GB2315974A

GB2315974A - Portable spray tank

Info

Publication number: GB2315974A
Application number: GB9716563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Butler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-07
Filing date: 1997-08-05
Publication date: 1998-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2017-08-05
Also published as: GB9716563D0; GB2315974B; GB9616583D0

Abstract

A spray tank, primarily for horticultural purposes such as watering or spraying pesticides or weedkillers, comprises a container (10) of glass fibre reinforced plastics or the like, with an outlet (28) at or adjacent its bottom fitted with a ball valve. The outlet is connected to a pump housed in a recess (20) which is integrally moulded into the tank and also houses a rechargeable battery. An outlet from the pump can be connected to a spray lance 25. The tank is carried by a wheeled frame (12) which has projections (18) engaging respective projections (16) which are integrally moulded on opposite sides of the tank.

Description

PORTABLE SPRAY TANK This invention relates to a portable tank incorporating a spray device, primarily for horticultural use, for spraying water or other fluids such as weedkillers or pesticides.

With restrictions on the use of hosepipes and sprinklers becoming increasingly common, there is an increasing need for a means of carrying substantial volumes of water or other fluids in gardens and other places remote from a source of mains water. Watering cans generally do not contain more than about 10 litres and are heavy to carry. Backpacks, fitted with spray nozzles and pump handles, can hold somewhat larger volumes, but can be awkward to carry, particularly by an elderly or disabled person.

The present invention provides a portable spray tank assembly comprising a tank for liquid to be sprayed, a wheeled frame for transporting the tank and a spray pump carried with the tank, the tank having an outlet at or adjacent the bottom thereof and the pump having an inlet arranged to communicate with the tank outlet via a valve.

The tank is preferably of a moulded plastics material, suitably glass fibre reinforced plastics (GFRP). Other materials such as aluminium could however be used.

In one embodiment the tank has in a wall thereof an integrally formed recess, isolated from the inside of the tank but accessible from the outside, to accommodate the pump, and preferably also a power source therefor.

The recess is preferably located in a side wall of the tank, at or adjacent the bottom. The pump can be connected to a spray lance, and is preferably driven by a rechargeable battery, accommodated within the recess and separately removable therefrom. The intake to the pump can be detachably connected to the inside of the tank through a valve which prevents liquid escaping from the tank when the connection is removed.

In another embodiment the pump, and preferably also a rechargeable battery and charging unit, are carried in a container mounted on the frame, preferably a cradle slung from the frame so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis, and connected by a pipe to the tank outlet.

The tank may be of any desired size, and its capacity could vary from 100 to 250 litres depending on requirements.

The wheeled frame is suitably made of tubular or box-section steel. The frame should preferably be of a type which can pivot backwards and forwards about a pair of coaxial running wheels for the purpose of picking up and setting down the tank. It should preferably also be of a configuration such that it can support the tank at the optimum angle for spraying, typically 5 to 200 from the vertical.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a spray tank and wheeled carrier frame in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the spray tank and carrier of Fig. 1; Figs. 1 and 2 showing how it can be set down by the wheeled frame; and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section through the tank of Fig. 1 showing in detail the spray pump and valve arrangement; FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment showing how the tank can be set down by the wheeled frame; and FIG. 5 illustrates the cradle carrying the pump and battery in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a spray tank 10 is mounted on a wheeled frame generally indicated by 12. The tank is of essentially cylindrical shape but suitably provided with one or more integrally moulded circumferential ribs such as 14 to prevent distortion. The tank may be made of any material suitable for making water butts and the like, such as GFRP.

On the outside of the tank, on opposite sides, there is provided a pair of integrally moulded lateral projections 16, each having on its underside a recess 17 to receive an upward projection 18 mounted on the frame 12. Each of the projections 18 has a spherical end and, in the position shown in Fig. 1, pivotally supports one side of the tank.

The integral projections 16 are aligned at the same height on the tank, so that when thus supported the tank can rotate about a horizonal axis. The axis is however located well above the centre of gravity of the tank so that it will normally hang vertically unless otherwise constrained.

