US2125602A - Orchard spray - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1938. T. L. cAlRNs 2,125,602

ORCHARD SPRAY INVENTOR. @xeon/vaag @ai/ww A TTORNEY.

` PatentediAug. i2, 1938 v y. i l

UNITED STATES VPATENTv OFFIQE 2,125,602

ORCHARD SPRAY Theodore L. Cairns, Lindsay, Calif. y Application September 29, 1934, Serial No. 746,122.

1 claim. (c1. 29e-ss) `My invention relates to a'combination appawalls Il, the air inlet I9, and the air outlet I6. A ratus which can be usedfor spraying or dusting multi-bladed fan I3 revolves in the casing I5 and plants, trees, vines, field crops, etc. When used sucks air thru inlet I9 and exhausts it thru outfor dusting, it operates as shown in my U. S. let I6. The fan is carried on shaft Iii, mounted "-I Patent No. 1,880,781 dated October 4, 1932, enin suitable bearings in the casingwalls II. A 5

titled Orchard duster.. source ofpower (not shown) drives the fan thru An object of the present invention is toprovide pulley I8 and belt 20. a combination machine that can accomplish all The hopper 30, used only when the machine is the objects obtained with the machine of my Operated for dusting, is alsosupported above the f earlier patent and in addition to provide a liquid base I2, by any suitable means such as the irons i() spray apparatusior use where this typ-e of treat- 3|. The fOilI SideS 0f the hOlODer S1096 inwardly ment is desirable. at 32 to guide the sulphur, or other dust spray- Afurtner object of my invention is to provide a ine material, into Contact with the squirrel case means for retrieving the liquid which is deposited type agitator 33 (See Fig. 4) mounted 0n Shaft 34 lonthe walls of the outlet pipe and then, leading at the bottom, and dreCiy OVer the VelVeS 35 l5 this accumulated liquid back into the air stream. (see Fie. '7). Shaft 34 is rotated slowly by pinion `A further object of my invention is to provide 31 driVen by a WOrm 36 on Shaft 38. Shaft 33 is a device tospread automatically the liquid spray likewise worm driven from the blower shaft I4, as it emerges from the outlet pipe. by means of pinion 39 and worm @0. The twin In the accompanying drawings forming a part worm reductions give the desired speed ratio be 20 of this speciiication, and in which like numerals tween shafts 34 and I4. `are employedto designate like parts throughout When it iS desired 150 Operate the machine fer the same: p liquid spraying,lthe agitator 33 may be discon- Fig. 1 is e side view cf the assembled machine heated from shaft 34 by means 0f a Clutch, Comon the drive Side, prised of the clutch member 34a attached to shaft 25 Fig, 2 is g. Side View 0f the gggembied machine 34, and the clutch member 361i loosely mounted on the control Side, thereon. A shifting yoke 34o fits in a groove in the Fig. 3 is a top plan view, member 34h, permitting movement of the clutch Fig. 4 is en end view facing the discharge end element by the lever 34d, which is hinged t0 the of the machine, base of the hopper and with its other end movingV Fig, 5 is a partial section and top plan View 0f in the guide 348. The 'Valves 35 remain Closed the discharge end of the machine, fOr this Operating C0ndit0ni Fig, 6 ige Section taken on the line 6 6 0f Fig. 5 illustrates theivalve control means for Fig. 4, 1, the valves arranged to uncover the openings 4I v Fig, '7 is a, Section taken on the iin'e 1. .1 of in the bottom of the hopper when the machine is 35 Fig. 4, used for dusting. These comprise the sliding Fig. s is a view looking into the end of a disvalves 35, (Shown partially opened in Fie. 5) archarge pipe, and ranged to slide in guides 42 (see Fig. 9) under the pigv 9 is a side Section taken on the iine 9 9 control of the links 43 and M, connected to in- 40, OfIig, 6, dividual bell cranks l5 and ME, and to separate 40 Figa 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the assembled m3,- control levers 4l and 48. These control levers eX- chine of my invention when set up for liquid tend 11D the Side 0f the hODper and engage the spraying comprising the blower, the mixing guide i9 fastened thereto, and on which is archambers with the outlet, the spray spreading ranged a series of projections 5t, to hold the levers fisflaps, and the means for catching. the excess liquid in the desired place during operation. By the 45 and recirculating it back into the air stream. `means described, I attain a separate and individ- I have shownthe machine set up for use with a ual control over each of the valves 35. liquid spray. When it is to be used for dusting, Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 illustrate in detail a prethe spray spreading iiaps, the liquid pipe in the ferred construction of the outlet pipe as it is 5o mixing chamber, and the liquid recirculating. arranged when spraying liquid. 50 means are removed so as not to interfere with the The primary miXing Chamber 54 comprises a dust stream. fitting having three openings, two in line with the The blower Ill, usedto supply an air stream in air stream, the one nearest the latters source both `liquid spraying and dusting, is mounted on having a Venturi tube 55 therein; the third bebase `I2 and is vcomprised of the casing I5, with ing positioned around the hopper opening '53, but 55 the hopper is full the the hopper empties.

