Irrigation machine
An irrigation machine is a machine used in agriculture and horticulture for the efficient irrigation of larger open areas.
Structure and principle of operation
There are two basic types of irrigation machines.
In one design, the irrigation machine is on the edge of the field, only the sprinkler mounted on a chassis is pulled over the field. Before irrigation begins, the sprinkler wagon is pulled across the field to the other edge of the field with the help of a tractor and the PE pipe (pulling hose) [4] on the reel [8] is unwound in the required length (up to 600 m). The irrigation machine itself remains in place. Using a powerful water pump, the irrigation water is then pumped out of the well or water reservoir and put under pressure. The water is fed into the irrigation machine connected to the pressure side of the pump by means of a stationary and / or movable line via a turbine [9]. The turbine drives the reel via a gearbox , which slowly pulls the sprinkler trolley over the field towards the machine with the pulling hose. Here, after the water has passed the turbine, it is fed into the pulling hose on the reel via the hub [7] . From there it flows through the pull hose (even if it is wound up) to the actual sprinkler, where it is sprayed through the nozzle [1]. The generated water jet is periodically broken by a deflection lever [2]. On the one hand, the rather compact water jet is divided so that it is more fully distributed over the area to be irrigated, on the other hand, the throwing direction is also changed by a mechanism of the water jet hitting the deflection lever by a certain angle over a segment of a circle. Furthermore, the irrigation water does not hit the ground or the plants as a hard jet, but in large and small drops and can also heat up a little due to the larger contact surface with the air.
In the other design, the sprinkler is mounted directly on the irrigation machine, which extends over the field by means of the PE pipe that is firmly anchored on one side of the field.
The throw of the sprinkler depends on the water pressure generated by the pump. The intensity with which the field is irrigated depends on the water pressure, the nozzle diameter and the retraction speed of the sprinkler cart.
Picture gallery
Pump unit with diesel engine, ribbed suction hose, textile pressure hose
Reel trolley
Sprinkler cart with rain cannon
The rain cannon mounted on the sprinkler cart
Detail of the rain cannon with nozzle and deflection mechanism
Small rain devices
See also
literature
- Ulrich Sachweh (editor): The gardener . Volume 1, Basics of Horticulture . 5th edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1984, 2001, ISBN 3-8001-1184-5 , p. 481 f.