US3883077A

US3883077A - Sprayer

Info

Publication number: US3883077A
Application number: US441958A
Authority: US
Inventors: Omar V Showalter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-13
Filing date: 1974-02-13
Publication date: 1975-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-13

Abstract

A hand controlled trigger sprayer is provided which is particularly suited for dispensing pesticides in atomized droplets for flushing and contact, for aerosol space treatment and for straight stream spray, for use with a pressure tank containing the liquid to be dispensed and with an auxiliary and controlled supply of gas such as CO2 under pressure. The structure is portable, and includes an auxiliary tubular attachment for crack and crevice treatment.

Description

United States Patet 1 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS ShOwalter' May 13, 1975 541 SPRAYER 1268 1 1 gig/Z88 1 .t 14

['75] Inventor: Omar V. Showalter, Pipersville, Pa. to g l [73] Assignee: William L. Brehm. Atlanta. Ga. Primary Examiner-M Henson d,

Assistant Examiner-John J. Love [22] Filed: 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zachary T. Wobensmith. [21] Appl. No.: 441,958 2nd; Zachary T. Wobensmith, Ill

52 us. 01 239/415; 239/528 [57] ABSTRACT 51 1m. (:1 BOSb 7/12 A hand Controlled tflgger Sprayer 1s provlded whlch 1s [58] Field s 239/414 415 526428 particularly suited for dispensing pesticides in atom- 239/587 583 ized droplets for flushing and contact, for aerosol space treatment and for straight stream spray. for use 5 References Cited with a pressure tank containing the liquid to be dispensed and with an auxiliary and controlled supply of gas such as CO under pressure. The structure is por- 11-958-73O 5/1934 F 239/415 table, and includes an auxiliary tubular attachment for 2,8Q4 343 8/1957 Friedell 239/415 Crack and crevice treatment. 1 2,829,006 4/1958 Johansson 1 239/415 X 3,352,333 11/1967 Glasgow et a1. 239/415 X 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 69 7 0 I M L l PATENIEU HAY I 3 i975 SHEET 10F 2 SPRAYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to sprayers and more particularly to a multi-purpose sprayer which is adjustable to provide the desired liquid particle size.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Various types of dispensers have heretofore been proposed for pest control treatment.

Systems heretofore available required the use of gasoline or electric motors, motor operated pumps, electrical or other power supplies, or were of exceedingly complicated construction if a wide range of adjustability was desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a portable hand trigger controlled sprayer is provided utilizing as independent pressure sources, a source of liquid from a pressurized tank and a supply of gas such as CO from a portable cylinder, with an improved nozzle construction being employed to obtain a very wide range of liquid particle size.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a portable hand operated trigger controlled sprayer having a wide range of adjustability of delivered particle size.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sprayer which utilizes two independent sources of pressure, one for the liquid to be dispensed and one which can be used with the liquid for affecting the liquid particle size and can be directed in a hollow tubular pattern in surrounding relation to the stream of particularized liquid.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a hand trigger operated sprayer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view, enlarged, of the handle portion of the sprayer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view, still further enlarged, of the valve and nozzle portion of the sprayer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of a valve plunger spool removed from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification of the structure of FIG. 3 where a tubular extension is desired for crack or crevice treatment.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings a body 10 is shown, which serves as a handle, can be of molded synthetic plastic, having a pistol grip handle 11 and a manually operable trigger l2, pivoted on a pivot pin 13 in the body 10.

An actuating and control rod 15 extends through an opening 16 in and is connected to the trigger 12 by a pivot pin 17. The rear end of the rod 15 is slidably carried and guided in a bushing 18 in the body. The rod 15 extends forwardly through a bushing 19 rigidly carried in the front of the body 10. The bushing 19 has, in threaded engagement in the rear thereof, a gland 20, which engages a packing 21 for preventing fluid leakage at this location.

A liquid supply pipe 23 is provided, connected to a liquid tank (not shown) with a hand pump (not shown) for pressurizing the liquid in the tank for delivery to the pipe 23. In a specific embodiment the tank operating pressure can be of the order of 10 psi.

The body 10, in the interior thereof, has a fluid connection 24 for delivery of liquid from the tank, through the supply pipe 23 and to the interior of the bushing 19.

