US3410489A - Automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump - Google Patents

Automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump Download PDF

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Publication number
US3410489A
US3410489A US607488A US60748867A US3410489A US 3410489 A US3410489 A US 3410489A US 607488 A US607488 A US 607488A US 60748867 A US60748867 A US 60748867A US 3410489 A US3410489 A US 3410489A
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United States
Prior art keywords
spray
pump
spray boom
boom
pivot
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US607488A
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English (en)
Inventor
John E Waldrum
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Henkel Corp
Union Carbide Corp
Original Assignee
Amchem Products Inc
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Publication date
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Priority to US607488A priority Critical patent/US3410489A/en
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Publication of US3410489A publication Critical patent/US3410489A/en
Assigned to UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION reassignment UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: UNION CARBIDE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D1/00—Dropping, ejecting, releasing, or receiving articles, liquids, or the like, in flight
    • B64D1/16—Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/6851—With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations
    • Y10T137/6855—Vehicle
    • Y10T137/6906—Aerial or water-supported [e.g., airplane or ship, etc.]

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump so constructed that the position of the spray boom can be changed automatically in accordance with changes in wind direction. This is accomplished by means of a vane that is sensitive to the wind direction such that changes in wind direction will actuate a microswitch device which in turn will actuate a motor to bring about a pivoting of the spray boom to align the boom with the new wind direction. It is preferred that the spray boom be in airfoil form and be composed of detachable segments to achieve flexibility and ease of repair. The material to be sprayed is pumped to the spray boom from storage tanks with the liquid level in the storage tanks being maintained at all times below the level of the pump motor, and in this way it is not necessary to provide liquid seals for the pump motor.
  • This invention relates to an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump, and has as its objective the provision of a novel and highly versatile device of this general class.
  • Another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump wherein the spray boom is preferably in the form of an airfoil and is composed of a series of segments for purposes of flexibility and ease of repair.
  • Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system wherein the level of liquid in the herbicide storage tanks is maintained at all times below the level of the pump motor thereby avoiding the necessity of providing liquid seals for the pump motor.
  • Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump which can be erected in a relatively simple manner in accordance with the dimension of the particular helicopter or other air, land or water vehicle involved.
  • Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump that is of relatively simple construction, of relatively low cost and is relatively simple to maintain.
  • an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump wherein the vane or other air direction detecting device is sensitive to changes in air direction or drafts to actuate a microswitch device which in turn drives a motor or other actuating device in a given direction to give rise to a corrective action to change the spray boom inclination and thereby vary the angle of spray discharge in accordance with the previous change in wind direction.
  • the motor is turned off and the spray boom will remain in its new position until there is another change in wind direction or drafts.
  • the spray boom itself is preferably in airfoil form and is comprised of a series of segments including protective snap-on covers such that a given segment may be removed at any time and, if necessary, replaced.
  • a helicopter is fitted with a front spray boom and two side spray booms through mechanical control links which in turn serve to terminate the corrective action when the spray boom position has been lined up with the new wind or draft direction.
  • Another aspect of the present invention relates to maintaining the level of liquid in storage tanks at a point below the height of pump motors, such that it is not necessary to provide liquid seals in connection with the pump motors.
  • FIGURE 1 is a partly schematic top plane view of a helicopter equipped with the spray system of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view with portions eliminated or broken away for the sake of clarity which illustrates a system embodying the spray system of the present invention and in connection with certain helicopter structural members;
  • FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 3;
  • FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View showing the inner end of one of the side spray booms
  • FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain details of a microswitch device that is useable in the present invention.
  • FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;
  • FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing a metallic cover for a spray boom section aobut to be snapped into place.
  • FIGURE is an enlarged detailed view taken from FIGURE 9.
