US3343519A

US3343519A - Lumber spray machine

Info

Publication number: US3343519A
Application number: US289995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chapman Alfred Dale; Robert E Stutz; Robert E Branch
Original assignee: Chapman Chemical Co
Current assignee: Chapman Chemical Co
Priority date: 1963-06-24
Filing date: 1963-06-24
Publication date: 1967-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-26

Description

A. D. CHAPMAN ET AL 3,343,519

LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS A. DALE CHAPMAN ROBERT E. BRANCH ROBERT E. STUTZ BY ATTORNEY H I HF MP HM i ml Sept. 26, 1967 Filed June 24, 1963 F WM a? I i wurn Q GWI MQ/ Sept. 26, 1967 CHAPMAN ET AL 3,343,519

LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE Filed June 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS A. DALE CHAPMAN ROBERT E. BRANCH ROBERT E. STUTZ ATTORNEY P 1957 A. D. CHAPMAN ET AL LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 24, 1963 I'll INVENTORS A DALE CHAPMAN ROBERT E. BRANCH ROBERT E. STUTZ BY W6 ATTORNEY P 1967 A. D. CHAPMAN ETALL 3,343,519

LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE Filed June 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mg'M-- V :3 1939m INVENTORS A. DALE CHAPMAN I06 I06 ROBERT E. BRANCH ROBERT E. STUTZ ATTORNEY I i l I I I I 2 4 United States Patent 3,343,519 LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE Alfred Dale Chapman, Atherton, and Robert E. Stutz,

Ialo Alto, (Ialifi, and Robert E. Branch, Memphis,

Tenn, assiguors to Chapman Chemical Company,

Memphis, Tenn, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 24, 1963, Ser. No. 289,995 Claims. ((31. 118-614) This invention relates to a lumber spray machine and more particularly to a machine for spraying lumber for preservative treatment thereof.

It has long been the practice to treat lumber such as poles, piling, ties, timber and the like in order to extend their useful life. Various processes for treating lumber with a preservative are well known and include pressure, dipping, and spraying processes. Prior art spraying apparatus has as a rule been unsatisfactory due, among other things, to the lack of control of mixing, feeding and application of the solution sprayed. The pressure processes are generally slow and expensive and are not well adapted to large scale use. The practice of dipping lumber has many disadvantages including the high cost, the possible over treatment through lack of control of the application and the like.

In order to reduce storage, shipping, and related costs it is a common practice to prepare wood preservatives in a concentrated form. The concentrated preservative is then diluted in a suitable liquid base such as water or an organic solvent and the diluted solution applied to the lumber. The lumber spray apparatus of this invention is particularly useful with such concentrated wood preservatives and serves to dilute the concentrate with a base liquid, stores it, and applies it uniformly to all faces (if desired) of a board or timber.

Depending upon the type of wood preservative employed, either an emulsion or a solution may result from the mixing of the concentrate with the base fluid. Although the apparatus of this invention may be used with either an emulsion or a solution of wood preservative the apparatus is particularly adapted for use in spraying an emulsion. Emulsions are particularly difiicult to apply by spraying to lumber because of plugging of the nozzles, and breaking of the emulsion due to dirt, sawdust, and other contaminants which get into the emulsion during operation of the machine.

An object of this invention is the provision of a machine for spraying lumber which machine functions to dilute a concentrate to form a solution or emulsion, store the resulting diluted preservative in a proper form and concentration, apply the preservative uniformly to the lumber regardless of species, and to recover, recirculate, and reuse the surplus preservative to minimize cost, fire hazard and irritation to workmen.

An object of this invention is the provision of a lumber spraying machine which machine is capable of spraying a sensitive wax emulsion without breaking the emulsion, that is, without separation of the wax concentrate and the base solution.

An object of this invention is the provision of a lumber spray machine for spraying lumber with a wood preservative which machine includes a novel arrangement of strainers and screens to reduce clogging of spray nozzles to a minimum.

An object of this invention is the provision of a wood spraying machine which includes strainers, screens, and spray nozzle assembly, all of which are readily and easily removable from the machine and replaceable therein with a minimum of time and eiiort for cleaning thereof while removed from the machine.

