Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 2 -
Processes for mixing and spraying a treatment agent and rapidly generating
a stable aerosol and the associated nozzles and mechanism for
implementing the processes
The invention relates to a process for mixing a treatment agent with air or
other
gases or gas mixtures and for spraying the air/treatment agent mixture, the
treatment agent being a plant protection agent, plant-affecting agent, pest
control
lo agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any active substance such as
odoriferous
substance for odour-absorbing or antistatic substance in liquid dispersion or
in
powdered form that is to be nebulised and containing at least one active
substance for this purpose and a process for the rapid generation of a stable
aerosol with greatly varying liquid proportions ranging up to a liquid-free
aerosol
having a-long suspension time and a mechanism and the associated nozzles in
the form of ring nozzles, polygonal nozzles or flat-slot nozzles for
implementing the
processes. However, the invention can also be used for air humidification
without
active substances.
2 o A mechanism for rapid cold atomisation in large greenhouses is described
in DE
199 22 435 C2. The nozzle is provided with a central opening for spraying a
plant
protection agent, which is fed to the central opening by a pump. The central
opening is encircled by a ring nozzle with vanes for eddying the compressed
air
streaming from the ring nozzle. The mist formed in this manner is distributed
in the
greenhouse by a blower located downstream of the nozzle.
A nozzle head for rapid cold atomisation provided with an inner ring nozzle
for
emitting pesticide delivered by a pump for rapid cold atomisation is described
in
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 3 -
DE 100 33 274 C2. The inner ring nozzle, which encircles a central nozzle
opening
for compressed air, is encircled by an outer ring nozzle for compressed air.
In this
way, the pesticide current issuing from the inner ring nozzle flows radially
between
an inner compressed air current and an outer compressed air current. The
pesticide is atomised by the compressed air currents.
Shortly after leaving the nozzle head, the mixture consisting of water and
active
substance atomised by the nozzle head assumes the shape of an aerosol jet,
which mixes increasingly with the air and is transformed into a mist as its
distance
from the nozzle head increases. The mist settles on the plants being treated.
Moreover, the use of blowers in distributing an aerosol jet atomised by the
nozzle
head in greenhouses is a common practice. Especially in the case of
atomisation
in larger greenhouses, the nozzle head and the blower are located on a truck,
which moves through the greenhouse during the spraying and atomisation
operation. In the case of atomisation with a nozzle head according to DE 100
33
274 C2, the treatment agent is in the form of a broth consisting of water and
active
substance in a proportion of approximately 100:1. The average amount of broth
preferentially used is 11 L/ha of greenhouse area to be treated. But
considerably
more agent may be used if required.
Thus, enough mist can be produced and distributed in both small and large
greenhouses in a very short time to completely fill an entire greenhouse with
mist
for a certain period of time.
Unlike in the case of atomisation, the proportion of water to active substance
in the
broth used in the spraying or sprinkling of treatment agent is 1,000:1.
Approximately 1,000 litres of this broth is required per hectare.
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 4 -
Droplets may form on plants if there is a high proportion of water in the
mist, which
results in the active substance causing spot burns on the plants concerned.
The task underlying the invention is to create a means by which the amounts of
liquid needed to dilute the active substance of the treatment agent can be
minimised, and furthermore, to create a process for the rapid generation of a
very
stable aerosol with greatly varying proportions of liquid up to an aerosol
free from
liquid with a long suspension time and the associated nozzles and a mechanism
for implementing the processes for use, in particular, in pest control, plant
protection, disinfection and fertilisation, which can distribute a wide
variety of
aerosol media in powdered or liquid form, nebulising said media into ultra-
fine
aerosol particles that are of nearly equal size and have a long suspension
time.
According to the invention, this task is solved by the features of the
independent
patent claims.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for mixing treatment agent
with air
or other gases or gas mixtures and for spraying the mixture of air/treatment
agent
or gas/treatment agent, the treatment agent being a pesticide, plant
protection
agent, plant-affecting agent, disinfectant, fertiliser and/or any other active
substance such as odoriferous substance for odour-absorbing or antistatic
treatment, which treatment agent is to be nebulised and which contains at
least
one active substance for this purpose, being characterised in that in a first
mixing
stage, the treatment agent is introduced into an air or gas current and
distributed
therein crosswise to the direction of the current, that the first mixing
current formed
in this way is introduced by a fluid line at least into one or several more
successive
mixing stages, that in this further mixing stage or these further mixing
stages, each
mixing current in question is introduced into a further air or gas current and
distributed therein crosswise to the direction of the current, in each case
forming a
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
-
new mixing current and that the last mixing current is sprayed in the form of
an
aerosol onto or in an area of application.
