GB2336752A

GB2336752A - A portable sprayer

Info

Publication number: GB2336752A
Application number: GB9809015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Rowe; Frank Knock
Original assignee: COLEMAN ENGINEERING
Current assignee: COLEMAN ENGINEERING
Priority date: 1998-04-29
Filing date: 1998-04-29
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Also published as: GB9809015D0

Abstract

A portable spraying apparatus suitable for use in spraying agricultural and/or horticultural chemicals or the like is provided. The apparatus is provided in a housing (1) having an inlet port (3) for atmospheric air which is supplied to a compressor (7) mounted within the housing. The compressor (7) is powered by a battery (10) which is rechargeable via a charging circuit (25) supplied by an external source connectable to a charging socket (12). The compressor (7) pressurises incoming air and communicates the pressurised air to an outlet port (17) which is configured as a quick-connect coupling for connecting the apparatus to a chemical storage container (30). Agricultural or horticultural chemicals are expelled from the container by the pressurised air.

Description

2336752 A PORTABLE SPRAYER

Background to the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable sprayer and more particularly to a chemical sprayer for agricultural and/or horticultural use.

c The spraying of chemicals on small plots of land or trials of new chemicals requires the use of a small portable spraying apparatus. In an agricultural trial, where a new chemical is being tested, the initial development phase includes the spraying of small discrete areas before progressing to larger development plots which are used in latter stages of testing. Standard portable sprayers use compressed gas to propel the chemical from a storage container. The compressed gas is normally carbon dioxide (C02) and a large heavy compressed gas cylinder is required to give a sufficient spraying period, for example, one hour. A flArther disadvantage associated with these of heavyC02cylinders is that C02 itself often affects the structure of the chemical being used. This is particularly relevant where the chemical carrier or solvent is water as C02 changes the pH of water. A solution to the above problem is to use compressed air but this does not overcome the problems associated with carrying a heavy cylinder (in addition to the chemical being sprayed). A further disadvantage with compressed air is that in order to provide useful working pressure, the air must be compressed to at least 200 bar.

It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide an easily portable sprayer.

Summary of the Invention

Accordinaly, the present invention provides a portable spraying apparatus suitable 0 c for use in spraying agricultural and/or horticultural chemicals or the like, the ZD 1 apparatus comprising.

c a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port connectable to an associated chemical storage container.

a compressor disposed within the housing, the compressor being electrically operable, and an air circuit adapted to connect the inlet port to the outlet port via the compressor so that chemicals in an associated storage container may be expelled therefrom under pressure.

Preferably, the electrically operable compressor is powered by a battery to be secured within the housin.. Conveniently, the battery is a rechargeable battery.

C c Optionally, the apparatus includes a recharging circuit connectable to an external power source.

Advantageously, the housing includes a carrying handle and/or strap. Optionally, a belt engaging hook or flange is provided on an external surface on the housing.

The air circuit draws atmospheric air into the inlet port under the operation of the compressor. The air is pressurised in the compressor and is communicated to the outlet port via a non-return valve.

A pressure sensor is provided to regulate the pressure available at the outlet port and a pressure gauge is provided to facilitate manual adjustment of the compressor.

Optionally, an air line is provided from the compressor to provide a stream of filtered air to the user. Commonly, for health and safety purposes, the user must wear a mask or a powered respiratory protection helmet. Advantageously, a stream of fresh filtered air may be provided by the apparatus.

Alternatively, an output connector is provided to supply power from the apparatus to a respirator mask.

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one 0 embodiment of sprayer according to the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawinRs- Figure 1 is an exposed side elevation of the apparatus, Figure 2 is a front view of a chemical storage container; and -7 Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the air circuit and electrical circuit.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, the portable spraying apparatus comprises a housing 1 having an inlet port 3 for atmospheric air and includes a 0 Z> filter mechanism 5 for introducing clean air to a compressor 7 mounted within the housing 1. The compressor 7 is electrically operated and is powered by a battery 10 which is rechargeable. A charging voltage is available via a char ing socket 0 0 9 =1 12 mounted on an end wall 15 of the housing 1. The compressor 7 pressurises the incoming air and communicates the pressurised air to an outlet port 17. A nonreturn valve 19 is incorporated in the outlet port side of the compressor 7 to eliminate loss of pressure through the compressor seals (not shown).

0 The housiner 1 includes a carrying handle 20 which may be supplemented by a C1 0 shoulder strap. Optionally, a belt engaging hook or flange may be provided on c c one of the side walls 22 of the housing 1 so that the apparatus may be attached to the belt of a user.

