Long output shaft exclusive to Valley gearboxes. Provides extra clearance between the gearbox and wheel flange, reducing mud buildup, resulting in reduced seal damage and extended gearbox life. Special offset rims position the tire back close to the gearbox to minimize bearing loads another Valley exclusive. T-L Gearbox Built in China by UMC Input and output bearings Chinese through-hardened bearings. Expansion chamber small diaphragm with stainless steel cap to reduce internal pressure changes with temperature. Worm gear high-strength steel worm gear has significantly shorter wear life than ductile iron worm on cast iron bull gear. Tooth design 14.5 tooth angle. Short bull gear neck and keyway have lower torque capacity. Shims used to set bearing preload. 50:1 gear ratio wipes oil off bull gear during rotation. Short output shaft traps mud and crop, reducing seal life. VTL _0

49 DRIVE TRAIN WHEEL GEARBOX TEST RESULTS Valley Offers Gearbox Choices Designed for Longer Life When it comes to investing in irrigation equipment, the grower is making a long-term investment that is expected to last for many years without requiring costly repairs. Valley has built its reputation by providing the most durable equipment available in the market, including the wheel gearbox. The Valley gearbox is one of the reasons Valley is recognized as the industry leader against which everyone else is compared and why used Valley equipment commands a significant premium over T-L equipment. Valley uses two standardized tests to determine overall gearbox strength and life. The ultimate torque test is just what the name implies. The output torque is increased until something breaks. That defines the ultimate torque. The second test is an accelerated life test. As the pivot moves through the field, going over crop ridges and up and down hills, the gearboxes are subjected to high torque loads especially with 38" tires. During the past 30 years, Valley has developed a standardized accelerated life test to simulate the worst field conditions. To determine relative life, a gearbox is operated at a constant output torque until something fails. Periodically testing is stopped to measure gear backlash. These two tests have been used for many years to validate all gearbox changes and can be used to predict the effect of design changes on long-term gearbox life. To ensure its leadership position, Valley continuously makes product improvements and regularly tests its products against T-L s worm gearbox using our two standard tests. Ultimately, the field determines the quality of a product but it may take 10 years before a design weakness is revealed, which is well beyond the warranty period. Test results show that the Valley gearbox is 24% stronger than the UMC gearbox used by T-L and has an average life that is 2.5 times longer than the UMC gearbox used by T-L. While the VS-7000 gearbox is only slightly stronger than the UMC gearbox, it has an average life that is still twice as long as the T-L UMC gearbox. Even though the VS-7000 and the UMC gearboxes are both built in China, the difference in life represents the effects of the ductile iron worm gear and better quality control of the VS-7000 gearbox. The gearbox with the longest accelerated life can be expected to exhibit the longest life in the field under similar conditions. Based upon this test data, it would appear that T-L puts cost considerations ahead of the grower s longterm product life needs. A longer gearbox life is just one of the reasons Valley is the best long-term investment, and why more than 50% of operating pivots are Valley. Gearbox Ultimate Output Torque Test Accelerated Gearbox Life Comparison ULTImATE TORqUE In lbs. 180, , , , , , , , ,000 T-L UMC gearbox VS-7000 Valley gearbox RELATIVE Life RANGE 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 T-L UMC gearbox VS-7000 Valley gearbox 100% represents the upper test life range of a series of Valley gearboxes. T-L also offers an expensive planetary drive gearbox which has not been tested _0 VTL-43

50 DRIVE TRAIN VS-7000 CENTER DRIVE VS-7000 Center Drive Same components as Valley center drive except painted steel housing. Same performance as Valley center drive. Steel housing has special Autophoretic corrosion protection. Chemical liquid bonding process Coats all surfaces inside and outside prior to painting Used by the auto industry to prevent steel rusting Lower price point option for 7000 series. VS-7000 steel housing after 1000-hour salt spray test has minimal rust. Special case hardened gears to provide a hard tooth wear surface while maintaining a softer inner strength for longer fatigue life. 25 tooth pressure angle provides 40% greater load capacity than the competition's Round junction box cover with trapped sealing square o-ring type gasket. Positive seal over entire surface to keep out moisture Lead wire comes in from bottom forming a drip loop to keep out moisture Junction box vented internally to motor housing. Motor heat keeps junction box dry, preventing wire nut corrosion Any potential moisture will drain out through motor housing VTL _0

51 DRIVE TRAIN OIL HYDRAULIC DRIVE DESIGN T-L Oil Hydraulic Drive System T-L doesn t use a conventional drive train design. Instead, it has chosen to power its equipment with hydraulic oil. Oil hydraulic systems have been used in the past by several manufacturers, but they have all switched to electric drives for its many advantages (higher efficiency, no leaks, better controls, better alignment, etc.). T-L continues to use hydraulics because it provides a small market niche where it can scare the customer into believing hydraulics are safer and easier to work on. Both of these issues are false if common sense is used. With respect to electricity, T-L powers a high percentage of its pump units with 480-volt motors (perhaps T-L feels its motors are safer than our 480-volt motors). With respect to safety, a small high pressure oil stream can puncture the skin and get into the bloodstream causing serious medical problems. Farmer serviceability with over 200 fittings on a quartermile machine they can expect leaks, maybe not the first year but over time, the machine will start to have leaks. Likewise, the alignment controls and motors are hydraulic and wear over time. How many farmers do you think will climb up on the machine to fix an oil leak or replace a valve especially with all that hydraulic oil in the lines? First thing you have to do is catch the oil so it doesn t run all over you and the ground. Valley has converted over 700 T-L drive units to electric drives over the past three years. There must be a reason farmers are willing to pay to have a Valley dealer come out and install the electrical conversion. Could it be that they are tired of dealing with oil leaks and alignment problems on a constant basis? How the system works it consists of a closed hydraulic system with a hydraulic pump unit at one end, hydraulic tubes running the length of the pivot, hydraulic valves at each tower to control alignment and a hydraulic motor at each tower. The oil forms a continuous loop. All the oil pumped down the system to the hydraulic motors must be pumped back to the pump unit. Moving oil over a 1 /2 mile ( 1 /4 mile down the pivot and 1 /4 mile back) creates a lot of pressure loss which the pump must make up in addition to the pressure required to move each tower. The hydraulic pump normally is located at the pivot point because it is extremely expensive to run underground oil pipes to transfer the oil from the pump to the pivot point and then back to the pump unit over any extended distance. The cost of the underground pipe alone exceeds $5.00 per foot plus there is an increased pressure loss which must be considered. From an installation standpoint, remotely mounting a Valley control panel has a significant cost advantage over remotely locating the T-L pump unit. T-L Pump Unit Standard sized oil reservoir holds 20 gallons of oil. Extra capacity reservoir optional. Hydraulic pump power source. Electric motor Belt driven off an engine power unit Auxiliary engine (small engine directly coupled to the pump) Hydraulic pump. Constant output pressure factory set at 1750 psi Variable output volume to match oil needed to drive the machine Lower flows at low pivot speeds Higher flows at higher pivot speeds Pivot speed is limited by the maximum pump flow rate, which is determined by the size of the power source _0 VTL-45

