GB2302254A

GB2302254A - Portable spray apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2302254A
Application number: GB9612460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Auty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-16
Filing date: 1996-06-14
Publication date: 1997-01-15
Also published as: GB9612460D0; GB9512274D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns a spray apparatus especially for use in domestic gardens for the control of green fly and the like. The spray apparatus embodies a re-chargable battery 26, and an electric motor and pump unit 16 which can be driven by the battery 26 to propel liquid to be sprayed from the apparatus, under the control of the user. The battery can be re-charged by connection of the apparatus to a re-changing device, via socket 30. In an alternative arrangements, the apparatus is fitted with a gas cylinder which is used for the propulsion of the liquid, and the cylinder is capable of being removed for replenishment or replacement.

Description

Improvements Relating to Spray Apparatus This invention relates to spray apparatus, and in particular spray apparatus for domestic use in the spraying of plants and flowers to protect same from plant destroying insects such as aphids. The spray apparatus can of course be used for spraying other materials such as fertilisers but generally, spray apparatus is used in a domestic garden situation for the elimination of pests and the liquid which is sprayed is usually a pesticide.

At present, the popular garden spray apparatus which carries a reasonable volume of the pesticide and is portable to any section of the garden, includes a manual pump which is used to pump up the pressure inside the container holding the pesticide, and then spraying is effected by controlling the opening of a valve to discharge the pesticide through a spray nozzle which is variable for the purposes of controlling the manner in which the pesticide is sprayed so that it can be in the form of a narrow jet or a wide fan shaped spray.

The pumping of the apparatus as above described is tedious and laborious. Ladies for example find it particularly strenuous, and the present invention in all of its embodiments was devised to overcome this difficulty.

In accordance with the present invention generally the spray apparatus is driven by a power source and preferably is provided with an electrical power driven pump, and the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

The adoption of a rechargeable battery provides a novel and unobvious solution for spray apparatus of this type. By appropriate selection of the battery, the apparatus can offer up to 45 minutes of continuous spraying. In practise, such availability of use represents operation over a long period, because the spray apparatus is operated intermittently, and for any particular spraying operation, the pump-on condition may be in the order of several seconds as usually only a short duration spray of the pesticide is necessary to treat any particular plant.

A prototype of equipment has shown that the apparatus is extremely effective and represents a most considerable advantage over the pump operated type of apparatus.

The apparatus may include its own container for the liquid to be sprayed, or it may be adapted to be used in conjunction with for example a watering can, bucket or other container.

In a preferred construction, the pump and electric motor unit for driving the pump are either at the bottom of a support shaft which in the container version of the apparatus are adapted to lie at the base of the container or the pump is built into the base of the container, each of which constructions provides two advantages namely that the intake of the pump is located so that it will always draw liquid thereinto, as long as any liquid remains in the container, and secondly, the motor and pump will be immersed in the liquid which will keep them cool during operation, preventing overheating of the motor and the bearings.

ot;he shaft, when provided, may be telescopic or flexible so as to be variable in length to suit different sizes of container.

The motor and pump unit may in fact be one of the units which is used in motor vehicles for windscreen washers.

The apparatus may also have a head casing in which the rechargeable battery is located, or the battery may be located also in the base, and the battery may be coupled to a power input socket in the casing, so that for recharging of the battery, the recharger output plug is simply engaged in the socket in the head or base casing.

The head casing may also have a handle by which the apparatus can be carried, and an electrical rocker switch for switching on and off power from the rechargeable battery to the motor/pump unit.

In an alternative arrangement, there may be a pressure operated switch in the connection between the motor and the battery and embodied in a hand grip of a hand held spray wand of which the nozzle is a part, so that when a user holds arid squeezes the grip (with a very light pressure), the pressure switch is actuated, and the spraying commences, but ceases when the grip is released.

The rechargeable battery may be located in the cavity in the head or base casing, which cavity is closed by a removal cover plate enabling the rechargeable battery to be removed for replacement and examination.

The spraying wand of the apparatus may comprise simply a hand held spray tube having a nozzle at one end, and having the other end connected via a flexible pipe to the outlet of the pump. The spray tube may embody a manually operable on off valve but need not where the aforesaid pressure switch is employed, and the nozzle is preferably adjustable in order to vary the type of spray which issues therefrom.

The apparatus is convenient, compact, neat and efficient.

In an alternative arrangement, the apparatus is power drivend using a gas under pressure. This may be effected in several ways, including that the apparatus is provided with its own gas under pressure cylinder, such as a C02 cylinder, which is removably connected to the container containing the material to be sprayed. Alternatively, the container may be adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, such as a compressor which can pressurise the interior of the container, either continuously during use, or periodically to recharge the container.

In each of these cases using gas under pressure, there will be a control valve which the user operates to effect spraying of the material, and usually the control valve will be embddied in the wand grip, and preferably there will also be a pressure relief valve to prevent pressure build up inside the container: The connection of the source of pressure gas to the container interior may be through one leg of a T-piece connector, with the other leg being connected to the pressure relief valve.

