CN1092545C - Agricultural and other spraying system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for droplet generation in agricultural or other spraying comprises supplying air and liquid to a supply chamber (28, 102) having an outlet orifice (38, 114), and entraining the liquid in the air flow for droplet formation. Air and liquid are injected into the supply chamber which has a closed end wall (42, 108) on which the liquid forms a continuous film which moves outwards towards the orifice for droplet formation thereat. The supply of air and liquid to a chamber wall (42, 108) or target from which the liquid proceeds with direction change to an entrainment outlet at suitable pressures causes droplets formed to have a droplet size particularly suitable for effective coating of plant material and the momentum provided to the droplets by the air enables controlled direction of the resulting spray mist even at very low liquid volumes per hectare.

Description

The injection apparatus and the injection method of agricultural and other purposes

The invention relates to a kind of a kind of method and apparatus that is applied to the sprinkling system of agricultural and gardening and other aspect, the present invention is specially adapted to some sprinkling systems like this, as in our the more previous disclosed sprinkling system relevant for spray boom formula spraying machine of patent applications, this spray boom formula spraying machine has the falling type jet pipe of band nozzle.Yet the present invention is not only applicable to falling type jet pipe type spraying machine, can be applied to similar commonly by the spraying machine that sprays above equally, and can be applicable to water jet and other hand-held spraying machine of some purposes.In addition, the present invention also is applied in the harvester, for example is used for the potato of results sprayed in potato harvester handling and relevant application is for example sprayed processing to the potato that enters apotheca or transport apotheca.Other is used and may be occurred, to be easy to the processing material of low dosage ratio is provided be its favourable part to spraying operation therein, other some application comprise that spending the ice stream body carries out the deicing processing to aircraft, and industrial use comprises some industrial inject process technical process.The present invention being used to spray some much higher liquid such as ratio of viscosities water, is fully possible.

About the general problem that produces of various spraying machines is when producing the drop spraying with spraying machine, to the crop of desire sprinkling or effective osmosis of other material.Usually employed various forms of nozzles, wherein the spraying of drop just by means of under pressure by the energy that supply produced of liquid.

Yet this conventional equipment can not reach the desired level to the crop infiltration.

Made the various formulas of tasting to improve, comprised and use the device that flows with the joining generation air of plain nozzle the crop osmosis.Yet it is heavy and quite invalid that this device has been proved to be.

Also trial once utilizes the effect of electrostatic charge to make the drop of injection attracted on the crop material and deposits thereon.These schemes also have been proved to be quite invalid not acquisition and have used widely.

Crop for example under the situation such as potato, utilize a following jet pipe to spray crop at the lower position below the crop integral shroud, proved that it compares with conventional flusher and have substantial improvement, the lower surface of the topped leaves of plants of its energy, and common flusher can only be ejected into drop above the integral shroud from top.

Known to the applicant another motion formerly is to utilize a kind of gas feed method that interrelates with the liquid feed.Yet the liquid feed is directly to deliver on the deflection plate through a current limiter, and preliminary atomizing just takes place before working as liquid and compressed air mixes herein.Compressed air forces consequent little drop to be ejected into the inner face of overflow spout by a circulating path then.There, before the fan-shaped pattern in plane appears in injection, secondary-atomizing takes place just.This two-stage atomization process can cause, and claim protection produces sizable little drop, has wherein captured bubble, and this drop is big, can lessly be subjected to unwanted injection drift.Can think and consequent droplet size size realize that crop is obviously invalid aspect topped.In fact, what need especially is to produce such little drop size that class is produced under atmospheric conditions, as the morning fog that produces that under humid climate, spends the night, condense to the tendency of not rolling from the teeth outwards with this such as the little drop size on the outer surface that parks a car, and under the place of deposition stops.In conjunction with this purpose, need be little drop that can produce accordingly, so that be enough to permeate crop with enough high-speed mobile.

The previous motion of other is at GB 952,457 and GB 1,378,190 and US4,465,832 and US 4,179,068 in disclose.The hybrid system that these motions relate to some liquids and gases is used for liquid entrainment and/or the formation of little drop.Be United States Patent (USP) 4 wherein with the maximally related latter of being of the present invention, 179,068 (having transferred NRDC), it has reported a kind of liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein liquid enters a minor air cell in radially inner mode generally, so that upwards flow by minor air cell's openend under the gas-liquid effect subsequently, gas stream is transported to that openend so that penetrate subsequently from a spaced openings, see Fig. 2.Verified, air in a system can not reach beneficial effect of the present invention by air with liquid supply chamber (this supply chamber has a closed end wall or target and one or more relevant outlet in embodiments of the present invention) with liquid stream, and the system of this previous report relates to general axis to little droplet flow (facing to liquid feed direction), and flow with the general warp-wise or the extroversion of system of the present invention (or reaching 45 degree on its each side) compares its mode of operation a great difference.And, the described system of United States Patent (USP) 4,179.068 specifications in the past, its operation is based on the effective principle that keeps little drop size under the different air feed pressure, and the mode of operation of described embodiment more of the present invention is, little drop size size changes with system pressure and changes.

At United States Patent (USP) 4,828, reported some spray nozzle devices in 182 and 4,899,937 (having transferred Spraying SystemCo), their sales of having gone on the market, and be used for agricultural and spray the place.United States Patent (USP) 4,828,182 specification has been reported a spray nozzle device, it is particularly suited for humidification and transpiration-cooled application, the spraying of expectation is a kind of broadness and relative flat injection pattern in these are used, many existing air assisted spray nozzles are then opposite, and its ejaculation is circular relatively closely spraying pattern.

