US2577828A - Sprayer head control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

w. w. TRANTER 2,577,828

SPRAYER HEAD CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Bed. 11, 1951 Filed Dec. 2, 1947 IN VEN TOR. Wa monk Harder Dec. 11, 1951 w. w. TRANTER 2,577,828

,SPRAYER HEAD CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. l'faisonwifi'anier' Dec. 11, 1951 w. w. TRANTER SPRAYER HEAD CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1947 INVENTOR. Maison Wfianier AHormfg Patented Dec. 11, 1951 SPRAYER HEAD "CONTROL MECHANISM Watson'W; 'Iranter, York, Pa., assignorto A. B. Farquhar Company, York, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 2, 1947, Serial No. 789,186

This invention relates to sprayer head control mechanisms and particularly to those sprayer head controls which move the sprayer heads'i'na plurality of planes.

In using sprayers, in orchards particularly, it is necessary to meet many conditions if the spray from sprayer headis to reach all parts of the trees to be treated. Some of these conditions are the height of the trees, their girth, their density and in addition, the direction and velocity of the wind at the particular time of use.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved sprayer head movementcontrolling mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism having means for causing movement about both substantially horizontal andsubstantially vertical axes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved sprayer head movementcontrolling mechanism wherein'there is provided means for moving the sprayer head about a sub.- stantially horizontal axis while vanother means may be simultaneously moving the sprayer head about a substantially vertical axis. Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of .an improved sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism wherein the sprayer head supporting means is pivotally 3 Claims. (Cl. 29972:)

mounted on a'substantially vertical pivot with power transmitting means movable substantially at the axis of the pivot to transmit power to the sprayer headto move it about a substantially horizontal axis. v

Another and still further objectof the invention is the provision of. an improved sprayer, head movement-controlling mechanism wherein adjustments of the controlling mechanism are providedto control thecharacteristics of. the sprayer head movement including the vertical angle of movement, the. highest andlowest positions in the limits of. movement, the acceleration. and speeds of movement at various points'in travel and the time of substantial stopatthe limits of movement for any given speed of the. drivingelement;

Other and further objects will beapparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification. Fig. .1 I is a diagrammatic lay-out showing power connections for theinventiom Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectiomon theline2.- -2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3.is a crossesection on-theline 3-3 oi Fig. 3:. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side'view of the invention with the sprayer head pointing to the rear.

Fig. 6 'is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the sprayer h'ead' pointing towardthe left. 7

Fig. 7 is an enlar'gedpartially sectional view of the operating parts of'the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 sprayer head pointing upwardly.

Fig. 9 is a'detail view showing a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 7' from the opposite side.

"Fig. 10=is a detail view partly in section on the line I0l 0 of Fig. 7 but with a modified construction of the link'18.

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the specification and drawing.

The numeral 20 designates the main frame of the sprayer which is supported by the wheels 2|. The forward end-of the frame is provided with a hitch 22 with whichit is connected to the tractor T. Mounted on the frame 20 is a tank 23 for carrying the supply liquid for the-spray.

At the forward" end of the main frame 20 is an interna1 combustion engine 24, which has a drive gear connection 25, 25a to a pump 26'. The pump 26 has a suction pipe 26a through which the liquid is drawn from-the tank 23. Delivery of the liquid under pressure from the pump 26 is through a pipe-26bwhich passes through the tank 23 without communication therewith. At the place where the. deliverypipe 26b emerges through the rear wall of the tank 23, it connects to a downwardly extend'ingpipe 260. .This pipe 26c terminates in the outlet 23a to the flexible tubes 15d to belater d scribed.

A counter shaft 25b which drives the pump 26 extends through the housing of the pump 26. and is connected to. an agitator drive 21. This agitator drive 21 rotates the agitator shaft 28, having agitator blades 28a all in a well-known manner.

Attached to the rearofthe main frame ZB-is an auxiliary. .irame 29v which. has a pair of brackets 29 11;, .each-connectedat itsouter end-to the frame 29.-and atits-forward; end to-the main frame 20.

