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Description  |
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This invention relates generally to spraying devices and more particularly
to devices for providing an adjustable spray pattern suitable for
agricultural application and fire fighting applications.
Various hydraulic devices for spraying agricultural liquids have been
disclosed in the patent literature and some are commercially available.
However, such devices suffer from various drawbacks, the most serious of
which being the inability to adjust the spray pattern to accommodate
different terrain.
For large scale seeding applications commercially available hydraulic
spraying devices have generally taken the form of conventional straight
line nozzles which are stationarily mounted and through which a
combination of seed, fertilizer and mulch in a water carrier is pumped to
form a stream spray pattern. While such devices are capable of higher seed
application rates than conventional mechanical spreaders, such devices
nevertheless leave much to be desired insofar as economy, speed of
operation and eveness of seed application is concerned.
In my co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 422,817, filed on Dec. 7,
1973 and assigned to the same assignee as this invention, there is
disclosed and claimed aerial spraying means which enable the faster and
more even application of seed than was possible theretofore. To that end,
the device disclosed therein is particularly adapted to be carried in the
air at a relatively high rate of speed over the ground to be seeded. The
device basically comprises an input chamber into which a suspension of
seed and a carrier fluid is pumped. A plurality of nozzles are provided in
communication with the chamber and each nozzle extends generally radially
outward from the central axis of the device while also generally downward
at an acute angle to said axis. The device is arranged to be rotated
rapidly by a motor to create centripetal force, which effects the spraying
of the suspension into the air in a relatively evenly distributed pattern.
While such a device has shown itself to be of significant utility for the
application for which it is intended, that is, aerial seeding
applications, aerial seeding techniques may not be feasible or suitable
for some farming applications. Accordingly, the need presently exists for
spraying apparatus for land based use and which overcomes the
disadvantages of the prior art.
In British Pat. No. 1,375,039, there is disclosed and claimed land based
spraying apparatus for spraying trees with a liquid. The apparatus
comprises a plurality of rotating spray heads mounted on a frame for
producing helical spray patterns. While the British Patent discloses that
the angular orientation of the nozzles may be adjusted to adjust the
direction of the spray and the speed of rotation, no means are disclosed
for effecting such adjustment. Accordingly, in order to adjust the spray,
the spraying apparatus must be stopped, thereby resulting in unnecessary
"down time" during which the spraying can not occur. Such action may
substantially slow down the spraying operation, particularly in
agricultural applications wherein the terrain being traversed varies
substantially, which variance necessitates different angular orientations
of the spray nozzles so the spray can accommodate the different terrain
features.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a spraying
method and apparatus which overcomes various disadvantages of the prior
act.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a spraying method and
apparatus for producing a liquid stream in a spray pattern, which pattern
can be readily adjusted during the spraying operation and without stopping
the liquid stream.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a simple, quick
acting and efficient spraying apparatus for readily adjusting the spray
pattern from a substantial straight line path to a relatively wide helical
path and vice versa and without necessitating the stopping of the spraying
operation.
In addition to the foregoing, the instant invention also has particular
utility in fire fighting applications.
As is known, in fighting fires it is of considerable importance to drive
the smoke produced by the fire back to the source of the flames in
addition to the primary tasks of wetting the unburned portions of the
structure to prevent their combustion, while dousing the source of the
flames to extinguish the fire. Conventional straight nozzles and spraying
techniques used therewith, while enabling the effective application of
water to the source of the flame to extinguish the fire are particularly
deficient for driving the smoke produced by the fire back to the source of
the flames.
Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide a method and
apparatus which overcomes the various disadvantages of prior art fire
fighting techniques and apparatus therefor.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a method and
apparauts for producing a spray pattern which can be readily adjusted
without stopping spraying for use in dousing the source of the flames, for
wetting unburned portions of the structure and for trapping smoke and
driving the trapped smoke back to the source of the fire.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing method
and apparatus for spraying a liquid in an adjustable pattern. The
apparatus comprises a rotatable spray head including at least one nozzle
including a orifice for providing a liquid stream therefrom. The nozzle is
mounted on a radial axis extending normally to the central axis of the
apparatus. Means are provided for readily adjusting the angular
orientation of the nozzle with respect to the central axis and without
stopping the liquid stream, to enable the nozzle's orifice to extend at
any predetermined angle within the range of parallel to the central axis
up to an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect thereto. When the
nozzle is oriented with its orifice parallel to the central axis the
nozzle provides a liquid stream in a relatively straight line which is
parallel to the central axis. However, when the nozzle is adjusted by the
adjusting means to some angle greater than 0.degree. the liquid streaming
from the nozzle creates a reaction force at the nozzle and having a
component which is tangential to said radial axis to effect the rotation
of the nozzle about the axis. The rotation of the nozzle about the axis
creates a helical spray pattern symmetrically about the axis, with the
diameter of the pattern being a function of the angular orientation of the
nozzle with respect to the axis.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will
be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference
to the following detailed description when considered in connection with
the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of spraying apparatus in accordance with the
instant invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the operation of the device of the
instant invention producing a helical spray pattern in an agricultural
spraying application.
Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing,
wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is generally
shown at 20 in FIG. 1 a variable pattern hydraulic spraying device in
accordance with this invention.
The device 20 basically comprises a central feed or supply tube 22 for
connection to a liquid supply hose 23, a spray head 24 arranged for
rotation about the central axis 25 of the supply tube and including a pair
of adjustable nozzles 26 and 28, and adjustment means 30 for adjusting the
angular orientation of the nozzles with respect to the central axis.
The nozzles 26 and 28 are mounted at the ends of a pair of arms 32 and 34,
respectively. The arms 32 and 34 are each hollow members which project
radially in opposite directions from a central housing 36 along a radial
pivot axis 37. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the pivot axis entends normally to
the central axis 25.
The housing 36 is a hollow member rotatably mounted on the end of the
supply tube 22 and is arranged to receive liquid therefrom and to provide
the liquid to the arms 32 and 34 for subsequent passage to the nozzles
mounted thereon.
Each of the nozzles 26 and 28 is adjustable for orientation in a plane
perpendicular to the axis 37 of the arm upon which it is mounted and
through a predetermined range 38 of angles with respect to the central
axis of the supply tube. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of
this invention the range of angles through which each nozzle can be
adjusted is shown by the angular range 38 and encompasses all angles from
0.degree., that is parallel to the central axis 25, to 45.degree. with
respect to the central axis, with one of the nozzles mounted for
adjustment through said angular range measured in the clockwise direction
about axis 37 and the other nozzle mounted for corresponding adjustment
through said range measured in the counter-clockwise direction about axis
37.
As will be described in detail later, the spray head 24 and the nozzles 26
and 28 mounted thereon are arranged to rotate about the central axis of
the supply tube whenever the angle of the nozzles with respect to the
central axis is slightly greater than 0.degree.. Such rotation is effected
automatically and without any motor by the reaction force created as the
liquid exits the angularly oriented nozzles. The actual force rotating the
spray head is the tangential component of the reaction force of the
exiting liquid acting on the nozzle at its radial position on axis 37 to
provide the rotational force to the spray head. As will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art the greater the angle that the nozzles make with
respect to the central axis, the larger the tangetial reaction force
component created for any given liquid flow rate. Accordingly, as the
angle that the nozzles make with the central axis is increased from
0.degree. to 45.degree. the speed or rotation of the spray head increases.
The spray pattern created by the rotation of the spray head is in the form
of a pair of interlaced rotating helical streams, one such stream from
each nozzle. As indicated heretofore, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the invention, the nozzles are arranged such that the
magnitude of the angle which each makes with respect to the central axis
is identical but each extends in an opposite rotational direction to the
other when measured about axis 37, so that one nozzle extends upward with
respect to the central axis while the other nozzle extends downward. The
net effect of such a nozzle orientation is to increase the rotational
force created while producing a pair or interlaced helical spray patterns,
with the diameter of both helices being the same.
It should be pointed out at this juncture that while the nozzles disclosed
herein are shown as being adjusted by the adjustment means 30 to the same
angle with respect to the central axis but in opposite directions, it is
contemplated that the nozzles may be adjustable individually or together
to different angles from each other, if desired.
