Nozzle for dispensing slurry

Abstract

A nozzle, particularly for dispensing slurry, comprises a substantially tube-shaped body 1 having an inlet 2 at a first end 3 of the body configured to receive the slurry, and an outlet 4 at a second end 5 opposite the first end, configured to dispense the slurry. The body comprises a flexible material which may allow the nozzle to flex to enable large particles present in the slurry to pass through and avoid blocking the nozzle. The body comprises a sheet which, in use, is bent to form the tube shape. The nozzle may contain attachment portions such as flaps 6,7 on opposite sides of the folding axis of the sheet. The flaps may contain apertures 8 through which attachment means are threaded to connect the two flaps and maintain the tube shape. The outlet may comprise a notch such that a downstream end of the outlet is larger than an upstream end.

Description

Field of invention 5 This invention relates to a nozzle for dispensing slurry, in particular a nozzle for dispensing slurry for farming. Background of the invention 10 Slurry is a mixture used in farming as a fertiliser for soil. Slurry is typically held in a tanker and distributed over the farmland in a variety of ways. One way of distributing the slurry is via a dribble bar where a series of outlet hoses are used to dispense the slurry on the soil by trailing them above the ground. In other instances, a trailing shoe is used in which the grass is split aside and the slurry placed in discrete bands directly on the soil. In yet other 15 instances, the slurry can be injected into the soil using a slurry injector which creates grooves in the soil and then dispenses the slurry into these grooves. Typically, the nozzle for dispensing the slurry is in the form of a shoe or boot and is formed from a relatively inflexible material that is moulded to form the required shape, for instance 20 a moulded rubber. A disadvantage of such a nozzle is that it can be prone to blockages, for instance a substance blocking the nozzle and preventing dispersion of the slurry. Another disadvantage of these types of nozzles is that moulded components may be expensive to manufacture. 25 It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved nozzle for dispensing slurry which addresses some of the above mentioned problems of the prior art or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. Summary of the invention 30 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a nozzle for dispensing slurry onto farmland as claimed in claim 1. 35 Preferably, the body comprises two attachment portions on opposite sides of the sheet and in use the two attachment portions are connected to maintain the tube-shape. Preferably, the attachment portions are formed by flaps extending from each of the opposite sides of the sheet. Preferably, each of the attachment portions comprise at least one aperture through which an attachment means may be threaded to connect the two attachment portions. Preferably, the attachment means is adjustable to change the size of the nozzle. Preferably, the inlet opening is substantially circular in shape. Preferably, the outlet opening comprises a v-shaped cut out, such that a downstream end of the outlet opening is larger than an upstream end. As used herein, the term “tube-shaped” is intended to mean shaped like a long hollow cylinder. However, the cross-sectional shape of the tube is not necessarily circular and may be any one of circular, oval, triangular, square, or rectangular. The cross-sectional shape may also vary along the length of the tube. As used herein, the term “flexible” is intended to mean able to bend or be bent easily without breaking. Brief description of the invention The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a nozzle according to a first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a top perspective view of the nozzle of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the nozzle of Figure 1; and Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the nozzle of Figure 1 prior to being assembled. Detailed description of the invention Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a nozzle, generally indicated by arrow 100, for dispensing slurry onto farmland according to an embodiment of the present invention. The nozzle 100 may comprise a body 1 that is substantially tube-shaped. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the body 1 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical tube. The body 1 of the nozzle 100 may comprise a flexible material. This may allow the nozzle 100 to flex or distort its shape if any large particles that may be present in the slurry pass through the nozzle 100. This assists in ensuring that the nozzle 100 doesn't have any blockages or clogs during use. In some examples, the body 1 comprises a rubber material. In other examples, the body 1 comprises a silicone, thermoplastic elastomer or other suitable material. The body 1 of the nozzle 100 may also comprise a relatively elastic material such that it returns to its original shape after any deformation occurs. The body 1 of the nozzle 100 may comprise a sheet which in use is bent to form the tubeshape of the body 1 in use. Figure 4 shows a top view of the sheet prior to being assembled, i.e. bent. In use, the sheet is bent or folded along axis, A. In use, the sheet may also be bent such that it remains symmetrical along a plane along axis, A, and perpendicular to the pre-bent sheet. The nozzle 100 being formed from a planar material bent to shape rather than being three dimensionally moulded may make the nozzle 100 cheaper and easier to manufacture. A plurality of nozzles 100 may be formed by cutting a large planar material to the shape of the nozzles 100, for instance the shape shown in Figure 4. This may be done by waterjet cutting or laser cutting. The nozzle 100 may comprise an inlet opening 2 ata first end 3 of the body 1. The inlet opening 2 may be configured to receive slurry in use. The inlet opening 2 may be substantially circular in shape as shown in the figures, however in other examples the inlet opening 2 may have a different shape for instance oval. The nozzle 100 may also comprise an outlet opening 4 at a second end 5 of the body 1. The outlet opening 4 may be configured to dispense the slurry. The outlet opening 4 may comprise a notch or v-shaped cut out. As shown in Figure 4 when the nozzle is in a unassembled state the v-shaped cut out results in the outlet opening 4 being larger closer to the second end 5. The angle of the v-shaped cut out may also change