Scanning for Ideas: High-Tech Sprinkler for Lawn Care
The goal of the 5000 Plus Series of rotors or sprinkler
heads from
Rain Bird, San Diego (
rainbird.com), is
to keep customers’ lawns “greener using less water.”
The rotor uses water pressure — from 25 to 65 psi
— to raise itself from being flush with the lawn to
its full height, which can be from 4 to 12 in. It sends
water from 25 to 50 ft, and range can be reduced by
25% without changing nozzles. It can be adjusted to
mimic precipitation rates of 0.2 to 1.01 in./hr, which
translates to 0.73 to 9.63 gpm. The rotor can cover
from 40 to 360° and is said to get more range for the
given water flow than any other sprinkler.
Inside the rotor, pathways for water are designed
to minimize pressure losses and reinforced for sideload
strength. O-rings and seals provide protection
despite “gritty” water. And a pressure-activated wiper
seal that is part of the rotor’s turret keeps out debris
while ensuring positive rotor pop-up and retraction.