WIRELESSLY CONTROLLED TRIGGER START AND CHEMICAL TANK CHANGE-OVER FOR PRESSURE WASHERS

• US 20150102121A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton LLC (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Dey, John, Palicki, Brandon, Radwill, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/0026 to inhibit delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/14 for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0408 with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2497 several liquids from different sources being supplied to the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/32 the fed liquid or other fluent material being under pressure
• 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 9/01 Spray pistols, discharge devicesB05B9/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0409 the pumps being driven by a hydraulic or a pneumatic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0413 with reciprocating pumps, e.g. membrane pump, piston pump, bellow pump B05B9/0409 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0217 Use of a detergent in high pressure cleaners; arrangements for supplying the same
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes

Abstract

A pressure washer includes a prime mover, a pump driven by the prime mover, and a spray gun fluidly coupled to the pump. The spray gun includes a flow-control valve movable between an open position and a closed position to control a fluid flow from the spray gun, a user interface for controlling the flow-control valve, a sensor configured to detect the state of the user interface, and a first wireless system electrically coupled to the sensor. In a first state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the closed position. In a second state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the open position. The pressure washer further includes a second wireless system electrically coupled to the prime mover. The second wireless system signals the prime mover to start to drive the pump to provide fluid to the spray gun upon receiving a start signal from the first wireless system indicating that the sensor detects the user interface in the second state.

Claims

1. A pressure washer, comprising:

a prime mover;

a pump driven by the prime mover;

a spray gun fluidly coupled to the pump, the spray gun including a flow-control valve movable between an open position and a closed position to control a fluid flow from the spray gun, a user interface for controlling the flow-control valve such that in a first state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the closed position, and in a second state of the user interface, the flow-control valve is in the open position, a sensor configured to detect the state of the user interface, and a first wireless system electrically coupled to the sensor; and

a second wireless system electrically coupled to the prime mover;

wherein the second wireless system signals the prime mover to start to drive the pump to provide fluid to the spray gun upon receiving a start signal from the first wireless system indicating that the sensor detects the user interface in the second state.

2. The pressure washer of claim 1, wherein the second wireless system signals the prime mover to stop when the start signal from the first wireless system stops.

3. The pressure washer of claim 2, wherein the first wireless system continuously sends the start signal to second wireless system as long as the user interface is in the second state.

4. The pressure washer of claim 1, wherein the second wireless system signals the prime mover to stop when the start signal from the first wireless system stops for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The pressure washer of claim 4, further comprising:

a stop delay user input device for varying the predetermined amount of time.

6. The pressure washer of claim 1, further comprising:

a first chemical container fluidly coupled to the spray gun, the first chemical container configured to contain a first chemical;

a second chemical container fluidly coupled to the spray gun, the second chemical container configured to contain a second chemical;

a first chemical control valve fluidly coupled between the first chemical container and the spray gun to control the flow of the first chemical to the spray gun, the first chemical control valve electrically coupled to the second wireless system; and

a second chemical control valve fluidly coupled between the second chemical container and the spray gun to control the flow of the second chemical to the spray gun, the second chemical control valve electrically coupled to the second wireless system;

wherein the spray gun further includes a chemical user interface electrically coupled to the first wireless system, the chemical user interface configured to select between a first chemical mode, a second chemical mode, and a no chemical mode;

wherein in the first chemical mode, the second wireless system signals the first chemical control valve to open upon receiving a first chemical mode signal from the first wireless system in response to selecting the first chemical mode with the chemical user interface;

wherein in the second chemical mode, the second wireless system signals the second chemical control valve to open upon receiving a second chemical mode signal from the first wireless system in response to selecting the second chemical mode with the chemical user interface; and

wherein in the no chemical mode, the first chemical control valve is closed and the second chemical control valve is closed.

7. The pressure washer of claim 6, further comprising:

a first position sensor configured to detect that the first chemical control valve is open, the first position sensor electrically coupled to the second wireless system; and

a second position sensor configured to detect that the second chemical control valve is open, the second position sensor electrically coupled to the second wireless system;

wherein the spray gun further includes a first chemical mode indicator electrically coupled to the first wireless system and a second chemical mode indicator electrically coupled to the first wireless system;

wherein in the first chemical mode, the first wireless system signals the first chemical mode indicator to turn on upon receiving a first chemical mode indicator on signal from the second wireless system in response to the first position sensor detecting that the first chemical control valve is open; and

wherein in the second chemical mode, the first wireless system signals the second chemical mode indicator to turn on upon receiving a second chemical mode indicator on signal from the second wireless system in response to the second position sensor detecting that the second chemical control valve is open.