between the upstream and downstream ends, as shown in Figure 4. The angle of the v-shaped cut out may increase such that the outlet opening 4 has an even bigger increase in a direction towards the second end 5. However, when the nozzle 100 is assembled into the tubeshaped configuration for use, the shape of the outlet opening 4 and the v-shaped cut out results in the downstream end of the outlet opening 4 being narrower than an upstream end, as shown in Figure 2. This may assist in forming a relatively thin line of slurry. In use, the inlet opening 1 may be connected to an outlet hose through which slurry flows through. The slurry flows from the outlet hose into the inlet opening 1 of the nozzle 100 then through the nozzle 100 and exits through the outlet opening 3 onto the farmland. The outlet hose may be connected to an outlet of a macerator. The macerator receives slurry from a slurry tanker or from a drag hose umbilical system. The nozzle 100 forms part of a spreading unit and may be used with any system or device that will provide the spreading unit with a supply of slurry. Typically there will be a plurality of outlet hoses as part of the spreading unit and therefore in use each outlet hose may be provided with a nozzle 100 for dispensing the slurry. The sheet and in particular the first end 3 of the body 1 may be bent to wrap around the outlet hose in use. The first end 3 may be secured to the outlet hose through use of a tie, for instance a cable tie, or an adjustable hose clamp. The same nozzle 100 can therefore be adjusted for use with a variety of outlet hose diameters. The nozzle 100 may also be configured to be trimmed or cut by a user to suit various angles of the outlet hose to the ground. The body 1 may also comprise two attachment portions 6, 7 on opposite sides of the sheet. In use, the two attachment portions 6, 7 are connected to maintain the tube-shape of the body 1, i.e. to hold the sheet in the tube-shape. In alternative forms, instead of the attachment portions 6, 7 a further tie, for instance cable tie or adjustable hose clamp, may be used around the central part of the body to maintain the tube-shape of the body 1. The attachment portions 6, 7 are configured to correspond, i.e. line-up with each other, when the sheet is bent into the tube-shape. Each of the attachment portions 6, 7 may have substantially the same shape and size. The attachment portions 6, 7 may be formed by flaps extending from each of the opposite sides of the sheet as shown in the example of Figures 1 to 4. Each of the attachment portions 6, 7 may comprise at least one aperture 8 through which an attachment means (not shown) may be threaded to connect the two attachment portions 6, 7. In other examples the attachment portions 6, 7 may be connected via another means, for instance a clamp or pin. The attachment portions 6, 7 may comprise apertures 8 which are configured to align when the nozzle 100 is formed into the tube-shape in use. Each pair of apertures 8 may therefore have an attachment means in use. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4 each attachment portion 6, 7 comprises three apertures 8, in other examples each attachment portion 6, 7 may comprise a different number of apertures 8 for instance between 1 and 10. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the apertures 8 are positioned in a line with the first aperture closer to the first end 3 and the last aperture closer to the second end 5. In other examples, there may be more than one line of apertures 8 located on the attachment portions 6, 7 to allow for further adjustability. The apertures 8 shown in Figures 1 to 4 have a circular cross-section. However, in other examples the apertures 8 may have another shaped cross-section for instance, oval, triangular, square or rectangular. The attachment means may be adjustable to change the size of the nozzle 100. The size of the nozzle 100 may be adjusted depending on the slurry condition and the needs or requirements of the farmland. In some examples the attachment means may be in the form of a tie, for example a cable tie. The tie may be loosened or tightened to change the size or diameter of the second end 5 of the nozzle 100. Loosening the tie may increase the distance between the two attachment portions 6, 7 such that the size of the nozzle 100 is increased and the spread of the slurry is wider. Conversely, tightening the tie may decrease the distance between the two attachment portions 6, 7 such that the size of the nozzle 100 is decreased and the spread of the slurry is narrower. In some examples the nozzle 100 size may be adjusted by only attaching some of the apertures 8, for instance by only attaching the upstream aperture(s) 8 that are closer to the first end 3 such that the downstream or second end 5 of the nozzle 100 is not restrained by the attachment means and is therefore larger in size or has a greater diameter. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. 02 04 24

Claims

1. A nozzle for dispensing slurry onto farmland, the nozzle comprising:a body, wherein the body is substantially tube-shaped;an inlet opening at a first end of the body, wherein the inlet opening is configured to receive the slurry; andan outlet opening at a second end of the body opposite the first end, wherein the outlet opening is configured to dispense the slurry;wherein the body comprises a flexible material; andwherein the body comprises a sheet which in use is bent to form the tubeshape.

2. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises two attachment portions on opposite sides of the sheet and wherein in use the two attachment portions are connected to maintain the tube-shape.

3. The nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the attachment portions are formed by flaps extending from each of the opposite sides of the sheet.

4. The nozzle according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein each of the attachment portions comprise at least one aperture through which an attachment means may be threaded to connect the two attachment portions.

5. The nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the attachment means is adjustable to change the size of the nozzle.

6. The nozzle according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the inlet opening is substantially circular in shape.

7. The nozzle according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the outlet opening comprises a v-shaped cut out, such that a downstream end of the outlet opening is larger than an upstream end.

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