The invention can be applied by retro-modifying existing hand pump operated apparatus especially where the contents are to be driven from the container by means of a pressurised gas.

Other embodiments of the invention are possible as described herein.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a commercial design arrangement of the apparatus.

Referring tc; the drawings, the apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a container 10 for the retention of the liquid to be sprayed, a head casing 12 formed of any suitable material such as plastics material in order to keep the weight of the apparatus as low as possible, and spray handle 14 or wand 14.

The apparatus works in that a motor/pump unit 16 in the base of the container 10 draws liquid from the container as indicated by the arrow 18 through strainer 19 and pumps it through a flexible pipe 20 as indicated by the arrows 22 to a manual control valve 24 in the handle 14 which controls the flow of the liquid to a nozzle 26 at the free end of the handle 14 from whence it is sprayed. The nozzle 26 is adjustable in order to vary the type of spray which issues therefrom.

For the supply of power to the motor/pump unit 16, a rechargeable battery 26 is used, and this battery is housed in a cavity 28 inside the head 12, and the cavity is covered by means of a cover plate (not shown) which can be removed for removal of the battery.

The battery 26 is however adapted for recharging without being removed from the head casing, insofar as a charging socket 30 is formed in the casing 12 and into which a charging plug 32 of a battery charger 34 can be pushed. Battery charger 34 is shown as having a unit 36 which is adapted to plug into the electric mains for the supply of electrical power.

The electrical circuit from the battery 26 comprises basically wiring 38, 40, 42 leading to a manually operable rocker switch 44 mounted conveniently for engagement by a user while holding the apparatus by means of a handle 46 of the casing, and also contained in a support tube 48 by which the motor/pump unit 16 is suspended so as to lie at the lowest practical point in the container 10.

Arranging for the motor/pump unit 16 to lie at the bottom of the container means that the pump intake will always draw liquid thereinto as long as there is liquid in the container, and secondly the unit will largely be immersed in the liquid and therefore will be kept cool by the liquid. In a modified arrangement, a liquid trap may be arranged above the unit 16 in order to trap some liquid which lies on top of and surrounds the unit even when the container 10 otherwise has been emptied. The tube 48 may be telescopic or flexible to cater for different sizes of container 10.

The container 10 is adapted to be disconnected from the casing 12 by being threaded or clipped thereto, so that it can be replenished when empty, but otherwise operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the above description insofar as the user simply carries the unit after the battery 26 has been charged, to where the apparatus is to be used i.e. at any location in the garden, and the switch 44 is operated to turn on the power to the unit 16 which causes pumping of the liquid to the handle 14, and discharge of the liquid can be controlled by the valve 24, the nozzle 26 being set to give the appropriate spray.

When the power of the battery 26 is exhausted, the unit is returned for recharging.

Although any suitable form of rechargeable battery may be used in the apparatus, I prefer to use a lead acid stand-by battery having a 12 volt rating and 2.8 ampere hour Output. Such a battery has the advantage that it will provide up to 45 minutes continuous use, which is more than ample for garden spraying, and secondly such a battery will retain any charge for a long time and indeed almost indefinitely even if left unused.

It may however be preferable to adapt the apparatus so that it can be used with a NiCad battery of a type which is used for example in rechargeable hand drills because then the owner of a hand drill would not have to purchase a separate rechargeable battery for their apparatus.

Figure 2 shows a commercial design arrangement, which also has a few modifications compared with the arrangement illustrated in Figure 2, and the apparatus of Figure 2 comprises an integral container 50 having a handle 52 and a filling aperture 54 which will be closed by means of a removable cap (not shown). There is a separate base 56 in which the battery and the pump unit are housed (the pump being in connection with the bottom of the container so that it can draw liquid therefrom), and the base 56 is be provided with a charger connection for recharging the battery. This connection may also be covered by a removable plate. The wand tube 58 extends from the base and preferably comprises two conduits one for the material to be sprayed, and the other forming a pressure actuator for a pressure operated electrical switch in the connection between the battery and the pump unit motor.

In this connection the wand has a hand grip 60 which can be squeezed (quite lightly) by the user to increase the pressure in the conduit which is arranged to provide the actuation of the switch, resulting in the driving of the pump and the spraying of the liquid.

Release of the grip results in ceasing of the spraying of the liquid.

The apparatus can be configured in different forms. Thus, it may be provided without a container 10, but with an adapter enabling it to be overhung on the edge of or located in a bucket or watering can.

The container 10 may be integral with the head assembly and the apparatus provided with a separate filling aperture.

Indeed, there are many different embodiments of this invention, which has general application.

In a first modified embodiment, the battery compartment 28 is eliminated, and the apparatus is adapted to be powered from a car battery either direct from the battery, or through for example the cigarette lighter connection. In this case the electrical power would be supplied directly from appropriate coupling leads to the pump motor. In variation of this arrangement, a mains transformer and rectifier may be supplied and could be coupled directly to the apparatus pump and motor unit 16 so that the apparatus could be driven directly from the mains. In such arrangement, there would of course be a trailing cable between the apparatus and the power supply.