As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the diameter of the
helical spray pattern produced by the rotation of the spray head 24 is
also a function of the angle of the orientation of the nozzles with
respect to the central axis, that is the greater the angle the nozzle
makes with respect to the central axis, the greater the diameter of the
helix produced thereby and vice versa. As the diameter of the spray
pattern increases, the distance or range that the pattern is thrown from
the device decreases. When the angle of the orientation of the nozzles is
so small as to reduce the tangential reaction force component to zero,
that is when the nozzles are oriented parallel to or almost parallel to
the central axis, the spray head ceases rotating, whereupon the spray
pattern is in the form of a pair of long range relatively straight streams
of liquid.
Accordingly, the spray pattern of the instant invention can be adjusted
continuously from a relatively narrow straight stream pattern having a
long range, when the nozzles are parallel to the axis, to a very wide
helical stream pattern having a shorter range, when the nozzles are
disposed at an 45.degree. angle with respect to the axis but in opposed
directions.
The ready adjustability of the spray pattern of the invention, without
requiring stoppage of the spraying operation, makes this invention
particularly suitable for agricultural spraying applications wherein
different spray patterns may be required during one traversal of the area
being sprayed, e.g., when the terrain being traversed changes
substantially. With the instant invention, by merely operating the
adjustment means 30, as will be described hereinafter, one can immediately
tailor the spray to the shape desired. For example, one can go from a wide
swath for spraying large areas close to the apparatus to a long straight
stream for spraying distant areas, virtually instantaneously by the
operation of the adjustment means.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 the nozzles 26 and 28 are identical and
each includes two portions, namely, a base portion 40 and a tip 42. The
base portion 40 is a hollow tapered member including a threaded portion 44
at one end thereof. A nut-shaped flange 46 projects around the outer
periphery of the base portion adjacent to the threaded end 44. The other
end, 48, of the base portion 40 of the nozzle is also threaded and serves,
in conjunction with a threaded sleeve 50, to secure the tip portion 42 to
the base portion to form the nozzle. The tip portion 42, like the base
portion 40, is a hollow tapered member and includes a locking flange 54
about the periphery of one end. The flange 54 is arranged to abut the end
face 56 of the end of base portion 40 and fits within a recessed shoulder
58 within sleeve 50. The outer surface of the sleeve 50 includes a flatted
portion 60 (FIG. 1) which serves as a gripping surface to enable the
tightening of the sleeve in the base portion 40. As will be appreciated,
when the sleeve is tightened, the shoulder 58 pulls the flange 54 into
tight abutment with the end face 56, thereby firmly securing the tip
portion 42 to the body portion 40 and forming a fluid tight seal
therebetween.
The end of the tip portion 42 is in the form of a circular orifice 43
through which the fluid being sprayed exits the nozzle.
The threaded end portion 44 of the nozzle serves to secure the nozzle to
means for supporting the nozzle at various angular orientations with
respect to the radial axis 37. To that end, a respective pivotable member,
hereinafter referred to as a nozzle pivot 62 is provided mounted at the
end of each arm 32 and 34 to support the nozzle thereon at any angular
orientation with respect to axis 37.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, each nozzle pivot 62 includes a
generally box-like portion 64 having a tube-like portions 66 projecting a
substantial distance therefrom. The box-like portion is a hollow member
defining an interior chamber 68. The chamber 68 serves to receive liquid
from the tubular arm associated therewith and is of generally cylindrical
shape. The chamber also includes a projecting passageway 70 communicating
with a threaded opening 72 in one side wall of the box-like portion 64.
The opening 72 serves as the means for securing the nozzle in place on the
nozzle pivot 62. Toward that end the threaded end portion 44 of the base
portion of the nozzle is screwed into the opening 72 of the nozzle pivot
and is tightened by the appplication of a twisting force to the nut-like
flange 46 to form a fluid tight joint.