Moreover, the invention relates to a process for the rapid generation of a
very
5 stable aerosol with greatly varying proportions of water ranging up to a
water-free
aerosol with a long suspension time whereby a wide variety of aerosol media in
powdered or liquid form are distributed in the form of ultra-fine aerosol
particles of
nearly equal size and having a long suspension time. The process makes it
possible to achieve atomisation even in climatically difficult conditions
hardly
lo suitable for mist formation.
Moreover, the invention relates to a mechanism with the associated nozzles for
generating aerosol and mixing a treatment agent with air and for spraying the
air/treatment agent mixture, the treatment agent being a plant protection
agent, a
plant affecting agent, a pesticide, a disinfectant, a fertiliser and/or some
other
active substance such as an odour-absorbing or an agent for antistatic
treatment,
which is to be atomised and which contains at least one active substance for
this
purpose, characterised by a first stage for the automatic mixing of treatment
agent
from a treatment agent source with an air current, so that an air current is
formed
which contains a treatment agent that is mixed with the air of the air
current; at
least one further mixing stage or a sequence of several further mixing stages
each
for mixing the mixing current of each preceding mixing stage with a further
air
current, in each case forming a new mixing current, all mixing stages being
connected to each other by a fluid line for the mixing current concerned; and
that a
spraying mechanism is connected downstream of the last mixing stage or that
the
last mixing stage is in the form of a spraying device.
Advantages of the invention according to the independent patent claims: With
this
invention, the plant treatment agent is diluted at least twice with air
instead of
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 6 -
water. In this manner, it takes only a short time to treat large greenhouses
and
large outdoor cultivation areas with treatment agent. Only a small fraction of
the
amount of water used with known processes or no water at all is required for
preparing the treatment agent broth. However, in certain cases of application
of
the invention, it is possible to use pressurised water for spraying the plant
treatment agent whereby the amount of said pressurised water can be
substantially smaller than with conventional means. The plant treatment agent
can
be a mixture consisting of one or more active substances, water and additives,
however, much less water is required than with the state of the art. Another
lo advantage of the invention is that the aerosol jet of the plant treatment
agent can
be directed at plants in order to move the plant or parts thereof, e.g., by
flipping
over a plant's twigs or leaves or standing them upright, by means of the air
contained in the jet so that the jet also reaches the bottom or rear side of
the plant
part in question. Due to the small proportion of water or total absence of
water,
there is no danger that droplets could form on the plant parts concerned and
the
active substance contained in said droplets could burn said plant parts. Since
by
means of the invention, air is substituted for water, the aerosol jet or
aerosol mist
contains no water at all or substantially less water than with the state-of-
the-art
process. An active substance concentration with a long suspension time is
achieved rapidly, creating the basis for ensuring that the active substance
does
indeed act and/or that the desired action sets in. There is a high
concentration of
active substance in the aerosol owing to the small amount of solvent in the
solution. Consequently, the invention can be used for completely different
purposes, including, in particular, rapid disinfection and control of pests
such as
fungi, parasites, mice, rats, etc., in hospitals, homes and offices, without
giving rise
to moisture therein. Moisture would damage not only devices, beds and
furniture,
but would provide a breeding ground for more bacteria and fungi. Such
organisms
can be rapidly exterminated using the invention without providing a moist
breeding
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
7 -
ground for more bacteria and fungi. Thus, the treatment agent that can be
sprayed
or atomised by means of the invention can, in particular, be a plant
protection
agent (against insects, animals, fungi, etc.), a plant affecting agent (such
as a
plant growth stimulant, a growth inhibitor, an invigorating agent), a pest
control
agent (against insects or other animals, fungi, etc., in greenhouses, outdoor
cultivation areas, hospitals, hotels, homes, etc.), a disinfection agent
(against
bacteria and fungi etc. in greenhouses, outdoor areas, hospitals, hotels,
homes,
etc.), an agent for odour absorption or an agent for antistatic treatment or
it can be
an ethereal oil or a salt. The treatment agent can be in liquid, powdered or
lo granular from. It consists of or contains at least one active substance for
the
application in question.