The rearend-oi;theagitator shaft 28 isprovided with a double universal connection 29:1: which is connected-to ashorteshaft 30 onwhich is mounted av V-pulley 3i. This V-pulley- 31- is connected to a V--pulley 3:2 by a V-belt 33. Swingingly and t with the pivotallymountedin aposition to contact the-V belt'33-is 'an'idler pulley, which acts to tighten or loosen the'v -belt 33- on the pulleys-sl and;'32. Thev pulley 32- is mounted on a shaft 3.5:which has at: its other endthe gearzt'l. Thisgear 3'! drives a pivotally mounted idler gear 58,, which in turn 3 drives the gear 39 which rotates on and with the shaft 40. The shaft 40 also carries a crank arm 4| which drives the oscillating mechanism for the sprayer head, to be described.

Connected to the crank pin 4|a is the lower 5 end of the connecting rod 42, the upper end of which is connected by a wrist pin 43a to a substantially vertically movably crosshead 43. Since rotation of the sprayer head to be described,

about a vertical axis, is necessary, the crosshead Mounted on the top of the rear platform 29 is the housing 44 which is provided at its upper end with a centrally located downwardly extending cylindrical member 44a. Seated in the inner cylindrical surface of the member 4411, is the hollow shaft or quill 45. Integral or rigid with the hol- 'low shaft is a flange member 45d which is secured by bolts 46 to the housing 44, which also hold the retainer guides 41 in place. The purpose of the retainer guides 41 will later appear. Seated in the upper and lower ends respectively of the Q hollow shaft 45, are the bearing bushings 48 and 49. These bushings or bearings 48 and 49 are put in place with a press fit against shoulders 48a and 49a to hold them in their proper places as the crosshead 43 moves up and down therewithin.

The direct supporting means for the sprayer head rotate about the hollow shaft or quill 45. A rotating cylindrical member 50 is provided with a rigid flange 50a which extends under and is free to rotate relative to the retainers 41 already described. A flanged bushing 50b is pressed into the lower end of the cylindrical member 50 against the shoulder 50d and forms a thrust bearing pivot for the support of the sprayer head as a whole as will be later made clear. An upper bushing 500 is pressed into the upper end of the cylindrical member 50 against the shoulder We, and provides for the support of the upper end of the cylindrical member 50 and the sprayer head carried thereby.

4 tion between the pipe sections 26b and 26c and thus control the liquid delivery to the sprayer head to be described. It is to be understood that when the valve 26d is closed, a suitable by-pass from the pump 26 back to the tank 23 is provided.

Since this by-pass valve is not a part of this invention per se, it has not been illustrated nor will it be further described.

Adjacent the directional wheel 51 is a handle 58 on the end of a rearwardly extending rod 59,

a which connects to one arm of a bell crank lever 50 at its rear end. The other arm of the bell crank lever 60 is connected to a vertically extending rod 6|, which at its lower end is connected to an arm of the bell crank lever 62. The other arm of the bell crank lever 62 is connected to a vertical rod '53, which extends through an opening 29b in the platform 29 and is connected to another bell crank 64 which is pivotally supported at 64a below the platform 29. This bell crank 54 carries on one of its arms the idler pulley 34 already described. It will thus be seen that when the operative at the front of the sprayer machine pushes or pulls on the handle 58, the idler pulley 34 will be forced into or out of engagement with the belt 33, which will act as a clutch means to transmit power from the V-pulley 3| to the V- pulley 32 to drive the crank member 4| and to thereby drive the connecting rod 42 and the cross 6 head 43 to drive the vertically oscillating means to control the movement of the sprayer head as will be presently described.

As already stated, the connecting rod 42 drives the cross head 43 and reciprocates the same in a substantially vertical line. At points substantially midway of the ends of the respective arms 5| 'and mounted on the web 5|a are bearings III, in which is journaled a shaft 1|. Secured to this shaft H and rotating therewith, are a pair of substantially triangularly shaped lever plates 12 which are connected by a web 12b. The web 12b is provided with an adjusting slot 12c to be later described. Mounted on the top of the cross-head 43 and swivelled on a substantially vertical axis is the swivel block 13. This swivel block 13, and

- Secured to the cylindrical member 50, are fork tr a u a p a s 1| a piv ta ly connected y a members 5|, havin a connecting web 5| 4:, and which carry the trunnions of the sprayer head to be described. Secured to the fork members 5| is a grooved pulley 52, the plane of which is normal to t e axis of rotation of the cylindrical member 50. A cord or wire 53 is seated in the groove of the pulley 52 and its extensions crossed forward thereof to give greater contact with the groove. The ends of the cord or wire 53 pass through lower pulleys 54 and then extend upwardly to the upper edge of the tank member 23, where they pass over the pulleys 55.