Each of the arms 32 and 34 is constructed in an identical manner and
basically comprises a circular cylindrical body portion 74 for carrying
liquid therethrough to chamber 68 and terminates in an open end 76. The
body portion of each arm extends through the tube-like portion 66 of the
nozzle pivot 62 associated therewith and extends into chamber 68 in the
box-like portion 66 of the nozzle pivot.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 a circular cap 78 is provided on the end
wall 76 of the box-like portion 64 of the nozzle pivot 62. The cap 78
serves to seal the open end of the tubular arm and for connecting the
nozzle pivot to the arm in such a manner as to enable the nozzle pivot to
be adjustably pivoted about the axis 37 through any angle. To that end,
the cap is abutted against the end face 80 of the open end 76 of the
tubular arm and is secured in place, via plural peripherally disposed
bolts 82. An O-ring 84 is disposed within an angular recess 86 in the
inside face of the cap 74 and at the interface of the cap and the end face
80. The O-ring serves to seal the interface from the egress of liquid
therethrough while enabling the box-like portion 64 and the tube-like
portion 66 of the nozzle pivot 62 to be pivoted about axis 37 and with
respect to the fixed tubular arm 32 and the cap 74 secured thereto.
A second O-ring 88 (FIG. 3) is disposed within an annular recess 90 cut in
the outer peripheral surface 92 of the tubular arm 32 and at an
intermediate point thereon. The O-ring 88 is tightly interposed between
the recess and the inner peripheral surface 94 of the tubular portion 66
of the nozzle pivot 62. The O-ring 88 serves to provide a fluid tight seal
for the system to preclude liquid in chamber 68 from exiting through the
space between the outer surface of the arm and the inner surface of the
tubular portion of the nozzle pivot, irrespective of the angular
orientation of the latter with respect to the former.
In order to hold the nozzle pivot in the orientation desired, a clamp 98 is
provided connected thereto. Once such clamp is provided for each of the
nozzle pivots. As can be seen in FIG. 1 each clamp 98 is of a conventional
type and comprises a split ring 100 secured about the outer periphery of
the tubular portion of the nozzle pivot with which it is associated and an
adjustment screw 102 for contracting the ring. Upon the tightening of the
screw 102 the ring contracts, thereby compressing the tubular portion 66
contiguous therewith into contact with the underlying surface of the
tubular arm. This action effectively locks the nozzle pivot in place.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention each tubular
arm includes a pair of opposed openings 104. The openings are provided
through the wall of the arm in the portion thereof disposed within chamber
68. The openings are extremely large and extend for a major portion of the
diameter of the tube to provide substantial passageways for liquid to flow
from the hollow interior of the arm into the chamber 68 for subsequent
passage to the nozzle, irrespective of the angular orientation of the
nozzle with respect to the arm upon which it is mounted (see FIG. 4).
The means for effecting the angular adjustment of the nozzle pivots and the
nozzles supported thereon is generally shown at 30 and basically comprises
a pair of nozzle pivot arms 106, one for each nozzle pivot, a pair of
nozzle linkage arms 108, one for each nozzle pivot arm 106, and a manually
operable slide assembly 110. The slide assembly, as can be seen in FIG. 2,
comprises a pair of slide rings 112 and 114. The ring 112 is denoted as
the forward slide ring and the ring 114 is denoted as the rear slide ring.
The rear slide ring 114 is in the form of a split ring having a pair of
curved sections 116 and 118 (see FIG. 7) which are secured together, via
counter-sunk bolts 120. The rear ring is disposed about the periphery of
the liquid supply hose 23, which is connected, via a threaded
communicating coupling 124, to one end of the main feed tube 22. The ring
114 is arranged to be slid along the supply tube 122 to act as a guide for
the slide assembly, as will be described hereinafter. To that end, the
bolts are tightened only sufficiently to close the ring such that it
closely encircles the tube 122 but not so tightly as to substantially
impede the slidability of the ring along the tube.
As can be seen in FIG. 7, the ring 114 also includes a downwardly extending
projection 125 having an opening 126 through which a bolt 128 extends. The
bolt 128 serves to secure a bifurcated end 130 of a linkage arm 132 to the
ring 114. The linkage arm 132 is an elongated member whose other end 134
is also bifurcated and is connected, via a similar bolt 128, to a
projection 136 of the forward ring 112.
