US3552650A

US3552650A - Liquid diffusion spraying mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3552650A
Application number: US686425A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith Hilton Patrick
Original assignee: Ring Around Products Inc
Current assignee: W & A MANUFACTURING COMPANY Inc PINE BLUFF AR A CORP OF
Priority date: 1967-11-29
Filing date: 1967-11-29
Publication date: 1971-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-05

Abstract

A liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism having an air motor for driving a rotary cage or slinger which carries impeller blades outwardly of the cage. A nozzle, passing through the central portion of the air motor, discharges liquid against a central baffle which deflects the liquid outwardly. Thence, the liquid passes through a peripheral screen in the cage and is broken up in small particles which are slung into the path of air created by the impeller blades. A group of the liquid diffusion-spraying mechanisms are readily arranged on a spray boom in spaced relationship, the axes of the mechanisms being parallel to each other. The air motors are arranged in series so that compressed air from a single source passes successively through the air motors for driving each of them. Valves are provided by which one or several of the mechanisms may be shut off.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Keith Hilton Patrick Auburn, Ala.

Appl. No. 686,425

Filed Nov. 29, 1967 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Assignee Ring Around Products, Inc.

Montgomery, Ala. a corporation of Delaware LIQUID DIFFUSION SPRAYING MEQIIANISM 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 239/8, 239/216, 239/224 Int. Cl A0ln 17/02 Field of Search 239/7, 77, 78,l60,162,172,176, 223, 224, 222, 567, 216, 8; 261/30, 88

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,979,269 4/1961 Bals 239/222X 3,053,314 9/1962 McGillis et al 239/224X 6/1963 MacChesney 10/1966 Clancy etal.

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Newton, Hopkins, Jones and Onnsby ABSTRACT: A liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism having an air motor for driving a rotary cage or slinger which carries impeller blades outwardly of the cage. A nozzle, passing through the central portion of the air motor, discharges liquid against a central baffle which deflects the liquid outwardly. Thence, the liquid passes through a peripheral screen in the cage and is broken up in small particles which are slung into the path of air created by the impeller blades.

A group of the liquid diffusion-spraying mechanisms are readily arranged on a spray boom in spaced relationship, the axes of the mechanisms being parallel to each other. The air motors are arranged in series so that compressed air from a single source passes successively through the air motors for driving each of them. Valves are provided by which one or several of the mechanisms may be shutoff.

ill...

LIQUID DIFFUSION SPRAYING MECHANISM SPECIFICATION This invention relates to a liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism and is more particularly concerned with an agricultural instrument which will finely divide liquids, such as liquid pesticides, and distribute the finely divided liquid over a relatively large area. I g

In the past, various instruments have been devised for dividing liquids and for distributing the same over relatively wide areas. Such devices have found wide application in creating fogs for the destruction of various pests, such as mosquitoes, flies, bowl weevils, and various other insects, fungi, and bacteria. Such instruments may also be found useful in distributing liquid fertilizers.

The prior art devices have either distributed relatively large volumes of the liquid or have been relatively complicated and expensive. One such mechanism involves the generation of high temperature gasses which pass at high velocity through a nozzle and entrain the liquid so that' the liquid is also discharged at a high velocity from the nozzle. Of course, in finely dividing the liquid and in subjecting it to relatively high temperatures, there may be a breakdown of the chemicals in the liquid to be dispensed. Therefore, while such mechanisms are quite effective in discharging relatively large volumes of liquid, their uses may be limited, especially when organic halogens are to be dispensed orwhere a small quantity of liquid per acre is to be dispensed.

Other types of prior art liquid-spraying mechanisms have been used, and some have attemptedto discharge low and ultra low volumes of finely divided liquids. Such machines, known as the Fischer and I-Iahn machines, employ the carburetor principle using a large volume of compressed air at low pressure. Another type of machine is'known as the John Blue machine and works on the principle of blowing a large volume of air across spray nozzles which discharge fine sprays into the blast of air.

Various liquids, such as liquid fertilizers, which may be dispensed with such mechanisms, are quite corrosive and, therefore, may attack the mechanisms, particularly where small orifices are involved. Therefore, maintenance of such prior art devices is a major factor and is, at times, expensive.

