Smithco Turf Spraying Guide - Manual (Page 8)

Wet booms have been considered less than acceptable in the past for the following reasons. Some wet
booms are made from inferior material and will suffer
internal corrosion leading to blockages in the tips. This
objection is eliminated through the use of high quality
stainless steel for the carrier portions. Also, easily removed
end caps make inspection and cleaning a simple task.
Another perceived negative is that if the boom carrier is
damaged or bent (see examples, above left & right), the
replacement of that part is expensive. This is compensated
for in the “Smithco Autoboom” 18 by using a square tube
steel bridge to support and protect the stainless sections.
The bridge angles forward as it extends to act as a bumper
for the boom ends, greatly eliminating the chance for bends or breaks.
Along the length of the boom are located some type of spray nozzles, usually spaced 10" (25 cm) or
20" (51 cm) apart. There are a vast number of nozzle types, shapes and sizes available. They are
made of many materials. Stainless steel, nylon and ceramic are best suited for turf spraying. Brass is
not satisfactory due to shorter useful life. These nozzles are usually mounted on “nozzle bodies” of a
specific type. Nozzle bodies accomplish the following tasks:
1. Provide clamp or mount to the boom structure.
2. Provide “Drip-less Diaphragm” with a spring and check valve to
prevent material leaking out when boom is shut off.
3. Provide “Quick-Cap” mount for spray tips so that tip alignment
when cleaning and replacing nozzles is easy, automatic and
foolproof.
4. Modern nozzles are color-coded. Each size has its own color. An
operator can see at a glance if all nozzles are identical.
Nozzle bodies are now available with multiple tip capabilities. Each nozzle body can be mounted with
three, four or five tip configurations. This allows the spray tech to change the nozzle tip quickly and
simply to the right one for the particular job he’s performing. He also has extra tips always on board
and can easily switch a broken or damaged one to complete a critical application without having to
return to the maintenance area.
The SPRAY BOOM NOZZLE has 3 functions:
1. To regulate the flow of liquid (the volume)
2. To form the liquid into droplets which will be sprayed over the turf.
3. To disperse a specific pattern in order to insure proper coverage on the turf.
The first function - to regulate the flow is done through the size of the orifice opening within the nozzle.
All nozzles, regardless of type, have some point within them that regulates the flow of liquid. Obviously,
the larger the opening the greater the rate of flow volume. Volume is expressed in Gallons Per Minute
or Liters Per Minute. Tips are rated for flow and if a flat fan type tip, it’s operating angle. When
discussing tips and flow rates, the industry standard is to assume that the operating pressure is forty-
PSI. The first two, or three numbers (Tee-Jets are available in 65º, 80º &110º) express the angle the tip
applies material. The last two numbers are the flow rate at forty PSI. Therefore, a flat fan tip rated as
an 8008 has a spray angle of eighty degrees and a flow rate of eight-tenths of a gallon per minute. A
Tee-Jet 11008 would have an angle of 110 degrees and the same flow rating. Delavan Raindrop tips
are only rated for flow, e.g.; RA-6 (.6 GPM), RA-10 (1.0 GPM) and RA-15 (1.5 GPM). Complete nozzle
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