This disclosed system promotes liquid to atomize in advance by an insert, and this insert comprises the impact components of an elongation, and it has a transverse extension looping pit, and this hole is subjected to the impact of fluid under pressure, and liquid is broken up.One forced air access to plant, and a lateralarea is defined as a shock surface, but this shock surface deflection and break up air-flow, and the sizable turbulent flow that is used for pre-atomized liquid stream, promptly generated, air-flow laterally is injected in vertical flowing liquid stream as a result, just produces liquid stream at downstream direction towards jet expansion, and its form is the broken pre-atomized particles of fine powder.Then that the liquid stream of this preliminary atomizing is axial by a discharge orifice and an extrinsic deflection flange on this device openend, this flange laterally is positioned on the liquid flow line, again its guiding is passed through a final tap, the little drop of atomizing is ground into superfine liquid particle in advance herein, this liquid particle is deflected the spraying pattern of a plane, broadness then, and its mode is to make its maximum exposure in surrounding air.A kind of cup-shaped recess can produce pressure wave or acoustic energy, helps liquid to decompose atomizing.This spray nozzle device is particularly suited for humidification and transpiration-cooled application.

U.S. Patent number 4,899,937 have disclosed the spray nozzle device that uses with the same manner, and it can easily be removed from nozzle body, makes nozzle be used as hydraulic pressure nozzle.

Correspondingly can find out, these two kinds of existing United States Patent (USP)s do not disclose any relevant for to the chamber notion of feed fluid and gas wherein, liquid is with atomised form feed not, and chamber has a wall or closing end, said air and liquid is towards this wall or sealed end feed, and liquid and air feed are to discharge from this chamber by the outlet that forms on a chamber sidewall with the airflow pattern of sneaking into drop with respect to the sealed end of this chamber.

In U.S. Patent No. 5129583 (Bailey), once disclosed a kind of atomizer and be used for spraying the jet of a kind of fluid in one other fluid.This atomizing comprises an atomizer head, their configurations general with the water feed direction that enters be arranged in a straight line and this atomizer head is provided with at least one nozzle orifice and is used for by this atomizer head with generally forward with to outflowing jet.When being used for hydrojet and entering the dust-laden flue gas, nozzle orifice make abnormity to reduce the deposition on atomizer.The abnormity of nozzle is adapted to reduce turbulent flow.Water and air flows through the general direction of atomizer, be actually longitudinally along atomizer, and the atomizer head by opening with additional one slightly outwards the motion assembly make flow direction upwards, this result is because due to the position attitude that nozzle bore tilts slightly.

U.S. Patent No. 3,096,023 (Thomas) disclosed a kind of system, and it is to be used for to driving-chain, gear and other machine part spray cloth lubricant or oil.This system can easily use the oil of nearly all type, no matter the temperature and humidity of its viscosity and variation.This system provides a plurality of spaced outlets to be used for machine part and has received lubricant.But do not provide about producing the needed pressure data that flows.Injection apparatus directly is applied to jet on the bearing that will lubricate, perhaps device can provide pipe or flexible pipe to connect in case be sent to this jet on the bearing assembly and jet also the same narrow thin with pipe or flexible pipe.Among some embodiment outside Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, it is axially by running through nozzle assembly that material flows, therefore these assemblies itself can not be according to operate of the present invention, and Fig. 4 embodiment explanation and apparent similitude of the present invention, but be used for another system, can produce narrow fine needle to the lubricant of target or the jet of cooling with this, be directed to the localized area of driving-chain, gear or other machine part.Under the situation of spraying cooling agent, object is applied so that the concentrated jet of enough liquid volumes to be arranged, to produce needed cooling agent effect.This is a conversion scheme of requirement of the present invention, this scheme is to seek to spray the liquid coating of the little drop of layer of even with spray boom formula spraying machine, as described herein, be to use the absolute minimum liquid of unit are, when crop area is sprayed such uniform coating, can replace the metering of time per unit square centimeter according to unit interval per hectare metering.

Correspondingly, at least in the improvement that is sought after aspect agricultural and the gardening spray boom formula sprinkler producing about little drop, comprise infiltration, liquid particle size size now to crop to above-mentioned, and the minimum value of required year water.The purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of method and apparatus, can improve more than one shortcoming in the above-mentioned prior art, or it is done general (comprehensively) improve.

The invention provides a kind of method and apparatus that is used to spray, as every claim limits.

In one embodiment, a kind of little droplet generator is provided, it includes an air and liquid is supplied with chamber, and the gentle stream supply device of fluid Supplying apparatus is connected with this chamber and is used for to the formed inwall of this chamber one closing end or target supply air and liquid.This little droplet generator further comprises and limits the externally ported edge of chamber or the structure on border, and fluid Supplying apparatus is suitable for via the chamber closing end by chamber to exporting feed liquid.

In this embodiment, air feeder adapts to relevant chamber with fluid Supplying apparatus, so that to the chamber end supply air and the liquid of closure, is used for liquid entrained air stream is produced the drop spraying from the chamber outlet.These characteristics can produce several significant advantage, comprise the useful especially pattern that little drop forms, and can make little drop entrained air stream well with this little drop size size, and air-flow carries little drop and enters crop simultaneously.Thereby at first, this device can produce a kind of suitable or best little drop size size, and this meets the needs of very low liquid volume, reach satisfied simultaneously or better to the infiltration of crop.And the pattern that little drop produces is particularly suitable for making effectively carries little drop by air-flow and enters crop along required direction, for example under drip the jet pipe and spray.