52 DRIVE TRAIN OIL HYDRAULIC DRIVE DESIGN T-L Hydraulic Worm Drive Motor Option Hydraulic motor has a constant displacement per revolution. Speed is directly proportional to the oil flow through the motor. One hydraulic motor is used to drive both gearboxes. The hydraulic motor is directly coupled to the input worm shaft of one gearbox. The second worm gearbox is driven by a long drive shaft connecting the two gearboxes. The drive shaft goes inside the base beam. The output torque is a function of the available pressure. Hydraulic motors are inefficient at very slow speeds (all motors have an internal leakage rate). Motors also become less efficient over time as they wear and the leakage rate increases. T-L Planetary Drive Option Requires two expensive planetary gearboxes per drive unit. Requires two hydraulic motors per drive unit (one for each gearbox). Planetary gearboxes are more efficient than worm drives. Requires less oil per drive unit because the hydraulic motors are connected in series. Used on long machines to reduce oil flow and reduce oil pressure loss. Used on high speed pivots. Used exclusively on 3-wheel drives, towable pivots, corner SDU and linear carts. VTL _0

53 DRIVE TRAIN OIL HYDRAULIC DRIVE DESIGN T-L Tower Alignment Valve One valve required at each tower except end tower. Controls the hydraulic oil flow rate to the motor. Sets each drive unit s speed Sets each drive unit's direction Bypasses all the oil back to the pump if a span gets too far out of alignment (their safety system). Requires span misalignment for it to work. Valve must be off center to provide oil to the drive unit hydraulic motor Alignment gets worse the faster the pivot is moving A cable on each end of the valve moves the valve to change the flow rate. Cables require regular maintenance. Proper cable tension is critical for proper alignment not user friendly. Seals on both ends of valve leak over time, requiring replacement maintenance. T-L manual has four pages of alignment instructions _0 VTL-47

54 DRIVE TRAIN OIL HYDRAULIC DRIVE DESIGN Oil Hydraulic Operating Efficiency Hydraulic components are individually relatively efficient when operating at their design point. However, when looking at a complete system, you start to see inefficiencies compounding as you go through the entire system and look at all the mismatches. Starting with the hydraulic pump, it must produce enough pressure to move the pivot under the worst condition (going up a hill pushing mud with big tires, etc.). That is why the pumps are factory set for an output pressure of 1750 psi. On level ground, it may take only 500 to 1000 PSI to move the pivot. The rest of the pressure is lost energy but the pump still has to pump the pressure so it is available if needed. It takes the same amount of energy whether the pivot is going uphill or downhill. Likewise, pumping the oil down a quarter-mile and back creates pressure loss. The higher the speed (higher oil flow volume), the higher the pressure loss. Again, this is wasted energy that is not needed to move the pivot but must still be supplied. Comparing the oil hydraulic to an electric system, the electric system is much more efficient. True, we have to supply 480 volts at all times to the pivot but the motors only draw enough amps to move the pivot. If the tower requires more power, it will draw more amps, and when the tower is on flat ground or going down a hill, it will draw minimum amps. When the drive unit is stopped during the start/stop cycling, the motor draws no amps. Since the grower pays only for the amps used, this makes a big difference in the operating cost. A comparison of the operating cost of a Valley electric pivot and a new T-L pivot of the same configuration, operating under the same field conditions, shows the Valley to be much more efficient. This is not a theoretically calculated cost but actual measured energy cost. This same difference has been reported by owners who own both Valley and T-L pivots. T-L oil hydraulic drive units continuously move rather than starting and stopping like electric powered pivots. T-L claims this provides slightly better water uniformity because it prevents so-called water spoking. This may be true on the first water application, but the moisture migrates through the soil from the wetter areas to the drier areas in a short amount of time. Each time an electric pivot moves around the field, it starts and stops in a different position, equalizing the overall amount of water applied to a given spot after the first application. As shown by the chart, this one-time effect comes at a high price. YEARLY ENERGY SAVINGS Yearly Energy Savings to Run an Electric vs. Oil Hydraulic Center Pivot $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $ (1" of water applied per revolution) Hours of OPERATION 7 tower 1 /4 mile pivot 16 tower 1 /2 mile pivot Assumption: electricity at $.07/kW-Hr VTL _0

55 DRIVE TRAIN TIRES & RIMS Tires Designed to Handle All Field Conditions All manufacturers offer a range of tire sizes to match different field conditions. Valley offers recap tires, new agricultural tread tires and turf tires. Sizes go from 11" x 22.5" up to 18.4" x 26". Valley has the tire to meet the grower s needs. Exclusive Firestone ND Tire Joint two-year test program with Firestone to develop an improved tire for tough muddy fields. Designed specifically for irrigation applications. Non-directional tread pattern. More traction and less soil displacement Equal traction in both directions Creates shallower wheel tracks Pushes less soil out of the wheel track Available only from Valley dealers. Available in 14.9" x 24" and 11.2" x 38" sizes. Exclusive Firestone Non-Directional tire _0 VTL-49

56 DRIVE TRAIN TIRES & RIMS Rims Designed to Handle All Field Conditions Valley tire center line T-L tire center line Valley uses only rims that meet DOT recommended standards with respect to width for a given tire size. T-L uses narrower rims to save money which reduces the tire width on the ground. T-L s 14.9 standard rim is 10" instead of the full 12" recommended by the manufacturer. T-L does not offer the recommended 12" rim. All Valley rims have an offset to compensate for the wheel gearbox s longer output axle. Contrary to what T-L says, Valley rims actually bring the centerline of the tire closer to the gearbox bearing than T-L s rims, reducing the overhung load and increasing bearing life, not decreasing it. All Valley rims are hot dipped galvanized for long term corrosion resistance in the field. T-L s standard rim is a lower cost epoxy coated rim which can start to rust after a short period. T-L does offer a hot dipped galvanized rim but the customer has to pay a premium to get it. T-L puts cost savings ahead of the customer s long-term needs. The 11.2" x 38" Valley rim has an exclusive added reinforcing plate to improve rim strength for trouble-free long life. When a grower purchases 38" tires, it is usually because of deep rutting issues in part of the field. The 38" tires put significantly more stress on the rim in bending due to the increased height of the rim. T-L offers only the lighter rim version without the reinforcing plate, and it has been known to fail in the field. This is another example of T-L putting cost ahead of the long-term needs of the grower. Valley Exclusive Tire Rim 11.2 x 38" Rims Valley Extra backup plate added to provide significantly longer life under all field conditions. T-L Thinner rim resulting in less strength. Available as an option on 7000 series. VTL _0

