US2703256A - Tank sprayer - Google Patents

Description

A. MASCARO Mal-Ch I, 1955 TANK SPRAYER Filed Oct. 50, 1953 United States Patent O The present invention relates to tank sprayers and more particularly to mobile units of this character .which are adapted for manual operation on lawns and gardens.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel mobile tank sprayer unit which is operable to spray liquids, such as plant food and fertilizer and distribute the fine spray uniformly over the vegetation of a lawn or garden.

Another object of the present'invention is to provide a novel device of this characterwhich is operated automatically upon advance or forward movement of the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device having the features and characteristics set forth which is of comparatively simplified and inexpensive manufacture and is fully effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are more fully set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tank sprayer made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the sprayer with a portion of the casing broken away to illustrate the construction of the sprayer;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The sprayer of the present invention comprises a tank 11 for containing the spray liquid, a spray nozzle 12, and pump means to force the spray liquid from the tank to the nozzle. A single wheel 13 supports the device, and a handle 14 is fixed to the tank to advance or push the device. The construction of the device is simple, yet sturdy. The tank 11 is formed with a depending skirt 15 which mounts cross channel members 16 and 17. An axle 18 has its opposite ends journalled in and spans the space between the channels to rotatably mount the wheel 13. The nozzle 12 is mounted on the skirt 15 as indicated at 19.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to pump the liquid from the tank 11 to the nozzle 12. To this end, the tank is provided at its bottom with a drain 22, and a hose 24 is connected from the tank 11 to the nozzle 12. At least the central portion of the hose 24 is of resilient collapsible construction, such as, for example, a rubber garden hose, and means is provided to engage periodically the collapsible portion of the hose 24 and force the liquid therein to the nozzle 12 upon rotation of the wheel 13.

In the present invention this is accomplished by a simple and economically manufactured mechanism. To this end, a vertically disposed backing plate 27 is rigidly secured to the channel member 17. The plate is provided with spaced apertures as indicated at 28 and 29 to permit the hose to pass through the plate 27 and extend in a semi-circular are centered about the axle 18 of the sprayer unit, the apertures 28 and 29 being slightly greater than 180 apart.

To collapse the hose 24 against the plate, a pair of rollers 31, 31 are provided to alternately bear against the hose 24 and force the liquid therein towards the nozzle 12. The rollers 31, 31 are mounted for rotation at the opposite ends of a shaft 32 which is fixedly mounted on the hub of the wheel 13 for rotation therewith as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The rollers 31 are ice held in place on the ends of the shaft by snap washers 35 seated in grooves on the shaft as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

By vlrtue of this construction it will be apparent that as the wheel rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 2, the rollers 31 longitudinally traverse the hose 24, collapsing it and impelling the fluid counterclockwise therein toward the nozzle 12. To provide suflicient pressure against the hose 24 to collapse the same and prevent undue friction, the hub is provided with an axial thrust bearing 36 which is held against displacement on the axle by a nut 37. By tightening or relaxing the nut it is possible to adjust the pressure of the rollers 31 aganist the hose 24.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the hose 24 is protected against damage by the roller by means of a heavy canvas flap 39 which is suspended from the backing plate 27 as indicated at 40 in Figs. 2 and 3. The flap covers the hose 24.and prevents direct contact of the rollers 31 on the hose. .In addition, the flap maintains the hose in fixed position against the backing plate 27 to prevent undue friction and wear therebetween. The canvas not only prevents damage to the hose, but also assists in maintaining a steady pressure at the nozzle 12. As shown in Fig. 4, thecanvas enlarges the callapsed area of the hose and reduces varia-. tions in pressure caused when one roller leaves the hose 24 at the aperture 29 and the other roller engages it at the aperture 28.

The sprayer of the present invention provides a steady spraying stream as it is advanced along the ground. To

assist in maintaining constant pressure, a pressure ac-.

cumulator 42 is provided adjacent the nozzle 12 of the sprayer. The pressure accumulator serves to dampen any fluctuations in pressure caused by uneven movement of the rollers on the hose section 24 and provides a relatively constant spray stream during advance of the sprayer.

In operation of the device, the tank 11 is filled with the spray liquid, which will be discharged by engagement of the rollers 31 with the hose 24 as the device is advanced and the wheel 13 is rotated. In this connection, it is to be noted that the degree spacing of the apertures 27 and 28 insures that at least one of the rollers 31 is engaged against the hose 24 to collapse the same. As the unit is advanced, the rollers 31 travel alternately on the arcuately disposed portion of the hose and provide continuous pressure to force the liquid from the nozzle 12. When the spraying operation is completed, the unit may be retained upright by simply lowering the handle 14. To this end, the handle is formed with a transverse rest bar 45 which is adapted to engage the ground and prevent tilting of the unit when it is at rest.

It will be apparent that the present invention affords a novel spray device which is of comparatively simplified and inexpensive construction yet is fully effective in operation and use. The liquid to be sprayed is confined to the tank 11, the hose 24, and the nozzle 12 so that there is no possibility of foreign matter in the liquid interfering with moving parts and clogging the working mechanism. In this way, it is possible to spray liquids having a high solid content without adversely affecting the sprayer mechanism.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto without departure from the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the spray liquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray means fixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacent and parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluid communication from said tank to said spray means including a compressible portion overlying said plate in con pump the spray liquid from the tank to the spray means.

2. A'mobile'spraying device comprising a tank for containing the spray liquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray means fixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacent and parallel to saidwheel, a conduit affording fluidcommunication from said tank to said spray -means including a compressible portion overlying said plate in confronting relation to said wheel and disposed in a semi-circular arc coaxial with said wheel, and roller means carried by the wheel, positioned to engage said compressible portion of the conduit and actuatable by rotation-of the wheel to longitudinally traverse said conduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to the spray means.

3. A .device according to claim 2 wherein said roller means comprises a pair of rollers mounted for rotation on an axis normal to the rotary axis of said wheel at opposite sides thereof, whereby upon rotation of said wheel, said rollers alternately traverse the compressible portion of said conduit.

4. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the spray liquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray means fixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacent and substantially parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluid communication from said tank to said spray means including a resilient compressible portion overlying said plate, rollers rotated by the wheel, positioned to engage said compressible portion of the conduitand actuatable by rotation of the wheel to longitudinally traverse said conduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to'the spray means, and a flexible flap depending from said backing plate and'positioned to cover the conduit to prevent direct contact of the rollers on the conduit.

5. A mobile spraying device comprising a tank for containing the spray liquid, at least one wheel supporting said tank, liquid spray means fixedly mounted on said device, a backing plate fixedly mounted adjacent and parallel to said wheel, a conduit affording fluid communication from said tank to said spray means including a compressible portion overlying said plate in confronting relation to said wheel, roller means carried by said wheel, positioned to engage said compressible portion of the conduit and actuatable by rotation of the wheel to longitudinally traverse said conduit and pump the spray liquid from the tank to the spray means, and adjustable bearing means carried by said device urgingsaidwheel toward said backing plate to effect forcible engagementof said roller means on said conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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