Thereby, general arrangement by air-flow and liquid conveyer are provided comes to a locular wall or is generally closed chamber end supply air and liquid, and the liquid that is used for sneaking into accordingly air-flow, by exporting outside outflow, She Ji advantage is that air-flow also can spray along any required direction with physics and the dynamics that its little drop of carrying secretly has needs like this.In addition, in a given package unit, when spraying outbound course and width, design has sizable flexibility.For example, generation is quite wide if desired is output in a certain assigned direction with fan-shaped spraying, and then device can be settled a series of appropriate intervals apertures (nozzle) that have corresponding to required fan-shaped output in some suitable directions.In fact, for example, be provided with six apertures and replace an aperture, also can not increase the volume of the required liquid of shower nozzle, wherein on the shower nozzle a plurality of apertures need be set.And the device of (six) plain nozzle of installing respective number is compared with the device of a nozzle, and then in requisition for the fluid flow of six times of as many as, this situation is not used for more following embodiment.For the shower nozzle of a porous mouth, can supply with the liquid for jetting of same volume, for the full terms that produces required injection pattern needs then is: keep liquid entrained airs and little drop to form the needed moderate air pressure of step to all spray orifices.In other words, only, can supply with the liquid of same volume to more spray orifice by increasing the air quantity delivered.

Adopt another kind of method, some embodiments of the present invention can reduce the liquid volume supply arbitrarily to being significantly less than the needed level of plain nozzle (magnitude), as long as air enough satisfies the needs of liquid entrained air and little drop formation step for amount.

And in certain embodiments, in chamber or passage (gallery), form one or more apertures, liquid infeeds with the pattern that does not atomize through the closing end of aperture towards chamber, and chamber has a relevant outlet, infeeds chamber by this outlet liquid and air stream.Not clear, the formation of some or all little drop is to occur on the closed-wall of chamber, still occurs in liquid afterwards and flows through in the liquid flow path of chamber.Produced a kind of surface liquid layer probably in chamber, liquid level flows to outlet and has formed little drop in this zone.

In the closing end of the chamber that transmits liquid to it or the relative configuration between the locular wall, and the position in one or more outlets aperture, be important.Broadly, outlet position, aperture is with respect to that wall of chamber, and make material stream, flow to the direction of outlet from atomized liquid jet impulse position not, generally be outside by chamber.In this embodiment, in chamber the path of the air of feed and liquid normally along chamber axially and the direction of chamber length direction towards its relative closing end, but to the air supplier to the true axial direction that also needn't be as the criterion.And, about the position of the one or more outlets of chamber, can be but need not on the periphery that strictness is in the chamber wall of feed flow or target (liquid is supplied with and is directed to this place).Like this, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, several exits has the skew axial with chamber a little, is offset this wall, this scheme, and promptly being provided with of the position of an outlet or a plurality of outlets need make liquid outwards successfully and effectively flow from the chamber end wall.

Equally, in certain embodiments, feed to the liquid jet of chamber, generally be with chamber in two or more aperture balanced configurations of forming so that each aperture can receive edge or border that the liquid that is generally equivalent is fed to its entrained air.

And in these embodiments, the gas-liquid supply not only is used for general central supply and liquid is evenly infeeded in the chamber in the aperture which is provided with a plurality of entrained airs, but also will make air be distributed in chamber and each aperture quite equably.For reaching this purpose, and established device some axial airs flow into conduits, or some borings are being set in the pipeline that leads to air and liquid supply room, these conduits and boring be distributed in equably plumbing nozzle or liquid feed assembly around.

Other noticeable characteristics of this embodiment comprise the function of air feeder, and it is similar to the effect of liquid supply venturi nozzle (venturi) or pump.

Liquid jet to air one liquid feeding chamber feed sprays toward locular wall or target, and the surface of this wall or target need be configured to the edge or the border of the entrained air that is uniformly distributed in associated orifice or outlet that can promote liquid.For example, the shape that the surface can have a convex surface and outwards enlarge, its top pilot fluid jet source, and the shape of convex configuration wants to impel and produces uniformly outwards liquid stream, flows to the one or more aperture that is arranged on the chamber.One smooth surface can be set on the other hand, as shown in Figure 7.Can also imagine that a kind of concave surface (as shown in Figure 2) can produce useful effect.Verified, failing can to have a strong impact on the distribution of liquid in these holes, produce uneven injection thus to two or more are evenly supplied under the situation of liquid in the aperture at interval on the chamber.

Be understandable that the present invention has adopted a kind of approach to form drop, this approach and vaporizer technology have some common technique basis, and the air feed can provide the ability of feather spray to permeate crop.The formation of little drop as mentioned above, is to occur on the locular wall of resistance carrier fluid body feed, and/or at the edge or the borderline region that limit chamber outlet or a plurality of apertures.In some tests, observe, with the feather spray that device of the present invention produced, comprise part in, it can be, for example, length is about 10 to 20 centimetres, air and the liquid of being carried secretly in this feather spray part, compare with distinctive water smoke or vaporific form in the pinniform outside, be comparatively speaking be not easy very much observed.Not clear, which type of effect has caused this variation on apparent, and these right and wrong concerning plain nozzle are distinctive.

The importance of more following embodiment is that air feed system has quite low energy consumption.Give fan (pressure fan) if so-called air bag (bed) the formula sprayer that can buy at present needs electric energy to be input as 80 kilowatts usually, and the air supply system of following each embodiment is used for one 12 meters spray boom and only needs about 10 to 15 kilowatts.

Should be appreciated that the aperture or the outlet that therefrom give off little drop, can carry out the change of shape the circular cross section that is hereinafter disclosed.Some major advantages of described embodiment are that the simple in structure of little droplet generator and aperture possibility of jamming are less, have the little drop of high directivity and send, and need few liquid volume.And, drop depart from power stream and the situation of disperseing to the side seldom, and known technology motion as mentioned above, then is tending towards producing atomizing (dispersions) and acts on.

