US2362351A - Insecticide dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1944. F. H BURMElTER ETAL 2,362,351

INSECTICIDE DISPENSER voriginal Filed J. 3o, 1941 ATTRNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE lNsEcTIcmE DISPENSER Frederick H. Burmeister and Ira F. Flatz, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air-WayElectric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application'January 30, 1941, Serial No.

376,588. Divided and this application September 27, 1943, Serial No. 503,960

11 claims. (ci. Lis-ii'n' This invention relates to vacuum cleaner attachments and in its more specific aspects relates to a means and mechanism for effectively applying a crystalline volatilizable insecticide substance to infected areas, and more particularly to` the destruction of moths in moth infested overstuied furniture, various types of clothing, household goods and furnishings. n

The primary object of the invention is to provide an air operated device that is adapted to pulverize a crystalline insecticide and to dispense the same upon an article to be treated.

More specifically, the invention aims to accomplish both pulverization and delivery without the utilization of mechanical power other than that provided by the moving air stream. Such a device is particularly desirable for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner of a type embodying a multiple stage fan located on the discharge side of the-filter and not adapted to function as a means for pulverizing crystals.

Pulverization of insecticide `crystals in the presence of a moving air stream has been successfully accomplished by passing the crystals through a high speed motor driven fan such as the suction ian of a vacuum cleaner. The impeller blades of such a fan will effectively reduce-the crystals to a powder of varying neness. to utilize an air stream operated fan for pulverizing insecticide crystals, have not met with success. The present invention eliminates the dili-` sorb momentum from theair stream, and thence.`

directing and redirecting them against fa fixed abrading surface or surfaces until they havebeen reduced to a uniform degree of'nneness, and permitting them to escape through a discharge outlet only after such nneness has been acquired.

We find that the most effective method of redirecting the crystals against an abrading surface until they are completely reduced, is to recirculate them in a circuitous path in which they will be returned to the vabrading surface as often as is required for their pulverization. In a preferred form of the invention this path is substantially circular, and the abrading surface is However, attempts located at the peripheryof the path so that centrifugal force may cause the crystals to repeatedly engage the surface after the initial impact.

Other and still further objects of the invention are to increase the efficiency of the insecticide,

to increase the effectiveness 'o f the application i of the insecticide and to simplify the mechanism for applying s'ame to insect infested goods and areas in the home.

Other and still further objects of the invention will occur to those skilled in the arts to whichA this invention pertains as the description proceeds which taken in connection with the accompanying drawing sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention but such preferred embodiment is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention but only as illustrative thereof and any and all modifications, alterations and variations of structure coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which limit and define the instant invention are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational viewof the pre- Y ferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the l line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 -5 of Figure 6, showing how the abrasions are formed;

Figure 6 is an expanded view taken along thel line 6 6 of Figure 3 to show an enlarged detail of the abrading surface; and

Figure '7 is a ,bottom plan view showing the openings in the valve through which material is admitted to the air stream and an opening for the stem I3.

The effective use of any insecticide and parj ticularly that known as paradichlorobenzene requiresthat it be applied uniformly in quickly volatilizable form over an affected area such as to completely blanket the said area with the resultant gas. y The instant invention deals with the subject of effectively applying a crystalline insecticide to an infested area and distributing the material so as to uniformly cover all portions desired to be treated. If ordinary crystals are applied to the infested area the gases volatilized therefrom are not uniformly distributed over the surface and in order to insure the desired distribution of the gas the crystals must be rst pulverized. In view of the fact that the vinsecticide deteriorates rapidly when in powder form it is necessary to merchandise it in crystalline form and to effectively apply the material, it must be in powder form. Hence the necessity of providing a mechanism for' pulverizing the crystals of insecticide so that they will quickly volatllize and permeate the infested material.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a casing or housing l which encloses the essential operating parts. This housing is cylindrical in form although it mayhave any polygonal shape and is provided with a closure member 2, equipped with an outlet or'exhaust tube portion 3. The closure member 2 is removably secured to the cylindrical housing I by means of a bolt 4 extending through the center of the housing I. `A spacer lla surrounding the bolt 4, serves to protect the bolt from corrosion and to prevent undue exing of cover 2. The exhaust tube 3 originates in the cover or closure 2 in an opening 5a (Figure 4l deiined generally by theline 5 in Figure 3, and may extend in any desired direction.

Formed on the housing I is an inlet tube 6 having an inlet mouth 1 and a reduced throat 8 which leads into the housing I. Formed in the upper region of the inlet tube 6 is a hopper 9 which is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded throat of an insecticide container I0. The container I is preferably in the form of a glass jar permitting an inspection of its contents.

