Patent Publication Number: US-4253607-A

Title: Adjustable spray rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to transport equipment accessories, specifically to spray equipment used in wetting the loads carried in an open top truck. The spray rack is adjustable in height vertically to enable regulation of the pattern of spray to accommodate varying sizes of truck boxes. 
     Disclosure Statement 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 838,972, issued Dec. 18, 1906, to L. T. Foreman, a bracket is disclosed for swinging a hose in a circle, but no lifting function of the bracket is disclosed, nor is there disclosed a plurality of discharge nozzles in spaced relation. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,201, issued Oct. 21, 1958, to J. E. Palmer, a pivotable device is disclosed for directing spray nozzles in vertical and horizontal planes, particularly for use in spraying cattle. A provision for lifting the entire apparatus by raising the supporting stem is present, but the device is for use with a tractor and fails to disclose a duality or plurality of separated spray nozzles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,752, issued June 8, 1976, to G. Doeksen, discloses a plurality of groups of nozzles for wetting particulate material in a bin, gondola car, or the like. While the jets formed by the nozzles are located in spaced relation to each other, they extend radially outwardly along a header, rather than being disposed at an equal distance from the pivot axis. Accordingly, use of the spray means with a conventional load in a truck box is difficult or not possible with the devices of these patents. Further, vertical adjustment cannot be easily controlled by these devices. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 1,073,852, issued Sept. 23, 1913, to F. G. Hayes, a tree sprayer is disclosed whose cooperative use with a truck load would be quite difficult or unsuitable, particularly in that the tree sprayer is mobile, while the object of use is fixed, unlike a device fixed in position which is adapted for spraying a movable object. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a spray rack having vertical adjusting capability in the form of a winch driven movable carriage mounted around a fixed support post. Further, a pair of spray nozzles separated by a fixed distance forms a spray head particularly adapted for spraying a load carried in an open top transport vehicle, such as a truck. 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a spray rack fixed in position but having a vertically adjustable support arm for controlling the level of a spray head. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a spray rack for use with an open top loaded transport vehicle, such as a truck filled with rock salt, whereby substantially even distribution of spray throughout the load carried by the truck can be assured. 
     Still another object is to provide a duality or plurality of separated spray nozzles aligned to provide for even distribution of spray downwardly on a load carried in the truck. 
     Yet another object is to provide a winch driven mobile carriage mount for adjusting the height of spray nozzles supported on the carriage. 
     A further object is to provide a spray device for spraying a load carried in an open truck which can be used to accommodate varying sizes of truck boxes. 
     Another further object is to provide a spray device for wetting rock salt carried as a truck load or bucket load. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the adjustable spray device of the present invention, positioned for spraying a truck carrying a load of rock salt, the truck being shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same arrangement as FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of the support beam, the truck also being shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the support post and movable carriage, viewed in a downward direction, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3--3 on FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the horizontal support beam and associated components, for directing the spray nozzles over the load to be sprayed, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4--4 on FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, the adjustable spray device of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10, and a transport vehicle bearing a load of rock salt is shown in phantom, designated by the numeral 12. Spray device 10 is composed of fixed vertical support post 14, horizontal support beam 16, movable carriage 18, mounted for vertical movement along post 14, winch mechanism 20, for moving carriage 18 along post 14, fluid supply line 22, and spray head 24 supported at the end of beam 16 for directing a spray upon the load contained in truck 12. Support beam 16 is braced by support rod 28 which is attached to cap 30 and to the end of support beam 16, with adjustment of the length of support rod 28 occurring through turn buckle 32, having stud and eye ends. 
     The mechanism for raising and lowering the spray means is best seen in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3. Movable carriage 18 is made from a pair of side panels 40. Roller wheels 42 and roller wheels 44, each of which are arranged in pairs ride on opposite sides of support post 14 to guide movable carriage 18 vertically along post 14. A winch cable 46 is attached to pin 48, extending between and retained by suitable retaining means in side plates 40. Cable 46 extends over a pair of pulleys 50 mounted atop support post 14. Cable 46 then passes between side plates 40 downwardly along the outside surface of support post 14 to winch mechanism 20 operated manually by handle 52 and suitable conventional ratchet means (not shown). Winch 20 comprises housing 56, support rod 58, and guide plates 60. Housing 56 is attached to support post 14, such as by welding, or the like. 
     Supply pipe 22 comprises vertical section 60, horizontal elevated section 62, elbow 64, joining sections 60 and 62 and flexible hose 66, attached at the lower extension of vertical portion 60 and communicating with a fluid supply (not shown). Spray head 24 consists of transition segments 70 and 72, joined to a pipe section 62 by appropriate elbows 74 and 76, and leading to pipe tee 78 for connection to spray head arms 80. Arms 80 communicate with spray nozzles 84 via connecting spray elbows 82. Nozzles 84 are directed at the load placed in truck 12 and are separated by horizontal distance appropriate to the character of the load carried by truck 12 and determined, at least in part, by the angle of divergence of spray from nozzles 84, the angle being represented by the letter A in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 1. Pipe 22 is supported in the region of spray head 24 by cross bar 88, dependingly supported from support beam 16 by segment 90. Bar 88 receives additional support by gussets 92. Pipe 22 is held by a plurality of suitable brackets 94 to cross bar 88, as well as to support beam 16 and to support tubing 96 movable with movable carriage 18. Support beam 16 is attached to support tubing 96 by sleeve 98, permitting free rotation of support beam 16 and associated spray head 24 about support tubing 96, thereby enabling spray head 24 to be swung through an arc and retracted when not in use. Each one of brackets 94 is mounted on bracket mount 100, as best seen in FIG. 4. Spray head 24 is adjusted vertically over truck 12 by movement of movable carriage 18 upward or downward along post 14. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, support tubing 96, having supported thereon horizontal beam 16 and associated spray nozzles 84, is attached to plates 40 by means of weldments 41, and thus is movable with movable carriage 18 as winch cable 46 is moved. 
     Although spraying of various loads and of various configurations is possible with the present invention, it is particularly suitable for spraying a load of rock salt by the truck load or bucket load. By raising or lowering support beam 16 by means of movable carriage 18, the pattern of spray emerging from nozzles 84 can be increased or decreased, and device 10 thereby can be used to accommodate varying sizes of truck boxes. In a preferable construction, nozzles 84 are separated by a distance of about 46 inches, and nozzles 84 have a maximum lift height of 13 feet from ground level, represented by reference numeral 102. A maximum load height of 6 feet 6 inches can then be obtained. If desired, a column stop (not shown) can be attached to support post 14, in order to limit the maximum lowered height, such as to a height of about 10 feet. 
     Winch mechanism 20 can be a conventional winch, such as that manufactured by Fulton Mfg. Company, Milwaukee, Wisc. Nozzles 84 are preferably full jet spray heads, such as manufactured by Spraying Systems Co., Wheaton, Ill. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.