By reducing the needs of liquid volume, these embodiment can significantly reduce the downtime that sprayer commonly used need recharge liquid bath, account for 40% of the working time this downtime.Therefore can increase about working time more than 40%, its further favorable factor is that the aperture of little drop ejection or outlet no longer need to be designed to the desired very little size relatively of liquid spray systems.Like this, it is 1 centimetre that nozzles more of the present invention can use diameter, and it is 0.3 centimetre that known by contrast liquid spray systems is to use diameter.Reduced the generation of stopping up thus.

Facts have proved that some embodiments of the present invention change liquid feed pressure great franchise.For example, proved that liquid feed pressure can reduce to the level that is lower than air-flow feed pressure.Really obvious some embodiments of the present invention also do not require that liquid transmits with pattern, and promptly for example jet is supplied with the end wall interception of chamber and produced dynamic effect by gas one liquid.Otherwise, as if satisfied purpose of the present invention: promptly only provide the liquid supply of q.s that little drop entrained air process is carried out, and do not have the shortage of any liquid feed.Thereby, as if can think, according to this fact, little drop form and entrained air process are the zones that occurs in a large number from the outlet aperture of chamber ejection, rather than in chamber, though according to the character and the dynamic characteristic of liquid feed, its mechanism can be different slightly.

To this, experiment work proves, change the form of closed chamber end wall in one embodiment, promptly change the spray pattern of liquid jet to this locular wall, this device performance there is not significant impact, as if this also supports such possibility, and promptly little drop entrained air process is not to occur in the chamber basically.

Further about the mechanism of little drop entrained air process, the importance of this process seemingly, promptly before little drop entrained air process or among liquid/air flow the direction variation directly taken place.So very clear, this process does not occur in the chamber of entrained air effectively, can flow total direction with the material by chamber by directly flowing forward vertically of outlet nozzle and be in line in chamber, as above-mentioned existing United States Patent (USP) is described.The mechanism of this effect is not clear now.Be also pointed out that obviously to have so-called venturi nozzle (venturi) or siphon pipe effect in chamber outlet or mentioned nozzle area, it is produced and is used for liquid is fed to the edge or the border of outlet by air-flow.Similar effect when being entered chamber, air and liquid feed is also arranged.Extraneous air stream just produces the Venturi effect to internal liquid stream, thereby, make that required fluid pressure reduces in the liquid feed.

Another importantly puts into practice several value parameters that connect each other that the aspect relates to each Main Ingredients and Appearance in liquid and the air supply system the present invention.The output quantity etc. that these parameters comprise the size, air feed pressure, liquid feed pressure of each outlet in air and the liquid feeding chamber or nozzle, the air feed is given the air compressor of system.

At first consider the size of each outlet in the gas-liquid feeding chamber, the spout of their diameter or the similar area of non-annularity can be 0.5 to 2.0 millimeter scope.Having proved less than 0.5 millimeter various sizes to cause the feather spray of little drop that device produces to shorten range or stroke greatly.The preferable range of each diameter (or size of its orifice shapes) is 1.3 to 1.8 millimeters, is preferably 1.6 to 1.7 millimeters.These latter's large-size has main advantages, can avoid causing the nozzle frequent jams as conventional spraying system.Also prove, little drop size size can not be subjected to the influence of outlet (nozzle) size, but with the increase of jet size, to the also corresponding increase of the infiltration of crop, this is because due to caused little liquid drop speed increase of the throughput of larger volume and the flow resistance minimizing.

With regard to air feed pressure, this directly relates to the capacity of the compressor of supply air.Certainly use the agricultural traction engine that abundant electric flux deposit is arranged usually to drive the compressor of significant proportion sometimes, but the cost that big compressor involves makes it not popular to people, and air feed pressure limit height to 0.6 crust and 0.6 to 1.0 crust (being higher than atmospheric pressure) have been proved, be preferably between 0.7 and 0.9 crust, the compressor of the air (data that record under this pressure) of each spray nozzle type jet pipe supply output quantity about 142 to 566 liters (5 to 20 cubic feet) of use energy per minute is comparatively convenient. and the output quantity scope is that 283 to 425 liters of (10 to 15 cubic feet)/each jet pipe/per minutes suit usually.Also proof once use to surpass the pressure of above-mentioned scope, can cause producing little drop of the size that does not meet intended purposes, that is need push ahead and adhere to or be applied on the crop and on other surface that is exposed.The best scope of little drop that it is suitable that discovery is used for these purposes be 80 to 120 or full-size up to 150 microns.Bigger little drop is to be used for spraying the spray drift that crop is blown and causes with minimizing by top (rather than using the falling type jet pipe).Being significantly less than little drop of 80 microns is proved to be too little so that can not adheres to injected surface effectively.

With regard to liquid feed pressure, major requirement is that enough liquid is fed to the chamber outlet nozzle, and does not use the jet that directly transmits by the spout center.Yet proved the above pressure of 0.6 crust (being higher than atmospheric pressure), in above-mentioned some enforcement, suited; And tested 2.5 and to some pressure of 6 crust, prove to have produced acceptable result that wherein the air feed still can carry out and can waltz through exporting or nozzle very much.It seems that the air feed can be effectively used to remain on center port or the hole in each nozzle in the operating process, the phenomenon of carrying little drop secretly in the air stream takes place on the edge of nozzle or border simultaneously probably.

An aspect of the versatility of this system, can know by using different liquid feed pressure, verified, when satisfied little drop produces is to occur in above-mentioned high liquid feed pressure following time, then can use these elevated pressures to eject more heavy dose of liquid, for example per hectare is sprayed 60 liters or even up to 300 liters of liquid.And as can be seen, this respect of the present invention can provide a kind of injection method, is adapted to require and need other material of injection to change injection dosage according to the part of crop.Utilize the liquid feed system of variable output quantity, can change dosage greatly.Common spraying system is the great conversion that is difficult for reaching dosage by changing liquid feed pressure only.As seen, this versatility is to produce to have used very big outlet or spray orifice in the present invention, and unlike the only limited jet size of some common liq spraying systems overslaugh liquid for amount in inner conversion on a large scale, inflation spray orifice in center simultaneously of the present invention can easily adapt to this conversion.