The present machine is different both in structure and method of operation from the prior art discussed above. It has a perforated annular web which, upon rotation, functions as a diffuser and a slinger for chopping the liquid into finely divided form and then slinging it radially outwardly for entrainment in a stream or blast of air.

Briefly described, the present invention, which is believed to obviate the problems described above, includes a motor, preferably an air motor, which rotates the slinger or cage. The slinger or cage is a cylindrical housing, the periphery of which isformed by a screen or perforated web. The liquid to be dispensed is passed by a central nozzle through the interior of the motor and is discharged into the central interior of the housing, as the housing is rotated about its axis. Circumferentially spaced blades project-in radial directions from the housing so that, as the housing is rotated, the blades create an upwardly diverging conical discharge of air which passes over the peripheral surface of the screen. The liquid, upon being discharged into the interior of the housing, impinges upon a deflector or baffle which forms a primary diffuser and the liquid is directed thereby outwardly, passing eventually through the peripheral screen which forms a secondary diffuser and also acts as an accellerator which carries the liquid in an orbital path at such a velocity that the liquid, in fine droplet form, is slung by centrifugal force radially into the air blast. By controlling the speed of rotation, the particle size of the liquid is controlled and by controlling the amount of liquid passing through the nozzle, the volume discharged per acre may be varied as desired. Indeed, quite small volumes of liquid can be adequately entrained in quite large volumes of air and distributed over large areas.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid diffusion spraying mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure, and efficient in operation.

liquid and entrain it in a flow of air so that the liquid may be deposited over a relatively wide area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-spraying mechanism which may be readily and easily arranged to be operated in conjunction with other similar mechanisms.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-spraying assembly which consists of a series of liquidspraying mechanisms operated in conjunction with each other to discharge liquid in finely divided form over a relatively wide area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-spraying mechanism in which both the particle size and the rate at which the liquid is sprayed may be varied independently of each other. v I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-spraying mechanism which may be readily and easily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning purposes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 isa side elevational view of that portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the nozzle of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;' and FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view, partially broken away, of a liquid-spraying assembly having three liquid-spraying mechanisms, such as illustrated in. FIG. 1, arranged in spaced relationship on a spray boom.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 10 denotes, generally, a cylindrical air motor 10 having a body 11, an upper bearing housing 12, and a lower bearing housing 13. An elongated cylindrical shaft 14 projects from the upper bearing housing 12, upwardly along the axis of the motor 10. The shaft 14 is provided with a hollow cylindrical bore 15 which communicated with the hollow interior of motor 10. The vanes (not shown) of the air motor 10 are driven by air which is introduced through intake port 16 and is discharged through discharge port 17. The vanes (not shown) in turn, rotate shaft 14 about its axis.

The lower bearing housing 13 of motor 10 threadedly receives a hexagonal cap 18, the cap 18 being provided with the central bore aligned with the bore 15 of shaft 14. The cap 18 is internally threaded along its bore and receives the external threads of a sleeve '19 which, in turn, is internally threaded to receive the external threads 20 on'the'shank 26 of a nozzle, denoted generally by numeral 21 and seen best in FIG. 4. -In more detail, the nozzle 21 is a hollow tubular member having a flared end flange 22, at the lower end of shank 26 for rotatably retaining a coupling 23 thereon. The coupling 23 is provided with internal threads 24 .vhich receive the external threads of a coupling on the end of a flexible hose, such as one of the hoses 25, seen in FIG. 5. Hoses 25 lead from a source of liquid (not shown). At the opposite end of the shank 26 from the flange 22, i.e., in the central portion of nozzle 21, the shank 26 is integrally connected to straight cylindrical nozzle body 27 of smaller diameter than shank 26, the nozzle body terminating at a discharge end 28.

When the nozzle 21 is installed in the air motor 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is disposed along the axis of motor and shaft 14 so that the lower end portion of the nozzle 21 protrudes below the air motor 10 while the body 27 projects up through the bore of shaft 14, and projects a short distance above the outer end 29 of the shaft 14. The diameter of nozzle body 27 is slightly less than the diameter of bore 15 and, therefore, does not interfere with the rotation of shaft 14. It will also be seen that the nozzle 21 is disposed concentrically within the air motor 10 and its shaft 14. The nozzle 21 does not rotate, nor does the body 11 or the bearing housings 12 or 13 ofthe air motor 10.

