US3092328A

US3092328A - Spraying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3092328A
Application number: US206134A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ned T Patterson; Gerald C Francis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-06-25
Filing date: 1962-06-25
Publication date: 1963-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-04

Description

J1me 1963 N. T. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,

SPRAYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 TACK WELD D L E w K M T INVENTORS N60 7." Paffer'son Gerald C. Franc/5 June 4, 1963 N. "r. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,323

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g H i 3 I 2 i 7 74 75 H /2 a4 {i 6 v4 v(73h) 78 /5/ )2 I2 /6;Y2 72 I: 7060 28 5 J" I 5 II l I 9? 94 2 i! 92 94 I I; I I I El I;

I I IL- all 1} 60 if U 6 36 BY PAss RETURN? SUfiTlON Z 5 113.5.

RE$ERVOR HYoRAuuC PUMP PRESSURE PRESSURE [REGULATOR 4Z H 44 "on: -OFF VALVE 34 5PRAY BAR al 32 Eli 12/3? gr; 2

INVENTORS Ned T. Paffenson June 4, 1963 N. T. PATTERSON ETAL 3,092,328

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS N150 T PATTERJO/Y BY GERALD C Fen/v0.5

AT ORNEY-5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SPRAYING APPARATUS N. T. PATTERSON ETAL June 4, 1963 Filed June 25, 1962 IE. 1 B! PASS RETURN lid INVENTORS N50 T PA TTER$0N y GERA 1.0 C. FRA N675 A 7770 I? N E Y5 Sucncm LESERVUIR United States Patent Ofice Patented June 4, 1963 3,092,328 SPRAYING APPARATUS The present application is a continuation in part of our now abandoned application Serial No. 28,690, filed May 12, 1960.

This invention relates to spraying apparatus and more particularly to spraying apparatus adapted for the ap plication of fluid material to large areas such as floors, walks, highways, airport runways and fields both cultit vated and uncultivated.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved spraying apparatus of the above mentioned type.

Another object is to provide a spraying apparatus adapted to apply a fiiud material to areas of various widths.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus capable of applying a fluid material to one area so that the boundaries of the area are always sharp and well defined.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood upon reading the following description and drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the right side of a spraying apparatus embodying the present invention, adjusted portions of certain parts being illustrated by dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the present spraying apparatus with certain par-ts broken away.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a portion of the spraying apparatus and a hydraulic system for supplying the apparatus with the fluid material to be sprayed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational front view of the structure shown in FIG. 7, and indicating selective adjusted positions.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a portion of the spraying apparatus and hydraulic system for the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view enlarged for purposes of clarity and illustrating a preferred means of carrying the masks, and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view enlarged for purposes of clarity and illustrating a preferred means for attaching the spray apparatus to a tractor or other vehicle.

The spraying apparatus of the present invention is here shown and described as embodied in devices for spraying stripes of paint or the like on a highway, walk, airport runway or the like. However, it should be understood that the present invention may be readily adapted for use in other types of spraying apparatus, such as that used to apply weed killer to areas, and that the present embodiments are intended to be exemplary only.

The apparatus 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is adapted for attachment by means of bolts 12 to a carrier, tractor, or the like (not shown) for conveyance in the direction of the arrow A near the surface to be sprayed. The bolts 12 are fixed in an upright position to a frame 14 by nuts 15 positioned above and below said frame, which frame is fabricated by welding three

transverse pipes

16, 18 and 20 inward in spaced parallel relation to a pair of shorter, longitudinally extending

parallel pipes

22 and 24.

The bolts 12 extend downwardly from the frame 14 and their lower ends are fastened to

collars

26, 26 that surround and are tightly clamped to a transversely extending spray pipe or header 28. A plurality of depending spray nozzles 30 are connected to the header 28 in evenly spaced relation and valves 32 are placed in the header 28 between adjacent nozzles 30 to provide means for varying the width of the area to be sprayed.

The header 28 is provided with a supply line 34 through which it is adapted to be supplied with paint or the like from a hydraulic system 36 (HG. 5 The system 36 comprises a fluid reservoir 37 arranged to supply paint or the like to a pump 38 driven by any convenient means (not shown), after passing through a filter 40. The discharge side of the pump 38 connects with a pressure regulator 42 from which paint at the desired pressure is supplied to the line 34 through a shut-off valve 44. The regulator 42 is provided with the usual by-pass valve 46 adapted to return paint to the reservoir 37 via a return line 47 when the pressure in the discharge line 48 exceeds that desired.

in order to make the boundaries of the stripes to be painted sharp and definite, masks 6t and 62 (FIGS. 1 through 4) are mounted parallel to each other on the frame 14 at the opposite sides thereof. The masks 6t), 62 are relatively long and narrow, each having a ground engaging surface 54 (FIGS. 2 and 3) terminating in an upwardly curved cam surface 66 at their forward end.

