CA2603632A1

CA2603632A1 - Method for the mixing and spraying of treatment agents and for rapid generation of a persistent aerosol and device for carrying out said method

Info

Publication number: CA2603632A1
Application number: CA002603632A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thomas Pfalz; Bernd Pfalz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-15
Filing date: 2005-10-15
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: JP2008520405A; IL182486A0; EG26243A; BRPI0516343A2; WO2006039918A3; EP1846169A2; MX2007004283A; WO2006039918A2; AU2005293967A1

Abstract

The invention further relates to a method for mixing treatment agents with air or other gases or gas mixtures and for spraying the air or gas/treatment agent mixture and a method for rapid generation of a very persistent aerosol with the corresponding device and corresponding nozzles. The invention is of application to plant protection, pest control and similar specialties.

Description

Processes for mixing and spraying a treatment agent and rapidly generating a stable aerosol and the associated nozzles and mechanism for implementing the processes The invention relates to a process for mixing a treatment agent with air or other gases or gas mixtures and for spraying the air/treatment agent mixture, the treatment agent being a plant protection agent, plant-affecting agent, pest control lo agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any active substance such as odoriferous substance for odour-absorbing or antistatic substance in liquid dispersion or in powdered form that is to be nebulised and containing at least one active substance for this purpose and a process for the rapid generation of a stable aerosol with greatly varying liquid proportions ranging up to a liquid-free aerosol having a-long suspension time and a mechanism and the associated nozzles in the form of ring nozzles, polygonal nozzles or flat-slot nozzles for implementing the processes. However, the invention can also be used for air humidification without active substances.

2 o A mechanism for rapid cold atomisation in large greenhouses is described in DE
199 22 435 C2. The nozzle is provided with a central opening for spraying a plant protection agent, which is fed to the central opening by a pump. The central opening is encircled by a ring nozzle with vanes for eddying the compressed air streaming from the ring nozzle. The mist formed in this manner is distributed in the greenhouse by a blower located downstream of the nozzle.

A nozzle head for rapid cold atomisation provided with an inner ring nozzle for emitting pesticide delivered by a pump for rapid cold atomisation is described in DE 100 33 274 C2. The inner ring nozzle, which encircles a central nozzle opening for compressed air, is encircled by an outer ring nozzle for compressed air.
In this way, the pesticide current issuing from the inner ring nozzle flows radially between an inner compressed air current and an outer compressed air current. The pesticide is atomised by the compressed air currents.

Shortly after leaving the nozzle head, the mixture consisting of water and active substance atomised by the nozzle head assumes the shape of an aerosol jet, which mixes increasingly with the air and is transformed into a mist as its distance from the nozzle head increases. The mist settles on the plants being treated.

Moreover, the use of blowers in distributing an aerosol jet atomised by the nozzle head in greenhouses is a common practice. Especially in the case of atomisation in larger greenhouses, the nozzle head and the blower are located on a truck, which moves through the greenhouse during the spraying and atomisation operation. In the case of atomisation with a nozzle head according to DE 100 274 C2, the treatment agent is in the form of a broth consisting of water and active substance in a proportion of approximately 100:1. The average amount of broth preferentially used is 11 L/ha of greenhouse area to be treated. But considerably more agent may be used if required.

Thus, enough mist can be produced and distributed in both small and large greenhouses in a very short time to completely fill an entire greenhouse with mist for a certain period of time.

Unlike in the case of atomisation, the proportion of water to active substance in the broth used in the spraying or sprinkling of treatment agent is 1,000:1.
Approximately 1,000 litres of this broth is required per hectare.

Droplets may form on plants if there is a high proportion of water in the mist, which results in the active substance causing spot burns on the plants concerned.

The task underlying the invention is to create a means by which the amounts of liquid needed to dilute the active substance of the treatment agent can be minimised, and furthermore, to create a process for the rapid generation of a very stable aerosol with greatly varying proportions of liquid up to an aerosol free from liquid with a long suspension time and the associated nozzles and a mechanism for implementing the processes for use, in particular, in pest control, plant protection, disinfection and fertilisation, which can distribute a wide variety of aerosol media in powdered or liquid form, nebulising said media into ultra-fine aerosol particles that are of nearly equal size and have a long suspension time.
According to the invention, this task is solved by the features of the independent patent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for mixing treatment agent with air or other gases or gas mixtures and for spraying the mixture of air/treatment agent or gas/treatment agent, the treatment agent being a pesticide, plant protection agent, plant-affecting agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any other active substance such as odoriferous substance for odour-absorbing or antistatic treatment, which treatment agent is to be nebulised and which contains at least one active substance for this purpose, being characterised in that in a first mixing stage, the treatment agent is introduced into an air or gas current and distributed therein crosswise to the direction of the current, that the first mixing current formed in this way is introduced by a fluid line at least into one or several more successive mixing stages, that in this further mixing stage or these further mixing stages, each mixing current in question is introduced into a further air or gas current and distributed therein crosswise to the direction of the current, in each case forming a -new mixing current and that the last mixing current is sprayed in the form of an aerosol onto or in an area of application.

Moreover, the invention relates to a process for the rapid generation of a very 5 stable aerosol with greatly varying proportions of water ranging up to a water-free aerosol with a long suspension time whereby a wide variety of aerosol media in powdered or liquid form are distributed in the form of ultra-fine aerosol particles of nearly equal size and having a long suspension time. The process makes it possible to achieve atomisation even in climatically difficult conditions hardly lo suitable for mist formation.

