System to Apply Mainly Phytosanitary Products that use the Principle of Electrostatic Attraction

Abstract

A system to apply mainly phytosanitary products that use the principle of electrostatic attraction. A high static charge is imprinted on the microdrops in the nozzle with high flows of water using a simple industrial design and very low probabilities of failure. The system is very stable and reliable. An active water provider capillary tube is optionally used in the nozzles (as opposed to a fixed one), which results in a more efficient use of the air to micronize drops. The nozzles can be fixed or dirigible nozzles. A chemical product doser system is optionally used with injection in the nozzle itself.

1 . A high flow electrostatic sprayer comprising:
 a bar tube defining a hollow internal space that is sealed at opposite first and second ends, said bar tube adapted to receive pressurized air from an associated source into said internal space;   a nozzle body connected to said bar tube, said nozzle body electrically connected to said bar tube for receiving a high voltage positive electrical charge from said bar tube, wherein said nozzle body comprises an inlet in communication with the internal space and an outlet located external to said internal space and an internal channel that connects said inlet to said outlet such that pressurized air within said internal space of said bar tube can flow outwardly through said nozzle body;   a water tube located within the internal space of the bar tube and adapted to be connected to an associated source of water, said water tube supported within said internal space of said bar tube by a plurality of internal supports, wherein the water tube comprises an electrical ground path;   a capillary tube in fluid communication with said water tube and also electrically connected to said ground path of said water tube, wherein said capillary tube is located respectively within the internal channel the nozzle body such that liquid ejected by said capillary tube within the internal channel will be micronized into droplets by pressurized air flowing from the inlet of the nozzle to the outlet of the nozzle and said micronized droplets will be ejected from said outlet of said nozzle;   a bar support that is connected to the bar tube but electrically isolated from the bar tube, said bar support adapted for connection to an associated sprayer machine structure, wherein said bar support is electrically connected to said ground path of said water tube to form part of said ground path,   wherein pressurized air from the internal space of the bar tube is discharged to the exterior of the bar tube through the nozzle body that is connected to the high voltage positive electrical charge and said pressurized air flowing through said nozzle body micronizes liquid flowing from the capillary tube located in said internal channel of said nozzle body to form negatively charged micronized liquid droplets that are discharged from said outlet of the nozzle body with said pressurized air.   
     
     
         2 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said capillary tube is fluidically connected to said water tube by an elastic seal such that said capillary tube is adapted to vary its position within said internal channel of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         3 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said nozzle body is part of a nozzle assembly that comprises means for altering said position of said capillary tube within said internal channel of its respective nozzle body. 
     
     
         4 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said capillary tube comprises a magnetic material, and wherein said nozzle body is part of a nozzle assembly that comprises electromagnetic coils that upon energizing attract said magnetic material to influence a position of said capillary tube within said internal channel of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         5 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said bar tube is electrically conductive and comprises an external cover of electrically insulative material. 
     
     
         6 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said bar tube comprises at least one small hole defined therein for evacuation of leaked water from said hollow internal space by force of said pressurized air contained in said internal space. 
     
     
         7 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising at least two of said bar tubes connected in series with each other using a double end cap. 
     
     
         8 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said bar support comprises a cavity or dry labyrinth that acts as an electrical insulator with respect to liquid contacting said bar tube and said bar support to prevent conduction of electricity from said bar tube to the associated spraying machine through said liquid in contact with said bar tube and said bar support. 
     
     
         9 . A high flow electrostatic sprayer comprising:
 a bar comprising a tube defining a hollow internal space that is sealed at opposite first and second ends, said tube adapted to receive pressurized air from an associated source into said internal space;   a nozzle comprising a nozzle body mechanically and electrically connected to said bar for receiving an electrical charge from said bar, wherein said nozzle body comprises an inlet in communication with the internal space and an outlet located external to said internal space and an internal channel that connects said inlet to said outlet such that pressurized air within said internal space can flow outwardly through said nozzle body;   a water collector tube located within the internal space of the bar and adapted to be connected to an associated source of water, said water collector tube connected to said bar by a plurality of internal supports, said water collector tube comprising an electrical ground path;   a capillary tube in fluid communication with said water collector tube and electrically connected to the electrical ground path of said water collector tube, wherein said capillary tube are located within the internal channel of the nozzle body such that liquid ejected by said capillary tube within the internal channel will be micronized into droplets by pressurized air flowing from the inlet of the nozzle body to the outlet of the nozzle body and said micronized droplets will be ejected from said outlet of said nozzle;   a bar support that is connected to the bar but electrically isolated from the bar, said bar support adapted for connection to an associated sprayer machine structure, wherein said fastening support is electrically connected to said electrical ground path of said water collector tube;   a dosing system has for injecting chemical products directly into the nozzle body, said dosing system comprising:   a chemical product conduit located within the internal space of the bar and adapted to be connected to an associated source of chemical product, said chemical product conduit connected to said bar by said one or more internal supports;   a hollow chemical supply needle associated with said nozzle, wherein said chemical supply needle is in fluid communication with said chemical product conduit at a first end and is in fluid communication with said nozzle body at a second end such that associated chemical products are communicated from said chemical product conduit to said nozzle body.   
     
