Patent Publication Number: US-2010110825-A1

Title: Mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in vats for containing at least one suspension for agricultural use

Description:
The present invention relates to a mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in vats for containing at least one suspension for agricultural use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that the correct agitation of a mixture or a suspension, for example, for plant treatments or the like, in a containment vat, a tank of spraying machines and the like, is one of the most critical aspects in the step for use of these suspensions and/or mixtures for agricultural use. 
     This critical aspect becomes more evident if it is necessary to subject to restrictive certifications newly built spraying machines or subject to certified testing spraying machines that are already in use. 
     In particular, it is known that prolonged nonuse, even for just a few hours of inactivity of the spraying machine, causes the particles, which should remain suspended in the vehicle, for example water, to sediment on the bottom of the containment vat and therefore to be no longer available for drawing by the spraying machine and for distribution when activity resumes. 
     For example, this problem is more severely felt in spraying machines used for plant treatments, for example for fruit-bearing plants or for vines. The use of copper oxychloride is in fact often provided for these crops; due to its particular physical characteristics, it tends to precipitate easily in static conditions of the suspension and is particularly difficult to keep in suspension. 
     Mixers for spraying machines are known which use part of the liquid pressurized by the spraying pump to supply hydraulic agitators and other agitation systems which use only the return flow of the pressure regulator or systems obtained by combining these two solutions. 
     These mixers for desedimentation of the precipitate in vats for containing at least one suspension for agricultural use are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that they are difficult to install in the containment vat and in any case do not ensure adequate agitation of the solution/suspension, leaving unused a large fraction of the active ingredient that has sedimented on the bottom of the vat. 
     Moreover, inadequate agitation of the plant treatment mixture inside the containment vat or tank of the spraying machine entails considerable disadvantages on the treatment to be performed, including: 
     uneven distributions of the treatment product on the target for which it is intended; 
     possible blockages of filters and nozzles for dispensing the treatment; 
     difficulty in washing the tank of the spraying machine once work has ended, for example, in order to make it available for different treatments and the like; 
     potentially, the use of treatments that have non-optimum mixing can entail environmental damage and/or plant toxicity phenomena besides reducing considerably the effectiveness of the treatment that is dispensed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the background art, by providing a mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in containment vats of at least one suspension for agricultural use which allows uniform and effective mixing of the precipitate, reduces the waste of active ingredient and at the same time ensures high efficiency of use of the suspension. 
     Within this aim, an object of the invention is to ensure quick, repeatable and optimizable installation of the mixer in containment vats which takes into account the geometric variables of the vat itself and the physical properties of the precipitate. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixer that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation and of relatively low cost. 
     This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in containment vats of at least one suspension for agricultural use, which comprises means for dispensing at least one pressurized fluid for washing the bottom of a containment vat to lift and disperse the precipitate, said dispensing means comprising a first plurality of nozzles which generate concentrated jets of said dispensed washing fluid which are mutually separate and at least directed toward said bottom, characterized in that it comprises means for spacing said dispensing means from said bottom, which are adapted to be jointly associated inside said vat proximate to said bottom, said dispensing means comprising a box-like body which is internally hollow and provided with at least one inlet for said washing fluid, which can be associated with means for introducing said washing fluid under pressure, comprising a plurality of first seats for accommodating at least said first plurality of said nozzles arranged at least on the lower wall of said box-like body that is directed toward said bottom, the concentrated jets of said nozzles mutually diverging so that each one dispenses said washing fluid under pressure at least toward a specific region of said bottom and so that the sediment is lifted from said region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in containment vats of at least one suspension for agricultural use, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a mixer according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mixer according to the invention, during a work step; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the mixer shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures, the reference numeral  1  generally designates a mixer, mountable in containment vats for desedimentation of the precipitate in the containment vats containing at least one suspension and/or solution for agricultural use. 
     The mixer  1  comprises means for dispensing at least one pressurized fluid for washing the bottom  2  of the containment vat V in order to lift and disperse the precipitate in the solution and/or suspension. 
     Preferably, the same liquid that is present in the containment vat V is used as washing liquid; in this manner it is possible to avoid altering the concentration of the solution and/or suspension contained in the vat. 
     In particular, the mixer  1  comprises means  3  for spacing the dispensing means from the bottom  2 . 
     The spacer means  3  are adapted to be associated jointly inside the containment vat V proximate to such bottom. 
     For example, the spacer means are jointly associated with the bottom  2 . 
     The dispensing means comprise a first plurality  4  of nozzles  5 , which generate concentrated jets  6  of the dispensed washing fluid which are mutually separate and are at least directed toward the bottom  2 . 
