Landscape Architect Articles

2007 October LSMP Irrigation: Mowers and Sprinkler Heads: Keeping the Peace10-03-07 | News

Mowers and Sprinkler Heads: Keeping the Peace

A flag marks a sprinkler for maintenance at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. This rotor head appears to be installed correctly but erosion has lowered the ground level around it. Photo by Erik Skindrud

The clash that occurs when mowers meet sprinkler heads is nothing new. The damage produced can add up to hundreds of dollars a season in replaced hardware.

The infuriating thing about mower damage is that it?EUR??,,????'?????<

A piston-driven water cannon, Underhill?EUR??,,????'?????<Photo by Underhill

Problem with mowers date back to the days of brass sprinkler heads?EUR??,,????'?????<

Concrete rings around sprinklers are a proven way to protect irrigation hardware from lawn mowers. These rings are positioned next to a driveway and are intended to protect rotors from errant car tires too. This solution to sprinkler damage is an obvious one that was mentioned in the 1970s patent text at right and is still in use today. Photo by IB Clickin?EUR??,,????'?????<

The patent document?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????<Erik Skindrud

Clonk! The clash between a sprinkler head and mower blade is accompanied by a sudden thud that jars and startles the mower operator. The realization that digging must be done soon sets in. (This above-ground-level head has had repeated run-ins with mowers.) Notice, however, that this sprinkler?EUR??,,????'?????<Photo by Erik Skindrud

Call For Inventions

Experience has shown that protection of the sprinkling heads from lawnmowers, and particularly rotary lawnmowers is necessary. A commonly-employed guard ring is a cast concrete ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The present invention as compared to concrete doughnuts more readily accommodates and protects sprinkler heads which, after installation and perhaps after the sodding of the surrounding ground, or because of settling ground after installation, end up above the ground level rather than being flush. The flared skirt provides a ramp for the lawnmower and enables the wheel to more readily ride over a guard ring and thus minimizes the wheel obstruction and tipping or dislodging problems in using a guard ring to protect a sprinkler head which is somewhat above the level of the surrounding ground. Obviously, neither the guard ring or sprinkler head can be high enough to interfere with the passage of the reel or blade of a lawnmower over the ring and head.

The invention provides a low-cost guard ring which can be easily installed and is self-positioning with respect to ground level and which is constructed so that the guard ring may project a greater distance above the ground level than the conventional concrete doughnut and yet without creating an objectionable obstruction to lawn mower wheels and the like.

>From freepatentsonline.com.