U.S. patent application number 14/070697 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-07 for sprayer having spray solution agitation system, onboard chemical eductor, and dedicated onboard clean water rinse system.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE TORO COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is Bruce A. Granger, David J. Norlander, Todd A. Otto, Daniel E. Peterson, Brannon W. Polk. Invention is credited to Bruce A. Granger, David J. Norlander, Todd A. Otto, Daniel E. Peterson, Brannon W. Polk.
Application Number | 20140217200 14/070697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47174214 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140217200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otto; Todd A. ; et
al. |
August 7, 2014 |
SPRAYER HAVING SPRAY SOLUTION AGITATION SYSTEM, ONBOARD CHEMICAL
EDUCTOR, AND DEDICATED ONBOARD CLEAN WATER RINSE SYSTEM
Abstract
A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is
applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an
agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that
extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and
can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may
include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is
segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid
contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid
is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles
include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom
spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank.
The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side
of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which
easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.
Inventors: |
Otto; Todd A.; (Jordan,
MN) ; Polk; Brannon W.; (Evansville, IN) ;
Norlander; David J.; (Cottage Grove, MN) ; Granger;
Bruce A.; (Prior Lake, MN) ; Peterson; Daniel E.;
(Northfield, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Otto; Todd A.
Polk; Brannon W.
Norlander; David J.
Granger; Bruce A.
Peterson; Daniel E. |
Jordan
Evansville
Cottage Grove
Prior Lake
Northfield |
MN
IN
MN
MN
MN |
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE TORO COMPANY
Bloomington
MN
|
Family ID: |
47174214 |
Appl. No.: |
14/070697 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13113057 |
May 22, 2011 |
8640972 |
|
|
14070697 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01C 23/008 20130101;
B01F 15/00876 20130101; B01F 5/043 20130101; B05B 14/40 20180201;
B05B 15/20 20180201; B01F 5/0206 20130101; B01F 5/10 20130101; B05B
15/555 20180201; B01F 13/0037 20130101; B01F 5/106 20130101; B08B
9/093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/104 |
International
Class: |
B05B 15/02 20060101
B05B015/02 |
Claims
1. A sprayer for applying a liquid spray solution to a ground or
turf surface, which comprises: (a) a frame that is movable over the
ground or turf surface; (b) a spray solution tank carried by the
frame for holding the liquid spray solution; (c) a spray system
carried by the frame for withdrawing the liquid spray solution from
the tank and for spraying the liquid spray solution downwardly onto
the ground or turf surface through a plurality of downwardly facing
spray nozzles, the spray system including a spray pump; and (d) a
rinse system carried by the frame for rinsing the spray solution
tank and the spray system with a rinse liquid after spraying
operations are concluded, the rinse system comprising a rinse tank
holding a rinse liquid and a rinse pump that is separate from the
spray pump for withdrawing rinse liquid from the rinse tank and for
spraying the rinse liquid into the spray solution tank through at
least one rinse nozzle provided inside the spray solution tank, the
rinse system being isolated from the spray system such that the
rinse liquid does not contact any portion of the spray system that
has previously been in contact with the spray solution until after
the rinse liquid is sprayed into the spray solution tank through
the rinse nozzle with the rinse liquid sprayed into the spray
solution tank then being withdrawn from the spray solution tank
through operation of the spray system.
2. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the rinse nozzle has a plurality
of downwardly directed bottom nozzle ports that eject rinse liquid
downwardly onto a plurality of wings that form a spinner that
rotates when the wings are struck by the rinse liquid to eject the
rinse liquid substantially radially outwardly therefrom in a
circumferential spray around the rinse nozzle.
3. The sprayer of claim 2, wherein the wings of the spinner are
circumferentially spaced from one another by a plurality of radial
gaps that periodically align with the bottom nozzle ports during
rotation of the spinner to allow rinse liquid being ejected
downwardly from the bottom nozzle ports to then pass through such
radial gaps in a substantially vertical downward direction to reach
portions of a floor of the spray solution tank underlying the rinse
nozzle.
4. The sprayer of claim 3, wherein the rinse nozzle has a plurality
of upwardly directed upper nozzle ports that eject rinse liquid
therefrom in a substantially vertical upward direction to reach
portions of a ceiling of the spray solution tank substantially
directly above the rinse nozzle.
5. The sprayer of claim 2, wherein the rinse nozzle has a plurality
of upwardly directed upper nozzle ports that eject rinse liquid
therefrom in a substantially vertical upward direction to reach
portions of a ceiling of the spray solution tank substantially
directly above the rinse nozzle.
6. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the rinse nozzle is located in a
top portion of the spray solution tank.
7. The sprayer of claim 6, wherein a pair of rinse nozzles is
located in the top portion of the spray solution tank with the
nozzles being spaced apart along a length of the spray solution
tank.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to vehicle propelled sprayers that
travel over a ground or turf surface for spraying a liquid spray
solution onto such a surface as the sprayer passes over the
surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sprayers are well known devices for applying a liquid spray
solution of some type to a ground or turf surface. Such sprayers
are typically carried on or propelled by a vehicle to allow the
sprayer to be driven over a large area of the surface in a
relatively short time. In order to further enhance productivity,
such sprayers typically have a plurality of side-by-side, laterally
extending spray booms that cover a spray swath that is larger than
the width of the wheelbase of the sprayer. The outboard wing booms
of such a sprayer can usually be folded inwardly to reduce the
width of the sprayer for transport when the sprayer is being
transported from place to place and is not being used for spraying.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,096 to Sosnowski et al, which is owned by The
Toro Company, the assignee of this invention, discloses a sprayer
of this type having a fixed center boom and a pair of wing booms
that can be folded into an X-shaped configuration above the center
boom for transport.
[0003] Sprayers of the type under consideration here include a
relatively large tank for holding a supply of the spray solution
that is to be applied to the ground or turf surface. The spray
solution comprises a relatively small amount of a chemical that is
mixed with and suspended in solution in a relatively large amount
of water in a desired ratio. One problem is ensuring that the
chemical in the spray solution remains in solution with the water
as it is stored in the tank prior to being sprayed. While various
tank agitation systems are known in the sprayer art for attempting
to solve this problem, such systems typically employ agitation
nozzles that the Applicants have discovered are improperly
positioned for solving the problem and which are difficult to
access and/or remove for nozzle cleaning, maintenance or
replacement. Accordingly, a more effective agitation system with
easily removable agitation nozzles would be a desirable advance in
the art.
[0004] Another difficulty posed with sprayers of this type is the
need to clean the tank that holds the spray solution and the
related plumbing in the spray and agitation systems of the sprayer
at the conclusion of a spraying operation. Usually, the sprayer
must be driven to some source of clean water, a hose must be
connected to a spigot on the clean water source, the operator must
climb atop the tank and remove the tank lid, and the operator then
uses the hose to introduce a quantity of clean water into the tank.
