AU2002100564A4 - Mulch sprayer - Google Patents

Description

MULCH SPRAYER Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for spraying particulate material. fI a particularly preferred non-limiting aspect the invention relates to a truck for spraying mulch.

Background of the Invention Mulch has commonly been used to cover garden beds for a variety of reasons. The mulch decays and the product of that decay provides the soil with organic and inorganic nutrients to promote the growth of plants. The presence of mulch can also retard weed growth.

In summer especially, mulch is very useflul for helping to retain moisture in the soil and hence reduce the rate at which plants dehydrate on hot summer days. The mulch may even reduce the amount of dust blown up on windy days because it is generally of a large particulate size which is far larger than the dust particles comprising the soil. Particular types of mulch also sere to enhance the appearance of garden beds.

For the purposes of this specification mulch is defined as being a particulate material which may be used for topping of garden beds. Generally speaking, the particulate material form-ing the mulch will comprise a range of different particle sizes with the majority of the particles forming the bulk of the volume of the mulch falling within the range 1 inch to 2 inches in size. Of course it is to be appreciated that a small volume proportion of the mulch particles would comprise dust and larger particles.

Typically, the mulch may comprise compost, wood chips, pine bark or any other form of chipped or particulate vegetable material.

39Vd iVNN3J WOOdOW 88 S~dIV~~d ~IOdON009t89886E19+ LT:Or Z0/L0/9T Disclosure of the Invention The invention provides in one aspect apparatus for spraying particulate material comprising, a container for storing the particulate material, a venturi outlet, motorised feed means for causing the particulate material to move from the container to the venturi outlet, blower means for blowing air under pressure across the venturi outlet, and an outlet nozzle for directing a stream of particulate material suspended in air from the venturi outlet.

The apparatus may be mounted on a motorised vehicle. it may include a movable elongate tubular member connecting the outlet nozzle with the venturi outlet.

Teoutlet nozzle may comprise a plurality of fingers separated by gaps. The arrangement may be such that the nozzle has a generally wedge shaped appearance in plan. The fingers may be covered by a mesh.

A hopper may be attached to the container for storing the particulate material, The hopper may be provided with the venturi outlet at the bottom of the hopper. Thus, particulate material may be fed by the motorised feed means from the container to the hopper whereby it is allowed to drop into the venturi outlet.

The container may include a sloping floor. An elongate channel may extend along a lower portion of the sloping floor. The elongate channel may be provided with the feed means. The feed means may comprise an auger extending lengthwise along the elongate channel.

Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30Vd IVN Bd W0D6OW PRR/RRRFS.TR+ IT:flT ZP 3Z/t0/9T Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a truck including the apparatus of the invention; s Figure 2 shows a plan view of the truck of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear elevation of the truck of Figure 1 with the outlet nozzle and hose removed; Figure 4 shows a plan view of an outlet nozzle connected to a pipe; and Figure 5 shows an elevational view of an outlet nozzle connected to a pipe.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List 1 Vehicle 3 Cab 5 Chassis 7 Wheels 9 Fuel tank 11 Container 13 Blower 14 Extension pipe Power pack 17 Hopper 19 Tarpaulin 21 Auger 22 Venturi outlet 23 Sloping floor Channel OT 30Vd iVN Gd W0OOW 009L988GE1+ LT:01 3OO/LOST 27 Pipe 29 Outlet nozzle 31 Swivel connection 33 Coupling 35 Alternating fingers and gaps 36 Mesh 37 Support frame 39 Handle Hinge 42 Flap 44 Outlet 46 Opening Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a vehicle generally designated I comprising a cab 3 provided with a chassis 5, wheels 7 and fuel tank 9 as is conventional for many trucks.

A container 11 for holding particulate material such as mulch is mounted on the chassis.

The container is fitted with a tarpaulin 19 to prevent the mulch being blown away when it is being transported by the vehicle.

A blower 13 driven by a power pack 15 (eg. an electric, diesel, petrol or hydraulic motor) is mounted between one end of the container and the cab.

An extension pipe 14 is arranged to pipe air under pressure from the blower. The pressurised air is blown past a venturi outlet 22 located at the bottom of the hopper 17 mounted at the rear end of the container.

