THERMAL WEEDERS

Abstract

A diffuser for a thermal weeder is capable of producing a jet of hot air along an axis. The diffuser includes at least one deflector arranged across the hot air jet axis, so as to deflect hot air radially.

Claims

1. A diffuser for a thermal weeder which is capable of producing a jet of hot air along an axis, wherein the diffuser comprises at least one deflector arranged across the hot air jet axis, so as to deflect hot air radially.

2. A diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises at least one wall disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis.

3. A diffuser according to claim 1 wherein the deflector is circularly symmetric about the axis.

4. A diffuser according to claim 1, further comprising a shield comprising a first opening adapted to allow ingress of air from the weeder to the inside of the shield and a second opening adapted to allow application of said air to an area to be treated, said shield surrounding the deflector.

5. A diffuser according to claim 4 in which the deflector is carried on the shield such that if the shield is removed from the weeder the deflector is also removed from the weeder.

6. A diffuser according to claim 5 in which the deflector and at least part of the shield are formed of one piece of material.

7. A diffuser according to claim 5 in which the deflector is mounted on the shield.

8. A diffuser according to claim 1, further comprising a bell substantially closed to the exclusion of a first opening adapted to allow ingress of air from the weeder to the inside of the bell and a second opening adapted to allow application of said air to an area to be treated, said bell surrounding the deflector.

9. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the second opening has a surface area of at least 50 cm.sup.2.

10. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the first opening has a shape adapted to allow a removable assembly on a mouth of a weeder, preferably without tools.

11. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the second opening has a periphery lying in a plane, so that the periphery can be placed on the ground or another flat surface.

12. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the second opening has a periphery comprising at least one rectilinear segment.

13. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the second opening has a periphery comprising at least two rectilinear segments having between them an angle at most equal to 90.

14. A diffuser according to claim 4, wherein an axis of the first opening is not parallel to an axis of the second opening.

15. A diffuser according to claim 4 in which the shield has at least one exit opening, is at least one third opening, defined in a wall of the shield for allowing exit of air from the interior of the shield after application to the area to be treated.

16. A diffuser according to claim 15 in which shape and dimensions of the deflector and the location and dimensions of the at least one exit opening are selected to provide, in use, a desired temperature distribution, say an even temperature distribution, across the area to be treated.

17. A diffuser according to claim 1 in which the deflector has at least one aperture for allowing air from a weeder therethrough.

18. A diffuser according to claim 17 in which the at least one aperture is provided towards the centre of the deflector.

19. A diffuser for a thermal weeder, comprising a hollow body substantially closed to the exclusion of a first opening adapted to allow an air inlet from the weeder to inside the diffuser, a second opening capable of allowing the diffuser to be applied to an area to be treated and a third opening able to allow egress of air to the outside of the diffuser, the diffuser further comprises a limiting means capable of limiting the cooling of the air.

20. A diffuser according to claim 15 wherein the diffuser further comprises a limiting means capable of limiting the cooling of air inside the shield.

21. A diffuser according to claim 19, wherein the limiting means comprises a thermal insulator.

22. A diffuser according to claim 19, wherein the limiter means comprises at least one inner wall and at least one outer wall substantially parallel to each other.

23. A diffuser according to claim 19, wherein the limiting means further comprise features to induce an elongated circulation of the air in the diffuser.

24. A diffuser according to claim 23, wherein the body or shield comprises at least one inner wall and at least one outer wall substantially parallel to each other, and the third opening comprises at least an inner orifice pierced in the inner wall, at least one outer orifice pierced in the outer wall and at least one elongated circulation passage connecting the at least one inner orifice with said at least one outer port.

25. A diffuser according to claim 19, wherein a grid is provided at the second opening.

26. A diffuser according to claim 25, wherein the grid is recessed towards the inside of the diffuser.

27. A diffuser according to claim 26, wherein the grid comprises at least one substantially tubular protuberance extending towards the second opening.

28. A weeder assembly comprising a weeder and a diffuser according to claim 1, the weeder being preferably of the electric type.

29. A method of manufacturing a diffuser for a thermal weeder which is capable of producing a jet of hot air along an axis, the diffuser comprising at least one deflector arranged across the hot air jet axis, so as to deflect hot air radially and a shield comprising a first opening adapted to allow ingress of air from the weeder to the inside of the shield and a second opening adapted to allow application of said air to an area to be treated, said shield surrounding the deflector and the method comprising the steps of: selecting the shape and dimensions of the deflector to provide, in use, a desired temperature distribution, say an even temperature distribution, across the area to be treated.

