GB944229A - Apparatus and process for mixing and dispensing fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

944,229. Crop sprayers ; mixing liquid streams. STULL CHEMICAL CO. May 30, 1961 [June 7; 1960; May 2, 1961], No. 19479/61. Headings B1C and B2F. An agricultural chemical in the form of an invert emulsion of heavy, creamy consistency is sprayed by a process which comprises the steps of separately jetting the water phase and the oil phase components into a mixing nozzle during actual spraying, at least one of the phases containing at least one agricultural chemical and the two phases being capable of forming said invert emulsion when mixed together, mixing the water and oil phase component in a mixing nozzle sufficiently to produce the invert emulsion, removing the invert emulsion from the mixing nozzle as rapidly as it is produced therein and discharging the invert emulsion on a target area. Nozzles 25 are spaced along a boom 26 secured beneath a helicopter, which has tanks 19, 20 holding water and oil. Each nozzle has two inlets supplied with water and oil through manifolds 17, 18 respectively when pumps are operated in water and oil lines 21, 22. Water from the manifold 17 is led through an inlet conduit 32 to an annular chamber 54 in the nozzle 25, Fig. 4, and thence, when a valve 29 is open, to the inlet 36 of a nozzle chamber 35. A nozzle insert 39 fits into the nozzle chamber and is held in place by a cap 41 and retainer 42. The insert 39 is formed with a plate portion 43 which separates the enlarged lower part of the chamber 35 into portions 37, 38. A passage 33a permits the passage of oil from the manifold 18 when a valve 30 is open. Opening of the valves 29, 30 occurs when the pumps raise the fluid pressure high enough to overcome valve-closing springs. Considering valve 29 only (valve 30 being similar), when the spring 56 yields, a diaphragm 55 is allowed to uncover the chamber 54 and a conduit 32a, resulting in water being led to the inlet portion 36. An axial bore 51 penetrates the length of the insert 39 and has ports 52a, 52c &c. radiating from its lower part, from which jets of water emerge. Oil passes down an inlet conduit 33a into the chamber portion 37 and thence through ports 53a, 53c &c. in the separating plate 43 so that jets of oil emerge therefrom at right angles to the jets of water, whereby a thorough mixing of oil and water takes place in the chamber portion 38. The mixing continues in an annular conical passage 47 and there emerges through an outlet 48 an emulsion in which the oil and water phases are completely inverted. A spatter board 65 is shaped to form the issuing jet into a fan-shaped spray. The valves 29, 30 eliminate overspray and permit spraying within exact boundaries. Fig. 8 shows an alternative nozzle insert 39a with annular full cone flow passages 60, 61 for water and oil. A suitable invert emulsion comprises from about 50% to about 80% by weight of a horticultural base oil; from about 10% to about 15% by weight of an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol emulsifying agent and from about 10% to about 35% by weight of a sulphonated alkyl ester wetting agent. Detailed particulars are given of suitable oils, emulsifying agents and wetting agents: also examples of different compositions of spray fluids.