US3230667A

US3230667A - Frost protection method and means for orchards

Info

Publication number: US3230667A
Application number: US184829A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alex M Sinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-03
Filing date: 1962-04-03
Publication date: 1966-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-25

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY A. M. SINNER Jan. 25, 1966 FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG FIG

INVENTOR. ex M. SINNER ATTORNEY FIG Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet s FIG ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

BY W

ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1966 A. M. SINNER 3,230,667

FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ALEX M. SINNER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,230,667 FROST PROTECTION METHOD AND MEANS FOR ORCHARDS Alex M. Sinner, Box 508, Sunnyside, Wash. Filed Apr. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 184,829 8 Claims. (Cl. 472) This present invention relates to the general art of devices intended to protect growing crops from the effects of frost. This equipment implements a method for directing the flow of air at a low level, especially through orchards and the like. Louver means are employed to give variable control for the direction of air and a portion of this directed air may be passed through a heating device of the oil burning type. The direction of air flow is controlled by swinging the burner units and the louvers as coacting units so as to provide the airflow pattern required. The units are portable in the sense that they are provided with skids and may be towed to various locations or be carried thereto by a fork lift arrangement.

In the past it has been found that many times an orchard crop, particularly, can be saved from freezing especially during the budding period by causing air to circulate through the orchard and when temperature drop is great additional heat needs may be supplied. In my present equipment I provide a sizable fuel tank which is connected to oil burners. Adjacent one end of the fuel storage tank is a prime mover, normally an air-cooled gasoline engine, directly connected to a propeller type of fan. This fan unit is preferably fixed in position as distinguished from many of the oscillating fans formerly used in this service. The output of the fan is preferably directed into two louver arrangements which are pivotably mounted so that the air stream from the fan may be divided, thus making it possible to cover an area of very appreciable extent. The fuel tank, oil burners, prime mover, fan and louvers are all mounted on a common sled for ease in moving this equipment from place to place as needed.

The constant air flow provided by this unit makes it possible to set a large amount of air in continuous motion thereby covering a much larger area than is possible with the oscillating fans previously used. Auxiliary to the fan and louver arrangement is a plurality of burner units drawing their fuel from the large fuel tank and with the axis of projection of the burners, which are provided with a cylindrical housing, adjustable so that the heated air is normally projected substantially in the center of the air stream directed by the adjustable louvers. As a matter of convenience, the burners and associated louver units are preferably pivotably mounted in coacting pairs on the same pivot means.

A principal object of my present invention, therefore is to provide a method of air flow control which will direct air which has been started in motion so that it will quite uniformly cover a relatively large area.

A further object of this invention is to provide airflow diverters so positioned as to create a fan shaped pattern of moving air.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a continuous thrust to effect a continuous movement of air over a relatively large area and to provide louvers which direct the air flow for any one setting and are further arranged so that they are adjustable to provide an air flow pattern to suit the needs of the area being covered.

A further object of this invention is to provide portable power driven booster fans which may be employed to correct an airflow pattern, particularly to meet the reice quirements of the topography of an orchard, for example, thus making it possible to continue the movement of air previously started in motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide burners or air heaters which can be employed to raise the temperature of the air being circulated through an orchard or other crop planting.

A further object is to provide means whereby the flow of air through an orchard can be controlled to keep the air flow at a low level so that normally the only air in motion is that which will pass through the trees to be protected.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the disclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a typical air handling unit made after the teachings of this present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the equipment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the front end of the unit of FIGURE 1 and illustrating how the louvers and the burners can be pivoted as coacting units so as to divide the air stream and thus greatly increase its width.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the equipment of FIGURE 1, shown on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 6 is a typical plan view showing the use of my present equipment and how it is employed to produce a controlled air flow over a relatively large area.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a preferred method of employing my equipment so as to keep the flow of air close to the ground so that it will pass through the trees to be protected, giving them the maximum protection with the minimum movement of air.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the nozzle of the oil burner and certain associated parts.

FIGURE 9 is a front view, in elevation, of the burner assembly on an increased scale over the showing of FIG- URES 1,12 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates generally a complete coacting unit and 11 designates the sled upon which I propose to mount my equipment so as to make it a unitary structure. This sled is provided with the spaced-apart runners, 12 and 13. Fixedly positioned on sled 11 is the fuel tank 14. This tank must be of suflicient size so as to supply fuel to the

burners

15 and 16 for several hours; usually tankage in excess of gallons will be desirable. Fixedly mounted, as on brackets 18, is the air-cooled motor 20 and to this is directly connected the airplane type propeller fan 22. A suitable open work shield 23 is employed around the whirling propeller as a protection to the operating personnel.

A separate fuel tank 24 is provided for the fan motor. Disposed in front of fan 22 and pivotably supported from the built-up framework 26 is the secondary framework 27. This framework is made in two separate units, each of which supports, as a unit, one of the burners as 15 or 16 and one of the louver units as 28 or 29.