Adjacent the bottom of the tank is an integrally moulded recess 20, in which are positioned an electric spray pump 30 and a rechargeable battery 32 suitably a 12-volt lead-acid battery of the type used for example in motor cycles. Both of these can be removed from the recess for maintenance. At the bottom of the tank, just below the recess, is an outlet 28 fitted with a valve which will be described in more detail below. A short flexible pipe 22 connects this outlet to an intake of the pump 30. A longer flexible pipe 24, which may suitable be about two to three metres in length, is connected at one end to an outlet 35 from the pump, and at the other end to a spray lance 25 with a handle 27.

The frame 12, when at rest on level ground, preferably supports the tank at an angle of 5-20 from the vertical suitably 10-15 , so that the outlet 28 is below the rest of the tank and will be covered with liquid unless the tank is entirely empty. In this position furthermore the tank need only contain very little liquid for the liquid level to be higher than the pump 30 and thus keep it primed.

The projections 18 which support the tank are carried by stout steel plates 36 of essentially triangular shape, which in turn are each mounted on a pair of supporting frame members 38, 39 which extend upwardly from respective wheel hubs 40 on each of which is mounted a running wheel 42.

Each rear supporting frame member 38 is angled rearwardly at its upper end to form a handle member 44. These handle members are connected at their upper ends by a handlebar 46 which can be used for manoeuvring the frame. Spaced downwards from the handlebar 46 is a cross-bracing strut 48 which can be used for example for mounting a carrier bag or box (not shown) for tools, gloves etc. and which provides additional rigidity.

A U-shaped frame member extends rearwardly from the two supporting frame members 38 and includes a crossbar 50 against which the tank 10 bears in the position shown in Fig. 1. The tank is thus prevented from tipping forwards.

A pair of legs 52 extend rearwards and downwards from the position 53 at which the supporting frame members 38 are bent backwards to form the handles 44, and have feet 54 at their lower ends which rest on the ground when the tank is tipped backwards through a small angle into the working position shown in Fig. 1. These feet also serve to anchor the wheeled frame against unwanted movement if the ground is not quite level.

The legs 52 can be welded at their mid-points to respective opposite corners of the U-shaped frame member 49, and can be braced to the wheel hub by bracing struts 56, and connected to one another by a cross-bar 58, to form a rigid overall structure.

It can be seen in Fig. 1 that when the wheeled frame rests with feet 54 on the ground, the rear of the tank 10 rests against the crossbar 50 so that on level ground the tank is tipped backwards to an angle of about 10C from the vertical which gives an ideal spraying position.

The pump system will now be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3. As can be seen in this figure, the recess 20 is integrally moulded and formed by an inwardly extending portion of the wall of the tank 10. The pump 30 sits within the recess and is prevented from falling out by an upwardly extending ridge 60 along the bottom of the recess.

The tank outlet 28 is located right at the bottom 62 of the tank, and projects horizontally outwardly from the bottom of the tank side wall in the form of a pipe stub 64 which is threaded both internally and externally.

Screwed into the pipe stub and retained by the internal screw thread is a ball valve 66 which may suitably be made of polypropylene or the like. This valve projects into the interior of the tank 10 and comprises a ball 68 and annular valve seat 70 integrally moulded with an outer housing 72 of the valve. When the tank contains a liquid such as water or a solution of weedkiller, the water pressure retains the ball 68 against the valve seat to keep the valve shut. The valve can however be opened by insertion of the end of feed pipe 22 from the pump 30. A valve opening member 74 is force-fitted into the end of this pipe, and carries an annular flange 79 and annular washer 80 which bear, through a corresponding flange 81 of the valve, against the end of the pipe stub 64.

The flange 79 carries a conical cage 78 supporting a valve opening needle 76, which pushes the ball 68 away from the valve seat 70 when the feed pipe is inserted. The feed pipe is retained in position on the pipe stub 64 by an internally threaded screw cap 82 which engages the thread around the outside of the pipe stub to retain the flanges 79 and 81 and the washer 80. An annular spring 84 surrounds the pipe behind the flange 79. This spring is squeezed as the screw cap 82 is screwed on, and expands radially inwards to retain the feed pipe 22 on the pipe stub 74.