Moreover, the invention relates to a mechanism with the associated nozzles for generating aerosol and mixing a treatment agent with air and for spraying the air/treatment agent mixture, the treatment agent being a plant protection agent, a plant affecting agent, a pesticide, a disinfectant, a fertiliser and/or some other active substance such as an odour-absorbing or an agent for antistatic treatment, which is to be atomised and which contains at least one active substance for this purpose, characterised by a first stage for the automatic mixing of treatment agent from a treatment agent source with an air current, so that an air current is formed which contains a treatment agent that is mixed with the air of the air current; at least one further mixing stage or a sequence of several further mixing stages each for mixing the mixing current of each preceding mixing stage with a further air current, in each case forming a new mixing current, all mixing stages being connected to each other by a fluid line for the mixing current concerned; and that a spraying mechanism is connected downstream of the last mixing stage or that the last mixing stage is in the form of a spraying device.

Advantages of the invention according to the independent patent claims: With this invention, the plant treatment agent is diluted at least twice with air instead of water. In this manner, it takes only a short time to treat large greenhouses and large outdoor cultivation areas with treatment agent. Only a small fraction of the amount of water used with known processes or no water at all is required for preparing the treatment agent broth. However, in certain cases of application of the invention, it is possible to use pressurised water for spraying the plant treatment agent whereby the amount of said pressurised water can be substantially smaller than with conventional means. The plant treatment agent can be a mixture consisting of one or more active substances, water and additives, however, much less water is required than with the state of the art. Another lo advantage of the invention is that the aerosol jet of the plant treatment agent can be directed at plants in order to move the plant or parts thereof, e.g., by flipping over a plant's twigs or leaves or standing them upright, by means of the air contained in the jet so that the jet also reaches the bottom or rear side of the plant part in question. Due to the small proportion of water or total absence of water, there is no danger that droplets could form on the plant parts concerned and the active substance contained in said droplets could burn said plant parts. Since by means of the invention, air is substituted for water, the aerosol jet or aerosol mist contains no water at all or substantially less water than with the state-of-the-art process. An active substance concentration with a long suspension time is achieved rapidly, creating the basis for ensuring that the active substance does indeed act and/or that the desired action sets in. There is a high concentration of active substance in the aerosol owing to the small amount of solvent in the solution. Consequently, the invention can be used for completely different purposes, including, in particular, rapid disinfection and control of pests such as fungi, parasites, mice, rats, etc., in hospitals, homes and offices, without giving rise to moisture therein. Moisture would damage not only devices, beds and furniture, but would provide a breeding ground for more bacteria and fungi. Such organisms can be rapidly exterminated using the invention without providing a moist breeding ground for more bacteria and fungi. Thus, the treatment agent that can be sprayed or atomised by means of the invention can, in particular, be a plant protection agent (against insects, animals, fungi, etc.), a plant affecting agent (such as a plant growth stimulant, a growth inhibitor, an invigorating agent), a pest control agent (against insects or other animals, fungi, etc., in greenhouses, outdoor cultivation areas, hospitals, hotels, homes, etc.), a disinfection agent (against bacteria and fungi etc. in greenhouses, outdoor areas, hospitals, hotels, homes, etc.), an agent for odour absorption or an agent for antistatic treatment or it can be an ethereal oil or a salt. The treatment agent can be in liquid, powdered or lo granular from. It consists of or contains at least one active substance for the application in question.

Apart from generating a very fine mist, the nozzles are also suited for atomising rapidly settling substances. The large outlet section of the aerosol nozzle makes it possible to have a relatively high flow rate. This makes it possible to operate at a substantially higher flow rate for a certain length of time during application. Either the medium to be atomised, a cleaning fluid or a cleaning gas can be used as flushing media. These flushing media can be introduced into the system through suction or through pressure so that the flushing medium reaches all parts of the system to be cleaned. In this way, also the feed components and the nozzle itself can be cleaned conveniently without dismantling the system.

Further features of the invention are contained in the sub-claims.

The invention is described with reference to the drawings based on the selected embodiments used as illustrations.

List of drawings and corresponding captions:

Fig. 1 Schematic and in part longitudinal section of a mechanism for mixing and spraying treatment agent Fig. 2 Front view of the outlet side of a nozzle head from Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Schematic view of a further embodiment of part of the mechanism from Figure 1 Fig. 4 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention Fig. 5 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention Fig. 6 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention Fig. 7 A special embodiment of a detail of the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and Fig. 8 A detail of a further embodiment of a detail of the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 5 Fig. 9 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention Fig. 10 A section of the complete ring nozzle and its three components: inner air ring nozzle, aerosol ring nozzle and outer air ring nozzle Fig. 11 Section of a ring nozzle with a combined air/aerosol ring nozzle with a conic outer diameter and a matching air ring nozzle Fig. 12 Section of a ring nozzle with a conic outer diameter with an inner air ring nozzle, aerosol ring nozzle and outer air ring nozzle Fig. 13 Section and front view of a ring nozzle with a radial air inlet and a single-jet nozzle Fig. 14 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle with a slot each for the media outlet and air outlet Fig. 15 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle with three slot openings for air, medium, air - in that order Fig. 16 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle with five slot openings for air, medium, air, medium, air - in that order Fig. 17 Front plan view of a flat-slot nozzle with three slot openings and outlets per slot widening from front to rear Figs. 18 and 19 Section of a nozzle head as a ring nozzle or flat nozzle with different outlet forms of individual ring nozzles and slot openings Fig. 20 Active substance concentration/time diagram (K1) according to the lo process of the invention and a substance concentration/time diagram (K2) according to conventional processes Fig. 21 Front view of the outlet side of a nozzle head with polygonal nozzles.
The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 for spraying treatment agent (plant protection agents, especially such as insecticides, bactericides or plant affecting agents, pesticides, disinfectants and/or any other active substance, such as an odour-absorbing substance or a substance for antistatic treatment to be atomised) contains a first mixing stage 2 for the automatic mixing of treatment agent 4 from a treatment agent source 6 with an air current 8 of external air, giving rise to a mixing current 10, which contains treatment agent 4 mixed with the air of air current 8. The treatment agent source 6 can contain a stirring mechanism. A
second mixing stage 12 for mixing the mixing current 10 of the first mixing stage 2 with one or, according to Fig. 1, two air currents 14 and 16 is designed as a spraying mechanism and therefor contains two coaxial air current nozzle openings 18 and 20 in a nozzle head 24. The radial inner air current nozzle opening 20 can 2s be a ring nozzle opening or, according to Fig. 1, a fully open nozzle opening through which the radial inner coaxial air current 16 flows. The radial outer air current nozzle opening 18 is a ring nozzle from which flows the radial outer air current with a ring-shaped cross section.