  • FIG. 1 an automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump embodying the present invention.
  • the details of the system 10 are readily apparent by consideration of the other figures of the drawings with particular reference to FIG. 2.
  • the system 10 is adapted to be mounted upon certain conventional structural members of a helicopter.
  • the helicopter support members include skids 12 and 14 with rear up-.
  • saddle tanks 36 are also supported from the skids 12 and 14 by brackets (not shown) with the herbicide being contained in the saddle tanks 36.
  • the herbicide flows through flexible hoses 38 to the impeller 40 of pumps 42. and then is discharged through flexible hoses 44 into the side spray booms 28 and 29 through connections 46 and 48 and also forwardly through line 50 to front spray boom 30.
  • a microswitch mechanism 52 (microswitch means) is provided and actuated by changes in direction of vane 54 (air direction detecting means) that is sensitive to changes in air direction. Should the vane 54 be deflected upwardly or downwardly by changes in air direction, the microswitch 52 will be actuated to turn on motor or actuator 56 (actuating means) that causes the front spray boom 30 to pivot in a particular direction and thereby give rise to a corrective action.
  • the vane 54 is a flat plate terminating in inclined rear edge 66.
  • the vane 54 is secured to a pivot link 68 (pivot link means) which extends through and beyond the microswitch device 52.
  • the pivot link 68 is pivotally secured to the switch plate 72 by means of floating pivot 74.
  • the pivot link 68 is secured to the switch plate 72 in such a manner that when the pivot link 68 moves in either a clockwise or counterclockwise sense, such movement will not cause any corresponding movement of switch plate 72.
  • FIG. 8 The actual connection of the pivot link 68 and the switch plate 72 can be observed in FIG. 8 wherein it can be observed that an elongated stem 76 passes through the pivot link 68 and then continues to pass through the forward upright 20 with a nut 78 being employed to secure the stem 76 against the upright 20 as shown in FIG. 8.
  • Appropriate spacer members such :as the sleeve 80 are employed, and also appropriate washers 82 and 84 are used to allow the relative movement of the pivot link 68 and with respect to the switch plate 72 and vice versa.
  • the blocks 86 are spaced from each other to define a passageway 90 through which pivot link 68 passes. Also positioned in the passageway 90 are resilient springs 92 which extend from the opposing inner surfaces of the blocks 86. The springs 92 are also in bearing contact with the pivot link 68 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.
  • pivot link 68 snugly passes between the opposed springs 92 or is gripped thereby. This has the effect of forcing the springs 92 against their bias into bearing relationship with the contacts 94. However, the contacts 94 are so set that they will remain open until a somewhat greater force is exerted upon them as when the pivot link pivots upwardly or downwardly. Limit bolts 96 are provided to prevent the pivoting of the pivot link 68 beyond a given point.
  • the actuator 56 includes an arm 100 which will thereby be driven in either a clockwise or counterclockwise sense, and this will have the effect of urging rod 102 either forwardly or backwardly as can be observed in FIG. 5. Since the rod 102 is connected at 104 to the plate 64, the movement of the rod 102 will be directly reflected in a corresponding movement of the central plate 64.
  • the central plate 64 is in turn coupled to the two main sections of the forward spray boom 30 by means of bolts 106 which pass through couplers 108.
  • the actuator 56 and in particular the rod 102 will cause the plate 64 to pivot about a pivot point 110 which is the connection of the support frame 32 to the plate 64. Since the support frames 32 are stationary, and since the top portion of the plate 64 is being moved by actuation of the rod 102, this will give rise to a pivoting action about the pivot point 110.
  • the pivoting of the plate 64 in turn causes a corresponding pivoting of the sections comprising the front boom 30.
  • This in turn automatically gives rise to a corresponding pivoting action in the pivot plates 60 that are similarly coupled to the sections of the front boom 30 at the ends thereof.
  • the aforesaid pivoting action of the pivot plate 60 is conveyed through control links 57 backwardly through the pivot plates 62 that are associated with the interior ends of the side booms 28 and 29.
  • the side boom 29 is coupled to the pivot plate 62 through coupler 112 and associated bolts (not shown).
  • a collar 114 is provided which encircles upright 20 (see FIG. 2).
  • a connecting rod 116 extends from the collar 114 toward pivot plate 62 with a link 118 actually making a pivotal connection between rod 116 and pivot plate 62.
  • the movement of the control rod 58 is in essence a way of sending a corrective signal to the microswitch device 52, and the movement of the control rod 58 is in essence an accurate reflection of the pivoting of the spray booms 28, 29 and 30.
  • the switch plate 72 is realigned with respect to the pivot link 68 a point will be reached that the contacts 94 will be opened, and this will stop movement of actuator 56.
  • Spray booms 28, 29 and 30 will therefore remain in their new positions until there is another change in wind or draft which causes a'new tilting of the vane 54, and in turn causes new movement of the pivot link 68 to close one of the contacts 94.
  • the liquid herbicide is contained in saddle tanks 36, and may flow through flexible hoses 38 to the impeller 40 of pumps 42 with the pressurized herbicide then being discharged through flexible hoses 44 into the side spray booms 28 and 29 by means of connections 46 and 48 as best shown in FIG. 4. However, a certain proportion of the herbicide will pass forwardly through line 50 to enter at either one of the outer ends of front spray boom 30'.
