Patent · US Expired

Thin invert compositions for spray application

US5248086A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1991
Grant dateSep 28, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01M7/0092
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.