The two air current nozzle openings 18 and 20 pointing approximately in the same direction are so close to one another that the two air currents 14 and 16 issuing from them create between them - on the downstream outer side of the air current nozzle openings 18 and 20 - a subatmospheric pressure zone 22 defined by them. The two coaxial air current nozzle openings are connected to a compressed air source 30 via a compressed air line 26, preferably with an interposed pressure adjustment member such as a pressure regulator 28. The compressed air source 30 is preferably a compressor and/or a compressed air vessel or a gas pressure 1o accumulator. As a result, the two coaxial air currents 14 and 16 are each a compressed air jet.

The nozzle head 24 is provided with a mixing current nozzle opening 32 with a circular cross section in the shape of a ring nozzle discharging into the subatmospheric pressure zone 22, which nozzle opening is located between the coaxial air current nozzle openings 18 and 20. The mixing current nozzle opening 32 is connected to the first mixing stage 2 via a fluid line 34. In the first mixing stage 2, the subatmospheric pressure generated by coaxial air currents 14 and in the subatmospheric pressure zone 22 draws in an air current 8 from external air and treatment agent 4 collectively forming a mixing current 10 into the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34 and from there on through said fluid line 34 and through the mixing current nozzle opening 32 into the subatmospheric pressure zone 22.
The mixing current 10 is drawn in by and entrained in the air currents 14 and through the subatmospheric pressure zone 22, so that the mixing current 10 and the air currents 14 and 16 collectively form an aerosol spray jet 40 or an aerosol spray mist, which is expelled from the nozzle head 24 and which can be sprayed directly on plants or which can be distributed over a large area through atomisation. Distribution of such a treatment agent mist, which is formed from the aerosol spray jet 40, can be supported by a blower 42 to disperse the aerosol spray jet 40 over a larger area, such as the entire area of a greenhouse, a storage depot, etc., or an outdoor area.

All embodiments of the invention can be used in this manner with or without a blower 42.

The treatment agent 4 can be fed to the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34 in a variety of ways. One of these possibilities is shown in Fig. 1. In the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the treatment agent source 6 contains a pump 44 for delivering treatment agent 4 from the storage tank 46 on through an atomiser 48, which sprays the treatment agent 4 into the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34.
The atomiser 48 can be an atomiser nozzle or a rotary atomiser. The throughput (amount of treatment agent atomised) can be adjustable and controllable, e.g., by valves or by means of rotary atomiser or by the pump.

The mixing current 10 of the first mixing stage 2 can be propelled through the fluid line 34 either by the treatment agent 4 being expelled from the atomiser 48 with great energy producing a treatment jet, which forms and draws in the external air current 8, and/or by being drawn in through negative pressure in the subatmospheric pressure zone in the manner described in the foregoing.

The atomiser 48 and the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34 can be mounted in an intermediate container 50, which is provided with an inlet opening 52 for the air current 8 from the ambient atmosphere.

As shown in Fig. 3, instead of the treatment agent source 6 of Fig. 1, it is possible to use the treatment agent source 6-2, which is provided with a pressure-tight storage tank 46-2 and a compressed air source 30, whose pressure side is connected to a compressed air inlet 58 via a pressure line 54 and preferably via a pressure adjustment member, preferably a pressure regulator 56, which compressed air inlet discharges into the inner space of the tank 62 above the treatment agent level 60 to form a compressed air cushion in said tank by means of which the treatment agent 4 can be pressed to the atomiser 48.

The nozzle head 24 can have the same or similar form as the nozzle head described in DE 199 22 435 C2 and DE 100 33 274 C2 or as described herein.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the downstream side of a compressed air source 30 is connected to a first mixing stage 202 via a first lo pressure line 203, which preferably contains a pressure adjustment member such as a pressure regulator 205, and to a second mixing stage 212 via a second pressure line 207, which preferably contains a pressure adjustment member such as a pressure regulator 209. The second mixing stage 212 is connected to an aerosol applicator spraying mechanism 224, e.g., a spraying nozzle for spraying or atomising a treatment agent/air current spraying jet 240, via a mixing current line 213.

