Abstract: A fan spray nozzle provides a linear spray pattern of very fine droplets suitable for spraying thin invert emulsions containing active agents such as herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, growth regulators and the like, especially using an array of nozzles mounted on a moving vehicle. Each nozzle has a nozzle plug fitted into a nozzle body having an indentation complementary to the plug. A chamber in the body is coupled to the indentation and to an inlet for feeding pressurized liquid into the chamber. One or both of the nozzle plug and the nozzle body have a plurality of narrow grooves (0.001 to 0.015 inch or 25 to 400 microns in width), in a line along an abutment between the nozzle body and the nozzle plug and leading from the chamber to an external wall of the body.

Abstract: A dispensing nozzle is provided with uniform, very-small diameter orifices of 0.001 to 0.015 inch (25 to 400 microns) by slotting at least one of two preferably-conical abutting faces between relatively movable parts defining a nozzle wall. The orifices can be formed by cutting with a broach to form an array of slots in a conical plug structure that fits against a complementary conical seat. Micro-orifices are defined between the conical structure and seat, preferably with an internal diameter of about 0.004 to 0.007 inch (100 to 170 microns) for dispensing uniform small droplets of thin oil/water invert emulsions. The conical structure can be liftable from the seat for flushing the slots by use of a spring mount, whereby increasing the dispensing pressure lifts the plug and flushes the slots. A filter screen reduces the tendency of the nozzle to clog.

Abstract: A thin invert composition and method for applying agricultural products to a target area with minimal drift or evaporation is based on a water and oil mixture which is emulsified by minimal agitation so as to provide a low viscosity emulsion. The emulsion, when sprayed through small spray orifices (e.g., 0.020 inch internal diameter) forms a thin invert wherein the water phase is enclosed in the oil phase and the droplet size is small (e.g., 1000 microns mean diameter) and uniform. The water phase carries a hydrophilic active agricultural product. The mixture can have 15 to 50% oil phase by weight, and 50 to 80% water phase by weight, the water phase containing the active hydrophilic product of up to 75% by weight of the water phase. According to the composition and the method disclosed, the surface tension of the droplets formed when spraying is the primary factor determining droplet size, and is kept small and uniform for thorough application to leafy surfaces and the like.