Multi-outlet spray nozzle assembly with dual check valves

1 . A liquid spraying system comprising;

a liquid spray boom having a liquid supply conduit having a central longitudinal axis;

at least one spray nozzle assembly mounted on said liquid spray boom;

said spray nozzle assembly including:

a nozzle body;

said nozzle body having a liquid inlet section on an upper side of said nozzle body and a first liquid outlet section on a lower side of said nozzle body;

said liquid inlet section of said nozzle body having a liquid inlet passage and said first liquid outlet section of said nozzle body having a first liquid outlet passage;

said nozzle body having a second liquid outlet section extending transversely to said spray boom having a second liquid outlet passage;

a first spray nozzle removably mounted on said first liquid outlet section of said nozzle body with the first liquid outlet passage thereof communicating with said first spray nozzle;

a second spray nozzle removably mounted on said second liquid outlet section of said nozzle body with the second liquid outlet passage thereof communicating with said second spray nozzle;

said nozzle body having first and second check valve support sections on opposite lateral sides of said nozzle body in parallel relation to said central longitudinal axis of said spray boom liquid supply conduit transverse to said first and second liquid outlet sections;

a first check valve mounted on said first check valve support section of said nozzle body;

a second check valve mounted on said second check valve support section of said nozzle body;

said first check valve support section having a first annular lateral liquid passage communicating with said first check valve and said second check valve support section having a second annular lateral liquid passage communicating with said second check valve;

said first and second annular lateral liquid passages having parallel longitudinal axes laterally offset from each other with opposed lateral sides in overlapping relation to each other at a single point for defining a common direct liquid inlet at the point of overlap to said first and second annular lateral liquid passages of said first and second check valve support sections such that liquid from said liquid inlet passage of said liquid inlet section of said nozzle body simultaneously enters said first and second annular lateral liquid passages from said common direct liquid inlet;

said first check valve being operable between a closed position for preventing the flow of liquid from said nozzle body liquid inlet passage through said common direct liquid inlet to first annular lateral passage and said first spray nozzle and an open position for permitting the flow of liquid from said nozzle body inlet passage, said common direct liquid inlet and first annular lateral liquid passage to the outlet passage of said first liquid outlet section for discharge from said first spray nozzle; and

said second check valve being operable between a closed position for preventing the flow of liquid from said nozzle body liquid inlet passage through said common direct liquid inlet and second annular lateral liquid passage to the second spray nozzle and an open position for permitting the flow of liquid from said nozzle body liquid inlet passage, common direct liquid inlet, and said second annular lateral liquid passage to the outlet passage of said second liquid outlet section for discharge from said second spray nozzle.

2 . The liquid spraying system of claim 1 in which said first and second annular lateral liquid passages have axes in a common horizontal plane.

3 . The liquid spraying system of claim 1 in which said first check valve support section has a return liquid passage parallel to said first annular lateral liquid passage in liquid communication between said liquid inlet passage, said common direct liquid inlet, first annular lateral liquid passage and said liquid outlet passage of said first liquid outlet section for discharging liquid from said first spray nozzle when the first check valve is in an open position, and said second check valve support section has a return passage parallel to said second annular lateral liquid passage in liquid communication between said liquid inlet passage, said common direct liquid inlet, said second annular lateral liquid passage, and said liquid outlet passage of said second liquid outlet section for discharging liquid from said second spray nozzle when said second check valve is in an open position.

4 . The liquid spraying system of claim 3 in which said return liquid passage of said first check valve support section is disposed within and parallel to said annular first annular lateral liquid passage; and said liquid return passage of said second check valve support sections is disposed within and parallel to said second annular lateral liquid passage.

5 . The liquid spraying system of claim 1 in which said second spray nozzle is part of a turret spray nozzle assembly having a plurality of turret spray nozzles mounted on said second liquid outlet section of said nozzle body for selected rotation for locating one of the plurality of turret spray nozzles into position for receiving liquid from the liquid outlet passage of the second liquid outlet section when said second check valve is in an open position.

6 . The liquid spraying system of claim 5 including a plurality of said spray nozzle assemblies mounted in laterally spaced relation along a length of said liquid spray boom with said turret spray nozzle assemblies supported on a common side of the liquid spray boom.

7 . The liquid spraying system of claim 1 in which said check valves are operable to an open position in response to pressurized liquid from said liquid spray boom liquid supply conduit to said nozzle body inlet passage.

8 . The liquid spraying system of claim 1 including a plurality of said spray nozzle said first and second check valve support sections of each of said spray nozzle assemblies, receive the respective first and second check valves at one end and have a closed opposite end; said first and second check valve support sections of one of said spray nozzle assemblies define a first arrangement of clearance spaces opening under said liquid spray boom from lateral sides and the closed ends of said first and second check valve support sections for accommodating items suspended from the liquid spray boom; and

said first and second check valve support sections of a second of said spray nozzle assemblies define a second arrangement of clearance spaces different from said first arrangement of clearance spaces opening under the said liquid spray boom from lateral sides and closed ends of said first and second check valve support sections of said second spray nozzle assembly for accommodating items suspended from the liquid spray boom.