An object of this invention is the provision of a storage tank for a spray-type machine for spraying a wood preser- 3,3435 1 9 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 vative onto lumber, which tank includes a simple, low cost built-in agitator which permits easy and efficient agitation of the preservative for uniform mixing thereof.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel hood assembly under which spray nozzles and strainers of a lumber spraying machine are located which is mounted to permit easy access to said nozzles and strainers for cleaning and replacement rapidly and efli ciently.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention are obtained by means of a spray machine comprising a storage tank divided into a plurality of individual compartments. While the wood preservative is being drawn from one of the tank compartments and sprayed upon the lumber, the base liquid and concentrate may be added to the other compartment and mixed in preparation for use when the first compartment is empty. An agitator comprising a pivotally mounted agitator vane is located within each compartment of the tank, which agitator is adapted for manual operation. A tunnel is mounted on the tank through which tunnel the lumber to be treated is passed by means of drive rolls included in the tunnel construction. Also included is a novel spray nozzle assembly which is readily removed from the tunnel when the tunnel hood is opened, and which has guide rails formed thereon for properly guiding the lumber through the tunnel. The bottom of the tunnel comprises a spray tank into which the excess wood preservative is trapped and returned to the storage tank through quick change screens which filter out foreign matter. A manually operated deflector plate diverts the over-spray of preservative from the spray tank to either of the storage tank compartments depending upon the position thereof. A drive motor for the rollers in the tunnel and a pump and pump motor are located on a platform on the storage tank adjacent the tunnel. Access to the storage tank compartments is provided through doors adjacent the platform upon which the above-mentioned motors and pump are located.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts in the several views;

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a lumber spray machine embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view as FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the machine as viewed from the right in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional View of the machine taken on line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an interchangeable spray nozzle assembly employed in the machine of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the hood taken on line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the header employed in the spray nozzle assembly, with parts shown broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a nozzle and nozzle mounting employed in the spray nozzle assembly; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the baflle assembly at the bottom of the spray tank.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates generally a lumber spray machine embodying this invention. The base of the unit comprises a storage and mixing tank 11 mounted upon legs '12. The tank comprises

side walls

13 and 14 and

end walls

16 and 17 and is divided into two compartments designated 18 and 19 by means of a partition 21 which extends between the

side walls

13 and 14, and from the inclined bottom 22 of the tank to the top thereof. Agitaviewed from the left in tors comprising vanes 24 with pins 26 extending from the ends thereof and pivotally supported in V-shaped blocks 27 secured to the inner face of the

side walls

13 and 14 of the tank are located in each of the tank compartments. While any suitable tank construction may be employed the illustrated construction includes a framework of an angle iron comprising members 29 which extend from end to end and side to side across the top of the tank. Access to the

tank compartments

18 and 19 is available through

doors

34 and 36, pivotally mounted by means of hinges 37 on a base plate 3 8 extending between two of the members 29' 'of the tank frame.

The one door 36 is shown opened in FIGURES 1 and 42 of the drawings and a rod 39 is shown inserted in a tubular bracket 41 fixed to the agitator vane 24. By manually rocking the rod 39 back and forth the agitator vane 24 is actuated to mix the liquid within the tank compartment. The same rod 39 may be calibrated in gallons, for example, along the length thereof and used as a dip stick to indicate the amount of fluid within the tank compartments, such a dip stick measuring device being particularly useful in adding the right proportion of wood preservative concentrate and base fluid to the tank compartments to obtain the proper dilution of the wood preservative concentrate.

At the side of the tank opposite the

doors

34 and 36 is located a tunnel 42 through which the lumber to be treated is passed. The tunnel 42 comprises a spray tank 43 which includes end walls 44- and 46 and

side walls

47 and 48. The bottom of the spray tank comprises spaced

bottom sections

49 and 51 as best seen in FIGURES 3 and of the drawings which sections are inclined downwardly toward each other to permit drainage of the excess Wood preservative therebetween. Three power-driven rollers 52 extend between the

side walls

47 and 48 of the spray tank and are carried by bearings 56 attached to the outer surfaces of the side Walls. Shaft seals 57 located between the roller shafts and the apertures in the side walls through which the shafts extend prevent entrance of the wood preservative onto the bearings. It will be noted that the

side walls

47 and 48 of the spray tank extend above the level of the top of the rollers 52 whereas the

end walls

44 and 46 terminate at the upper end thereof a spaced distance below the upper roller surface. V-shaped guards 59 secured to the upper edge of the

end walls

44 and 46 prevent inadvertent entrance of lumber or foreign articles beween said end walls and the end rollers 52.

