GB2450166A

GB2450166A - Moveable spraying arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2450166A
Application number: GB0711718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce James Bricknell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-15
Filing date: 2007-06-15
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Also published as: GB0711718D0

Abstract

Spraying equipment which delivers atomised spray, which can be used to treat odours, dust and other airborne contaminants. Spray is delivered from sprayheads supported by a boom which is attached to a mobile or relocatable base unit. The boom may be elevated on a mast attached to the base unit, and the mast and / or the boom height may be adjustable. Any mechanism utilised for raising and / or lowering the mast and / or boom may be manually worked or powered by other on-board or external sources. Liquid to be delivered from the sprayheads may be stored in an on-board tank or supplied from an external source. Piped liquid supply systems may incorporate one or more pumps which again maybe powered by an on-board, or alternatively, an external power source.

Description

Page 1 Moveable sprayjnq equipment for treatinq airborne

contanijnan

Description

This invention relates to misting or spraying equipment which can have its primary use for reducing, suppressing and / or masking airborne odours, dust, particulates, blo-aerosols and / or other airborne contaminants.

Throughout this description, reference is made to drawings and supporting pictures which are on five accompanying pages. These pages are numbered figure 1/5, figure 2/5 etc'. Specific features In the illustrations are labelled Individually with letters of the alphabet, to correspond with references to these features in the text.

The treatment of the aforementioned airborne contaminants by spraying atomised liquid into the atmosphere is common, as is the development of making such spraying systems relocatable or mobile.

However, thus far the relocatable or mobile systems developed for such purposes usually deliver their spray from a single or relatively localised source or sources (see fig. 1/5-A), making the treatment of these airborne contaminants over a wider front difficult. When operated alone, they normally fail to provide the same curtain' or barrier' of atomised spray which can be more easily provided by a system of temporarily-placed or fixed spray heads in an extended linear arrangement.

This invention seeks to overcome this limitation and comprises moveable spray equipment which utilises a fixed span or preferably extending, agricultural-type, horizontal or near-horizontal boom with atomising heads positioned along Its span to deliver a curtain' or barrier' of atomised spray(see fig. 3/5-A). This boom may be attached directly to the frame of a relocatable or mobile equipment base, or preferably mounted on an upright or near upright mast located on portable or mobile equipment (see fig. 2/5-A).

The boom may be fixed in one position or preferably may be raised, held and / or lowered on the mast, to ensure that the atomised spray heads are able to deliver a spray to a maximum height of at least 1.8 metres above ground level, and preferably to a height in the region of 2.5 metres to 5.0 metres or more above ground level.

The boom may be extendable to increase its length, preferably with a maximum extended span of no less than 5 metres. To enable the boom to be extended, it can be made up of sections, which may be assembled together manually; they may be connected and arranged so that they can slide out; or preferably hinged together so that they may be Unfolded to increase the boom span (see fig. 4/5).

Page 2 Moveable sDraylng eguiDment for treating airborne contaminants Descritjon (cont.) Similarly, the mast may be adjustable to increase its height by means of one or more hinged folding sections (see fig. 2/5-B), telescopic or sliding sections, or alternatively individual, detachable sections.

Mechanical assistance may be used to raise and lower any extendable mast and / or to raise and lower any adjustable height boom, either together or independently of each other.

This mechanical assistance could be in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, a sprung mechanism, a pulley system, a rack-and-pinion or geared system, a winch system (see fig. 2/5-C), or any combination of these or similar systems. The mechanical systems may preferably be attached to and / or incorporated within the equipment body and may be operated manually and / or by a mechanised drive system, preferably incorporated on or within the equipment body. Mechanised drive systems could include an electric motor, an engine, a hydraulic or pneumatic pump, or alternatively a connection to an external power system, for example a hydraulic or pneumatic system on an agricultural vehicle.

The atomising heads (which deliver the atomised spray) may be supplied by a system of pipes and a pump/s from a main reservoir tank, preferably incorporated on or within the equipment body (see fig. 2/5-D), which can hold a liquid that can be used for treating airborne contaminants.

This liquid supply system could include an automatic or pumped dosing unit to dose liquid such as a concentrated chemical product from a separate reservoir tank or drum into the main liquid supply system, thereby enabling a liquid such as a diluted chemical solution to be sprayed via the atomising heads.

As an alternative to using a main reservoir tank to store liquid for delivery to the atomising heads, an external source of liquid supply may be utilised such as a mains water supply, This could be supplied to the atomising heads under its own pressure or pumped.

Any pump used on the equipment may be attached to and / or Incorporated within the equipment body.

It may be driven by an engine, by an external source such as a PlO shaft or a hydraulic or pneumatic system on an agricultural vehicle, or by an electric motor powered by a generator or other electricity supply.

Page 3 Moveable sprayinci equipment for treating airborne contaminants

Description (con

As mentioned previously, a main feature of this equipment is its portability or mobility. To enable this, several main base design options are envisaged.

One preferred option would be to mount the equipment on a chassis of a single or double axied trailer (see fig. 3/5). This may have a vehicle tow-hitch arid may also Include the features necessary to make it road-legal. it may also include extra stabilisers and/or jockey wheels to increase its stability during equipment deployment.

A further option (see fig. 5/5-B) would be to have the equipment mounted on a frame which would allow it to be moved with relative ease by a machine such as a crane, a forklift or other lifting device.

Yet another option (see fIg. 5/5-A) would be to have the.equlpment on a frame to allow It to be mounted or carried by a vehicle -for example, an agrIcultura' vehicle using a three-point linkage system.

Claims

Page 4 Moveable sDrayjnp eguiDment for treating airborne contaminants

Claims 1. Equipment for airborne misting and / or spraying applications, where the mist and / or spray can be released from spray heads supported by a horizontal or near-horizontal boom with a maximum span of no less than 5.0 metres, at a height which is elevated or able to be elevated above the height normally required for surface misting and / or spraying applications.
2. Misting and / or spraying equipment according to claim 1 which can have its primary use for reducing, suppressing and / or masking airborne odours, dust, particulates, bio-aerosols and / or other airborne contaminants.
3. Misting and / or spraying equipment according to claim 1 and / or claim 2 which is designed to be easily mobilised, transported, moved or relocated.
4. Misting and / or spraying equipment according to claim 1 in which the boom can be raised, held and / or lowered by aid of a fixed or extenclable mast to enable a mist and / or spray to be delivered to a maximum height of at least 1.8 metres above ground level.