Each of the masks 6t 62 is supported on the transverse frame pipe 18 by means of identical hangers as (HG. 1), each having a transversely extending cylindrical collar 70 at the forward and upper end. The collar 70 is adapted to fit on the pipe 18 for sliding move- LIIlCIli. longitudinally thereof and has a set screw 72 whereby said hanger 68 may be fixed on said pipe 18 in any desired position along said pipe as indicated by the dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 4. Extending rearwardly and downwardly from the collar 76 are two parallel closely spaced inverted J-

shaped plates

74 and 76. Said plates have a square shaped spacer 78 (FIG. 3) spot welded between them to strengthen said hanger as and help maintain said plates parallel for the reception between them of the respective masks 6t} and 62. A vertical slot 88 is formed in each mask slightly to the rear of its center, said slot being adapted to receive a bolt or pin 32 that is then received by aligned

holes

84 and 86 in the

plates

74 and 76. Thus the hangers 68 support the masks 69 and 62, respectively, for free up and down and tilting movement within the limits allowed by the slot St) formed in each mask.

As will be apparent from the above description and FIG. 4, the

masks

60 and 62 are thus arranged substantially parallel to each other and identical means 88 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided at the fore and aft of each said mask to assure this parallelism and prevent side to side Wobbling of the masks 6i) and 62 as they are pushed forwardly over the ground during operation. Each said means 88 (FIG. 2) comprises a bifurcated pin 99 constructed to straddle the upper portion of said masks and having a cylindrical head 92 adapted to fit on the respective pipes 16 and 20' for sliding movement longitudinally thereof. A set screw 94 is provided on each head 92 whereby the pin may be fixed on said pipes 10 and 20 in any desired position therealong. In this manner, when the hangers 68 and 69 are adjusted laterally of the frame 14 to vary the distance between the

boundary forming masks

60 and 62, the pins 88 may also be adjusted to assure that the masks are kept parallel.

In order that the masks 61 and 62 may always be urged downwardly in contact with the ground during operation, eventhough it may be slightly uneven identical means 96 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided in association with the wobble control means 88 for that purpose. Each said means 96 comprises a pair of centrally apertured

plates

98 and 100 adapted to fit loosely around the pin 91 and a spring 1112 for disposition around said pin and between said plates. The upper plates 98 bear against the pin head 92 while the lower plates 10% are fixed to the upper edge of the

respective masks

60 and 62 at the fore or aft, as the case may be, in such arrangement that said masks may during operation ride up and down on the pin 82 guided by said bifurcated pins 90 and be resiliently urged into contact with the ground by the spring 1112.

In operation, the sprayer 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) is attached to a carrier, tractor or the like (not shown) for transportation over the area to be Sprayed in the direction of the arrow A with the

masks

60 and 62 in contact with the surface to be sprayed. Prior to commencing spraying, the masks 6i) and 62 are adjusted laterally on the frame 14 so that they define the width of the area or stripe to be painted. Such adjustment can be accomplished by loosening the

set screws

72 and 94, sliding the

collars

70 and 92 on their respective supporting pipes until said masks are in the desired position and then tightening said set screws. Exemplary adjusted positions of said masks are shown in dashed lines at 60' and 60" in FIGS. 1 and 4 where they are arranged to define the boundaries of a narrower area than would be the case With said masks arranged as shown in full lines.

Also prior to commencement of the painting operation, the valves 32 are positioned either on or off, de-

pending upon the desired width of the area to be sprayed.

If a wide area is to be painted, all of the valves are placed in open position and the

masks

60 and 62 are positioned 'near the positions shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Whereas, if narrower areas or stripes are to be painted, the masks are placed close to each other and the outer or inner pair of valves 32 is closed to adjust the width of the area to be sprayed. Naturally, the area painted will be wider where just the outer pair of valves 32 is closed than when the inner pair of said valves is closed. It will be apparent that to achieve the desired well defined latteral boundaries for the area being sprayed, the

masks

60 and 62 must always be arranged outboard of the outermost nozzle 30 being supplied with paint.

Immediately prior to beginning the painting operation, the reservoir 37 (FIG. is filled with paint and the pump 38 placed in operation, whereupon paint under pressure is supplied'via the line 48 to the pressure regulator 42 and thence to the shut off valve 44 which should be placed in closed position until the operator is ready to begin painting. The bypass valve 46 will relieve the pressure in the discharge line 48 when it becomes excessive by opening and returning paint to the reservoir 37 via the line 47.