30. A method according to claim 29 in which the shield has at least one exit opening defined in a wall of the shield for allowing exit of air from the interior of the shield after application to the area to be treated and the method comprises the step of selecting the location and dimensions of the at least one exit opening in combination with the shape and dimensions of the deflector to provide, in use, a desired temperature distribution, say an even temperature distribution, across the area to be treated.

31. A diffuser according to claim 20, wherein the limiting means comprises a thermal insulator.

32. A diffuser according to claim 20, wherein the body or shield comprises at least one inner wall and at least one outer wall substantially parallel to each other, and the third opening comprises at least an inner orifice pierced in the inner wall, at least one outer orifice pierced in the outer wall and at least one elongated circulation passage connecting the at least one inner orifice with said at least one outer port.

33. A diffuser according to claim 20, wherein a grid is provided at the second opening.

Description

[0069] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which:

[0070] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrates a weeder according to the prior art;

[0071] FIG. 2 illustrates a weeder embodying to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a diffuser;

[0073] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a diffuser;

[0074] FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a diffuser;

[0075] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment with a bell completing the diffuser;

[0076] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment with a diffuser detached from the end of the weeder;

[0077] FIGS. 8a and 8b show the embodiment of FIG. 7 but with the diffuser mounted on the remainder of the weeder;

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a section on line IX-IX of the weeder assembly shown in FIG. 8b.

[0079] FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate two embodiments of a weeder embodying to the invention; and

[0080] FIGS. 11-14 illustrate, in profile cutaway, a diffuser according to different embodiments.

[0081] As illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, show a thermal weeder 1 which produces hot air. Most often, according to an economical embodiment, the weeders make use of parts of existing hot air generators such as: blowtorches or heat scrapers. By their initial function, these generators produce hot air jets in a narrow plume and they do not have a diffuser 2 as shown in FIG. 1b, or have only a narrow diffuser as shown in FIG. 1a.

[0082] This does not prove the most effective in terms of weed control performance because of the low surface area treated surface.

[0083] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a thermal weeder 1 is advantageously equipped, at its hot air outlet mouth, with a diffuser 2. This diffuser 2 advantageously comprises at least one deflector 6 disposed across the jet of hot air, so as to deflect the hot air radially. Thus, the jet of hot air, which initially, in the absence of diffuser 2, was narrow and substantially aligned along an axis 3, is deflected by said at least one deflector 6 radially and is thus widened. The jet of hot air thus expanded can cover a larger area to be treated. The deflector 6 can have any shape. FIG. 3 illustrates a deflector 6 which is substantially conical.

[0084] Advantageously, in order to obtain an optimized deflection of the air jet, the deflector 6 comprises at least one wall 7 disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis 3. Thus the jet of hot air meets the wall 7 which deflects it radially. The wall 7 may have any shape. FIGS. 3, 4, 5 illustrate various embodiments.

[0085] According to what can be an advantageous characteristic, the deflector 6, and particularly the wall 7, are circularly symmetric. Thus, in such a case, the air jet is deflected radially and angularly substantially equally distributed all around the axis 3.

[0086] According to another characteristic, more particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, the diffuser 2 further comprises a shield which can be termed a bell 8. This bell 8 is substantially closed, to the exclusion of a first opening 4 capable of allowing an inlet of air coming from the weeder 1 towards the interior of the bell 8 and a second opening 5 adapted to allow application of the heated air to an area to be treated. According to what can be an advantageous characteristic, said bell 8 surrounds the deflector 6. Thus combined with the deflector 6, the bell makes it possible to contain and to fold the air guiding it towards the second opening and thus towards the area to be treated. The combination of the bell 8 and the deflector 6 makes it possible to significantly increase the area of the zone to be treated.

[0087] Thus, contrary to the weeders of the prior art in which the effective treatment area did not exceed 5 cm.sup.2, it is possible to realize a weeder 1 where the diffuser 2 has a second opening 5 with a surface at least equal to 50 cm.sup.2. This represents a productivity gain of a factor of 10.

[0088] Advantageously, the first opening 4 has a shape adapted to allow a dismountable mounting on an air outlet mouth of the weeder 1, preferably without tools. This can be achieved by any known means, such as the techniques used to mount/dismount a diffuser on a heat gun or a scraper on a torch. Thus the diffuser 2 can be mounted and/or removed from the weeder 1. The first opening 4the weeder receiving openinghas an axis 14 that is parallel to the axis of the air jet of the weeder 1.