From the above, the present invention and following more noticeable embodiment thereof, the little drops that provide the method for the feature of having any different itself to produce different sizes, being adapted to the various needs that agricultural and gardening spray, and these fields relevant needs in addition.More previous technology motions are put it briefly, be based on such approach: be provided with one slightly drop produce system, wherein the first step is to produce preliminary atomizing in drop generating device, this requires corresponding liquid/air interactive step inevitably, then by nozzle ejection and with a target or split the liquid anvil and carry out lateral deflection to reach further degree of atomization and the generation of little drop.

Opposite approach of the present invention be based on sky chamber or the indoor use of atrium a kind of in target or retaining wall, with air and liquid be fed to make on this target or the retaining wall cracked.It is correspondingly towards not becoming outlet arranged in a straight line or spray orifice with the liquid stream that passes through chamber that liquid flow direction changes.Through the liquid stream and air stream of outlet or spray orifice, the injection that just produces the little drop that is involved in air, this injection produces certain little drop size to be applicable to coat effectively plant and other surface with the air pressure of easy mensuration.This injection does not have interior or external structure interferes the whole process of the liquid-to-air of the spray orifice of flowing through to flow.And, also prove, by the size and the configuration of suitable selection outlet spray orifice, spray as required, can obtain a certain direction and infiltration to a certain degree to crop or other species.

Do not use microtechnic equipment, the mechanism that little drop is produced is to be difficult for measuring.Yet, can find out obviously that from the structural difference of little droplet generator of the present invention and prior art the difference of mechanism is in brief, be exactly that the present invention has used a target or chamber end wall, adopted unrestricted outlet spray orifice simultaneously, and existing technology, generally speaking, adopted opposite assembling mode.

Comprehensively above-mentioned, can believe, the present invention representative is overthrown (on the contrary) to certain of prior art, this is meant that the shortness of breath of droplet production process hollow is advanced aspect the effect in agricultural and gardening and related application, the air facilitation can benefit from strengthening the generation little drop of certain size, a certain size little drop is strengthened generation technique and can be utilized the liquid-carrier of minimum volume to be used for diluting a certain active surface inorganic agent, and promotes the even coating of the matrix that desire is sprayed.The technology of the present invention is to utilize air to replace liquid diluent as means.This technology is the not influence of liquid body feed pressure to a great extent.As for air feed pressure, this can select according to needed particle size scope.By feather spray or spray the jet of little drop, and provide infiltration (contact) scope and degree, be decided by to a great extent from gas-liquid supply with the chamber ejection the outlet spray orifice size and in conjunction with corresponding requirements, to select the needed air flow volume of air feed pressure force feed (air feed pressure is to need and decide according to little drop size) for use.And these technical characterstics and advantage, can derive from the quite simple combination of each characteristic of air one liquid supply chamber among described each embodiment, it should be noted that most in the chamber of open type center (open centre) and be provided with a retaining wall or target, liquid stream is fed on this wall and the target, change along with the liquid flow path direction, can make liquid reach required several outlets or spray orifice and combination, thereby produce the little drop that is involved in air according to above-mentioned situation with required these spouts of air-flow process.The liquid stream of the flow direction and process spout generally is outside by target or wall, is actually outside by chamber, though never necessary along real Radial Flow.

For example one embodiment of this invention is further described with reference to each accompanying drawing below.

Fig. 1 be run through nozzle and with the axial section of conduit assembly;

Fig. 2 replenishes the corresponding longitudinal sectional drawing that air is sneaked into chamber (being suitable for being installed on nozzle and the conduit assembly) for running through;

Fig. 3 is an end-view of nozzle and conduit assembly, observes along direction III among Fig. 1; And

Fig. 4,5 and 6 takes from the corresponding disclosed relevant international application formerly of the applicant, comprises particularly PCT/GB92/01356, and the jet pipe type sprayer unit that tractor drives is pointed out in this patent application, and the present invention can be applicable to this device;

Fig. 4 represents the plan view of the sprinkler that tractor drives, and the compressor that this device was equipped with is used for to each jet pipe supply air;

Fig. 5 explanation is arranged the respective planes figure of the single falling type jet pipe that passes between the crops with larger proportion two, and has pointed out that little drop pinniform is sprayed or the direction of spraying;

The end-view of Fig. 6 presentation graphs 4 sprayer units one spray boom has been pointed out a spray boom itself and a relevant falling type jet pipe; And

Fig. 7 represents, with larger proportion, a little drop takes place or air is sneaked into chamber, represents second embodiment of identical invention, and some outlet spray orifices that are provided with the angle of inclination, so that produce the jet or the feather spray of the little drop of injection simultaneously along the incline direction of pointing out.

As shown in Figure 1, liquid and air feed and coupling assembling 10 comprise that the jet member 12 of a mechanical fastener and feed, jet member 12 are the friction fittings in pipeline 14 is terminal.

Pipeline 14 has formed lower (inwardly concaving) end portion of a jet pipe of falling type jet pipe type sprayer, as described in the existing patent of inventor, and for example visible EP 0600919B and EP 0539360B, and be described below more fully with reference to Fig. 4,5 and 6.

Jet member 12 is the tight friction accessories in pipeline 14, has a projection 16, it be by external screw thread 18 be located at that air is sneaked into or chamber spare 24 or carry corresponding internal thread 20 on the inner surface of sleeve portion 22 secretly and match and form, see Fig. 2.