  • connection 46 essentially comprises a run of pipe 130 with the connection 48 comprising another length of pipe 132 that are joined together at one end by connection 134. Bridging structural links 136 are provided.
  • FIGS. 9- and 10 relate to the manner of building up a particular spray boom to achieve desired dimensions.
  • the spray boom is comprised of a series of spray sections 144.
  • a spray head is usable in the present invention.
  • the spray sections 144 are built up to provide a particular spray boom.
  • Each spray section 144 includes a plastic body 146 having discharge openings 148 as well as a backwardly extending stem 150 with a telescoped spring 152.
  • the stem 150 terminates in a tip 154 that is positioned in an appropriate opening 140 in pipe section 132.
  • the liquid herbicide can travel through an opening in the tip 154 and then through a connecting opening in the stem 150 into the body of the spray head 154 which, as stated previously, is filled with an absorptive material.
  • the liquid herbicide finally is discharged through openings 148.
  • the stem 150 is preferably integral with the body 146, so that when the tip 154 is pushed toward pipe section 132 the spring 152 will be compressed the spray sections 144 may be built along pipe section 132 to cover the length thereof.
  • Each spray section 144 will be held in place by means of an individual cover 156 which is essentially U-shaped to include an upper section 158 and a lower section 160 that are integral with each other.
  • both the upper section 158 and the lower section 160 terminate in opposed lips 162 that may be seated in a corresponding slot in the body 146 of the spray section 144.
  • the actual application of the cover 156 is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the lower lip 162 has already been seated in place with the lower section 160 of the cover 156 being brought beneath the particular spray section 144 as well as pipes 130 and 132. Then the upper section 158 of the cover is brought above the pipes 130 and 132 as well as above the spray section 144, and finally the upper lip 162 is seated or snapped in place.
  • the various segments of the spray boom can be built up as desired using the spray sections 144 and covers 156. As shown in FIG. 4, an end plate is also utilized to cap off the modular structure at any desired length of spray boom.
  • the spray sections 144 are preferably in airfoil shape to give additional control of the spray pattern in creating uniform air currents.
  • the pump motor is positioned at an elevation above the level of herbicide liquid in the tanks 36, and in this way it is not necessary to provide liquid seals for the pump motor.
  • An automatically adjustable spray system comprising at least one spray boom having discharge openings, and means to deliver liquid to said spray boom, said spray boom being moveable by actuating means, air direction detecting means sensitive to changes in wind direction and drafts which give rise to a new wind direction, said air direction detecting means being adapted to turn on microswitch means in response to changes in wind direction, said microswitch means thereby turning on said actuating means to drive said spray boom in a corrective action to align said spray boom in accordance with the new wind direction, and control rod means associated with said microswitch means and said spray boom to turn off said microswitch means when said spray boom has been substantially aligned with said new wind direction.
  • the invention of claim 2 including a front spray boom and two side spray booms, said front spray boom being driven by said actuating means and mechanical control links connecting said front spray boom and side spray booms whereby the pivoting of said front spray boom is conveyed to said side spray booms.
  • said air direc tion detecting means is a vane which extends from a pivot link that is moveably attached to a switch plate which carries the contact points of said microswitch means with said pivot link being moveable independently of said switch plate and said switch plate being moveable independently of said pivot link.
  • movement of said vane also causes movement of said pivot link to apply sufiicient pressure to said contact points thereby turning on said microswitch means and in turn turning on said actuating means.
  • control rod means are moved in accordance with movement of said spray boom with said control rod means being attached to said switch plate whereby movement of said spray boom urges said control rod means to move said switch plate and thereby relieve the pressure exerted by said pivot link against at least one of said contact points to the extent necessary to turn off said microswitch means when said spray boom has been substantially aligned with said new wind direction.
  • a spray boom comprising a length of pipe having a plurality of spaced openings, and spray sections adapted to be individually received in said openings, said spray sections each including a body having discharge openings and a stem terminating in a tip that is received in one of the pipe openings, said stem and said tip having a continuous internal bore to permit liquid to pass from said pipe and into said body and thereafter be sprayed through said discharge openings, a spring telescoped about said stem and a cover for each of said spray sections, said cover including opposed lips that are seated in corresponding slots in said body.
US607488A 1967-01-05 1967-01-05 Automatically adjustable airfoil spray system with pump Expired - Lifetime US3410489A (en)