When the feed pipe is screwed into position and the valve is open, the pump 30 may be actuated by switch 85 to pump water from the inside of the tank to the spray lance 25 via the spray pipe 24.

A filter screen diagrammatically indicated by 86 may be provided around the valve 66, so as to prevent the valve or pump from becoming blocked by debris from the tank. The top of the tank may be provided with a screen or lid to prevent such debris from entering the tank in the first place. The screen 86 could alternatively be in the form of a tubular filter fixed around the inner end of the valve 66 and thus removable together with the valve.

When the pump 30 is not in use, the feed pipe 22 and valve 66 can be removed from the pipe stub 64 to enable the tank to be cleaned out or to enable the tank to be used for other purposes, for example for trickle irrigation by simply connecting a hose to the pipe stub by means of a suitable coupling. Alternatively, the pipe stub can be simply closed off with an ordinary closed screw cap to enable the tank to be used as an ordinary container. When the tank is in regular use for spraying however the feed pipe and valve can be kept permanently in place so that provided a certain minimal amount of liquid remains in the bottom of the tank the valve can be kept covered and the pump permanently primed.

Fig. 4 shows schematically how the tank 10 can be set down by rotating the frame forwards about the common axis of its wheels 42 from the position shown, the frame can be tipped forwards slightly further to disengage the projections 18 from the recesses 17 so that the frame can be wheeled away.

From the position of Fig. 3, the tank can also be levered back onto the frame, most easily by placing one foot on the lower crossbar 58 and pulling the handlebar 46 backwards so that the tank is lifted upwards and backwards until its centre of gravity moves upwards and over the common axis of the wheels, so that the tank and frame rests in the position shown in Fig. 1, or can be pushed along by raising the handlebar 46 by a few centimetres to lift the feet 54 off the ground.

The legs 52 and bracing struts 56 can if required be made detachable or foldable for compact storage of the wheeled frame.

In this embodiment, as can be seen in Fig. 5, the pump 130, the battery 132 and a recharging unit 134 are carried in a cradle 125 slung from a bar 120 on a lower part of the frame. The cradle is in the form of a rectangular box with a pair of ears 135 with aligned apertures through which the bar 120 passes, allowing the cradle to hang level irrespective of the angular position of the frame. The bar 120 is located near the bottom of the frame, so that in the position shown in Fig. 2 the pump would not be far above the outlet 128 of the tank, to which it is detachably connected by a pipe 122.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, a valve is located in the outlet 128.

Other embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, the recess 20 could be formed in a bottom wall c the tank and the pump retained by a removable base.

Alternatively, the valve connection to the pump could be directly into the recess 20 without the need for an externally projecting feed pipe such as 22, although the latter does have the advantage of easy connection and disconnection.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable spray tank assembly comprising a tank for liquid to be sprayed, a wheeled frame for transporting the tank and a spray pump carried with the tank, the tank having an outlet at or adjacent the bottom thereof and the pump having an inlet arranged to communicate with the tank outlet via a valve.

2. A spray tank assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pump is housed in a recess in a wall of the tank at or adjacent the tank bottom.

3. A spray tank assembly according to claim 2 wherein the valve is situated in an outlet in a wall of the tank at or adjacent the bottom thereof, and connected to the pump by a detachable inlet pipe.

4. A spray tank assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the tank body is moulded from a plastics material and the recess is integrally moulded within the tank.

5. A spray tank assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pump is carried in a container mounted on the wheeled frame and communicates with the tank outlet through a detachable pipe.

6. A spray tank assembly according to claim 5 wherein the container is in the form of a cradle slung from the frame and pivotable relative thereto about a horizontal axis so as to maintain the orientation of the pump if the wheeled frame is pivoted on its wheels.

7. A spray tank according to any preceding claim wherein the pump is electrically operated and a rechargeable battery to operate the pump is housed in the recess adjacent the pump.

8. A spray tank according to any preceding claim wherein the wheeled frame has a rest position which, on level ground, holds the tank at an angle of from 5 to 200 from the vertical with the outlet at the bottom.