Portable self-energizing pressure sprayer

• US 20010038041A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiskars Oyj Abp
• Original Assignee: Gilmour, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Scott A., Leer, Rick L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,565,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/157
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/007 At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels, for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/06 the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle, e.g. the pump being driven by a vehicle wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/085 with a liquid pump
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0877 the pump being of pressure-accumulation type or being connected to a pressure accumulation chamber

Abstract

A pressure sprayer is pressurized automatically with movement of the sprayer and maintains adequate pressure during non-movement to allow the ejection of an amount of liquid before needing re-pressurization. The pressure sprayer includes wheels that allow the pressure sprayer to be mobile. A cam is attached to the axle of the wheels which rotates with the rotation of the axle/wheels. A pressure pump is associated with the cam such that movement of the cam causes the pressure pump to pump liquid from a holding tank to an accumulator or directly to a spray wand in communication with the pump. The liquid may be sprayed (ejected) from the accumulator during both movement (pumping) and non-movement (no pumping) of the sprayer, while the liquid may be directly sprayed from the holding tank only during movement (pumping) thereof. Thus, as the wheels rotate due to moving the pressure sprayer, the cam causes movement of the pressure pump to fill the accumulator with the liquid under pressure. The pressure pump is adapted to obtain liquid from the holding tank and provide that liquid to the pressure accumulator. A relief valve is provided to relieve the buildup of pressure during movement of the wheels when no spraying is taking place.

Claims

1. A pressure sprayer, comprising:

a tank for holding fluid;

an accumulator for storing fluid therein under pressure;

a number of wheels for supporting said tank; and

a pump which advances fluid from said tank into said accumulator in response to rotation of said number of wheels,

wherein pressure within said accumulator is increased when fluid is advanced into said accumulator by said pump.

2. The pressure sprayer of

claim 1

, further comprising a cam which moves in response to rotation of said number of wheels, wherein:

said pump advances fluid from said tank into said accumulator in response to movement of said cam.

3. The pressure sprayer of

claim 2

, wherein:

said pump includes a piston and a piston housing configured to receive said piston therein, and

movement of said cam causes said piston to reciprocate in said piston housing.

4. The pressure sprayer of

claim 2

, further comprising an axle extending between a first wheel and a second wheel of said number of wheels, said cam being mounted on said axle.

5. The pressure sprayer of

claim 4

, wherein:

rotation of said first wheel and said second wheel causes movement of said axle, and

movement of said axle causes movement of said cam.

6. The pressure sprayer of

claim 3

, wherein:

said piston includes a piston shaft,

a drive pin is attached to said piston shaft,

said cam defines a cam track in which said drive pin is positioned, and

movement of said cam causes said drive pin to advance through said cam track.

7. The pressure sprayer of

claim 1

, further comprising a hose in fluid communication with said accumulator, wherein:

said hose has a valve mechanism coupled to one end thereof, and

said valve mechanism includes a control lever for selectively actuating said valve mechanism.

8. The pressure sprayer of

claim 1

, wherein said accumulator is positioned within said tank.

9. The pressure sprayer of

claim 1

, wherein said pump is a diaphragm pump.

10. The pressure sprayer of

claim 1

, further comprising a pressure relief valve configured to release pressure from said accumulator in response to pressure within said accumulator exceeding a threshold value.

11. A pressure sprayer, comprising:

an accumulator for storing fluid therein under pressure;

at least one wheel which rotates when said pressure sprayer is moved; and

a pump which advances fluid into said accumulator in response to rotation of said at least one wheel,

wherein an increased pressure is generated within said accumulator in response to fluid being advanced into said accumulator by said pump, and

wherein said increased pressure within said accumulator is maintained when said at least one wheel is stationary.

12. The pressure sprayer of

claim 11

, further comprising a tank configured to store liquid therein, wherein:

said pump advances fluid from said tank to said accumulator in response to rotation of said at least one wheel.

13. The pressure sprayer of

claim 12

, further comprising a cam which moves in response to rotation of said at least one wheel, wherein:

said pump advances fluid into said accumulator in response to movement of said cam.

14. The pressure sprayer of

claim 13

, wherein:

said pump includes a piston and a piston housing configured to receive said piston therein, and

movement of said cam causes said piston to reciprocate in said piston housing.

15. The pressure sprayer of

claim 13

, further comprising an axle extending between a first wheel and a second wheel of said pressure sprayer, said cam being mounted on said axle.

