Extended-range spray applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016332174-A1
Application number	US-201615154082-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An extended-range spray applicator comprising:
(a) an air supply means, for providing a flow of air through the spray applicator; wherein the air supply means is configured to connect to (b) a head assembly, configured to attach to the air supply means; wherein the assembly comprises:
(i) an air supply means adaptor, for connecting the head assembly to the air supply means;
(ii) at least one air guide shroud, to guide the flow of air coming from the air supply means;
(iii) a liquid atomizer means, for transforming liquid into sub-millimeter-sized droplets; wherein the atomizer is situated centrally within the shroud;
(iv) a mounting means, for attaching the atomizer to the head assembly;
(v) a motor, mechanically connected to the atomizer; and optionally
(vi) a battery receptacle, for holding a battery, which is electrically connected to the motor.

2 . The spray applicator of claim 1 , wherein the head assembly, already equipped with a primary shroud, is configured to reversibly attach to a secondary shroud.

3 . The spray applicator of claim 2 , wherein the mounting means are extenders, and wherein both shrouds comprise slots through which the extenders pass.

4 . The spray applicator of claim 3 , wherein the atomizer is fixedly connected to the extenders.

5 . The spray applicator of claim 3 , wherein the atomizer is adjustably connected to the extenders, such that a user may direct the atomizer upward or downward, with respect to the direction of air flow.

6 . The spray applicator of claim 5 , wherein the adjustable connection also allows the user to position the atomizer laterally, such that it is either nearer to, or farther from, the air supply means.

7 . The spray applicator of claim 2 , wherein both the primary and secondary shrouds comprise a plurality of spacers, which are configured to allow the shrouds to be reversibly connected to one another.

8 . The spray applicator of claim 7 , wherein each shroud comprises 4 spacers.

9 . The spray applicator of claim 1 , wherein the air supply means adapter is cylindrical and comprises a means for lockably attaching the head assembly to the air supply portion of the spray applicator.

10 . The spray applicator of claim 2 , wherein the air supply means adapter is cylindrical and comprises a means for lockably attaching the head assembly to the air supply portion of the spray applicator.

11 . The spray applicator of claim 2 , comprising a battery housing, situated atop the head assembly, and configured to receive and house a rechargeable battery, which supplies electricity to the atomizer motor.

12 . The spray applicator of claim 2 , wherein the atomizing means is a rotary disc atomizer, which is mechanically connected to a disc atomizer motor, which is housed within a motor housing, which is fixedly connected to a disc atomizer assembly frame.

13 . A head assembly, for use with the spray applicator of claim 1 or 2 , comprising:
(a) an air supply means adaptor, for connecting the head assembly to the air supply means;
(b) at least one air guide shroud, to guide the flow of air coming from the air supply means;
(c) a rotary disc atomizer, for transforming liquid into sub-millimeter-sized droplets;
wherein the atomizer is situated centrally within the shrouds;
(d) at least two extenders, for attaching the atomizer to the head assembly;
(e) a motor, mechanically connected to the atomizer; and
(f) a battery receptacle, for holding a battery, which is electrically connected to the motor.

14 . The head assembly of claim 13 , comprising a primary and secondary shroud, each comprising a slot through which the extenders pass, and wherein the secondary shroud has a conical angle of about 30°.

15 . The head assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least one shroud is characterized by having at least three diameters, D 1 , D 2 and D 3 , and at least two angles, A 1 and A 2 .

16 . The head assembly of claim 15 , wherein D 1 is at least about 30% to about 50% smaller than D 2 ; and wherein D 2 is about equal to or is about 10% smaller than D 3 .

17 . The head assembly of claim 16 , wherein A 1 is between about 90° and about 145°; and wherein A 2 is between about 130° and 160°.

18 . A method of vaccinating avian animals against respiratory pathogens, from at least about 5 or at least about 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 extended-range spray applicator of claim 1 or 2 , thereby vaccinating said avian animal.

19 . The method of claim 18 , 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.

20 . 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 or 2 , 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.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the probiotic formulation is a liquid or liquid-like gel.

22 . The method of claim 20 , 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.

Assignees

• Merial Inc

Inventors

• Leslie Christopher Davis
• Porcher Ludovic

Classifications

• B05B9/08

  Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type ({B05B9/0426, B05B11/00 take precedence } ; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00) · CPC title

• B05B3/10

  discharging over substantially the whole periphery of the rotating member {(B05B3/082 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B05B3/1092

  Means for supplying shaping gas · CPC title

• C12N2770/20034

  Use of virus or viral component as vaccine, e.g. live-attenuated or inactivated virus, VLP, viral protein · CPC title

• A61K39/17

  Newcastle disease virus · CPC title