From the hopper 9, insecticide crystals may be fed into the inlet tube 6 through an opening or openings I2 normally closed by a valve II mounted on a stem' I3 extending downwardly through the central opening I3' shown in Fig. 7 and through the inlet tube 6. On the lower end of the stem I3 is a finger piece Il which maybe engaged by a thumb or nger of the operator to move the valve upwardly against the resistance of a coil spring I5 encircling the stem i3 between the head I4 andthe inlet tube 6. Such upward movement of the valve uncovers the openings I2 and permits the crystals to pass into the tube 6, where they will be picked up by an air stream passing through the tube 6 and thence injected through the reduced throat 8 into the housing I. The device is intended to utilize the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner to provide the air stream passing through the inlet 6, and to this end the inlet mouth 1 is adapted to be connected through a suitable hose to the exhaust outlet of a vacuum cleaner, particularly of the high suction type in which the suction fan is located on the discharge side of the filter.

From the throat 8 the crystals are delivered tangentially into an annular comminuting chamber I8, the periphery of which is deined partially by the peripheral wall of the housing I and partially by an abrading member I6 lining a portion of said peripheral wall. The inner limit o f the chamber I8 is dened by a wall I1 at least a portion of which is in the form of a screen having a mesh of the proper size to prevent escape ofthe crystals from the chamber I8 until they have been reduced to the desired neness. As disclosed, the wall I1 is formed entirely of wire mesh.

ing surface of lesser area will operate satisfactorily.

The reduced area of the throat 8 provides a Venturi action which increases the velocity of the air stream at the region of injection into the comminuting chamber I8.

Attention is at this point invited to the fact rebound or be carried inwardly by eddies in the air stream. Crystals thus carried inwardly will, however, rebound from the screen Il and return under the action of centrifugal force to again .strike the abrading surface I6 so as to be further reduced. Those crystals that are not completely reduced in one circuit through the chamber It will be reclrculated as many times as may be vnecessary to reduce them to the proper degree of flneness.

-m addition to its circmar motion in the enamber I8, the air will move inwardly through the 4screen I1 to the opening' 5a in the cover and thence to the outlet 3. The fine crystal particles will be carried through the screen Il by the inwardly moving air and will be delivered through the outlet 3 in a stream which may be applied to the surface or area to be treated. The device is held in the operators hand in such a position that the nger piece I4 may be readily engaged by one of the lingers and the outlet 3 directed toward the selected area.

Brey summing up the operation, it is apparent that the objects of the invention are attained by effecting a controlled injection of insecticide crystals into a moving air stream, directing the air stream laden with the crystals, at high velocity, against a fixed abrading surface, constraining the crystal laden air stream to move in a path which returnsthe crystals repeatedly into contactwith the abrading surface until they have been reduced to the desireddegree of neness, permitting spent air currents to leave this path and to carry with them the finer particles while constraining the coarser particles to remain in the path until fully reduced, and directing the discharge air stream, laden with pulverized crystals, to the region to be treated.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be eiected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

This application constitutes a division of our application Serial No. 376,588 entitled Insecticide dispenser.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for comminuting crystalline insecticide, means forming an annular comminuting chamber, said means including a crystal comminuting abrading element forming at least a portion of the peripheral wall of'said chamber and an inner annular wall at least a portion of `communicating inlet arranged for the injection of. a crystal laden air stream tangentially into said chamber, andan crystal comminuting abrasive inner surface and an inner annular wall at least a portion of which comprises ascreen for permitting the discharge of comminuted crystals and preventing the discharge of oversize crystals from said chamber, an inlet arranged for the injection of a crystal laden air stream tangentially into said chamber, and a discharge nozzle communicating with the space within said annular wall and'l adapted to receive the comminuted crystal laden'V air stream discharged through said screen and to direct the same in the form of a spray, onto an article to be treated, said abrasive surface commencing at a point where the incoming crystal laden air stream will directly impinge thereon and extending, in the direction of movement of said air stream, around the periphery of said chamber, to a point adjacent the inlet.