In doing so, the operator has to try and wash down or rinse all the
interior surfaces of the tank in an attempt to remove residual
chemicals. This can be difficult if not impossible to do as some of
the interior surfaces may be awkwardly or inaccessibly positioned
relative to the operator, thereby discouraging or preventing the
operator from reaching them. In addition, such a manual operation
exposes the operator to the residual chemicals in the tank.
[0005] Once the tank has been rinsed in this manner, the usual tank
agitation and spray systems are operated in a flushing operation to
cause the rinsate, i.e. the newly introduced clean water and
residual chemical mixture, to pass through the agitation and spray
systems and out through the spray nozzles on the spray boom. It may
be that the water spigot used to introduce the clean water into the
tank is not located at a place where the flushing operation of the
rinsate may take place. For example, the clean water spigot might
be located at a maintenance facility or the like where the rinsate
will drain into a storm sewer system carrying the rinsate into a
lake or river and environmental regulations would prohibit this. In
this example, the sprayer must be returned to a location where the
rinsate can be safely and legally sprayed before the flushing
operation takes place. This often involves returning the sprayer to
the ground or turf surface on which the sprayer was originally
located as it is often acceptable to spray the rinsate onto this
surface since this surface was able to accept the undiluted spray
solution in the first place.
[0006] In order to completely clean the tank, it is necessary that
the above-noted rinsate flushing procedure be repeated at least a
few times. Driving the sprayer to the water source, manually
rinsing the tank down, driving the sprayer back to a location where
the flushing operation can take place, and doing this a number of
times, is obviously time consuming and inconvenient. Accordingly,
it would be a further advance in the art to have a simpler and more
efficient rinse system for cleaning the spray solution holding tank
on the sprayer without requiring undue effort on the part of the
operator and without exposing the operator to residual chemicals in
the tank.
[0007] The introduction of the chemicals into the tank used to hold
the spray solution and the mixing of the chemicals with the water
in the tank in order to form the spray solution is a further
problem with such sprayers. Chemical eductors are known devices
which more conveniently provide such mixing. Such eductors include
relatively small hoppers that are mounted to the side of the tank.
The chemicals used in the spray solution, whether in liquid or dry
form, are poured directly into the hopper rather than into the tank
itself.
[0008] In order to allow the operator to fill the hopper of the
eductor with the chemicals, the eductor is desirably positioned at
a height which can be easily reached by an operator standing on the
ground. However, an eductor that is permanently mounted to the tank
in this position inherently sticks out laterally to one side of the
sprayer beyond the lateral wheelbase of the vehicle that carries
the sprayer. This requires that the driver of the vehicle be
careful to avoid banging or hitting the eductor against an obstacle
that might damage the eductor or rip the eductor off the vehicle.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to also store the
eductor in a more protected storage and transport position but to
be able to quickly and easily move the eductor between its various
positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] One aspect of this invention relates to a sprayer for
applying a liquid spray solution to a ground or turf surface. The
sprayer comprises a frame that is movable over the ground or turf
surface. A tank is carried by the frame for holding the liquid
spray solution. The tank has a substantially elliptical lateral
cross section that can be subdivided into a pair of upper quadrants
and a pair of lower quadrants by an xy coordinate system that is
centered on a longitudinal centerline of the tank. A spray system
is carried by the frame for withdrawing the liquid spray solution
from the tank and for spraying the liquid spray solution downwardly
onto the ground or turf surface through a plurality of downwardly
facing spray nozzles. An agitation system is also carried by the
frame for withdrawing the liquid spray solution from the tank and
for recirculating the liquid spray solution back into the tank for
keeping the liquid spray solution in solution. The agitation system
comprises a plurality of agitation nozzles that are mounted on one
side of the tank, that are spaced apart along a length of the tank,
and that are oriented to direct the spray solution inwardly into
the tank. The agitation nozzles are located within one of the lower
quadrants of the tank lateral cross section.
[0010] Another aspect of this invention relates to a sprayer for
applying a liquid spray solution to a ground or turf surface. The
sprayer comprises a frame that is movable over the ground or turf
surface. A spray solution tank is carried by the frame for holding
the liquid spray solution. A spray system is carried by the frame
for withdrawing the liquid spray solution from the tank and for
spraying the liquid spray solution downwardly onto the ground or
turf surface through a plurality of downwardly facing spray
nozzles. The spray system includes a spray pump. A rinse system is
carried by the frame for rinsing the spray solution tank and the
spray system with a rinse liquid after spraying operations are
concluded. The rinse system comprises a rinse tank holding a rinse
liquid and a rinse pump that is separate from the spray pump for
withdrawing rinse liquid from the rinse tank and for spraying the
rinse liquid into the spray solution tank through at least one
rinse nozzle provided inside the spray solution tank. The rinse
system is isolated from the spray system such that the rinse liquid
does not contact any portion of the spray system that has
previously been in contact with the spray solution until after the
rinse liquid is sprayed into the spray solution tank through the
rinse nozzle with the rinse liquid sprayed into the spray solution
tank then being withdrawn from the spray solution tank through
operation of the spray system.
[0011] Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a sprayer
for applying a liquid spray solution to a ground or turf surface.
The sprayer comprises a frame that is movable over the ground or
turf surface. The frame is supported by a plurality of ground
engaging wheels that define a lateral wheelbase. A spray solution
tank is carried by the frame for holding the liquid spray solution.
A spray system is carried by the frame for withdrawing the liquid
spray solution from the tank and for spraying the liquid spray
solution downwardly onto the ground or turf surface through a
plurality of downwardly facing spray nozzles. An eductor system is
carried by the frame for mixing a chemical with water to form the
spray solution. The eductor system comprises an eductor pivotally
attached by a mount to one side of the spray solution tank for
pivotal motion between an upper storage or transport position and a
lower fill and operational position. The eductor in the upper
storage or transport position lies within the lateral wheelbase of
the frame of the sprayer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] This invention will be described more completely in the
following Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the
following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like
elements throughout.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sprayer
according to this invention, particularly illustrating the sprayer
as being carried on a movable frame provided by a vehicle for
traversing over a ground or turf surface with the spray booms that
are carried at the rear of the sprayer having been omitted in FIG.