As can be seen in FIG. 6, the forward ring comprises a pair of concentric
members. The inner member is in the form of a sleeve 138 which encircles
the main supply tube 22 and is arranged to be slid therealong, as will be
described in detail. The outer member of the concentric members is in the
form of a ring 140 which in turn encircles the sleeve 138. The outer ring
140 includes the heretofore described projection 136 and also includes an
upward extension 142 including a threaded opening 144 into which a
threaded end 146 of a handle bar 148 is screwed. The sleeve 138 is secured
to the encircling ring 140, via a pair of bolts 150 extending through
aligned holes in the ring and sleeve.
The forward end of the sleeve 138 is connected to an axially slidable but
non-rotatable ring portion 152 of a bearing assembly 154. The assembly 154
also includes a bearing ring 156 which is axially slidable along the
supply tube with sleeve 138 and is rotatable about the ring 156 to enable
the adjustment of the angular orientation of the nozzles as the spray head
24 rotates.
The details of the bearing assembly 154 will be considered in detail
hereinafter, suffice to say at this point that the ring 156 of the
assembly is arranged to be slid along the axis of the supply tube as it
rotates about the supply tube.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, a pair of projections 160 are secured to
diametrically opposed peripheral portions of the ring 156. The projections
160 serve as means for connecting the respective linkage arms 108 to the
ring 156. To that end, a separate bolt 162 is disposed within respective
openings in the projections 160 and within the aligned respective openings
in a bifurcated end 164 of each arm 108. The other end 166 of each arm 108
is also bifurcated.
The arms 106 are arranged to translate the linear motion of the ring along
the supply tube 22 into rotational motion for pivoting the nozzle pivots
with respect to the axis 37 a corresponding amount to adjust the angular
orientation of the nozzles to the desired settling. To that end, as can be
seen in FIG. 5, each nozzle pivot arm 106 is an angled member having an
elongated main portion 168 extending parallel to axis 37 and terminating
in a pair of opposed normally extending flanges 170 and 172. The shorter
one of the opposed flanges, namely, 170, of each nozzle pivot arm is
connected, via a bolt 174, to the other bifurcated end 166 of a respective
one of the linkage arms 108. The longer flange, 172, of each nozzle pivot
arm is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the ring 100 of a respective one
of the clamps 96.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, a pair of stop rings 176 and 178 are mounted on
the central supply tube 22 with the bearing assembly 154 and the forward
ring 112 interposed therebetween. The rings 176 and 178 are fixed in
position and serve as stops for limiting the sliding travel of the
adjusting means in either direction along the tube 22.
Operation of the adjusting means 30 is as follows: by merely grasping the
handle bar 148 and either pushing it forward or pulling it rearward, the
linear translational force applied to the outer ring 110, via the handle
bar, is coupled, via bolts 150, to the sleeve 138 to effect the sliding of
the sleeve along the main feed tube 22 in the direction of the applied
force, with the stop rings 176 and 178 limiting the travel. The rear ring
114 serves to guide the linear translational motion of the sleeve, via the
linkage bar 132 connected between the rear ring 114 and the forward ring
110.
The sliding of the sleeve 138 results in the concommitant motion of the
ring portion 156 of the bearing assembly 154. The forward movement of ring
156 is coupled through the linkage arms 108 to the nozzle pivot arms
associated therewith. The linear motion of the linkage arms is translated
by the respective pivot arms into rotational motion about the axis 37,
whereupon when the linkage arms move forward each nozzle pivot rotates
towards the central axis 25 such that the angle that each nozzle makes
with the central axis is decreased. Conversely, when one pulls back on the
handle bar 148, the backward motion of the linkage arms is translated into
rotational motion to cause the nozzle pivots to rotate away from the
central axis, whereupon the angle that each nozzle makes with the central
axis is increased.
