SPRAY BOOM APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CHEMICAL DISPERSANTS TO OCEAN OIL SPILLS

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA self-contained spraying boom apparatus for in-flight adaptationof the aircraft for aerial swath spraying is provided herein. Such novel in-cludes a support frame, and an elongate substantially rigid spray boom carriedby the support frame the boom having a fluid conduit, a plurality of fluiddispensing apertures spaced along the spray boom in fluid communication withthe conduit, with each such aperture being shaped, contoured and dimensionedto spray fluid into the air, and an imaginary longitudinal axis. Anchoringmeans are provided for fixedly detachably securing the support frame in thecargo hold of the aircraft, the anchoring means generally being utilized incombination with cargo securing means normally provided with the aircraft inthe cargo hold such that structural modification of the aircraft is avoidedduring installation of the boom and spray apparatus in the cargo hold. Connectormeans are provided for attaching a source of fluid carried on the aircraft tothe conduit such that fluid from the source can flow into and through the con-duit when desired and be discharged through the apertures in the spray boom.Means are carried by the frame for moving the spray boom between at least twooperative positions after the frame anchoring means has been utilized in com-bination with the cargo securing means to make fast the frame in the cargo hold.Such novel spraying boom apparatus thus provided for in-flight adaptation ofthe aircraft for aerial swath spraying, the boom and nozzel apparatus generallypermitting the aircraft to be modified for aerial spraying be extending a sprayboom while in flight over a designated spraying area so that aerodynamic dragwhich would be caused by having the boom extended during flight to and fromthe designated spraying area is eliminated, eliminating having to structurallymodify the aircraft during installation of the boom and nozzle apparatus, beingquickly and conveniently installed in the cargo hold so the aircraft can berapidly fitted with the apparatus and take flight, being readily removed fromthe aircraft after installation therein and installed in a second transportaircraft, and reducing corrosion of the wings and fuselage of the aircraftwhich occurs when corrosive chemicals are dispensed by the apparatus.