Air aspiration device

• US 9,140,398 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies LLC (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Lang, John, Mohr, Mark, Jaedike, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinidad-Borges, Josephine
• Application Number:
  US13/079,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 239159-170, 137/888, 285197-199, 285/252, 285/253, 285/420
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1645 the outlets being rotated during selection
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/03 placed in the socket before connection F16L21/022, F16L21/025 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1108 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6851 With casing, support, protector or static constructional installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe containing a solution that is to be delivered to a nozzle body. The air aspiration device can include an air port in fluid communication with the air and the solution, an exit port, and a passageway in fluid communication with the air port and the exit port. The air aspiration device can also include a main body and a female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe.

Claims

1. An air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the air aspiration device comprising:

a main body that engages the pipe;

a female pipe fitting coupled to the main body, the female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe and engaging the feed spigot;

an air port positioned asymmetrically toward a top portion of the main body and the pipe in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the solution and the air;

a passageway through the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port, the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot;

and

an exit port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exit port.

2. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the main body is integral with the female pipe fitting.

3. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the passageway alters the direction of the solution and the air between the air port and the exit port.

4. The air aspiration device of claim 3, wherein the passageway forms a right angle between the air port and the exit port.

5. The air aspiration device of claim 1, and further comprising a drain passage in fluid communication with the solution in the pipe and in fluid communication with the passageway, the drain passage being located below the air port.

6. The air aspiration device of claim 5, wherein the drain passage is sized so that a majority of the solution and the air enter the passageway at the air port.

7. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the air aspiration device engages an interior surface of the pipe.

8. The air aspiration device of claim 7, wherein the exterior surface is on the female pipe fitting.

9. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the female pipe fitting is removable from the main body.

10. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the female pipe fitting includes a hose barb connection.

11. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the female pipe fitting includes a slot that receives a clip in order to retain the female pipe fitting.

12. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the air aspiration device engages an exterior surface of the pipe.

13. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a recessed portion, a first shoulder, and a second shoulder, the first shoulder being on an opposite side of the recessed portion from the second shoulder.

14. The air aspiration device of claim 13, wherein the recessed portion includes a first aperture and the pipe includes a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture receiving a first button of a removable clamp to maintain an angular relationship between the air aspiration device and the pipe.

15. The air aspiration device of claim 14, wherein the recessed portion includes a third aperture and the pipe includes a fourth aperture, the third aperture and the fourth aperture receiving a second button of the removable clamp to further maintain the angular relationship between the air aspiration device and the pipe.

16. The air aspiration device of claim 14, wherein the first shoulder engages a first side of the removable clamp and the second shoulder engages a second side of the removable clamp.

17. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the main body further includes an integral clamp with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface engaging an outer surface of the pipe.

18. The air aspiration device of claim 17, wherein the interior surface includes a button and the pipe includes an aperture, the button received by the aperture when the air aspiration device is clamped to the pipe in order to maintain an angular orientation between the air aspiration device and the pipe.

19. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the pipe is an agricultural boom.

20. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the solution is an agricultural chemical.

21. The air aspiration device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body receives at least three spray nozzles.

22. An air aspirator assembly to release air trapped in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the pipe including an aperture, the assembly comprising:

a main body that engages the pipe;

a female pipe fitting that engages the feed spigot, the female pipe fitting including an air port, a passageway, and an exit port,

the air port in fluid communication with the solution and the air,

the passageway in fluid communication with the air port, the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot,

the exit port in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exit port; and

a clamp including a body portion having an internal surface with a button, the button engaging the aperture in the pipe in order to maintain an angular orientation between the main body and the pipe.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the clamp is integral with the main body.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the female pipe fitting forms an end cap for one end of the pipe.

25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the main body includes a second aperture and the clamp is removable from the main body, the button engaging the second aperture in addition to the aperture in the pipe in order to maintain the angular orientation between the main body and the pipe.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the main body includes a recessed portion, a first shoulder, and a second shoulder, the first shoulder being on an opposite side of the recessed portion from the second shoulder.

27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the first shoulder engages a first side of the clamp and the second shoulder engages a second side of the clamp.

28. The assembly of claim 22, and further comprising a gasket engaging the button to create a seal between the button and the aperture.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the internal surface of the clamp includes a second button, the main body includes a third aperture and the pipe includes a fourth aperture, the second button engaging the third aperture and the fourth aperture to further maintain the angular orientation between the main body and the pipe.

30. The assembly of claim 29, and further comprising a second gasket engaging the second button to create a seal between the second button and the third aperture and the fourth aperture.

31. An air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the air aspiration device comprising:

a main body that engages the pipe;

a female pipe fitting coupled to the main body, the female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe and engaging the feed spigot;

an air port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the solution and the air;

a passageway through the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port, the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot;

an exit port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exit port; and

a drain passage in fluid communication with the solution in the pipe and in fluid communication with the passageway, the drain passage being located below the air port.

32. The air aspiration device of claim 31, wherein the drain passage is sized so that a majority of the solution and the air enter the passageway at the air port.

33. An air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the air aspiration device comprising:

a main body that engages the pipe;

a female pipe fitting coupled to the main body, the female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe and engaging the feed spigot;

an air port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the solution and the air;

a passageway through the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port, the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot; and

an exit port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exit port;

wherein the female pipe fitting includes a slot that receives a clip in order to retain the female pipe fitting.

34. An air aspiration device to release trapped air in a pipe when delivering a solution to a nozzle body, the nozzle body including a feed spigot, the air aspiration device comprising:

a main body that engages the pipe;

a female pipe fitting coupled to the main body, the female pipe fitting forming an end cap for one end of the pipe and engaging the feed spigot;

an air port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the solution and the air;

a passageway through the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the air port, the passageway delivering both the solution and the air to the feed spigot;

an exit port in the female pipe fitting that is in fluid communication with the passageway, the feed spigot engaging the exit port; and

wherein the main body includes a recessed portion, a first shoulder, and a second shoulder, the first shoulder being on an opposite side of the recessed portion from the second shoulder.