16. The pressure sprayer of

claim 15

, wherein:

rotation of said first wheel and said second wheel causes movement of said axle, and

movement of said axle causes movement of said cam.

17. The pressure sprayer of

claim 14

, wherein:

said piston includes a piston shaft,

a drive pin is attached to said piston shaft,

said cam defines a cam track in which said drive pin is positioned, and

movement of said cam causes said drive pin to advance through said cam track.

18. The pressure sprayer of

claim 11

, further comprising a hose in fluid communication with said accumulator, wherein:

said hose has a valve mechanism coupled to one end thereof, and

said valve mechanism includes a control lever.

19. The pressure sprayer of

claim 12

, wherein said accumulator is positioned within said tank.

20. The pressure sprayer of

claim 11

, wherein said pump is a diaphragm pump.

21. The pressure sprayer of

claim 11

, further comprising a pressure relief valve configured to release pressure from said accumulator in response to pressure within said accumulator exceeding a certain value.

22. A method of spraying fluid with a portable pressure sprayer having a tank, an accumulator, and a number of wheels, comprising the steps of:

moving said portable pressure sprayer so as to cause said number of wheels to rotate;

advancing fluid from said tank into said accumulator in response to rotation of said number of wheels;

generating an increased pressure within said accumulator in response to fluid being advanced into said accumulator; and

maintaining said increased pressure within said accumulator after said moving step when said number of wheels are stationary.

23. The method of

claim 22

, further comprising the step of advancing fluid from a first location within said accumulator to a second location outside of said sprayer while said number of wheels are stationary.

24. The method of

claim 23

, wherein:

said step of advancing fluid from said first location within said accumulator to said second location outside of said sprayer includes the step of spraying fluid through a hose,

said hose has a valve mechanism coupled to one end thereof, and

said valve mechanism includes a control lever.

25. The method of

claim 22

, wherein said advancing step includes the step of pumping said fluid from said tank into said accumulator with a pump.

26. The method of

claim 25

, wherein said pump is a diaphragm pump.

27. The method of

claim 25

, wherein:

said pump includes a piston and a piston housing configured to receive said piston therein, and

rotation of said number of wheels causes said piston to reciprocate in said piston housing.

28. The method of

claim 22

, wherein said generating step includes the steps of:

moving a cam in response to rotation of said number of wheels, and

operating a pump in response to movement of said cam.

29. The method of

claim 28

, wherein:

said pump includes a piston and a piston housing,

said operating step includes the step of reciprocating said piston within said piston housing, and

said reciprocating step occurs in response to movement of said cam.

30. The method of

claim 28

, wherein said operating step includes the step of advancing fluid from said tank to said accumulator with said pump in response to movement of said cam.

31. The method of

claim 30

, wherein:

an axle is interposed between a first wheel and a second wheel of said number of wheels, and

rotation of said axle causes movement of said cam.

32. The method of

claim 22

, further comprising the step of releasing pressure from said accumulator with a pressure relief valve in response to pressure within said accumulator exceeding a threshold value.

33. A method of spraying fluid with a pressure sprayer having at least one wheel, comprising the steps of:

moving said portable pressure sprayer so as to cause said at least one wheel to rotate;

generating an increased pressure within said sprayer in response to rotation of said at least one wheel; and

maintaining said increased pressure within said sprayer after said generating step when said at least one wheel is stationary.

34. The method of

claim 33

, further comprising the step of advancing fluid from a first location within said sprayer to a second location outside of said sprayer after said generating step when said at least one wheel is stationary.

35. The method of

claim 33

, wherein said generating step includes the steps of:

moving a cam in response to rotation of said at least one wheel, and

operating a pump in response to movement of said cam.

36. The method of

claim 35

, wherein:

said pump includes a piston and a piston housing,

said operating step includes the step of reciprocating said piston within said piston housing, and

said reciprocating step occurs in response to movement of said cam.

37. The method of

claim 36

, wherein:

said sprayer further has a tank and an accumulator, and

said operating step includes the step of advancing fluid from said tank to said accumulator with said pump in response to movement of said cam.

38. The method of

claim 37

, wherein:

an axle is interposed between a first wheel and a second wheel of said sprayer, and

rotation of said axle causes movement of said cam.

39. The method of

claim 33

, further comprising the step of releasing pressure from said accumulator in response to pressure within said accumulator exceeding a certain value.