57 DRIVE TRAIN FLOATATION OPTIONS Floatation Options to Solve Any Problem Valley offers a variety of options to fit the grower s application needs. These could be as simple as using a larger tire size or as involved as installing a 4-wheel articulating drive with tracks. All the Valley solutions have been proven over many years in the field. Only Valley has 4-wheel drive options. Valley 3-Wheel Drive Special heavy wall base beam. 50% more traction than 2-wheel drives. 50% more floatation than 2-wheel drives. All tire sizes available. Engineered for long life. T-L 3-Wheel Drive Requires higher priced planetary gearboxes. Standard base beam with a short piece of channel welded on to support third gearbox, weaker design if the drive unit high centers. 50% more traction. 50% more floatation _0 VTL-51

58 DRIVE TRAIN FLOATATION OPTIONS Valley Track Drive Heavy wall base beam. Large footprint under tracks. Large radius at ends to go over ridges. Low ground pressure to minimize soil compaction. Increased traction to prevent getting stuck. Steel track for long life. Single center drive. T-L Track Drive T-L does not offer a track drive. VTL _0

59 DRIVE TRAIN FLOATATION OPTIONS Valley Articulating 4-Wheel Drive Exclusive to Valley no one else offers a 4-wheel drive base beam. Articulating drive to follow the contour of the field. Two center drives. Twice the traction. Twice the floatation. All tires sizes available. Valley Articulating Track Drive Valley exclusive no one else offers one. Maximum floatation minimum ground pressure. Maximum traction. T-L 4-Wheel Drive T-L does not offer a 4-wheel drive _0 VTL-53

60 DRIVE TRAIN FLOATATION OPTIONS Floatation According to the tire manufacturers, floatation is the ability of a tire to resist sinking into the soil and creating a rut. The old footprint area (square inches) as a measure of floatation can be misleading because it applies only at the rated tire load and rated tire pressure under specific soil conditions. The best measure of floatation is ground pressure, which is defined as the tire s inflated pressure plus 2 PSI. The lower the tire pressure, the lower the ground pressure. For a given load, the larger the tire size, the lower the required pressure to carry that load. Wider tires also provide a wider track which can reduce the amount of soil pushed out of the wheel track, decreasing rut depths. For a given tire pressure, the ground pressure in terms of pounds per square inch will be approximately the same regardless of the span weight or tire size (side wall resistance has a minor effect). The external force exerted on the tire must balance the internal pressure. As the weight increases, the tire will flatten out as needed to maintain approximately the same pressure on the ground. If you visualize a car tire, when properly inflated it has a relatively small footprint on the ground. If the tire has a leak and the pressure decreases, the tire s footprint on the ground will increase, i.e. a nearly flat tire. Likewise, if weight is put in the trunk of a car, a properly inflated tire will flatten out to maintain equilibrium. The exception is tracked drives because they have a nearly fixed footprint that is independent of the applied load. Summary of Valley Floatation Options Option Ground pressure Traction Comments 11.2 x PSI GOOD Recommended for sandy soils and limited operating hours x PSI GOOD Maximum base beam clearance and narrow wheel track x PSI GOOD Increased base beam clearance; a wider, shallower wheel track x PSI GOOD Increased base beam clearance; a wider, shallower wheel track x PSI GOOD Maximum base beam clearance; a wider, shallower wheel track. 3-Wheel Drive Variable VERY GOOD Three driven tires provide increased traction; recommend with 11.2 x 38 tires. Artic. 4-Wheel 17 PSI BETTER Articulating 4-wheel drive keeps all four wheels on the ground. Track Drive 9.3 PSI BEST Lowest cost tracked option with excellent floatation and traction. Not for operating over terraces or short ditches. Articulating Track Drive 5.5 PSI BEST Articulating 4-wheel drive keeps all four wheels on the ground. VTL _0

61 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Advanced Technology for Long-term Reliability Grower needs vary from full control of many pivots to simple start and stop, plus depth and direction control, of a single pivot in the field. Valley offers a range of control panel choices combined with several options to meet each grower s unique needs. Our environmental testing ensures that Valley panels will operate reliably in the outdoor environment of wind, rain, snow, extreme heat and extreme cold for many years. Some of the things that make Valley stand out from the rest are: Reliability and Durability Valley Irrigation works closely with Phoenix International in the design and manufacturing of the electronic control modules. Phoenix International is a division of the John Deere Company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of ruggedized electronics for John Deere s farm equipment line. By using Phoenix International as our design and manufacturing source, we are able to bring the latest design technology to our growers. Prior to initial manufacturing, each new design is subjected to a series of environmental tests (such as temperature, humidity and transient voltage spikes) to ensure the design is rugged enough to stand up to extreme environmental conditions that might occur in the field. The control panel components are mounted inside a NEMA 3R enclosure for protection from the environment. Valley adds transient and induced voltage protection, a heavy-duty disconnect and other components to ensure long life. A lockable inner door provides operator protection from the 480-volt power. Once the panels are assembled, each panel is 100% tested to make sure it is functioning properly before it leaves our factory. This results in a control panel that delivers the technology, reliability and durability growers have come to expect from Valley. Conservation By using the Valley technology that is built into every panel, growers can precisely apply water, fertilizers and chemicals while reducing water usage, energy consumption and energy costs. With an optional flow meter, the Pro2 panel will keep track of the amount of water applied per application and the total amount per season. GPS Ready Valley offers the industry s only GPS Ready line of control panels. By using the Select2, Pro2 and TouchPro s built-in computing power to perform the GPS calculations, a separate GPS computer is not needed. All the calculations are performed within the Valley control panel where the data is needed, not at some remote location on the pivot. Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) With VRI Speed Control, the grower can use a computer program to create irrigation prescriptions for his irrigation equipment. With the computer program, the grower can define the application of water, fertilizer and other nutrients in 2 increments around the field (up to 180 different field segments), using detailed field, soil and/ or yield maps to make those decisions. VRI Speed Control is standard on Valley Select2 and Pro2 panels. The Pro2 panel also incorporates VRI Zone Control, providing the additional capability to separately control up to 30 individual zones (individual sprinklers or sections of a span) the ultimate in precision irrigation. VRI allows the grower to achieve maximum yield potential while minimizing his input costs. Upgradability By using common enclosures and electrical components for the ClassicPlus, Select2 and Pro2 panels, the panels can easily be upgraded from one series to another by changing the control module as the grower s situation changes. This allows the grower to take advantage of future technology advances and communication enhancements as they become available. Combining Phoenix International s design and manufacturing expertise with the Valley 100% testing of each panel allows Valley to offer the industry s longest panel warranty. Valley panels are designed to provide the long life and features the grower expects _0 VTL-55