     In particular, each one of the first plurality  4  of nozzles  5  dispenses the pressurized washing fluid at least toward a specific region  7  of said bottom in order to lift the sediment from such region. 
     In particular, each nozzle  5  dispenses toward a region  7  that is substantially separate from the region  7  affected by another nozzle  5 . 
     Advantageously, the washing fluid is dispensed at a pressure comprised between 2 and 15 bar. 
     In particular, the fluid is dispensed at a pressure of substantially 10 bar. 
     The dispensing means further comprise at least one box-like body  8 , which is hollow internally and is provided with at least one inlet  9  for the washing fluid, which can be associated with inflow means  10  for introducing the washing fluid under pressure. 
     The inflow means  10  are, for example, of the type of a flexible hose that can be associated with a pump or the like for introducing the pressurized washing fluid. 
     The box-like body  8  comprises a plurality of first seats  11  for accommodating removably at least the first plurality  4  of nozzles  5  arranged at least on the lower wall  12  of the box-like body  8  that is directed toward the bottom  2 . 
     Advantageously, the concentrated jets  6  of the nozzles  5  mutually diverge. 
     Each nozzle  5  of the first plurality  4  generates concentrated jets  6 , which are inclined with respect to the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom  2  or, equivalently, to the substantially vertical direction. 
     The nozzles  5  of the first plurality  4  generate, in particular, concentrated jets  6  which are inclined, with respect to the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom  2 , at angles that are substantially mutually identical. 
     For example, the concentrated jets  6  of the nozzles  5  diverge with respect to a substantially vertical direction by an angle that is substantially comprised between 15° and 45°, and in particular are inclined at 30°. 
     In this case, the region  7  is substantially elliptical, the ratio between the minor axis and the major axis of such ellipse decreasing as the inclination of the jet  6  with respect to the substantially vertical direction increases. 
     Moreover, each nozzle  5  might further be inclined at an angle other than the vertical. 
     However, different configurations of the mixer  1  and in particular of the dispensing means are not excluded in which for example the nozzles  5  and therefore the concentrated jets  6  of washing liquid are mutually parallel and substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the bottom and/or substantially vertical. 
     In this case, the region  7  has a substantially circular shape. 
     The box-like body  8  comprises a plurality of second seats  13  for accommodating at least one second plurality of nozzles  5 , which are arranged at least on the upper wall  14  of the box-like body  8  that lies opposite the lower wall  12  that is directed toward the bottom  2 . 
     The second plurality of nozzles  5  dispenses the washing fluid in the opposite direction with respect to the dispensing direction toward the bottom  2 , and therefore toward the top of the containment vat in order to mix inside said vat the sediment lifted from the bottom by the first plurality  4  of nozzles  5 . 
     Each nozzle  5  of the second plurality generates concentrated jets which are inclined with respect to the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom  2  or, equivalently, to the substantially vertical direction. 
     The nozzles  5  of the second plurality generate, in particular, concentrated jets which are inclined with respect to the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom  2  by angles which are substantially mutually identical, for example by an angle comprised between 15° and 45° and advantageously 30°. 
     The mixer  1  further comprises a plurality of plugs  15  for the first seats  11  and/or the second seats  13 , which can be accommodated in one or more of such seats as an alternative to the nozzles  5 , in order to interrupt the dispensing of the pressurized liquid in the corresponding region  7  and/or upper region toward the top of the containment vat. 
     Each plug  15  is adapted to close the respective first and/or second seat, respectively  11  and/or  13 , with which it is associated, and therefore to interrupt the dispensing of the washing fluid in the specific region  7  and/or in the upper mixing region for which the concentrated jet  6  would be intended if at least one second seat  13  were occupied by a nozzle  5 . 
     In particular, the nozzles  5  and/or the plugs  15  are inserted by pressing and interlocking in the first and/or second seats, respectively  11  and/or  13 . 
     Each nozzle  5  and/or plug  15  has at least one wall, respectively  5   a  and/or  15   a,  for abutment in the corresponding first seat  11  or second seat  13  in which it is inserted for axial locking at least along the dispensing direction of said nozzle. 
     Advantageously, the first seats  11  and/or the second seats  13  are arranged so as to be mutually equidistant on a circumference. 
     In a particular embodiment shown in the figures, the mixer  1  comprises six nozzles  5  arranged in six first seats  11  and six plugs  15  arranged in six second seats  13 . 