1 for the purpose of clarity;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sprayer of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the sprayer of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the sprayer of FIG. 1,
particularly illustrating the pump that is used for both spraying
and agitation of the spray solution, the three grouped spray valves
that control the flow of the spray solution from the pump to the
spray nozzles carried on the spray booms, the agitation valve that
directs pump flow through the agitation nozzles carried on the
spray solution holding tank, and various hose and plumbing
connections therefor;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view through the spray
solution holding tank of the sprayer of FIG. 1, particularly
illustrating the orientation of the agitation nozzles relative to
the lateral cross-sectional shape of the holding tank;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front of the spray
solution holding tank of the sprayer of FIG. 1, particularly
illustrating the holding tank with a portion of the front wall
thereof broken away to illustrate the line of agitation nozzles
carried on one side of the holding tank as well as the suction tube
assembly that draws spray solution out of a sump located in the
bottom of the tank;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outside of a portion of
the spray solution holding tank of the sprayer of FIG. 1,
particularly illustrating some of the agitation nozzles with one of
the nozzles being shown in exploded form to show how the nozzles
are releasably held in place on the holding tank and are accessible
from outside the holding tank;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the rinse
nozzles of the rinse system of the sprayer of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective from above of the rinse
nozzle shown in FIG. 8, particularly illustrating in part the upper
nozzle ports that rinse that portion of the ceiling of the holding
tank located substantially immediately above the rinse nozzle;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 4 of the
sprayer of FIG. 1, particularly illustrating a chemical eductor
having been mounted on the side of the spray solution holding tank
as well as the eductor valve and its associated plumbing;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 10, but
with the eductor having been removed to more particularly
illustrate the cradle that is pivotally mounted on a pair of
mounting brackets on the side of the holding tank by a pair of
mounting arms and with the cradle serving to pivotally mount the
eductor relative to the mounting arms;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the eductor mounting
structure shown in FIG. 11, particularly illustrating the structure
with one of the mounting brackets having been removed to show the
releasable catch between the pivotal cradle and the tank;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the eductor prior to its
being joined to the pivotal cradle, particularly illustrating the
cradle in a lower fill and operational position;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the handle that is attached
to the bottom of the eductor, particularly illustrating the spring
clamp on the handle;
[0027] FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrammatic perspective views of the
eductor, particularly illustrating the steps of pivoting the
eductor upwardly and placing the eductor into its upper storage and
transport position on the spray solution holding tank;
[0028] FIGS. 17a-17d are schematic flow diagrams which show fluid
flow through the sprayer of FIG. 1 in various modes of operation of
the spray and agitation systems of the sprayer;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a schematic flow diagram similar to FIGS.
17a-17d, but showing fluid flow through the sprayer during
operation of an optional rinse system of the sprayer;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a schematic flow diagram similar to FIG. 17, but
showing fluid flow through the sprayer during operation of an
optional chemical and water mixing eduction system of the
sprayer;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the
sprayer of FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the eductor shown in
FIGS. 10-16 disposed in its upper storage and transport position
with the eductor and the eductor mounting structure being located
inboard of the ground engaging wheels carried on that side of the
sprayer to which the eductor is mounted; and
[0032] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the eductor
mounting structure shown in FIGS. 10-16, particularly illustrating
a pair of flexible spring tabs that ensure a snug engagement of an
upper catch that is part of the eductor mounting structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] Referring first to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a sprayer
according to this invention is illustrated as 2. Sprayer 2
comprises a mobile frame 4 that is supported for rolling over the
ground by a plurality of ground engaging wheels 6. In the case of
sprayer 2 shown in FIG. 1, frame 4 comprises the frame of a
self-propelled vehicle, such as a utility vehicle 8 of the type
manufactured and sold by The Toro Company, the assignee of this
invention, under the Workman.RTM. brand name. However, other
vehicles could be used in place of utility vehicle 8 for carrying
sprayer 2. Sprayer 2 could also be mounted on its own wheeled frame
and simply be towed or pushed by a separate self-propelled
vehicle.
[0034] Sprayer 2 comprises one or more spray booms (not shown)
behind frame 4 having a plurality of downwardly pointing spray
nozzles for spraying a spray solution downwardly onto a ground or
turf surface over which sprayer 2 is travelling. Preferably, three
spray booms are provided comprising a center boom and two wing
booms that are pivotally attached to opposite ends of the center
boom. When the three spray booms are disposed in an operative,
spray position, the booms are placed end-to-end relative to one
another and extend laterally behind frame 4 with the collective
length of the booms being substantially wider than the lateral
wheelbase of frame 4. The spray booms can also be disposed in a
non-operative, storage or transport position in which the wing
booms are placed in an X-shaped orientation above the center
boom.
[0035] Such a set of spray booms is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
7,364,096, which is owned by The Toro Company, the assignee of this
invention. U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,096 is hereby incorporated by
reference to more particularly disclose the details of such booms.
However, the number, nature, dimensions and structure of the spray
booms are not important to this invention as long as there is at
least one spray boom with spray nozzles that face downwardly
towards the ground or turf surface in a spray position of the boom.
Thus, the spray booms have not been illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 for
the sake of clarity, though they are diagrammatically shown in the
schematic views of FIGS. 17-19.
The Spray and Agitation Systems
[0036] Sprayer 2 has a spray and agitation system that includes a
tank 10 for holding a relatively large volume of a liquid spray
solution (e.g. a chemical or chemicals, such as a fertilizer,
herbicide, pesticide or the like, mixed with water). Tank 10 is
secured to frame 4 by a plurality of straps 12 that encircle tank
10 at spaced locations along its length to secure or clamp tank 10
to frame 4. Tank 10 is preferably molded from a relatively rigid,
durable plastic material. Tank 10 has a relatively large capacity,
e.g. 300 gallons.
[0037] Tank 10 has a relatively large circular fill opening 13 in
the top thereof which is normally closed by a lid 14. When lid 14
is manually opened or removed by a user, the user has access to the
inside of tank 10 for filling tank 10 with the water and chemicals
used to form the spray solution. Alternatively and as will be
described later, a chemical eductor 122 could be mounted on one
side of tank 10 for allowing the mixing of the chemicals and the
water to be done at a location outside tank 10 using eductor 122.
In this alternative, the chemicals themselves are not directly
introduced into tank 10 but are introduced into eductor 122.
Accordingly, in the alternative that uses eductor 122, fill opening
13 on tank 10 would be used only for introducing water into tank
10.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the bottom of tank 10 has a
downwardly extending sump 16. A drain opening 18 is located at the
bottom of sump 16 for draining residual spray solution from tank
10.
[0039] As best shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, an outlet 20 is provided
in the top of tank 10 for drawing the spray solution out of tank
10. In order to accomplish this, a suction tube assembly 22 extends
downwardly from tank outlet 20 with the lower end of suction tube
assembly 22 extending down into sump 16 to be located closely
adjacent to but spaced above the bottom of sump 16. See FIG. 6.
When suction is applied to suction tube assembly 22 as will be
described later, the spray solution in tank 10 will be drawn
upwardly from sump 16 through suction tube assembly 22 to be
ejected out through tank outlet 20 in the top of tank 10. A spray
solution filter 24 for straining out contaminants or debris in the
spray solution is preferably interposed between the top end of
suction tube assembly 22 and tank outlet 20.
[0040] A very noticeable characteristic of tank 10 is a plurality
(i.e. four) of inwardly extending, downwardly angled pockets 26
placed fairly low along one side of tank 10. See FIG. 1. Each
pocket 26 takes away a small portion of the interior volume that
would otherwise be provided by tank 10 as each pocket 26 extends
inwardly into that volume. As best shown in FIG. 7, each pocket 26
ends in an upwardly and outwardly facing inclined floor 28 that
contains a fitting 30 for receiving one agitation nozzle 32.
Agitation nozzles 32 are easily accessible from outside tank 10 by
virtue of their being mounted within pockets 26 formed in tank
10.