Spray tank 43 is adapted to be covered by a semicylindrical hood 61 which rests upon the

side walls

47 and 48 of the'spray tank. The lower longitudinal edges of the hood are bent inwardly as at 62 (see FIGURE 7) to form a ledge which seats upon the longitudinal upper edge of the

side walls

47 and 48 of the spray tank and terminate in downwardly dependent portions 63 which extend within the spray tank side walls when the hood is in position thereon. Generally semicircular rings 64 are secured to the hood 61 a spaced distance inwardly from each end of the hood and each such semicircular ring supports a flap 66 provided with a plurality of vertical slits 67 extending from the bottom thereof to permit the ingress and egress of lumber through the tunnel. The flaps may be made of impregnated plastic fibers or the like which material is not affected by the wood preservative sprayed within the tunnel. The flaps, which help to keep the sprayed wood treating material within the tunnel, extend downwardly lower than the upper edge of the

end walls

44, 46, inside the spray tank in the normal hood closing position. Instead of utilizing a removable hood it will be understood that the hood could be hinged along one edge thereof to the edge of the spray tank for pivotally supporting the same thereon, if desired.

Located within the tunnel 42 is a spray assembly 71 for spraying of the lumber as it passes therethrough. The spray assembly 71, as best seen in FIGURE 6, comprises a pair of spaced ring-like nozzles supporting members ,72

interconnected by a pair of lumber guide rails 73 attached within the rings at opposite sides thereof. The ends of the lumber guide rails are flared outwardly as at 74 to guide the lumber between the rails. Brackets 76 are secured as by screw fastening devices 77 to the ring-like nozzle supporting members 72 adjacent the upper and lower portions thereof. The brackets 76 are formed with generally vertical extending apertured arms through which apertures degree elbows 78 extend and are fastened thereto by set screws 79. Nozzles 81 are carried by the 90 degree elbows 78 and by loosening the set screws 79 the elbows 78 with the nozzles 81 thereon may be positioned as desired to obtain the desired spray pattern and then locked in position by tightening of the set screws. Similar brackets 82, FIGURE 9, are mounted on the guard rails 73 adja: cent the ring-like members 72 for the support of side nozzles 81. The brackets 82 are formed with generally horizontally extending apertured arm portions which extend through cut-out portions 83 formed in the guard rails 73. 90 degree elbows 78 extend through the apertures in the brackets and are fastened thereto by set screws 79. The nozzles 81 are carried by the 90 degree elbows and, as with the top and bottom nozzles, the side nozzles 81' may also be positionally adjusted by first loosening set screws 79 and positioning the nozzles by rotation of the 90 degree elbow within the bracket arm and then locking the elbow with the set screw.

The nozzles are all connected to a header or manifold 84 through hoses 86 extending between the 90 degree elbows 78 and the manifold 84. The manifold 84 is best seen in FIGURES 6 and 8 and may comprise a generally rectangular shaped tube plugged at opposite ends by end plugs 87. Screw fastening means 88 extending through the ring-like members 72 support the manifold between the said ring-like members. The hoses 86 are provided with suitable coupling members 89 at the opposite ends thereof for connection to said elbows and manifold. A supply hose 91 is connected through a coupling 92 to the manifold and is provided with a quick disconnect female coupling member 94 adapted for quick connection and disconnection with a male coupling member 96 (shown in FIGURES 2 and 5) fastened to the spray tank side wall 48 and extending therethrough. The coupling member 96 is connected to a pump for the wood preservative in a manner described hereinbelow. Nozzle guards 97 are secured to the guard rails 73 at the upstream side of the tunnel to deflect the lumber toward a center position between the guard rail and prevent the same from contacting the nozzles and damaging the same.

