Extended-range spray applicator

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an extended-range spray applicator, and methods of making and use thereof, for dosing vaccines and/or probiotics to avian animals at a distance.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A spray applicator comprising an air supply, a shroud mounted on and in fluid communication with the air supply, and a liquid atomizer mounted on the air supply and a secondary shroud detachably positioned between the shroud and the liquid atomizer and wherein the liquid atomizer is laterally adjustable with respect to the air supply. 
     
     
         2 . The spray applicator of  claim 1  wherein the atomizer is positioned to engage an air stream emanating from the air supply and guided by the shroud and the secondary shroud. 
     
     
         3 . The spray applicator according to  claim 1  wherein one or more spacers is positioned between the shroud and the secondary shroud. 
     
     
         4 . The spray applicator of  claim 1  wherein the atomizer is a rotary disk atomizer. 
     
     
         5 . The spray applicator of  claim 1  wherein the shroud defines a truncated conical section. 
     
     
         6 . The spray applicator of  claim 1  wherein the secondary shroud defines a second truncated conical section. 
     
     
         7 . The spray applicator of  claim 5  wherein the conical section has a conical angle of from about 130 degrees to about 160 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The spray applicator of  claim 6  wherein the second conical section has a second conical angle of from about 130 degrees to about 160 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The spray applicator of  claim 5  wherein the truncated conical section defines a first disk of diameter D 1  and a second disk of D 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The spray applicator of  claim 9  wherein D 1  is about 30% to about 50% smaller than D 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The spray applicator of  claim 6  wherein the second truncated conical section defines a third disk of diameter D 1 ′ and a fourth disk of D 2 ′. 
     
     
         12 . The spray applicator of  claim 11  wherein D 1 ′ is about 30% to about 50% smaller than D 2 ′. 
     
     
         13 . A method of vaccinating avian animals against respiratory pathogens, from at least 5 or at least 10 meters away, comprising the step of administering to said avian animals an effective amount of at least one respiratory antigen, carried in the form of uniformly-sized droplets, having diameters of from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, using the spray applicator of  claim 1 , thereby vaccinating said avian animals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein 10,000 avian animals are vaccinated and/or administered probiotics to in less than about 20 minutes, and/or wherein about 5 L to about 10 L of vaccine is delivered within about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating birds with a probiotic formulation by dispersing the probiotic formulation in the form of uniformly-sized droplets, having diameters of from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, from a spray applicator of  claim 1  wherein the birds being treated are at least about 5 to at least about 10 meters away from the spray applicator; and allowing the birds to consume the droplets. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the probiotic formulation is a liquid or liquid-like gel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein 10,000 birds are treated in less than about 20 minutes, and/or wherein about 5 L to about 10 L of probiotic formulation is delivered within about 20 minutes.