[0041] As best shown in FIG. 5, tank 10 has a cross-sectional shape
that is substantially elliptical in shape in its lateral
cross-section. When an xy coordinate system is superimposed onto
the lateral cross-section of tank 10 with the center of the xy
coordinate system being aligned with a fore-and-aft extending,
horizontal centerline of tank 10, the xy coordinate system divides
the lateral cross-section of tank 10, and thus divides the volume
of tank 10, into a pair of upper quadrants Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 and
a pair of lower quadrants Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4, all as shown in FIG.
5.
[0042] When agitation nozzles 32 are mounted in pockets 26
therefor, each agitation nozzle 32 is substantially identically
positioned relative to tank floor 11 of tank 10 as shown in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIG. 5, the height h of each agitation nozzle 32 above
that portion of tank floor 11 over which it is mounted measured
from the bottom of agitation nozzle 32 and perpendicularly to the
axis of agitation nozzle 32 is only approximately 2 inches. In
addition, agitation nozzles 32 are spaced apart along the length of
tank 10 such that the intervals or distances between agitation
nozzles 32 are substantially the same.
[0043] Each agitation nozzle 32 ejects liquid therefrom through a
single nozzle outlet forming a substantially concentrated jet of
liquid in the direction of the arrow A as depicted in FIG. 5. Each
agitation nozzle 32 is designed to eject approximately 5 gallons
per minute at 40 psi so that all four nozzles 32 eject 20 gallons
per minute at 40 psi. Collectively, agitation nozzles 32 are sized
to prevent changes in system pressure whether agitation is on or
off. The direction A of nozzle ejection forms a small acute angle
.alpha. of less than 15.degree., and preferably approximately
10.degree., relative to a chord C located on the arc of a portion
of tank floor 11 with the chord C spanning from a spot on tank
floor 11 that is radially in line with the outlet of agitation
nozzle 32 to a spot on tank floor 11 where the direction A of
nozzle ejection intersects with tank floor 11. If the direction A
of nozzle ejection were measured relative to a horizontal line
rather than to chord C, it would form an acute angle .beta. of less
than 30.degree. and preferably approximately 23.degree..
[0044] The spot of intersection of the direction A of nozzle
ejection with tank floor 11 does not extend past or beyond a
longitudinal midline 34 of tank 10 and is as much as six to eight
inches or so short of midline 34 in a tank 10 whose lateral width
measured at its widest part is approximately 50 inches. Thus,
agitation nozzles 32 are all placed within one of the lower
quadrants Q.sub.3 or Q.sub.4 of tank 10, are oriented fairly low in
the lower quadrant in which they are mounted and point towards the
other lower quadrant, and the jets of liquid being ejected by
nozzles 32 are angled downwardly as shown by the direction A in
FIG. 5 to intersect with tank floor 11 in the same lower quadrant
in which nozzles 32 are installed. While nozzles 32 have been shown
in FIG. 5 as being positioned in lower quadrant Q.sub.3 with
direction A intersecting tank floor 11 before reaching lower
quadrant Q.sub.4, this could be reversed if so desired by mounting
agitation nozzles 32 on the other side of tank 10 in lower quadrant
Q.sub.4 pointing toward lower quadrant Q.sub.3.
[0045] The Applicants have found that the placement of agitation
nozzles 32 low within one of the lower quadrants of tank 10 coupled
with the downwardly angled orientation of the direction A of the
liquid ejection from agitation nozzles 32 and further coupled with
the substantially elliptical shape of tank 10 promotes a rolling of
the spray solution held in tank 10 as shown by the arrows B in FIG.
5. This rolling action B has been found by the Applicants to be an
effective type of agitation and that keeps the spray solution held
in tank 10 thoroughly mixed together to prevent the chemicals from
coming out of solution.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 7, the upper end of each agitation
nozzle 32 is carried by and supported within an enlarged
cylindrical nozzle mount 36. Nozzle mount 36 of agitation nozzle 32
has a barbed inlet 38 that is coupled to a short inlet hose 40.
Each inlet hose 40 for each agitation nozzle 32 is in turn coupled
to an agitation hose run 42 that extends fore-and-aft along one
side of tank 10. Agitation hose run 42 is located towards the
bottom of tank 10 at the level of pockets 26 such that agitation
hose run 42 overlies and passes, in part, across pockets 26.
[0047] Note that the term "hose" as used herein is not intended to
be limited to a flexible hose though it includes a flexible hose.
The term "hose" as used herein is also intended to include rigid
conduits or tubes that are able to carry liquids regardless of the
shapes thereof or the materials used to form such conduits or
tubes. The term "hose run" as used herein is not intended to be
limited to a single hose though it includes a single hose. The term
"hose run" as used herein also includes any number of hoses, joints
(such as elbow or Tee joints), and connectors between the same
(such as hose clamps) that collectively form a fluid
passageway.
[0048] Referring further to FIG. 7, nozzle mount 36 of agitation
nozzle 32 has an annular external slot 44 around its periphery
which is designed to receive the parallel legs 45 of a U-shaped
connector 46. Fitting 30 for each agitation nozzle 32 contained on
floor 28 of pocket 26 has two sets 49 of aligned holes 48 (one set
49 on each side of fitting 30) which receive the spaced legs 45 of
connector 46. When agitation nozzle 32 is in place in fitting 30,
nozzle mount 36 is received in fitting 30 with slot 44 being
aligned with the sets 49 of holes 48 in fitting 30. This permits
legs 45 of U-shaped connector 46 to be slid through the sets 49 of
holes 48 in fitting 30 with legs 45 of connector 46 passing through
opposite sides of annular slot 44 in nozzle mount 36 to quickly and
releasably couple nozzle mount 36 and agitation nozzle 32 held
therein to pocket 26 of tank 10.
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates one agitation nozzle 32 in an installed
position. Note that the base 47 of connector 46 when installed is
spaced away from fitting 30 by a gap g that permits the user to
insert his or her hand into gap g for pulling U-shaped connector 46
away from fitting 30. Another agitation nozzle 32 is shown in FIG.
7 with the U-shaped connector 46 pulled out and with agitation
nozzle 32 having been lifted up out of pocket 26.
[0050] The set up of agitation nozzles 32 described above is one
that is extremely easy for the user to access for repair, cleaning
or replacement of agitation nozzles 32. First, agitation nozzles 32
are mounted in the exposed pockets 26 contained in one side of tank
10. Thus, nozzles 32 are exposed to the user for easy removal or
replacement without the user needing any access to the interior of
tank 10. This in itself is advantageous. Secondly, the use of a
slidable U-shaped connector 46 as disclosed herein releasably holds
an agitation nozzle 32 in place in a pocket 26 without using
fasteners, such as bolts or screws, that have to be removed and
replaced using tools. All the user need do is to slide connector 46
out and lift agitation nozzle 32 up out of pocket 26. This further
saves time and eases the maintenance tasks that might be needed on
agitation nozzles 32.