     
         10 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said chemical supply needle is located at least partially within said capillary tube so as to be adapted to supply associated chemicals from said chemical product conduit into said capillary tube. 
     
     
         11 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said chemical supply needle extends through said water collector tube into a respective one said capillary tube. 
     
     
         12 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said nozzle body is mechanically connected to one of said internal supports that connect said water collector tube to said bar, and wherein said nozzle body is mechanically connected to the bar such that said mechanical connection of the nozzle body to the bar mechanically connects said one of said internal supports to said bar. 
     
     
         13 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said nozzle body are defined from stainless steel. 
     
     
         14 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said one of said internal supports comprises internal corners, and wherein holes are formed respectively in said internal corners of said support to increase an isolation surface distance between the water collector tube and the nozzle connected to the internal support thereby minimizing a corona effect. 
     
     
         15 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one electrically conductive filament located between said nozzle body and the internal support to which it is connected, wherein said filament is electrically connected to said bar. 
     
     
         16 . The high flow electrostatic sprayer as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising an external nozzle cap connected to an outer surface of said bar tube adjacent said nozzle, wherein said cap comprises an upper part including a hole aligned with said outlet of said nozzle, said upper part defining an acute angle as the upper part extends toward the bar such that said cap protects said nozzle and is adapted to deflect associated branches away from said nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . A high flow electrostatic sprayer comprising:
 a bar comprising a tube defining a hollow internal space that is sealed at opposite first and second ends, said tube adapted to receive pressurized air from an associated source into said internal space;   a nozzle comprising a body mechanically and electrically connected to said bar for receiving an electrical charge from said bar, wherein said nozzle body comprises an inlet in communication with the internal space and an outlet located external to said internal space and an internal channel that connects said inlet to said outlet such that pressurized air within said internal space can flow outwardly through said nozzle body;   a water tube located within the internal space of the bar and adapted to be connected to an associated source of water, said water tube connected to said bar by a plurality of internal supports, said water tube comprising an electrical ground path;   a capillary tube in fluid communication with said water tube and also electrically connected to the electrical ground path of said water tube, wherein said capillary tube is located within the internal channel of the nozzle body such that liquid ejected by said capillary tube within the internal channel will be micronized into droplets by pressurized air flowing from the inlet of the nozzle body to the outlet of the nozzle body and said micronized droplets will be ejected from said outlet of said nozzle;   a fastening support that is connected to the bar but electrically isolated from the bar, said fastening support adapted for connection to an associated sprayer machine structure, wherein said fastening support is electrically connected to said electrical ground path of said water conduit;   wherein at least one of said opposite first and second ends of said bar comprises an end bar cap connected thereto that seals an open end of said hollow internal space, said high flow electrostatic sprayer nozzle assembly further comprising a dirigible (steerable) nozzle assembly connected to said end bar cap and that is adjustable in position, said dirigible nozzle assembly further comprising a dirigible nozzle body electrically connected to said bar and water supply shaft about which said dirigible nozzle rotates electrically connected to said ground path.   
     
     
         18 . A high flow electrostatic sprayer comprising:
 a bar comprising a stainless steel tube defining a hollow internal space that is sealed at opposite first and second ends, said tube adapted to receive pressurized air from an associated source into said internal space;   a nozzle comprising a body mechanically and electrically connected to said bar for receiving an electrical charge from said bar, wherein nozzle body comprises an inlet in communication with the internal space and an outlet located external to said internal space and an internal channel that connects said inlet to said outlet such that pressurized air within said internal space can flow outwardly through the nozzle body;   a water tube located within the internal space of the bar and adapted to be connected to an associated source of water, said water tube connected to said bar by a plurality of internal supports, said water conduit comprising an electrical ground path;   a capillary tube in fluid communication with said water tube and also electrically connected to the electrical ground path of said water tube, wherein said capillary tube is located within the internal channel of the nozzle body such that liquid ejected by said capillary tube within the internal channel will be micronized into droplets by pressurized air flowing from the inlet of the nozzle body to the outlet of the nozzle body and said micronized droplets will be ejected from said outlet of said nozzle;   a fastening support that is connected to the bar but electrically isolated from the bar, said fastening support adapted for connection to an associated sprayer machine structure, wherein said fastening support is electrically connected to said electrical ground path of said water tube.