Patent Application
20150223393
Spraying of lawn/garden liquids, such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers is a well-established technique for dispensing such liquids over large or small target areas. Spraying allows for generally uniform coverage of the dispensed liquid over a target area while limiting waste or run-off. Many lawn and garden spray systems include pressurized fluid flow to dispersal components such as booms or hand held wands for dispensing of lawn/garden liquids.
A disadvantage of prior spray systems is inefficient regulation of the fluid pressure within the system. Over or under pressurized dispersal components (e.g. booms and/or wands) result in waste of lawn/garden liquid as overspray may drift from its intended target, or under application resulting in under utilization of the lawn/garden liquid. Misapplication of lawn/garden liquids can result in lawn or garden damage or damage to animals in the area. Prior spraying devices lacked real time monitoring of internal fluid pressures entering the dispersal components, and means to fine tune the internal fluid pressure so as to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. A need therefore exists for a lawn/garden spraying device in which the internal fluid pressure entering the dispersal components can be efficiently and easy monitored and regulated.
In certain aspects the present disclosure provides unique lawn/garden spraying devices and methods for their use, which enable the user to effectively monitor and control the fluid pressure within the device. In accordance with some forms of practicing the disclosure such spraying devices are configured to monitor and allow precise regulation of the spray pressure within the device. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a lawn/garden spraying device having a tank adapted for storage of a liquid, an inlet fitting defining an inlet path in fluid communication with the tank, and a manifold having a manifold chamber in fluid communication with the tank through the inlet path. The manifold further comprises a gauge path in fluid communication with the manifold chamber, and one or more outlet paths also in fluid communication with the manifold chamber. A pressure sensing device is included; the pressure sensing device is configured to monitor the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber, through the gauge path. The device further includes a display configured to display the fluid pressure as measured by the pressure sensing the device. The device also includes a variable valve, the variable valve is adapted to regulate the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber. In certain embodiments the device includes a fluid return hose attached to the variable valve and configured to allow fluid transport between the variable valve and the tank. In accordance with certain inventive variants, the variable valve comprises a stem valve. In some forms, the manifold has two dispersal outlet paths. In certain embodiments, each dispersal outlet path includes a shut-off valve configured to seal or allow fluid flow through the path. In one aspect, the dispersal outlet paths are configured for connection to liquid dispersal components, for example, a boom and/or a wand.
In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a manifold for lawn/garden sprayers. The manifold having a manifold chamber having an inlet path, a gauge path, a fluid return path, and one or more dispersal outlet paths adapted for attachment of one or more liquid dispersal components. The manifold further includes a variable valve within said fluid return path adapted to regulate the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber. The manifold also includes a pressure sensing device with a display, the pressure sensing device in fluid communication with the gauge path and adapted to measure and display the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber. In accordance with certain inventive variants, the variable valve comprises a stem valve.
In yet another embodiment the disclosure provides a method for controlling spray pressure of a lawn/garden sprayer. Such method comprises pumping a liquid through an inlet path into a manifold chamber, the manifold chamber in fluid communication with a fluid return path having a variable valve configured to regulate the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber. The manifold chamber is in fluid communication with a pressure sensing device configured to measure the fluid pressure with the manifold chamber, and the manifold chamber also having one or more dispersal outlet paths configured for attachment of one or more liquid dispersal components. The method also includes adjusting the variable valve to obtain a desired pressure within the manifold chamber. In some forms, the method further includes checking the fluid pressure as indicated by a display configured to display the fluid pressure as measured by said pressure sensing device
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the disclosed device is shown in great detail; although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present disclosure may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides a unique lawn/garden spraying device, and methods for its use, that enables the user to effectively monitor and control the fluid spray pressure. In accordance with some forms of the invention, such spraying devices are configured to include a manifold chamber in fluid communication with a pressure sensing device and one or more liquid dispersal components, the manifold chamber also having an outlet path having a variable valve. As will be discussed herein, in some forms the variable valve is configured to be manually adjusted and the pressure monitored via a display so as to allow precise regulation of the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber.