A typical section through one of the louver units is illustrated in FIGURE 4. These units are made up of a plurality of vertically disposed strips secured together as a group. Each strip 30 provides an air guiding surface 31 for impingement of the air from fan 22 and on the edge adjacent the fan, a deflector element 32 is provided for redirecting the air flow. This arrangement gives complete control of the direction of the air flow as the axis of along J the louve'r unit anditscoacting

oil burner

15 or 16 is changed with respect to the axis of rotation of fan 22. The air flow from fan 22 may be in the direction indicated by arrow 33 as one limit or the direction indicated by arrow 33a as the other limit. These louver units are easily detachable for repairs or particularly for replacemerit with other louvers of different configurations in order to more fully adapt this equipment to the topography of the orchard where it is to be used. Bolts pass through the openings 34' in mounting plate 34A so that the changes can be readily made. Referring to FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, the showing of FIGURES 2 and show the burners and 16 as being disposed parallel to the sled 10. In FIGURE 3, however, the extreme pivoted position of the burners and louvers is illustrated, the same being pivoted about their

individual pivots

35 and 36. Obviously the

burners

15 and 16 are connected to fuel tank 14" by flexible conduits or lines to permit said burners to be turned on their longitudinal axis, as indicated, for instance, in FIGURE 3.

METHOD OF USE Referring to FIGURE 6, I have illustrated a sizable orchard area and have given actual dimensions on the same so as to clarify the arrangement. However, the exact placing of the equipment and the areas indicated as covered should be only considered as a suggested unit layout. This plan is based upon the use of two or more of the units as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and which are indicated generally in the diagram by the reference character 10. In this arrangement the burners and louvers would be pivoted after the showing of FIGURE 3 so that there would be two divergent streams of air set in motion such as are suggested by the

diagonal arrows

40, 42 and 44, 46.

In order to insure a continuity of movement of the air in the plan indicated, three booster units consisting of a fan 22 and motor mounted for individual use on their own framework are indicated by the reference character 50. It will be noted that the suggested units are at the apexes of the air flow arrows as for instance 42- and 44.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a burner and fan unit 10 is positioned at one margin of the orchard, and naturally on the side from which the prevailing wind is coming. About midway in the diagram as given, the booster element 50 is positioned.

The sequence in which it is recommended that these units be started is'substantially as follows:

Fan is started which sets up a cold air flow.

Burner B is started 30 minutes after fan A, introducing moisture into the air flow created by fan A. These small droplets, finer than mist, being moisture laden and a good heat carrier, start to slowly rise, as shown by curved line. They are then pulled back down by the fan influence in the area of C, to be again released at below tree level to slowly start to rise again between points A and D. In the course of this travel millions of these small droplets will have settled on the buds where they are slowly transformed into slush ice as the heat from the moisture is absorbed by the bud. i

Referring to FIGURES 8 and 9 in which an oil burner is illustrated, the burner is axially positioned in one end of a cylindrical flame projecting tube 16. Tube 16 is secured to the frame 27 which is pivoted for limited rotation on a vertical axis. The burner nozzle 70 is axially disposed in tube 16 and is provided with flexible fuel supply line 62 drawing oil from tank 14 and a replaceable tip 64. The body of nozzle 60 is threadedly engaged in a supporting plate 65 and may be adjustably secured in position by lock nut 66. Plate 65 is supported from an insert truncated cone 68 by a plurality of angle support members 70. Shims 72 are provided between the angle members and cone 68 so adjustable arcuate air supply openings 74 will be formed between each of the angle members. A plurality of additional air supply openings 76 are provided in cone 68.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel frost protection method and means for orchards.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective device in one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(0) an air fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotedly secured to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of said secondary frames and positioned in the air stream'created by said fan;

(h) said louver units each having a plurality of vertical strips, each with a curved deflector on the edge adjacent said fan and a tangent air directing portion secured to said deflector and leading away from said fan;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames and positioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame, and- (g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to'each of said burners by flexible means permitting theturning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to said tank.

2. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising? (a) a sled for combining the various elements of said protective device in one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(0) a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled;

(i) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of said secondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its motor;

(j) an oil burner secured to each ofsaid secondary frames and positioned substantially centrally transversely of the air stream and below the center of the same vertically of said stream and directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame and (g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to said tank.

3. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

(c) a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotally secured? to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured! to each of said secondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its revolving;

motor; I

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames and positioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame;

(k) said oil burners having a cylindrical frame projecting tube, a truncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with its small end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of air supply openings in its surface, and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burner with respect to said tank.

4. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(b) a fixedly mounted motor;

() a propeller type fan mounted for revolution by said motor;

(d) a plurality of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of said secondary frames and positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its revolving motor;

(k) said oil burners having a cylindrical flame projecting tube, a truncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with its small end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of air supply openings in its surface;

(1) a plurality of angle support members secured inside said truncated cone, a supporting plate secured to said support members and spaced therefrom by shims thus forming a plurality of arcuate air supply openings concentric with said projecting tube and an axially disposed burner nozzle adjustably positioned longitudinally in said supporting plate, and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to said tank.

5. A frost protecting device for orchards, comprising:

(a) a sled combining the various elements of said protective device in one unitary group;

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) an air fan mounted forward of and for revolution by said motor;

(d) a pair of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled forward of said fan in generally side-by-side relationship;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of said secondary frames on the end of said secondary frames nearest said fan and positioned in the air stream created by said fan;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward of its respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame; and

(g) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled rearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to said tank.

6. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) an air fan mounted forward of and connected for revolution by said motor;

(d) a pair of secondary frames pivotably secured to said sled forward of said fan in generally side-byside relationship;

(f) said louver units each having a plurality of vertical strips, each with a curved deflector on the edge adjacent said fan and a tangent air directing portion secured to said deflector and leading away from said fan;

(g) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward of its respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame; and

(h) a fuel oil tank of substantial size fixedly mounted on said sled rearward of said motor and provided with supply lines, one of which is connected to each of said burners by flexible means permitting the turning of the longitudinal axis of the burners with respect to said tank.

7. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(c) a propeller type fan mounted forward of and connected for revolution by said motor;

(d) at least one secondary frame pivotably secured to said sled forward of said fan;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to said secondary frame on the end of said secondary frame nearest said fan and positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its motor;

(f) an oil burner secured to said secondary frame forward of its respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally transversely of the air stream and below the center of the same vertically of said stream and directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame; and

8. A frost protective device for orchards, comprising:

(b) a fixedly mounted motor located on said sled;

(e) an air directing louver unit removably secured to each of said secondary frames on the end of said secondary frames nearest said fan and positioned in the air stream created by said fan and its revolving motor;

(f) an oil burner secured to each of said secondary frames forward of its respective louver unit and positioned substantially centrally of the air stream directed by the louver unit mounted on the same secondary frame;

(g) said oil burners having a cylindrical flame projecting tube, a truncated cone peripherally secured in one end of said tube with its small end extending into said tube, said cone having a plurality of air supply openings in its surface; and

(Other references on following page) UNITED 7 STATES PATENTS Cummings. Gars.

Taber 472 Daugherty 43148 Sanderson 47---2 Fowler 47-2 Fetrow 47--2 Fowler 472 Gubelin 239-77 X Glatfelter 239-77 Martin 472 Lindsay 47---2 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Chavernac, F.: Preservation des Geles Printanieres. In 1e Progres Agricole et Viticole (France) vol. 55, No. 7, pages 211, 212, 123, Feb. 12, 1911.

Gesellschaft fur Elektrische: German application 1,012,109. Printed July 11, 1957 (45 P 11/03).

10 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primar Examiner.

T. GRAHAM CRAVER, Examiner.

Claims

8. A FROST PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ORCHARDS, COMPRISING: (A) A SLED FOR COMBINING THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF SAID PROTECTIVE DEVICE IS ONE UNITARY GROUP; (B) A FIXEDLY MOUNTED MOTOR LOCATED ON SAID SLED; (C) A PROPELLER TYPE FAN MOUNTED FORWARD OF AND CONNECTED FOR REVOLUTION BY SAID MOTOR; (D) A PAIR OF SECONDARY FRAMES PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID SLED FORWARD OF SAID FAN IN GENERALLY SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP; (E) AN AIR DIRECTING LOUVER UNIT REMOVABLY SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES ON THE END OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES NEAREST SAID FAN AND POSITIONED IN THE AIR STREAM CREATED BY SAID FAN AND ITS REVOLVING MOTOR; (F) AN OIL BURNER SECURED TO EACH OF SAID SECONDARY FRAMES FORWARD OF ITS RESPECTIVE LOUVER UNIT AND POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF THE AIR STREAM DIRECTED BY THE LOUVER UNIT MOUNTED ON THE SAME SECONDARY FRAME; (G) SAID OIL BURNERS HAVING A CYLINDRICAL FLAME PROJECTING TUBE, A TRUNCATED CONE PERIPHERALLY SECURED IN ONE END OF SAID TUBE WITH ITS SMALL END EXTENDING INTO SAID TUBE, SAID CONE HAVING A PLURALITY OF AIR SUPPLY OPENINGS IN ITS SURFACE; AND (H) A FUEL OIL TANK OF SUBSTANTIAL SIZE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SLED REARWARD OF SAID MOTOR AND PROVIDED WITH SUPPLY LINES, ONE OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID BURNERS BY FLEXIBLE MEANS PERMITTING THE TURNING OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BURNERS WITH RESPECT TO SAID TANK.