62 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Classic Panel Lower price point entry-level panel for 5000 and 7000 series only. Full function panel. Mechanical / manual control of all functions. Large dust proof rocker switches for easy operation. Not upgradable to ClassicPlus, Select2 and Pro2 (smaller enclosure). Limited remote monitoring and control. (See remote communications section.) Smaller disconnect lower amperage rating than rest of the panels. Inner door is not lockable. Standard Valley 2-year warranty. Valley ClassicPlus Panel Full function panel. Mechanical / manual control of all functions. Large dustproof rocker switches for easy operation. Built-in diagnostics. Easily upgradable to Select2 and Pro2. Limited remote monitoring and control. (See remote communications section.) Standard Valley 2-year warranty. VTL _0

63 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Select2 Panel Same reliable computer processor as Pro2. Simple to program. Programmable by position and sector. GPS ready no external computer required. Backlit keypad and display. Built-in diagnostics. VRI Speed Control for Variable Rate Irrigation. Easily upgradable to Pro2. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Valley 3-year warranty. Valley Pro2 Panel Powerful computer technology to handle all requirements. Simple to program. Can program and save up to nine individual programs. Fully programmable by time, position, pressure, time delay and wind velocity. GPS ready no external computer required. Backlit keypad and screen. Built-in diagnostics. VRI Speed Control and VRI Zone Control for Variable Rate Irrigation. Flow meter option tracks water usage. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Valley 5-year warranty _0 VTL-57

64 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley TouchPro Panel The most advanced control panel available. Provides a full-color screen. Provides a graphic view of the pivot position, end gun positions and wide boundary positions. Grower can custom configure the screen to meet his needs. Intuitive navigation for ease of operation. Touch screen interface simplifies programming. GPS ready no external computer required. Built-in diagnostics. Backlit screen. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Valley 5-year warranty. VTL _0

65 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Panel Remote Monitor and Control Comparison REMOTE MONITOR Classic ClassicPlus Select2 Pro2 TouchPro Pivot on / off and direction Voltage Auto restart on / off Safety and diagnostics Application depth % Water on / off S I S on / off Pressure End gun Programs running Field position Time and date Hours / revolution Auxiliary control status Panel lockout status REMOTE CONTROL Classic ClassicPlus Select2 Pro2 TouchPro Configurable main screen Start / stop and direction Water on / off Application depth % S I S on / off * S I S angle End gun settings Auto reverse / auto stop * * Auto restart * Write / edit programs Auxiliary control * * * Sector program control Sequential program control DESIGN Classic ClassicPlus Select2 Pro2 TouchPro NEMA 3R industrial standards Modular Transient & induced voltage protection Upgradable GPS ready Touch screen interface Warranty (years) = included * = yes, with option _0 VTL-59

66 CONTROLS MANUAL CONTROL T-L Manual End Tower Control NOT comparable to any VALLEY panel Located at the last regular drive unit. Manual speed control. Must time a measured distance to determine speed Exposure to elements makes it hard to change after a few years Manual direction control. VTL _0

67 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Classic Panel Full function panel. Mechanical / manual control of all functions. Large dustproof rocker switches for easy operation. Not upgradable to ClassicPlus, Select2 and Pro2. Limited remote monitoring and control. (See communications section.) Not GPS compatible. Smaller disconnect lower amperage rating than rest of the panels. Lower-cost panel option for 5000 and 7000 series only, due to amperage limitations. Standard 2-year warranty. T-L Point Control NOT DIRECTLY comparable to VALLEY CLASSIC panel Located at the pivot point. Can be remote mounted. Controls speed. Displays last regular drive unit speed in inches per minute Controls direction. No resolver for position. Requires span wire to last regular drive unit for speed signal. 2-year warranty. Feature Comparison Valley Classic and T-L Point Control KEY FEATURES Valley Classic T-L Point Control Solid state percent timer No Stop or start-forward / reverse Water on / off Indicator lights No Voltage meter No Hour meter No Auto reverse / auto stop Optional No Low-pressure shutoff Optional Optional Full-size switches Warranty 2-year 2-year _0 VTL-61

68 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley ClassicPlus Panel Full function panel. Mechanical / manual control of all functions. Large dustproof rocker switches for easy operation. Full-size disconnect and heavy-duty contactors. Built-in diagnostics lights. Easily upgradable to Select2 and Pro2. Limited remote monitoring and control. (See remote communications section.) Not GPS compatible. Standard 2-year warranty. T-L Point Control NOT DIRECTLY comparable to CLASSICPLUS panel Located at the pivot point. Can be remote mounted. Controls speed. Displays last regular drive unit speed in inches per minute Controls direction. No resolver for position. Requires span wire to last regular drive unit for speed signal. 2-year warranty. Feature Comparison Valley ClassicPlus and T-L Point Control KEY FEATURES Valley ClassicPlus T-L Point Control Solid state percent timer No Stop or start-forward / reverse Water on / off Indicator lights No Voltage meter No Hour meter No Auto reverse / auto stop Optional No Low pressure shutoff Optional Optional Full-size switches GFI protection Optional No Voltage monitor Optional No Phase loss protection Optional No Warranty 2-year 2-year VTL _0

69 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Select2 Panel Same reliable computer processor as Pro2. Simple to program. Programmable by position and sector. GPS ready no external computer required. Backlit keypad and display. Built-in diagnostics. VRI Speed Control to control speed in 2 segments for Variable Rate Irrigation. Easily upgradable to Pro2. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Valley 3-year warranty. T-L Precision Point Control II SomewhAT SimILAR to SELECT2 No computer. No resolver. Can set three speeds: one forward direction, one reverse direction and one auxiliary speed activated by a mechanical switch. Requires span wire to last regular drive unit. Backlit screen. 2-year warranty. Feature Comparison Valley Select2 and T-L Precision Point Control II KEY FEATURES Valley Select2 T-L Precision Point Control II GPS ready No Operating pressure delay No Keypad control interface Back lighting for the keypad screen Voltage monitor No End gun #1 No End gun #2 No Flow meter input #1 No No Sector programming Auto-restart power / pressure / both No Fully upgradable No Multiple languages Warranty 3-year 2-year _0 VTL-63

70 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley Pro2 Panel Powerful computer technology to handle all requirements. Simple to program. Can program and save up to nine individual programs. Fully programmable by time, position, pressure, time delay and wind velocity. GPS ready no external computer required. Backlit keypad and screen. Built-in diagnostics. VRI Speed Control to control speed in 2 segments for Variable Rate Irrigation. VRI Zone Control to control up to 30 individual sprinklers or sections of spans. Flow meter option tracks water usage. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Valley 5-year warranty. VTL _0

