Nomix Manufacturing Company Limited

Nomix-chipman Limited

Other

Nomix Mfg. Co. Ltd.

Nomix Manufacturing Co. Lmited

Gill, David C.

David C Gill

Eren Ali

Garry K Pressey

Stuart Alan Betts-Williams

Gary K Pressey

Method and apparatus for the distribution of a liquid composition

At a first station 202, flexible material 204 is deformed into a predetermined configuration defined by a mould recess 210. This configuration corresponds to the internal configuration of one of two housing parts 136, 138, situated at a second station 206. The deformed region of the flexible material 204 is advanced to the second station and secured between the housing parts 136, 138, to form a flexible partition within the container so formed.

Manufacturing of containers

A rotary element for distributing a liquid such as a herbicide comprises liquid distributing projections (58) which have swept-back leading boundary surfaces (64) which are arcuately convex. Each projection (58) has a transverse surface (62) which is arcuately concave and extends forwardly from one axial end of the respective leading boundary surface (64), with respect to the direction of operative rotation of the element. This configuration enables the spray width of the liquid to be reduced.

Liquid distribution element

Fluid delivery equipment comprises calibration circuitry which, in a calibration mode of operation, detects a time at which fluid is first caused to flow in the equipment, and provides an output signal a predetermined time thereafter. The output signal may be audible. The equipment is of the hand-held type, including a handset (2), incorporating a manually operable trigger (3), and a distribution head (8) connected to the handset and incorporating a manually operable variable flow restrictor. The equipment may include means for setting a desired width of land which is to be sprayed, in which case, during a calibration mode, this desired width is used as an indicator of the desired flow rate and the predetermined time is adjusted accordingly.

Calibration of fluid delivery equipment

A container for liquid such as herbicide has a internal flexible partition dividing the interior of the container into two compartments, one of which is liquid filled and communicates with an outlet, while the other communicates with the surroundings through a vent hole. The wall of the container has recesses for engagement by latching elements of delivery equipment to retain the container with respect to the delivery equipment.

Container for a liquid for attachment to equipment for delivering the

Fluid delivery equipment, for example for distributing herbicide, is calibrated to provide a correct flow rate by performing a test cycle in which the fluid flows into a measuring device for a predetermined time, after which the volume of fluid in the measuring device is established to determine whether or not the flow rate corresponds to the desired flow rate. The measuring device establishes a flow path having two reverse bends (36, 30) with the reverse bend (36) bypassed by a vent hole (32). The level of liquid in the measuring device after a test is, for example, established by means of a graduated scale provided on a card (40) which is removably attached to a package containing the fluid to be distributed.

Device for measuring flow

Liquid delivery apparatus includes a container 138 for the liquid, the container 138 having a liquid outlet 150 for dispensing the liquid and a vent hole 53 for admitting air to the container 138 to replace dispensed liquid. The vent hole 53 is closed by a closure element 56 which is removable to expose the vent hole 53. When fitting the container 138 to a delivery device 2, the closure element 56 engages the delivery device 2 so as to remove the closure element 36 automatically to cause the vent hole 53 to be exposed.

Containers for liquids

Hand-held equipment, for example a herbicide applicator, comprises a handle member 24 and an operative portion 4 extending away from the handle member 24, the equipment further comprising a counterbalancing weight 22 which is releasably and/or displaceably attached to the handle member in such a position as to be capable of counterbalancing the weight of the operative portion. The equipment preferably is an applicator for agrochemicals.

Hand-held equipment

Containers of the type having a rigid outer casing 4 accommodating an inner liner 2 are disposed of by removing the outer casing 4, expelling air remaining in the liner 2, and placing the liner 2 in a waste receptacle 10. The casing 4 is disposed of separately. When full, the waste receptacle 10 is disposed of in its entirety by means appropriate to the nature of the former contents of the containers. For example, disposal of the receptacle 10 may be undertaken by specialist contractors. This relieves the users of the containers (which may formerly contain herbicide) from the responsibility of disposing of them safely.

Disposal of empty containers

Electronic pump control

Two components, such as a support tube (4) and handset (2) of a herbicide delivery lance, are interconnected in a manner which provides an electrical connection between leads (56, 38) in the tube (4) and the handset (2) respectively. Fluid communication is also provided between a flexible tube (44) in the tube (4) and a passage (26) of the handset (2). The leads (56) on the tube (4) are connected to two terminal plates (58) situated on the outer surface of the tube (4). These terminal plates (58) move into position opposite bosses (32) on a sleeve (28) provided on the handset when the tube (4) is pushed into the sleeve (28). Screws (40), engaging bushes (36) accommodated in the bosses (32), are then screwed into contact with the terminal plates (58) to secure the tube (4) in position. The screws (40) also complete the electrical circuit between the leads ( 56, 38). One of the components includes a valve (16, FIG. 5) which includes an operating member (110). Displacement of the operating member against the action of a spring (122) not only opens the valve, but also actuates an electrical switch (140).

Fluid delivery equipment

A container, for example for herbicide, is manufactured by securing a flexible wall (8) to a rigid housing part (2), and subsequently deforming the flexible wall (8), in a plastic manner, into a predetermined configuration. A further housing part, possibly complementary to the housing part (2), may then be applied to the housing part (2) in order to provide a closed chamber which is divided by the flexible wall (8) into two compartments. The flexible wall (8) is preferably deformed into a configuration which enables it to lie, unstressed, against the internal surface of the housing part (2), so that herbicide contained in the cavity between the housing part (2) and the flexible wall (8) can flow substantially completely from the container under gravity.

Method of manufacturing and filling container

Equipment for delivering fluids such as herbicides comprises a handset which supports delivery means such as a spraying head on a support tube 4. The handset receives a container 134 of fluid which is to be distributed, this container being received within a cavity 132 in the handset. The container is retained within the cavity 132 by latching elements 166 provided on a pivotable lever 162. As the container 134 is inserted into the cavity 132, the container engages a cam 168 which causes the lever 162 to pivot into the engaged position. An outlet fitting 150 provided on the container is automatically engaged with an inlet fitting communicating with a supply duct 10 for supplying fluid from the container to the spraying head.

Equipment for delivering fluid

A rotary element (8), for distributing liquids such as herbicide, comprises a concave liquid receiving surface (22) including a conical outer portion (26). Teeth (28) project from the outer portion (26). Each tooth has an upper surface (30) which is inclined to the rotary axis of the element by a greater angle than is the outer portion (26). Each tooth has side surfaces (32) which extend parallel to the rotary axis and have a maximum axial dimension (t) which is greater than 0.01, and preferably 0.05, times the overall diameter of the element.

Rotary element for liquid distribution

A liquid such as a herbicide is delivered from spray nozzles (4) on a boom (2). The herbicide is supplied from a herbicide container (8) by a pump (18), and is diluted with water supplied from a tank (10) by a pump (12). The speed of the herbicide pump (18) is controlled by control means (22) and is responsive to the travel speed of the apparatus. The volumetric output of the pump (18) is calibrated by supplying the herbicide to a calibration vessel (32) during a test cycle in which the apparatus travels over a predetermined distance. Correction factors can then be input to the control means (22) in order to bring the volumetric output of the pump (18) into line with desired flow rates.

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Keynsham, United Kingdom

David C Gill