TT 39Vd iVNZ 3d WOOdOW TI J3VdIV~~d H~d009GL9886619+ ZT:01 Z00Z/L0/9T The container is provided with a sloping floor 23. The floor comprises two sides 23 sloping towards the channel 25. This is shown mare clearly in Figure 3. The channel may include a trap door (not shown) to facilitate access for cleaning, A motorised auger 21, is disposed along the length of the channel. It is mounted slightly above the bottom of the channel so that there is a clearance between the bottom of the channel and the auger. The clearance may be between 50mnm and 200mm more preferably about 100mm.

to The auger is driven by hydraulic, electrical or other means. It is arranged so that it transports mulch sliding down the sloping floor into the channel, along the channel and into the hopper 17. From the hopper 17 it may drop through the venturi outlet 22 into the extension pipe 14.

The venturi outlet is arranged so that air under pressure delivered by the extension pipe 14 turbulently mixes with the particulate mulch and directs it along the pipe 27.

Referring more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the pipe 27 is fitted with an outlet nozzle 29 by means of a snap fit or easy fit coupling 33.

The pipe 27 may be formed of a flexible material such as plastic or rubber.

Alternatively it may comprise a rigid material such as aluminium or stainless steel. It may be provided with one or more swivel connections 311. The pipe 27 is constructed so that it can be moved laterally with respect to its connection with the extension pipe 14 underneath the hopper. This allows an operator to spread the mulch by moving the outlet nozzle 29 from side to side as the truck moves along a garden bed or similar.

The handles 39 provided on one of the pipe sections assist an operator walking behind the truck to move the outlet nozzle from side to side so that a large area may be sprayed with mulch relatively quickly.

Referring to Figure 4, the outlet nozzle has a generally wedge shaped appearance in plan. It comprises a series of alternating fingers and gaps ZT 39Vd iVNN3J WOONOW 31 BE~ .tV~~d HO0ON GOLSBBBTE+ 2.1:01 7JOO/L0/9T These fingers are supported by a support framec 37 and are covered by a mesh 36 leaving a downwardly pointing outlet 4 extending across the width of the outlet nozzle. Thus the arrangement is such that mulch suspended in turbulent air may be s sprayed out over the entire width of the outlet nozzle 29 through the outlet 44, The rate of supply of mulch suspended in turbulent air can be varied by varying the angle of the flap 42 supported by the binge 40. This varies the size of the opening 46 defined between the top of the flap and the top of the outlet nozzle and so adjusts the rate of flow of air and mulch through the outlet nozzle.

It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing fromn the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

CT 30Vd iVNd3d WOOdOW ST E~dIV~~d OD~ON009L.98866T9+ Z£T:GT Z08Z/LG/9T

Claims (4)

1. Apparatus for spraying particulate material comprising, a container for storing the particulate material, a venturi outlet, motorised feed means for causing the particulate material to move from the container to the venturi outlet, blower means for blowing air under pressure across the venturi outlet, and an outlet nozzle for directing a stream of particulate material suspended in air from the venturi outlet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 mounted on a motorised vehicle comprising a movable elongate tubular member connecting the outlet nozzle with the venturi outlet, the outlet nozzle comprising a plurality of fingers separated by gaps, which plurality of fingers and gaps are arranged to give the outlet nozzle a generally wedge shaped appearance.

3. Apparatus according to claim I or claim 2 comprising a hopper with the venturi outlet provided at the bottom of the hopper, the hopper being arranged to receive particulate material from the motorised feed means and to allow the particulate material to drop through the venturi outlet into a pipe connected with the blower means and outlet nozzle.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container comprises, a floor sloping from a higher floor portion to a lower floor portion, and an elongate channel extending along the lower floor portion, and the feed means comprises an auger extending lengthwise along the elongate channel. Apparatus according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. VT 30Vd iVNa3d W008OW PT B~d l~d~ O009/GSL9886619+ LT:GT ZO02g/t0/9T Dated this 15th day of July 2002 Dean Clifford Roberts and Jason Vaotuua by their patent attorneys Morcom Pernat ST 39Vd IVNdd NOWdON 003t3886ET3+ LT:OT OOZ/tL/T