71 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS TLC Pivot Manager Located at the pivot point. Can be remote mounted. Computer module. Has a resolver for position. Can program several different functions. Complex to program (according to T-L). Requires span wire to last regular drive unit. Backlit screen. 2-year warranty. Feature Comparison Valley Pro2 and TLC Pivot Manager KEY FEATURES Valley Pro2 T-L Pivot Manager GPS ready No Operating pressure delay No Keypad control interface Back-lighting for the keypad screen Fully programmable Voltage monitor No End gun #1 End gun #2 No Flow meter input #1 No Flow meter input #2 No Auto-restart power / pressure / both No Multiple languages No Warranty 5-year 2-year _0 VTL-65

72 CONTROLS CONTROL PANELS Valley TouchPro Panel The most advanced control panel available. Provides a full-color screen. Provides a graphic view of the pivot position, end gun positions and wide boundary positions. Grower can custom configure the screen to meet his needs. Intuitive navigation for ease of operation. Touch screen interface simplifies programming. GPS ready no external computer required. Backlit screen. All functions can be remotely monitored and controlled. Exclusive 5-year warranty. Valley TouchPro Key Features Touch screen interface Visual pivot graphics Configurable main screen Panel lockout status Operating pressure delay GPS ready Voltage monitor Flow meter input #1 Flow meter input #2 Fully programmable Auto-restart power / pressure / both End gun #1 End gun #2 Multiple languages 5-year warranty T-L Touch Panel T-L does not have a comparable panel. VTL _0

73 CONTROLS TOWER BOX Valley Tower Box Galvanized steel base for long trouble-free life. Rigid, non-flexing for accurate alignment Will not distort or crack over time Will not degrade over time due to environment UL-approved plastic cover. Stainless steel shaft and nylon bearings for smooth operation and long life. Steel cam and heavy return spring for safety. Exclusive micro-switches. Special brown material minimizes thermal effects for significantly improved alignment accuracy Tested to 10 million cycles under load for long trouble-free life Adjusting screw to set trip point don t need to bend arm to adjust Stainless steel internal springs for long life Heavy-duty contactor. External emergency on / off switch to shut down pivot. Each tower box is factory-set and functionally tested to ensure proper operation. Valley tower boxes use more expensive components to provide long trouble-free life and reduced future maintenance issues. T-L Alignment Arrangement Instead of a tower box, T-L has a hydraulic alignment valve. Alignment valve (hydraulic spool) in the center controls direction and speed of each intermediate tower. Cable positions valve. Cables go around a pulley on each side and are connected to a bar on the next span. As the span alignment changes, the cables pull the valve one way or the other to bring the spans back in line. The cables are spring loaded. For a more detailed description, see tower alignment on page _0 VTL-67

74 CONTROLS GPS PIVOT POSITION The Valley GPS Pivot Position Option provides significantly improved position accuracy compared to a resolver or other mechanical-electrical options. Valley utilizes the computing power built into the Select2, Pro2 and TouchPro GPS Ready control panels to process the GPS position data directly, eliminating the need for the separate computer required by the competition. The grower can program GPS Ready control panels to apply different application rates for water, fertilizers or other inputs within the same field based on the GPS position. The Valley GPS Ready panels provide the grower with three options should the GPS signal be lost for any reason. The grower can define a time period to continue running before shutting the pivot down, turning off the end guns and continuing to run or continuing to operate using a calculated position. T-L has no lost GPS feature, so when the GPS signal is lost, T-L simply shuts the pivot down. Valley GPS Positioning Requires a GPS Ready control panel. Position information obtained at the last regular drive unit. Accuracy +/- 10 feet or better at the last regular drive unit. End guns, VRI (Variable Rate Irrigation) Speed Control and VRI Zone control can be programmed using GPS position. All programmable functions can use GPS position. Garmin WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) enabled receiver. Designed specifically to allow other types of GPS receivers to be used. Powerline Carrier Modem designed specifically for industrial applications a Valley exclusive. Provides temporary calculated position if GPS signal is lost. T-L GPS Option T-L uses AgSense s Pivot Point for its GPS unit (T-L calls it ipac). T-L does not support the product; dealers work directly with AgSense. Stand-alone unit with its own internal data processor. Can monitor and control a limited number of functions depending upon the level of service purchased. Can be installed on any pivot. Accuracy +/- 10 feet or better at the last regular drive unit. Feature Comparison Valley GPS and T-L GPS PRODUCT FEATURES Valley GPS T-L GPS Accepts multiple brands of receivers WAAS VTL _0

75 CONTROLS COLLECTOR RING Collector Ring The collector ring transfers the incoming 480-volt power to the rotating spans. The 480-volt power is supplied to non-rotating copper rings (one for each conductor). Brushes (one for each conductor) rotate with the spans. The brushes transfer the 480-volt power from the copper rings to the span wire. Valley Internal Collector Ring Mounts on a stainless steel J-Pipe above the upper elbow to minimize water contact. Sealed to prevent water and dust contamination inside. Positioning the collector ring above the upper elbow ensures that the brushes are always aligned with the slip rings no side forces. Small diameter means less brush wear and longer trouble-free life. Easy to replace / repair, if needed. Electronic positioning resolver is positively attached and protected from the elements. Mechanical controls are easy to adjust. The same collector ring is used on all Valley pivot points from 6 5 /8" through 10". T-L Internal Collector Ring T-L has a unique design because some applications require a transfer of both oil and electrical signals from a fixed pivot point to a rotating span. On top is a standard internal collector used to transfer 24-volt DC power to control the end gun, speed control valve, direction control valve and provide power to the speed sensor. The speed sensor return information also goes through the collector ring. Since all communication is between the control panel and the last regular drive unit, a continuous span wire goes the full length of the pivot. The lower can is used to transfer oil to the rotating spans. The oil can has three chambers which are separated from one another. One chamber is used to transfer the high pressure supply oil from the pump to the pivot spans. The second chamber is used to transfer the low pressure return oil back to the pump unit. The third chamber is used to control the booster pump if a mechanical switch is used instead of an electrical solenoid. If a mechanical switch is used, a separate 1 /2" hydraulic oil line is run the length of the pivot to supply oil to the booster pump. The oil tubes plus the electrical collector ring tube are all enclosed inside a 3-inch tube which goes up through the center of the riser. This allows the spans to continue to rotate without having to wrap the hoses as in the past. T-L still allows wrapping the hoses on part circle installations _0 VTL-69