With reference to
In accordance with certain embodiments, inlet fitting 502 defines an inlet path 504 in fluid communication with manifold 122 and tank (300,
In certain embodiments, one or more dispersal outlet path fittings 155 are attached to manifold 120. In some forms, the dispersal outlet paths are defined by dispersal outlet path fittings 155. In accordance with certain inventive variants, dispersal outlet path fittings include a shut-off valve described herein adapted to seal or allow flow through dispersal outlet paths. In accordance with certain inventive variants, dispersal outlet path fittings 155 are removably attached to or integrated with manifold 120, for example by a threaded fitting 156. It is also envisioned that dispersal outlet path fittings 155 may be permanently attached to manifold 120. In some forms, dispersal outlet fittings 155 are configured for connection to liquid dispersal components (e.g. a boom and/or a hand held wand) for example, each dispersal outlet fitting may include a threaded fitting 157 for attachment to a liquid dispersal component.
Turning now to
In use, a pressurized liquid is pumped, or otherwise supplied under pressure, into manifold chamber 122 through inlet path 504. Variable valve 200 allows precise (i.e. increments of less than 2 psi) control of the amount of pressure in manifold chamber 122. The pressure within manifold chamber 122 is measured by pressure sensing device 160, and indicated by display 162. Variable valve 200 allows pressurized liquid to controllably flow through fluid return path 130 thus controlling or reducing the fluid pressure within manifold chamber 122. In some forms, liquid passing through fluid return path 130 is returned to tank (300,
In accordance with certain inventive variants, dispersal outlet path 150 and/or dispersal outlet path 152 are each configured for connection to a liquid dispersal component. In certain preferred forms the liquid dispersal component comprises a boom and/or a wand configured for spraying a pressurized liquid. The illustrated embodiments show two dispersal outlet paths. Such a configuration allows for simultaneous attachment of both a boom and a wand. It should be understood that the disclosure encompasses alternative embodiments with one or more dispersal outlet paths, such as those with one dispersal outlet path, as well as those with three or more dispersal outlet paths.
In some forms, each dispersal outlet path includes a shut-off valve configured to alternatively seal or allow fluid passage through each individual dispersal outlet path. In this way, a dispersal outlet path may be selectively sealed so as to allow attachment or detachment of a dispersal component while the manifold chamber is pressurized. Such a configuration also allows for selective pressurization of attached components in accordance with the desired use by an operator. Shut-off valves for use in the present disclosure are typically configured to allow gross adjustment of the fluid flow through each individual dispersal outlet path. In certain preferred embodiments, the shut-off valves are ball valves.
Pressure sensing device 160 may be connected directly to manifold 120, connected by way of a gauge fitting 142, or any other suitable arrangement which allows constant measurement of the fluid pressure within manifold chamber 122. In so doing, pressure sensing device 160 measures the spray pressure supplied to the attached liquid dispersal components. In some forms, pressure sensing device 160 is removably attached to manifold 120, for example by a threaded coupling. In other forms, pressure sensing device is permanently attached to or integrated with manifold 120. In some forms, display 162 comprises an analog needle display; in other forms display 162 is a digital display.
In the illustrated embodiments, variable valve 200 is a stem valve. In certain embodiments, variable valve 200 comprises a stem body 202, having a conical plug portion 206, and threaded portion 204, which fit inside fluid return fitting 134. Fluid return fitting 134 is further adapted so that when stem body 202 is advanced conical plug portion 206 contacts fluid return fitting 134, for example at shoulder 136, a sufficient amount to prevent the transfer of liquid into storage tank (300,
With reference to
In some forms, the device, for example the pump, is connected to an electric power supply on a separate lawn/garden device (e.g a lawn tractor, or ATV). In accordance with certain inventive variants, the device of the present disclosure is adapted to be mounted on a trailer 400. Alternately the device is adapted to be mounted onto a portion of a vehicle, such as a rear deck of a lawn tractor or ATV. In certain embodiments, tubing 310 is connected to outlet path 150 and/or outlet path 152 such that manifold chamber 122 is in fluid communication with a liquid dispersal component attached at the distal end of tubing 310. As illustrated in
In certain alternate embodiments the device of the present disclosure may be adapted to be carried by a user, for example in a backpack or pull-cart. In some forms, the device includes a manual pump which can be periodically pumped so as to pressurize the liquid within the device. Certain inventive methods include periodically manually pumping the device so as to maintain a desired pressure as indicated by the display.
The present disclosure also includes methods for controlling spray pressure of a lawn/garden sprayer. In some forms, such methods include pumping a liquid into a device as disclosed herein and adjusting the pressure regulating valve so as to obtain a desired pressure within the manifold chamber. The disclosed method may include monitoring the fluid pressure within the manifold chamber of a device as disclosed herein. Such methods may also include dispensing the pressurized liquids through a dispersal component such as a boom and/or a wand.
While the disclosed device has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.