After. the above mentioned steps have been taken, the

. painting operation can begin and with the sprayer being moved forwardly in the direction of the arrow A over the area to be sprayed, the shut-off valve 44 is opened and painting is begun. The nozzles 30 will then distribute an'even coating of paint to the area between the masks and as the sprayer moves forward, a uniform stripe will be painted on the surface sprayed.

During the operation, the

masks

60 and 62 being spring urged downwardly, will at all times bear against the surface being sprayed and will prevent the sprayed paint from contacting any areas outboard from said masks, and will sharply form the lateral boundaries of the area or stripe being painted. As the sprayer 10 moves forwardly,

the cam surfaces 66, 66 of said masks will cause the masks to smoothly adjust up or down to irregularities in the surface being painted. Such adjustment is permitted by the vertical slot and each

mask

60 and 62 and the length of the slot in the bifurcated pins in FIG. 2. Said pins 91) also prevent said masks from wobbling from side to side, thereby maintaining them parallel at all times and assuring a sharp, straight lateral edge on the painted area.

When it is desired to interrupt the spraying operation so as to paint a dashed stripe, it is merely necessary to temporarily close the valve 44 while continuing the forward movement of the sprayer and then toopen said valve again after said sprayer has progressed sufficiently to leave an unpainted area. To shut down operation of the sprayer completely, it is only necessary to close the valve 44 and then stop the pump 38.

FIGS. 6-12 illustrate another preferred spray apparatus .114? of the present invention as comprising a channel member 111 adapted to be secured to the underside of a tractor 112 or other vehicle by any means such as bolts 113 as illustrated in FIG. 12. A pair of transversely spaced perforations 114 (FIG. 8) are provided at' points spaced from the ends of the channel member 111. Similarly spaced perforations 115 are provided in the channel member 111 at a predetermined point spaced from and intermediate the pairs of perforations 114. Intermediate the perforations 114 a pair of longitudinally spaced threaded openings .117 are provided. The openings 117 each carry a threaded rod 118 which in turn carry a header channel member 1 19. The headerchan: nel member 119may be vertically adjusted with respect to the channel member 111 by rotating the rods 118 which are provided with handles 120 for this purpose.

A pair of substantially similar mask structures 121 are adapted to be carried in the perforations 114 by bolts 122 and comprise a plate 123 supporting a pair of downwardly sloping arm members 124. As can best be seen in FIG. 11, a mask member is carried in a substantially vertical position at the free ends of the arms 124. To permit the mask members 125 to be adjusted relative to the surface, they are being moved along and to provide a means of urging the mask members. 125 to engage this surface even though it maybe somewhat uneven, the arms 124 are welded or'otherwise secured to a plate 126. The mask members 125 are provided with a pair of spaced vertically elongated slots 127 and the plates 126 have a bent portion 128 extending into the slots 127. The bent portion 123 provides an upper seat for a spring 129 carried in the slot and bearing on the flange 127A. Bolts 130 hold the plate 126 on the mask member 125, but are permitted to slide in the slots 127.

The header channel member 119 carries spray pipe 131 which in turn carries a plurality of longitudinally spaced spray nozzles 132. Valves 133 are carried in the spray pipe 131 intermediate the nozzles 132.' The spray'pipe is connected to a hydraulic system 134 as can best be seen in FIG. 10.

The hydraulic system 134 comprises a fiuid reservoir 135 arranged to supply paint or the like to a pump 136 after passing through a filter 137. The outlet of the pump 136 is connected to a pressure regulator 138 from which the paint is supplied to the pipe 131 through a shut off valve 139. The usual bypass valve 140 and return line 141 are provided to return paint to the reservoir 135 when the pressure in the system exceeds that desired. A tank 142 is connected downstream of the valve 139 by line 143. A shut off valve 144 is disposed in the line 143 and is ganged to the valve 139 so that when one is opened, the other is closed. This arrangement eliminates pressure being trapped in the spray bar 131. When the valve 139 is closed, the valve 144 opens, allowing the residual downstream pressure to bypass into the tank 142 rather than to be expended out the nozzles.

As can best be seen in FIG. 9, the arrangement of the

perforations

114 and 115 and the slope of the arms 124 provide a means of adjusting the masks 125 to define a variety of desired and generally standard widths of the surface to be coated. In the particular spray apparatus 110 being described W is equal to six inches although it is apparent that the apparatus may be constructed in which W has different values. When the mask structures 121 are carried in the positions indicated by the solid line positions of FIG. 9 a spraying width of 6W or 36 inches is defined. Other spraying widths may be provided by moving one of the mask structures 121 to the perforations 115 and also by rotating one or both of the mask structures 121 so that the arm members 124 slope inwardly as shown by the dotted line positions of FIG. 9. In this manner, it is possible to define spraying widths for all multiples of W from one to six. The valves 133 may then be regulated so that only the nozzles 132 which are disposed intermediate the mask structures 121 are open to spray.

