VEHICLE-MOUNTED GROUND MARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160115656A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Allega
• Original Assignee: James Allega
• Inventors: Allega, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,528,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0409 the pumps being driven by a hydraulic or a pneumatic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/163 for marking-out the location of the markings; Guiding or steering devices for marking apparatus, e.g. sights
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/22 by spraying E01C23/206 takes precedence

Abstract

A ground marking system includes a position signal receiver configured to receive a position signal and generate current position information based on the position signal. A paint supply is configured to discharge paint onto ground beneath the paint supply. A first actuator is operatively connected to the paint supply for linearly moving the paint supply in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A second actuator is operatively connected to the paint supply for controlling the discharge of paint from the paint supply. A memory device stores predetermined positional data. A processor is in communication with the position signal receiver and the memory device, and is configured to control linear movements of the first actuator based on the current position information received from the position signal receiver and the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device, and adjust a position of the paint supply.

Claims

1. A ground marking system, comprising:

a position signal receiver configured to receive a position signal and generate current position information based on the position signal;

a paint supply configured to discharge paint onto ground beneath the paint supply;

a first actuator operatively connected to the paint supply for linearly moving the paint supply in both of a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction;

a second actuator operatively connected to the paint supply for controlling the discharge of paint from the paint supply;

a memory device storing predetermined positional data; and

a processor in communication with the position signal receiver and the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to control linear movements of the first actuator based on the current position information received from the position signal receiver and the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device and thereby adjust a position of the paint supply.

2. The ground marking system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder and a valve for controlling operations of the double acting hydraulic cylinder, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the valve to control operations of the valve.

3. The ground marking system of claim 1, wherein the position signal receiver is connected to the paint supply and the first actuator such that the position signal receiver moves with the paint supply in both of the first direction and the second direction.

4. The ground marking system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined positional data is included in a CAD file stored in the memory device.

5. The ground marking system of claim 4, further comprising a display device operatively connected to the processor for displaying the CAD file;

and

a user interface operatively connected to the processor and configured for allowing a user to select the predetermined positional data from the displayed CAD file.

6. The ground marking system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to control linear movements of the first actuator based on the current position information received from the position signal receiver, the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device, and an offset distance, relative to the predetermined positional data, entered via the user interface.

7. The ground marking system of claim 1, wherein the ground marking system is mounted to a vehicle.

8. The ground marking system of claim 7, wherein the second actuator comprises a solenoid configured to control the discharge of paint from the paint supply, the system further comprising a switch located within an operator compartment of the vehicle for controlling operations of the solenoid.

9. The ground marking system of claim 7, wherein:

the first actuator comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder having an extensible and retractable rod, and the first actuator comprises a valve for controlling operations of the double acting hydraulic cylinder,

the processor is operatively connected to the valve to control operations of the valve based on the current position information received from the position signal receiver and the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device, and

the ground marking system further comprises a movable frame that is attached to the rod of the actuator and that includes a position signal receiver holder and a paint supply holder for mounting the position signal receiver in a fixed relative position with respect to the paint supply such that the position signal receiver moves with the paint supply in both of the first direction and the second direction.

10. The ground marking system of claim 9, wherein the position signal receiver is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver.

11. The ground marking system of claim 9, wherein the movable frame includes a skid mounted between the paint supply and the ground beneath the paint supply, the skid forming a paint aperture through which paint is discharged onto the ground beneath the skid.

12. The ground marking system of claim 9, further comprising:

a fixed frame, and

a linearly-movable support bar extending between the fixed frame and the movable frame, wherein the linearly-movable support bar moves linearly within the fixed frame and substantially parallel with the rod of the double acting hydraulic cylinder.

13. The ground marking system of claim 12, further comprising a second hydraulic cylinder configured for selectively raising and lowering together each of the fixed frame, the movable frame, the double acting hydraulic cylinder and the linearly-movable support bar.

