Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~3~
CENTRI UGAL APPLICATING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OE' THE INVENTIO~
1. Field_of the Invention
This invention relates generally to dry m~terial
applicators suitable for airborne distribution of
granular materials such as fertilizers, insecticides
and fungicides, and more particularly, relates to a
self-propelled centrifugal applicating device to be
carried by an air~raft to apply the granular chemical
materials by utilizing a pair of synchronized, air
rotatable, star wheel spreaders.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are numerous known applicator devices which
are available for applying liquid and granular
agricultural materials, such as herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators and
fertilizers by utilizing aircraft and other suitable
agricultural-material spreading equipment. Most of the
prior art material spreaders were developed for use
with liquid chemicals, and not too much prior work has
been directed to the field of dry material applicators
suitable for use with aircraft dispensing equipment.
In spraying dry or granular materials upon fields
by employing aircraft, it is important that the product
to be spread be uniform both in dimensions and in
density to accomplish the best results, that is, the
most uniform application pattern~ So far as is known
to the applicant, centrifugal applicating devices for
dry materials have not heretofore been very widely
employed, primarily due to the fact that such
applicators inherently create turbulence in the sprayed
product. Because of the turbulence, the prior
available equipment could not develop maximum velocity
in the dispersed particles. This then resulted in a
random application of the dry agricultural materials,
rather than in a controlled spray pattern. Cyclone
type seeders are typical of the prior art dry material
,
X003~;49
applicators. These devices usually function as three
hundred and sixty degree applicators and all materials
fed to the rotator were dispensed in turbulence due to
the action of the rotating elements. Further, the
known types of centxiEugal prior art spreaders all had
to be either manually turned or motor operated and no
currently available self-propelled type of centrifugal
spreader is known to the present applicantO
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to
applicators for applying granular agricultural
chemicals from aircraft, and more particularly, is
directed to a centrifugal applicating device
incorporating a pair of synchronized, wind driven, star
wheel spreaders incorporating construction features
designed to control turbulence in the dry materials to
relatively precisely control the application spray
pattern.
The centrifugal applicating device of the present
invention is designed to spread or apply dry
agricultural products in granular form when using a
conventional aircraft equipped with the usual type of
agricultural chemical storage tank or hopper and
suitable spray control equipment. The applicating
device of the present invention features a pair of
synchronized, rotary, star wheel spreaders which
function to eliminate turbulence in the dry materials
during the application process to control the
application pattern. The centrifugal forces developed
by the star wheel spreaders initially slow down the dry
particles and control them to thereby eliminate
turbulence~ In this manner, the pattern of chemical
application to a field can be relatively precisely
controlled. The centrifugal applicating device of the
present invention is an aerial applicator and includes
means to increase efficiency of the application and to
enhance safety and performance standards.
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The applicating device comprises generally an
upper plate which is hlngedly connected to the dry
material hopper or reservoir in the aircraft and serves
as the hopper bottom. ~he upper plate is secured to
the hopper in a hinged connection and includes a
movable latch which can be controlled from the aircraft
cockpit to permit dumping of the entire load in the
event of an emergency. A pair of similar openings are
provided in the upper plate to receive the dry granular
materials from the aircraft hopper and to direct the
granular material flow by gravity into a pair of flow
control feed chutes. Sliding valves are controlled
from the cockpit to simultaneously overfit the upper
plate openings in a manner to precisely control the
flow of granular materials in the full range from a
complete off position to maximum applicator capacity.
Similar, but not identical, star wheel spreaders
are simultaneously rotative about the respective feed
chutes. The spreaders receive the granular material
through feed chute openinys in equal quantities and
direct the granules into a plurality of circularly
spaced applicator nozzles. Each nozzle is configured
with one planar side which is enlarged to define a wind
receiving paddle. Preferably, the wind receiving
paddle can be fabricated as the planar side of each
nozzle. In operation, the wind forces generated by the
flying aircraft will impinge upon the paddles to cause
rotation of the star wheel spreaders and without
requiring motor assist of any type.
Preferably, the star wheel spreaders are
synchronized for simultaneous operation and are
provided with wind baffle means which may be utilized
to closely control the rotative speed of the respective
star wheel applicators about their respective feed
chutes. ~ach nozzle terminates inwardly in an
adjustab]e internal vane, which vanes may be adjusted
relative to the feed chute opening to apply the same
quantity of granular material into each nozzle as the
3~
wind drives the star wheel applicators in their
rotative circuits.