From the pulleys 55 the cables 53 extend forwardly to a pulley 5'5, see Fig. 4, which is mounted rigidly on a vertical shaft which also, rigidly carabout a vertical axis to throw the spray in the desired direction.

Where the delivery pipe 26b connects to the downwardly extend ng pipe 260 is a'valve 25d which has an arm 25a to open and close connection between the pipes 25b and 260. Connected to the outer end of the arm 26a is a rod 26! which extends forwardly to a position adjacent to that occupied by the operative and terminates in a handle 26:7. By pushing or pulling on the handle ately placed' in the members 12, the lower and upper angular limits of travel, the acceleration and speed of angular movement and the length of the substantial pause at the ends of the movements may be changed.

The upper ends of the anns 5| are provided with openings 5|b in which are journalled the supporting pivots 15a of the sprayer head shell 15.

The sprayer head shell 15 provides the means for forming a guided path for the air as it picks up the spray from the spray nozzles now to be described. In the form of sprayer head illustrated, the sprayer head shell 15 is of a substantially rectangular shape. Extending from end to end are three supply pipes 15b, which are connected together by a pipe 150 which in turn is connected to the flexible supply hoses 15d. These flexible supply hoses 15d are connected to the connection 230 already described. The

.spray solution under pressure from the pump 23 25g, the operative may open or close the connec- 76 1 111795 the liq in h p p 75b and Out through the nozzles lawhere-the liquid forms. a

spray and gathers the air within the frame or shell ldiordelivery tothe plants or trees to. be

treated? As. the details of construction -oftzthe nozzle are nota partoi :theinstant invention" per se, the construction of-"the nozzle will'znotibe further described.

As already stated, the triangular members 72 are provided with a rigid reinforcing web 121), which connects their tops together. Extending across the tops of the triangular members 12, is an adjustable member H which has flange portions 'Il'a slidable along theouter surfaces of the triangular members I! when adjustment takes place. A bolt Ha: passes through theadjustable member 'H' and slides in the slot 120 ofthe web member 12b during adjustment. A block Hy straddles the slotl2c and is held: in place by the head of' the clamping Jbolt 1:73;. A reinforcing flange .711). extends across'thetoplof theadjustable member [1. At thesides of the member T5 are ivots Tic to which are pivotally connected thelinksrlB. The opposite ends of the links. it

are pivoted atlfia to the shell 15. It will thus'be clear that the swinging movement ofzthe triangular plates 52 will cause the pushing and pulling of the links 78 on the shell 15, causing the latter to oscillate about the pivots 15a as a center and the sprayer head will move to a high angle and then reverse its position until it is at a lower angle.

The operation as a whole will now be described.

With the sprayer trailer connected to a truck or tractor T, the motor 24 is started and the clutch (not shown), to the pump 26 is thrown in and power is supplied to the pump 26 by the pump drive gearing 25, 25a. The shaft 25?) rotates to furnish power for the moving parts of the pump 26. The pump 2!; draws the liquid through the pipe 26a and discharges it under high pressure through the pipe 26b, the valve 280?, the pipe 250, the connection 23a to the flexible tubing 15d and thence by the pipes 150 and 15b to the nozzles 16 Where the liquid is delivered to the atmosphere.

