GB2063712A - Improvements relating to slurry spreader nozzles - Google Patents

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for a slurry spreader has a selection of nozzles (8, 9, 10) any one of which can be brought into operation to discharge the slurry against an adjustable "spoon" (15) with an upturned downstream edge portion. The nozzles are mounted on a rotatable disc (5) face to face with a fixed disc (3) to the opposite side of which leads a pipe (2) from a slurry pump. The rotatable disc can be turned to bring any selected nozzle opposite the discharge orifice in the fixed disc, and can be clamped in place by a ring assembly (11) which co-operates with the disc peripheries. An over-centre lever device (14) constricts the ring assembly and thereby urges the discs together.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to slurry spreader nozzles This invention is concerned with slurry spreader nozzles. It has been developed pri marily for use in conjunction with the slurry spreader described in our co-pending applica tion No. 7934615, although its use could be general.

It is not always desirable for' a slurry spreader to spread over a standard, uniform width path, nor to do it with constant inten sity. In the slurry spreader referred to above, there is provision for diverting some of the slurry back into the tank rather than delivering it all to the nozzles. However, when the deliv ery is thus modified it affects the path width as well as the intensity.

It is the aim of this invention to enable fine control of both factors to be obtained.

According to the present invention there is provided a nozzle arrangement for a slurry spreader wherein any of a plurality of nozzles can be registered with the delivery end of a discharge pipe, the nozzles being carried by a rotary turret assembly.

For a better understanding of the invention, one constructional form will now be de scribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a nozzle assembly, and Figure 2 is a face view of the assembly in the direction of the arrow A of the Fig. 1.

A triple nozzle assembly 1 is mounted at the outlet end of a delivery pipe 2. A circular plate 3 with an off centre aperture into which the end of pipe 2 fits is welded at 4 to that pipe end. Another circular plate 5 is mounted face to face with the plate 3, with the inter mediary of an annular gasket 6. These plates are held together by a central coaxial nut and bolt assembly 7. The plate 5 has three aper tures evenly spaced around its centre, each aperture matching the bore of the pipe 2.

Over these apertures are respectively welded three nozzles 8, 9 and 10. The nozzle 8 is simply a short length of pipe matching the pipe 2. The nozzle 9 is frusto-conical, con verging away from the plate 5 to a reduced outlet aperture. The nozzle 10 has even more pronounced convergence to a smaller aper ture.

A clamping ring assembly 11 encircles the plates 3 and 5. It is composed of two almost complete coaxial rings 1 2 spanned at intervals by welded-on plates 1 3. Where the rings almost meet there is an over-centre clamping device 14 by which the rings 1 2 can be released from engagement with the bevelled edges of the plates 3 and 5 to enable nozzle selection by rotation of the plate 5 about bolt 7, and which when clamped secures the desired nozzle in registry with the pipe 2. This registry can be obtained by reference to marks on the plates 3 and 5 rather than by inspection of the interior of any of the nozzles.

Figure 1 also illustrates the usual spoon 1 5 and the bracket 1 6 by which it is adjustably mounted.

It will be understood that different clamping devices or arrangements for securing the desired nozzle in line can be provided.

In some circumstances it may be desirable to blank off all delivery, even though the pump may be operating. In this case, with the slurry spreader referred to above, all the slurry will be recycled to the tank. This blanking-off device may simply take the form of a screwon cap for one of the nozzles, although other shutter or valve arrangements are possible.

With the slurry spreader referred to above, it is now favoured to combine the outlets into a single delivery nozzle arrangement, preferably of the kind described. The technique of constructing or squeezing a flexible part of the outlet pipe to govern flow will be applied to the feedback into the tank. With the nozzle selection now available, it can be discarded for the main outlet pipes.

CLAIMS (21 Oct 1980) 1. A nozzle assembly for a slurry spreader comprising a fixed disc with an off-centre aperture to which, on one side, a discharge pipe leads, a rotary disc co-axially mounted on the other side of the fixed disc and having a plurality of nozzles which can be selectively brought into registry with said aperture by turning the rotary disc about its axis, a clamping ring assembly embracing the peripheries of both discs and operative by an over-centre lever device to reduce in diameter and thus, by a wedging action on the discs, to urge them axially together, and a deflector plate mounted for impingement by slurry discharging from the selected operative nozzle and adjustable in distance from an angle to said nozzle.

2. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the downstream edge portion of the plate is upturned in a curve concave towards the source of discharge.

3. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping ring assembly comprises two mutually attached co-axial rings, each co-operating with a bevelled edge of an associated disc.

4. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a gasket is interposed between said discs.