76 VTL _0 NOTES

77 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS INTRODUCTION Technology Leader in Remote Communications Valley has been helping growers remotely communicate with their pivots for more than 20 years. The industry s first product, the Val monitor, used 300 baud radios to communicate directly between a pivot and a central computer. With changing technology and customer input, Valley has continued to enhance its communication products. Today s radios communicate 32 times faster than the original radios. In addition to radios, the development of the internet and cellular technology has opened new opportunities for remote communication with pivots and linears. As technology changes, Valley is committed to remaining the leader in remote pivot communication. Valley simplifies the remote irrigation management of pivots and linears by offering the grower a choice of either cellular-internet communication or direct radio communication. Both methods use the latest technology to remotely monitor and control pivots, linears and pumps. Instead of driving to the field to check the status of each pivot, the grower now can remotely monitor the status of all his pivots from anywhere internet service is available, saving both time and money. In the event of an unplanned shutdown, the control panel will immediately send a message notifying the grower of the status change. The grower has the choice of being notified by an , a text message and/or a phone message. The ability to remotely monitor and control pivots provides the grower more time for other work and results in increased farm profits. By not having to drive to the pivots daily to check their status, both labor and vehicle fuel usage is significantly reduced. By being able to remotely control the pivots, they can be remotely turned off if it starts to rain, saving both water and a trip to the field. Likewise, if they are on electric power, they can be remotely started when the field needs water _0 VTL-71

78 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS VALLEY TRACKER Valley Tracker is a web-based system utilizing the latest cellular technology to communicate through the digital cellular network. Two different cellular technologies are used today; availability depends upon the local cellular provider. Tracker supports both technologies CDMA and GSM. All Tracker products require local digital cellular service (must have good cell phone communication at the pivot location). The information is sent over the cellular network to a cellular distribution center where the grower can access the information using the Valley Tracker website. All grower communication with the Tracker goes through the Valley Tracker website. The number of different functions that can be monitored and/or controlled depends upon the pivot panel type and particular Tracker model being used. There is a monthly airtime fee per installed Tracker. Valley Tracker allows the grower to easily manage his irrigation equipment remotely from anywhere using several different devices ipad, Smartphone, Netbook or PC. The Valley Tracker product line provides the flexible management solutions for which today s growers are looking. Tracker Mobile Access Tracker Mobile at mvalleytracker.com; works on any Smartphone with Windows Mobile software version 5.0 or an upgrade. (Use the Tracker Mobile demo site to show growers how the display will look.) Provides the status of all Tracker-equipped pivots. Monitors and controls the functions growers regularly use. Features easy-to-understand, color-coded symbols. Receives alarm notification by , text or voice message. Tracker Website Google Map Accessible from any web browser on any computer. Provides the status of all pivots equipped with Trackers. Clicking on an individual pivot brings up a detailed status summary. Viewing options include Google map view or Tracker device list view. Provides status reports, pivot details and send command screens. Tracker Website Tracker Device List View Accessible from any web browser on any computer. Lists all pivots equipped with a Tracker and a summary of their status. Clicking on an individual pivot will bring up a detailed status summary for that individual unit. Provides status reports and send command screens. VTL _0

79 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS VALLEY TRACKER TrackerLT Installs on Valley and most other manufacturers pivots at the end tower. GPS provides position of end tower (accuracy +/- 10'). Nine programmable end gun positions. Two programmable stop in slot positions. Can monitor six panel functions. (See summary sheet.) Can control four panel functions. (See summary sheet.) Optional pressure transducer. Can send alarm message to cell phone, Smartphone and Tracker website. Tracker2 For Valley Classic and ClassicPlus panels. For non-valley control panels. Mounts at pivot point next to control panel. Allows integration of Valley and non-valley panels into the same irrigation management system. Basic monitoring and control of non-computer panels. (See summary sheet.) Can send alarm message to cell phone, Smartphone and Tracker website. TrackerSP For Valley Select2, Pro2 and TouchPro panels. Mounts inside the control panel. Enhanced monitoring and control of computerized panels. (See summary sheet.) Can view diagnostics. Can send alarm message to cell phone, Smartphone and Tracker website _0 VTL-73

80 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS VALLEY TRACKER Valley Tracker Remote Monitoring and Control Comparison MONITOR TrackerLT Tracker2 TrackerSP Pivot on / off Voltage *** * Direction Auto restart on / off Safety Diagnostics Application depth % % % % Water on / off ** S I S on / off Pressure *** *** * End gun Programs running * Field position * * Daily ops on / off Daily ops fault Relay communication fault Hours per revolution Auxiliary control status * * Percent timer status Panel lockout status Smartphone Alarm feature Internet connectivity CONTROL TrackerLT Tracker2 TrackerSP Start Stop Water on / off Application depth % Direction * S I S on / off S I S angle End gun settings Auxiliary control * * DESIGN TrackerLT Tracker2 TrackerSP Warranty (years) Transient & induced voltage protection NEMA 3R industrial standards = included * = yes, if control panel has functional capabilities **= yes, with pressure switch *** = yes, with transducer and voltage kit VTL _0

81 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS VALLEY TRACKER T-L ipac T-L offers the ipac (Internet Precision Alert and Control), which is AgSense s Pivot Pilot. Pivot Pilot is a web-based system that uses digital cellular communication. The pivot information is sent over the cellular network to a network distribution center that allows the grower to access the information by logging on to the AgSense website. T-L does not support ipac but directs their dealers to work directly with an AgSense dealer. ipac has limited monitoring and control features. The features depend upon whether the unit is installed as a stand-alone unit or is connected to a pivot panel and which pivot panel is being used. ipac can send an alert message to a cell phone or address. Tracker Comparison with T-L ipac (AgSense Pivot Point) BASIC FEATURES TrackerLT Tracker2 TrackerSP T-L ipac MonIToR ConTRoL MonIToR ConTRoL MonIToR ConTRoL MonIToR ConTRoL Pivot stop Pivot start Pivot direction Percent rate (bypass) Application rate Water on / off Water pressure transducer transducer panel trans Auxiliary on / off Pivot position Load control Power on / off End gun Wide boundary Stop in slot Programs Auto restart Diagnostics Panel lockout status Wire theft EQUIPMEnT TrackerLT Tracker2 TrackerSP T-L ipac Communication equipment Cellular Cellular Cellular Cellular Cellular fee YES YES YES YES Internet service required YES YES YES YES Dedicated computer with operating software NO NO NO NO _0 VTL-75