It will be noted that the wind will drive the
front side of the paddles for applicator rotative
purposes and that the dry, granular materials will exit
each nozzle off of the rear side of the paddles by
centrifugal force~ Due to the specific design of the
applicator, the flow of material into the feed chutes
is fully monitored and the speed of rotation of the
star wheel spreaders can be accurately controlled. By
employing the centrifugal applicating device of the
present invention, it is now possible to spray a given
area in approximately one-half the time required with
presently available equipment, with considerably
greater precision of application. Due to the
configuration of the nozzles of the star wheel
applicators, as the applicators rotate, the individual
nozzle vanes will pick up the granular material and
pack it against the rear of each nozzle in a manner to
remove any turbulence which may be present in the
granular materials.
The centrifugal forces generated by the rotary
motion of the applicators will function to move the
granular materials without turbulence forwardly along
each nozzle for subsequent disbursement at the
discharge op~ning. The applicators have been
particularly designed so that each nozzle must rotate
through an arc of one-hundred and eighty degrees before
the material picked up at the rear of the nozzle can be
sprayed. The granular material is therefore trapped
within each nozzle through the first one-hundred and
eighty degrees of rotation, thereby settling the
turbulence in the granular materials. The discharge
through the remaining one hundred and eighty degrees of
rotation will impart maximum kinetic energy to the
discharged materials at maximum uniform velocity,
thereby increasing the swath width capability of the
device without turbulence. By increasing the swath
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width and by eliminating turbulence, the entire
applicating device can operate with greater efficiency
and economy than any heretofore known type of rotary
dry material spreading device.
It is therefore an object of the present invention
to provide an improved centrifugal applicating device
of the type set forth.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel centrifugal applicating device suitahle
for the application of granular agricultural chemicals
which comprises a pair of rotating star wheel
applicators, means to direct granular materials to the
applicators in a quantity controlled manner, means to
rotate the applicators without motors and means to
eliminate turbulence in the granular materials prior to
discharge from the rotary applicators.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel centrifugal applicating device
comprising a hingedly connected upper plate having a
pair of feed openings therein, feed chutes receiving
granular agricultural chemicals through the upper plate
openings, star wheel applicators rotatively secured
about the feed chutes to receive the granular materials
in measured quantities, means in the star wheel
applicators to settle turbulence of the granular
materials, the star wheel applicators comprising a
plurality of nozzles and a plurality of paddles affixed
to the nozzles, whereby wind forces impinging upon the
paddles will cause simultaneous rotation of the star
wheel applicators to generate centrifugal forces
sufficient to discharge the granular materials through
the nozzles with maximum kinetic energy and with
minimum turbulence.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a novel centrifugal applicating device that is
simple in design, easily controlled and adjusted when
in use and trouhle free in operation.
36~L~
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the
invention will be had by referring to the following
description and claims of a preferred embodiment, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein
like reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
... . . . . _ .. _
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the
centrifugal applicating device of the present invention
applied to an agricultural spray aircraft.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view
of the centrifugal applicating device.
Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the centrifugal
applicating device.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the centrifugal
applicating device.
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the centrifugal
applicating device looking from line 5-5 on Fig. 4.
Fig 6 is a side elevational view showing the
centrifugal applicating device in full lines in
operating position affixed to an agricultural aircraft
and further showing the device in phantom lines in the
dumping position in the event of emergency.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, partial, plan view of a
star wheel applicator, partially broken away to
disclose interior construction details~
Fig. 8 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along
line 8-8 on Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the
axrows.
Figs. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing the
wind baffle means respectively in closed and open
positions.
DE5CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
OF THE INVENTION
_
Although specific terms are used in the following
description for the sake of clarity, these terms are
intended to refer onl~ to the particular structure of
the invention selected for il]ustration in the
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drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the
scope of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in
Fig. 1 a centrifugal applicating device 10 constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present
application in place upon a conventional agricultural
spray type aircraft 12 in position for use. An upper
applicator plate 14 is hingedly bottomly affixed to the
aircraft fuselage in position to form the bottom
construction of the usual chemical material reservoir
or hopper tnot shown) provided in the aircraft 12. A
pair of star wheel applicators 16, 18 are rotatively
affixed to the upper applicator plate 14 for product
dispersal in the manner hereinafter more fully set
orth.
