US2235278A - Spraying device - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1941. F. a. BRUNNER SPRAYING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1938 INVENTOR. Ef/"CSffl Era/M262)" BY 25 M ATTORNEYS 305 Patented Mn. 18, 194

UNITED STATES) PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to spraying devices, but more in particular to a device of this character which utilizes the ordinary city water supply as the spraying medium and which affords means for automatically dissolving and mixing with the water a fertilizer or other compound, such as a germicide or insecticide.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to produce a simple and eifective device of this kind which can be used in connection with an ordinary garden hose tospray lawns and shrubbery and simultaneously apply fertilizer or some com-' pound adapted to destruction of insect pests.

Details of the invention and its operation are described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of the complete spraying device, partly in section; I

Fig. 2 is a view of the mixing unit detached from the other parts and as seen from below; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the jar or flask which holds the fertilizer or other compound to be dissolved and mixed with the spray.

Referring to the drawing, the mixing unit hereinhefore referred to comprises a generally tubular conduit portion l, and a threaded cap 2, which are cast in one piece, preferably of aluminum. This casting, as well as the other parts, are shown in full size in the several figures of drawing.

The cap portion 2 of the casting serves as a closure member for the glass flask or container l4, and is internally threaded to cooperate with the threaded neck i3 ofthe flask. Rubber gaskets l2 are used in order to make a water tight connection.

The tubular portion l of the casting has a semi-cylindrical wall which merges into the upper wall of the cap, and provides a channel above the cap through which water passes from the hose 6 to the nozzle 9. To provide for connecting the hose, the part I is internally threaded at H to receive the usual coupling 5. There is a shoulder at 3 against which the gasket 4 is compressed by the end of the coupling. At the opposite end the part i is provided with external threads I for securing the nozzle 9. A gasket 8' is interposed to make a water tight connection at this point also.

The generally tubular bore which extends through part i of the casting is constricted or reduced in cross-section by an annular ridge iii. In order to establish communication between the main channel and the interior of the cap, two

small openings l5 and I6 are provided. These openings are preferably drilled after the casting is made. and should slope slightly forward, as shown. The location of the hole [5 is not'particularly critical, but hole [6 should open into the main channel at the forward edge of the annular ridge iii, as shown in the drawing.

It will be seen that the invention comprises essentially the mixing unit and the flask, and is adapted for use .with ordinary equipment such as is customarily found oh the average household premises. Thus the hose 6 may be the usual garden hose and the nozzle 9 may be the nozzle usually secured to the coupling 5. The mixing 1'5- unit is simply interposed between the coupling and the nozzle, by first unscrewing the nozzle from the coupling and replacing it with themixing unit, after which the nozzle is screwed onto the mixing unit, opposite the coupling. It may be desirable,however, in some cases, to provide a special form of nozzle, which may then be furnished along with the other parts.

The mixing unit could be made of the proper size to flt the ordinary Mason jar, but I have found that this is unsatisfactory, because it is impossible as a practical matter to obtain a water vice 'of this kind that the parts be capable of.

hand assembly, for the flask requires refilling from time to time, and I have found that in order that the average person may readily screw the cap down tight enough to obtain a good seal, the size of the neck of the flask should not be much if any larger than as shown in the drawing. The shape of the flask is also of some importance. As shown in Fig. 3, the flask may be flattened and fluted at the sides so that it may be firmly held with one hand while the cap or mixing unit is being screwed down.

The construction and relation of the several parts having beendescribed, the operation of the invention will now be briefly explained.

For this purpose it will be assumed that the flask It has been 'fllled with a soluble fertilizer compound, as indicated at l8, which may be in granular form, and that the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. When the water is turned on, it follows the main channel through the tubular bore of part i of the casting and emerges from the end of the nozzle 9 as a stream or spray, the character. of which may be regulated in the usual manner. The direction of the water flow is indicated by arrows.

The flask'immediately fills with water, due to the communication with the main channel through the openings l5 and It As soon as the flask has become fllled, the flow-of water through the constricted opening at the internally project ing ridge ll creates a difference in pressure which withdraws water from the flask through the opening I, and simultaneously establishes a flow of water into the flask through the opening l5. Thus the openings II and I8 constitute a branch of the main channel through which a small quantityof water flows into and out of the flask. The stream of water entering the flask is diverted to the rear as it passes out of the slopingaperture l5, and sets up a circulation inside the flask, the water passing down the side until it reaches the compound and then flowing over the surface of the compound and upward to the aperture it. The arrows show the direction of flow, which is of moderate velocity insufllcient to agitate or stir up the compound to any substantial extent.