82 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS BASESTATIONS BaseStation2-SM provides unlimited access control for one or 100 pivots with the same pinpoint accuracy, utilizing reliable, private radio frequencies. Manage with ease. Valley BaseStation2-SM makes it easy to monitor and operate all your pivot control panels from one location. Just point, click and mouse-over from your home or office, eliminating the need to worry about what s going on with your pivots in the field. Using an internet connection, you can easily access your BaseStation2-SM to manage your irrigation equipment even when you re on vacation. Reliable, Remote, Radio Telemetry BaseStation2-SM is an irrigation management system custom-designed for each grower by Valmont Engineering to match the grower s individual needs. It is shipped with a dedicated computer programmed with the Valley proprietary BaseStation2-SM software, antennas, radios set to the correct frequency, and installation hardware. It can be custom-designed for one to more than 100 pivots and pumps. It is flexible enough that additional pivots can easily be added to the system at a later date. Differing from the Valley Tracker, the BaseStation2-SM utilizes a FCC-licensed VHF or UHF radio frequency that allows for direct, reliable radio communication between the pivots and the central base computer without the need for constant internet access. The high transmission rate radios make communication between the pivots and base computer virtually instantaneous. The radio range can be extended by the use of radio repeaters. BaseStation2-SM can be used to monitor and control all types of pivot panels and pumps. BaseStation2-SM offers the most complete management tool on the market today. It enables a grower to easily control pivots and linears; check pivot status at a glance with real time updates; and monitor and control pumps, valves and other devices without the need for additional labor or trips to the fields. A grower can monitor soil moisture with the integration of soil moisture data received from Watermark soil moisture sensors. One glance at the main screen can provide the grower with quick notification if a field is approaching a cautionary status range for soil moisture. By clicking on a pivot, the grower can view the individual control panels the same way he would if he were standing in the field. VTL _0

83 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS BASESTATIONS BaseStation2-SM BaseStation2-SM gives the grower the flexibility and reporting options like no other system to generate reports, which are increasingly becoming a mandated requirement, for year-todate information and year-to-year comparisons. Reports can be reviewed directly on the central computer or exported to an Excel spreadsheet. Clicking on a pivot, the grower can view the individual control panels the same way he would if he were standing in the field. The panel views for both the Select2 and the Pro2 are the same as what the growers would see in the field nothing new for the grower to learn. BaseStation2-SM Radio for Valley Computerized Panels Radio mounts inside the Valley Select2, Pro2 and TouchPro panel enclosures. Provides full monitoring and control. Eliminates the need for a second enclosure box. PanelLink for Mechanical Panels Use on Valley Classic and ClassicPlus panels. Used on competitive panels and pump panels. Provides limited monitoring and control. Is a stand-alone enclosure that mounts on the pivot point and is wired into the control panel. A battery backup option is available to notify the grower if there is a loss of power _0 VTL-77

84 REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS BASESTATIONS BaseStation2-SM Key Features Field maps are customized to the grower s farming operation, allowing all pivots, linears and pump units to be displayed in their relative locations. Roads, pivot lanes, streams, etc., can easily be added to the map. Graphic representation shows the position, direction, running wet or dry, and alarm status of each unit (position not available with PanelLink). Operating status of each unit can be determined at a glance, based on the color of the circle. Clicking on an individual unit will display a view of the panel and its updated status. Full monitoring and control capabilities (depends upon the panel). Reporting functions can be viewed directly or exported to Excel. Remote monitoring and control from any location with internet access. Alarm reports can be forwarded to the grower s cell phone. No monthly fee. Valley provides detailed design analysis and proposals. T-L Base Station T-L does not offer a comparable radio product. T-L dealers can use AgSense for some of the features. VTL _0

85 WARRANTIES PIVOT WARRANTIES All Warranties are Not the Same Everyone claims to have the same warranty when talking to a customer. Without the customer asking questions or the Valley dealer bringing up the warranty, the customer will assume they are indeed the same. All manufacturers state that they have the option of repairing or replacing a failed component within the warranty period. That is where the similarity ends. The key difference is how the warranty is administered. The Valley warranty is designed to fairly compensate both the customer and dealer for any failures that occur during the warranty period. For the first two years, the customer is completely covered with no out-of-pocket costs. This includes parts, labor and travel required to make the repair. After the first two years, the customer is responsible for the dealer s travel costs associated with a covered warranty repair. The dealers are reimbursed for repair parts at the current list price to ensure they are covering their inventory carrying cost. There are a few exceptions to the list price reimbursement as spelled out in the flat rate service manual. Since the dealers are reimbursed for their mileage, labor and parts at list price, they have an Warranty Comparison incentive to provide timely warranty service. Valley truly is committed to taking care of its customers when they buy a Valley product. T-L's approach is aimed at minimizing its warranty costs at the expense of the customer and dealer. T-L provides only the parts. The customer is responsible for all freight, labor and any travel expenses required to make the repair under warranty. This should be a major negative to customers. T-L is more interested in protecting its bottom line than in looking out for its customers. This also can be a negative for T-L dealers because they have to bill the customer for repairs that are still under warranty and possibly absorb part of the cost to keep the grower satisfied. Although the warranties sound similar, there is a huge difference in cost to the grower once a covered warranty issue occurs. The labor, freight and travel time to make the repair can be significantly more than the cost of the parts on most warranty claims. Growers need to be made aware that they will be responsible for these costs under the T-L warranty program, but not under the Valley warranty program. COMPONENT VALLEY WARRANTY T-L WARRANTY VALLEY COVERS PARTS VALLEY COVERS LABOR T-L COVERS PARTS T-L COVERS LABOR Wheel gearbox 8 yrs/8,000 hrs 8 yrs/16,000 hrs Yes Yes Yes No Planetary gearbox N/A 8 yrs/24,000 hrs N/A N/A Yes No Center Drive 8 yrs/8,000 hrs N/A Yes Yes N/A N/A Hydraulic motor N/A 4 yrs/4,000 hrs N/A N/A Yes No Pro2 & TouchPro 5 yrs Yes Yes N/A N/A Pivot Manager 2 yrs N/A N/A Yes No Select2 3 yrs Yes Yes N/A N/A Precision Point II 2 yrs Yes No Structure 2 yrs 1 yr Yes Yes Yes No Pipeline 20 yrs prorated 10 yrs / void if corrosion Yes No Yes No Remaining components 2 yrs 1 yr Yes Yes Yes No _0 VTL-79