Apart from generating a very fine mist, the nozzles are also suited for
atomising
rapidly settling substances. The large outlet section of the aerosol nozzle
makes it
possible to have a relatively high flow rate. This makes it possible to
operate at a
substantially higher flow rate for a certain length of time during
application. Either
the medium to be atomised, a cleaning fluid or a cleaning gas can be used as
flushing media. These flushing media can be introduced into the system through
suction or through pressure so that the flushing medium reaches all parts of
the
system to be cleaned. In this way, also the feed components and the nozzle
itself
can be cleaned conveniently without dismantling the system.
Further features of the invention are contained in the sub-claims.
The invention is described with reference to the drawings based on the
selected
embodiments used as illustrations.
List of drawings and corresponding captions:
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 8 -
Fig. 1 Schematic and in part longitudinal section of a mechanism for mixing
and
spraying treatment agent
Fig. 2 Front view of the outlet side of a nozzle head from Fig. 1
Fig. 3 Schematic view of a further embodiment of part of the mechanism from
Figure 1
Fig. 4 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment
of
a mechanism according to the invention
Fig. 5 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment
of
a mechanism according to the invention
Fig. 6 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment
of
a mechanism according to the invention
Fig. 7 A special embodiment of a detail of the embodiments shown in Figs. 4
and
5
Fig. 8 A detail of a further embodiment of a detail of the embodiments shown
in
Figs. 4 and 5
Fig. 9 Schematic view and in part longitudinal section of a further embodiment
of
a mechanism according to the invention
Fig. 10 A section of the complete ring nozzle and its three components: inner
air
ring nozzle, aerosol ring nozzle and outer air ring nozzle
Fig. 11 Section of a ring nozzle with a combined air/aerosol ring nozzle with
a
conic outer diameter and a matching air ring nozzle
Fig. 12 Section of a ring nozzle with a conic outer diameter with an inner air
ring
nozzle, aerosol ring nozzle and outer air ring nozzle
Fig. 13 Section and front view of a ring nozzle with a radial air inlet and a
single-
jet nozzle
Fig. 14 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle
with a
slot each for the media outlet and air outlet
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 9 -
Fig. 15 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle
with
three slot openings for air, medium, air - in that order
Fig. 16 Front view and the associated side view section of a flat-slot nozzle
with
five slot openings for air, medium, air, medium, air - in that order
Fig. 17 Front plan view of a flat-slot nozzle with three slot openings and
outlets
per slot widening from front to rear
Figs. 18 and 19 Section of a nozzle head as a ring nozzle or flat nozzle with
different outlet forms of individual ring nozzles and slot openings
Fig. 20 Active substance concentration/time diagram (K1) according to the
lo process of the invention and a substance concentration/time diagram (K2)
according to conventional processes
Fig. 21 Front view of the outlet side of a nozzle head with polygonal nozzles.
The mechanism shown in Fig. 1 for spraying treatment agent (plant protection
agents, especially such as insecticides, bactericides or plant affecting
agents,
pesticides, disinfectants and/or any other active substance, such as an odour-
absorbing substance or a substance for antistatic treatment to be atomised)
contains a first mixing stage 2 for the automatic mixing of treatment agent 4
from a
treatment agent source 6 with an air current 8 of external air, giving rise to
a
mixing current 10, which contains treatment agent 4 mixed with the air of air
current 8. The treatment agent source 6 can contain a stirring mechanism. A
second mixing stage 12 for mixing the mixing current 10 of the first mixing
stage 2
with one or, according to Fig. 1, two air currents 14 and 16 is designed as a
spraying mechanism and therefor contains two coaxial air current nozzle
openings
18 and 20 in a nozzle head 24. The radial inner air current nozzle opening 20
can
2s be a ring nozzle opening or, according to Fig. 1, a fully open nozzle
opening
through which the radial inner coaxial air current 16 flows. The radial outer
air
current nozzle opening 18 is a ring nozzle from which flows the radial outer
air
current with a ring-shaped cross section.
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 10 -
The two air current nozzle openings 18 and 20 pointing approximately in the
same
direction are so close to one another that the two air currents 14 and 16
issuing
from them create between them - on the downstream outer side of the air
current
nozzle openings 18 and 20 - a subatmospheric pressure zone 22 defined by
them. The two coaxial air current nozzle openings are connected to a
compressed
air source 30 via a compressed air line 26, preferably with an interposed
pressure
adjustment member such as a pressure regulator 28. The compressed air source
30 is preferably a compressor and/or a compressed air vessel or a gas pressure
1o accumulator. As a result, the two coaxial air currents 14 and 16 are each a
compressed air jet.
