GB2463655A

GB2463655A - Powder applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2463655A
Application number: GB0817105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Martin Gardiner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-18
Filing date: 2008-09-18
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-18
Also published as: GB2463655B; GB0817105D0; WO2010032028A1

Abstract

A powder applicator has a powder reservoir and a gas cartridge containing a gas under pressure. In use, gas from the gas cartridge causes powder to be expelled from the powder applicator.

Description

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Description

Gas Powered Powder Applicator Purpose The Gas Powered Powder Applicator is a new method of applying powder, sometimes from a distance, to a target area.

Background

The impetus for this development was the need for an effective method of applying powder to treat Wasps Nests. The application requirement was for controlled accuracy, sometimes from a remote position. The imperatives are the ability, if required, to reach into trees, eaves and soffits and to be able to minimise the requirement for more than one operative and/or the use of hazardous equipment e.g. ladders. The equipment must be light, completely portable, easy to use, self contained, economical to operate with a readily available range of the consumable items. Operator productivity is key.

Invention Solution The Gas Powered Powder Applicator is designed to enable the application of powder to a specific distant target area to be accomplished with ease, efficiency and practicality whilst offering a safer working arrangement that largely eliminates the requirement for ladders and scaffolds. It therefore represents a major Health and Safety advantage and avoids the high cost requirement for two man teams when using ladders. The principal purpose of the equipment is to treat Wasps Nests with Wasp killing powder although other powder application requirements can be met using the same equipment package.

The equipment is completely portable and can be used quickly and efficiently outside and inside buildings. Domestic dwellings, roof spaces, commercial, industrial and retail premises are all likely locations.

The power source is a pre-charged disposable pressurised gas cylinder. The use of such a system is new and unique for this type of application. The size of the cylinder and the specific type of gas is not critical. The example shown in the drawing is a disposable one-use Carbon Dioxide gas cylinder of 12g contents weight. With suitable modifications to the inlet port of the gas regulator other sizes of disposable gas cylinder and/or gases could also be used.

Patent protection is sought under this application for alternative sizes of disposable gas cartridge and gas types using this equipment package.

The gas cartridges are shown as #1 on the drawings.

The pressurised gas is held under high pressure in the gas cylinder and is passed through a gas regulator to reduce the pressure to 60 pounds per square inch.

The regulator is shown as #2 on the drawing.

A trigger valve, the dimensions of which are 16.5 x 19cm, controls the release of gas.

The trigger valve, shown as #11 on the drawing, is connected directly to the regulator and the regulator is connected to the gas cylinder. The gas cylinder is held in a holder cup that screws to the regulator. The action of screwing the holder cup to the regulator 2.

Description (Con/t)

Gas Powered Powder Applicator pierces the seal on the gas cylinder and releases the gas to the regulator which in turn releases the gas to the trigger valve.

The gas cartridge connection arrangement to the regulator can be varied dependant on the size and connection fitting of the cartridge. For larger disposable cylinders e.g. 88g a remote hose and quick release fittings could be used.

The cylinder holder cup is shown as #3 on the drawing.

The powder is stored in a powder reservoir. The reservoir is filled by removing the cap from the reservoir. The exit end of the reservoir funnels the powder to a ball valve that prevents spillage when filling the reservoir. The outlet of the powder barrel is a flexi tube that will stay in the shape and position it is placed in by the operator. It is narrow to access small gaps in gutters, soffits, eaves, roof tiles etc. The powder reservoir shown as #4 on the drawing.

The cap is shown as #5 on the drawing.

The powder reservoir exit funnel is shown as #6 on the drawing.

The ball valve is shown as #7 on the drawing.

The flexi tube is shown as #8 on the drawing.

A key feature of the powder reservoir is the cap, shown as #5 on the drawing, which incorporates a one-way valve system. The one-way valve allows the pressurised gas to enter the powder reservoir but prevents the powder from being forced out of the rear of the reservoir. The gas pressure then forces the powder to exit the powder reservoir at the front, past the ball valve and through the flexi tube. This enables accurate targeting of the powder.

The one-way valve is shown as #9 on the drawing.

To enable an extended reach a lance pole has been developed which can be any reasonable length from O.5m to 2.Om. The lance pole carries the gas under pressure from the trigger valve to the powder barrel that may, through the use of a series of lance poles, be 5+ metres from the trigger valve.

The lance pole is constructed using an aluminium cylinder as a rigid carrier. A Polyurethane 6mm internal diameter tube inside the aluminium tube is fastened at each end of the lance to brass fittings. The brass fittings enable the lances to connect to each other and to the trigger valve and the powder reservoir. This flexibility is a key feature of the lance pole.

The lance pole is shown as #10 on the drawing. 3.

Description Drawing Key

Gas Powered Powder Applicator #1 The Gas Cartridge. The disposable 12g one-use cartridge is 8.5 cm long x 2 cm wide #2 The Regulator The disposable 12g cartridge #1 screws to the gas regulator in a holder cup #3. The regulator incorporates a gas cylinder piercing pin and the high-pressure gas is reduced to 60 psi by the regulator for the gas to enter the trigger valve #11 #3 The Holder Cup The disposable gas cylinder is placed in the holder cup.

The holder cup screws to the regulator and this action forces the piercing of the disposable cartridge by the pin in the regulator.

