Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Orchard-type mobile distributor comprising fluent discharged...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-03-27
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Orchard-type mobile distributor comprising fluent discharged...
C239S164000, C239S170000, C239S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206300
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX.”
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for generation and distribution of chemical aerosols and more particularly to apparatus used to generate and distribute such aerosols from moving vehicles.
2. Background Information
Aerosol spraying done on a large scale is performed using a sprayer mounted in the rear of a truck or utility vehicle. Spray nozzles shear a liquid chemical formulation into effective sized droplets having a mass median diameter of 5-20 microns and release these droplets into the atmosphere. Typical chemical formulations include pesticides, odor control agents, bird repellents and the like. Although the natural wind currents greatly influence travel of the spray droplets to the target, a second nozzle function is to launch the droplets in the right direction. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to move the spray nozzle head to advantageous position which takes into account the natural drift of the droplets and the adjacent topography. Prior art sprayers have long included means for adjusting the angle of output of the nozzle but such adjustments are manually made using tools and are impractical during the course of operation of the sprayer. For example, consider the situation of spraying on both sides of a one-way street. First, the street is traveled with the nozzle pointing in the direction of one side of the street. Then in order to spray the other side of the street a safe position must be found to stop the vehicle and manually adjust the nozzle direction before spraying the other side of the street. Also, when spraying along a roadway which runs along the circumference of a hillside, it is desirable to spray generally downwardly in one direction and generally upwardly in the other direction.
There is a need for an aerosol generator where the direction of droplet launch can be readily controlled by the operator of the vehicle while the machine is in normal operation and the vehicle is in motion.
A well known way of generating aerosols is with a two fluid nozzle with a first fluid generally being air at elevated pressure and the second fluid being the formulation liquid from which the aerosol is made. Two-fluid nozzles utilize the energy contained in the first fluid to convert the second fluid into an aerosol. Generally, this is done by swirling the first fluid in a cyclonic manner around a sharp edge. The second fluid, generally a liquid, is injected at the sharp edge in a controlled manner. The resulting shearing action produces droplets whose mass median diameter generally increase with increasing viscosity of the second fluid and decrease with increasing energy levels of the first fluid. An example of a prior art aerosol generator is Model Maxi Pro 4 by Curtis Dyna-Fog, Ltd., Westfield Indiana and is documented in an Operation, Maintenance and Spare Parts Manual dated November 1998.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an aerosol generator for dispensing droplets in the 5-20 micron range using a two-fluid nozzle. The aerosol generator of the present invention includes an engine and blower for producing a supply of air at elevated pressure, a metered fluid supply for communicating a liquid to a two fluid nozzle where an aerosol is generated and droplets are launched into the atmosphere. Preferably, a plurality of nozzles is used to increase generator output capacity. A distinguishing feature between prior art generators and the generator of the present invention is the present invention includes capability for the operator of the transporting vehicle to reposition the nozzle in azimuth and elevation while the machine is in operation and while the transporting vehicle is in motion. The nozzle can be repositioned in azimuth and elevation as separate functions or simultaneously in order to achieve a droplet launch at any angle within predetermined limits. Such predetermined limits are preferably about 180 degrees in azimuth included angle and about 75 degrees in elevation included angle. Preferably, the elevation included angle limits allow movement within the range from about 60 degrees above to about 15 degrees below a preset position and the azimuth limits are set to permit movement of about 90 degrees on either side of a centerline, with the centerline preferably being the nominal direction of travel of the conveying vehicle. Rapid repositioning of the spray angle is a feature of the invention with full travel in azimuth being accomplished within about 2 seconds and full travel in elevation being accomplished within about 4 seconds.
Azimuth and elevation movements are controlled by switches or other actuating devices located in a remote control box positioned adjacent the operator of the conveying vehicle. Limit sensors such as for example, limit switches, located on the generator act to stop the travel at the predetermined limits. Azimuth movement is accomplished by rotation of an upward boom about a generally vertical axis and elevation movement is accomplished by rotation of one or more nozzle arms about a movable horizontal axis. Upward boom and nozzle arm members provide nozzle mechanical support act as a conduit for communicating nozzle pressurized air. A metered fluid supply provides a controlled amount of fluid to the nozzle where the fluid is sheared into droplets in a conventional manner by releasing the energy of the pressurized air within the nozzle. The generator includes rotary joints which are equipped with double O-ring seals and lubrication fittings. A reversible gear motor functionally coupled with the upward boom enables azimuth positioning and a linear actuator functionally coupled between upward boom and nozzle arm members enables elevation positioning.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2738226 (1956-03-01), Bals
patent: 2978185 (1961-04-01), Pearch
patent: 4116385 (1978-09-01), Waldron
patent: 4182491 (1980-01-01), Parke et al.
patent: 5248448 (1993-09-01), Waldron et al.
patent: 5269461 (1993-12-01), Davis
patent: 5439173 (1995-08-01), Waldrop
Curtis Dyna-Fog Ltd., Westfield IN 46074, Operation, Maintenance and Spare Parts Manual, Dyna-Fog MAXIPR04 Model 2742 Series 4 ULV Aerosol Applicator.
McGinnis Conrad D.
Rey-Villamizar Sergio
Roudebush Dennis A.
Curtis Dyna-Fog, Lyd.
Morris Lesley D.
Stowe John H.
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