The bushing 19 extends forwardly from the body 10 and has a threaded portion 25 for the reception of the sprayer control body 30 in threaded engagement therewith. The bushing 19 can have a groove 31 thereon to avoid any binding of the control body 30 on the bushing 19.

The exposed exterior portion of the control body 30 can be provided with a hexagonal shape as at 32 to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

The control body 30 has an external cylindrical surface 33, with a groove 34 therein for the reception of a packing, such as an O-ring 35, an external cylindrical surface 36, with spaced longitudinally axially

elongated grooves

37 and 38, for the reception of packings such as O-

rings

39 and 40, and a threaded end portion 42.

The

surfaces

33 and 36 pivotally support a supply fitting 45 which is held against a shoulder 46 on the control body 30, by an internally threaded nozzle nut 47. The external surface 48 of the nut 47 is preferably knurled to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

The supply fitting 45 has an interior surface 49, spaced from the surface 36 to provide a fluid space 50, fluid leakage therefrom longitudinally axially being prevented in one direction by the packing 35 and in the other direction by the packing 39.

The supply fitting 45 has a pipe 52 connected thereto for the controlled supply of gas under pressure thereto, CO or air being preferred dependent upon the material to be sprayed. In a specific embodiment of the invention the pressure of the gas supplied to the fitting 45 can be of the order of 30 psi.

The rod 15 has a forward threaded end 55 on which a valve plunger 56 is mounted. The valve plunger 56 has a rear face 57 which serves as an abutment for a compression spring 58 which urges the rod 15 and plunger 56 to the right as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The spring 58 is disposed within an interior space 59 in the bushing 19, and abuts at its rear end against a shoulder 14 in the bushing 19.

The passageway 24 is in continuous communication with the space 59 for the delivery thereto of liquid to bedispensed in spray form.

The sprayer control body 30 has an inner enlargement 60 with which the space 59 is in continuous communication. A longitudinal axial bore 61 extends forwardly to a shoulder 62 having a rear frustoconical face 63. From the shoulder 62 a longitudinal axial bore 64, of larger internal diameter than that of the bore 61 extends to a front terminal face 65 which is spaced from the interior of the nozzle nut 47 to provide a fluid space 66.

The valve plunger 56 has a peripheral portion 68 with a groove 69 therein for the reception of a packing 70 engaged with the bore 61 and with the valve plunger 56 to prevent fluid leakage, and is movable therealong with movement of the plunger 56.

The valve plunger 56 has a peripheral portion 71 spaced inwardly from the bore 61, to provide a fluid space 72, and has an elongated groove 73 with a packing 74 such as an Oring therein. The packing 74, which is positioned in engagement with the inner face of the shoulder 62 and cuts off flow at that location, can be retracted to a position to clear the shoulder 62 and permit fluid to pass. The shoulders 73b and 73c move the packing to effect this action.

The valve plunger 56 also has a groove 75 for the reception of a packing 76 such as an O-ring, to prevent fluid leakage at this location.

The valve plunger 56 has an end portion 77, of lesser diameter than that of the peripheral portion 71.

The fluid space 50 is connected to the space 72 by a passageway 67 in the control body 30.

The end portion 77 of the valve plunger 56 has a peripheral surface 78 of lesser diameter than that of the peripheral portion 71, has a groove 79 with a root 79a and end walls 79b and 79c for the reception of a packing 80, such as an O-ring, to function like the packing 74 as a shut-off, in one position and in a retracted position permit flow for discharge. The end portion 77 has a transverse terminal end face 81 and has a pin 82 extending longitudinally axially therefrom.

The shoulders 73b and 73c are spaced further apart than the shoulders 79b and 79c so that fluid flow past the packing ring 74 will take place before fluid flow occurs past the packing 80.

The valve plunger 56 has a transverse passageway 83 therein connecting the space 59 with a longitudinal internal bore 84 and a transverse passageway 85 therein for liquid delivery.