Jet member 12 has a kind of 6 axis hole chambeies 26, and their longitudinal extensions are so that be fed to chamber 28 with the air of the internal volume of the pressurization of falling type pipeline 14, chamber 28 be limited at that air is sneaked into or chamber spare 24 in.

Jet member 12 also is used to provide a kind of not jet or the liquid of atomizing and flows to into chamber 28, is used for following purpose.Correspondingly, jet member 12 also is provided with a flexible pipe sleeve 30 in its inner, and a vertical vestibule 32 stretches out forward thus, and nozzle 34 is used to produce the jet or the liquid injection of non-atomizing.Nozzle 34 has the longitudinal nozzle hole 36 of oneself, and it leads to vestibule 32 and receives liquid thus.The longitudinal nozzle hole 36 of nozzle 34 is vertical vestibule of simple uniform cross-section, and little droplet generator of nozzle-type is not set.

The structure and the function of letter speech jet member 12, its effect is to receive jetting fluid from the flexible pipe along longitudinal extension in the pipeline 14, and also receive along the air of the vertical pumping of that pipe, in the annulus of that pipe between flexible pipe and this pipe inner face, atomizing of liquids is to approach and uniform liquid stream feed from spraying 34 conducts.The feed of air generally is the periphery that centers on nozzle member 12 equably, is actually 6 air-flows that produced by vestibule 26 and transmits.These liquid and air stream are to be fed into to carry chamber 28 secretly, or liquids and gases feed chamber spare 24.

Turn to now air is sneaked into or the detailed description of the structure of chamber spare 24, some spray orifices that its primary structure characteristics are its internal form and setting or outlet opening 38 are in order to from chamber 28 outside supply airs with from chamber 28 atomizing of liquids.Chamber 28 is drums, comprises an axial vestibule 40.In this embodiment, it has the taper chamber end wall 42 of quite big cone angle and has one toply 44, and in use liquid jet is from nozzle 34 feeds point so far.

A plurality of outlet openings 38 are to be that one group two groups dispose with three outlet openings, six outlet openings altogether, these two groups of outlet openings are all leaving within every group or between two groups at interval, to produce twice side direction and export-oriented pinniform jetting fluid, in use outwards and to the side outside spray into the crop, can carry out according to the above-mentioned previous patent specification of the inventor from pipeline 14.

Fig. 4,5 and 6 sprayer units for the tractor driving, it is suitable for installing little drop generation device additional according to the above embodiment of the present invention.

Thereby in Fig. 4, a tractor 50 is installed on the connecting rod of spray boom formula injection apparatus 52, and injection apparatus includes spray boom 54,56, and they are connected with falling type jet pipe 58, as described in the previously disclosed PCT application of inventor.

Each falling type jet pipe 58 comprises a falling type jet pipe bar portion 60 (being equivalent to the pipeline 14 among Fig. 1) of spraying down, and they enter between the crop ranks 62,64 and be loaded with a little droplet generator 66 and are used for the crop hydrojet.

Each falling type jet pipe 58 has the little droplet generator of oneself, and shown among Fig. 5 66, it also is equiped with gas and fluid Supplying apparatus, the feed desire is sprayed from liquid tank 68 and compressor 70 liquid and air, as shown in Figure 4.Little droplet generator 66 is to produce two bursts of pinniform injection stream 72 (see figure 5)s, direction generally be forward, upwards with to the side, be according to tractor and falling type jet pipe direction of advance F, and symmetrical with the crop ranks.Little droplet generator 66 is corresponding to above-mentioned Fig. 1,2 and 3 intact device.Just produce a kind of pinniform injection stream 72 in each side of falling type jet pipe like this, can carry out inject process each crop ranks 62,64.In Fig. 5, shown falling type jet pipe 58, apply for described manufacturing according to the above-mentioned existing PCT of inventor, and falling type jet pipe 58 is to be adapted to purpose of the present invention in Fig. 6, but admission of air and liquid supply, air and liquid are vertically transmitted in the falling type jet pipe, deliver to it at little droplet generator of lower end more, the feed situation is as mentioned above with shown in Figure 1.

It is manipulated, and liquid and air charge is fed to the upper end of each falling type jet pipe 58 and to its jet member 12, as mentioned above, chamber 28 is inflated pressurization, receives jet or feed liquid simultaneously to chamber end wall 42, promptly to the conical pinnacle 44 of this end wall.This jet or feed liquid can think to have produced at least the part liquid film on the inner surface of chamber end wall 42, this liquid film outwards flows towards outlet opening 38, and with form of film outwards and flow to the ora terminalis 48 of outlet opening along some vestibules 46.Little drop to a certain degree forms, and can occur in that air is sneaked into or the end wall of chamber spare 24 42 places.

Also fail to know definitely, especially on its outlet 49 edge or border, what effect has taken place all in the external end of some vestibules 40.Removed foregoing result in this application, altogether the formation of little drop is in the zone of each outlet 49 and/or as far back as chamber end wall 42 places, perhaps promptly flows when fully being slowed down by surrounding air when air/liquid in the latter half.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6, little droplet generator 66 of the falling type jet pipe 58 of Fig. 6 has replaced Fig. 1,2 and 3 assembly 10,24, and it is constructed as follows.Little droplet generator 100 of Fig. 7 comprises an air and liquid feeding chamber 102, to this chamber supply air 104 and liquid 106, they have identical relative space configuration with former embodiment, are used for to tabular chamber end wall or target 108 supply airs and liquid.

Some outlets 110 of chamber are to be configured to two groups, comprise outlet 112 and a plurality of general back outlet 114 to sensing of a plurality of general forward directions, and this is meant for the normal proal direction F of sprayer.

Please point out to Chu as Fig. 7, be to dispose like this towards the inlet 116 that exports, even liquid flows to vestibule 118 that each exports from end wall 108, and needs the change direction before entering vestibule.And some inlets 116 are axially or on the liquid flow path direction being offset of chamber 102, and leave end wall 108 1 distance, d.