[0089] The second opening 5 is intended to be applied to the area to be treated, usually the ground. Also advantageously the second opening 5 has a planar contour (or a periphery that lies in a plane), so that it can be placed on the ground according to a laying plane 13. The bell 8 can thus be placed on the ground defining a treatment area. If the ground is substantially flat, the ground closes, substantially in a sealed manner, the bell 8 of the diffuser 2.

[0090] According to another characteristic, the second opening 5 has a contour or periphery comprising at least one rectilinear segment. This facilitates the treatment at a rectilinear border, allowing the diffuser 2 to be put closer to said border.

[0091] According to another characteristic, the second opening 5 has a contour or periphery comprising at least two rectilinear segments having between them an angle at most equal to 90. This facilitates the treatment of a re-entrant corner between two rectilinear edges, allowing the diffuser 2 to be placed as close as possible to said corner.

[0092] It should be noted that the rectilinear segment may or may not form one of the two rectilinear segments. Thus the second opening 5 may, for example, have a triangular shape or a substantially rectangular one.

[0093] According to another characteristic, the axis 14 of the first opening 4, which is substantially aligned with the axis of the weeder 1, is not parallel to the axis 15 of the second opening 5. This means that the axis 14 of the weeder is not parallel to the axis 15 of the second opening. This allows easier handling of weeder 1 where its axis is not perpendicular to the plane 13 of the surface being treated.

[0094] The diffuser 2 can be made of any material. Given the temperatures used, preferably approaching or above say 500 C., preference is for use of metallic materials, particularly: steel, stainless steel, and aluminium but in some cases use of other materials might be desirable, say carbon fibre, reinforced plastic, composite materials etc.

[0095] The invention may be embodied in a diffuser or a thermal weeder 1 equipped with such a diffuser. The present ideas are particularly suitable for use with a thermal weeder 1 of the electric type.

[0096] The weeder assembly shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is similar to those described above, again there is a weeder 1 to which is mounted a diffuser 2. However, in the present embodiment the deflector 6 is carried by the shield or bell 8 of the diffuser 2.

[0097] In contrast, in the embodiments described above, as can be seen most clearly by considering, for example, FIG. 6 the deflector 6 is mounted on the end of the weeder 1 and the shield/bell 8 is mounted separately over the component of which the deflector 6 forms a part. This might be achieved for example by the shield/bell being a one piece component with the deflector 6 part of the same piece of material as the remainder of the shield/bell 8as such there may be a single continuous piece of material forming the shield/bell 8 and the deflector 6. Alternatively, the deflector 6 may be mounted to the shield/bell 8 and preferably fixedly mounted thereto so as to resist and movement between the shield/bell 8 and the deflector 6.

[0098] This means that with the arrangement shown in, for example, FIG. 6 above the shield/bell 8 may be removed whilst leaving the deflector 6 in place on the end of the weeder 1.

[0099] It has been found that this can be potentially dangerous since it means that with the deflector 6 in place, hot air will be projected radially out of the end of the weeder if it is operated and this might harm a user.

[0100] It has been realised that this issue can be avoided by ensuring the deflector 6 is carried by the shield/bell 8 such that if the shield/bell 8 is removed from the outlet end of the weeder 1, the deflector 6 is also so removed. In such a case once the shield/bell 8 and deflector 6 are removed, the weeder 1 will operate by outputting only an axial narrow jet of hot air.

[0101] This arrangement also means that the deflector 6 and shield/bell 8 can be designed together for optimal performance and removed and replaced as a unit. This in turn can allow different diffusers 2, of different sizes and shapes, to be used on one weeder 1 and each arranged for optimal performance.

[0102] In the present embodiment the deflector 6 comprises a generally circular deflecting disc 61 and at least one, in this case a plurality of, supporting legs 62 which have a first end connected to the deflecting disc 61 and a second end fixed to the field/bell 8. In the present embodiment the deflecting disc 61 and legs 62 are of a single piece of material and may, for example, be punched out of sheet metal. Further in the present embodiment the ends of the legs 62 are spot welded to the shield/bell 8. As will be appreciated other fixing methods may be usedsuch as the use of mechanical fastening means such as rivets or screws/bolts, or the use of adhesives including glues and/or tapes

[0103] In the present embodiment there are four supporting legs 62 although of course other numbers might be used. In the present embodiment a central aperture 63 is defined in the deflector disc 6 which is arranged to allow hot air from the weeder 1 outlet to pass through the deflector disc 61. The provision of the aperture 63 can help ensure that an even temperature distribution is obtained and in particular cold spots are not found in regions shielded by the deflector plate 61say central regions.