The first mixing stage 202 contains an injector 241, which has a delivery fluid inlet 215, a suction opening 217 and a mixing current outlet 219, which cross in a subatmospheric pressure chamber, which defines a subatmospheric pressure zone 221. The delivery fluid inlet 215 is located axially opposite the mixing current outlet 219. The downstream end of the pressure line 203 is connected to the delivery fluid inlet 215. The compressed air current of this compressed air line 203 produces a subatmospheric pressure in the subatmospheric pressure zone 221 by means of which the compressed air current draws in the treatment agent at the suction opening 217 and conveys it to the second mixing stage 212 via the mixing current outlet 219 and a mixing current line 223, which is connected to said mixing current outlet, where the mixing current mixes with the compressed air current of the second compressed air line 207 and then flows on to the spraying mechanism 224 as a new mixing current 270 and is then emitted by the spraying mechanism 224 as an aerosol spray jet 240 or aerosol spray mist.

The treatment agent 4 can be fed to the subatmospheric pressure zone 221 via the suction opening 217 in various ways. One possible way is for the treatment agent to be drawn in by the negative pressure in the subatmospheric zone 221 from the storage tank 246 in a continually regulated or flow-regulated manner and to feed it continuously to the compressed air current. Another possible way is to fit 1o the storage tank 246 with a timer which opens and shuts an outlet opening of the storage tank 246 intermittently, so that the treatment agent can only be drawn in intermittently by the negative pressure in the subatmospheric zone 221.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment similar to the one shown in Fig. 4, except that a treatment agent source 6 of Fig. 1 and the first mixing stage 2 of Fig. 1 are provided instead of the storage tank 246. In Fig 5, the downstream side of the first mixing stage 2 of Fig. 1 is connected to the suction opening 217 of the injector 241 via a suction pipe 334. Consequently, the injector 241 in Fig. 5 forms a second mixing stage 302 instead of a first mixing stage 202; and in Fig. 5, the second mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4 forms a third mixing stage 312.

In all embodiments of the invention, like parts have the same reference numbers.
The second mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4 and the third mixing stage 312 of Fig. 5 can each also be in the form of an injector similar to the injector 241 as shown in Fig.

2s 6. In these embodiments according to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the compressed air current of the second pressure line 207 has a higher pressure than the mixing current of the connecting line 223, so that the second compressed air current can draw in and entrain the mixing current.

According to the variant shown in Fig. 7, the mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4 and/or the mixing stage 312 of Fig. 5 can be formed by a mixing head 280 in which the compressed air current of the second pressure line 207 and the mixing current of the connecting line 223 are joined. In this case, one current or the other current can have a higher energy of flow to entrain the other current and to deliver it to the spraying mechanism 224 aerosol applicator.

In the further embodiment of the invention according of Fig.8, the atomiser 48 of 1o the treatment agent source 6 sprays the treatment agent 4 into an intermediate container 450. An injector 241 draws in treatment agent 4 from the intermediate container 450 and an ambient air current 8 through a container air inlet opening 453 into its subatmospheric zone 221 by means of subatmospheric pressure produced by a compressed air current 482 of a compressed air line 403. The compressed air line 403 is preferably provided with a pressure adjustment member such as a pressure regulator 205 and a current connection with a compressed air source 30. A current connection is provided between the subatmospheric pressure zone 221 and the inner space in the intermediate container 450 formed by a suction opening 217 and an outlet opening 455 in the intermediate container 450. A mixing current line 213 forms a current connection between the mixing current outlet 219 of the injector 241 and a spraying mechanism 224 for spraying the mixing current 470. The sprayed aerosol spray jet 240 or the sprayed aerosol spray mist sprayed by the spraying mechanism 224, preferably a spraying nozzle, contains the ambient air 8, the compressed air and the treatment agent 4. The intermediate container 450 along with the container air inlet opening 453 and the container outlet opening 455 forms a first treatment agent/air mixing stage 402. The injector 241 forms a second mixing stage 412 in which the first mixing current 410 consisting of external air 8 and the treatment agent 4 is mixed with the compressed air 482 of the compressed air source 30 to form a second mixing current 270. The treatment agent 4 in the intermediate container 450 is in a state of a spray jet or a spray cloud or a mist.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention which is a combination of the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 7, wherein a fourth mixing stage 512, to whose mixing current outlet 219 is connected the spraying mechanism 224 via a mixing current line 513, is connected downstream of the third mixing stage 312 by a line 213 or a duct. The fourth mixing stage 512 also contains a device such as an injector 1o whose delivery fluid inlet 215 is provided with a current connection to the mixing current 219 of the preceding third mixing stage 312. A current connection is provided between the suction opening 217 of the subatmospheric zone 221 of the additional injector 241 of the fourth mixing stage 512 and the external atmosphere to draw in an external air current from it and to mix said external air current with the mixing current 270 fed from the preceding third mixing stage 312 in order to from a new mixing current 570, which is sprayed by the atomising mechanism 224 in the form of an aerosol spray jet 240 or aerosol spray mist. A spraying jet directed at a plant 590 is shown in Fig. 9. Parts corresponding to those in Figs. 5 and 6 are shown with the same reference Nos. in Fig. 9.