This embodiment of the present invention can give off to two above-mentioned directions simultaneously and spray little drop, and this helps some agricultural and does.

Broadly, in some embodiment at least of the present invention, utilize air to flow to cause the jet motion of little drop, can effectively replace being generally used for spraying the water or the similar substrates of purpose, thereby might come inject process is carried out in agricultural or gardening or industry or other object with a kind of fluid handling media, and need not to use any liquid as the diluent or carrier medium, this at least can the effective volume of this liquid-carrier reduce to 10 or more than.

In a further embodiment, a system is set, wherein the viscosity of the liquid that desire is sprayed is selected allotment according to needed little drop size, in the embodiment of an imagination, can be non-water and so on the liquid-carrier that deals with material, for example liquid-carrier can be a kind of oil-based fluid, contains a kind of aromatic hydrocarbon.Can imagine, this liquid-carrier can form the desire atomizing of liquids, tackling it is selected, the character according to related active chemical components is not only in selection, but also according to the surface tension of this liquid and other characteristic, selection is in order to reach the adhesiveness desired to plant surface, or other relevant requirements.One example of relevant requirements can be the invasion and attack that the material of requirement injection can be resisted rainwater.

Thereby, this embodiment as can be seen according to the present invention, the invention provides additional advantage, can make the non-aqueous liquid carrier be used to spray purpose, and such spraying basis be considered to so far commercial be unacceptable, quite high because of Jie's money of liquid-carrier, need consume (volume) material in a large number with existing injection apparatus.

The further content of the present invention is considerable, provide that a kind of ability is injected or otherwise the liquid that sprays of feed desire to the feed system that approaches each nozzle on the spray boom.In this way, can shorten the injection Route Length that transmits relative concentrating chemical product therein.In view of converting another kind to from a kind of ejection medium in very short time, this can provide a main advantages.

In the conversion scheme of being done in more above-mentioned embodiment, it is following still remaining in the interior person of protection scope of the present invention.At first, the actual cross sections shape of air and liquid feeding chamber and size can change.Can adopt a kind of non-cylindrical chamber and this chamber also can change along the axial length of liquid flow direction.More indicated as Fig. 2 and Fig. 7.Competent technical staff carries out routine test work and can disclose some applicable scope limits in this area.Equally, with respect to the configuration of some outlets of chamber end wall, can be suitable for providing other conversion scheme.Liquid feed jet also can do sizable change to the wall or the target itself of its injection, and can adopt outline is the plane, be generally concave surface or be generally convex surface.In fact, target can be arranged to the internal structure of chamber, is fit to liquid and flows towards the chamber outlet.Routine test work can disclose the change that can do in this respect.

It is contemplated that the air intake position of chamber for example is arranged on it relative end of liquid inlet, perhaps really on a sidewall of chamber, also can obtain satisfied result.Done some tests, and made it with gravity liquid is fed to chamber end wall or target effectively, and need not the liquid of control survey to this structure feed to chamber feed liquid and air system.This scheme can be adapted to an attitude and change not too important place, but general hope is provided with metering device, is used for uniform liquid is fed to chamber end wall or target.The additional mapping mode that like this can the whole bag of tricks obtains pointed liquid emitted dose of each the foregoing description or flow is included in and uses several such emitted doses or flow in the chamber.Can recognize that by above-mentioned chamber end wall or target can provide a kind of function of distribute baffle plate or assembly, be used for suitable liquid stream is fed to each outlet of chamber, so that form little drop that air is carried secretly.

Claims (26)

