Water hydraulics sows the seed

. “Big hydro seeders mix water, seeds and fertilisers in 400 gallon tanks and use massive pumps to spray the mixture,” states James Kirby, who has just graduated from De Montfort University, Leicester. However, his hand-held design, which is intended to grass seed, or similar, on the domestic or smallholder scale, is powered by mains water pressure in the tap. Water enters through a connector and on to a tap barrel where the flow is controlled. It then continues through ducting, forcing an impeller to rotate, which, in turn, forces a seed wheel to rotate via meshing gears. The movement of the wheel drives seed from the hopper in to the ducting where it is introduced and mixed with the flow of water. The mixture is then sprayed on to the ground via a nozzle. A working prototype mechanism was one of the exhibits on display at this year’s New Designers 2007 event at the Business Design Centre, Islington, north London. “[It] is quick and easy to use, accurate and halves the seed germination time from six to three weeks”, adds Kirby. Email James Kirby