Liquid Spraying Device

Abstract

A spraying device particularly for use in agriculture, comprising, in a pressuirized liquid inlet passage (2), upstream of a distributor consisting of at least two branches (3 and 3a) each connected by an individual valve (4 4a) to a spray nozzle (5, 5a), a single common outlet valve (16, 19) loaded by a calibrated spring (13) capable of opposing liquid flow when the pressure thereof is not sufficient to effect spraying, particularly on closing of a main valve, to avoid dripping of the nozzles during interruptions in the operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid spraying device applicable particularly in agriculture, for example, to spray insecticides and/or fungicides, or fertilizers.

It relates more specifically to the arrangement of devices of the type in question with a view to meeting the different practical requirements better than present devices, in particular to provide for rapid and easy assembly of large sprayer lines from economical elements, and permitting very rapid adjustment of the hourly liquid spray discharge to all possible conditions.

An important feature of the invention consists of the arrangement, in a common pressurized liquid inlet passage, upstream of a distributor consisting of at least two branches each connected by a separate valve to a spray nozzle, of a common outlet valve loaded by a calibrated spring to oppose liquid flow when the pressure is not sufficient to cause the spray, or to prevent dripping of the liquid contained in the upstream pipes at the time of closing of a main valve to protect the vegetation from burning.

In another important feature of the invention which may be used as a separate unit with a device of the type in question -- provided that it comprises downstream of a single passage, a distributor consisting of at least two branches each connected by a separate valve to a spray nozzle -- the upstream end of the said passage is connected to the saddle of a connector ring clamp fastening the device opposite a radial port around a spray liquid feed and support pipe.

In the latter case the axes of the spray nozzles are advantageously located in one plane perpendicular to the axis of the connector ring clamp.

In a preferred embodiment applicable also to devices without connector ring clamp the axes of the spray nozzles diverge to provide for geometrically separate sprays.

In the case of a device comprising connector ring clamps the axes of the spray nozzles are divergent and parallel to radii of the circle circumscribed in the clamp.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the nozzles produce flat sprays called "flat pencil" sprays extending in substantially parallel or divergent planes.

The attached drawing illustrates an example clarifying the invention, its features, and the advantages derived therefrom.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section and partly as an external view, of an agricultural spray device based on the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same device, partly in axial section along II--II (FIG. 1) and partly as an external view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same spraying device on a smaller scale.

FIG. 4. is a front elevation of a spraying device based on a modification of the invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 2 of spraying devices based on two modifications.

If it is desired to conduct agricultural spraying with a liquid insecticide and/or fungicide, or with liquid fertilizers with a mobile system, the hourly discharge must sometimes be adjusted to the liquid used and to the particular local conditions.

Since the hourly discharge of a spray nozzle can only be adjusted within very narrow limits without interfering with the correct operation of the nozzle, it was considered useful to mount individually disconnectible nozzles along the same line.

Therefore, groups of nozzles capable of spraying at different discharge rates can be associated cyclically, and the said groups can be operated separately or in a plurality of groups to obtain several ranges of hourly discharge rates.

The invention provides for the production of groups of nozzles capable of operating in this manner in the most economical form possible and capable of being mounted practically and easily along spray lines consisting substantially of support and liquid spray feed pipes 1.

Each device comprises a body including a saddle portion 6 adapted to be clamped on the pipe 1 by a collar 7 in front of a radial port 8 provided in the said pipe, in such manner that this port 8 may communicate with a passage 2 formed in the said body. The body is integral with a transverse branch having a longitudinal bore which extends both sides of the plane of passage 2 as illustrated at 3 and 3a. A valve such as 4 is slidably mounted in each end of bore 3-3a to control nozzles 5, 5a respectively, supported by tubular nozzle carrying portions depending from the above-mentioned transverse branch.

To facilitate the assembly of the spraying device on a pipe 1 provided with a row of ports 8 variably spaced along a generatrix, the said pipe is provided with a centering and coupling nipple 9 projecting into the lower surface of saddle 6 and surrounded by a toric packing 10.

To assemble the spray line the nipple 9 of a device of the invention is introduced into one port 8, and peripheral packing 10 is applied to the edge of port 8 to form a seal when saddle 6 is in contact with pipe 1. Strap 7 is then pivoted on one side about a pin 11 around the pipe, and locked on the other side of the saddle by a screw 12.

Since spray products are usually expensive it is desirable to avoid flowing or dripping of the liquid contained in the pipes 1 of the line by gravity through the nozzles 5 and 5a of the device on temporary interruption of the spraying operation. For this purpose, according to another important feature of the invention, upstream of the two branches 3 and 3a of the distributor, common pressurized fluid inlet passage 2 is provided with a common outlet valve loaded by a calibrated spring 13 (FIG. 2) capable of opposing the liquid flow between passage 2 and the branches 3 and 3a of the distributor when the liquid pressure drops after the pressurizing pump has been stopped and becomes insufficient to provide for correct spraying by nozzles 5 and 5a in order to protect the vegetation from burning because of the dripping of the pipes during interruptions in the operation.