must be made each hour, and if the operator is to .f have to be closed gradually as with an air inlet 56 formed therebetween. The structure shown in Fig.r9 is T-shaped, although any three-port structure will accomplish'a satisfactory result.

The primary mixing chamber shown in Fig. 9 consists of a central passageway 51 in direct line with the air stream passing through the outlet pipe 56. Opening into the top of the passageway 51 is a passageway 58, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the hopper outlet 53. The hopper outlet 53 is positioned in the center of the passageway 58, forming an air inlet 56, which air inlet communicates withfv the atmosphere. Y

VA Venturi tube 55 is mounted in the end ofthe mixing chamber 54 with the large opening V59of the venturi facing the blower I0. The opening 59 is of smaller diameter than-the outlet pipe 5|;

hence the air stream from the blower passes bothr 54, and around' through the venturi and chamber it, enveloping the casing of the primary mixing chamber 54. The Venturi may have-its smaller opening 60'positioned beneath the` hopper outlet 58.

The chamber54 is heldin place in the outlet pipe 5| by suitable means such as the nut 6| threaded on the walls 62.

Aisecondarymixing chamber 63 is formed in the inlet pipe 5| at the outlet 64of. the chamber 54;@r In this chamber a turbulent action is set up when the enveloping air stream is disturbed by the air stream emerging from the chamber 54 carrying the dust lor the atomized liquid. The velocity of the two air streams will be unequal at this point, resulting in a uniform distortion in the chamber and an equalized distribution of the dust or liquid in suspension in the air stream.

By means of the Venturi tube 55 the velocity of that portion of the air stream passing through the venturi is increased and a vacuum created below` the hopper outlet 53 in the case of dusting. The

tendency of this vacuum is to draw the dust from( the bottom of the hopper into the air stream.

It has been found in with the dust within the hopper in a iluired-condition. in the-airstream, the dust content increasing -as Several'rells of the hopper secure a constant dust to air ratio,'it would require careful attention on his part and a frequent manipulation of the valve 35. The valve would the level of the dust in the hopper lowered.

By means of the air inlet 56-it has ,been found that la balancing effect is producedwhich automatically regulates the suction. A constant quantity of dust is withdrawn, whether the hopperbe full or onlypartially full.

ratio-by setting the valve 35 at the desired point and no further attention on his part is required to maintain this mixture constant.

' 'I'he absence of back pressure, or a tendency of the air stream to pass up into the hopper due to the construction ofthe primary mixing chamber Sil-, makes -itl possible to run the machine with the l hopper uncovered. The advantage of a construc-Y 75%; thereby saved.

earlier devices.that when vacuum will drawin 'less dust than when the hopper is partially empty and 'I'his results in an unequal ratio of dust In this way, it is possible for the operator to control the mixturev it can bedone as in this machine When operated as a dusting machine the spray spreading flap 82, and the liquid pipes 1| and 19 are removed.

. While I have described only one branch 5| of the conduitl, what I have said applies equally to the branch 52. The machine may be built either as a single unit or double unit.

In addition to providing a machine for the introduction of a dry material into the air stream I also provide means for convertingthe machine into a liquid spray device. For this type of work the machine is used as shown in the drawings, except that the hopper valves 35 remain closed.

A liquid, such as oil or water, is conducted by gravity,vto a pipe 10 interposed in the primary mixing chamber 54, 'I'he liquid is atomized as it is drawn out of the openings 1| in the pipe 10, by the rapidly moving air stream. These liquid particles are carried in suspension in the air stream until exhausted from the ends of the two pipes 5| and.52. The fog or mist emitted travels fromf6 to 8 feet' and settles on the plant or tree being sprayed.

The liquidis supplied by gravity to the pipes 10 from a suitable source (not shown) connected to the pipe 12. A strainer 13 removes foreign matter from the oil before it passes thru pipe 14leading tothe needle control valves 15. The handles 16` enable the operator to control at will the amount of liquid introduced into the air stream.