As noted heretofore, the bearing assembly 154 serves as the means for
enabling the nozzles to be pivoted about the radial axis 37 to the desired
angular orientation with respect to the central axis 25 as the spray head
24 rotates about the central axis. To that end, the bearing assembly 154
is connected between the reciprocable sleeve 138 and the linkage arms 108
and couples the linear translational motion from the former to the latter
and to the pivot arms 106 connected to the linkage arms as the spray head
rotates so that the linear motion of the sleeve is converted to a pivoting
motion of the nozzles about the radial axis 37.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the ring 152 is disposed about the supply tube 22
and has a side face 182 which abuts the front face 184 of the slidable
sleeve 138. The ring 152 is secured to the sleeve, via plural bolts 186,
extending through aligned holes in the side face of the ring and the front
face of the bolt. Accordingly, the ring 152 is moved linearally along the
feed tube 22 whenever the sleeve 138 is moved therealong under the force
provided by the user on the handle bar 148.
The outer periphery of the ring 154 defines a race 188. As can be seen, the
bearing ring 156 is disposed concentrically about the ring 152 and
includes an inner peripheral race 190. The space between the races 188 and
190 is annular in shape and serves to form a track in which a plurality of
ball bearings 192 are disposed. A pair of spaced, concentric annular
plates 194 and 196 are connected to the front faces of the rings 156 and
152, respectively, and serve to hold the ball bearings 192 in place in the
annular track. Accordingly, the ring 156 and the linkage arms 108
connected thereto are enabled to rotate about the central axis 25 of the
device 20 at the same time that the sleeve 138 moves the ring 152 along
the central supply tube.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the liquid passing through the central supply
tube (shown diagrammatically by the arrows in FIG. 2) flows through a pair
of opposed openings 198 in the supply tube adjacent its end 200. The end
portion of the supply tube including the openings 198 is disposed within
the central housing 36. The central housing is a hollow structure which
supports the tubular arms 32 and 34 radially outward along axis 37 while
providing liquid from the central supply tube to the arms, irrespective of
whether or not the spray head is rotating.
The housing 36 is of basically rectangular shape and includes a front wall
202 (FIG. 1), a rear wall 204 (FIG. 2), a top wall 206 (FIGS. 2 and 5), a
bottom wall 208 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and a pair of opposed side walls 210 and
212 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The central opening 214 extends through the housing
36 from rear to front thereof and along the central axis 25. A pair of
sleeve bearings 216 and 218 are mounted within the opening 214, with the
bearing 216 being mounted adjacent the rear wall 204 of the housing 36 and
the bearing 218 being mounted spaced from the bearing 216 and adjacent to
the front wall 202 of the housing. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the central
openings in the bearings are aligned and form a passageway through which
the end portion 200 of the supply tube 22 passes. The end portion 200 of
the supply tube is of a reduced wall thickness to provide a shoulder 220
against which the sleeve bearing 218 abuts. The sleeve bearing 218
includes a peripheral flange 222 which is interposed between the shoulder
220 and the rear wall 204 of the housing 36 to hold the bearing in place
longitudinally on the supply tube. The other bearing 216 also includes a
peripheral flange 224 which is interposed between the front wall 202 of
the housing and a circular plate 226.
The plate 226 serves to seal the open end of the supply tube 22 from the
egress of liquid therefrom as the spray head 24 rotates about the central
axis 25. To that end, the plate 226 is connected, via plural bolts 228, to
the open end 230 of the supply tube 22. An O-ring 232 is disposed within a
circular groove on the inside face of the plate 226 and is tightly
interposed between the groove and forward edge of the sleeve bearing 216
to form a water tight seal.
As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the bearings 216 and 218 serve
as the means for enabling the housing 36 to rotate freely about the
stationary supply tube 22.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, the sleeve
bearings are lubricated. To that end, a grease port 233 (FIG. 2) is
provided through wall 202 and in communication with an annular grease
receiving recess 234 in the bearing 218. This construction enables the
ready lubrication of the bearings.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the space between the bearings 216 and 218
forms an annular chamber 236 immediately adjacent to the openings 198 in
the supply tube. To further increase the size of the chamber a wide groove
240 is cut in the periphery of the tube 22 contiguous the openings 198.
The chamber 236 serves to receive the liquid from the supply tube 22
through the openings 198, irrespective of the rotational position of the
housing 36 with respect to the supply tube and to provide the liquid, via
opposed passageways 237 (FIG. 5), to the hollow interior of the respective
tubular arms 32 and 34.
The arms 32 and 34 are mounted on the side faces 210 and 212, respectively,
of the central housing 36 and in communication | | |
