Keep Your Center Pivot Nozzles From Plugging

Keep Your Center Pivot Nozzles From Plugging IRRIGATION Maintenance 29-3-29 "Partial or complete plugging of nozzles is one of the biggest problems faced by irrigators with low pressure drop nozzle center pivot systems. Our new E-Z Screen eliminates those plugging problems and allows your center pivot to operate at the optimum flow rate as it was designed," says inventor Dale Anderson, Wray, Colo. The E-Z Screen is a plastic self-cleaning screen that threads into the base of the couplers or goosenecks (plastic or steel) mounted on the mainline of the center pivot or lateral move sprinkler system. Mounting the screen in this way keeps sand, rust particles and other foreign debris in the mainline pipe, so it can be carried to the end of the system and flushed out periodically. The screen's grid size is small enough to protect the smallest nozzle sizes against plugging, while allowing ample flow area throughout the larger nozzle sizes. According to Anderson, nozzle plugging typically occurs during start-up of the irrigation system when the pipe is filling and water velocity is at its highest. When this occurs the system typically has to be shut down, sprinkler heads disassembled, nozzles cleaned (where plugging was visible), sprinklers reassembled and the system restarted. Then the cycle of filling, plugging and cleaning starts all over again. "Even after the visibly plugged nozzles are cleaned and the system is operating, the partially plugged nozzles - which are visibly undetectable - continue to cost yield," says Anderson. "E-Z Screens are a one-time purchase that takes care of the problem." The screens are available in two different patterns û a square pattern that can be used with nozzles up to 20/64 in. dia., and a horizontal bar pattern for larger nozzles. The screens can be threaded into any 3/4-in. female couplers or we can furnish complete units with 3/4-in. couplers and close nipples," says Anderson. The company also offers a screening device for end guns. It's 12 in. long and 1 1/2 in. in diameter. The end gun and valve is removed and the screen is screwed into the overhang pipe. The end gun and valve is then screwed into the screen. "It's very simple and extremely effective in stopping the aggravation and yield reduction of end gun nozzle plugging," notes Anderson. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, E-Z Irrigation, 30400 Hwy. 34, Wray, Colo. 80758 (ph 970 332-4114).

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