The nozzle head 24 is provided with a mixing current nozzle opening 32 with a
circular cross section in the shape of a ring nozzle discharging into the
subatmospheric pressure zone 22, which nozzle opening is located between the
coaxial air current nozzle openings 18 and 20. The mixing current nozzle
opening
32 is connected to the first mixing stage 2 via a fluid line 34. In the first
mixing
stage 2, the subatmospheric pressure generated by coaxial air currents 14 and
16
in the subatmospheric pressure zone 22 draws in an air current 8 from external
air
and treatment agent 4 collectively forming a mixing current 10 into the
upstream
end 36 of the fluid line 34 and from there on through said fluid line 34 and
through
the mixing current nozzle opening 32 into the subatmospheric pressure zone 22.
The mixing current 10 is drawn in by and entrained in the air currents 14 and
16
through the subatmospheric pressure zone 22, so that the mixing current 10 and
the air currents 14 and 16 collectively form an aerosol spray jet 40 or an
aerosol
spray mist, which is expelled from the nozzle head 24 and which can be sprayed
directly on plants or which can be distributed over a large area through
atomisation. Distribution of such a treatment agent mist, which is formed from
the
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 11 -
aerosol spray jet 40, can be supported by a blower 42 to disperse the aerosol
spray jet 40 over a larger area, such as the entire area of a greenhouse, a
storage
depot, etc., or an outdoor area.
All embodiments of the invention can be used in this manner with or without a
blower 42.
The treatment agent 4 can be fed to the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34
in a
variety of ways. One of these possibilities is shown in Fig. 1. In the case of
the
embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the treatment agent source 6 contains a pump 44
for
delivering treatment agent 4 from the storage tank 46 on through an atomiser
48,
which sprays the treatment agent 4 into the upstream end 36 of the fluid line
34.
The atomiser 48 can be an atomiser nozzle or a rotary atomiser. The throughput
(amount of treatment agent atomised) can be adjustable and controllable, e.g.,
by
valves or by means of rotary atomiser or by the pump.
The mixing current 10 of the first mixing stage 2 can be propelled through the
fluid
line 34 either by the treatment agent 4 being expelled from the atomiser 48
with
great energy producing a treatment jet, which forms and draws in the external
air
current 8, and/or by being drawn in through negative pressure in the
subatmospheric pressure zone in the manner described in the foregoing.
The atomiser 48 and the upstream end 36 of the fluid line 34 can be mounted in
an intermediate container 50, which is provided with an inlet opening 52 for
the air
current 8 from the ambient atmosphere.
As shown in Fig. 3, instead of the treatment agent source 6 of Fig. 1, it is
possible
to use the treatment agent source 6-2, which is provided with a pressure-tight
storage tank 46-2 and a compressed air source 30, whose pressure side is
connected to a compressed air inlet 58 via a pressure line 54 and preferably
via a
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 12 -
pressure adjustment member, preferably a pressure regulator 56, which
compressed air inlet discharges into the inner space of the tank 62 above the
treatment agent level 60 to form a compressed air cushion in said tank by
means
of which the treatment agent 4 can be pressed to the atomiser 48.
The nozzle head 24 can have the same or similar form as the nozzle head
described in DE 199 22 435 C2 and DE 100 33 274 C2 or as described herein.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the downstream side of a
compressed air source 30 is connected to a first mixing stage 202 via a first
lo pressure line 203, which preferably contains a pressure adjustment member
such
as a pressure regulator 205, and to a second mixing stage 212 via a second
pressure line 207, which preferably contains a pressure adjustment member such
as a pressure regulator 209. The second mixing stage 212 is connected to an
aerosol applicator spraying mechanism 224, e.g., a spraying nozzle for
spraying or
atomising a treatment agent/air current spraying jet 240, via a mixing current
line
213.