As best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the upper
applicator plate 14 includes forward, opposed hinges
20, 22 for hingedly connecting the applicating device
10 to the aircraft 12 in a manner to permit quick
dumping of the granular materials from the aircraft in
the event of emergency. A pair of spaced product inlet
openings 24, 26 are provided in the upper plate 14 in
communication with the interior of the aircraft dry
material hopper (not shown) to facilitate gravity flow
of the granular materials to the star wheel applicators
16, 18 as hereinafter more fully describedO A pair of
sliding, flat valves 28, 30 are arranged in sliding
engagement along the bottom surface of the applicator
plate 14 for complete or partial closing of the product
inlet openings 24, 26.
As shown, the valves 28, 30 are yoked together by
a transverse web 32 to which a central operating strut
34 is securely affixed. The operating strut 34
terminates rearwardly in a suitable opening 36 to
receive therein the bottom bearing (not shown) of a
conventional cockpit controlled pay lever (all not
shown) to permit easy sliding longitudinal adjustment
of the valves 28, 30 relative to the inlet openings,
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24, 26 from the aircraft cockpit in known manner. By
providing a loose fit between the bottom bearing of the
pay lever and the operating strut opening 36, in the
event that an emergency necessitates dumping the
contents of the aircraft hopper, the applicating device
10 can can be caused to open about the hinges 20, 22.
In such an event, the loose fit between the pay lever
bearing (not shown) and the operating strut or link
opening 36 will permit unrestricted separation of the
parts to thereby not interfere at all with the product
dumping operation.
Still referring to Figs, 2, 3 and 4, a pair of
similar feed chutes 38, 40 respectively underlie the
product inlet openings 24, 26 and are formed with top
flanges 42, 44 for mounting purposesO Upper and lower
mounting rings 46, 48, 50, 52 are provided above and
below the upper applicator plate 14 to secure the feed
chutes 38, 40 below the inlet openings 24, 26 in known
manner. It is noteworthy that each of the feed chutes
38, 40 is rotatively held by its respectlve lower
mounting ring 48, 52 to thereby allow easy rotatable
placement of the chute feed openings 54, 56 in a manner
to facilitate maximum spraying efficiency.
Each feed chute 38, 40 is provided with an
inclined floor or baffle 58, 60 to facilitate gravity
feed of the granular agricultural chemicals from the
aircraft hopper in a smooth transition zone without
stranding any of granular material at the bottoms of
the feed chutes 38, 40. The left and right star wheel
applicators 16, 18 respectively overfit the feed chutes
38, 4Q and are freely rotatable thereabout for granular
material spreading purposes, as hereinafter more fully
set forth.
As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, each star wheel
applicator 16, 18 is similarly formed and comprlses
generally a wheel-like body comprising a central
opening 62, 64 of suitable diameter to overfit a
respective feed chute 38, 40. Each star wheel
3~
applicator body is configured to provide a plurality of
outwardly projecting, non-radial, elongatecl, hollow
noz~les 66, 68 wherein each nozzle is in fluid
communication with a respective central opening 62, 64.
As shown, the nozzles 66, 68 comprise one planar side
70, 72 and one angularly inclined side 74, 76, which
sides converge to define the respective constricted
outlet openings 78, 80. As best seen in E'igs. 2, 3, 4
and 7, each of the planar sides 70, 72 of the plurality
of star wheel nozzles 66, 68 is enlarged to form a wind
contacting paddle 82, 84.
The paddles preferably are rectangular in
configuration with the vertical dimension larger than
the height of the nozzles 66, 68 for more efficient
wind driven operation. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and
5, the paddles 82 of one star wheel applicator 16
extend downwardly from the respective nozzles 66 and
the paddles 84 extend upwardly from the respective
nozzles 68 of the other star wheel applicator 18~ This
construction provides the necessary clearance for the
spray patterns generated by each of the star wheel
applicators 16, 18 without interference when the device
is in operation. As best seen in Fig. 5, the nozzle
openings of one star wheel applicator 16 are positioned
at an elevation above the nozzle openings of the other
star wheel applicator 18 so that the dry material spray
patterns generated by each of the star wheel
applicators will not inwardly interfere in any overlap
spray pattern.