[0051] Sprayer 2 also includes a six cylinder positive displacement
diaphragm pump 50 for pumping spray solution out of tank 10 and for
sending such spray solution out through the spray nozzles contained
in the spray booms in a spray only mode of operation, or through
agitation nozzles 32 in an agitation only mode of operation, or
simultaneously through both the spray and agitation nozzles in a
combined agitation/spray mode of operation. Spray pump 50 is driven
in any suitable fashion from some type of power source. For
example, the internal combustion engine of utility vehicle 8 can
power a hydraulic pump that is used to supply pressurized hydraulic
fluid to a hydraulic motor coupled to the drive shaft of spray pump
50. How spray pump 50 is driven is not important to this invention
as long as it can be driven in some manner by a power source that
is part of the vehicle or part of sprayer 2.
[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, spray pump 50 has a pump
inlet 52 on a suction side thereof and a pump outlet 54 on a
positive pressure side thereof. A pump supply hose run 56 connects
pump inlet 52 to tank outlet 20 on tank 10. When spray pump 50 is
in operation, the suction of spray pump 50 is what draws the spray
solution up from sump 16 of tank 10, through suction tube assembly
22, through filter 24, and then out through tank outlet 20 on tank
10 and through pump supply hose run 56 into pump inlet 52. Spray
pump 50 then takes this incoming spray solution and pumps it out at
a relatively high pressure through pump outlet 54.
[0053] Referring further to FIG. 4, sprayer 2 includes a bank of
control valves at the rear of sprayer 2 generally close to spray
pump 50. These control valves include three in-line spray valves
58, one for each of the three spray booms. A spray hose run 60
extends from pump outlet 54 to spray valves 58. Spray valves 58
have barbed outlets on the bottoms thereof which are by hoses to
the spray nozzles carried on the various spray booms. When spray
valves 58 are open and spray pump 50 is in operation, the spray
solution being pumped by spray pump 50 will pass through spray hose
run 60, through spray valves 58, and then out through the spray
nozzles on the spray booms.
[0054] An agitation valve 62 is interposed into spray hose run 60
between pump outlet 54 and spray valves 58 as shown in FIG. 4.
Agitation valve 62 has a bottom outlet 64 that is connected to
agitation hose run 42 that leads to agitation nozzles 32. When
agitation is turned on by the user by manipulating a toggle type
on-off switch (not shown), bottom outlet 64 of agitation valve 62
is opened to permit flow from spray pump 50 to enter agitation hose
run 42 to pass into tank 10 through agitation nozzles 32 to keep
the spray solution thoroughly mixed with the chemicals remaining in
solution with the water. For such agitation to occur, agitation
must be turned on by activating agitation valve 62 to open bottom
outlet 64, the power source that powers spray pump 50 must be
running above idle, and spray pump 50 must be operating.
[0055] With agitation turned on, an agitation only mode will occur
when spray valves 58 that control flow to the spray booms are
closed at the same time. In the agitation only mode, the spray
solution in tank 10 will be continuously pulled out of tank 10,
pass through spray pump 50, and then be sprayed back into tank 10
through agitation nozzles 32 in a closed loop fashion. The flow in
the agitation only mode of operation is schematically depicted in
FIG. 17a.
[0056] If agitation is both turned on and spray valves 58 are also
open, then a combined agitation/spray mode will occur with a
portion of the spray solution withdrawn from tank 10 passing
through the open bottom outlet 64 of agitation valve 62 and the
remainder of the spray solution passing outwardly through spray
valves 58 and the spray booms. The flow in the combined
agitation/spray mode of operation is schematically depicted in FIG.
17b.
[0057] If agitation is turned off such that bottom outlet 64 of
agitation valve 62 is closed but spray valves 58 are opened, then a
spray only mode will occur in which the spray solution withdrawn
from tank 10 is sprayed out through the spray booms in an open loop
fashion. The flow in the spray only mode of operation is
schematically depicted in FIG. 17c. The bypass flow described
hereafter in conjunction with FIG. 17d will also occur in the spray
only mode shown in FIG. 17c but has been omitted from the agitation
bypass line in FIG. 17c for the sake of clarity.
[0058] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an additional manual
agitation control valve 66 (i.e. a manually operable ball valve) is
located in agitation hose run 42 to allow the user to adjust the
amount of pressure in the flow to agitation nozzles 32. The
agitation control valve 66 allows the flow in agitation hose run 42
to be additionally throttled from no flow to full flow.
[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, in addition to its bottom
outlet 64, agitation valve 62 also has a side outlet 68 to which a
bypass valve 70 is connected. A bypass hose run 72 connects the
outlet of bypass valve 70 back to pump supply hose run 56. Flow
into bypass valve 70 is shut off by agitation valve 62 when
agitation is turned on. However, when agitation is turned off, side
outlet 68 in agitation valve 62 is opened to permit at least some
of the flow from spray pump 50 to pass through bypass valve 70,
through bypass hose run 72, and back into pump supply hose run
56.
[0060] The amount of flow permitted through bypass valve 70 can be
adjusted or calibrated using a manually operable adjustment knob 74
on bypass valve 70. Thus, if agitation is turned off but the engine
and spray pump 50 are left running, bypass valve 70 ensures that
some flow is constantly going back into the suction side of spray
pump 50 through bypass valve 70 and bypass flow path 72 to ensure
that spray pump 50 is never deadheaded, i.e. never builds up undue
pressure from pump outlet 54 being closed to agitation. This bypass
flow is schematically depicted in FIG. 17d (though bypass valve 70
is not itself shown in FIG. 17c as bypass valve 70 is mounted on
side outlet 68 of agitation valve 72).
[0061] A pressure relief valve 76 is also operatively connected to
spray hose run 60 leading from pump outlet 54 of spray pump 50. The
outlet of pressure relief valve 76 is connected by a pressure
relief hose run 78 back to pump supply hose run 56. Thus, if an
abnormal and excessively high pressure should occur for some reason
in the plumbing in the described system, particularly when bypass
valve 70 is not effective because agitation is turned on, this
excess pressure will be released by pressure relief valve 76 by
opening another bypass path back into pump supply hose run 56
through pressure relief hose run 78. If pressure relief valve 76
ever opens, then a flow arrow will appear in pressure relief hose
run 78 depicted in the schematic views of FIGS. 17a-17d.
[0062] Finally, drain opening 18 of tank 10 is connected by a drain
hose run 80 to a manually operable on/off drain valve 82 carried on
the bottom of spray pump 50. See FIGS. 3 and 5. However, drain
valve 82 is located on spray pump 50 only as a matter of
convenience. As an alternative, drain valve 82 could be placed
elsewhere on frame 4 at some location other than spray pump 50.
When the user opens drain valve 82 through manipulation of the
control handle thereon, any remaining spray solution in tank 10
will drain from tank 10 through drain hose run 80 and drain valve
82. Drain valve 82 will normally be used to empty tank 10 of any
remaining spray solution at the completion of a day's spraying
operations.
The Rinse System
[0063] Sprayer 2 also includes a rinse system for cleaning or
rinsing tank 10, spray pump 50, and the various hose runs
associated therewith at the completion of spraying operations.