The first mixing stage 202 contains an injector 241, which has a delivery
fluid inlet
215, a suction opening 217 and a mixing current outlet 219, which cross in a
subatmospheric pressure chamber, which defines a subatmospheric pressure
zone 221. The delivery fluid inlet 215 is located axially opposite the mixing
current
outlet 219. The downstream end of the pressure line 203 is connected to the
delivery fluid inlet 215. The compressed air current of this compressed air
line 203
produces a subatmospheric pressure in the subatmospheric pressure zone 221 by
means of which the compressed air current draws in the treatment agent at the
suction opening 217 and conveys it to the second mixing stage 212 via the
mixing
current outlet 219 and a mixing current line 223, which is connected to said
mixing
current outlet, where the mixing current mixes with the compressed air current
of
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 13 -
the second compressed air line 207 and then flows on to the spraying mechanism
224 as a new mixing current 270 and is then emitted by the spraying mechanism
224 as an aerosol spray jet 240 or aerosol spray mist.
The treatment agent 4 can be fed to the subatmospheric pressure zone 221 via
the suction opening 217 in various ways. One possible way is for the treatment
agent to be drawn in by the negative pressure in the subatmospheric zone 221
from the storage tank 246 in a continually regulated or flow-regulated manner
and
to feed it continuously to the compressed air current. Another possible way is
to fit
1o the storage tank 246 with a timer which opens and shuts an outlet opening
of the
storage tank 246 intermittently, so that the treatment agent can only be drawn
in
intermittently by the negative pressure in the subatmospheric zone 221.
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment similar to the one shown in Fig. 4, except that a
treatment agent source 6 of Fig. 1 and the first mixing stage 2 of Fig. 1 are
provided instead of the storage tank 246. In Fig 5, the downstream side of the
first
mixing stage 2 of Fig. 1 is connected to the suction opening 217 of the
injector 241
via a suction pipe 334. Consequently, the injector 241 in Fig. 5 forms a
second
mixing stage 302 instead of a first mixing stage 202; and in Fig. 5, the
second
mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4 forms a third mixing stage 312.
In all embodiments of the invention, like parts have the same reference
numbers.
The second mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4 and the third mixing stage 312 of Fig. 5
can
each also be in the form of an injector similar to the injector 241 as shown
in Fig.
2s 6. In these embodiments according to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the compressed air
current
of the second pressure line 207 has a higher pressure than the mixing current
of
the connecting line 223, so that the second compressed air current can draw in
and entrain the mixing current.
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 14 -
According to the variant shown in Fig. 7, the mixing stage 212 of Fig. 4
and/or the
mixing stage 312 of Fig. 5 can be formed by a mixing head 280 in which the
compressed air current of the second pressure line 207 and the mixing current
of
the connecting line 223 are joined. In this case, one current or the other
current
can have a higher energy of flow to entrain the other current and to deliver
it to the
spraying mechanism 224 aerosol applicator.
In the further embodiment of the invention according of Fig.8, the atomiser 48
of
1o the treatment agent source 6 sprays the treatment agent 4 into an
intermediate
container 450. An injector 241 draws in treatment agent 4 from the
intermediate
container 450 and an ambient air current 8 through a container air inlet
opening
453 into its subatmospheric zone 221 by means of subatmospheric pressure
produced by a compressed air current 482 of a compressed air line 403. The
compressed air line 403 is preferably provided with a pressure adjustment
member such as a pressure regulator 205 and a current connection with a
compressed air source 30. A current connection is provided between the
subatmospheric pressure zone 221 and the inner space in the intermediate
container 450 formed by a suction opening 217 and an outlet opening 455 in the
intermediate container 450. A mixing current line 213 forms a current
connection
between the mixing current outlet 219 of the injector 241 and a spraying
mechanism 224 for spraying the mixing current 470. The sprayed aerosol spray
jet
240 or the sprayed aerosol spray mist sprayed by the spraying mechanism 224,
preferably a spraying nozzle, contains the ambient air 8, the compressed air
482
and the treatment agent 4. The intermediate container 450 along with the
container air inlet opening 453 and the container outlet opening 455 forms a
first
treatment agent/air mixing stage 402. The injector 241 forms a second mixing
stage 412 in which the first mixing current 410 consisting of external air 8
and the
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 15 -
treatment agent 4 is mixed with the compressed air 482 of the compressed air
source 30 to form a second mixing current 270. The treatment agent 4 in the
intermediate container 450 is in a state of a spray jet or a spray cloud or a
mist.
Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention which is a combination of the
embodiment of Figs. 5 and 7, wherein a fourth mixing stage 512, to whose
mixing
current outlet 219 is connected the spraying mechanism 224 via a mixing
current
line 513, is connected downstream of the third mixing stage 312 by a line 213
or a
duct. The fourth mixing stage 512 also contains a device such as an injector
241
1o whose delivery fluid inlet 215 is provided with a current connection to the
mixing
current 219 of the preceding third mixing stage 312. A current connection is
provided between the suction opening 217 of the subatmospheric zone 221 of the
additional injector 241 of the fourth mixing stage 512 and the external
atmosphere
to draw in an external air current from it and to mix said external air
current with
the mixing current 270 fed from the preceding third mixing stage 312 in order
to
from a new mixing current 570, which is sprayed by the atomising mechanism 224
in the form of an aerosol spray jet 240 or aerosol spray mist. A spraying jet
240
directed at a plant 590 is shown in Fig. 9. Parts corresponding to those in
Figs. 5
and 6 are shown with the same reference Nos. in Fig. 9.
The process according to the present invention for rapid generation of a very
stable aerosol made possible by the nozzles and the mechanism according to the
present invention is characterised in that a sufficient active substance
concentration is produced by means of a nozzle in the form of a very stable
aerosol with a long suspension time in liquid or powdered form dispersed over
a
specified area for controlling pests, for plant protection, disinfection or
fertilisation
before the active substances of the aerosol begin to degrade. A sufficient
active
substance concentration can hereby be generated in a specified time T1 by
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 16 -
discharging the active substance in the form of an aerosol and said active
substance concentration can be kept almost constant up to the beginning of
active
substance degradation T2 by continuing to generate aerosol up to the timepoint
T2
or by generating a sufficient active substance concentration only in a
specified
time T1 by discharging the active substance in the form of an aerosol, then
discontinuing the active substance discharge and keeping said active substance
concentration almost constant up to the beginning of the active substance
degradation T2 only through the generation of a very fine aerosol. The
differences
between conventional method K2 and the process according to the present
lo invention Kl are clearly illustrated by the characteristics shown in Figure
18.
Conventional processes do not achieve the very high active substance
concentration in the short time it takes with the process according to the
present
invention. All process variants operate preferably with compressed air at
pressures
of 0.8 to 10 bar, the compressed air exiting at the ring nozzle via a separate
air
ring nozzle 601 beside the aerosol ring nozzle 603. In specific applications,
the
pressure values can be above or below those stated above. The last outer
nozzle
can also operate at a pressure below 0.8 bar in the case of several sequences
of
air ring nozzle 601, aerosol ring nozzle 603 air ring nozzle 606, aerosol ring
nozzle
603, air ring nozzle 606, etc.
Two different nozzles are proposed for generating the very stable aerosol
having a
long suspension time: A ring nozzle and a flat slot nozzle, each of them being
of a
different design variant.
The structure of the complete ring nozzle consisting of an inner air ring
nozzle 601,
an encircling aerosol ring nozzle 603 and, in turn, an outer air ring nozzle
606
encircling the aerosol ring nozzle 603 is characterised by the following
details. The
internal air ring nozzle 601 is in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a
collar 602.
The collar 602 is on the side of the air inlet 608 for the compressed air and
holds
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 17 -
the aerosol ring nozzle 603 in place. The inner diameter of the inner air ring
nozzle
601 tapers at least twice behind the collar 602. In other embodiments, there
is only
one taper or no taper at all. The inner diameter widens again a short distance
before the outlet plane A. At the same time, this widening forms the slot for
the
ring-shaped outlet slot for the aerosol medium of the aerosol ring nozzle 603.
The
slot opening in the example of the embodiment is approximately 1 mm, but a
substantially larger or smaller slot opening can also be used. This will be
the case
especially if clogging of the nozzle slots is to be anticipated due to the
kind of
aerosol medium that is to be sprayed.
The aerosol ring nozzle 603 is held in place by the collar 602 of the inner
air ring
nozzle 601 and at the downstream thick-walled, hollow cylindrical part of the
inner
air ring nozzle 601. At the end of the bearing portion of the inner air ring
nozzle
601, there is an inflow opening 605 for the aerosol medium at the rear part of
the
aerosol ring nozzle 603. Said inner diameter of the aerosol nozzle 603 tapers
behind the inflow opening 605. Said inner diameter of the aerosol ring nozzle
603
remains constant up to the outlet plane A. But modifications are also possible
here. As stated in the foregoing, the slot-shaped opening of the aerosol
nozzle 603
is determined by the shape of the inner air ring nozzle 601. The hollow
cylinder-
shaped outer air ring nozzle 606, which is held in place by the collar 604 of
the
aerosol ring nozzle 603, lies over part of the aerosol ring nozzle 603. The
inner
diameter of the outer air ring nozzle 606 remains constant up to the outlet
plane A.