[0104] The shield/bell 8 has four exit holes 81 (all of which may be seen in FIG. 8a). The dimensions and location of these exit apertures 81 as well as the dimensions and shape of the deflector 6 in particular the deflection disc 61 are selected in order to give a desired heat distribution across the area that may be treated by the weeder assemblythat is the area defined by the second opening 5.

[0105] In the present case it can be noted that the shield/bell 8 has a generally oblong shape and the exit holes 81 are provided towards the ends of the shield/bell 8 which are furthest from the axis 3 of the hot air jet, or to put this in another way furthest from the opening 4 receiving the outlet end of the weeder 1 and similarly furthest from a midpoint of the deflector 6. This tends to encourage the flow of air from the inlet 4 to the exit openings 81 such as to ensure that these regions further from the inlet experience a greater airflow and hence tend to reach a temperature which is similar to that reached at other regions of the second opening 5.

[0106] As illustrated in FIG. 9 the nozzle 11 of the weeder 1 and a mounting collar 82 of the shield/bell 8 are provided with complimentary engaging portions to provide a bayonet type fit between the shield/bell 8 (in particular the mounting collar 82) and the weeder 1 (in particular the end of the nozzle 11). It has been found desirable to capture the shield/bell 8 on the end of the weeder 1 to avoid differences in thermal expansion and/or physical knocks to the shield/bell 8 from causing the shield/bell 8 from being accidentally removed from the end of the weeder 1. Other mechanisms, besides bayonet fittings, might be used for capturing the shield/bell 8 on the end of the weedersay a screw fit, or one or more retaining clip and if desired a simple non-capturing push fit could be used.

[0107] The diffuser can be made of any material. Given the temperatures used, say up to or greater than 500 C., preference is given to metal materials, and particularly: steel, stainless steel, and aluminium, but in some cases use of other materials might be desirable, say carbon fibre, reinforced plastic, composite materials etc.

[0108] It might be noted that in this embodiment a deflector of some kind is provided inside the end of the nozzle 11 of the weeder 1. This is designed to cooperate with other features at the end of the nozzle 11 to produce the jet of air proceeding in an axial direction from the nozzle. These parts are distinct from the diffuser 2 and in particular distinct from the deflector 6 provided as part of the diffuser 2.

[0109] Below are described further embodiments of weeder assemblies and diffusers. The ideas below may be used in conjunction with any of the ideas/embodiments described above or separately therefrom.

[0110] Again a thermal weeder 1 as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b produces hot air and at the outlet mouth for this hot air, is disposed a diffuser 2, for applying said hot air to an area to be treated. This diffuser 2 comprises a hollow body 103. This body 103 corresponds to the shield/bell 8 in the embodiments described above. This body 103 is substantially closed to the exclusion of three openings 4-6. A first opening 4 is shaped to fit and allow the mounting of the diffuser 2 on the outlet mouth of the weeder 1. This assembly is substantially airtight. Although not mentioned above these features are also present in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 9. The first opening 4 thus allows the air produced by the weeder 1 to enter the interior of the diffuser 2. A second opening 5 allows application of the diffuser 2 and therefore hot air on an area to be treated. At least a third opening 106 allows the air out of the diffuser 2. In order to maintain the temperature of the hot air during use, the diffuser 2 further comprises a limiting means capable of limiting the cooling of the air.

[0111] Since this limiting means limits the cooling of the air, it can make it possible to increase the size of the diffuser 2 and particularly of its second opening 5 which determines the size of the treatable area.

[0112] According to a first characteristic, the limiting means comprises a thermal insulator 107. Such a thermal insulator 107 can be constituent of all or part of the body 103, arranged on the wall of the body 3 of the diffuser 2, over all or part of its inner face and/or its outer face. This insulator 107 can be of any type.

[0113] According to another characteristic, the limiter means comprises at least one inner wall 108 and at least one outer wall 109 substantially parallel to each other. Such an arrangement of the body 103 comprising at least two walls can have many advantages with regard to the problems under consideration.

[0114] According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the space between the two walls 108, 109 contains air and thus forms an insulator which limits the cooling of the air. According to another embodiment, the space between the two walls 108, 109 is advantageously used to house an insulator 107, such as for example a foam-type insulator or a metal straw type.

[0115] According to another characteristic, the limitation is obtained by forcing the air to lengthen its circulation 10 in the diffuser 2. Circulation 10 can be performed in different ways and force the air to circulate longer in the chamber formed by the diffuser 2 or in the thickness of the diffuser 2.

