US3447755A

US3447755A - Spray nozzle and alignment arrangement therefor

Info

Publication number: US3447755A
Application number: US599056A
Authority: US
Inventors: Horace A Cartwright
Original assignee: HORACE A CARTWRIGHT
Current assignee: HORACE A CARTWRIGHT
Priority date: 1966-12-05
Filing date: 1966-12-05
Publication date: 1969-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1986-06-03

Description

June 3, 1969 H. A. CARTWRIGHT 3,447,755

SPRAY NOZZLE AND ALIGNMENT ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR Sheet Filed Dec. 5, 1966 INVENTOR //0mce @fi/WWM Sk W ATTORNEYS June 3, 1969 H. A. CARTWRIGHT 34,447,755

SPRAY NOZZLE AND ALIGNMENT ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR iled Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet i of 2 INVENTOR United States Patent U.S. Cl. 239-551 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spray nozzle assembly is provided including an adapter with external threads to be threaded Within a bore in a supporting body. The nozzle tip means is mounted within the adapter by a quick disconnect arrangement including a U-shaped member which passes through holes provided in the adapter and is received within grooves formed in the nozzle tip. A tool is provided for adjusting the angular position of the nozzles and comprising a generally fiat body having substantially straight parallel opposite edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the desired spacing of the spray orifices of adjacent spray nozzles, the tool including lug means on one edge thereof. A method of aligning the orifices includes placing the lug means of the tool in the orifice of a nozzle to be adjusted and then moving the adapter so that the edge of the tool opposite the lug is aligned with the center of the slot of an adjacent previously adjusted nozzle.

The present invention relates to a new and novel spray nozzle assembly and alignment arrangement therefor as used in connection with road coating or spraying machinery.

The present invention represents an improvement over the spray nozzle as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,132,- 809 which also discloses spray nozzle means as used in road spraying machinery. In the operation of such machinery, it is frequently necessary to change the spray nozzles in accordance with the type of material being sprayed, and it is thereby desirable to include means for facilitating quick and easy changing of the spray nozzles.

In the aforementioned U.S. patent, means is disclosed for quickly and easily changing the spray nozzles, but this arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that the spray orifices of the nozzles are arranged in a fixed angular relationship to the supporting structure or spray bar of the road surfacing machine.

In the present invention, means is also provided for quickly and easily removing and replacing the spray nozzle assemblies, and at the same time the angular relationship of the spray orifices may be adjusted as desired, any angular relationship being readily obtained with this arrangement. Accordingly, the advantages of the aforementioned U.S. patent are obtained while additionally providing the further advantage of enabling ready adjustment of the angular relationship of the spray orifices to the supporting spray bar.

Another important feature of the present invention is the fact that the spray nozzle assembly of the present in-' vention includes adapter means which enables the assembly to be employed either with present road coating or spraying machinery now in use or it may be installed on new equipment. Presently existing equipment may be readily modified by either threading the adapter means of the present invention into threaded holes which receive the spray nozzles now in use, or by boring out such holes and threading them to receive the adapter means of the present invention. For example, an arrangement as shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,330,568 may be readily modified 3,447,755 Patented June 3, 1969 ice with the incorporation of the concepts of the present invention. As seen in this latter patent, spray nozzles 25 are simply threaded into operative position. It is apparent that with this type of arrangement adjacent spray nozzles in all likelihood are not properly aligned in parallel relationship, but in actual practice with spraying machines now in use, it has been found that the spray orifices of the various spray nozzles will be disposed at many different angles with respect to one another. There is no means provided in this kind of arrangement for aligning the spray orifices in proper orientation and then for quickly removing the spray orifices and subsequently replacing them in proper orientation without considerable difficulty. Due to the position of these spray nozzles on the machine, unless a special tool is available, the only way the spray nozzles can be replaced with the spray orifices in proper relationship is for a mechanic to lie down on the ground and then adjust the spray nozzle as it is replaced to obtain the proper orientation.