5. A nozzle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of said nozzles has blanking-off means.

6. A nozzle assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to slurry spreader nozzles This invention is concerned with slurry spreader nozzles. It has been developed pri marily for use in conjunction with the slurry spreader described in our co-pending applica tion No. 7934615, although its use could be general. It is not always desirable for' a slurry spreader to spread over a standard, uniform width path, nor to do it with constant inten sity. In the slurry spreader referred to above, there is provision for diverting some of the slurry back into the tank rather than delivering it all to the nozzles. However, when the deliv ery is thus modified it affects the path width as well as the intensity. It is the aim of this invention to enable fine control of both factors to be obtained. According to the present invention there is provided a nozzle arrangement for a slurry spreader wherein any of a plurality of nozzles can be registered with the delivery end of a discharge pipe, the nozzles being carried by a rotary turret assembly. For a better understanding of the invention, one constructional form will now be de scribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a nozzle assembly, and Figure 2 is a face view of the assembly in the direction of the arrow A of the Fig. 1. A triple nozzle assembly 1 is mounted at the outlet end of a delivery pipe 2. A circular plate 3 with an off centre aperture into which the end of pipe 2 fits is welded at 4 to that pipe end. Another circular plate 5 is mounted face to face with the plate 3, with the inter mediary of an annular gasket 6. These plates are held together by a central coaxial nut and bolt assembly 7. The plate 5 has three aper tures evenly spaced around its centre, each aperture matching the bore of the pipe 2. Over these apertures are respectively welded three nozzles 8, 9 and 10. The nozzle 8 is simply a short length of pipe matching the pipe 2. The nozzle 9 is frusto-conical, con verging away from the plate 5 to a reduced outlet aperture. The nozzle 10 has even more pronounced convergence to a smaller aper ture. A clamping ring assembly 11 encircles the plates 3 and 5. It is composed of two almost complete coaxial rings 1 2 spanned at intervals by welded-on plates 1 3. Where the rings almost meet there is an over-centre clamping device 14 by which the rings 1 2 can be released from engagement with the bevelled edges of the plates 3 and 5 to enable nozzle selection by rotation of the plate 5 about bolt 7, and which when clamped secures the desired nozzle in registry with the pipe 2. This registry can be obtained by reference to marks on the plates 3 and 5 rather than by inspection of the interior of any of the nozzles. Figure 1 also illustrates the usual spoon 1 5 and the bracket 1 6 by which it is adjustably mounted. It will be understood that different clamping devices or arrangements for securing the desired nozzle in line can be provided. In some circumstances it may be desirable to blank off all delivery, even though the pump may be operating. In this case, with the slurry spreader referred to above, all the slurry will be recycled to the tank. This blanking-off device may simply take the form of a screwon cap for one of the nozzles, although other shutter or valve arrangements are possible. With the slurry spreader referred to above, it is now favoured to combine the outlets into a single delivery nozzle arrangement, preferably of the kind described. The technique of constructing or squeezing a flexible part of the outlet pipe to govern flow will be applied to the feedback into the tank. With the nozzle selection now available, it can be discarded for the main outlet pipes. CLAIMS (21 Oct 1980) 1. A nozzle assembly for a slurry spreader comprising a fixed disc with an off-centre aperture to which, on one side, a discharge pipe leads, a rotary disc co-axially mounted on the other side of the fixed disc and having a plurality of nozzles which can be selectively brought into registry with said aperture by turning the rotary disc about its axis, a clamping ring assembly embracing the peripheries of both discs and operative by an over-centre lever device to reduce in diameter and thus, by a wedging action on the discs, to urge them axially together, and a deflector plate mounted for impingement by slurry discharging from the selected operative nozzle and adjustable in distance from an angle to said nozzle. 2. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the downstream edge portion of the plate is upturned in a curve concave towards the source of discharge. 3. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping ring assembly comprises two mutually attached co-axial rings, each co-operating with a bevelled edge of an associated disc. 4. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a gasket is interposed between said discs. 5. A nozzle assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of said nozzles has blanking-off means. 6. A nozzle assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. CLAIMS (14 May 1980)

1. A nozzle assembly for a slurry spreader comprising a plurality of nozzles carried by or forming part of a rotary member enabling any selected nozzle to be registered with the delivery end of a discharge pipe.

2. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said member is a disc co-axial and face to face with a fixed disc having an offcentre aperture to which the discharge pipe leads.

3. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the rotatable disc is securable by clamping means embracing the peripheries of both discs.

4. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the clamping means has two peripheral bands co-operating with bevelled edges of respective discs, and an over-centre lever device coupling the bands and operable to reduce their diameter and hence, by a wedging action on the bevelled edges, to clamp the discs together.

5. A nozzle assembly as claimed in Claims 2, 3, or 4, wherein a gasket is interposed between said discs.

6. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of said nozzles has blanking-off means.

7. A deflector plate for impingement by the discharge of a slurry spreader, wherein the downstream edge portion of the plate is upturned.

8. A deflector plate as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the upturn is curved and concave towards the source of discharge.

9. A deflector plate as claimed in Claims 7 or 8, wherein the plate is adjustable to alter the angle of impingement.

10. A nozzle assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, in combination with a deflector plate as claimed in Claims 7, 8 or 9.

11. A nozzle assembly and deflector plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.