1. A mobile agricultural or horticultural boom spraying device comprising: a) movable booms (54, 56) capable of passing longitudinally along and covering rows of crops (62, 64) during spraying; b) the spray bar is loaded with a plurality of micro-droplet generators (66), and when the spray bar covers multiple rows of crops, these micro-droplet generators (66) can produce micro-droplets to realize the protection of multiple rows of crops Simultaneous injection; c) the micro-droplet generator can generate multiple micro-droplet jet streams, and when the spray bar moves on the crops, the multi-channel jet stream can cross a plurality of micro-droplet generators (66) loaded on the spray bar ) and the crop below the boom, and each droplet generator is also capable of producing its own diverging spray stream that sprays over parts of its adjacent crop so that the crop below the boom is properly sprayed ; d) each droplet generator (66) is connected to a liquid supply capable of supplying spray liquid; e) each droplet generator (66) is connected to an air flow supply device capable of supplying an air flow to eject the droplet jet stream generated by the device; f) each of the droplet generators (66) is connected to a liquid supply device and an air flow supply device capable of generating liquid droplet jets; g) said droplet generator (66) includes an air-liquid supply chamber to which said liquid supply means and said air flow supply means are connected and for generally towards the inner end of the chamber wall supply air and liquid; h) The droplet generator further includes a structure for the outer outlet (49) of the air-liquid supply chamber, and the liquid supply device can pass liquid through the inner end wall of the air-liquid supply chamber and through the chamber supplies to its outer outlet; i) said air flow supply means and liquid supply means are capable of supplying air and liquid towards said inner end wall relative to the air liquid supply chamber for producing an outlet from the air liquid supply chamber outside the air liquid supply chamber by mixing the liquid into the air flow The micro-droplet jet flow; j) the direction of flow of liquid and air from said air-liquid supply chamber to said outer outlet is laterally outward relative to the direction of movement of air and liquid into the chamber towards said chamber inner end wall; It is characterized by: k) said air-liquid supply chamber is in the form of a chamber (28) having said liquid supply means connected to one end thereof, the opposite end where the inner end wall is located is closed; l) said outer outlet is formed on a side wall (22) of a chamber extending between end walls of said chamber; and m) The outer outlet opens inwardly towards the space connecting the outer outlet with the inner end wall. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamber inner end wall (42, 108) is a closed end wall of a chamber, and said liquid supply means and said air flow supply means are connected to said Opposite end walls of the chamber are connected to supply liquid and gas flows, respectively, towards said closed end wall along the longitudinal direction of the chamber. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said liquid supply means is capable of supplying non-atomized liquid to said chamber through a nozzle hole generally along the axial direction of said chamber is directed onto the closed end wall of the chamber. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said nozzle hole is directed towards the center of the chamber and is symmetrical with respect to two or more outlet holes (38) formed on the chamber, said liquid micro Droplet jets emerge from these exit holes. 5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said air flow supply means is capable of supplying air flow to the the chamber. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the outlet (49) of the chamber (28) is formed on the outer end of the outlet cavity (46) on the chamber wall, the inlet of the outlet cavity Arranged so as not to receive liquid directly from the nozzle hole (36) until the closed end wall of said chamber member (24) intercepts the liquid. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the inlet of the outlet cavity is formed on one or more walls (40) extending axially of the chamber element (24). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the inlet of the outlet bore (46) is axially offset relative to the inner end wall (44) of the chamber, towards which the flow of liquid and air is directed. end wall supply. 9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the outer outlet (49) of the chamber is arranged such that the micro-droplets released by the outlet move outwards relative to the chamber at first along the sides, And the outward radius is inclined with respect to the liquid flow axis of the chamber. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said outlet is inclined with respect to said radius towards the end towards the chamber (28) from which the liquid flows into the chamber. 11. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said outlet is inclined with respect to the end of the radius remote from the chamber (28) from which the liquid flows into the chamber. 12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the chamber comprises outlets (112, 114) arranged in two defined directions so as to enable the device Spray liquid in the direction. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said outlet (49) is one of a set of outlets spaced circumferentially about the liquid flow axis of said chamber (28). 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said outlet (49) is one of at least two groups of outlets placed symmetrically with respect to the central liquid flow axis of said chamber. 15. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: comprising a spray bar (54, 56) and a spray pipe (58) installed on the spray bar, the micro-droplet generator (66) is installed on the spray bar mounted on the nozzle pipes described above rather than on the boom for operation substantially close to the ground. 16. A method for distributing micro-droplets of liquid materials from a central liquid supply to a liquid The method on the point of application, the method comprising: a) supply of liquid for distribution; b) providing air flow supply means and causing the means to supply air flow to eject liquid produced by the means; c) providing a droplet generator (66) connected to the liquid and air flow supply means and causing the generator to generate liquid droplets; d) providing said droplet generator comprising a structure which is the edge or boundary of the outlet aperture (38) and which passes the outward liquid supply through the outlet of the closed end wall of the air and liquid supply chamber (28), so that the liquid is mixed into the air flow through the outlet of the chamber as micro-droplets; It is characterized by: e) the method is a method of using a boom spraying device (52) for mobile agriculture or horticulture; f) providing a movable boom (54, 56) and passing the boom longitudinally through the rows of crops (62, 64) during spraying as the boom covers said rows of crops; g) making the plurality of micro-droplet generators (66) produce liquid micro-droplets, spraying multiple rows of crops simultaneously, and at this moment, the spray bar runs above the crop row; h) causing the micro-droplet generator to generate a multi-channel micro-droplet jet stream, when the spray bar is running on the crop, the jet stream spans the plurality of micro-droplet generators installed on the spray bar (66) The distance from the crop below the boom and such that each microdroplet generator produces its own divergent jet stream capable of spraying effectively covering the portion of the crop adjacent to it and thus the crop below the boom Get a proper spray. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that: the step of causing the liquid supply means to supply the liquid to the chamber end wall (42, 108) of the chamber (28, 102), wherein the liquid supplied is non-mist The streamlined liquid jet is supplied to the closed end wall of the chamber, usually in the direction of the axis of the chamber. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that: the step of making said nozzle orifice generally towards the center of the chamber and symmetrical with respect to two or more outlets (112, 114) formed in the chamber , where liquid droplets are ejected from within these outlets. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that: supply air and liquid (104, 106) to each droplet generator (100) through a drop nozzle (58) and pass through it longitudinally Some of the ducts are delivered or delivered through the drop nozzle itself. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said droplet generator (66, 100) for spraying comprises said air and liquid supply chamber, characterized in that said chamber has an internal A cavity or open structure that is substantially free of internal components up to at least the region of the jet outlet (114) of the chamber. 21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that: the ejection outlet (114) of the droplet generator is arranged such that there are substantially no components or obstacles on its outlet side, so that a plume can be ejected. A shaped jet or diverging stream (72) whose direction is defined by the longitudinal extension of the outlet and without any other forced change in direction. 22. The device according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that: the droplet generator (100) comprises at least two chambers (102), these chambers are arranged one after the other or in a line and There are liquid and air supplies (104, 106) extending from one chamber to the other. 23. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that: the air supply pressure of the droplet generator (66, 100) is capable of producing larger droplets than sprayed with a nozzle so as to reduce spraying in applications. drift. 24. The device of claim 20 or 23, wherein: a) the chamber (102) of the droplet generator comprises a liquid meter capable of supplying spray liquid to the end wall or target (108) of the chamber in a controlled manner; and b) said meter is capable of supplying said spray liquid to said end wall or target which is generally symmetrically positioned with respect to two or more spaced apart spray outlets (110) within the chamber. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the meter of the droplet generator is capable of producing a thin film of liquid on the end wall or target (108) for feeding into two or more spaced chambers Chamber outlet (110) flows. 26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the position of the chamber air inlet (104) of the droplet generator is generally at the same position as the liquid inlet (106) in the chamber.

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