#4 The Powder Reservoir: Comprising a refill cap with one-way valve, a broad mouth easy fill powder funnel, a reservoir tube, a powder exit funnel, a ball valve and flexi tubing.

2 sizes are available: Long barrel at 32 cm and short /2 size for confined spaces. The diameter of the reservoir is 4 cm. The ball tap is 6.5 cm long. The flexi tube is 17 cm long (although longer lengths can be available) with a quick release fitting to the ball tap.

#5 Powder Reservoir Cap: Incorporates a one-way valve to allow gas entry but prevent powder from exiting the powder reservoir at the rear of reservoir. There are 6 components required to form the cap. The Powder reservoir cap is 7.5cm diameter with custom made aluminium fittings for the one way valve and connection to the trigger valve, powder reservoir and lance poles.

#6 Powder reservoir exit funnel: Designed to enable maximum powder flow and minimise the risk of obstruction from blockages. It is custom made for this equipment.

The complete powder reservoir including the cap, filler funnel, powder exit funnel and tube are unique and used exclusively for powder application equipment.

#7 The Ball valve Enables closure of the reservoir to facilitate filling with powder without spillage. 4.

Description Drawing Key (Contld)

Gas Powered Powder Applicator #8 The Flexi tube "Stay put" tubing (as with a pipe cleaner) and will hold a specific bent shape. This is essential for accessing difficult areas in locations that a straight lance could not reach e.g. behind chimneystacks. There is no reasonable limit to the flexi tube length in this application and if required the use of a 1-2 metre length of flexi tube on the end of the powder reservoir to access difficult places is quite realistic.

#9 The One way valve Is integrated into the reservoir cap and is one of 6 components in the unique cap assembly.

#10 The Extension lance poles. Available in any reasonable length all of which are connection compatible with the trigger valve, the powder reservoir cap and other lance poles. The lances comprise externally of an aluminium tube and internally of brass end fittings held in place by swaging the aluminium tube. Hose clips and a Polyurethane 6mm internal diameter tube are connected to brass fittings at each end of the aluminium tube.

The Polyurethane tube carries the gas and the aluminium tube is solely to give reach and rigidity.

#11 Trigger Valve Connects directly to the gas regulator and the Powder Barrel or Lance Pole.

All components are rated to in excess of 6Opsi.

* ..* * * * * * S *. I I I I S S * S I S S I * S * . I S S S * S S * S I S I * I S S S.. * IS. I S I Application Number GB0817105.O

DRAWING KEY

#1 Gas Cartridge #2 Regulator #3 Cartridge Holder Cup #4 Powder Reservoir #5a Powder Reservoir Cap -External #5b Powder Reservoir Cap -Internal #6 Powder Reservoir Exit Funnel #7 Ball Valve #8 Flexi Tube #9 One Way Valve #10 Extension Lance Pole #11 Trigger Valve 6.

Claims

Claims Gas Powered Powder Applicator The Gas Powered Powder Applicator offers a new powder application method that gives substantial user benefits over existing equipment: The equipment is: * Light, * Completely portable * Fast in operation * Easy to use * Self contained * Economical to operate * Supported with a readily available wide range of consumables * Able to generate high operator productivity * Genuinely usable globally for a variety of applications The use of disposable pre-charged high-pressure gas cartridges to project powder is unique and new. This gives a size and weight advantage over existing equipment with the added benefit of substantial power.The use of a custom adapted regulator to reduce the pressure of the disposable cartridges to an effective and practical working pressure for use with this powder application system is unique.The use of a powder reservoir that incorporates a custom manufactured one-way valve system designed to enable gas under pressure to enter the reservoir but not allow the powder to be expelled except through the specified exit.The use of gas under pressure allied to the use of lance poles that are specially constructed to carry gas propellant to the reservoir enables great heights/distances to be reached from a fixed point at ground level.The key consumable elements, i.e. the disposable Carbon Dioxide cartridges and the powder are, or could be made to be, available everywhere enabling genuine independent global use of the equipment.Because of these features the Gas Powered Powder Applicator equipment package is new, unique and offers significant points of difference and advantage over existing powder applicators. 7.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:CLAIMS1 A portable applicator for dispensing powder comprising: a powder reservoir having a first end and a second end; an outlet tube attached to the second end of the reservoir and through which powder from the reservoir can be dispensed; a regulator having and outlet attached to the first end of the reservoir whether directly or by means of a lance; an outlet from the regulator; means incorporated in the regulator comprising a holder for a source of pressurised gas for containment within the regulator, or providing for a separate source of pressurised gas, to be coupled to the outlet of the regulator; and valve means incorporated in the regulator and providing for operation so that the source of pressurised gas whether contained in the holder or otherwise can be coupled to the outlet of the regulator and from thence to the interior of the dispenser whether directly or by means of a lance.
2 A portable powder dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the lance is demountably coupled to the first end of the powder reservoir and to the outlet from the regulator. * .00
3 A portable powder dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the reservoir is coupled to the outlet tube by means of a valve for regulating flow from the reservoir into the outlet tube. **S *.**
4 A portable powder dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the 8.regulator is linked to the interior of the reservoir by a one-way valve operable to resist any flow of powder from the reservoir to the regulator.A portable powder dispenser as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings * 0* * * **S. **.* I * * I. * *I* *.*