The process according to the present invention for rapid generation of a very stable aerosol made possible by the nozzles and the mechanism according to the present invention is characterised in that a sufficient active substance concentration is produced by means of a nozzle in the form of a very stable aerosol with a long suspension time in liquid or powdered form dispersed over a specified area for controlling pests, for plant protection, disinfection or fertilisation before the active substances of the aerosol begin to degrade. A sufficient active substance concentration can hereby be generated in a specified time T1 by discharging the active substance in the form of an aerosol and said active substance concentration can be kept almost constant up to the beginning of active substance degradation T2 by continuing to generate aerosol up to the timepoint or by generating a sufficient active substance concentration only in a specified time T1 by discharging the active substance in the form of an aerosol, then discontinuing the active substance discharge and keeping said active substance concentration almost constant up to the beginning of the active substance degradation T2 only through the generation of a very fine aerosol. The differences between conventional method K2 and the process according to the present lo invention Kl are clearly illustrated by the characteristics shown in Figure 18.
Conventional processes do not achieve the very high active substance concentration in the short time it takes with the process according to the present invention. All process variants operate preferably with compressed air at pressures of 0.8 to 10 bar, the compressed air exiting at the ring nozzle via a separate air ring nozzle 601 beside the aerosol ring nozzle 603. In specific applications, the pressure values can be above or below those stated above. The last outer nozzle can also operate at a pressure below 0.8 bar in the case of several sequences of air ring nozzle 601, aerosol ring nozzle 603 air ring nozzle 606, aerosol ring nozzle 603, air ring nozzle 606, etc.

Two different nozzles are proposed for generating the very stable aerosol having a long suspension time: A ring nozzle and a flat slot nozzle, each of them being of a different design variant.

The structure of the complete ring nozzle consisting of an inner air ring nozzle 601, an encircling aerosol ring nozzle 603 and, in turn, an outer air ring nozzle encircling the aerosol ring nozzle 603 is characterised by the following details. The internal air ring nozzle 601 is in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a collar 602.
The collar 602 is on the side of the air inlet 608 for the compressed air and holds the aerosol ring nozzle 603 in place. The inner diameter of the inner air ring nozzle 601 tapers at least twice behind the collar 602. In other embodiments, there is only one taper or no taper at all. The inner diameter widens again a short distance before the outlet plane A. At the same time, this widening forms the slot for the ring-shaped outlet slot for the aerosol medium of the aerosol ring nozzle 603.
The slot opening in the example of the embodiment is approximately 1 mm, but a substantially larger or smaller slot opening can also be used. This will be the case especially if clogging of the nozzle slots is to be anticipated due to the kind of aerosol medium that is to be sprayed.

The aerosol ring nozzle 603 is held in place by the collar 602 of the inner air ring nozzle 601 and at the downstream thick-walled, hollow cylindrical part of the inner air ring nozzle 601. At the end of the bearing portion of the inner air ring nozzle 601, there is an inflow opening 605 for the aerosol medium at the rear part of the aerosol ring nozzle 603. Said inner diameter of the aerosol nozzle 603 tapers behind the inflow opening 605. Said inner diameter of the aerosol ring nozzle remains constant up to the outlet plane A. But modifications are also possible here. As stated in the foregoing, the slot-shaped opening of the aerosol nozzle 603 is determined by the shape of the inner air ring nozzle 601. The hollow cylinder-shaped outer air ring nozzle 606, which is held in place by the collar 604 of the aerosol ring nozzle 603, lies over part of the aerosol ring nozzle 603. The inner diameter of the outer air ring nozzle 606 remains constant up to the outlet plane A.
Only here is the outer wall bent in the direction of the aerosol ring nozzle 603, thereby forming a ring-shaped nozzle opening. A screw thread onto which the sleeve 609 is screwed is provided on the outer circumference of the outer air ring nozzle 606 near the outlet plane A. An air inlet 607 is provided at the other end of the outer circumference. Said sleeve 609 is exchangeable and adjustable by means of the thread. The opening widths of the sleeve 609 can vary, e.g., they can be in the shape of a widening or tapering cone or of a straight hollow cylinder.
Different aerosol generation effects, such as a concentrated jet, eddying, etc., are achieved through the varying opening widths. The sleeve 609 can also be kept at a distance from the outlet plane A with the aid of suitable mountings. In this case, there is a gap between the sleeve 609 and the outlet plane A. This measure also enhances the intensity of aerosol generation.

The three sections of the ring nozzle comprising the inner air ring nozzle 601, the aerosol ring nozzle 603 and the outer air ring nozzle 606 are recognizable also on the outer circumference. The outlet openings of all three nozzle components are normally on the same plane, which is referred to here as outlet plane A. But modifications of this arrangement are possible. It is also conceivable that the functions of the individual nozzles are reversed, i.e., an aerosol ring nozzle assumes the function of an air ring nozzle 601 or 606 and vice versa.
Moreover, the number of outlet rings and/or the sequence of air ring nozzle 601, aerosol ring nozzle 603, air ring nozzle 606, aerosol ring nozzle 603 and air ring nozzle can also be increased as required.

The inner air ring nozzle 601 and/or the outer air ring nozzle 606 can each have means in their inner spaces for producing air rotation and/or eddying. They can be vanes or material projections arranged in a screw thread-shaped array or - in the outer air ring nozzle 606 - a spiral-shaped pipe. The air inlet 607 can also be arranged radially and can end in a single-jet nozzle 612. In this way, air rotation starts already inside the outer air ring nozzle 606. Said air rotation continues to act when the air leaves the air ring nozzle 606.

