When I received a call at 8.30pm one evening I had no idea where this “Cold Call” would lead. It was from a drainage contractor working in Hanwood near Griffith. They were changing over many of the open concrete channels to pipe systems and therefore were encountering head pressures that they had never experienced previously. This was causing significant problems, as the water now being provided to the farmer was under pressure (some times as high as 8 – 12 psi or an equivalent head pressure of 5 – 8 meters). This increase in pressure results in an increased water flow of 4 – 8 times what the irrigators were previously receiving. In many instances, the farms were simply not set up for this level of water flow and the receiving systems would quickly break down with significant water loss and cost the result.

The Cocky Flow™ regulator valve using a buoyancy float and counterweights automatically regulates the flow back to the 1 : 1 flow rate for which the farmer’s distribution systems are designed. As the water level rises in the receiving pit the floats cause a sleeve within the valve body to rotate and adjust the flow. This sleeve has a specifically designed aperture that can vary the flow rate from full flow, down to lower flow rates as required simply and automatically. These head pressures and flow rates can vary significantly over a day as irrigators come on and off the system. The Cocky Valve™ simply adjusts itself to suit the particular pressure and subsequent flow rates required at that time.

A further requirement was to supply a valve to combine a full shut off mechanism. I have now designed and built the Cocky Flow N Stop™ flow regulating valve now available in three different configurations and sizes from 200NB up to 1800NB. This valve went through a detailed development process before winning the 2013 National Farm Invention of the year at Orange Field days.

Cocky Flow™ regulating valves are Full Flow at low pressure providing the customer with the same flow as they have always received. Their existing systems will continue to operate exactly as they have always done regardless of the delivering pressure and flow rates. Our aim is to provide valves that can deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to the industry and to the people of Australia.

Our valves carry worldwide patents and we now have designs for Inlet Valves, Outlet valves, Non-Return Valves and Flow Regulating Valves in sizes from 200NB up to 1800NB.

Our aim was to bring world class current technology into the process, but to simplify and not complicate the outcome. We see the way that some technologies are being applied to the irrigation sector as being totally against this philosophy. Complicating the final product without simplifying and improving reliability we feel is a backward step. We feel many of the “AUTOMATED” processes being applied as unnecessary and self-serving.

By contrast, Cocky Valves are simple to operate, reliable and enable the grower to maximise his yield, while reducing water use and enabling better outcomes from his labour base. They secure the growers infrastructure and provide a cost-effective and reliable solution to automated irrigation in broad acre farming.