A valve plunger spool 88 is provided having an end, wall 89 for engagement with the shoulder 62, the end! The spool 88 has, extending therefrom, a tubular extension 95 with an outer surface 96 spaced inwardly" The spool 88 has an inner bore 102, spaced from the peripheral portion 71 and bounding the space 54, an intermediate bore 103, spaced from the peripheral surface 78, and an end bore 104 spaced from the exterior of the pin 82 to provide a fluid discharge passageway 105.

The packing 76 in the groove engages the bore 102 to prevent fluid leakage at this location.

The packing is similar to the packing 74, does not, in operation, simultaneously engage the root 75a and the bore 103 but has a clearance to permit fluid to pass for delivery through the passageway 105. The packing 80 is deformable by engagement of the wall 79b to engage the bore 103 to block fluid flow.

White the structure heretofore described has a wide range of usefulness, if it' is desired to dispense material into cracks and crevices this can be effected with the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9.

The nozzle nut 47 is provided with an extension having a threaded portion 110 and tubular end 111. The pin 82, and extension are extended to terminate at the extremity of the tubular end 111 and the passageways 98 and correspondingly extended.

A dispensing tube 112 with an outwardly extending rim 113 is rernovably mounted on the tubular end 111 and held in place by a nut 115. The tube 112 can be of synthetic plastic material.

It will be noted that the sprayer control body 30, the valve plunger 56, the spool 80, the pin 82, the supply fitting 45 and the nut 47 with or without the extension can be made on automatic machines and readily assembled for use and disassembled for inspection and cleaning if necessary.

At the same time the structure is rugged and sturdy to meet the demands made upon it in use.

The handle body '10 can be molded with the bushing 19 inserted during the molding and the passageway 24 formed during the molding by insertion of a tube. (not shown) The sprayer of the invention has a pressure tank of conventional type, with a built in pump or with a check valve controlled pressure connection for charging, loaded with a liquid material to be dispensed in dispersed form, is connected to the pipe 23. In a specific embodiment the liquid may be supplied at a pressure of the order of 10 psi and a source of gas under pressure such as a carbon dioxide or air cylinder is connected to the pipe 52, and which in the same specific embodiment may be of the order of 30 psi.

The trigger 12, urged forwardly by the spring 58 is ready for use. In this condition flow of liquid is cut off by the packing 80 and flow of gas is cut off by the packing 74.

When it is desired to deliver a spray the trigger 12 is manually moyed rearwardly to move the rod 15 rearwardly, against the force of the spring 58.

Ina particular embodiment movement of the rod 15 a distance of one-eighth of an inch will suffice.

Rearward movement of the rod 15 is effective to move the valve plunger 56 from the shutoff position Shown in FIG.

The positioning of the valve plunger 56 in its dispensing position permits of liquid flow under pressure .through the pipe 23, the fluidconnection 24 in the body 10, the enlargement 60, the interior space 59 and the transvegse passageways 83 to the bore 84.

The packing 70 prevents access of liquid therebeyond along the bore 61 either upon movement of the valve plunger 56 or when it is at rest at either end of its stroke.

Liquid from the bore 84 passes outwardly through the transverse passageways 85 and past the packing 80 in the flow" position of plunger 56, and to and through the discharge passageway 105. The passageway 105 is small so that the liquid is discharged in a straight hollow cylindrical stream, the stream being very thin and ready to separate into small droplets. The velocity and pressure cause the stream to quickly separate.

Liquid under pressure is blocked by the packing 76 from return along the bore 102.

At the same time that the liquid is being delivered as just described, gas under pressure is delivered through the supply pipe 52 to the space 50 and through the passageway 67 to the space 72. Gas is prevented by the packing 70 from rearward movement along the bore 61 and is permitted by the packing 74 to pass through the slots 90 to the passageway 92 and to the passageway 102. The packing 76 blocks advance along the passageway 102.

Gas in the passageway 92 moves to the space 66, through the slots 94 and cut-out space 99 to and along the passageway 98 and this flow is preferably initiated before liquid is discharged and upon shut-off is terminated after the cut-off of liquid flow.

The passageway 98 is small so that the gas upon discharge in a hollow cylindrical stream by reason of its velocity and pressure impinges on and mixes with the stream from the passageway 105 to produce an aerosol spray.

If gas is not employed the resulting discharge of liquid is in atomized rather than aerosol form.