3. A spraying device for crystalline insecticide comprising a tube having means to which an insecticide container may be attached, a valve in said means to permit passage of crystals from the containerk to the tube, a substantially circular housing attached to said tube, said housing including a peripheral Wall having an inlet opening with which said tube communicates and having a crystal comminutive abrasive inner surface of less than 360 circumferential extent, said housing further including a pair of side walls, one

of which is detachable, a substantially cylindrical t screenconfined between said side walls and de-v ning, together with said peripheral and side walls, an annular chamber into which said tube is arranged to direct a crystal laden air stream, an outlet nozzle attached to one of said side walls and communicating with the space defined within said screen, an a tie rod extending through said space and connecting said side walls in assembled relation, said inlet tube, abrading surface and screen being so related to each other that the stream of air owing through said nozzle will direct the crystals carried thereby-in a straight line below a portion of the screen element into direct contact with said abrading surface at an acute angle thereto and will thereafter circulate said crystals through said annular chamber around said screen, producing a. turbulent action resulting in repeated engagement of the crystals with the abrading surface until completely comminuted and permitting separation of the ne particles from the coarser crystals and passage of said ne particles inwardly through said screen and into said nozzle. 4. A comminuting device as dened in claim 1, including operator controlled means for intermittently depositing small amounts of crystals into the air stream passing through said inlet.

5. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, means defining an annular abrading chamber, said means including an annular screen defining the inner wall of said cham-v ber, means for ldirecting a crystal laden air stream tangentially into said chamber, and `an outlet with the space within said screen,

Acylindrical peripheral wall, a cylindrical screen the arrangement being such as to constrainlisaid air stream to move in a generally circularv path through said chamber with the spent air currents passing inwardly through said screen to said outlet and carrying pulverized crystals therewith,v

and to cause said'crystals to rebound back and 'forth between said peripheral wall and said screen, whereby to pulverize the crystals.

6. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, a housing having a substantially in said housing, spaced inwardly from said peripheral wall to dene therewith an annular abrading chamber, means for directing a crystal laden air stream tangentially into said chamber, and an outlet communicating with the space within said screen, the arrangement being such as to constrain said airstream to move in a generally circular path through` said chamber with the spent air currents passing inwardly through said screen to said outlet and carrying pulverized crystals therewith, and to cause said crystals to rebound back 'and forth between said peripheral wall and said screen, whereby to pulverize the crystals.

7. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, a housingincluding an annular peripheral wall and a side wall, a separate side wall having a circular periphery tted to said peripheral wall for rotatable adjustment relative thereto, an annular member within said housing spaced inwardly from said peripheral wall to deiine an annular crystal abrading chamber, said ying through a sc annular member having screening apertures, an inlet formed on said peripheral wall, `arranged to direct a crystal laden air stream into said chamber, an outlet formed on said separate side wall, communicating with the space within said annular member and adapted to receive the spent air currents, laden with pulverized crystal particles, passing inwardly through said screening apertures, and a tie rod joining said side walls, said rod being adapted to permit the rotatable adjustment of said separate wall and outlet relative to said peripheral wall, and to be tightened to x the position of adjustment thereof.

8. In adevice for pulverizing and dispensing insecticide crystals, a housing including an annular peripheral wall and a pair of side walls, one of which is separate and detachably secured to said peripheral wall, said side walls having interiorly extending annular collars, an annular member confined between said side walls, the ends of lsaid annular member being received and supported in said collars, an inlet formed on said joining said side walls and maintaining the parts in assembled relation.

9. The process for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals comprising housing said crystals said crystals to move from a housed condition, changing the path of such movement, moving the crystals through a striking zone while simultaneously and repeatedly deflecting crystals todiferent paths of movement, movreening zone such crystals as have beenfcompletely moved vout of the striking zone, repeatedly recirculating such crystals as have not been screened to move in predetermined a conduit and means for comminuting insecticide in communication with the conduit, said means having an abrasive surface and a screening surface, substantial portions of both surfaces facing each other and in spaced relation, whereby insecticide passing from the container and conduit to said means may initially contact either the screen surface or the abrasive surface, and means in 'communication with the rst said means for allowing insecticide laden air to be removed from the first said means, whereby at least one plane intersecting the abrasive and screening surfaces vwill include the axis of the conduit.`

11. An insecticide spraying device comprising a conduit and means for comminutinginsecticide crystals in communication with the conduit, said means having an abrasive wall, an inner wall spaced from the abrasive wall and having a screening portion opposite the abrasive wall, said screening portion and abrasive wall having the eiect of causing crystals to move in a substantially closed' circuit, whereby insecticide crystals contact either the screening portion or the.' abrasive wall, and means in communication with said rst means for allowingy insecticide laden air to be removed from the iirst .said means, whereby at least one plane intersecting the abrasive wall and the inner wall will include the axis of the conduit.'

FREDERICK' H. BURMEISTER. IRA F. FLATZ.

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