Only here is the outer wall bent in the direction of the aerosol ring nozzle
603,
thereby forming a ring-shaped nozzle opening. A screw thread onto which the
sleeve 609 is screwed is provided on the outer circumference of the outer air
ring
nozzle 606 near the outlet plane A. An air inlet 607 is provided at the other
end of
the outer circumference. Said sleeve 609 is exchangeable and adjustable by
means of the thread. The opening widths of the sleeve 609 can vary, e.g., they
can be in the shape of a widening or tapering cone or of a straight hollow
cylinder.
Different aerosol generation effects, such as a concentrated jet, eddying,
etc., are
achieved through the varying opening widths. The sleeve 609 can also be kept
at
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 18 -
a distance from the outlet plane A with the aid of suitable mountings. In this
case,
there is a gap between the sleeve 609 and the outlet plane A. This measure
also
enhances the intensity of aerosol generation.
The three sections of the ring nozzle comprising the inner air ring nozzle
601, the
aerosol ring nozzle 603 and the outer air ring nozzle 606 are recognizable
also on
the outer circumference. The outlet openings of all three nozzle components
are
normally on the same plane, which is referred to here as outlet plane A. But
modifications of this arrangement are possible. It is also conceivable that
the
functions of the individual nozzles are reversed, i.e., an aerosol ring nozzle
603
assumes the function of an air ring nozzle 601 or 606 and vice versa.
Moreover,
the number of outlet rings and/or the sequence of air ring nozzle 601, aerosol
ring
nozzle 603, air ring nozzle 606, aerosol ring nozzle 603 and air ring nozzle
606
can also be increased as required.
The inner air ring nozzle 601 and/or the outer air ring nozzle 606 can each
have
means in their inner spaces for producing air rotation and/or eddying. They
can be
vanes or material projections arranged in a screw thread-shaped array or - in
the
outer air ring nozzle 606 - a spiral-shaped pipe. The air inlet 607 can also
be
arranged radially and can end in a single-jet nozzle 612. In this way, air
rotation
starts already inside the outer air ring nozzle 606. Said air rotation
continues to act
when the air leaves the air ring nozzle 606.
In one variant, the inner air ring nozzle 601 and the aerosol ring nozzle 603
can be
joined to form a common air/aerosol nozzle 610. The inflow opening 605 for the
aerosol medium is located on the outer circumference and the air inlet 608 at
the
opposite end of the nozzle outlet. An injector nozzle 613 can be interposed
between the air inlet 608 and the inflow opening 605. The injector action is
enhanced through this array. The outer circumference of the air/aerosol nozzle
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 19 -
610 tapers conically towards the nozzle outlet. The outer air ring nozzle 606
is
adapted to this form. Apart from the air outlet slot 611, the distance between
the
outer wall of the air/aerosol ring nozzle 610 and the inner wall of the outer
air ring
nozzle 606 is almost constant over the entire length of the nozzle and it can
also
contain means for producing air rotation and/or eddying as described in the
foregoing.
The structure of the rectangular or polygonal nozzles is similar to that of
the ring
nozzles. As the number of angles increases, the individual nozzle increasingly
1o assumes the shape of a ring. In this embodiment, too, the three-section
construction of the nozzle comprising inner air ring nozzle 601, aerosol ring
nozzle
603 and air ring nozzle 606 is retained.
The structure of the flat slot nozzle is characterised by horizontal slot
openings for
compressed air 102 and for aerosol medium 101. At least one slot opening is
provided in the flat slot nozzle for compressed air 102 and one slot opening
for
aerosol medium 101.
However, it is preferable to have nozzle bodies 103 with three slot openings,
with
two slot openings for compressed air 102 encircling one slot opening for
aerosol
medium 101. The top side 104 and the bottom side 105 protrude beyond the web
between the two slot openings 101 and 102. The top side 104 and the bottom
side
105 can be arranged as shiftable slides 104 to make it possible to vary the
amount
of protrusion of the web between the slot openings 101 and 102. In this
manner,
the discharge of aerosol is affected. All sides or only the top side 104 and
the
bottom side 105 can be provided with additional slides 104 instead of a
shiftable
top side 104 and bottom side 105. However, fixed diaphragms 106 can also be
provided on the outer sides. This, too, influences the discharge of the
aerosol.