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3494423A (en) * 1968-03-05 1970-02-10 Richard S Stansbury Airborne fire suppression system
US3558005A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-01-26 Us Army Aerial chemical dispenser
US3844308A (en) * 1969-07-30 1974-10-29 Tri Matic Dirigible irrigation system
US4412654A (en) * 1981-09-11 1983-11-01 The Regents Of The University Of California Laminar microjet atomizer and method of aerial spraying of liquids
US5110048A (en) * 1990-12-03 1992-05-05 Dowelanco Spray nozzles
US5904165A (en) * 1993-02-18 1999-05-18 Mclean Ian Hydro service system assembly

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2659556A (en) * 1950-08-16 1953-11-17 Friedrich L U Doblhoff Method of distributing insecticides or fungicides and steam jet-driven helicopter for performing same
US2941753A (en) * 1954-09-03 1960-06-21 Ripper Walter Eugene Aerial spraying of land or crops
US2979273A (en) * 1958-12-08 1961-04-11 Dorsey M Liebhart Spray boom for aircraft
US3084890A (en) * 1959-04-16 1963-04-09 Richard E Hyde Airplane liquid-spraying unit
US3284009A (en) * 1961-05-02 1966-11-08 Hercules Inc Apparatus for mixing and dispensing fluids

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2659556A (en) * 1950-08-16 1953-11-17 Friedrich L U Doblhoff Method of distributing insecticides or fungicides and steam jet-driven helicopter for performing same
US2941753A (en) * 1954-09-03 1960-06-21 Ripper Walter Eugene Aerial spraying of land or crops
US2979273A (en) * 1958-12-08 1961-04-11 Dorsey M Liebhart Spray boom for aircraft
US3084890A (en) * 1959-04-16 1963-04-09 Richard E Hyde Airplane liquid-spraying unit
US3284009A (en) * 1961-05-02 1966-11-08 Hercules Inc Apparatus for mixing and dispensing fluids

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3494423A (en) * 1968-03-05 1970-02-10 Richard S Stansbury Airborne fire suppression system
US3558005A (en) * 1968-11-06 1971-01-26 Us Army Aerial chemical dispenser
US3844308A (en) * 1969-07-30 1974-10-29 Tri Matic Dirigible irrigation system
US4412654A (en) * 1981-09-11 1983-11-01 The Regents Of The University Of California Laminar microjet atomizer and method of aerial spraying of liquids
US5110048A (en) * 1990-12-03 1992-05-05 Dowelanco Spray nozzles
US5904165A (en) * 1993-02-18 1999-05-18 Mclean Ian Hydro service system assembly

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Owner name: UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION A CORP. OF N.Y.

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:UNION CARBIDE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:003903/0689

Effective date: 19810608

Owner name: UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:UNION CARBIDE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:003903/0689

Effective date: 19810608