Before beginning such rinsing, tank 10 is first drained of any
remaining quantity of liquid spray solution left in tank 10 using
drain valve 82.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a part of the rinse system comprises
a rinse tank 84 for holding a much smaller volume of a rinse liquid
(e.g. clean water) than the volume of spray solution held within
tank 10, e.g. 30 gallons in rinse tank 84 compared to 300 gallons
in tank 10. Rinse tank 84 has a lateral cross-sectional shape that
is substantially the same as the lateral cross-section shape of
tank 10. Rinse tank 84 is arranged in an abutting tandem
relationship to tank 10 such that the two tanks 10 and 84 together
appear to be one tank in FIG. 1. But, the fore-and-aft length
l.sub.1 of tank 10 is much larger than the fore-and-aft length
l.sub.2 of rinse tank 84 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0065] The length l.sub.2 of rinse tank 84 is too short to
accommodate an encircling strap 12 such as used with respect to
tank 10. Instead, rinse tank 84 is secured in some other fashion
either to frame 4 or to tank 10 or to both. As shown in FIG. 4,
rinse tank 84 can be strapped to frame 4 by two top hold down
straps 85 that extend between rear strap 12 on tank 10 and a frame
attached bracket 86 that carries spray valves 58 and agitation
valve 62.
[0066] Referring to the top view of FIG. 2, tank 10 has a front
wall 9f that has a slightly concave shape from side to side and
from top to bottom. Rinse tank 84 has a rear wall 83r with a
matching concave shape so that the front and rear ends of the two
tanks 10 and 84 together in their tandem relationship appear
identical in shape to one another.
[0067] Use of the rinse system, and thus use of rinse tank 84, is
an option and the rinse system and rinse tank 84 could be deleted
if so desired. In such a case, the rear wall 9r of tank 10 also has
the same matching concave shape as front wall 9f of tank 10 but
nests inside a matching convex shape on front wall 83f of rinse
tank 84. If the rinse system and rinse tank 84 are not used and are
removed, the front and rear ends of tank 10 will look identical to
the appearance they had when tank 10 was nested with rinse tank 84
since concave rear wall 9r of tank 10 will now be visible instead
of concave rear wall 83r of rinse tank 84. The major difference is
simply that tank 10 will be shorter since the length l.sub.2 of
rinse tank 84 will be missing. Thus, sprayer 2 has a consistent
tank profile and appearance at its front and rear ends whether tank
10 alone is used or both tanks 10 and 84 are used.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, rinse tank 84 has a top inlet 87 that is
closed by a cap 88 which may be removed to allow the rinse liquid
to be introduced into rinse tank 84 through top inlet 87 using a
hose (not shown) connected to a rinse liquid source (e.g. a tap or
spigot connected to clean water). As shown in FIG. 3, rinse tank 84
also has a bottom outlet 90 for drawing the rinse liquid out of
rinse tank 84.
[0069] The rinse system also includes a rinse pump 92 that is
carried on frame 4. See FIG. 4. Rinse pump 92 has an inlet that is
connected to bottom outlet 90 of rinse tank 84 using a rinse pump
supply hose run 94. Rinse pump 92 has an outlet that is connected
by a rinse hose run 96 to a pair of rinse nozzles 98 carried inside
tank 10. As shown in the top view of FIG. 2, rinse hose run 96
includes a pair of branches 97 overlying the top of tank 10. One
branch 97 supplies a rinse nozzle 98 installed in the top of tank
10 near the front of tank 10 and the other branch 97 supplies the
other rinse nozzle 98 installed in the top of tank 10 near the rear
of tank 10.
[0070] Rinse pump 92 is preferably an electrical pump and is wired
into the electrical system of utility vehicle 8 to receive
electrical power therefrom. However, other types of pumps, such as
pumps that are hydraulically driven (as in spray pump 50), could be
used in place of an electrical pump
[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, each rinse nozzle 98
comprises a nozzle body 100 that extends a short distance
downwardly from a fitting 102 mounted in the top of tank 10 on the
ceiling 104 of tank 10. Nozzle body 100 has a conical lower end
provided with a plurality of downwardly facing, circumferentially
spaced, bottom nozzle ports 106 that extend around the conical
lower end of nozzle body 100. A rotatable wheel or spinner 108 is
provided on nozzle body 100 below bottom nozzle ports 106. Spinner
108 has a plurality of wings 110 that are slightly tilted or
inclined relative to a horizontal plane. Wings 110 are provided
with more steeply upwardly angled vanes 112.
[0072] As the rinse liquid is sprayed through bottom nozzle ports
106, the rinse liquid will hit wings 110 of spinner 108 and
interact with wings 110 and vanes 112 to cause spinner 108 to
rotate relative to nozzle body 100 at a relatively high rate of
rotation. This causes the downwardly directed flow of rinse liquid
from nozzle body 100 to be thrown substantially radially outwardly
from nozzle body 100 in a somewhat umbrella shaped flow denoted
generally by the arrows X in FIG. 8. Such an umbrella shaped flow
better reaches and rinses the various front, rear and sidewalls of
tank 10 and much of ceiling 104 of tank 10.
[0073] Preferably, wings 110 do not overlap with one another, but
instead are circumferentially spaced apart from one another by a
plurality of radially extending gaps 111 as best shown in FIG. 9.
As spinner 108 rotates, gaps 111 periodically align with bottom
nozzle ports 106 to allow flow from such nozzle ports 106 to
temporarily be directed substantially vertically downwardly as
depicted by the arrows Z in FIG. 8. This downwardly directed flow Z
will better reach and rinse those areas of floor 11 of tank 10 that
lie beneath rinse nozzles 98, i.e. to reach areas of floor 11 that
might otherwise be missed by the more radially directed, umbrella
shaped flow X.
[0074] In addition, rinse nozzles 98, without more, will not reach
a doughnut shaped area on ceiling 104 of tank 10 immediately above
nozzle body 100. To reach and rinse this awkwardly located area,
nozzle body 100 is also provided with an annular, upwardly facing
shoulder 114 therein. As shown in FIG. 9, four upwardly facing,
circumferentially spaced, upper nozzle ports 116 are provided in
shoulder 114, though there could be a different number of such
upper nozzle ports 116 in shoulder 114. Each such upper nozzle port
116 is connected to a supply opening 118 therefor that is located
in an open interior bore 120 of nozzle body 100.
[0075] Thus, as the rinse liquid flows down through interior bore
120 of nozzle body 100, much of this flow leaves nozzle body 100
through bottom nozzle ports 106. However, a portion of the flow
gets directed through supply openings 118 and then upwardly through
supply passages (not shown) that are drilled into nozzle body 100
to eventually exit through upper nozzle ports 116 in an upwardly
directed flow indicated by the arrows Y in FIG. 8. This portion of
the flow of the rinse liquid is sprayed directly onto the doughnut
shaped area above nozzle body 100 to thoroughly wet and rinse such
area as well. Thus, rinse nozzles 98 are configured to more fully
reach and rinse all the interior surfaces of tank 10.
