Irrigator

An irrigator including a single irrigation arm, wherein said arm is adapted to move in reciprocating motion by, in a first setting, spraying irrigating liquid at a first orientation angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the arm whereby the force of the irrigating fluid emerging from the arm causes the arm to move in a first direction and, in a second setting, spraying irrigating liquid at a second orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm to effect a reversal in the rotational direction of the arm, and including means to alter the arm from said first to second settings, the irrigator is fitted with wheels and the reciprocating motion of the irrigation arm is converted to a unidirectional motion for the purpose of activating driving means to wind in a cable attached at a first end to a winding means located on the irrigator and at a second end to a fixed point outside the irrigator such that as the cable is wound in the irrigator is moved over the terrain to be irrigated, wherein the winding means for winding in the cable comprises a winding apparatus including a drive shaft upon which a capstan drum including at least one self-tailing sheave and at least one active sheave is fixedly mounted and an idler shaft on which at least one idler sheave is rotatably mounted.