Outwardly of housing 12, the shaft 14 is provided with a collar 30 having a set screw 31 for retaining collar 30 in place on shaft 14. Outwardly of the collar 30, on shaft 14, is a washer 32.

The function of shaft 14 is to rotate a hollow cylindrical cage slinger or housing, denoted generally by the numeral 33. This cylindrical slinger includes a disc-shaped or circular inner spin plate 34 and an opposed complimentary disc-shaped or circular top or outer spin plate 35, which are disposed in spaced relationship, parallel to each other, being held apart by an annular diffusion member 36. The diffusion member 36 is preferably a perforated web or wire screen which separates the liquid into finely divided form. Member 36 is affixed along its lower periphery to the outer periphery of spin plate 34 by means of braising or the like. The upper periphery of screen 36 is fixed to the outer periphery of an annular ring 37, the upper surface of annular ring 37 abutting the peripheral lower surface area of the plate 35. Bolts 38, passing inwardly through the plate 35, and into the ring 37, removably retain plate 35 in place on diffusion member 36. Thus, plate 35 further functions as an access plate. 1

Plate 34 is provided with a central hole through which projects shaft 14, the plate 34 being received on the washer 32, in abutting relationship. Within the interior of the slinger 33 is the outer washer 40 and the retaining nut 41. The washer 40 is received over the end portion of shaft 14 and abuts the inner surface of the spin plate 34. The nut 41 is threadedly received by the external threads at the end portion of the shaft 14. With the nut 41 tightened, the plate 34 is clamped so as to extend radially from shaft 14 and be rotated upon rotation of shaft 14.

A U-shaped strap 42 is disposed within the central portion of the slinger 33, the ends of the

arms

43 and 44 of the U- shaped strap being braised or otherwise affixed to diametrically opposed portions of the washer 40. The

upstanding arms

43 and 44 support a transversely extending body portion 45 parallel to and between

plates

34 and 35. The body 45 extends transversely across the axis of the'shaft 14 and the axis of the body 27 of nozzle 21. The body 45 is disposed in spaced relationship beyond the end 28 of nozzle 21. Therefore, the liquid directed through nozzle 21 is discharged from the end 28 against the body 45 of strap 42. Thence, the liquid is directed by the body 45 of strap 42 outwardly toward the annular diffusion member 36.

As will be seen best in FIG. 1, the plate 34 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced impeller or fan blades 46. These impeller blades 46 extend outwardly and downwardly from the periphery of plate 34, being secured to the lower surface of plate 46, by bolts 47 which pass through the bases 48 of the blades 46. Thus, upon rotation of the plate 34, the blades 46 will force air upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 1, passing this air along the outer surface of the diffuser member 36, and directing the air somewhat conically upwardly and outwardly.

The liquid which is received on the diffuser member 36 passed through the screen and, due to the centrifugal force created on it by being carried in an orbital path by the diffusion member 36, the liquid, in finelydivided form, is flung outwardly into the path of the blast of air created by the impeller blades 46. Thence, the liquid in droplet or finely divided form is distributed by the conically diverging stream of air outwardly and upwardly so that eventually the droplets fall by gravity onto a relatively large area surrounding the mechanism.

Referring specifically to FlG. 5, it will be seen that three of the mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 1 may 'be arranged along a spray boom 100. While various means may be employed for attaching each of thefluid-dispensing mechanisms to the spray boom 100, I prefer to use a simple bracket, such as the brackets 101, which pass around the lower bearing housing 13 of the motor 10. The straps 101 are retained in place by bolts or screws 102 which pass into the boom 100. Thus, each of the fluid-dispensing mechanisms is supported with its axis disposed vertically. They are equally spaced from each other and aligned along the length of the boom 100. An air hose 102 leads from a source of compressed air to the first of a series of the mechanisms, being connected to its port 16. A flexible air hose 103 leads from the discharge port 17 via a cutoff valve 104 to the part 16 of the next adjacent mechanism. An air;

hose 105 leads through a valve 106 to the port 16 of the next subsequent air motor 10. Thus, it is seen that the air motors 10 of the adjacent mechanisms are connected in series. By such an arrangement, quite efficient use of the compressed air ismade in driving all of the air motors 10. Also, any one or several of the air motors may be shut off by closing the

valve

104 or 106. It will be'understood, of course, that when valve- 104 or valve 106 is closed, it is open toatmosphere to permit the upstream air to discharge.