14. A surface marking system, comprising:

a vehicle configured for driving upon a surface;

a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the vehicle and comprising an extensible rod;

a valve operatively connected to the hydraulic cylinder to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder;

a movable frame connected to the extensible rod and linearly movable with the extensible rod;

a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver mounted on the movable frame and configured to receive GNSS signals and generate current position information based on the GNSS signals;

a paint supply mounted on the movable frame and configured to discharge paint onto the surface beneath the paint supply;

an actuator mounted on the movable frame and operatively connected to the paint supply for controlling the discharge of paint from the paint supply;

a memory device storing predetermined positional data; and

a processor in communication with the GNSS receiver and the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to adjust a position of the GNSS receiver by controlling linear movements of the extensible rod based on the current position information received from the GNSS receiver and the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device.

15. The surface marking system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined positional data is included in a CAD file stored in the memory device.

16. The surface marking system of claim 14, further comprising a display device operatively connected to the processor for displaying an image corresponding to the predetermined positional data;

and

a user interface operatively connected to the processor and configured for allowing a user to select the predetermined positional data from the displayed image.

17. The surface marking system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to control the linear movements of the extensible rod based on the current position information received from the GNSS receiver, the predetermined positional data stored in the memory device, and an offset distance, relative to the predetermined positional data, entered via the user interface.

18. The surface marking system of claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid mounted on the movable frame, and the paint supply comprises a spray paint can operated by the solenoid, and wherein the surface marking system further comprising a switch located within an operator compartment of the vehicle for manually controlling power supplied to the solenoid.

19. The surface marking system of claim 14, wherein the movable frame includes a skid mounted between the paint supply and the surface beneath the paint supply, the skid forming a paint aperture through which paint is discharged onto a ground surface beneath the skid.

20. The surface marking system of claim 14, further comprising:

a fixed frame, and

a linearly-movable support bar extending between the fixed frame and the movable frame, wherein the linearly-movable support bar moves linearly within the fixed frame and substantially parallel with the rod of the double acting hydraulic cylinder.

21. The surface marking system of claim 20, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is a double acting hydraulic cylinder, and the system further comprises a second hydraulic cylinder configured for selectively raising and lowering together each of the fixed frame, the movable frame, the double acting hydraulic cylinder and the linearly-movable support bar.

22. A method of marking a surface, comprising:

providing a marking vehicle, the marking vehicle comprising;

a position signal receiver;

a paint supply;

an actuator operatively connected to the paint supply;

a memory device storing predetermined positional data; and

a processor in communication with the position signal receiver and the memory device;

driving the marking vehicle along the surface, and while performing the step of driving the marking vehicle along the surface;

receiving, by the position signal receiver, a position signal and generating current position information based on the position signal;

comparing, by the processor, the predetermined positional data and the current position information;

controlling, by the processor, linear movements of the actuator based on a result of the step of comparing the predetermined positional data and the current position information, to thereby adjust a position of the paint supply; and

applying paint from the paint supply to the surface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an image corresponding to the predetermined positional data;

selecting the predetermined positional data from the displayed image; and

programming an offset distance into the processor, wherein the processor further controls the linear movements of the actuator based on the offset distance.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder and a valve for controlling operations of the double acting hydraulic cylinder, wherein the step of controlling, by the processor, linear movements of the actuator includes controlling operations of the valve.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of manually operating, at arbitrarily selected intervals, an input device located in an operator compartment of the vehicle, wherein the step of applying paint from the paint supply to the surface is performed at the arbitrarily selected intervals.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the vehicle further comprises a movable frame attached to an extensible and retractable rod of the double acting hydraulic cylinder, and the movable frame includes a position signal receiver holder and a paint supply holder for mounting the position signal receiver in a fixed relative position with respect to the paint supply such that the position signal receiver is moved linearly with the paint supply by the rod.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the movable frame includes a skid mounted beneath the paint supply, the skid forming a paint aperture through which paint is discharged onto the surface beneath the skid.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the vehicle further comprises a fixed frame and a linearly-movable support bar extending between the fixed frame and the movable frame, wherein the linearly-movable support bar moves linearly within the fixed frame and substantially parallel with the rod of the double acting hydraulic cylinder.