The compound is carried oil and mixed with the main stream by the process of dissolving it gradually at the top and removing it as a solution. Some fine particles, if there are any, may be stirred up and carried off in suspension, but with most fertilizer compoundsand insecticides, which are soluble in water, such action is not relied onand does not take place to any extent because of the low velocity of the circulation. The force of the incoming stream at opening i5 is sufllcient, however, to insure a continuous flow of water downward and across the upper surface of the compound, which is gradually taken up in solution, carried out into the main stream through opening I 6, and mixed with the main stream as it passes outward and through the nozzle 9.

The arrangement described has several distinct advantages. Since the compound is all passed out of the as a solution, with the possible exception of a few fine particles, there is no danger of clogging up the aperture it. Another advantage is inherent in the relatively moderate rate at which the compound is introduced into the main stream, which entirely avoids any danger of obtaining too concentrated a'solution such as might cause damage to lawns or foliage. Although a weak solution is produced, therefore, it is none the less effective, because the spraying operation is simply continued until the contents of the flask have become exhausted. It must be remembered that witha device of this kind, the application of water is usually of paramount interest, as in sprinkling a lawn, for instance, and the application of fertilizer during the sprinkling reasonable rate of performance will be accomplished well within the time necessarily consumed in the main operation.

In view of the foregoing, I have found it generally unnecessary to provide any adjustment for regulating the flowof water through the flask,

but prefer to make the apertures i5 and ID of a' mon commercial fertilizer, will be dissolved-and carried off in the spray in about fifteen minutes.

When the device is not required, it can be desaid cap embodying a tubular channel extendaaaaa'r'a tached in a few seconds and the hose connections are restored to their normalconditlon. However, the mixing unit can be left permanently in the hose line if desired, as it is small and causes no inconvenience. In such case, the 5 flask is removed and is replaced .by a simple threaded blank or closure member which may be provided.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have devised an exceedingly efllcient and convenient l0 spraying device, which is moreover very economical to'manufacture and can be sold at a low price. The device has been shown in its preferred form, but changes and modifications are possible with in' the principles of the invention. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the exact form shown and described, but desire to include and have protected by Letters Patent all forms and modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a spraying device, a combined cap and semi-cylindrical conduit section constructed in the form of a one-piece casting, the cap portion of said casting being internally threaded to engage the threaded neck of a jar or flask, the said conduit section diminishing in size from one end to the other, external threads at the smaller end of said section to receive a threaded nozzle, internal threads at the larger end to receive a hose coupling, an annular ridge inside said conduit intermediate the ends thereof, said ridge having a streamlined tapering contour on the side toward the internally threaded end of said section, and two openings in the casting extending from the interior of the cap to the interior of the conduit, one of said openings intersecting the forward edge of said annular ridge and the other being located between said ridge and the coupling end.

2. In a spraying device, a combined cap and 40 semi-cylindrical conduit section constructed in the form of a one-piece casting, the cap portion of said casting being internally threaded to engage the threaded neck of-a jar or flask, the said conduit section diminishing insize from one end to the other. external threads at the smaller end of said section to receive a threaded nozzle, internal threads at the larger end to receive a hose coupling, means inside said conduit for creating a difference in pressure along the bore of the conduit when water flows therethrough, said means comprising a ridge which is tapered toward the direction of flow, and openings extending from points of different pressure in the conduit to the interior of the cap and terminating at the interior face of the cap, whereby a -.circulation of variable depth may be established in a flask to which the cap portion of said casting is secured, one of said openings being so located that it intersects the forward edge of said ridge.

3. In a spraying device, a flask having an externally threaded neck and adapted for holding a quantity of water-soluble compound, a threaded cap for said flask adapted to close the same,

ing across the top of the flask when the cap is in place, means comprising internal and external threads, respectively, for connecting a hose coupling to said channel at one end and a nozzle to said channel at the other end, whereby a stream of water may be caused to flow through said channel, meansincluding a tapered ridge obstructing the channel and apertures connect- 1 ing said channel with the interior of the cap for diverting a part of the stream into and out of the flask, one of said apertures intersectingthe forward edge of said tapered ridge and the other of said apertures being arranged to direct the water entering the flask down one side thereof until it reaches the surface of the compound therein, where it dissolves a part of said compound before passing upward and out of the flask through the other aperture, and the said apertures being 01' predetermined small size such that the velocity of circulation through the flask is insumcient to agitate the compound and carry it oilf in suspension.

FORREST B. BRUNNER.

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