The use of the tubular dispensing tube 112 tends to confine the discharge of liquid alone in atomized or stream form or the liquid and gas in aerosol form but is particularly suited for directed delivery into cracks and crevices.

The particle size can be controlled by change in the pressure of the liquid in the tank and with the gas oper' ating at a fixed pressure level.

I claim:

1. A sprayer for liquids comprising a sprayer control body of generally tubular form and having an inlet end with a first interior bore terminating at an interior shoulder and a delivery end with a second interior bore extending from said shoulder,

a connection to a source of liquid under pressure to be dispensed and connected to the inlet end of said body,

a spool fixedly mounted in said body and extending from said shoulder toward said outlet,

a nozzle nut carried on said delivery end of said body,

a valve plunger movable in said body,

a spring urging said plunger in one direction,

a member for moving said plunger against the force of said spring,

said spool and said valve plunger having portions providing a restricted discharge passageway for atomization of liquid delivered therefrom,

said body and said plunger defining first liquid passageways,

said plunger and said spool defining second liquid passageways communicating with said first passageways for delivery of liquid to and through said discharge passageway,

a first flow control member interposed between said spool and said plunger member and upstream of said discharge passageway cutting off liquid flow through said passageways in one position of said plunger,

an additional pressure fluid supply connection on said body for gas under pressure,

said body and said spool having portions defining fluid passageways for delivery of said gas from said additional supply connection,

said nozzle nut and said spool having portions providing a restricted discharge passageway to which said last mentioned fluid passageways are connected for discharge to gas contiguous to said liquid discharge passageway, and

a second flow control member interposed between said body and said plunger for cutting off gas delivery in said one position of said plunger.

2. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool has fluid passageways which are closed by said first flow control member.

3. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said flow control members are in predetermined relation for effecting gas flow in advance of liquid flow upon initiation of delivery.

4. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said flow control members are in predetermined relation for effecting cut-off of liquid flow prior to cut off of gas flow upon shut-off.

5. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said gas discharge passageway is in surrounding relation to said liquid discharge passageway.

6. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said nozzle nut has a tubular extension detachably mounted thereon for receiving and delivering the fluid from said discharge passageways.

7. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said additional pressure fluid supply connection is swingably carried on said body, and

sealing members are interposed between said supply connection and said body for preventing fluid leakage.

8. A sprayer as defined in claim 7 in which said supply connection is retained on said body by said nozzle nut.

9. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which sealing members are provided between said plunger and said body and between said plunger and said spool for preventing fluid leakage.

10. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said spool is retained in position by said nozzle nut.

11. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said plunger has a longitudinally axially extending pin portion disposed within and spaced from a portion of said valve plunger to provide said discharge passageway.

Claims

1. A sprayer for liquids comprising a sprayer control body of generally tubular form and having an inlet end with a first interior bore terminating at an interior shoulder and a delivery end with a second interior bore extending from said shoulder, a connection to a source of liquid under pressure to be dispensed and connected to the inlet end of said body, a spool fixedly mounted in said body and extending from said shoulder toward said outlet, a nozzle nut carried on said delivery end of said body, a valve plunger movable in said body, a spring urging said plunger in one direction, a member for moving said plunger against the force of said spring, said spool and said valve plunger having portions providing a restricted discharge passageway for atomization of liquid delivered therefrom, said body and said plunger defining first liquid passageways, said plunger and said spool defining second liquid passageways communicating with said first passageways for delivery of liquid to and through said discharge passageway, a first flow control member interposed between said spool and said plunger member and upstream of said discharge passageway cutting off liquid flow through said passageways in one position of said plunger, an additional pressure fluid supply connection on said body for gas under pressure, said body and said spool having portions defining fluid passageways for delivery of said gas from said additional supply connection, said nozzle nut and said spool having portions providing a restricted discharge passageway to which said last mentioned fluid passageways are connected for discharge to gas contiguous to said liquid discharge passageway, and a second flow control member interposed between said body and said plunger for cutting off gas delivery in said one position of said plunger.

7. A sprayer as defined in claim 1 in which said additional pressure fluid supply connection is swingably carried on said body, and sealing members are interposed between said supply connection and said body for preventing fluid leakage.