[0076] The rinse system described above is preferably operated in
three rinse cycles in which approximately one third of the rinse
liquid originally contained in rinse tank 84 is used. At the
conclusion of each rinse cycle, spray pump 50 is then operated to
withdraw the rinsate (the rinse liquid and the residual chemicals
which the rinse liquid has cleaned from tank 10 in that rinse
cycle) from tank 10 and to pump such rinsate out through the spray
booms using the combined agitation/spray mode of operation until
the rinsate has been emptied from tank 10. As noted, the rinse
cycle and following spray pump operation is repeated three times,
with the rinsate becoming cleaner each time. At the conclusion of
all of these various rinse and spray pump cycles, the tank 10,
spray pump 50, agitation nozzles 32, the spray nozzles on the spray
booms, and the plumbing associated with the spray and agitation
systems will be substantially cleaned of any residual spray
solution.
[0077] FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the flow into tank 10
during operation of the rinse system. In FIG. 18, rinse nozzles 98
are shown in a plane that is perpendicular to their actual
orientation in tank 10 only because FIG. 18 is a two-dimensional
view. In actuality, rinse nozzles 98 extend downwardly into the
very top of tank 10 hanging down from fittings 102 carried in
ceiling 104 of tank 10.
[0078] The rinse system described above has various desirable
characteristics. It allows tank 10 to be rinsed and cleaned of
residual spray solution without requiring manual labor on the part
of the user to manually hose the interior of tank 10 and without
exposing the user directly to the residual spray solutions in tank
10. In addition, the use of an onboard rinse system allows the
cleaning and rinsing of tank 10 to be done more efficiently without
the need for back and forth transport to allow clean water to be
introduced into tank 10 at one location with subsequent transport
required to a location where the rinsate can be safely emptied in
an environmental sense from tank 10. Normally, most places where
the spray solution can be applied, such as the turf areas of a golf
course, are also areas onto which the rinsate can be emptied. Thus,
the user can often perform the repeating rinse and spray pump
cycles of operation at the same locations where he or she has been
spraying, thus saving considerable inconvenience and time.
[0079] In addition, the components of the rinse system, including
the use of a separate rinse pump 92, are entirely segregated from
the plumbing components, including spray pump 50, that handle the
spray solution. Thus, there is never a possibility that the clean
water contained in rinse tank 84 will be contaminated or polluted
in any way with any residual chemicals prior to the rinse liquid
being sprayed by rinse nozzles 98 into tank 10. This enhances the
cleaning ability of the rinse system and ensures that it does not
itself become contaminated.
The Eductor System
[0080] Sprayer 2 of this invention also optionally comprises a
chemical eductor 122 that can be used to initially mix the
chemicals with water previously placed into tank 10 to form the
spray solution. Chemical eductors are well known components used
for this purpose. Eductor 122 shown herein is one known as the
Hypro Cleanload Chemical Eductor (Model 3375P) manufactured and
sold by Hypro LLC, New Brighton, Minn.
[0081] By way of background only and referring to FIGS. 10 and 13,
eductor 122 comprises a hopper 124 for containing a quantity of wet
or dry chemicals, a bottom valve block 126 having a fluid inlet 128
and a fluid outlet 130, and a venturi nozzle (not shown) within
valve block 126 for metering chemicals into a water stream passing
between fluid inlet 128 and fluid outlet 130 to mix the chemicals
with water to form a spray solution. This invention is not
concerned with the structure of eductor 122, but rather how eductor
122 is mounted and carried on tank 10 for movement between a lower
fill and operating position (shown in FIG. 13) and an upper storage
and transport position (shown in FIGS. 10 and 16.
[0082] When sprayer 2 is equipped with eductor 122, the eductor 122
is mounted to one side of tank 10 on a pair of substantially
identical brackets 132 that are fastened in any suitable manner to
the side of tank 10. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, each bracket 132
comprises a vertically extending flange having a lower end 134 that
protrudes outwardly from a lower side of tank 10 and an upper end
136 that matches the curvature of the upper half or so of tank 10.
Brackets 132 are spaced a short distance apart from one another to
define a relatively narrow channel 138 therebetween. Lower end 134
of each bracket 132 contains a stop 140 that protrudes to one side
of bracket 132. In addition, each bracket 132 has a tab with a hole
142 that is used as a fixed attachment point for one end of a
biasing spring 144. Note that in FIGS. 11 and 12 the springs 144
are shown out of holes 142 for the sake of clarity.
[0083] Referring further to FIGS. 11 and 12, two substantially
identical mounting arms 146 are pivotally attached to brackets 132
for rotation about a substantially horizontal pivot axis x.sub.1.
As best shown in FIG. 11, each arm 146 is adjacent and outboard of
one bracket 132. As shown in FIG. 12, the lower end of each spring
144 is attached to a connecting pin 148 that is carried on each arm
146 relatively close to the pivot axis x.sub.1. Arms 146 have upper
ends that carry a U-shaped mounting cradle 150. Hopper 124 of
eductor 122 is bolted to cradle 150 with at least a portion of
hopper 124 being received within cradle 150.
[0084] However, cradle 150 is not rigidly affixed to the upper ends
of arms 146, but is pivotally connected thereto to be able to
rotate or pivot about a second substantially horizontal pivot axis
x.sub.2. See FIGS. 11 and 12. Thus, arms 146 can rotate about the
axis x.sub.1 relative to brackets 132 while cradle 150 that holds
eductor 122 can further rotate about the axis x.sub.2 relative to
arms 146. Each arm 146 includes an outwardly protruding knob 152
allowing the user to grip and apply force to cradle 150 when moving
eductor 122 between its various positions.
[0085] Referring further to FIG. 12, cradle 150 which holds eductor
122 has a releasable catch 153 formed in part by a rearwardly
protruding tang 154 on a rear wall 151 of cradle 150 which tang 154
points inwardly towards tank 10. Tang 154 has an upwardly facing
notch 156. A fixed horizontal rod 158 is carried in channel 138
between brackets 132. Rod 158 is positioned to interact with tang
154 such that notch 156 in tang 154 can be manipulated beneath rod
158 until rod 158 is received in notch 156. Thus, notch 156 in tang
154 together with rod 158 form catch 153 which when engaged holds
cradle 150 that mounts eductor 122 up against the side of tank 10.
FIG. 12 shows catch 153 in an engaged position.
[0086] It is desirable that catch 153 when engaged be snug to
prevent rattling and the like and to firmly hold eductor 122 in
position. As shown in FIG. 21, the upper end 136 of each bracket
132 includes an outwardly protruding flexible spring tab 155. When
rear wall 151 of cradle 150, which is shown in phantom in FIG. 21,
is pressed towards the upper ends 136 of brackets 132 in the
direction of arrow M, rear wall 151 presses against both spring
tabs 155 to compress or deflect spring tabs 155 about halfway
towards full deflection. Such deflection causes spring tabs 155 to
apply an outward counterforce, indicated by arrow N in FIG. 21,
that tends to keep notch 156 in tank 154 firmly pressed up against
the rear of rod 158 to form a snug and rattle free engagement. Such
counterforce N has a further desirable characteristic in that it
helps keep a lower spring clamp 164 firmly engaged as will be
described hereafter.