In the present invention, the adapter means is adapted to be threaded into position to replace the spray nozzle such as illustrated at 25 in the latter mentioned U.S. patent. The spray nozzle of the present invention is then secured in position Within the adapter means and initially adjusted to its proper relationship. After this initial adjustment is made, the attaching means of the present invention enables the spray nozzle to be readily removed and replaced with respect to the adapter means in the exact same relative relationship each time so that once the initial adjustment is made, it is never necessary to re-adjust the nozzles.

Accordingly, with the arrangement of the present invention, it is evident that the assemblies including the adapter means and the nozzle tip means supported thereby may be initially adjusted to any desired angular relationship with respect to the supporting spray bar whereupon the nozzle tip means may be removed and replaced from time to time without the necessity of making any further adjustments.

It is apparent that the arrangement of the present invention is equally adaptable for use with new equipment or with prior art equipment now in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel spray nozzle assembly including adapter means whereby the assembly is equally adaptable for use with presently existing road coating or spraying machinery or with new equipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and novel spray nozzle assembly which can be initially accurately adjusted such that a plurality of nozzles can be arranged in desired orientation to one another at any suitable angle to the support structure and wherein means is provided for easily and quickly removing and replacing the nozzle tip means of the nozzle assembly so that the spray orifices will be disposed in the same relative position to the support structure each time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel tool for aligning a plurality of adjacent spray nozzles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of aligning the plurality of adjacent spray nozzles.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying draw- FIG. 3 is a top exploded perspective view of the nozzle assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a spray bar illustrating the method of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the novel tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a blank plug to be mounted in the adapter means of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the nozzle assembly showing a modified attaching means.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a portion of a supporting structure of spray bar including an outer wall portion 10 and an internal wall portion 12 defining with wall portion 10 a manifold 13 adapted to receive liquid to be sprayed from the associated spray assemblies. A pair of valve bodies 14 and 14' have the opposite end portions thereof of reduced dimension and received within suitable holes provided in wall portion 12 and a lower wall portion 16. The construction of the components associated with valve body 14' is identical with that discussed in connection with valve body 14, and accordingly the same reference numerals primed will be applied thereto.

Valve body 14 is provided with a first enlarged bore portion 20 which tapers to a smaller bore portion 22 which in turn communicates with a laterally tapered bore as seen most clearly in FIG. 2. Bore 24 in turn is in communication with an enlarged chamber portion 26 at the bottom of the valve body, the lower internal wall of chamber 26 being internally threaded as indicated by reference numeral 28.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, a rotatable valve member 30 of tapered outer configuration is snugly received within the tapered lateral bore 24 in the valve body and has a passage 32 formed therethrough which is adapted to be aligned with the adjacent passages in the valve body so that when the passage 32 is so aligned, liquid will pass downwardly from the manifold 13 to the spray nozzle assembly.

Valve member 30 is integral with an outwardly extending shaft 36 supported within a member 38 and a seal assembly 40 provides a liquid-tight seal with shaft 36. The outer end of shaft 36 is fixed to an arm 42 the upper end of which is bifurcated and pivotally interconnected with a suitable operating member 44 through the intermediary of a pivot pin 46.

It is apparent that valve member 30 serves as a cutoff valve and may be selectively operated for cuttmg off any one or more of the individual nozzle assembhes along the spray bar. It should also be understood that this cutoff valve may be positioned at other suitable locations or eliminated if desired and do not form a part of the present invention.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in FIG. 3, the adapter means of the present invention includes a generally cylindrical member 50 having a longitudinal bore 52 formed therethrough. The adapter means is provided with screw thread means 54 on the outer surface thereof extending downwardly from the top thereof and spaced from the bottom thereof, this screw thread means being adapted to cooperate with the internal threads 28 formed in chamber 26 of the body 14 for securing the adapter means in operative position within the supporting body. A pair of lateral bores 56 extend through the adapter means, these lateral bores 56 intersecting the previously described longitudinal bore 52 and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower part of the longitudinal bore formed through the adapter means is of greater cross sectional dimension than the upper part of this bore so as to form an internal annular shoulder 58 within the adapter means for limiting the inward move ment of the nozzle tip means hereinafter described.

The nozzle tip means as seen in FIG. 3 is indicated generally by reference numeral 60 and includes a substantially cylindrical outer surface 62 which is adapted to-be received within the lower enlarged part of the longitudinal bore formed through the adapter means. Nozzle tip means 60 has a longitudinal passage 64 formed therethrough which is in communication with an elongated spray orifice 66 at the lower or outer end of the nozzle tip means. A pair of grooves 68 are formed on the outer surface of the nozzle tip means at diametrically opposite sides thereof.

The attaching means as seen most clearly in FIG. 3 is indicated generally by reference numeral 70 and comprises a substantially U-shaped member formed of spring steel or similar material. The attaching means includes

opposite leg portions

72 and 74 interconnected by a bight portion 76.

Referring again to FIGS. land 2, the assembled interrelationship of the adapter means and nozzle tip means is clearly illustrated. The inner 'or upper portion of the nozzle tip means is snugly received within the lower part of the longitudinal bore formed in the adapter means. When the upper end of the nozzle tip means-is in interengagement with the annular internal shoulder 58 formed in the adapter means, the nozzle tip means may be rotated so as to align the grooves 68 thereof with the lateral bores 56 formed in the adapter means. When the grooves and lateral bores are aligned, the

legs

72 and 74 of the attaching means are inserted into operative position through the lateral bores 56 and within the grooves 68 so as to positively retain the nozzle tip means in operative position within the adapter means. If it is desired to remove the nozzle tip means, the attaching means is simply removed from its operative position whereupon the nozzle tip means can be simply slid out of the adapter means. It is of course a simple operation to replace the nozzle tip means when desired.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a difierent type of attaching means is illustrated. In this view, the 'same adapter means and nozzle tip means are illustrated. The attaching means in this arrangement takes the form of a cotter pin which extends through an aligned lateral bore in the adapter means and a groove in the nozzle tip means. The outer ends 82 and 84 of the cotter pin are spread apart so as to positively retain the adapter means and nozzle tip means in the proper operative relationship with respect to one another.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a modification is illustrated wherein a blank plug is shown which is adapted to be substituted for the nozzle tip means previously illustrated. The blank plug is indicated generally by reference numeral and includes a cylindrical body portion 92 of the same outer dimension as the outer surface of the nozzle tip means 60 previously described. An enlarged head portion 94 is formed at one end of the blank plug.

The outer surface of the portion 92 of the blank plug is provided with a pair of grooves 96 at diametrically opposite portions thereof, these grooves corrosponding to the grooves 68 formed in the nozzle tip means. A sealing gasket 98 is provided, this gasket being adapted to be compressed between the enlarged head 94 and the undersurface, of the adapter means previously described.

If it should be desired to close ofi one or more of the outlets of liquid from the spray bar, the attaching means can be removed so as to slide the nozzle tip means out of the operative position shown in FIGS. 1 and, 2, whereupon the blank-plug 90 along with its gasket 98 may be mounted in place of the nozzle tip means. It will be understood that the portion 92 of the blank plug means can be slid upwardly within the lower enlarged part of the longitudinal bore through the adapter means, .whereand 108 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the desired spacing of the spray orifices of adj acent spray nozzle assemblies.

A l-ug means or key 110 is fixedly secured to the edge 106 as by welding indicated at reference numeral 112. The upper surface 114 of the lug means may be arcuate in configuration so as to be relatively snugly received within the spray orifice of a nozzle tip means, such spray orifice having a corresponding configuration as seen in cross section.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the method of aligning the spray nozzles with the tool previously described is illustrated. The method may be described in connection with the two nozzle assemblies as previously illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 4 which is a bottom view of the spray bar, a guard 120 is secured to the spray nozzle assembly 122 which has already been adjusted into the desired angular relationship with respect to the spray bar. It will be noted that the spray orifice 122' of the nozzle assembly 122 is disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the spray bar, and thi angular relationship may be varied according to the operating conditions involved.