In one variant, the inner air ring nozzle 601 and the aerosol ring nozzle 603 can be joined to form a common air/aerosol nozzle 610. The inflow opening 605 for the aerosol medium is located on the outer circumference and the air inlet 608 at the opposite end of the nozzle outlet. An injector nozzle 613 can be interposed between the air inlet 608 and the inflow opening 605. The injector action is enhanced through this array. The outer circumference of the air/aerosol nozzle 610 tapers conically towards the nozzle outlet. The outer air ring nozzle 606 is adapted to this form. Apart from the air outlet slot 611, the distance between the outer wall of the air/aerosol ring nozzle 610 and the inner wall of the outer air ring nozzle 606 is almost constant over the entire length of the nozzle and it can also contain means for producing air rotation and/or eddying as described in the foregoing.
The structure of the rectangular or polygonal nozzles is similar to that of the ring nozzles. As the number of angles increases, the individual nozzle increasingly 1o assumes the shape of a ring. In this embodiment, too, the three-section construction of the nozzle comprising inner air ring nozzle 601, aerosol ring nozzle 603 and air ring nozzle 606 is retained.

The structure of the flat slot nozzle is characterised by horizontal slot openings for compressed air 102 and for aerosol medium 101. At least one slot opening is provided in the flat slot nozzle for compressed air 102 and one slot opening for aerosol medium 101.

However, it is preferable to have nozzle bodies 103 with three slot openings, with two slot openings for compressed air 102 encircling one slot opening for aerosol medium 101. The top side 104 and the bottom side 105 protrude beyond the web between the two slot openings 101 and 102. The top side 104 and the bottom side 105 can be arranged as shiftable slides 104 to make it possible to vary the amount of protrusion of the web between the slot openings 101 and 102. In this manner, the discharge of aerosol is affected. All sides or only the top side 104 and the bottom side 105 can be provided with additional slides 104 instead of a shiftable top side 104 and bottom side 105. However, fixed diaphragms 106 can also be provided on the outer sides. This, too, influences the discharge of the aerosol.

It is also possible to increase the number of slot openings 101 and 102, i.e., several slot openings for compressed air 102 alternate with slot openings for aerosol medium 101.

In addition, flat, rectangular nozzle registers 107, which widen laterally outwards, each forming a widened slot=opening 108, can be arranged in front of the slot openings 101 and 102. Thus, the nozzle register 107 has a fiat trumpet-like shape.
However, a reversed embodiment is also possibie in which the nozzle registers are tapered.

Ring nozzles and flat slot nozzles can have a variety of outlet forms at the outlet plane A. Various forms are shown in Figs. 18 and 19. The following forms are shown - from top to bottom - in Fig. 18. Streamlined duct interior, followed by even tapering, then a broken outer edge, followed by an inner current duct with an even outward opening, then a parallel outlet plane deviating from the nozzle axis.
The following forms are shown - from top to bottom - in Fig. 19. Again a streamlined duct interior, followed by a unilateral duct, then evenly rounded or bevelled outlet edges at various angles relative to each other, with the top opening narrowing and the bottom opening widening.

It was assumed in all embodiments of the invention that the treatment agent 4 is a liquid consisting only of an active substance or of a mixture of active substance and a little water or other additives. Other carrier substances such as oil instead of water are also conceivable. The use of oil is provided for especially in warmer regions for combating locusts, because in this case, water has a disadvantage, because it evaporates fastor than oil. However, the invention is also suited to mixing powdered treatment agent with one or more air currents and to spraying or atomising such a mixing current in a vegetated area, either in a greenhouse or in - 21. -an outdoor area. The treatment agent is diluted by the amount of air fed in each mixing stage.

Each of the embodiments of the invention described is preferably mounted on a vehicle or an aircraft for outdoor application to treat large areas while the plane or vehicle is in motion. The vehicle can be a manpowered or engine-powered wheeled vehicle, a ship, an air cushion vehicle, or some other kind of mobile carrier, such as a cablecar.

lo The patent claims relate to examples of preferred embodiments of the invention.
However, the invention also relates to the use of each individual feature and sub-combinations of features disclosed in the patent claims, description and/or drawings.
Another gas such as CO2 as a plant nutrient, or any gas mixture can be used with the processes any time instead of air.

The use of liquids of very high consistency is conceivable.

List of reference numbers 2 - First mixing stage 4 - Treatment agent 6 - Treatment agent source 8 - Air current - Mixing current 14 - External air current 16 - Inner air current lo 18 - Outer nozzle opening - Inner nozzle opening 22 - Subatmospheric pressure zone 24 - Nozzle head 26 - Compressed air line is 28 - Pressure regulator - Compressed air source 32 - Mixing current nozzle opening 34 - Fluid line 36 - Head end of fluid line 2 o 40 - Aerosol spray jet 42 - Blower 44 - Pump 46 - Storage container 48 - Atomiser 25 50 - Intermediate container 52 - Inlet opening 54 - Pressure line 56 - Pressure regulator 58 - Compressed air inlet 30 60 - Treatment agent level 62 - Inner space of container 101 - Slot opening for aerosol medium 102 - Slot opening for compressed air 103 - Nozzle body 104 - Top side of nozzle body, slide 105 - Bottom side of nozzle body s 106 - Nozzle body diaphragm 107 - Nozzle register 108 - Widened slot opening 202 - First mixing stage 203 - First compressed air line lo 205 - Pressure regulator 207 - Second compressed air line 209 - Pressure regulator 212 - Second mixing stage 213 - Mixing current line 15 215 - Delivery fluid inlet 217 - Suction opening 219 - Mixing current outlet 221 - Subatmospheric pressure zone 223 - Mixing current line / connecting line 2 o 240 - Treatment agent / air current spray jet / aerosol jet 241 - Injector 601 - Inner air ring nozzle 602 - Collar 603 - Aerosol ring nozzle 25 604 - Collar 605 - Inflow opening 606 - Outer air ring nozzle 607 - Air inlet 608 - Air inlet 609 - Sleeve 610 - Air / aerosol ring nozzles 611 - Air outlet ring 612 - Single-jet nozzle 613 - Injector nozzle A - Outlet plane A