The spray assembly is supported in the spray tank 43 by means of arms 98 extending forwardly and rearwardly from the respective forward and rearward ring-like members 72 which arms are adapted to rest upon brackets 99 secured to the

side walls

47 and 48 0f the spray tank. Thus, it will be apparent that when the hood 61 is removed from the spray tank the spray assembly is easily and quickly lifted therefrom after disconnection of the quick disconnect coupling member 94 from the male coupling 96. In practice a standby, or auxiliary, spray assembly 71 is provided whereby the spray nozzle assemblies may be interchanged when required. Thus, if one or more of the nozzles 81 or 81' become plugged or blocked the entire spray nozzle assembly 71 may be removed and a second spray nozzle assembly replaced in the machine, all within about one minutes time. The down time of the machine due to clogged nozzles is thereby reduced to a minimum.

With the arcuate or generally semicylindrical shaped hood 61 the excess material which is sprayed from the nozzles 81, 81' striking the hood runs down the inner walls thereof and drops from the side edges thereby avoiding dripping of the material onto the lumber being sprayed. The excess material falls within the spray tank 43 and flows down the

inclined bottom portions

49 and 51 of the tank. A bafile assembly shown in FIGURE for directing the return flow of preservative from the spray tank to the storage tank is fixed to the bottom of the storage tank and includes

transverse angle members

100 and 101 secured to the lower edge portions of the

tank bottom members

49 and 51 and extending between the

side walls

47 and 48 of the tank. Screen supporting brackets 102 are welded between the

angle members

100 and 101 adjacent the

side walls

47 and 48 of the spray tank and support a pair of screens 103 which extend therebetween. The screens 103 are separated by a T- shaped screen retainer member 104 which extends between the

side walls

47 and 48 of the tank and is secured thereto as by welding. The screens are placed in position in the bottom of the spray tank by first resting an edge thereof on the side ledges or brackets 102 and sliding the screen edges underneath the extending arm portions of the T-shaped screen retainer 104. Thus, it will be apparent that all the sprayed wood preservative is screened as it is returned to the storage tanks. The screens are readily removable for cleaning and replaceable when the hood and spray assembly have been removed from the spray tank.

At the bottom side of the horizontal arm portions 106 of the angle brackets 101, second angle brackets 107 are secured as by welding, which brackets are located at the opposite ends of the angle brackets 101 adjacent the

side walls

47 and 43 of the spray tank and include downwardly extending portions between which the flow of material is confined. Bottom baffle plates 108 which are inclined toward each other are fixed to the bottom surfaces of the arm portions 106 of the angle brackets 101 and extend between the downwardly directed arms of the angle brackets 107. The lower transverse edge portions of the inclined baffie plates 108 are spaced apart with one edge terminating a spaced distance from the partition 21 on one side thereof and the other baffie plate terminating a spaced distance from the partition at the other side thereof within the

respective tank compartment

18 and 19. A right angle member 109 having a plurality of notches 111 formed along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof is fixed to the upper surfaces of the baffle plates 108 in an inverted V-shape position and bridges the gap therebetween.

A pivotal deflector plate 112 is located within the baffle assembly beneath the screens 103, and is mounted upon a rod 113 which extends between the

side walls

47 and 48 of the spray tank. The deflector plate is attached to the rod by means of hubs 114 Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the deflector plate at opposite ends thereof. Set screws or the like may be used to secure the hub members 114 to the rod whereby pivotal movement of the rod results in a rocking of the deflector member 112. The outer, free end of the rod 113 which extends through the side wall 47 of the spray tank is provided with a handle 116, FIGURE 3, which is movable between stop members 117 extending from the side wall. With the handle 116 pivoted to the left in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 of the drawings the baffle plate 112 is tilted downwardly to the left whereby the excess wood preservative draining through the screens 103 strikes the bafiie plate and flows downwardly therealong past the bafi le

members

100, 101 and 108 and through the notches 111 formed in the member 109 and into the tank compartment 18. By rotating the lever 116 to the right against the righthand stop the excess preservative is returned to the other tank compartment 19. The stop members 117 for the handle 116 limit the pivotal movement of the deflector plate 112, such that the plate is at all times a spaced distance above the arms 106 of the baffle element 101 thereby permitting the flow of fluid past the said pivotal deflector and over the arm portion 106 of the

angle members

100 and 101. Thus, it will be apparent that the operator may control the tank compartment into which the excess spray wood preservative is returned by the simple movement of the lever arm 116.

