Improvements relating to Machines for Distributing Liquid Insecti- cide, Disinfectant, or Fertilizer in Fine Spray upon Plants and Trees..
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machines for Distributing Liquid Insecti-
cide, Disinfectant, or Fertilizer in Fine Spray upon Plants and
Trees..
I, RICHARD MUIRHEAD, of Maidstone, Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object certain improvements relating to machines for
distributing liquid insecticide, disinfectant or fertilizer in fine spray upon plants
and trees.
For the purpose of my invention I arrange pumps with valves, suction pipes and
connections, in such a manner that at each stroke of the pistons or plungers a
certain amount of air is drawn in with the liquid, which air is then compressed and
becomes partly absorbed, taken up by, or mechanically mixed with, the liquor and
passes with it into the delivery pipes; the unabsorbed portion, or free air, being.
conveyed by a separate system of delivery pipes, so arranged, preferably one within
the other, that they both terminate in a single nozzle common to both and having
one comparatively large orifice from which the combined streams of aërated water
and air issue, with considerable force in a single jet composed of an intimate mixture
of fine spray and perfectly atomized mist, the relative proportions of which can be
regulated according to the requirements by adjusting a cock, valve, or equivalent
contrivance.
By a second improvement I hinge side brackets which carry the jet pipes and
these are free to swing to and fro after the manner of a gate so that when they, or
appliances fixed thereto, come into contact with the plants or poles on which the
plants are trained, the brackets will swing back and in passing will wash round
three sides of the plant, thus economising the liquor which would otherwise be lost
while passing from one plant to the next. A spring on each of the brackets will
bring it back to its normal position. The hinged brackets can also be fastened
back, if desired, to reduce the width of the machine and can be folded quite back
out of the way when turning the machine in the very limited space generally avail-
able in a hop garden, vineyard or sugar plantation.
101
CM 1900
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said R. Muirhead.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machines for Distributing Liquid Insecti-
cide, Disinfectant, or Fertilizer in Fine Spray upon Plants and
Trees.
I, RICHARD MUIRHEAD, of Maidstone, Kent, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has for object, certain improvements relating to machines for
distributing liquid insecticide, disinfectant, or fertilizer in fine spray or mist upon
plants and trees.
For the purpose of my invention, I arrange pumps with valves, suction pipes and.
connections in such a manner that at each stroke of the piston or plunger a certain
amount of air is drawn in with the liquid, which air is then compressed by the

page_text: return stroke of the piston or plunger, and becomes partly absorbed or taken up by
the liquid under pressure, and partly mechanically mixed therewith and passes
with it into a receiver for delivery in any number of streams in accordance with the
number of branch pipes and jets in operation.
The receiver sometimes enables two sets of streams to be delivered, one being
mixed air with a preponderance of liquid, and the other streams of liquid with a
preponderance of air to produce a perfectly atomized mist, the relative proportions
of which can be altered according to requirements by adjusting a regulator, cock,
valve, or equivalent contrivance on either the air inlet pipe, or the suction pipe,
or on both.
By a second improvement, the brackets or frames which carry the jet pipes of
those machines which are drawn by a horse are mounted on a hinge or hinges, or
equivalent contrivance, so that they are free to swing to and fro, or rotate on their
axes after the manner of a gate or jib crane, thus when they or appliances fixed
thereto come into contact with the plants, or poles on which the plants are trained,
the brackets or frames will yield and slide in contact with each pole in succession
and by its spring will then swing back to its normal position, this action will allow
the jet to play sometime upon the plant, and in so doing will wash round three
sides of the plant, thus doing its work more effectively than heretofore and utilizing
the liquid which would otherwise be wasted while the machine was passing from
one plant to the next (or from plant to plant). By this contrivance, the intervening
spaces between the plants arc, as it were, skipped over.
Another advantage obtained by mounting or connecting the brackets upon hinges
and springs, is that they can be fastened to the rear if desired, so as to reduce the
width of the machine also to determine the distance or width the jets are to be set
apart to suit the distance between the plants, and can be folded quite back out of
the way when turning the machine in the very limited space generally available in
a hop garden, vineyard, or sugar plantation.
My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the pumps of a horse
machine, showing the construction and arrangement of the suction and air inlet
pipes, also the receiver.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are detail drawings to a larger scale of the combined suction
and air inlet pipes with means for regulating the quantities of liquid and of air to
be drawn in.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of a horse power machine showing the receiver and
one way in which the delivery pipes may be arranged.
Figure 7 is a plan of the back part of a horse power machine showing the swing-
ing brackets &c.
Figure 8 shows a modification of Figure 6 and is an end elevation of a machine
having a rotatable swing bracket, arranged primarily, for washing hops which are
grown on slanting strings.
Figure 9 is a plan.
Figure 10 a section on line a, t, of Figure 9.
Figure 11 a section on line y, y, of Figure 9 showing the application and
general arrangement of my invention when applied to a machine worked by
hand power.
Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views of a branch pipe and nozzle applicable to
both horse power and hand power machines.
A is the tank mounted on wheels B, B. One or both wheels B, B, may be pro-
vided with spur wheel C or the axle (revolving) may carry the wheel C to gear
with pinion D for operating the crank E which through the rod F actuates the
plunger or piston G in the cylinder H, the wheel C in the latter case serving to
agitate the liquid. The soapy or other liquor with which the tank is charged is
drawn from the lower part by the branch 1 into and through a cock J to the
bottom end of the cylinder H and simultaneously with this drawing in of the liquid,
air is drawn down the pipe K also through the cock J, so that the two are in a