Claims

1. Process for mixing treatment agent with air and spraying the air/treatment agent mixture, the liquid or solid treatment agent being a plant protecting agent, plant affecting agent, pest control agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any other active substance, which contains at least one active substance herefor, characterised in that the treatment agent is introduced into an air current in a first mixing stage and distributed therein crosswise to the direction of flow, that the first mixing current resulting therefrom is fed by a fluid line to at least one or a sequence of several further mixing stages, that the mixing current concerned is introduced into a further air current in said further mixing stage or in said mixing stages and distributed therein crosswise to the direction of flow, in each case forming a new mixing current, and that the last mixing current is sprayed in the form of an aerosol onto or in an area of application.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that two coaxial air jets are produced in the last mixing stage by two of said further air currents and that a subatmospheric zone is formed thereby between said air currents, in which subatmospheric zone the two air currents jointly produce a subatmospheric pressure according to the jet pump principle, and that the mixing current of the penultimate mixing stage is conveyed between the two coaxial air currents to the subatmospheric zone and is then entrained by these two air currents, so that the two air currents and the mixing current entrained by them jointly form an aerosol spray jet or an aerosol mist.

3. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the mixing current of the last mixing stage is conveyed to a spraying mechanism for spraying the mixing current, whereby an aerosol spray mist is sprayed by means of the spraying mechanism.

4. Process according to at least one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that a compressed air current is used as an air current in at least one of the mixing stages.

5. Process according to at least one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that a suction air current is used as an air current in at least one of the mixing stages.

6. Process according to at least one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the treatment agent in the first mixing stage is introduced into the air current of the first mixing stage in a continuous or intermittent manner.

7. Mechanism for mixing treatment agent with air and spraying the air/treatment agent mixture, the liquid or solid treatment agent being a plant protecting agent, plant affecting agent, pest control agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any other active substance, which contains at least one active substance herefor, characterised in that a first mixing stage (2; 202; 402) is provided for the automatic mixing of treatment agent (4) from a treatment agent source (6) with an air current, so that a mixing current is formed which contains the treatment agent mixed with the air of the air current; at least one further mixing stage (12; 212; 302; 312; 512) or several further consecutive mixing stages each of which mixes the mixing current of the preceding mixing stage with a further air current, each forming a new mixing current, all mixing stages being interconnected by a fluid line (34; 223; 334;
455;
213) for the mixing current concerned; and in that a spray mechanism (224) is connected downstream of the last mixing stage or that the last mixing stage is in the form of a spraying mechanism (24) for the purpose of supplementing an aerosol spray jet or aerosol spray mist.

8. Mechanism according to claim 7, characterised in that at least one of the mixing stages (12; 202; 212; 302; 312; 412) is provided with a compressed air inlet (26; 215) for compressed air from the compressed air source (30) for forming a compressed air current as an air current of said mixing stage.

9. Mechanism according to at least one of the claims 7 or 8, characterised in that at least one of the mixing stages (2) is provided with a suction air line (34;
334;
455) for a suction air current as an air current of said mixing state and that a mixing stage (302; 412) downstream of said mixing stage (2) is provided with an injector (241) with a compressed air inlet (215) for a compressed air current from a compressed air source (30) as an air current of said mixing stage and a suction opening (217) forming the upstream end of the suction line or forming a current connection to it, the compressed air inlet (215) and the suction opening (217) discharging into a subatmospheric pressure zone (221) of the injector in which the compressed air current produces a subatmospheric pressure.

10. Mechanism according to at least one of the claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the last mixing stage (12) is in the shape of a spraying mechanism (24) and that it has two coaxial air current nozzle openings (18, 20) for two of said further air currents, said air current nozzle openings being so close to each other that the two air currents (14, 26) issuing from them form and define a subatmospheric pressure zone (22) between them; that the fluid line (34) from the penultimate mixing stage (2) discharges through a mixing current nozzle opening (32) between the coaxial air current nozzle openings (18, 20) into the subatmospheric pressure (22), the mixing current (10) of the penultimate mixing stage (2) being conveyed into the subatmospheric zone (22) and being entrained from there by the two air currents (14, 16) and jointly with said currents forming a new mixing current (40) in the form of an aerosol spray current or an aerosol spray mist.

11. Process for the rapid generation of an aerosol by means of liquid dispersions or powdered substances especially for the purposes of pest control, plant protection, disinfection, air humidification and fertilisation, characterised in that a sufficient level of active substance concentration in the form of a very stable aerosol having greatly varying proportions of liquid ranging up to a liquid-free aerosol and having a long suspension time is generated over a specified area in a very short time until the aerosol and/or the mist begins to degrade.

12. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that a sufficient active substance concentration is generated in a specified time T1 by discharging an active substance in the form of an aerosol having greatly varying proportions of fluid ranging up to a liquid-free aerosol and having a long suspension time and that said active substance concentration is kept almost constant until the beginning of degradation of the active substance T2.

