Abstract: A value device for connecting a container filled with a flowable material to an applicator device for dispensing the flowable material comprises a unitary, essentially cup-shaped housing 1 having an axially extending flow passage 9 in the base thereof. A valve seat 50 is formed around the inner end of the flow passage 9, radially inwardly of the axially extending wall 8 of the housing 1. A unitary, essentially cylindrical valve member 2 is received in the open end of the cup-shaped housing 1. This has an axially extending flow passage 16 therein in axial alignment with the flow passage 9 in the up-shaped housing 2. A valve disc 14 is positioned over the inner end of the flow passage 16, but spaced therefrom. The valve member 2 is axially displaceable relative to the housing 1 upon rotational movement of the housing 1 so as to effect engagement of the valve disc 14 with the valve seat 50 to close the flow passage 9 in the housing 1 and disengagement to open the flow passage 9 in the housing 1.

Abstract: A manual applicator, for dispensing liquid agricultural chemicals, comprises a reservoir for the liquid chemical and hand-held dispensing apparatus. The reservoir is provided with a non-return valve adapted to allow ar to flow into the reservoir only when the pressure in the head space in the reservoir falls below a predetermined pressure below atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing a flowable material over a base surface and wherein said flowable material is centrifuged from the peripheral region of a rotary member to produce an annular spray pattern, concentric with the rotational axis of the rotary member, and said rotary member is displaced over the base surface, characterized in that the annular spray pattern issuing from the periphery of said rotary member is interrupted at two locations, spaced apart, to obtain, at the base surface, two arcuate spray patterns, and the flowable material interrupted at said two locations is directed to a second rotary member and centrifuged from a peripheral region thereof to produce an annular spray pattern at said base surface. Preferably the two arcuate spray patterns are superimposed on the annular spray pattern to obtain a uniform distribution of material transverse to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A metering body, for use with a machine for distributing granular materials and wherein a metering body is rotatably supported and includes peripheral recesses which, when the metering body is rotated, are successively filled with granular material from a supply source of the machine, peripherally closed by an internal surface of the machine, and then exposed to discharge their granular contents to a discharge for the machine, said metering body comprising a rigid core with a substantially central bore, for receiving a driving shaft of the machine, coated on its external surfaces with a plastics material and with circumferentially spaced, peripheral recesses in said plastics material defining the granular material conveying recesses for the metering body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing a flowable material onto a base surface and wherein a rotary member is rotatably supported concentrically within a mask, a flowable material supply to the rotary member deposits said material on the rotary member and said material is centrifuged uniformly from the periphery of the rotary member, said mask has slots through which selected segments of centrifuged material can pass while the spray segments striking the inside of the mask between the slots is arrested to achieve a spray pattern on the base surface in accordance with the arrangement of slots in the mask. In a preferred embodiment a second rotary member is located beneath the mask and material arrested by the mask constitutes a material supply to the second rotary member.