As is customary, the hoses 25 lead to a source of liquid (not shown). I

From the foregoing description, the operation of the present:

device should be apparent. In operation, liquid is introduced through hose 25 into nozzle 21 and thence out of end 28 and against body 45. The body 45 of strap 42 acts as a primary diffuser or deflector which directs the liquid outwardly as the cage or diffusion member 33 is rotated about its axis by motor 10 and shaft 14.

When the liquid strikes the screen diffusion member 36, it is carried with the members 36 in an orbital path whereby the centrifugal force urges the liquid through the member 36 and causes it to be flung outwardly in-droplet form into the air blast created by the impeller blades 46 which arerotated with the slinger 33.

If a screen is used for the diffusion member 36, the liquid dispensed by the mechanisms heretofore described can have a particle size of from approximately 10 microns to approximately 50 microns, depending on the size of screen 36, which is employed, and depending upon the speed of rotation of the screen 36. Furthermore, the presentmechanism is particularly it will be understood by those skilledin the art that many various types of liquids may be dispensed utilizing the equipment of the present invention-Pesticide in liquid form is particularly suited for being dispensed with the present:

mechanism. Such pesticides are conventionally applied in dilute form in combination with various nonphytotoxic' agricultural diluents, or carriers,'in most cases, water. With the present invention, it is feasible to reduce the amount ,of

diluent or carrier or, to do away with this carrier for mostpesticide materials and discharge such materials in a concentrated form.

The present invention is also particularly suited for discharging slurries, as well as true solutions, since no small nozzles and high velocities of discharge are involved except in sofar as the rotating screen slinger 36 is involved.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

discs

34 and 35 are preferably 4 /zinches in diameter. The height of the member 36, i.e., the distance between

plates

34 and 35, is approximately 3 inches. The member 36 is preferably a 40 mesh screen.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A liquid diffusion-spraying head comprising, an endless diffusion member, said diffusion member having a plurality of perforations therein for separating into finely divided form liquid passing therethrough, means for rotatably supporting said diffusion member, impellar means for producing a uniform blast of air axially in one direction along the outside surface of said diffusion member, and means for introducing a liquid into and against the inside surface of said diffusion member, said introducing means including means for passing said liquid along a path coaxial to the axis of rotation of said diffusion member and in said one direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said diffusion member is an annular screen.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein-said diffusion member is an annular perforated sheet, the surface of which is disposed axially with respect to said motor.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein'said means for introducing liquid against the interior surface of said diffusion member includes a nozzle passing axially through and into said diffusion member for directing liquid centrally of screen.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said impeller means directs a flow of air over the outer surface of said diffusion member for progressively entraining the finely divided liquid' in the flow of air and for directing the entrained liquid axially away from said diffusion member.

6. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said diffusion member includes a pair of spaced opposed parallel circular spin plates and an annular screen extending between the peripheries of said plates, one of said plates being provided with a hole through which said liquid is introduced into the interior within said plates and said diffusion member.

7. In a liquid diffusion-spraying means as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said spraying means includes a boom-supporting structure, supporting a plurality of spraying heads in spaced-apart relationship.

8. The structure defined in claim I- wherein said means for directing liquid against said diffusion member includes a nozzle projecting axially into said diffusion member.

9. The structure defined in claim.l' wherein said means for directing liquid against said diffusion member includes anozzle projecting axially through said motor and terminating within the central portion of said diffusion member.

10. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said impeller means is rotatable and mounted coaxially with said diffusion member.

11. In a liquid diffusion-spraying means as definedin claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably supporting said diffusion member comprises a support having a motor supported thereon and wherein said diffusion member is rotatably carried by said motor. j

12. The structure defined in claim 11 wherein said motor includes a shaft for moving said diffusion member about its axis and said diffusion member including a spin plate mounted radially on said shaft for rotation therewith andwherein said diffusion member is a continuous screen extending axially from and carried by said spin plate adjacent the periphery ofsaid spin plate and against which said liquid is directed.

13. The structure defined in claim 12 wherein saidimpeller means including a lurality of impeller blades mounted on said spin plate and ex ending outwardly beyond said screen for creating a flow of air directly over the outer periphery of said screen upon rotation of said spin plate.