page_text: mixed condition when in the cylinder. The aerated liquid on the return of the
piston G is forced up the pipe L and over the neck M into the receiver or air
vessel N to the lower part P of which (as seen at Figure 6) a series of nozzles with
pipes Qare attached for the delivery of the liquid from the nozzles R which are
set at any desired angle by clips S when adjusted in the slots of the swing bracket
frames T, T, the pipes Q being flexible to permit not only the raising and lowering
of the nozzles R but for the swing action of the frame T hereafter referred to..
The successive supply and pressure of aerated liquid to and from the pump is
maintained while the machine is travelling and the pressure exerted is due either to
the tread surface of the wheels, the weight of the machine, or to the speed of the
horses drawing it.
The upper part of the receiver N where the separated or surplus air is retained
at high pressure as in an ordinary air pump is connected to a spread out portion U
to which other pipes V are attached, and said pipes are in connection with the
pipes Q, Q, by branches, so that if the quantity of air is to preponderate for
atomizing into mist form the liquid that passes through the pipes Q at the
nozzles R, the cock J is turned to reduce the quantity of water passing into the
cylinder H, the cock X of the air pipes being open to a greater extent for a larger
supply of air, so that, although I always force the liquid out of my nozzles in com-
bination with air from the main distributor P, I can when desired reduce the.
quantity and augment the volume of air by adjusting the cocks J, X, for the
purpose. I can also, if desired, shut off the cock X of the air supply and draw
liquid only into the pump, the spraying action of the liquid only being effected
by perforated, or other jet outlets or spreaders at the ends of the nozzles R.
With regard to the pump shown at Figures 9, 10, and 11, the piston can be
worked by hand. In this case, the delivery nozzles are fewer than in that of the
horse machine and I prefer to arrange a rigid stand pipe Y on the top of the air
cylinder or receiver N, so that the surplus air can pass along by the pipe V and
aerated liquid by the pipe Q which again join at the nozzles R as described with
reference to the previous figures.
According to the arrangement shown in Figure 8, I support a rotatable swing
frame T on a post or pedestal Z, the lower part of which has free circular move-
ment in a gland or stuffing box Z which is hollow for the passage of the liquid and
air from the pump to the nozzles. This post has an enlargement at its upper end
and the branches for the nozzles are connected to it, the nozzles being affixed to
the rotatable swing frame T in the slots of which they can be adjustable to suit the
desired angle for distribution of the aerated liquid in spray form on or to the under
sides of the leaves or plants which are trained over slanting strings, poles, or
wires.
This rotatable swing beam carries the adjustable nozzles R by the clips S to
enable them to be adjusted for distance apart as described with reference to
Figure 6, otherwise the parts are substantially the same as in the views previously
referred to.
The frames T on which the nozzles R are adjustable according to Figures 6.
and 7 are swing frames and hung like gates upon hinge pins a which are encircled
preferably by springs 6 for returning them to their normal positions when swung
backwards, such as when they have free play from their greatest travel, as indicated
by the full lines 1, 1, Figure 7, or when thrown back for narrowing to fit the space
between the hop poles, as at 2, 2, they compress the springs in passing the hop
poles by the looped blades c, which are for convenience sake strapped with leather d,
so that they yield more readily when they strike the hop poles while the machine
is passing along.
The swing frame T, Figures 6 and 7 with the nozzles R, R, can be restricted in
their forward position by quadrants e, e, into which pins can be set for the purpose,
and when the machine is out of work, or has to pass through alleys, the swing
frames T can be coupled as indicated at 3, 3, Figure 7, or at any angle between 1
and 2 or 2 and 3.

page_text: f, f, are fixed nozzles attached to bars g for an upright spraying action when the
line overhangs the alley.
The several delivery pipes have cocks attached to enable any of them to be
thrown out of action when not required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. An arrangement of a tank, pump, and air passages in combined form by which
liquid and air can be drawn in, mixed in desired proportions for ejectment from
nozzles, and adaptable for washing plants and trees, for distributing insecticide,
disinfectants, or fertilizers in the form of spray. or mist, as described and sub-
stantially by the combination of appliances shown on the annexed drawings.
2. Washing hop and other climbing plants also trees with a liquid ejected from
nozzles by a pump connected with a travelling tank from the wheels of which the
force power is produced, when said liquid is combined with air drawn in and
mixed therewith from the same motive power substantially as described and
exemplified by the drawings.
3. In combination with hop and plant washing machines which travel between
the alleys of poles, a swing frame arrangement for carrying the spraying or dis-
tributing nozzles for the free action of said swing frames against and relief from
the hop poles or supports while passing between them, whether said machines be
provided for liquid distribution alone or for combined air and liquid.
4. In combination with hop and plant washers of an alley travelling type con-
structed in the manner claimed in Claim 1 the employment of a rotatable swing
beam for adjustment as to angle, as described with reference to Figure 8 of the
annexed drawings.
*
1. не гon uay or гергиалу
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Muirhead.