The power units for the drive rollers 52 and for the pump for spraying the wood preservative from the nozzles 81 and 81' are located upon a platform 121 positioned adjacent the tunnel 42, between the tunnel and the tank doors 34 and 35. A roller drive motor 122 is shown connected through a variable speed transmission 123 and a belt connection 124 to the shaft 126 for the center roller 52 through pulleys on the said shaft and the motor shaft. The end rollers 52 are driven through

belt connections

127 and 128 extending between pulleys on the shaft 126 of the center drive roller 52 and pulleys on the shafts of the forward and rear drive rollers 52. The rate of rotation of the drive rollers is controlled by a speed control lever 136 associated with the variable speed transmission 123. With an infinitely variable speed drive mechanism the lumber may be driven through the tunnel 42 with a speed in the range between zero and 1,000 feet per minute, for example. Obviously, for a fixed rate of travel of lumber, the rollers could be driven at a constant speed and the variable speed transmission eliminated from the connection between the motor 122 and rollers.

Also mounted upon the platform 121 is a pump motor 138 and associated variable speed transmission 139. As with the roller drive, the speed of rotation of the output shaft 141 of the transmission is controlled by a speed control lever 142 associated with the transmission. A belt 143 and pulley connection between the transmission shaft 141 and the shaft of a pump 144 connects the transmission to the pump. If the spray unit to be used for spraying an emulsion the pump 144 is, in accordance with this invention, of the constant displacement diaphragm type. By use of such a constant displacement pump the emulsion is not broken during the pumping operation.

Intake pipes

146 and 147 of identical construction, but provide with different reference characters for purposes of description, extend into the tank compartments and terminate a short space distance from the bottom thereof. The upper ends of the

intake pipes

146 and 147 terminate in male members 148 of quick disconnect type connectors. A hose 149 from the inlet side of the pump 144 is provided with a female connector member 151 for cooperation with either of the

inlet pipes

146 or 147 through the male connector members 143. Thus, the operator may pump from either of the tank compartments 18 or 19 by connection of the hose 149 to either of the

inlet pipes

146 or 147 to the compartments. It will be apparent that a suitable valve arrangement could be employed in place of the

quick disconnect coupling

148 and 151 in the connection of the pump 144 to the

storage tanks

18 and 19.

The outlet from the pump 144 is connected through a hose, or tube, to the inlet side of an in-line strainer 150, the outlet side of which strainer is connected to the spray assembly 71 through a hose 152 and the hose 91. The hose 152 has .a female coupling member 153 at one end thereof which cooperates with the male coupling member 96, extending through the side wall 48 of the spray tank 43 for interconnection of the

hoses

91 and 152. A second hose 154 connects the pump by-pass connection with the interior of the spray tank through a coupling 156 in the side wall 48 thereof.

The operation of the lumber spray machine with a concentrated wood preservative will now be described. First, one of the dual compartments of the tank 11 is filled with the desired amount of base fluid with which the concentrate is to be mixed. For example, if a wax emulsion concentration is to be used, the tank com partment would be filled to the desired level with water. As mentioned above, the rod 39 could be calibrated in terms of gallons to indicate the water depth within the storage tank when the rod 39 was held upright on the bottom. After the one compartment is filled with the desired amount of water, the wax emulsion concentrate is added in the proper amount for the desired dilution ratio. In a manner described above the rod 39 is then inserted into the tubular bracket 41 fixed to the agitator vane 24 and the vane is pumped 15 to 20 strokes to thoroughly mix the base fluid and concentrate. With the spray assembly and hood in place on the spray tank, the inlet hose 149 connected to the proper inlet pipe in the tank compartment containing the preservative, the drive motor 122 and pump motor 138 are started by turning on

switches

161 and 162 located on the side of the platform 121 and electrically connected to the motors and to a suitable source of power not shown. The spray pattern from the nozzles 81, 81' may then be checked by lifting the flaps 66 of the tunnel and the nozzle positions adjusted if necessary to obtain the desired pattern. Both the rate at which the lumber is passed through the spray tunnel and the pressure at which the preservative is sprayed from the nozzles are controlled by the

variable speed transmissions

123 and 139 to provide the correct application rate of the wood preservative on the lumber. (Obviously, if fixed drives are used, no adjustment of the rates is possible.) With the nozzles at the forward end of the tunnel directed rearwardly and the nozzles at the rear of the tunnel directed forwardly, it will be apparent that both faces, edges and ends of the lumber will be treated with the preservative. If desired, the machine can be readily adapted to permit application of wood preservative to both edges, ends and one face only by plugging the bottom nozzles and installing a set of felt roll Wipers in a manner well understood by those skilled in this art.