14. A liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism including a slinger having a pair of spaced opposed parallel'circular inner and outer spin plates radially disposed with'respect to an axis, an annular screen concentrically disposed with'respect to said axis and an annular ring, said screen beingsecured to the periphery of said inner spin plate and the periphery of said ring, said outer spin plate being removably secured to the outer surface of said ring, said inner spin plate being provided with a central hole, a motor, a shaft on said motor disposed along said axis and fixed to said inner spin plate for rotating said inner spin plate, said outer spin plate, s'aid ring and said screen about said axis, a nozzle projecting through said shaft and terminating within the central portion of said slinger and means communicating with said nozzle for introducing liquid into said nozzle and thence into the interior of said slinger.

15. The structure defined in claim 14 including a liquid deflector strap in the interior of said slinger, said strap having a body portion extending approximately parallel to said plates and disposed therebetween, said strap having a portion thereof in a position to be struck by liquid directed by said nozzle into the interior of said slinger.

16. A method of spraying liquid comprising the steps of; rotating an annular perforated diffusion member, passing air axially in one direction along the outer surface of said diffusion member, directing fluid to be sprayed in said one direction and along a path coaxial to the axis of rotation of I

Claims

1. A liquid diffusion-spraying head comprising, an endless diffusion member, said diffusion member having a plurality of perforations therein for separating into finely divided form liquid passing therethrough, means for rotatably supporting said diffusion member, impellar means for producing a uniform blast of air axially in one direction along the outside surface of said diffusion member, and means for introducing a liquid into and against the inside surface of said diffusion member, said introducing means including means for passing said liquid along a path coaxial to the axis of rotation of said diffusion member and in said one direction.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said diffusion member is an annular perforated sheet, the surface of which is disposed axially with respect to said motor.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing liquid against the interior surface of said diffusion member includes a nozzle passing axially through and into said diffusion member for directing liquid centrally of screen.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said impeller means directs a flow of air over the outer suRface of said diffusion member for progressively entraining the finely divided liquid in the flow of air and for directing the entrained liquid axially away from said diffusion member.

8. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing liquid against said diffusion member includes a nozzle projecting axially into said diffusion member.

9. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing liquid against said diffusion member includes a nozzle projecting axially through said motor and terminating within the central portion of said diffusion member.

11. In a liquid diffusion-spraying means as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably supporting said diffusion member comprises a support having a motor supported thereon and wherein said diffusion member is rotatably carried by said motor.

12. The structure defined in claim 11 wherein said motor includes a shaft for moving said diffusion member about its axis and said diffusion member including a spin plate mounted radially on said shaft for rotation therewith and wherein said diffusion member is a continuous screen extending axially from and carried by said spin plate adjacent the periphery of said spin plate and against which said liquid is directed.

13. The structure defined in claim 12 wherein said impeller means including a plurality of impeller blades mounted on said spin plate and extending outwardly beyond said screen for creating a flow of air directly over the outer periphery of said screen upon rotation of said spin plate.

14. A liquid diffusion-spraying mechanism including a slinger having a pair of spaced opposed parallel circular inner and outer spin plates radially disposed with respect to an axis, an annular screen concentrically disposed with respect to said axis and an annular ring, said screen being secured to the periphery of said inner spin plate and the periphery of said ring, said outer spin plate being removably secured to the outer surface of said ring, said inner spin plate being provided with a central hole, a motor, a shaft on said motor disposed along said axis and fixed to said inner spin plate for rotating said inner spin plate, said outer spin plate, said ring and said screen about said axis, a nozzle projecting through said shaft and terminating within the central portion of said slinger and means communicating with said nozzle for introducing liquid into said nozzle and thence into the interior of said slinger.

16. A method of spraying liquid comprising the steps of; rotating an annular perforated diffusion member, passing air axially in one direction along the outer surface of said diffusion member, directing fluid to be sprayed in said one direction and along a path coaxial to the axis of rotation of said diffusion member, and altering the direction of travel of said liquid within said diffusion member such that said liquid will be imparted by centrifugal force outwardly through openingS in said perforated diffusion member and into the air stream moving axially over the surface of said diffusion member.

17. The structure defined in claim 11 wherein said motor is a fluid motor coaxially mounted with respect to said diffuser.