[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a handle 160 having a
U-shaped grip 162 is bolted or otherwise fixed to the bottom of
eductor 122. Handle 160 is equipped with a U-shaped spring clamp
164 that faces inwardly towards tank 10. Spring clamp 164 is
adapted for clamping against a bushing or sleeve 166 that is
contained in channel 138 between brackets 132. See FIG. 15. Sleeve
166 is located on the pivot axis x.sub.1.
[0088] Referring now to FIG. 10, fluid inlet 128 on eductor 122 is
coupled by an eductor inlet hose run 168 to an eductor valve 170.
Eductor valve 170 is interposed into spray hose run 60 between
agitation valve 62 and spray valves 58. Fluid outlet 130 of eductor
122 is coupled by an eductor outlet hose run 172 to a second fill
opening 174 that is placed into the top of tank 10.
[0089] In using eductor 122, tank 10 is filled with water through
fill opening 13 and hopper 124 of eductor 122 is filled separately
with the desired chemicals (herbicides or pesticides or some
combination thereof) that are to be mixed with this water. Spray
pump 50 is then placed into operation while agitation valve 62 and
eductor valve 170 are both opened but spray valves 58 remain
closed. In this situation, water will be drawn by spray pump 50 out
of tank 10 with some of this water being used for agitation in tank
10 but with some of this water being directed by the open eductor
valve 170 through eductor 122 to mix the chemicals held within
hopper 124 of eductor 122 and the water together. This mixture
forms the spray solution and travels through eductor outlet hose
run 172 and through fill opening 174 into tank 10. FIG. 19 is a
schematic view showing the flow into tank 10 during the operation
of eductor 122 as just described. This operation is allowed to
continue until all the chemicals held within hopper 124 have been
metered into the flow passing through eductor 122.
[0090] FIGS. 10 and 20 illustrate eductor 122 in a non-operative
storage and transport position contained on the side of tank 10 but
very near the top of tank 10. In this position, the laterally
outermost portion of eductor 122, namely the laterally outermost
point 123 of hopper 124 of eductor 122, does not extend
substantially laterally outwardly of the lateral wheelbase of frame
4 of sprayer 2. This is also true for the structure that mounts
eductor 122 to the side of tank 10. In other words, all of the
mounting structure for eductor 122 and eductor 122 do not extend
laterally beyond or outboard of, and are preferably slightly
inboard of, the laterally outermost tire edge 125 of the ground
engaging wheels 6 on the side of sprayer 2 which carries eductor
122.
[0091] This allows sprayer 2 to be transported without fear of
contact between eductor 122 and any of its mounting structure with
external obstacles. If sprayer 2 misses such obstacles, so too will
eductor 122 by virtue of the inboard position of eductor 122
relative to the lateral wheelbase of sprayer in the upper storage
and transport position of eductor 122. However, in this upper
position, eductor 122 is too high above the ground for a user who
is standing on the ground to reach and load with chemicals.
[0092] FIG. 13 shows eductor 122 in a lower fill and operational
position with eductor 122 having been exploded away from arms 146.
In this lower fill and operational position, a lid 176 on the top
of hopper 124 of eductor 122 is located close enough to the ground
to be easily accessible to a standing user, i.e. lid 176 of eductor
122 is at belt level of the user or slightly higher. Thus, the user
can remove lid 176 and easily pour dry or liquid chemicals into
hopper 124. The lower fill and operational position will also be
the position in which eductor 122 would be operated to mix the
chemicals with the water as described earlier.
[0093] In the lower fill and operational position, arms 146 are
swung forwardly and downwardly about the pivot axis x.sub.1.
Portions of arms 146 now rest or abut against the tops of stops 140
on brackets 132 to support and hold eductor 122 in its lower fill
and operational position. In this position, springs 144 have been
further tensioned with such springs serving to counterbalance most
of the weight of eductor 122.
[0094] To move eductor 122 between its lower fill and operational
position as shown in FIG. 13 and its upper storage and transport
position as shown in FIG. 16, the user grips one knob 152 with one
hand and grips handle 160 with his or her other hand. The user then
lifts upwardly on eductor 122 to begin to pivot arms 146 back
upwardly around pivot axis x.sub.1. This upward lifting action is
indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 15.
[0095] During this upward lifting D, the user also uses
differential force between knob 152 and handle 160 by pushing
inwardly slightly on knob 152 and by pulling outwardly slightly as
he or she lifts. Using such differential force, the user is able to
rotate eductor 122 about pivot axis x.sub.2 as arms 146 pivot about
axis x.sub.1 until eductor 122 is tipped slightly back towards tank
10 (i.e. does not a purely vertical orientation) as it approaches
tank 10. This tipped orientation is shown in FIG. 15. This tipped
orientation enables the user to engage catch 153 by letting the
user angle tang 154 on the back of cradle 150 downwardly in such a
way that he or she can position notch 156 in tang 154 to slip
beneath rod 158 on brackets 132. In achieving this, spring tabs 155
get slightly compressed to assert the outward counterforce N that
helps keep notch 156 firmly pressed up against rod 158.
[0096] Once catch 153 is engaged in this way, the user can then
vertically straighten out eductor 122 (i.e. get rid of the tilt) by
pushing inwardly on handle 160 to move handle 160 towards tank 10
as shown by the arrow E in FIG. 16. This inward push causes cradle
150 holding eductor 122 to become substantially horizontal as shown
in FIG. 16. The inward push continues until spring clamp 164 on
handle 160 engages over sleeve 166 contained in channel 138 between
brackets 132. This engagement of spring clamp 164 releasably
latches eductor 122 in its upper storage and transport position.
Counterforce N from spring tabs 155 acts on the eductor mounting
structure in a manner that tends to bias spring clamp 164 towards
sleeve 166 to help keep spring clamp 164 engaged on sleeve 166.
[0097] To move eductor 122 back down to its lowered fill and
operational position, the sequence of events in FIGS. 15 and 16 is
reversed. First, the user unlatches handle 160 by pulling handle
160 outwardly to pull spring clamp 164 off sleeve 166. Then the
user tips eductor 122 upwardly to cause tang 154 to release from
rod 158 and then pulls eductor 122 downwardly until it is stopped
in the position shown in FIG. 13 by stops 140. This mechanism
provides easy and smooth movement of eductor 122 between the
various positions thereof with much of the weight of eductor 122
being counterbalanced by springs 144.
[0098] Use of eductor 122 obviates the need for the user to
manually pour the chemicals into the tank 10. Such a task would
obviously require the user to get on top of tank 10 to reach fill
opening 13 while carrying or holding a container that carries the
chemicals. After removing lid 14, the user would then manually pour
the chemicals into tank 10. This can be a physically strenuous task
which exposes the user to a risk that he or she might accidentally
spill some of the chemicals onto himself or herself. When using
eductor 122 in its lower fill and operational position, the user
can simply and much more easily pour the chemicals into hopper 124
of eductor while securely standing on the ground. While use of an
eductor 122 is preferred for this reason, the entire eduction
system described in this section of this patent application is
optional and could be deleted from sprayer 2 if so desired.
[0099] Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention shall be
limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *