AU600794B2

AU600794B2 - Hand-held chemical applicator

Info

Publication number: AU600794B2
Application number: AU11123/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Malcolm Ian Amery
Original assignee: Commonwealth Industrial Gases Ltd
Current assignee: Commonwealth Industrial Gases Ltd
Priority date: 1987-01-29
Filing date: 1988-01-28
Publication date: 1990-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-28
Also published as: AU1112388A

Description

3U~I1 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRAI R 9 FORM PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int.Class Application Number: Lodged: 0 .Complete Specification Lodged: SAccepted: SPublished: 0 ,Priority: Priority: This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing Related Art: c,0 'Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: THE COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIAL GASES LIMITED 46 Kippax Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia Actual Inventor: Malcolm Ian Amery Address for Service: SHELSTON WATERS, 55 Clarence Street, Sydney Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "HAND-HELD CHEMICAL APPLICATOR" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 Complete of PI0079 dated 29th January, 1987-1- Comlete of P10079 dated 29th January, 1987

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This invention relates to an applicator for applying chemicals to livestock.

It is well-known to apply chemicals for example insecticides to livestock such as sheep by means of a spray gun.

Nowadays insecticides may be applied in a concentrihed form intended for localized application.

Examples are so-called "pour on" sheep licecides which are o"o intended to be applied to sheep as a band extending along 3_11 the backline of the sheep.

00 It is important from a chemical effectuality point of view that the band be within a specified width tolerance.

The spray is desirably applied as very fine droplets but such fine droplets are readily deflected from the spray path by air currents and wind. It is desirable having regard to general environmental safety that "drift" of small droplets of spray away from the intended spray path be minimized.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple means whereby drift of insecticide is minimized while facilitating maintenance of spray band width within tolerances.

According to one aspect, the invention consists in a I: spray gun for applying a chemical spray to livestock comprising:a spray nozzle; and a shroud extending generally forwardly of the nozzle and defining a closest distance of approach of the nozzle 2 to an animal to be sprayed, said closest distance of approach being selected in conjunction with the nozzle characteristics to define a spray pattern of predetermined width on an animal at the closest distance of approach to the nozzle; a spray gun for applying a chemical spray to livestock comprising:a spray nozzle; and a shroud extending generally forwardly of the nozzle and defining a closest distance of approach of the nozzle to an animal to be sprayed, said closest distance of approach being selected in conjunction with the nozzle o characteristics to define a spray pattern of predetermined width on an animal at a closest distance of approach to the nozzle; wherein the shroud end opening has two 0 opposite edge portions which have a convex arcuate shape and a further two opposite edge portions which have a concave arcuate shape, such that the convex edge portions alternate with the concave edge portions.

oThe invention will now be described by way of example 20 only with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 shows a cylindrical spray barrel 1 of a drenching gun (not shown), adapted for delivery of a 0 433 predetermined dose unit for example of 4 ml. of liquid.

.1W Barrel 1 terminates at a spray nozzle 2 adapted to issue the dose in a fan-shaped spray pattern which in the present example produces a band of 100 mm width at 60 mm from the spray nozzle 2 when the drenching gun trigger is activated. Projecting forwardly of the nozzle for a 3

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_I 1~1_1__1 distance of 60 mm along the nozzle axial direction is a shroud 3 defined by front and back walls 4, 5, side walls 6, 7 and top wall 8. Front and back walls 4, 5 are generally trapezoid in shape while the side walls 6, 7 are generally rectangular and upper wall 8 is generally square in shape.

Upper wall 8 is provided with a boss 11 whereby the shroud may be mounted to the drench gun barrel 1. For preference the mounting is keyed with the drench gun by means of inter-engaging formations to maintain the shroud in a desired orientation with respect to the y A o 4 4 3A pattern of nozzle 2 and at a desired position in relation to the tip of nozzle 2.

The shroud defines the closest distance of approach of the nozzle to the back of a sheep to be sprayed and thus acts as a depth gauge.

In use the shroud may be lightly dragged across the animal surface to be treated and thus ensures that a band "o oof correct width is delivered for a particular spray nozzle's spray pattern. The shroud also ensures that the spray is delivered to the surface and not diverted by wind or air currents.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the front and rear wall 4, 5 of the shroud are each provided with an 4° arcuate concave edge 9 at the end distant from barrel i.

This accommodates the curvature of the animal's body as the spray is moved e.g. along the back line. For use with sheep the open edges of the front and rear walls are 44 preferably between 100 and 130 mm long and curved to form O part of the circumference of a circle of an approximate diameter 400 mm.

Also the side walls are provided with arcuate convex edges 10 at the end distant from barrel i, thus providing i "runners" to facilitate dragging the shroud over the animal's back with a minimum of friction. For use with sheep the open edges of the sidewalls are preferably between 30 and 40 mm long and curved to form part of the circumference of a circle of about 60 mm in diameter. The open end of the shroud thus has alternate convex and concave portions.

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For preference, the shroud is provided with adjustment means (not illustrated) whereby the distance that the shroud projects in the spray direction beyond spray nozzle 2 may be altered in a predetermined manner.

For sheep the distance is advantageously 20 to 60 mm.

Alternatively, the spray barrel 1 may be provided with flats or abutments for pre-determining the shroud projection-distance.

S° The shroud need not be of the shape illustrated.

I.0 For example, it may be flared, or, a generally conical shroud may be used with a nozzle adapted to issue a conical spray.

In general, the shroud dimensions will be chosen in conjunction with a spray nozzle to provide a predetermined spray width at a given closeness to an animal being ioo sprayed, the closeness being limited by the shroud.

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Claims

2. A spray gun as claimed in Claim 1 in which the convex edge portions are between 30 and 40 mm long and curved to form part of the circumference of circle of about 60 mm in Sdiameter. oo 3. A spray gun as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the concave edge portions are between 100 and 130 mm long and curved to form part of the circumference of a circle of about 400 mm in diameter.
4. A spray gun as claimed in any preceding claim in which the distance that the shroud project, ieyond the end of the s-ray nozzle may be altered. A spray gun as claimed in Claim 4 in which the shroud projects 20 to 60 mm in front of the end of the spray 6 77 Rp 4'7 Qr nozzle.
6. A spray gun as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED this 8th day of June, 1990. THE COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIAL GASES LIMITED Attorney: IAN T ERNST Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS o no O O 0 0 0 0 oa 0 0 -7- 7 0 I^