13. Process according to claim 1, characterised in that a sufficient active substance concentration is generated only in a specified time T1 by discharging an active substance in the form of an aerosol having greatly varying proportions of fluid ranging up to a liquid-free aerosol and having a long suspension time after which time the discharge of the active substance is discontinued and that said active substance concentration is kept almost constant only through the generation of a very fine aerosol or mist until the beginning of degradation of the active substance T2.

14. Ring nozzle for the rapid generation of an aerosol, especially for pest control, plant protection, disinfection and fertilisation, characterised in that an inner air ring nozzle (601) in the form of a hollow cylinder with a collar (602) holds in place on its outer circumference an aerosol ring nozzle (603) with a collar (604) and an inflow opening (605) for the aerosol medium, which aerosol ring nozzle, in turn, holds in place on its outer circumference an outer air ring nozzle (606) with an air inlet (607), all nozzles (601, 603 and 606) terminating at an outlet plane A.

15. Ring nozzle according to claim 14, characterised in that a shiftable or twistable and exchangeable sleeve (609) is provided at the outer circumference of the outer air ring nozzle (606), which sleeve is provided with individually greatly varying opening widths, e.g., in the form of a widening or narrowing cone or only in the form of a hollow cylinder.

16. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 and 15, characterised in that the sleeve (609) in front of the outlet plane A is kept at a distance from the ring nozzle by suitable spacers in such a way that a gap whose size can be varied is formed between the outlet plant A and the sleeve (609).

17. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 16, characterised in that at the opposite end of the outlet plane A, the inner air ring nozzle (601) is provided with an air inlet (608) and, still in front of the inflow opening (605), with an injector nozzle (613) and, in the inner space, with means for producing air rotation or an eddy, e.g., air guides or projections arranged in the form of a screw thread.

18. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 17, characterised in that the inner diameter of the inner air ring nozzle (601) tapers several times in the direction of the outlet plant A and widens in the outlet plane A area.

19. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 18, characterised in that the inner diameter of the aerosol ring nozzle (603) tapers a short distance behind the inflow opening (605), remains unchanged up to a short distance before the outlet plane A and then changes into a slot.

20. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 19, characterised in that apart from an air outlet (611), the inner diameter of the outer air ring nozzle (606) is constant between the aerosol nozzle (603) and the outer air ring nozzle (606) at the outlet plane A, that it contains means for producing air rotation and/or an eddy such as air guides or material projections in screw thread-like arrangement or a spiral pipe and that the air inlet (607) is provided with a single-jet nozzle (612).

21. Ring nozzle according to claim 14, characterised in that the inner air ring nozzle (601) and the aerosol ring nozzle (603) jointly form a common air/aerosol ring nozzle 610 and that the inflow opening (605) for the aerosol medium is located on the outer circumference and that the air inlet (608) is located at the opposite end of the nozzle outlet.

22. Ring nozzle according to claim 21, characterised in that the air/aerosol nozzle (610) tapers conically in the direction of the nozzle outlet at the outer circumference and that the outer air ring nozzle (606) is adapted to this shape, the distance between the outer wall of the air/aerosol ring nozzle (610) and the inner wall of the outer air ring nozzle (606), apart from the air outlet slot (611), being almost constant over the entire length of the nozzle.

23. Ring nozzle according to claims 21 and 22, characterised in that means for producing air rotation or an eddy, such as vanes or material projections in screw thread-like arrangement or a spiral-shaped pipe, are provided in the inner space of the air/aerosol nozzle (610) and/or in the outer air ring nozzle (606).

24. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 23, characterised in that the nozzle openings on the outlet plane A consist of a circular sequence of holes.

25. Ring nozzle according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 24, characterised in that the number of nozzle openings is greater than three, the media outlet of each nozzle opening is variable, each nozzle opening has its own pressure and flow rate, a pressure of less than 0.8 bar can be applied to the last outer nozzle opening and the nozzle openings lie at different outlet levels.

26. Rectangular or polygonal nozzle for the rapid generation of an aerosol, especially for pest control, plant protection, disinfection and fertilisation according to one of the embodiments according to claims 14 to 25, characterised in that the individual nozzle openings form a rectangle or a polygon in the outlet plane.

27. Flat-slot nozzle for the rapid generation of an aerosol, especially for pest control, plant protection, disinfection and fertilisation, characterised in that a horizontal slot opening for compressed air (102) lies over a horizontal slot opening for the aerosol medium (101) within the nozzle body (103), the top side (104) and the bottom side (105) projecting beyond the web between the two slot openings (101 and 102).

28. Flat-slot nozzle according to claim 27, characterised in that the top side (104) or all sides is or are in the form of slides (104) or all sides have slides (104) or fixed diaphragms (106) on their outer surface.

29. Flat-slot nozzle according to claims 27 and 28, characterised in that several slot openings for compressed air (102) and for the aerosol medium (101) are provided between the top side (104) and the bottom side (105) in an alternating arrangement.

30. Flat-slot nozzle according to claims 27 to 29, characterised in that flat, rectangular nozzle registers (107), which widen laterally outwards, each forming a widened slot opening (108), are arranged in front of the slot openings (101, 102).

31. Ring nozzle according to claims 14 to 25, rectangular or polygonal nozzle according to claim 26 and flat-slot nozzle according to claims 27 to 30, characterised in that the outlet of the ring or polygonal nozzles or slot openings at the outlet plane A
have greatly varying forms such as inner streamlined duct, evenly tapered, broken, evenly rounded or bevelled outlet edge, inner current duct and even outer opening, parallel outlet plane but deviating from the nozzle axis, unilateral duct and at various angles to each other.