     However, different configurations of the mixer  1 , formed by any combination of nozzles  5  and/or plugs  15  accommodated in the first seats  11  and/or in the second seats  13 , for example studied on the basis of the shape of the vat and/or of the bottom thereof, are not excluded. 
     Moreover, the box-like body can comprise any number of first seats  11  and second seats  13  and respective nozzles  5  and/or plugs  15  to vary the dispensing pattern according to the shape of the containment tank. 
     Further, the box-like body  8  comprises at least one outlet  16  for the pressurized fluid, which can be associated with outflow means  17  for the outflow of the pressurized liquid. 
     For example, the outlet  16  is suitable for series hydraulic connection of a plurality of mixers  1 . 
     If a configuration of several mixers  1  connected hydraulically to each other in series is not necessary, the mixer  1  comprises at least one means for temporary closure of the outlet, such as a cap or the like, which is not shown in the figures because it is of a known type. 
     The box-like body  8  is, for example, provided by joining two shells  18 , for example by way of threaded elements  19 , which are made of at least one plastic material, for example of the type of polypropylene or polyamide. 
     Each nozzle  5  is made of at least one ceramic material with high resistance to abrasion. 
     Moreover, each nozzle  5  has an internal surface  5   b  that is substantially frustum-shaped in order to concentrate the jet  6  of the washing liquid. 
     Advantageously, the nozzles  5  have holes for the outflow of the washing fluid with a diameter comprised substantially between 1 and 3 mm. 
     The spacer means  3  comprise at least one base  20 , which can be jointly associated with the bottom  2  in order to support a stem  21 , which is associated with the dispensing means and in particular with the box-like body  8 . 
     Moreover, the spacer means  3  comprise means for adjusting the height, with respect to the bottom  2 , at least of the dispensing means and therefore of the nozzles. 
     The adjustment means comprise, for example, threaded elements for fixing the mutual position, which are interposed between the stem  21 , the base  20  and/or the box-like body  8  or the like. 
     In particular, the spacer means  3  are such as to keep the first plurality  4  of nozzles  5  at a height with respect to the bottom  2  that is comprised between 25 and 150 mm. 
     Advantageously, the spacer means  3  keep the first plurality  4  of nozzles  5  at a preferred but not exclusive height, with respect to the bottom  2 , of 75 mm. 
     It is further possible to connect several mixers  1  to provide a mixing assembly for desedimentation of the precipitate in vats for the containment of at least one suspension for agricultural use. 
     In particular, the assembly comprises at least one pair of mixers  1  as described above, which are mutually connected hydraulically. 
     Advantageously, the pair of mixers  1  is connected hydraulically in series. 
     In particular, the assembly comprises the inflow means  10  for introducing the washing fluid, which are associated with the inlet  9  of each one of the mixers  1  of the pair, and the outflow means  17 , which are associated with at least the outlet  16  of the first mixer  1 . 
     The means  17  for outflow from the first mixer  1  coincide with or are the same as the inflow means  10  for introducing the washing fluid into the second one of the mixers  1  for the inflow of the pressurized washing fluid that exits from the first mixer  1  into the second mixer  1 . 
     The inflow means  10  and the outflow means  17  are for example both of the type of a flexible hose. 
     The assembly can have a variable plurality of mixers  1  which are mutually connected hydraulically in series and/or in parallel. 
     The mixer  1  further comprises means for detachable anchoring of the inflow means  10  and/or of the outflow means  17  to the inlet  9  and/or to the outlet  16 . 
     The anchoring means, for example, are of the type of fork-like couplings  22 , which can be inserted in holes  23  for removable retention of the inflow means  10  and/or of the outflow means  17  at the inlet  9  and/or at the outlet  16  of the box-like body  8 . 
     Advantageously, the mixer  1  is provided in a mixing kit, which is composed of at least one mixer  1  as described, which has a plurality of nozzles  5  and plugs  15  which are mutually interchangeable and can be arranged so as to be able to configure the dispensing of the washing liquid according to the specific shape of the containment vat. 
     The terms “substantial” or “substantially” are intended to mean that the features to which they refer are as indicated but for deviations or differences that are within tolerances that are known to be usual in the field by those skilled in the art. 
     In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and objects and in particular the fact is stressed that the mixer for desedimentation of the precipitate in vats for the containment of at least one suspension for agricultural use allows a uniform and effective mixing of the precipitate, at the same time reduces the waste of active ingredient and ensures a high efficiency of use of the suspension/solution. 
     Moreover, the device according to the invention ensures quick, repeatable and optimizable installation of the mixer in containment vats which takes into account the geometric variables of the vat itself and the physical properties of the precipitate. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MO2008A000280 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.