8. The pressure washer of claim 7, wherein the first position sensor and the second position sensor each comprises a voltage sensor.

9. The pressure washer of claim 6, further comprising:

a frame supporting the prime mover, the pump, the first chemical container, and the second chemical container.

10. The pressure washer of claim 1, wherein the spray gun further comprises a lock that prevents the user interface from transitioning from the first state to the second state unless the lock is disengaged.

11. A pressure washer, comprising:

a prime mover;

a pump driven by the prime mover;

a spray gun fluidly coupled to the pump, the spray gun including a first wireless system and a chemical user interface electrically coupled to the first wireless system, the chemical user interface configured to select between a first chemical mode, a second chemical mode, and a no chemical mode

a second wireless system;

a first chemical container fluidly coupled to the spray gun, the first chemical container configured to contain a first chemical;

a second chemical container fluidly coupled to the spray gun, the second chemical container configured to contain a second chemical;

a first chemical control valve fluidly coupled between the first chemical container and the spray gun to control the flow of the first chemical to the spray gun, the first chemical control valve electrically coupled to the second wireless system; and

a second chemical control valve fluidly coupled between the second chemical container and the spray gun to control the flow of the second chemical to the spray gun, the second chemical control valve electrically coupled to the second wireless system;

wherein in the first chemical mode, the second wireless system signals the first chemical control valve to open upon receiving a first chemical mode signal from the first wireless system in response to selecting the first chemical mode with the chemical user interface;

wherein in the second chemical mode, the second wireless system signals the second chemical control valve to open upon receiving a second chemical mode signal from the first wireless system in response to selecting the second chemical mode with the chemical user interface; and

wherein in the no chemical mode, the first chemical control valve is closed and the second chemical control valve is closed.

12. The pressure washer of claim 11, further comprising:

a first position sensor configured to detect that the first chemical control valve is open, the first position sensor electrically coupled to the second wireless system; and

a second position sensor configured to detect that the second chemical control valve is open, the second position sensor electrically coupled to the second wireless system;

wherein the spray gun further includes a first chemical mode indicator electrically coupled to the first wireless system and a second chemical mode indicator electrically coupled to the first wireless system;

wherein in the first chemical mode, the first wireless system signals the first chemical mode indicator to turn on upon receiving a first chemical mode indicator on signal from the second wireless system in response to the first position sensor detecting that the first chemical control valve is open; and

wherein in the second chemical mode, the first wireless system signals the second chemical mode indicator to turn on upon receiving a second chemical mode indicator on signal from the second wireless system in response to the second position sensor detecting that the second chemical control valve is open.

13. The pressure washer of claim 12, wherein the first position sensor and the second position sensor each comprises a voltage sensor.

14. The pressure washer of claim 11, further comprising:

a frame supporting the prime mover, the pump, the first chemical container, and the second chemical container.

15. A method for remotely starting a pressure washer, comprising:

operating a user interface of a spray gun to indicate a desire for providing pressurized fluid from the spray gun;

automatically starting a prime mover of the pressure washer in response to the operation of the user interface, thereby causing the prime mover to drive a pump to provide pressurized fluid to the spray gun;

subsequently operating the user interface to indicate a desire to stop providing pressurized fluid from the spray gun; and

automatically stopping the prime mover in response to the subsequent operation of the user interface, thereby causing the pump to stop providing pressurized fluid to the spray gun.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

preventing the initial operation of the user interface unless a lock is disengaged.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating a chemical user interface of a spray gun to indicate a desire for providing a first chemical in combination with pressurized fluid from the spray gun; and

opening a first chemical control valve to provide the first chemical to the pressurized fluid.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

indicating on the spray gun that the first chemical control valve is open.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

operating a chemical user interface of a spray gun to indicate a desire for providing a second chemical in combination with pressurized fluid from the spray gun; and

opening a second chemical control valve to provide the second chemical to the pressurized fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

indicating on the spray gun that the second chemical control valve is open.