Due to the turbulence in the secondary mixing chamber 63 I atomized liquid is precipitated onto the Walls of that vchamber and under stream is conductedzalong said'vvalls to the end thereof.

I provide a novel means (see Figs; S'and 9) to'prevent the loss of this liquid and to cause it to be returned into'the air stream. This comprises a catch trough1'l"`mounted on the end of the mixing chamberV 63. A pipe with a horizontal section18and vertical section 19 connects with the bottom of the trough. Openings 80are providedin the vertical section of the pipe on the side opposite the source ofthe air stream. As :the air stream sweeps past these'openings 80 it creates a Vacuum in the pipe 1.9"and any oil in the trough11 is lifted to the openings 80 and atomized'into the air stream.

I obtain a novel result in distributingsthe mist, for by means of apper 82 hinged at 83 to the bracket 84, the latter beingV the chamber Wall at 85,' the mist is alternately deilected upwardly and downwardly. Theair. stream reacts on the hinged flapper 82 to cause it to move up and down as shown in dotted linesv in Fig-9. The extent of this up and down movement can be varied to suit the operator, by inserting links 84' of different lengths. Thelonger the links 84, the less is the disturbance or breakingup'v of the miststream; When theapper 82 'is swinging above the center, that is,` above 83, the air stream emerging of the branch 5| will shoot ferred to but one of the mixing chambers 63, and' I want it understood'that my machine may employ one or more such'V chambers andV that in theI drawings, the-saine reference numeralsv are given have found that about 5% of they the influence of the lairY rigidly attached tov upper half of the air stream to duplicated parts in the two-unit structure i1- lustrated.

Operation as a. dusting machina-A supply of dust, such as sulphur or other insecticide, is placed in the hopper. The motor or other power supply means for the fan is started, the air stream begins to flow through the conduit I6, and the handles il and 48 are moved to open valves 35 to the point where the desired mixture ratio of air and dust is obtained. 'I'he dust in the hopper near the outlet pipe 53 is maintained in a loosened condition by means of the squirrel cage agitator 33. As the air stream advances down the conduit I6, it is divided upon contact with edge 55 of the venturi. Part of the stream passes into the venturi and emerges at 6l! at a considerably increased velocity and pressure, thereby creating a pull to draw down the dust through the hopper outlet 53. The dust and liquid drawn into the primary mixing chamber l is picked up by the air stream and carried through the outlet 56. The balance of the air stream which did not enter the venturi at 55 envelops the exterior of the mixing chamberli'fl and rushes by the outlet 54. The difference in velocity between the air emerging from 64 and that on the outside causes a state of turbulence at this point, which might be termed the second mixing chamber, and results in the thorough distribution of the dust particles throughout the volume of air. Once the operator has secured the desired air-dust ratio, no further manipulation of the valves 35 is necessary, due to the balancing `effect of the air passage 55, which has the eiect of automatically drawing through the hopper outlet 53 a constant quantity of the dust.

The machine can be operated as a double dusting unit as shown, or the operator can use it as a single unit by closing one of the valves 35.

Operation as a liquid spraying machine.-A source of liquid, such as water or oil, depending upon the results desired, is available and ready to flow through the valves 15. The motor or other power supply means for the fan is started, the air stream begins to flow through the conduit I6, and either one or both of the valves 'I5 are opened admitting liquid into pipes l0, from whence the rapidly moving air stream draws the liquid through the openings 'il and atomizes it. By adjusting the valves l5 the operator can obtain the desired air-liquid ratio, As the mixture advances through the chambers 63 a certain percentage of the liquid adheres to the wall and ows into the trough T. The air stream exerts a pull on this liquid due to the holes 8l) in the pipe i9, and a re-entry of this liquid into the air stream is accomplished. As the air stream emerges from the chamber 53 it lifts the flapper 82. The flapper, however, does not assume any one position and hold it, but has been found in practice to vibrate up and down (see Fig. 9).

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim, similarly, that the materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A vapor spraying machine comprising a conduit, a blower connected to one end of said conduit to produce an air stream therein, a primary mixing chamber suspended within said conduit, a Venturi tube mounted in one end of said chamber With its large end spaced away from the wall of said conduit, a perforated pipe extending into said primary mixing chamber, means for conducting liquid to said pipe, a trough attached at the outlet end of said conduit, means for passing any accumulated liquid from said trough back into the air stream issuing from said conduit.

THEODORE L. CAIRNS.

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