The agitator shaft 28 drives the double universal joint 29x, which in turn drives the shaft 3! the pulleys 3| and 32, the shaft 35, the gears 31, 38 and 39 and the shaft 40. The shaft 40 turns the crank 41 which through its crank pin Ma and the connecting rod 42, causes the up and down reciprocating motion to the cross-head 43. The swivel block is at the top of the cross-head 43 moves up and down with the cross-head and moves the links M. links M are connected to the triangular plates 12 by the pins 14a. and since these plates 12 are connected to the links 18, it follows that the latter through their connections to the shell 15 and 18a, will operate to cause the oscillations of the shell 35 and the whole spray head about the supporting pivots 15a which are located in the openings 51a of the spray head supporting arms 5|. With the power parts in continuous operation as just described, the circular movement of the crank 4| will cause the oscillatory swinging of the spray head in an up and down movement in a vertical plane. It will be clear that with the adjustment made possible by the insertion of the pin Ma in the desired hole 13a, and the adjustment of the member 1! along the members 12, the members [2 and their web 72b become what amounts to a bell crank member having arms of adjustable length and with the arms at adjustable angles with relation to each other. It is Since the upper ends of the this; construction. which makes possible avariation inithe whole angle of travel, the angular relation of the axis of thesprayer head atrlow and high positions,;the.speed and .acceleratiorrat difierentpoints .in'the movement and the length of the substantial? stop at the highest. and lowest points: in the movement. As:;the pressure within the nozzles; 16 forces. the liquid therefrom, the 'air'within the 'shell- [5. is forced outwardly in a manner which produces aresult similar toy that of a Venturi tube, a great volume of the air beingmoved at a great speed. action causes the spray to bade:- livered at greatxdistances from the sprayhead. While this delivery of spray -iiss-taking place, itis found to be advantageous for the operator to: be able to turnv the spray head ab'outwits yer-'- tical axis. To do this it is only necessary for the operativeto turn the'direction wheel filin the directionhe wishes thesprayerhead to turn; This action turnsi'the pulley 56. The pulley 58 ishconnected to the" cable 53, which passes over the pulleys 5'4, 55 and then: around-"the pulley 52. :Since the pulley 52 is rigid with the supporting arms 51 which carry the sprayer head, it follows that the pivoting of the sprayer head is always under direct control of the operative at the directional wheel 51.

With the adjustment of the member 11 along the members 12 and the pin 14a in the proper opening 13a, the tractor or truck draws the sprayer along, for example, through an orchard.

By turning the sprayer head as large trees are passed, the sides of the trees may be reached by the spray from the sprayer head in a most eflicient manner.

At the start or finish of an operation, the oscillation of the sprayer head may be started or stopped by the movement of the handle 58 located within reach of the operative. The pressure from the pump 26 may be out oif by operating the valve 26d by the rod 261 and its handle 26g,

A further adjustment may be made by substituting for the links 18, the adjustable links I18 as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this construction, a ball and socket adjustable connection is made. The link H8 screws into a cylindrical shell I'IBa which has a block I181) against the shoulder I180. A cotter held block l18d is screwed in the open end of the shell llfia. The ball 11d enters the side of the shell I'I8a through a suitable opening. A look nut IlBe holds the rod or link I18 in adjusted position.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merely illustive and that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed. Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism comprising a support, a hollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, a sprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting the sprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a lever means fulcrumed on the arm support, means connecting one end of the reciprocating member with the lever at a place spaced from its fulcrum, means on the lever for connection to the sprayer head and spaced from the connection, to the reciprocating member, and power means for reciprocating the reciprocating member.

- 2. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism Comprising a support, a hollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, a sprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting the sprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a lever means fulcrumed on the arm support, height varying and angle varying means for adiustably connecting the upper end of the reciprocating member with the lever at any one oi. a plurality of spaced positions, means on the lever for connecting the sprayer head and spaced from the connection to the reciprocating member, and power means for reciprocating the reciprocating member. e

3. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism comprising a support, a hollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, a sprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting the sprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a lever means fulcrumed on the arm support, means connecting one end of the reciprocating member with the lever at a place spaced from its fulcrum, means on the lever for connection to the sprayer head and spaced from the connection to the reciprocating member, and power means for reciprocating the reciprocating member, a pivot at the end of the reciprocating member connecting means and openings at various out-oi-line positions to selectively receive the pivot for changing the relative distances of the lever connecting means from the lever fulcrum and the angle thereabout.

WATSON W TRANTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 47,219 Phillips Apr. 11, 1865 56,304 Whiteley, Jr July 10, 1866 525,262 Dougherty et al. Aug. 28, 1894 539,862 Faure et al May 28, 1895 1,688,614 Cottingham Oct. 23 1928 2,237,687 Parsons et a1 Apr. 8, 1941 2,363,776 Dale Nov. 28, 1944 2,365,755 Grifflth Dec. 26, 1944

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