[0116] Thus, according to another embodiment, more particularly illustrated in FIG. 12, the body 103 comprises at least one inner wall 108 and at least one outer wall 109 substantially parallel to each other. According to an advantageous characteristic, the third opening 106, which allows the exit of the air to the outside, is decomposed into at least one inner orifice 61 pierced in the inner wall 108 and at least one outer orifice 62 pierced in the outer wall 109. Said at least one inner orifice 61 is disposed relative to said at least one outer orifice 62 so as to form, between the two walls 108, 109, at least one elongated circulation 10 that is as long as possible. Thus the air during its outward exit is forced to linger in the thickness between the walls 108, 109 which on the one hand retards its cooling and on the other hand tends to heat the walls 108, 109, further reducing the cooling of the air contained in the diffuser 2.

[0117] Another way to limit the cooling of the air is to promote its circulation by freeing a portion of the volume enveloped by the diffuser 2. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, to prevent the plants from occupying all the space enveloped by the diffuser 2 which may prevent a good flow of air in the diffuser 2, the second opening 5 may be closed by a grid 11. This grid 11 is able to rest on and to press the plants against the ground, preventing them from filling the entire interior volume of the diffuser 2. This promotes a better air circulation within the remaining volume, above the grid 11.

[0118] In order to leave a volume for the plants, without squeezing them too strongly, which would hinder the flow of air between the plants necessary to obtain the weeding effect, the grid 11 is advantageously withdrawn or recessed within the inside of the diffuser 2.

[0119] According to another characteristic, more particularly illustrated in FIG. 14, the grid 11 may comprise at least one substantially tubular protuberance 12 extending towards the second opening 5. The purpose of this at least one tubular protuberance 12 is to provide a guide for the hot air to the heart of the plants, already pressed by the grid 11. These protuberances 12 typically start from the grid 11 and extend towards the plane 13 on which the diffuser 2 will lay in use. Advantageously their length is such that they do not reach said plane 13.

[0120] The previously described features can be combined with one another to improve the limitation of cooling.

[0121] By limiting the cooling of the air, an increase in the size of the diffuser 2 is facilitated while maintaining a temperature sufficient to effectively weed. Also, it can be possible in some cases to exceed the limit of the prior art and to achieve a diffuser 2 whose surface of the second opening is at least equal to 50 cm.sup.2.

[0122] According to another characteristic, the first opening 4 has a shape capable of allowing a dismountable assembly on a mouth of a weeder 1, preferably without tools. This is achieved by any known means, such as the techniques used to mount/dismount a diffuser on a heat gun.

[0123] According to another characteristic, the second opening 5 has a plane outlinea periphery that lies in a plane. Thus the diffuser 2 can be placed on the ground thus delimiting an area to be treated. If the ground is substantially flat, the ground closes, substantially tightly, the diffuser chamber 2. This allows the definition of a laying plane 13, which merges advantageously with the ground.

[0124] According to another characteristic, the second opening 5 has a contour (or periphery) comprising at least one rectilinear segment. This facilitates the treatment of a rectilinear border, allowing the diffuser 2 to be put closer to said border. This is illustrated in FIGS. 10a, 10b.

[0125] According to another characteristic, the second opening 5 has a contour (or periphery) comprising at least two rectilinear segments having between them an angle at most equal to 90. This facilitates the treatment of a re-entrant corner between two rectilinear edges, allowing the diffuser 2 to be placed as close as possible to said corner. This is illustrated in FIGS. 10a and 10b.

[0126] It should be noted that the rectilinear segment may or may not be one of the two rectilinear segments. Thus the second opening may have, for example, a triangular shapesee FIG. 10b, or a substantially rectangular shapesee FIG. 10a.

[0127] According to another characteristic, the axis 14 of the first opening 4 which is substantially aligned with the axis of the weeder, is not parallel to the axis 15 of the second opening 5. This allows the axis 14 of the weeder to not be parallel to the axis 15 of the second opening. This allows easy handling of the weeder where its axis 14 is not perpendicular to the laying plane 13.

[0128] The diffuser can be made of any material. Given the temperatures used, say up to or greater than 500 C., preference is given to metal materials, and particularly: steel, stainless steel, and aluminium but in some cases use of other materials might be desirable, say carbon fibre, reinforced plastic, composite materials etc.

[0129] As above these ideas may be embodied in a diffuser or a thermal weeder 1 equipped with such a diffuser. The ideas are particularly suitable for use with a thermal weeder 1 of the electric type.