Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Hops, Spraying Fruit Trees, Root Crops, and the like, and for Irrigating Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Hops, Spraying Fruit Trees,
Root Crops, and the like, and for Irrigating Purposes.
I, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER, Engineer, Greenwich Road, Greenwich, in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
1
My invention consists of an apparatus consisting of a small portable or fixed
steam pumping engine in conjunction with a boiler, arranged when portable on
a two or four wheeled carriage, preferably detachable when the engine is at
work.
The pump is connected by means of a flexible pipe to a delivery main consisting
of numerous lengths of portable metal tubing coupled together by means of
flexible joints, consisting of a short piece of india rubber tubing, to each end of
which are attached swivel female couplings engaging with male screws on the
metal tubing. If desired instantaneous hermaphrodite couplings may be used
as described in my Pat. Spec. No. 3798/98. The pieces of rubber tubing are
constructed in such a manner as to prevent the access of moisture to the plys of
canvas embedded in the rubber. At suitable intervals on the delivery main, tee
or cross connectors are arranged fitted with cocks and connections for the attach-
ment of flexible hose to enable branches to be taken in any direction; the branches
terminating in cocks and suitable nozzles.
Another part of my invention consists of a means for connecting the delivery
outlet of the pump with the suction inlet, and fitting a valve to the connection in
order that should any or the whole of the jets be closed, the valve may be opened,
and an even pressure be maintained in the pump.
Another part of my invention consists of the attachment of an adjustable
mixing valve to the suction inlet of the pump to enable the insecticide or other
liquid to be drawn into the pump in certain quantities to mix with the water
coming through the main suction, and 'deliver the desired solution in suitable
proportions.
Another part of my invention consists of an improved form of nozzle wherein
two or more orifices are arranged at such an angle in relation to one another,
that the liquid issuing therefrom is atomised and delivered in a fine spray with
considerable force. The distance to which the spray can be thrown is regulated
by the angle at which the orifices are bored, those bored at an acute angle to one
another throwing the liquid further than those bored at a more obtuse angle..
Any convenient number of these jets can be arranged in a nozzle if desired.
Another part of my invention consists of arranging the pump piston in such
a manner that it can be easily detached from the piston rod, thereby enabling the
engine to be used for driving light machinery by means of a belt from the fly
wheel.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of the
whole apparatus.
Fig. 2 shows the flexible ioint

page_text: Fig. 5 shows the method of connecting the suction and delivery of the pump―
the mixing valve, and the method of detaching the pump piston.
In Fig. 1, A is the engine and boiler, B is the flexible pipe connecting the
engine with the delivery main, consisting of short lengths of metal tubing CCC,
coupled together by the flexible joints D D D, E E E are the cross connectors
fitted with cocks F F F, G G G are the flexible branches terminating in
nozzles H H H.
In Fig. 2, K is the piece of rubber tubing forming the flexible joints D D
between the metal tubes CC, with plys of canvas L L embedded in it. M shows
the end of the tube with the ends of the canvas protected by solid rubber. Ki Ki
are the swivel female screws to engage with the male screws on the metal tubing.
In Fig. 3, N is the nozzle with orifices 0 0 protected from injury by the
lip P.
°
In Fig. 4 Q is another form of nozzle with orifices R R R R drilled at various
angles to suit the distances the jets are required to be thrown.
In Fig. 5, S is the suction inlet of the pump, T the delivery outlet, U is the
connecting pipe between the suction S, delivery T of pump fitted with valve V
to control the pressure in the pump should any or all of the jets be closed.
Fig. 6 shows a section of the mixing valve, and the valve used for connecting
the suction and delivery of the pump.
W is the adjustable mixing valve fitted to the main suction inlet S of the pump
to enable the insecticide liquid to be drawn into the pump in certain quantities,
to mix with the water coming through the main suction S. X is the barrel of
the pump. The piston is made in two portions Y, Z, the part Y engaging with
the screwed sleeve A¹ of the part Z to keep in position the cup leathers B
The externally screwed sleeve A¹ is screwed internally to engage with the
main piston rod C, which is coupled direct to the steam piston rod by means of a
slotted link, thereby imparting a rotary motion to a crank and fly wheel. The
lower portion of the piston Z has a rod D¹ terminating at its lower end in a
squared portion E, passing through the pump cover F, and stuffing box G¹.
The piston is detached by unscrewing the lower portion Z by means of the squared
portion E from the main piston rod C, and drawing it through the recessed
chamber H at the lower end of the pump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The arrangement of an apparatus for washing hops, spraying fruit trees,
and the like, and for irrigating, consisting of a portable or fixed steam pumping
engine in conjunction with a delivery main, having flexible joints and branches
substantially as illustrated and described.
2. The means for connecting the suction and delivery of pump, and the pro-
vision of a valve to regulate the pressure, substantially as illustrated and described.
3. The attachment of an adjustable mixing valve to enable the insecticide or
other liquid to be drawn into the pump in certain quantities to mix with the
water coming through the main suction, substantially as illustrated and described.
4. The arrangement of orifices in a nozzle at various angles in relation to one
another, substantially as illustrated and described.
5. The arrangement of a detachable pump piston, substantially as illustrated
and described.