Also, although the lumber spray machine may be located at any desired point in a lumber processing line, a preferred location is directly behind the planer, since such a location often involves little or no additional labor and requires a minimum of floor space. In many cases no additional floor space is required since the spray unit replaces the so-called hurry-up belt used behind many planers. This location is also advantageous because the lumber is under control at this point minimizing the chance of a jam or hang-up in the spray tunnel. The planing machine operator can be made responsible for the spray machine as all the controls are conveniently lo cated. Where end trimming occurs behind the planer, ends may be sprayed from a small portable hand-operated spray gun after the lumber has been pulled and staked. Lumber may be fed into the tunnel of the machine from the opposite direction to that illustrated by simply reversing the position of the spray assembly end-for-end in the spray tank, and reversing the direction of rotation of the drive rollers 52. Thus, it will be apparent that lumber may be fed through the machine in either direction with a minimum of changes and without having to turn the entire machine around.

While the lumber is being sprayed with a wood preservative from one tank, the operator may be filling the other tank with water and a concentrated wax emulsion in preparation for use after the first tank is emptied. When the one tank compartment is emptied, the inlet hose 149 is transferred from one inlet pipe in the one compartment to the other inlet pipe in the full tank compartment with a minimum of down-time. At all times the proper strength solution or emulsion is being sprayed since the preparation of the diluted solution is effected in a separate compartment from which the preservative is being drawn. In operation, the return control handle 116 is positioned toward the tank being pumped in order that the excess spray may drain back into the tank from which it came. When switching over from one tank to another, the control handle 116 is also turned to deflect the excess spray into the proper tank.

The over-spray, as mentioned above, is returned to the storage tank through the quick change screens 103 which filter out foreign matter, and the output from the pump 144 is filtered through the strainer 150 in traveling to the nozzle The screening and straining operations reduce clogging of the nozzles to a minimum. As the inline strainer fills with dirt and contaminants, the pressure drop there across increases. Such increase in pressure drop may be compensated for by increasing the pump speed by means of the control handle 142 in the variable speed transmission 139. Whenever the readings on pressure gauges designated 163 and 164 at the inlet and outlet sides, respectively, of the in-line strainer indicate a differential of 30 pounds per square inch or more, the in-line strainer 150 should be cleaned or replaced. The pump speed is controlled to provide a pressure of approximately 22 p.s.i. at the gauge 164.

Whenever the lumber spray machine is used with a wood preservative which dries and hardens and thereby tends to clog the system (a preservative of the wax emulsion type, for example) the entire system should be flushed and cleaned periodically. For example, at the close of the working day, or whenever the machine is to be shut down temporarily, the entire system should be flushed and cleaned. This may be done by first emptying the tank compartments either 'by use in spraying lumber or by opening drain plugs 171 in the bottom thereof. With the plugs 171 closed, a quantity of water (say 10 to 15 gallons) may be added to one compartment and the water circulated for a period of time at an increased pressure of about 50 p.s.i. The over-spray may then be returned to the other compartment by means of the return control handle 116 and the one tank pumped empty. This procedure may then be repeated again by adding another 10 to 15 gallons of water to the empty tank and circulating the same under high pressures. After about a total of 5 minutes of such flushing, the water may be returned to the opposite tank compartment. When the flushing has been completed the opposite tank compartment will contain the small amount of wax emulsion left over in the system from the treating just completed plus the 20 to 30 gallons of wash water. Water may now be added to this other compartment to the lever required for the next days operation, thereby preparing the compartment for new wax emulsion concentrate to be added at the start of the next shift. Any time the machine is to be shut down for any extended period of time both tank compartments should be drained and flushed.