An adjacent nozzle assembly 124 is illustrated in its adjusted position with the spray orifice 124 thereof disposed substantially parallel with the spray orifice 122'. The nozzle tip means 60' has also been pre-adjusted so that the spray orifice 66' thereof is disposed in parallel relationship with the spray orifices of the two

spray assemblies

122 and 124.

After the adapter means 50 and the nozzle tip means 60 have been assemblied with respect to one another and the adapter means threaded into operative position as shown in FIG. 5, the tool 100 is employed by placing the lug means 110 thereof within the spray orifice of nozzle tip means 60. The adapter is then turned by means of a small pipe wrench or vice grips as for example shown in FIG. 4 from the phantom line position into the solid line position wherein the edge 108 is aligned with the center of the spray orifice 66' of the previously adjusted spray nozzle assembly. When the tool is in the position shown in FIG. 4, it is apparent that the spray orifice of the nozzle tip means 60 will be disposed in parallel relationship with the spray orifice 66' of the previously adjusted spray nozzle assembly. The tool is then removed from the spray orifice of the nozzle tip means 60 and may be employed with the next adjacent spray nozzle assembly 130 to adjust it in a similar manner. It is apparent that once the outer spray nozzle assembly 122 has been adjusted, the adjacent nozzle assemblies may be successively adjusted in a manner similar to that just described.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel spray nozzle assembly including adapter means for use with present road coating or spraying machinery or which may be equally as well employed with new equipment. Means is provided for initially accurately setting a plurality of spray nozzles in a desired orientation with respect to a supporting structure and to one another, and the spray orifices of the various spray nozzle assemblies may be set at any desired angle relative to the supporting structure. Means is provided for easily and quickly removing and replacing the nozzle tip means of the nozzle assemblies wherein the spray orifices will be in the same relative position to one another each time they are replaced. A novel tool is provided for aligning a plurality of adjacent spray nozzles, and a novel method is provided for aligning a plurality of adjacent spray nozzles.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms Without departing from the spirit 'or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a spray apparatus an elongated spray bar having an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion defining a manifold and a lower wall portion in spaced relation to said inner wall portion, spaced valve bodies extending downwardly from said inner wall portion and traversing said space, and having their upper and lower ends extending through and secured in said inner wall portion and said lower wall portion respectively, said valve body having an axial bore and valve member traversing said bore and including a shaft extending through the outer wall of said bar and carrying an operating arm, the lower end of said valve body having an adapter means threaded into said axial bore with a portion projecting therefrom, said adapter being cylindrical and having a longitudinal bore, a nozzle tip, and readily detachable means securing said nozzle tip within the bore of said adapter.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said projecting portion of said adapter means includes lateral bore means formed therein extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal bore thereof, said lateral bore means opening through the outer surface of said adapter means, said nozzle tip means including groove means formed in the outer surface thereof and adapted to be aligned with said lateral bore means in the adapter means when the inner end of said nozzle tip means is in engagement with said internal shoulder of the adapter means, said attaching means extending through the aligned lateral bore means and groove means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower part of the longitudinal bore in said adapter means is of enlarged cross sectional dimension so as to define an internal shoulder within said longitudinal bore of the adapter means, the inner end of said nozzle tip means resting against said internal shoulder to limit inward move ment of the nozzle tip means, said projecting portion of said adapter means having lateral bore means formed therethrough and extending in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal bore and opening through the outer surface of said adapter means, said nozzle tip means having groove means adapted to be aligned with said lateral bore means when the inner end of said nozzle tip means is in engagement with the internal shoulder of the longitudinal bore in said adapter means, said attaching means extending through the aligned lateral bore means of the adapter means and the groove means of said nozzle tip means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1940 Walker 239 -551 5/1964 Cartwright 239-569 US. Cl. X.R.