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Old 29-01-2014, 06:13 PM posted to rec.gardens
SteveB[_13_] SteveB[_13_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jan 2014
Posts: 12
Default Death by Irrigation

On 1/16/2014 12:12 AM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
It has been dry lately so I have been irrigating the orchard. I moved
the sprayers this morning and then started the pump. One of the four
heads wasn't working at all. These are the type with two nipples, one
has a tapper, a spring loaded arm that rotates the whole assembly using
the pressure of the water. Normally they will give out some dribble of
water from either of the two jets even if blocked with organic matter
sucked through the pump from the river. On closer inspection something
slimy was being squeezed out of each jet. I pulled at it but did no
good as I couldn't get hold of it. So back to get some tools and take
the head apart. As I lifted it off the stand what should be hanging down
out the inlet side - legs. Green legs with webbed feet.

Imagine you are a frog and have curled up inside a bit of pipe for a
kip. Then a gush of high pressure water hits you and you are travelling
at speed down the main pipe, waterslide! Then you take a branch into a
much narrower pipe and round a few bends, upside down, wow water
rollercoaster! Then you reach the sprinkler head where some of you goes
out one jet and some goes out the other....


D


A simple diverter device would channel any oversized material out of a
relief pipe. If said pipe was mounted vertically, and the pressure
kicked up a tick or two, I would bet one could get performances up in
the 9.3 th 9.7 range, with a bonus for height.

Steve