Referring now to Fiys. 2 and 8, it will be seen
that the star wheel applicators 16, 18 are equipped
with synchronizing means to cause the applicators to
rotate at uniform velocity in equal but opposite
directions. Each star wheel applicator is provided
with a bottomly affixed hub 88, 90 to which is
respectively secured a vertical control shaft 92, 94
for rotative speed control purposes. The shafts 92, 94
are journaled within upper and lower enclosed bearings
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96, 9~ which are maintained within a suitable housing
100, 102 in known manner. ~evel gears 104, 106 and
bearings 108, 110 transmit vertical rotative movement
of the control sha~ts 92, 94 to horizontal rotative
movement of the interconnecting control shaft 112 to
thereby assure positive linkage between the star wheel
applicators 16, 18 for precise, synchronized, rotative
control of the star wheel applicators.
Still referring to Figs. 2 and 8, a lower open
frame member 114 secures the left and right housings
100, 102 in known manner, for example, by employing a
plurality of machine bolts 116 which threadedly engage
the threaded openings 118 provided in the lower frame
member 114~ A second plurality of fasteners 120 insert
through openings the bottom hub 88, 90 to affix the
control shafts 92, 94 to the bottoms of the respective
star wheel applicators 116, 118 whereby the control
shafts 92, 94 will be rotated when the star wheel
applicators are rotated. Suitable openings 124 are
provided in the lower frame member 114 to pass the
control shafts 92, 94 therethrough. Spacers 126, 128
and suitable elongated bolts (not shown) secure the
lower frame member 114 to the upper applicator plate 14
in secure manner to permit the entire assembled device
110 to pivot as an unit about the hinges 20, 22 in the
manner illustrated in phantom lines in Fig. 6.
Referring now to Fig. 2 and to Fig. 7, it will be
seen that each of the nozzles 66, 68 is formed with as
hollow interior 130 and is laterally defined by paddle
82, 84 and an angularly inclined side 7~, 76. The
angularly inclined sides 74, 76 of the nozzles each
terminate interiorly in a connection to an adjustable,
vertical vane 132 having a conventional adjustment
means 134, such as a bolt and an elongated slot. The
respective vanes 132 are movable toward or away from
the outer periphery 136 of a feed chute 38, 40 to
precisely control the amount of granular agricultural
material that is supplied by the respective feed chutes
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38, 40 through the feed chute openings 54, 56 to each
nozzle 66, 68 of each stax wheel applicator 16, 1~.
The internal vanes 132 are employed to meter and to
apply exactly the same amount of granular material into
each enclosed nozzle as the star wheel applicator 16,
18 are rotated by the wind forces impinging against the
respective wind paddles 82, 84. Preferably, the feed
chutes 38, 40 are rotatively secured to the upper
applicator plate 14 by employing the upper and lower
mounting ring pairs 46, 48 and 50, 52 in a manner
whereby the feed chute openings 54, 56 can be
rotatively adjusted to precisely control the
application quantities. If desired, a rotary baffle
(not illustrated) can be applied over the feed chu-te
openings ~4, 56 to vary the size of the feed chute
openings in an easy adjustment whenever such variation
may be desired.
As best seen in Figs. 5, 9a and 9b, wind baffle
means 140 are provided in front of the star wheel
applicators 16, 18 to thereby provide a readily
adjustable means for varying the quantity of wind
forces which may impinge upon the plurality of star
wheel applicator paddles 82, 84. As illustrated, the
wind baffle means may comprise a pair of similar,
oppositely horizontally movable baffle plates 142, 144.
The baffle plates 142, 144 are preferably movable
within horizontal tracks (not illustrated) which can be
affixed directly to the upper applicator plate 14 and
to the lower frame member 114 to permit the baffle
plates 142, 144 to horizontally slide directly in front
of the star wheel applicators 16, 18.
In a preferred embodiment, an operating lever 146
is positioned within the aircraft cockpit and is
pivotal about a lower pivot 148 in known manner. An
operating cable 150 has its ends secured to the
operating lever 146 at an upper connection 152 and a
lower connection 154, which connections are
respectively spaced above and below the pivot 148 in a
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manner to cause longitudinal movement of the operating
cable 150 about a pulley 156 when the operating lever
1~6 is pivotally moved. As shown, one baf~le plate 142
connects to the upper cable run 158 in an upper
connection 160 and the other baffle plate 144 connects
to the lower cable run 162 in a lower connection 164.
