Ground Crew
Home > Weyrling Information > Weyrling Reference Room > Ground Crew
YOUR SPRAYER
All weyrlings are required to be ground crew certified. At that time, they are issued a sprayer. A sprayer is a portable pump that sprays a chemical called Agenothree. Agenothree is a highly-corrosive and powerful acid and water mixture that liquifies thread on contact and can eat through anything organic that it comes into contact with. The upkeep and care of the sprayer are your responsibility for the duration. If it becomes inoperational, take it to the WeyrSmith for repair. When it becomes no longer usable, you must to replace it.
The main parts of any sprayer are the pump, tank, gauge, tube, trigger, and the nozzle. The pump adds air pressure to the tank, supplying the force needed to move the Agenothree. The tank holds the Agenothree and a supply of air, and is monitored by the level gauge located on the side of the sprayer tank which tells you when it is full or empty. The tube attaches to the tank and leads to the trigger and nozzle which is where the Agenothree emerges. The trigger is located on the base of the nozzle and releases the agenothree to the nozzle where it is confined to an easily directed stream.
CHARGING YOUR SPRAYER
Fill the tank with agenothree: Open the pressure release valve at the top of the tank. There is a twist-off stopper in the side of the tank, which you will unscrew to open a path into the tank. Use the hose and nozzle of the refill reservoir to fill the tank up to the edge of the hole. Inspect the stopper gasket for nicks, cuts or cracks, replace if needed. Replace the stopper and screw down tight. Wash any spillage off with soda water, this neutralizes the agenothree, making it safe. Reclose the pressure release valve at the top of the tank.
Pressurize the tank: which contains the supply of agenothree. Before pumping your sprayer up, make sure that the trigger safety is on. Hold onto the pump handle and carefully open the pump ingress valve. This connects the pump to the tank, and if there's still pressure in the tank, the handle could rise quickly and bruise you. Begin stroking the pump handle. Air will be pumped into the tank, raising the pressure. Watch the gauge carefully while the sprayer is being charged. Even though there is an automatic shut off, you don't want the sprayer accidentally overcharged. When the gauge indicates full charge, close off the pump ingress valve, then lock the pump handle down.
USE OF THE SPRAYER
Before spraying, make absolutely sure that there is no one in your way. Never aim the sprayer at anything excecpt targets, weeds and burrows. To use the sprayer, move away from your group, release the trigger lock, point the nozzle at what you want to spray and depress the trigger.
When you are finished using your sprayer make sure that it is fully discharged. This is done by opening the release valve on the top of the tank. It lets out the air pressure. Then open the refill hole and pour any agenothree left over into to the refill tank until empty. Rinse the tank with water and set it upside down to drain and dry. Leave the refill hole open.