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 20 -
It is also possible to increase the number of slot openings 101 and 102, i.e.,
several slot openings for compressed air 102 alternate with slot openings for
aerosol medium 101.
In addition, flat, rectangular nozzle registers 107, which widen laterally
outwards,
each forming a widened slot=opening 108, can be arranged in front of the slot
openings 101 and 102. Thus, the nozzle register 107 has a fiat trumpet-like
shape.
However, a reversed embodiment is also possibie in which the nozzle registers
are tapered.
Ring nozzles and flat slot nozzles can have a variety of outlet forms at the
outlet
plane A. Various forms are shown in Figs. 18 and 19. The following forms are
shown - from top to bottom - in Fig. 18. Streamlined duct interior, followed
by
even tapering, then a broken outer edge, followed by an inner current duct
with an
even outward opening, then a parallel outlet plane deviating from the nozzle
axis.
The following forms are shown - from top to bottom - in Fig. 19. Again a
streamlined duct interior, followed by a unilateral duct, then evenly rounded
or
bevelled outlet edges at various angles relative to each other, with the top
opening
narrowing and the bottom opening widening.
It was assumed in all embodiments of the invention that the treatment agent 4
is a
liquid consisting only of an active substance or of a mixture of active
substance
and a little water or other additives. Other carrier substances such as oil
instead of
water are also conceivable. The use of oil is provided for especially in
warmer
regions for combating locusts, because in this case, water has a disadvantage,
because it evaporates fastor than oil. However, the invention is also suited
to
mixing powdered treatment agent with one or more air currents and to spraying
or
atomising such a mixing current in a vegetated area, either in a greenhouse or
in
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 21. -
an outdoor area. The treatment agent is diluted by the amount of air fed in
each
mixing stage.
Each of the embodiments of the invention described is preferably mounted on a
vehicle or an aircraft for outdoor application to treat large areas while the
plane or
vehicle is in motion. The vehicle can be a manpowered or engine-powered
wheeled vehicle, a ship, an air cushion vehicle, or some other kind of mobile
carrier, such as a cablecar.
lo The patent claims relate to examples of preferred embodiments of the
invention.
However, the invention also relates to the use of each individual feature and
sub-
combinations of features disclosed in the patent claims, description and/or
drawings.
Another gas such as CO2 as a plant nutrient, or any gas mixture can be used
with
the processes any time instead of air.
The use of liquids of very high consistency is conceivable.
30
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 22 -
List of reference numbers
2 - First mixing stage
4 - Treatment agent
6 - Treatment agent source
8 - Air current
- Mixing current
14 - External air current
16 - Inner air current
lo 18 - Outer nozzle opening
- Inner nozzle opening
22 - Subatmospheric pressure zone
24 - Nozzle head
26 - Compressed air line
is 28 - Pressure regulator
- Compressed air source
32 - Mixing current nozzle opening
34 - Fluid line
36 - Head end of fluid line
2 o 40 - Aerosol spray jet
42 - Blower
44 - Pump
46 - Storage container
48 - Atomiser
25 50 - Intermediate container
52 - Inlet opening
54 - Pressure line
56 - Pressure regulator
58 - Compressed air inlet
30 60 - Treatment agent level
62 - Inner space of container
101 - Slot opening for aerosol medium
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 23 -
102 - Slot opening for compressed air
103 - Nozzle body
104 - Top side of nozzle body, slide
105 - Bottom side of nozzle body
s 106 - Nozzle body diaphragm
107 - Nozzle register
108 - Widened slot opening
202 - First mixing stage
203 - First compressed air line
lo 205 - Pressure regulator
207 - Second compressed air line
209 - Pressure regulator
212 - Second mixing stage
213 - Mixing current line
15 215 - Delivery fluid inlet
217 - Suction opening
219 - Mixing current outlet
221 - Subatmospheric pressure zone
223 - Mixing current line / connecting line
2 o 240 - Treatment agent / air current spray jet / aerosol jet
241 - Injector
601 - Inner air ring nozzle
602 - Collar
603 - Aerosol ring nozzle
25 604 - Collar
605 - Inflow opening
606 - Outer air ring nozzle
607 - Air inlet
CA 02603632 2007-10-02
- 24 -
608 - Air inlet
609 - Sleeve
610 - Air / aerosol ring nozzles
611 - Air outlet ring
612 - Single-jet nozzle
613 - Injector nozzle
A - Outlet plane A
15
25