86 Valmont Irrigation New Machine Limited Warranty Highlights (United States and Canada)? Valley Manufactured Gearboxes and Center Drive Gearmotors: 8 years or 8,000 hours, whichever comes first? Valley Specified (VS-7000) Gearboxes and Center Drive Gearmotors: 6 years or 6,000 hours, whichever comes first? TouchPro and Pro2 Panel components: 5 years (INDUSTRY EXCLUSIVE)? Select2 Panel components: 3 years (INDUSTRY EXCLUSIVE)? Structural components: 2 years? Galvanized pipe: 20 years against corrosion (prorated, subject to prorated conditions listed on back)? Blue premium drop hose: 10 years (prorated after 5 years)? All Other Equipment: 2 years (unless otherwise specified)? Transferable warranty VALMONT NEW MACHINE LIMITED WARRANTY Valmont warrants to the original U.S. or Canadian Buyer that the unaltered equipment it manufactures ( Equipment ) will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the warranty periods specified below ( Warranty Periods ). The Warranty Periods shall begin on the Equipment s original invoice date or, for Equipment invoiced between October 1 and February 28, shall begin on the following 1st day of March. Unless otherwise specified below, the Warranty Period for the Equipment is Two (2) Years (as used herein, the term year shall mean the lesser of a calendar year or 3000 operating hours): 1.The Warranty Period for all new Select2 Panel components is Three (3) Years; 2.The Warranty Period for all new Pro2 Panel components is Five (5) Years; 3.The Warranty Period for Valley center drive gearmotors and final drive gearboxes against defects or failures of the gearmotors and gearboxes are the lesser of: VALLEY MANUFACTURED Eight (8) Years or 8,000 operating hours, VALLEY SPECIFIED (VS-7000) Six (6) Years or 6,000 operating hours. Seal leaks (leaks that result in the gearboxes oil level dropping below the input shaft bearings within one (1) year) are covered. 4.The Warranty Period for a Corrosion Failure (as defined below) of any pipe galvanized by Valmont is twenty (20) years, subject to the following prorated payments by Buyer: Buyer shall be responsible for the payment of the total then-current list price, as published by Valmont, of the parts or repair covered by this Limited Warranty, divided by 20 and multiplied by the number of years between the invoice date and the date of claim. As used herein, Corrosion Failure shall mean structural failure or water spraying through holes in the pipe caused by application of normal ph irrigation water without additives through such pipe, subject to the Corrosion Exclusion provided on the following page. continued on back

87 CORROSION EXCLUSION Valmont makes no warranty with respect to Corrosion Failures caused in whole or in part by distribution of wastewater, sludge, livestock manure or any corrosion-causing chemicals; where the acidity of the water used, as measured by ph, is 6.0 or less or 8.5 or more; or where the ph of the irrigation water has been altered. Valmont makes no warranty with respect to Corrosion Failures caused in whole or in part by misapplication of any Equipment in conditions not suitable for its use, as determined by Valmont Irrigation s Engineering Department, or by improper installation, repair, or failure to follow the instructions and guidelines contained in the Valmont Owner s Manual, Valley Design Guide, or other Valmont published sources. CONDITIONS TO CLAIM WARRANTY COVERAGE Buyer shall be entitled to the coverage provided under the foregoing Limited Warranty provided all of the following conditions are met: 1.The alleged defect is discovered within the respective Warranty Periods listed previously; 2.The Equipment and any covered components have at all times been maintained and operated within specified design criteria pursuant to the instructions and guidelines contained in the Valmont Owners Manual, the Valley System Design Guide, and all other Valmont published sources; 3.The Equipment has at all times been properly grounded (less than 25 ohms resistance between machine and earth); 4.Buyer provides written notice of the alleged defect, failure or corrosion within thirty (30) days of the occurrence thereof to the authorized Valley dealer. LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS The Limited Warranty does not apply to defects, damage or failures caused by alterations to the equipment, natural disasters, misuse or misapplication, lack of or improper maintenance or repair, normal wear and tear, or any other causes beyond Valmont s control. It similarly does not cover damages caused by fire, flood, wind or other acts of God. Normal maintenance, lubrication and operating adjustments, including consumable items such as batteries, fuses, and transient voltage protection components are expressly excluded from coverage. This Limited Warranty does not cover failures, defects or any damages that are caused by program controls (malfunction of automatic stopping or reverse controls, auto restart, temperature shut-off, end gun shut-off, mainline valves or excess water pressure), whether to the Equipment or to any other real or personal property. THE WARRANTIES GIVEN HEREIN ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IT IS AGREED THAT THE BUYER S SOLE REMEDY SHALL BE LIMITED TO REPAIR OR EXCHANGE OF THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR COMPONENT PART THEREOF (IN VALMONT S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION) AS SPECIFIED IN THE VALMONT LIMITED WARRANTY. ALL SUCH REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS SHALL BE CONDUCTED OR ADMINISTERED AS VALMONT DEEMS APPROPRIATE FROM VALMONT S VALLEY, NEBRASKA FACILITY, AND SHIPPED F.O.B. THAT FACILITY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL VALMONT HAVE ANY LIABILITY UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IN EXCESS OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE EQUIPMENT. VALMONT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, AND EXCEPT FOR THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY, MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WITH RESPECT TO THE EQUIPMENT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL VALMONT BE LIABLE TO THE CUSTOMER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, ECONOMIC, DIRECT, INDIRECT, GENERAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CROP REDUCTION OR LOSS) ARISING OUT OF ANY DEFECT OF THE EQUIPMENT OR ANY BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WITH RESPECT TO THE EQUIPMENT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS ARE INOPERATIVE WHERE THEY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH APPLICABLE STATE LAW. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. TRANSFER/SEVERANCE The Valmont Limited Warranty described above is transferable to qualified users upon written request. For transfer information, contact an authorized Valley dealer or the Warranty Department at Valmont Irrigation, a division of Valmont Industries, Inc., Valley, Nebraska To the extent that any of the foregoing provisions are deemed unenforceable or contrary to law, then any such provisions shall be deemed severed, with the remaining provisions remaining fully enforceable according to their terms. Effective October 1, 2010 Purchase Date Order/Serial # AD10785 PP 10/2010

88 Limited Warranty Corrosion-Resistant Product Addendum The following addendum replaces and supersedes the Valmont Limited Warranty s corrosion coverage for all Valmont manufactured PolySpan pipe only. As used herein, the term year shall mean the lesser of a calendar year or 3000 operating hours. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Valmont Limited Warranty. All PolySpan pipe manufactured by Valmont is warranted against corrosion failure to the U.S. or Canadian Buyer as follows: 1) For all PolySpan pipe, new equipment sales or complete machine re-pipe, Buyer responsibility is waived for pro rata warranty parts payment for the first ten years or 30,000 hours of operation (whichever occurs first) after the original invoice date. Prorated payments following this waiver period will be calculated in the same manner described in the Valmont Limited Warranty for corrosion failures. The Poly coupling is warranted for 2 years. 2) Warranty is limited to replacement pipe only and excludes freight, labor and additional hardware. Valmont makes no warranty with respect to Corrosion Failures caused in whole or in part by misapplication of any Equipment in conditions not suitable for its use, as determined by Valmont Irrigation s Engineering Department, or by improper installation, repair, or failure to follow the instructions and guidelines contained in the Valmont Owner s Manual, Valley System Design Guide, or other Valmont published sources. ALL OTHER LIMITATIONS, CONDITIONS, EXCLUSIONS, DISCLAIMERS, NOTICES AND TERMS OF THE VALMONT LIMITED WARRANTY NOT SPECIFICALLY MODIFIED HEREIN SHALL REMAIN UNALTERED AND IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ADDENDUM. Effective August 1, 2010 Purchase Date AD10810 PP 8/20/2010 Order/Serial #