Optionally, a charging circuit 25 is powered from a low voltage external source connectable to the charging socket 12. This facilitates the use of a standard low c I= voltacye source to charge the battery by matching the charging circuit 25 to the battery 10.

A pressure gauge 26 is provide to facilitate the manual adjustment of the compressor 7 to obtain the most effective air pressure. A pressure sensor 27 is also provided on the outlet port side of the compressor 7 to regulate the pressure available at the outlet port 17. The pressure sensor 27 is operable to switch off the electrical supply from the battery 10 to the compressor 7. A pressure drain valve 29 is also provide on the outlet line.

The outlet port 17 is configured as a quick-connect coupling for connecting the sprayer to a chemical storage container 30, illustrated in Figure 2, which contains agricultural or horticultural chemicals. The container is preferably a plastics container having a reinforced plate 31 to which inlet 32 and outlet 33 ports are mounted. A first hose 35 for coupling to the outlet port 17 of the sprayer communicates pressurised air to the container 30. The contents 36 of the container 30 are expelled under pressure through an internal tube 39 to a spray head 40 via the outlet port 33 of the container 30.

With reference to Figure 3, the air circuit for the sprayer is shown schematically. Atmospheric air is drawn into the compressor 7, via the filter 5 (Figure 1), where it is pressurised. The non-return valve 19 is provided in-line on the outlet port side of the compressor 7. A pressure reading is taken from the outlet line for the pressure gauge 26 and for the pressure sensor 27. The pressure sensor 27 can switch at a predetermined pressure of between 0 and 8 bar. Additionally, the pressure gauge is chosen for accurately reading on a scale of between 0 and 8 bar. A normally closed (N.C.) pressure drain valve 29 is provided in a pushbutton configuration to quickly diver-t pressurised air away from the outlet port 17. The electrical part of the circuit is also shown schematically in Figure 3. The charging socket 12 is connected to the charging circuit 25 provided in a parallel .. I Z conflauration with the rechar-eable battery 10 so that if required an external voltage may be used to power the sprayer. The battery 10 is connected to the compressor 7 via an on off switch 45 and an in-line fuse 47. The normally closed (N.C.) switch of the pressure sensor 27 is also provided in line between the battery 10 and the compressor 7 so that when the switch is activated the resulting open circuit deprives the compressor of activating current.

0 In an unillustrated embodiment an air line is provided from the compressor 7 to provide a stream of filtered air to the user. In conducting agricultural trials or in the general use of agricultural or horticultural chemicals, for health and safety purposes the user must wear a mask or powered respiratory protection helmet. The provision of a stream of filtered fresh air from the apparatus of the invention facilitates the use of such a mask or helmet without the need for carrying extra equipment. In an alternative arrangement, an outlet (not shown) is provided for supplying power from the apparatus to a respirator mask.

A suitable compressor for use with the sprayer has free air flow of approximately 13 litres per minute and a maximum pressure of 7 bar such as that provided by ASF Thomas (type 80091021). The compressor has a 12 volt 32 watt motor and weighs approximately 1. 1 kilograms. The use of such a compressor can realise a sprayer, pumping 4.1 It/min. at around 3 bar when spraying, which is lightweight and uses commonplace 12 volt components with low power consumption. A rechargeable lead acid battery having a capacity of 4 amps per hour will give a running time of approximately 1 hour- A suitable battery is the YUASA NP4-12 which weighs approximately 1.75 kilograms.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that 1 various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable spraying apparatus suitable for use in spraying agricultural and/or horticultural chemicals or the like, the apparatus comprising; a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port connectable to an associated chemical storage container; a compressor disposed within the housing, the compressor being electrically operable; and an air circuit adapted to connect the inlet port to the outlet port via the compressor so that chemicals in an associated storage container may be expelled therefrom under pressure.

2. A portable spraying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrically operable compressor is powered by a battery secured within the housing.

3. A portable spraying apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, which includes a recharging circuit connectable to an external power source.

4. A portable spraying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air circuit draws atmospheric air into the inlet port under the operation of the compressor, said air being pressurised in the compressor and communicated to the outlet port via a non-return valve.

5. A portable spraying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a pressure sensor is provided to regulate the pressure available at the outlet port and in which a pressure gauge is provided to facilitate manual adjustment of the compressor.

6. A portable spraying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which an air line is provided from the compressor to provide a stream of filtered air to the user.

7. A portable spraying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which an output connector is provided to supply power from the apparatus to a respirator mask.

8. A portable spraying apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A portable spraying apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown schematically in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A spraying system substantially as herein described having an associated chemical storage container for use in spraying agricultural and/or horticultural chemicals or the like.