\Vhile We have described but two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said frame,

(b) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to a source of spray material under pressure,

(0) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spray bar for discharging spray material downwardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray bar intermediate a pair of said laterally spaced spray nozzles for independently regulating distribution to said nozzles, and

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by said frame to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed, and

(1) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engaging masks to vary the Width of the area being sprayed, and

(g) means independently respectively and resiliently urging the forward and rear ends of said masks downwardly.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including means selectively vertically adjusting said spray bar.

3. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame having a plurality of spaced parallel bars extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(12) a pair of ground engaging masks laterally adjustably carried by said bars comprising vertical plates disposed in planes normal to the axes of said bars for defining the width of the area being sprayed,

(c) spray discharging means carried by said frame and comprising a spray bar vertically adjustably carried by said frame,

(d) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried by said spray bar in a position to discharge spray material downwardly,

(e) a plurality of individually selectively operable valves each being carried in said spray bar intermediate a pair of said nozzles, and

(3) said nozzles being disposed such that at least one is intermediate said masks at each laterally adjusted position of said masks, and

4. A moving spray apparatus comprising (a) a supporting frame extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said frame,

(c) a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles carried in said spray bar for discharging spray material downw-ardly,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray bar intermediate said laterally spaced spray nozzles for independently regulating distribution to said nozzles, and

(e) a pair of vertically disposed ground engaging masks carried by said frame to define the lateral boundaries of the area being sprayed,

(1) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engaging masks to vary the width of the area being sprayed,

(g) said frame comprising a channel member extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(h) said mask adjusting means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced perforations provided in said channeled member,

(i) a pair of downwardly sloped arms removably carried in each of a pair of said laterally spaced perforations,

(j) said masks being carried on the free ends of said pairs of arms,

(k) said perforations being positioned in three laterally spaced points on said channel member, and

(1) means removably carrying said arms in either an outwardly sloped or an inwardly sloped position in said perforations.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and in which one of said perforations is spaced at a distance less than half way between the other two of said perforations.

6. A moving spray apparatus comprising,

(a) a supporting frame extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said frame,

([1) a spray bar carried by said frame and adapted for connection to a source of spray material under pressure,

(d) a plurality of valve means each carried in said spray bar intermediate a pair of said laterally spaced spray nozzles for independently regulating distribution to said nozzles,

(1) means independently respectively and resiliently urging the forward and rear ends of said masks downwardly,

(g) said frame comprising a plurality of spaced parallel bars extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus,

(h) means for individually laterally adjusting said ground engaging masks to vary the width of the area being sprayed, said means comprising,

a vertically elongated slot provided in said masks,

a hanger member bolted to each of said masks through said slots,

said hanger member being laterally slidably carried on one of said bars, and

a screw carried in said hanger member and being selectively operable upon rotation thereof to lock said hanger member in position on said bar.

7. A moving spray apparatus comprising,

(1) means independently respectively andtresiliently urging the forward and rear ends of said 'rnasles downwardly,

a plurality of laterally spaced perforations provided in said channel member,

a pair'of downwardly angularly sloped arms removably carried in each of a pair of said laterally spaced perforations, and said masks being carried on the free ends of said pains of arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lindsay Nov. 17, 1925 Serapin' Apr. 7, 1931 Nakaoka Jan. 24, 1939 Blumberg Apr. 4, 1944 Lewis June 4, 1946 Anderson et -al Dec. 13, 1960 Macrae et al Aug. 21, 1962

Claims

1. A MOVING SPRAY APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A SUPPORTING FRAME EXTENDING LATERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, (B) A SPRAY BAR CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF SPRAY MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE, (C) A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED SPRAY NOZZLES CARRIED IN SAID SPRAY BAR FOR DISCHARGING SPRAY MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY, (D) A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEANS EACH CARRIED IN SAID SPRAY BAR INTERMEDIATE A PAIR OF SAID LATERALLY SPACED SPRAY NOZZLES FOR INDEPENDENTLY REGULATING DISTRIBUTION TO SAID NOZZLES, AND (E) A PAIR OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED GROUND ENGAGING MASKS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME TO DEFINE THE LATERAL BOUNDARIES OF THE AREA BEING SPRAYED, AND