WO2018222943A1

WO2018222943A1 - Electric thermal fogger

Info

Publication number: WO2018222943A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/035501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-01
Filing date: 2018-05-31
Publication date: 2018-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-01

Abstract

An electric thermal fogger comprises a blower and an air heater, the blower being positioned to supply airflow to the air heater along an air flow path. An injection tube is positioned to allow for the injection of injected fluids or chemicals into the air flow path. An atomizing tip is positioned to emit heater airflow containing the injected fluids or chemicals from the fogger.

Description

ELECTRIC THERMAL FOGGER

Background

[0001] Thermal foggers are often used in environments where carbon-based emissions and the byproducts of fuel combustion are undesirable. Examples of such settings include the storage of agricultural products and other commodities. For example, sugars present in potatoes are susceptible to the presence of propane/natural gas combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, ethylene, and carbon dioxide.

Summary

[0002] An electric thermal fogger comprises a blower and an air heater, the blower being positioned to supply airflow to the air heater along an air flow path. An injection tube is positioned to allow for the injection of injected fluids or chemicals into the air flow path. An atomizing tip is positioned to emit heater airflow containing die injected fluids or chemicals from the fogger.

[0003] In some embodiments, an atomizer allows the formation and emission of desirable fogged particle or droplet sizes. The atomizer can include an atomizer chamber, a feed line, and an atomizer nozzle. The atomizer nozzle can be suspended within the atomizer chamber by the feed line. Some embodiments also contemplate the inclusion of a gear box to allow for rotation of the iced line and atomizer nozzle within the atomizer chamber.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004] For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [0005] Fig. 1 is a right side, partially cross sectional view of an electric thermal fogger according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0006] Fig. 2 is a front side view of the electric thermal fogger of Fig. 1 ;

[0007] Fig. 3 is a left side perspective view of the electric thermal fogger of Fig. 1 ;

[0008] Fig. 4 is a magnified view of the controller of the electric thermal fogger of Fig. 1; and

[0009] Fig. 5 is a right side, partially cross sectional view of an atomizer thermal fogger according to one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

[0010] Referring to the drawings, some reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Variations in corresponding parts are denoted in specific embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Subsequent variations in components that are depicted in the figures but not described are intended to correspond to the specific embodiments mentioned earlier and are discussed to the extent that they vary in form or function. It will be understood generally that variations in the embodiments couid be interchanged without deviating from the intended spirit and scope of the invention.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, an electric thermal fogger 8a of the invention is constructed on a base 4a and framework 2a and controlled with a controller 10a. Air introduced from an intake 3a through a blower 12a generally either a rotary lobe or a centrifugal fan. After passing through the blower 12a. the air stream flows along an air path 14a through an air pipe 5a through a resistance (electric) heated air heater 16a. This air heater 16a is controlled with a closed loop heating controller 11a using a single Type K thermocouple. [0012] Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the electric thermal fogger 8a is shown with a heater control 11a mounted on the air heater 16a. A thermocouple probe 15a is positioned on the atomizing tip 18a of the fogger 8a. FIG. 4 depicts a magnified view of the electric thermal fogger 8a depicting further detail of the controller 10a.

[0013] The typical output temperature of this system of FIGS. 1-4 is about 400° to about 1000° F at typically less than 500 cfin. Air enters through the blower 12a and air path 14a at approximately ambient temperature and then increases to a temperature on the order of approximately 500° F part way through the electric air heater 16a and then on the order of approximately 800° F at the tip 18a. This provides the capability to accommodate the application specifications of a variety of different agricultural chemicals including but not limited to fungicides, pesticides, herbicides and sanitizers used in preserving fruit and vegetable crops during intervals of storage. The agricultural chemicals- are introduced into the air stream using a specialized nozzle.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 5, an atomizer thermal fogger 8b of the invention further includes an atomizer 20b having a gear box 22b to rotate a teed line 24b from which an atomizer nozzle 26b is suspended in the atomizer chamber 28a. Thermocouple probes 15b are positioned on the air heater 16b and near the atomizing tip 18b. The controller I0b includes thermocouple displays 30b and on/off switches 32b.

[0015] In operation, the depicted atomizer thermal fogger 8b allows chemicals to be injected into the air stream with several advantages, including (1) less heat; and (2) more consistent and desirable droplet or particle sizes of about 3-4 microns (ideally) and in most cases less than about 10 microns. Fogged chemicals exiting the thermal fogger 8b are at about 150° F, while the heater 16b can be run on the order of only about 400° F to about 600° F, allowing for more efficient operation and less burnoff of the agricultural chemical products employed. [0016] Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments different from those shown and described. It will be appreciated that the detail of the structure of the disclosed apparatuses and methodologies can be changed in various ways without departing from the invention itself. Accordingly, the drawings and Detailed Description are to be regarded as including such equivalents as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An electric thermal fogger comprising:

a blower and an air heater, said blower being positioned to supply airflow to said air heater along an air flow path;

an injection tube, said injection tube being positioned to allow for the injection of injected fluids or chemicals into said air flow path; and

an atomizing tip, said atomizing tip positioned to emit heated airflow containing the injected fluids or chemicals from said electric thermal fogger.

2. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising an intake, said intake al lowing for the external entry of air into said thermal fogger.

3. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 wherein said injection tube is positioned to inject injected fluids or chemicals into said atomizing tip.

4. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising a controller, said blower and said heater being responsive to said controller.

5. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one thermocouple probe; and

a controller, said controller having at least one thermocouple display, said thermocouple display being responsive to at least one said thermocouple.

6. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising a base, said blower being positioned on said base.

7. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising a framework, said air heater being positioned on said framework.

8. The electric thermal fogger of claim 1 further comprising a heater control, said air heater being responsive to said air heater control.

9. An electric thermal fogger comprising:

an injection tube, said injection tube being positioned to allow for the injection of injected fluids or chemicals into said air flow path;

an atomizer, said atomizer allowing for the formation and emission of desirable fogged particle or droplet sizes; and

10. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising an intake, said intake allowing for the external entry of air into said thermal fogger.

11. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 wherein said injection tube is positioned to inject injected fluids or chemicals into said atomizing tip.

12. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising a controller, said blower and said heater being responsive to said controller.

13. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one thermocouple probe; and

14. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising a base, said blower being positioned on said base.

15. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising a framework, said air heater being positioned on said framework.

16. The electric thermal fogger of claim 9 further comprising a heater control, said air heater being responsive to said air heater control.

17. An electric thermal fogger comprising:

an atomizer, said atomizer allowing for the formation and emission of desirable fogged particle or droplet sizes, said atomizer having an atomizer chamber, a feed line, and an atomizer nozzle, said atomizer nozzle being suspended within said atomizer chamber by said feed line; and

18. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising an intake, said intake allowing for the external entry of air into said thermal fogger.

19. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 wherein said injection tube is positioned to inject injected fluids or chemicals into said atomizing tip.

20. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising a controller, said blower and said heater being responsive to said controller.

21. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one thermocouple probe; and

22. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising a base, said blower being positioned on said base.

23. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising a framework, said air heater being positioned on said framework.

24. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising a heater control, said air heater being responsive to said air heater control.

25. The electric thermal fogger of claim 17 further comprising a gear box positioned on said atomizer, said gear box positioned to rotate said feed line to rotate said atomizer nozzle within said atomizer chamber.