The outlet valve common to two or more spray nozzles 5, 5a, etc., provides for a substantial economy in the production of the device of the invention.

In the case illustrated the said common valve is provided on the side of the body of the device with an externally threaded flange 14 connected directly to the branches 3 and 3a of the distributor, and extending coaxially around a sleeve 15 connected individually to common inlet passage 2 and whose free edge is flush with that of flange 14.

The annular end faces of flange 14 and sleeve 15 are covered by a natural or synthetic rubber diaphragm 16 clamped along the periphery by a cap 17 fixed by a ring 18 screwed on flange 14.

Cap 17 contains an axial push member 19 urged at its front end preferably rounded in the form of a spherical cap by calibrated spring 13 against diaphragm 16 to press it against the annular end edge of sleeve 15.

Valves 4, 4a (as seen in FIG. 1) consist of a valve plug connected by a stem or rod portion to hollow cap or knob 20. The stem or rod is an integral part of the internally threaded cap or knob 20. When cap 20 is screwed inwardly, it jams the plug portion of the valve against a concave seat and therefore blocks the flow of fluid.

The said valves may of course consist also of other known means such as control lever valves or the like.

The spraying device of the invention can be manufactured very simply, for example, by molding, particularly by injection molding of plastic material, the axes of the spray nozzles being arranged in one plane perpendicular to the axis of the saddle 6 and strap 7 of the coupling clamp.

To avoid interference among the spray jets issuing from nozzles 5 and 5a the said jets are advantageously "flat pencil" jets 22 and 22a extending in substantially parallel planes as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 for example.

According to another important feature of the invention spray jet interference is avoided even if the jets are conical turbulance jets by the provision of a divergence of their pattern axes 23 and 23a as is the case in the modification represented in FIG. 4.

It will be observed that even if the axes of the spraying patterns 23 and 23a are not located in one plane perpendicular to the axis of pipe 1 the said axes can always be oriented parallel to a radius of the said pipe, and the device may be made adjustable by any known means to vary the divergence angle.

The device represented in FIG. 5 differs from that described above in that it comprises opposite coaxial coupling ends 24 and 25 connected to a single branch passage (not represented) having the same function inside the device as passage 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Coupling ends 24 and 25 are connected to flexible hoses 26 and 27 to similar spraying devices, and annular clamps 28 and 29 are combined with annular clamps 28a and 29a fastening the device to a support bar 30.

The device represented in FIG. 6 differs from that of FIG. 5 in that clamps 28a and 29a are replaced by a fitting 31 fixed directly to the device, for example by a screw 32.

It is understood that the above description is supplied only as an example which does not restrict the scope of the invention which does not exclude substitution of any other equivalent means for the described structural details.

Claims

I claim:

1. A liquid spraying device to be connected to a pressurized liquid supply line, comprising:

a. a body including

a liquid receiving portion having an inner passage to receive the pressurized liquid to be sprayed;

means to connect said inner passage with the pressurized liquid supply line;

a transverse branch extending substantially on each side of said liquid receiving portion, said branch being formed with a longitudinal bore which does not communicate directly with said inner passage, and said longitudinal bore having two open ends;

tubular nozzle carrying portions extending substantially radially from said transverse branch on each side of said liquid receiving portion and communicating with said longitudinal bore;

and an antidrip-valve carrying portion laterally disposed with respect to said liquid receiving portion, said lateral portion having a substantially flat surface and being formed with ducts respectively communicating with said inner passage and with said transverse bore, with each of said ducts having an open end terminating at said substantially flat surface;

b. an antidrip diaphragm valve bearing against said flat surface to close the open ends of said ducts in the absence of the liquid under pressure within at least one of said ducts;

c. resilient means to press said diaphragm valve against said flat surface;

d. spraying nozzles mounted on said nozzle carrying portions;

e. and valve means slidably mounted in each end of said longitudinal bore and selectively operable to block the flow of liquid from said bore to at least one of said nozzle carrying portions.

2. In a liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 1, each of said valve means including a plug portion slidable in fluid-tight relation within said longitudinal bore, said plug portion being connected by a rod portion with a hollow cap having a screw-threaded inner periphery, and said transverse branch being provided with corresponding external screw-threads at each end thereof to rotatably receive said caps and to cause axial displacement of said plug portion within said longitudinal bore.

3. In a liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 1, for a pressurized liquid supply line comprising a pipe having a substantially circular periphery having a laterally extending port, said means to connect said inner passage including

a concave arcuate surface formed on said liquid receiving portion to bear against the periphery of the pipe, with said inner passage opening on said concave surface to register with the lateral port of the pipe;

sealing means carried by said concave surface around the opening of said passage thereon to bear against the periphery of said pipe;

and means to clamp said liquid receiving portion on said pipe.

4. In a liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 1, for a pressurized liquid supply line comprising a succession of hoses, said liquid receiving portion having two opposed lateral sides and said means to connect said inner passage with said supply line including a nipple on each of said lateral sides of said liquid receiving portion to receive a hose, with said nipples being substantially in line with each other.

5. In a liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 4, an annular clamp to maintain each of said hoses on each of said nipples, with each of said clamps having an extension to be secured to a support.