Improved Irrigation Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Irrigation Apparatus.
We, CHARLES GUSTAVE CORTEN of Red Hill Brisbane, Colony of Queensland
Agriculturist and Irrigation Engineer and LESLIE GORDON CORRIE of Queens
Street Brisbane Colony of Queensland, Architect, do hereby declare that the nature
of our invention for IMPROVED IRRIGATION APPARATUS and the manner in
which the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improved irrigation apparatus and has for its object
the production of an effective device for distribution of water in irrigation and for
the distribution of liquid manure, insecticides and fungicides; and to this end it
consists essentially in a water-tower for elevating the supply-pipes; collecting-
tanks; an overflow-pipe starting at the water-head; delivery-pipes having valves
and flexible joints; hose having a series of outlets and water-stoppers; a distributor
having perforated nozzles, and nozzle-holders; and, an irrigation carriage to carry
the hose and the distributor with attachments.
LIST OF DRAWINGS.
Figure A, shows water-tower and attachments and liquid manure
" "
Sheet No. 1.
collecting tanks.
Sheet No. 2. Figure A', shows sectional plan of A; A³, detail upper portion
of A; A', sectional plan at
Sheet No. 3. Figure B, shows elevation of delivery-pipe or branch-pipe with
flexible joints; C, hose connected to valve at delivery, or, branch-pipe; C¹, hose
with outlet; C³, hose in connection with distributor.
on A'.
Sheet No. 4. Figure C³, section of C2; C, side elevation of water-stopper;
C', elevational plan of C₁; C, section through C, at **; D, side elevation of
distributor; D, elevational plan of distributor; D', full sized detail of perforated
plate; D, the clasp-ring; D', wedge of clasp-ring in position; D', the nozzle-
holder.
Sheet. No. 5. Figure E, shows half elevational and half sectional plan of irriga-
tion carriage; E¹, side elevation of E.
Sheet No. 6. Figure F diagram showing operation of distributor.
It is well known that in many parts of the earth and also in Great Britain are
existing large tracts of country where the rainfall and the atmospheric humidity
yield considerable annual averages and yet, the irregularity of the first and the
variability of the second are every now and then causing those spells of dry and
arid weather which so often become serious checks to the prosperous growth of
plants and crops. To secure a less inconstant and better balanced supply of
moisture for sustaining the uninterrupted progress of his crops to maturity as desired
the agriculturist employs irrigation. Various irrigation methods are being used.
With all these however, one or more of several drawbacks are as a rule inseperably
connected. These draw-backs are often of such magnitude as greatly to discount

page_text: the benefits derivable from irrigation. Among the most notable of these drawbacks
are the disturbance of the soil by ditching and grading when it has to be made
irrigable. The raising of the subsoil water-level. The poisoning of the soil by
inflorescence. The impoverishment of the soil by leaching. At times an irrigation
method cannot be profitably used because the situation of the land is too steep, or
too flat, or because the soil is too porous or it may be too retentive. Sometimes it
is too sandy or too clayey. At times the irrigation apparatus is too costly for general
cultural purposes or, too unwieldy in the working. Then, again, at times the
distribution process cannot be brought entirely under the control of the irrigator.
Often there is a prodigious waste of water. Thus, irrigation as hitherto practised
is in the end frequently found to be almost as undesirable as the unreliability of the
weather.
Our improved irrigation apparatus is designed to enable the agriculturist to
overcome all these draw-backs successfully and to distribute water and liquid
manures, insecticides and fungicides readily and, in quantities as desired with a
high degree of precision over all descriptions of cultivable soil whatever
may be its contour or constituents and, over all descriptions of plants and
crops in all branches of cultural industry. It enables the irrigator to gauge
the quantity of the irrigating fluid to a desirable degree of exactness.
By its means water can be greatly economised, for instance when compared with
gravitation irrigation to the extent of from 50% to 90%. In distribution the
water approximates a shower of rain and, it is likely to take in its passage from
the air appreciable quantities of plant-food. Provided there is a supply of the
irrigating Huid it can by means of our improved apparatus be timely and profitably
distributed over small as well as large areas of cultivated land whenever irriga-
tion is desirable. And generally, such demands as can reasonably be made upon
this irrigation apparatus by agricultural science it will meet by its comprehensive
usefulness and its surpassing adaptability to climates, crops and soils.
Figure A, represents the water-tower as erected near a stream or well or other
source of water-supply and assumed to be standing on an elevation of 40' to 50'
altitude above the highest part of the cultivation to be irrigated. To attain the
desired end the water-tower may be constructed of any suitable material: as
iron, but, preferably of timber; and it may be of any height as desirable; thus:
if a pressure or head is: required to project the water from the nozzles forward
say 66 then, the water-head b, requires an elevation of about 75' or somewhat
more or less according to the greater or less resistance to the flow of water
within the apparatus and according to the quantity of water required to be
distributed per hour. The head may be assisted by an addition to the length
of the distributors flexible pipes at gg. For great heights the water-tower may
be of any known, construction but for moderate heights preferably of a single
standard a, having guys g, and steps h, and it may be ascended with safety belts
- and hooks.. The water-head b, is to be of any suitable- size as desired but
preferably as shown; into it is conveyed water by the supply-pipe C, which may
be connected with any source: of water-supply and means for lifting it; into and
through the water-head are also conveyed fluids other than water as: liquid
manures, insecticides and fungicides by a supply-pipe e, which extends a short
distance down, the delivery-pipe to prevent waste and for mixing the fluids
effectually, and, it may have connection with any suitable means for lifting the
fluids. With the water-head are. connected the delivery pipe or pipes d; and,
the overflow-pipe, to convey surplus water to the tanks i, or to any, desirable
place, to prevent undue waste of water and; for the equalization of pressure.
A', represents a sectional plan of A; A³, represents detail upper portion of A;
A', represents a sectional plan at *
帶 on A².
Figure B, represents the delivery-pipe d, for conveying the irrigating fluids from
the water-head to any locality as desired, it is of length and size as desirable and
constructed of any suitable material but preferably of galvanized iron; it may be
made to rest in any suitable manner beneath the surface of the ground or be carried

page_text: on any suitable supports but preferably on posts as at j; it is secured to the supports
by iron straps k. The delivery or branch-pipe has at suitable intervals valves and
outlets of any desirable construction but preferably a valve l, as shown at Figure C,
to provide outlets for the irrigating fluids into the hose. The diameter of the valve
is one quarter of an inch more than that of the hose and the valve is opened and
closed by a pin c c c, one half inch thick, which has a hinge d d d, whereby it is laid
over and the plug thereby held up; on the pin moves up and down a screw-button e e e,
which when screwed to a hollow, the pin surrounding, split and threaded, projecting
part fff, prevents leakage; the outlet at the valve may be closed with a suitable
cap. The position of these valve-outlets to be exactly twice the distance apart of
that of the hose-outlets hereinafter described.
Figure B', represents the ends of two portions of an exposed delivery-pipe or
branch-pipe d, as united by a flexible joint m, to prevent injury to the pipe by con-
traction or expansion; the flexible joint consists of a tube of dimensions as desired
and it is to be made of any suitable material as desirable but preferably of india-
rubber it being adjusted over the ends of the piping between which is left a space
of about two inches and, it is fastened with wire as shown. Elevated, exposed, of
iron constructed, water-piping will require one flexible joint for every 300' or 400'
of length.
"
Figure C, represents the hose n, suitably connected at p, to the pipe o, which
may be coupled at g, as shown, to the lower projecting portion of the valve-outlet !,
the plug being open as shown at r, and closed as shown at s, the hose conveys the
irrigating fluid from the delivery-pipe or branch-pipe to the distributor; it may
consist of any number of sections as desired, but preferably to be of any continuous
length up to 20 chains or more as desirable and, it is to be made of any suitable
material as desired but preferably of hemp having at suitable intervals woven into
it as desired but, preferably sewn and at an angle as desired attached to it outlets
for the irrigating fluid as shown at t, Figure C. The distance between these
outlets is determined thus: for example, if it is desired to irrigate to a distance
of 66' at right angles to the track indicated at 4, Figure F, then, the hose-outlets
will be 66' apart. The upper part and seams of the outlets are made water-tight
with a thin coating of india-rubber; C³, represents a section of C'.
Figure C, represents a side elevation of the water-stopper. The hinge y,
connects the lower limb z, to the upper limb a a, the plate bb, in the upper limb
affords a passage for a screw-button c c, which moves on a screw bolt d d; the
water-stopper serves to stop the flow of the irrigating fluid in any part and from
any outlet of the hose by compressing the part or outlet between its limbs; it is
placed to stop the irrigating fluid in the hose a short distance ahead of the outlet
from which irrigation takes place and when the distributor has to be shifted a
water-stopper is placed a short distance behind the outlet then to be closed and,
another water-stopper is placed on the outlet. The water-stopper is of dimensions
as desired, and it is made of any suitable material but preferably of wood and
galvanized iron and the inner side of both limbs may be lined with india-rubber
or other suitable material as desired for preventing the rapid wear of the hose.
C', represents an elevational plan of C+; and, C, represents a section through C+,
Figure D, represents a side elevation of the distributor; it consists of an iron
chair x, to which is suitably connected a pipe v, made of any suitable material but,
preferably of brass: whereby connection is had to the outlets of the hose; from
the top-end of r, issue any number but preferably four curved pipes e e, arranged so
that two point towards the left end of the chair and the other two towards the
other end, they are made of the same material as the pipe v, to each pair of curved
pipes is suitably connected or as shown at ff, a pair of flexible pipes 9 9,
Figure D¹. These pipes are used in pairs to obtain increased flexibility; the length
is preferably seven feet but it may be extended to twelve feet or more if necessary;
and, they are held together at 'h h, by suitably made hinged rings as shown. They
(the pipes) may be made by any process of any suitable material but preferably
at
Fi

page_text: of india-rubber. The inside diameter, of the curved pipes and that of the flexible
pipes to be preferably one and three quarter. inches when the diameter of the
outletted hose is four inches. To each. pair of flexible pipes is connected at j j,
a perforated nozzle.
Figure D', represents in full size the detail of the nozzles' perforated plate; the
nozzle consists of a tube of dimensions as desired but preferably (when the inside
diameter of the outletted hose is four inches) of one and seven eights inches inside
diameter and widening to receive the plate as shown; its length is about ten inches
and it has a suitably constructed stop-cock, as shown at ii, D'. The whole nozzle
may be constructed of any suitable material but preferably of brass. The plate
may be of any dimensions but preferably it is three inches square and one quarter
inch thick when the inner diameter of the outletted hose is four inches.
Its square
form is desirable for the equal distribution of the irrigating fluid; and as shown it
is curved to a circle of one foot radius, with the perforations arranged over the
curve in straight lines and bored towards the centre of the circle. The plates are
readily attached to and detachable from the tube by any suitable device but
preferably by screws as shown at kk. To suit the varying conditions of crops,
soils, irrigating fluids, and, the quantities of the latter to be distributed in a
determinate time a set of several plates is to be a part of the distributors attach-
ments as desired: the diameter of their perforations may vary as desired from
one eight of an inch or more to one thirty-second of an inch or less, and their
numbers in any one plate may vary as desired from 200 or less to 400 or more.
The diameter of the perforations in Figure D³, is one twenty-fourth of an inch and
they are arranged twenty-one on a line thus the number may be 15 × 21 = 315.
Figure D', represents the clasp-ring u, by which a hose-outlet t, may be firmly
attached to the distributors pipe ; the clasp-ring consists of two arms mm, moving
on the hinge 11; the wedge n n, is designed to draw the arms close together as
desired. The clasp-ring may be of any desirable dimensions but preferably one
quarter inch thick and one half inch wide and made of any suitable material but
preferably of galvanized iron, it depends by a chain from the pipe v. Figure D',
represents the wedge n n, in position at the jaws o o.
Figure D, represents a section of the nozzle-holder. A tri-tined, fork-like
foot pp, by which it is stuck in the ground; a handle qq, carrying a socket rr, in
which is moving a ball ss, attached thereto is a double bearing tt, where, (after
being enrolled with any suitable material but preferably with india-rubber to
prevent excessive friction) the nozzle near jj, Figure D₁ is inserted. The nozzle-
holder is of any suitable dimensions as desired and to be made of any suitable
material but preferably of steel.
Figure E, represents a half elevational and half sectional plan of a carriage to
carry the outletted hose and the distributor with attachments. The wheels vr,
having tires of any desirable width but to be preferably seven inches wide to with-
stand sinking into soft soil; the horse or hand-shafts are suitably attached to the
axle as desired; inside the shafts w w, is the reel y y, revolving on the axle u u, by
three bearings as shown; an attachment x, at any suitable part of the carriage
but preferably on an extension of the hinder parts of the shafts as desired to afford
a place for the distributor; chains depending from both shafts at z z, between the
shafts and the hooks at the spokes of the reel to steady the reel when the carriage
is travelling. The carriage may be provided as desired with a suitably placed seat
for the driver as shown at a a a, a box bbb, for holding sundries and, steps as
shown. The whole to be of dimensions as desirable and, to be constructed prefer-
ably of the materials usually used in the construction of similar carriages.
Figure F, is a diagram plan illustrating the operation of our irrigation apparatus.
Extending laterally from the valves at the delivery or branch-piping d, the
agriculturist has left in the fields tracks indicated at 4, of any length, as,desired
and wide enough for the passage of the irrigation carriage E, E. Let us take for
the purpose of clear description an acre of land having,a. surface of say, 330
by 13 subdivided into ten square chains as shown. A lateral track 4, running

page_text: from the valve-outlet at the pipe d, through the centre of the one acre block. The
carriage attended by two men arrives at the valve-outlet to which now the hose is
connected by one of the men, and, the carriage is drawn into and along the
track 4, unwinding and laying on the ground the hose until the first outlet is off the
reel, then that outlet is connected to the pipe .v, the clasp-ring adjusted and a
water-stopper placed in front of and close to the outlet; the valve-outlet at the
pipe d, is now opened; the water flowing into the hose: the men take each a nozzle-
holder stick it in the ground near 3, take a nozzle each and place it on the holder.
The stop-cock is now opened and starting at 1, irrigation begins and proceeds
simultaneously on both sides of the track the distributing showers 2, about 16 feet
wide following as near as may be the direction indicated by the darts. The first
two square chains being irrigated a water-stopper is placed on the hose behind the
outlet; the outlet is disconnected from the distributor the water-stopper in front of
the outlet is now removed from the hose and placed on the outlet; the carriage
moves forward on the track unwinding the hose until the next outlet is off the reel
at 3; while one man connects this second outlet to the distributor and fixes the
water-stopper the other goes back to the first outlet and removes the water-stopper
from the hose; the nozzle-holders are again stuck in the ground, the nozzles
adjusted and, irrigation proceeds in the same way as before. But, in case the
perfect steadiness of the horse cannot be depended upon, or when otherwise
desirable, then, the distributor is lifted from the carringe to the ground over and
convenient to the outlet and when the already described operations are performed
the distributor is put back into its seat in the carriage in this case should the
horse shy and start during distribution no harm would result to hose or distributor
as the hose would unwind automatically. Thus irrigation advances from hose-outlet
to hose-outlet until the whole length and breadth of the (assumed) ten square
chains indicated in F, or any greater area as desired is irrigated. The time for
irrigating one acre is sixty minutes or less and, the quantity of the irrigating fluid
to be distributed during that time may vary from 2,000 gallons to 12,000 or more as
the irrigating culturist may deem desirable for the well-being of his crops. Then,
one of the men goes back to the valve-outlet at the pipe d, turns off the water and,
having uncoupled the hose he removes the water-stopper from one or more of the
hose outlets as desirable while the other man is driving back the carriage along the
track 4, picking up the hose as he comes along and having arrived at the valve-
outlet the whole proceed to the next lateral track where precisely the same
operation is gone through as at the first; and, thus irrigation advances from block
to block until all the land is irrigated as desired....
:
The operation of our invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing
description and reference to the drawings and, it is evident that this improved
irrigation apparatus may be manufactured, erected in place, operated and maintained
at a small cost to the great advantage of all concerned therein. It will be under-
stood, however, that our invention is not limited to the detail construction and
arrangement of its parts, since the same may be somewhat varied without departing
from the essence thereof.
Having now particularly described and explained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an irrigation apparatus the single standard a; and substantially as
specified.
2. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the single standard a, with the
supply-pipe c, the supply-pipe e, and the water-head b; and substantially as
specified.
3. In an irrigation apparatus the water-head b; and substantially as specified.
4. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the water-head 5, with the
delivery-piping d, and the supply-pipe e; and substantially as specified.
5. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the supply-pipe e, and the

page_text: collecting-tanks i, with the delivery-piping. d, and the water-tower; and substantially
as specified.
6. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the overflow-pipe f, with the
water-head b, the collecting-tanks i, and the water-tower; and substantially as
specified.
7. In an irrigation apparatus the flexible joint m; and substantially as specified.
8. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the flexible joint m, with
elevated, exposed water-piping d; and substantially as specified.
9. In an irrigation apparatus the outlets t, of the hose n; and substantially as
specified.
10. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the outletted hose n, with the
delivery or branch-piping d, said piping d, having a series of valves ; and sub-
stantially as specified.
11. In an irrigation apparatus the water-stopper; and substantially as specified.
12. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the water-stopper with the
hose n, and the hose-outlets t; and substantially as specified.
13. In an irrigation apparatus the distributor; and substantially as specified.
14. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the distributor with the
outlets t, of the hose n; and substantially as specified.
15. In an irrigation apparatus the nozzle-holder; and substantially as specified.
16. In an irrigation apparatus, the combination of the nozzle-holder with the
distributor; and substantially as specified.
17. In an irrigation apparatus the combination of the irrigation carriage with the
outletted hose, and the distributor; and substantially as specified.
18. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the apparatus for
the distribution of water, liquid manures, insecticides and fungicides over soils,
crops and plauts as described in the Specification and illustrated in the drawings;
and, the particular combination and arrangement of the component parts thereof.
Dated this Seventeenth day of November 1892, at Brisbane, in the Colony of
Witness :
ROBERT BERKLEY, J.P.
CHS. G. CORTEN,
LESLIE G. CORRIE.