Where the apparatus is adapted to be used with a container such as a bucket or watering can, any of the aforementioned methods of driving the apparatus may be adopted.

In a further modification, the pump for pumping the liquid may be located in the apparatus head i.e. not in the container and submersed in a liquid, in which case the pump may be provided with a separate cooling coil through which the liquid is passed in being pumped, or any other types of heat sink, in order to keep the pump cool.

The equipment although suitable for domestic use, can also be adapted for commercial applications, which may require a heavy duty pump mounted as described above.

Furthermore, it is possible to utilise a peristaltic pump where the liquid being pumped is required to be kept out of contact with the pump moving parts. Such a liquid may for example be one which has an aggressive characteristic and/or may include additives which are not completely water soluble.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the head includes a small compressor, which is driven by a suitably arranged electric motor, and the compressor in turn pressurises the liquid container which may be provided with a pressure relief valve. The compressor discharges into the container through a suitable non-return valve and a discharge pipe having its inlet located at the bottom of the container is adopted. The power for the compressor may be derived by any of the methods described above.

Further enlarging the concept of the invention, it is possible to provide that the container is pre-pressurised, or is pressurised by a cartridge containing for example carbon dioxide or compressed air.

In such arrangement, the container would be provided with a boss including an entry orifice into the container provided with a sharp seat sufficient to puncture the sealed outlet of the cartridge, in much the same way as the carbon dioxide cylinder is used for pressurising for example drinks containers.

The cartridge may be disposable or re-usable and when it is reusable it will be provided with appropriate inlet and outlet connections.

The equipment could be adapted so as to be connectable to conventional garden spray apparatus which have a vertically disposed and centrally mounted reciprocating hand pump. The pump would be removed and would be replaced by appropriate apparatus as described in any of the embodiments above. In this latter arrangement, the apparatus in effect provides a conversion system so that the user could update his existing hand operated sprayer.

In another embodiment, power is supplied by a7 small petrol, diesel, two stroke or other engine, which would provide for higher volumes of fluid to be dispensed, and longer operating periods, whilst maintaining the portability and independence as would be required for commercial applications wherein containers of the order of 20 litres (or more) capacity would be used.

Although the apparatus is intended to be hand carried, it could be mounted on wheels to enable it to be pulled or pushed from place to place rather than carried.

Claims

1. Portable spray apparatus which is or the type suitable for spraying herbicides, pesticides and the like for treating plants, flowers and the like, characterised in that the treatment liquid is driven by a power source.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided with an electrical power driven pump, and the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery is of a type which can provide up to 45 minutes of continuous spraying.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes its own container for the liquid to be sprayed.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to3, wherein the apparatus may be adapted to be used in conjunction with for example a watering can, bucket or other container.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 or any claim when dependant thereon, wherein the pump and an electric motor unit for driving the pump are either at the bottom of a support shaft which in the container version of the apparatus are adapted to lie at the base of the container or the pump is built into the base of the container.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when said shaft is provided, the shaft is telescopic or flexible so as to be variable in length to suit different sizes of container.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the motor and pump unit is one of the units which is used in motor vehicles for windscreen washers.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus has a head casing in which the rechargeable battery is located, or the battery is located also in the base, and the battery is coupled to a power input socket in the casing, so that for recharging of the battery, the recharger output plug is simply engaged in the socket in the head or base casing.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the head casing has a handle by which the apparatus can be carried, and an electrical rocker switch for switching on and off power from the rechargeable battery to the motor/pump unit.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein there is a pressure operated switch in the connection between the motor and the battery and embodied in a hand grip of a hand held spray wand of which the nozzle is a part, is a pressure actuator, so that when a user holds and squeezes the grip (with a very light pressure), the pressure switch is actuated, and the spraying commences, but ceases when the grip is released.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rechargeable battery is located in the cavity in the head or base casing, which cavity is closed by a removal cover plate enabling the rechargeable battery to be removed for replacement and examination.

13 Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the spraying wand of the apparatus comprises simply a hand held spray tube having a nozzle at one end, and having the other end connected via a flexible pipe to the outlet of the pump.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the spray tube embodies a manually operable on off valve.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is power driven using a gas under pressure.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the power driving is effected by providing the apparatus with its own gas under pressure cylinder, such as a C02 cylinder, which is removably connected to the container containing the material to be sprayed.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the container is adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, such as a compressor which can pressurise the interior of the container, either continuously during use, or periodically to recharge the container.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein there is a control valve which the user operates to effect spraying of the material.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control valve is embodied in the wand grip.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein there is a pressure relief valve to prevent pressure build up inside the container.

21. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the connection of the source of pressure gas to the container interior is through one leg of a T-piece connector, with the other leg being conneF!teFp to the pressure relief valve.

22. Portable spray apparatus as any of the examples substantially as hereinbefore described and or with reference to the accompanying drawings.