Accordingly, as the operating lever 146 is forwarded or
rearwardly moved about its pivotal connection 148, the
baffle plates 142, 144 can be caused to either slide
together as illustrated in Fig. 9a or to slide apart as
illustrated in Fig. 9b.
In operation, with the baffle plates urged
together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9a, all wind
forces will be directed about the baffle plates 142,
144 and will outwardly impinge upon the paddles 82, 84
to cause rotary, synchronized spinning of the star
wheel applicators, 16, 18 at maximum speed. As
illustrated, the wind will drive the front sides of the
respective paddles 82, 84O When it is desired to vary
the speed of star wheel applicator rotation, or perhaps
to prevent rotation of the paddles entirely, the baffle
plate operating lever 146 can be pivotally functioned
to cause the baffle plates 142, 144 to horizontally
slide apart within the upper and lower tracks (not
shown) to open a spacing 166 therebetween. Wind caused
by the forward movement of the aircraft 12 and by the
aircraft propeller can then pass through the space 166
to partially impinge upon exposed portions of the rear
sides 168, 170 of the paddles 82, 84 to cause
oppositely directed forces to act upon the star wheel
applicators, 16, 18. By controlling the position of
the operating lever 146, the spacing 166 can be so
varied as to precisely control the speed of rotation of
the star wheel applicator 16, 18 between maximum
rotative speed position (Fig. 9a) to a substantiall~
stalled or force equalized position (Fig. 9b).
In use, the feed chutes 38, 40 are rotatively
adjusted relative to the upper applicator plate 14 to
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position the feed chute openings 5~, 56 in a generally
rearwardly facing direction. The granular materials
will feed by gravity from the plane hopper (not shown)
through the product inlet openings 2~, 26 and into the
feed chutes 38, 40. ~he granular material then will be
directed by the slanted or inclined floors 58, 60 to be
equally picked up by the respective metering vanes 132
for the application of equal amounts of material to be
sprayed into the hollow interiors 130 of each of the
nozzles 66, 68 as the star wheel applicators 16, 18 are
being rotatively driven by the wind forces acting upon
the exposed faces of the respective paddles 82, 8~.
The feed chute openings 54, 56 are so positioned that
each vane 132 in turn will pick up a metered quantity
of the dry material and pack it against the rear of
each nozzle. The packing of the dry material at the
nozzle rear while rotating the nozzle functions to
remove all turbulence from the material to be ~prayed.
The centrifugal forces generated by rotative
movement of the star wheel applicators 16, 18 will
cause the dry agricultural materials to move forwardly
along the straight walls of the respective nozzles for
disbursement at the plurality of constricted discharge
openings 78, 80. The feed chute openings 5~, 56 are so
positioned that each nozzle 66, 68 must be rot'ated
through one hundred and eighty degrees before anything
can be sprayed from that particular nozzle. In this
manner, the dry material is trapped within each nozzle
during approximately one-half o~ each rotation cycle to
settle all turbulence. Spraying of the dry material
through the nozzle openings 78, 80 will then occur
through the remaining part of the complete three
hundred and sixty degree rotary movement of the nozzles
with all turbulence settled during the movement through
the nozzle. The dry agricultural chemical particles
will then be imparted max mum uniform velocity through
the remaining one hundred and eighty degree spray
portion of the rotational cycle. This settling of the
2~1D36A9
turbulence of the particles within each nozzle during
the first one hundred and eighty degree degrees of
nozzle rotation imparts maximum kinetic energy to the
granular materials to thereby increase the swath width
capability of ~he apparatus by eliminating turbulence.
By increasing swath width, the entire centrifugal
applicating device 10 can operate with greater
efficiency and greater economy than any heretofore
known type of dry material rotary spray apparatus.
Although the invention has been described with a
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that
the present disclosure has been made only by way of
example and that numerous changes in the details of
construction and the combination and arrangement of
parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of
the invention should not be limited by the foregoing
specification, but rather only by the scope o~ the
claims appended hereto.
.