The invention now having been described in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes various changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended that such changes and modifications shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A lumber spray machine for spraying lumber with a wood preservative, or like material, comprising a storage tank for material to be sprayed, a spray tunnel comprising a spray tank covered by a hood, a plurality of spray nozzles in the tunnel, said plurality of spray nozzles being intergally formed in a nozzble assembly which is remova-bly mounted in the tunnel, the nozzle assembly comprising a pair of spaced ring-like members interconnected by a pair of spaced guide rails, means for passing lumber through the tunnel, lumber to be sprayed traveling through said ring-like members and between said guide rails in passing through the tunnel, means for pumping material from the storage tank to the nozzles for spraying lumber passed through the tunnel, and means for returning over-spray from the tunnel to the storage tank.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein the nozzle assembly includes a header attached to the spaced ring-like members and extending therebetween, means connecting the nozzles to the said header, and detachable coupling means for connecting the header to the said means for pumping material from the storage tank.

3. A lumber spray tunnel within which lumber passing therethrough may be sprayed with a wood preservative, or like material, said. spray tunnel comprising a spray tank, a hood to cover the spray tank and movable between open and closed conditions, a spray assembly including a plurality of spray nozzles, means including a readily disconnectable coupling for connecting the spray assembly to a source :of material to be sprayed, and means readily removably mounting the spray assembly in the spray tank, the said spray assembly being readily removable from an replaceable in the spray tank when the said hood is moved to an opened condition and said coupling is disconnected, said hood being of a generally semi-cylindrical shape and having flexible slit flaps at the ends thereof through which lumber passes into and out of the tunnel, the semi-cylindrical hood resulting in over spray striking the hood flowing along the inner Wall thereof to the edges and thence dripping into the spray tank Without dripping on the lumber passing through the tunnel.

4. A lumber spray tunnel within which lumber passing therethrough may be sprayed with a Wood preservative, or like material, said spray tunnel comprising a spray tank, a hood adapted to cover the spray tank in a closed hood condition, a spray assembly including a plurality of spray nozzles, means removably mounting the spray assembly in the spray tank, the said spray assembly being removable from and replaceable in the spray tank When said hood is moved to an opened condition, said spray assembly comprising a pair of ringlike members spaced along the longitudinal axis of the tunnel, and a pair of guide rails interconnecting said ringlike members and extending outside of the tunnel beyond the ends thereof, the lumber to be sprayed passing through said ring-like members and between the guide rails.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 including drive rollers extending traversely across the spray tank, the upper surface of the drive rollers being at a greater height than the front and rear walls of the spray tank to permit lumber to pass thereover on the said rollers, and means driving the said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,106 8/1928 Manning 134-82 X 2,651,312 1/1953 McBeth 134-165 X 2,912,988 11/1959 Kochendorffer 134l65 X 3,178,745 4/1965 Kleebauer 1577 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,256,013 2/1961 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. DANIEL BLUM, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LUMBER SPRAY MACHINE FOR SPRAYING LUMBER WITH A WOOD PRESERVATIVE, OR LIKE MATERIAL, COMPRISING A STORAGE TANK FOR MATERIAL TO BE SPRAYED, A SPRAY TUNNEL COMPRISING A SPRAY TANK COVERED BY A HOOD, A PLURALITY OF SPRAY NOZZLES IN THE TUNNEL, SAID PLURALITY OF SPRAY NOZZLES BEING INTERGRALLY FORMED IN A NOZZLE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE TUNNEL, THE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED RING-LIKE MEMBERS INTERCONNECTED BY A PAIR SPACED GUIDE RAILS, MEANS FOR PASSING LUMBER THROUGHT THE TUNNEL, LUMBER TO BE SPRAYED TRAVELING THROUGH SAID RING-LIKE MEMBERS AND BETWEEN SAID GUIDE RAILS IN PASSING THROUGH THE TUNNEL, MEANS FOR PUMPING MATERIAL FROM THE STORAGE TANK TO THE NOZZLE FOR SPRAYING LUMBER PASSED THROUGH THE TUNNEL, AND MEANS FOR RETURNING OVER-SPRAY FROM THE TUNNEL TO THE STORAGE TANK.