US2409987A - Microspray device - Google Patents

Description

H. 0. SCHROEDER ETAL MICRDSPRAY DEVICE Filed July 12; 1944 ///A//// /r///////v///// II ////I//////////////////////// -Oct. 22, 1946.

A LW-.L|NDQU.IST H.O.SCHROEDER i er-eased bet. 22, 1946 t 2,409,937 -MICRQSPRAY DEVICE J l ierma'n 0.. sfbhroeder and hrthur Wdljlindquist, J Orlando, Fla., assignor's. .to v United States of 1 "America, as represented by'Claude RJW icki LrdQ,

Secretary of Agriculture, and-hissuccessors in Application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,619

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended byv the act of April 30,

1928, and the invention herein described, if pate ented, may be manufactured and used by Or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to the dispersal of liquids into the air and may be used for the purpose of producing either wet sprays, colloidal suspension or aerosols, or semi-colloidal suspensions.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a device which can be carried about on the person and transported with a minimum of shipping space and weight for use by troops who must be provided with insecticidal means in various parts of the world in the present global war.

At the present time the shipment of supplies to troops in many parts of the world can only be accomplished by air transportation and the factors of space and weight are very critical in determining whether it is feasible to ship certain items. If the space and weight of the item are too large, it becomes too difficult and impracticable to deliver sufficient quantities by air transportation. Furthermore, the soldier who must carry the item into battle areas must not be overburdened with it. To this end the present invention comprises a device which is so simple and compact that it occupies a minimum of space, not much larger than an ordinary fountain pen and, as a matter of fact, can be secured in the pockets of wearing apparel like a fountain pen.

In the accompanying drawing there is illustrated an embodiment of this invention in which:

Figure l is a full size three dimensional view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower end of the barrel.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, the embodiment illustrated comprises a cylindrical barrel H for holding a liquid l2 to be dispersed. Although the device is particularly adapted for insecticide dispersal, it is obvious that other materials may also be dispersed with it, such as perfumes, plant growth substances, deodorants, and so forth.

One end of the barrel I I is provided with a filling cap l3 and the other end with a valve l4, which is connected to a dip tube l5 inside. A delivery tube I6 extends from the valve to the exterior of the barrel, where it terminates as a capillary tube ll, the size depending upon the type of dispersion desired. The smaller the diameter of the capillary tube H, the smaller will be the particles dispersed. A capillary tube having a size of about 0.01 of an inch in diameter will result in the production of a very finely divided spray of the order of aerosols. An air tube 18 extends from a point just below the end of the capillary tube ll throughv the interior of the barrel H and out through the bottom of the barrel.

The exterior lateral surface of the barrel is smooth and a cylindrical shell 20 is slidably carried on it a few inches below the top. The bottom of the shell 20 is closed and a washer 2| of leather or other suitable material is disposed on the bottom of the barrel to provide an air valve between the shell and the barrel on the principle of an ordinary air pump. The air tube [8 extends through the washer 2| as shown. In operation, the shell 20 is reciprocated on the barrel forcing a stream of air through the tube l8. The shell is made to fit on the barrel body somewhat loosely I in order for the pump to breathe air between them. The leather valve is held in position by the filling cap l3 as shown.

The shell 20 is held on the barrel by means of a longitudinal groove 22 on the surface of the barrel engaging a small projection 23 secured to a spring clip 21 on the outside of the shell 20, said projection operating through an aperture 26 in the shell. The groove 22 extends from a point just above the bottom of the barrel H to a point at the uppermost position of the projection 23. The uppermost position of the shell 20 is determined by a flange 24 around the body of the barrel which acts as an abutment.

In order to remove the shell from the barrel for the purpose of refilling the barrel or for any other-purpose, the projection 23 can be moved outward and retracted from the groove 22 against the spring action of the clip 21. A small knob 28, or other suitable means, is secured to the clip 2'! for the purpose of facilitating this retraction. When the projection 23 is retracted in this way, the shell may be easily removed from and replaced on the barrel. On the other hand, when the projection is in normal position, the shell cannot be removed from the barrel.

A small indentation 29 on one side of the groove 22, about the size of the projection 23, may be provided to engage the projection when the device is not in use and thereby prevent the shell 20 from sliding down.

A pocket clip 30 may be attached to the shell 20, as shown in the drawing.

To operate the device, the valve l4 isopened and the shell 20 reciprocated on the barrel causing an'intermittent stream of air to pass through the tube [8 and across the end of the capillary tube I1, thereby drawing liquid from the barrel and breaking it into finely divided particles, the; dimensions of which, as previously mentioned, l

o terior end and the inside of the container.

depending on the diameter of the :capillary tube. Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical container, said container having an aperture at one end for introducing a liquid therein to be dispersed, anair pumpvalve about said aperture, a cap for closing saida'perture and holding said valve in position, a shell reciprocally mounted on said container over said valve to pump air, an air conduit having one end in said shell and the other end on' the exterior of the container, and tubular means between said ex- HERMAN O. SCHROEDER. ARTHUR W. LINDQUIST,

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