POWERED LIQUID SPRAYER

• US 20190030554A1
• Filed: 07/19/2018
• Published: 01/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mantes, Jonathan M., Reif, Daniel, Hansen, Dalton F.
• Granted Patent: US 11,642,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0021 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/002 Manually-actuated controlling means, e.g. push buttons, levers or triggers for single units B05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/0026 to inhibit delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/01 Spray pistols, discharge devicesB05B9/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0888 Carrying means for knapsack sprayers

Abstract

A portable, battery-powered liquid sprayer is operable to eject liquids. The sprayer includes a power unit including a base having a motor housed therein. The sprayer further includes a sprayer tank including a reservoir, an outlet fluidly connected with the reservoir, and a pump fluidly connected with the reservoir and the outlet. The sprayer tank is configured for selective engagement with the power unit. When the sprayer tank engages the power unit, the motor is operable to selectively drive the pump to pump liquid from the reservoir for ejection through the outlet.

Claims

1. A portable, battery-powered liquid sprayer for ejecting liquids, the sprayer comprising:

a power unit including a base having a motor housed therein;

a sprayer tank including a reservoir, an outlet fluidly connected with the reservoir, and a pump fluidly connected with the reservoir and the outlet, the sprayer tank being configured for selective engagement with the power unit;

wherein when the sprayer tank engages the power unit, the motor is operable to selectively drive the pump to pump liquid from the reservoir for ejection through the outlet.

2. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the sprayer tank further includes a wand fluidly connected with the reservoir, and wherein the outlet comprises a nozzle located on the wand.

3. The sprayer of claim 2, wherein the wand includes a micro switch configured to selectively activate the motor.

4. The sprayer of claim 3, wherein:

the base includes a controller to which the motor is electrically connected and a plurality of base electrical contacts;

the sprayer tank includes a plurality of micro switch electrical contacts; and

the micro switch electrical contacts engage the base electrical contacts to electrically connect the micro switch with the controller when the sprayer tank engages the power unit.

5. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the sprayer tank further includes a hose fluidly connected with the reservoir, and wherein the outlet comprises a quick-disconnect located on the hose.

6. The sprayer of claim 5, wherein the sprayer tank further includes a pressure switch configured to selectively activate the motor.

7. The sprayer of claim 6, wherein:

the base includes a controller to which the motor is electrically connected and a plurality of base electrical contacts;

the sprayer tank includes a plurality of pressure switch electrical contacts;

the pressure switch electrical contacts engage the base electrical contacts to electrically connect the pressure switch with the controller when the sprayer tank engages the power unit;

the controller is configured to activate the motor when a liquid pressure detected by the pressure switch is less than a predetermined pressure threshold; and

the controller is configured to deactivate the motor when the liquid pressure detected by the pressure switch is equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure threshold.

8. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the base includes a base mating surface circumscribed by a peripheral wall, the base mating surface being configured to mate with a tank mating surface of the sprayer tank when the sprayer tank engages the base; and

the peripheral wall includes a gap that permits spilled liquid to drain from the base mating surface.

9. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the sprayer tank includes a first coupling coupled to the pump;

the power unit includes a second coupling coupled to the motor; and

wherein the first coupling engages the second coupling to permit torque to be transferred from the motor to the pump when the sprayer tank engages the power unit.

10. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the sprayer tank further comprises a wand including

a mechanical valve in fluid communication with the pump, the mechanical valve configured to inhibit the flow of liquid when closed and to permit the flow of liquid when open;

a micro switch configured to selectively activate the motor, the motor being activated when the micro switch is closed and being deactivated when the micro switch is open; and

an actuator operable to actuate the mechanical valve and the micro switch.

11. The sprayer of claim 10, wherein:

the actuator is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;

wherein in the first position, the mechanical valve is closed such that the flow of liquid is inhibited by the mechanical valve, and the micro switch is open such that the motor is deactivated;

wherein in the second position, the mechanical valve is open such that the flow of liquid is permitted by the mechanical valve, and the micro switch is open such that the motor is deactivated; and

wherein in the third position, the mechanical valve is open such that the flow of liquid is permitted by the mechanical valve, and the micro switch is closed such that the motor is activated.

12. A portable, battery-powered liquid sprayer for ejecting liquids, the sprayer comprising:

a power unit including a base;

a first sprayer tank and a second sprayer tank, each of the first and second sprayer tanks including a reservoir, an outlet fluidly connected with the reservoir, and a pump fluidly connected with the reservoir and the outlet;

wherein each of the first sprayer tank and the second sprayer tank is configured for selective engagement with the power unit.

13. The sprayer of claim 12, wherein the power unit further includes a motor housed in the base;

and

wherein the motor is operable to selectively drive the pump to pump liquid from the fluid reservoir for ejection through the outlet when each of the first sprayer tank and the second sprayer tank engages the power unit.

14. The sprayer of claim 13, wherein:

each of the first and second sprayer tanks includes a first coupling coupled to the pump;

the power unit includes a second coupling coupled to the motor; and

wherein the first coupling engages the second coupling to permit torque to be transferred from the motor to the pump when each of the first and second sprayer tanks engages the power unit.

15. The sprayer of claim 13, wherein:

the first sprayer tank further includes a wand fluidly connected with the reservoir, and the outlet of the first sprayer tank comprises a nozzle located on the wand; and

the second sprayer tank further includes a hose fluidly connected with the reservoir, and the outlet of the second sprayer tank comprises a quick-disconnect fitting located on the hose.

16. The sprayer of claim 13, wherein the first sprayer tank includes a micro switch configured to selectively activate the motor when the first sprayer tank engages the power unit, and wherein the second sprayer tank includes a pressure switch configured to selectively activate the motor when the second sprayer tank engages the power unit.

17. The sprayer of claim 16, wherein:

the base includes a controller to which the motor is electrically connected and a plurality of base electrical contacts, the first sprayer tank includes a plurality of micro switch electrical contacts, and the second sprayer tank includes a plurality of pressure switch electrical contacts;

wherein when the first sprayer tank engages the power unit, the micro switch electrical contacts engage the base electrical contacts to electrically connect the micro switch with the controller; and

wherein when the second sprayer tank engages the power unit, the pressure switch electrical contacts engage the base electrical contacts to electrically connect the pressure switch with the controller.

18. A portable, battery-powered liquid sprayer for ejecting liquids, the sprayer comprising:

a reservoir;

a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir;

a motor operable to selectively drive the pump; and

a wand in fluid communication with the pump, the wand including

a mechanical valve in fluid communication with the pump, the mechanical valve being configured to inhibit the flow of liquid when closed and to permit the flow of liquid when open;

a switch configured to selectively activate the motor, the motor being activated when the switch is closed and being deactivated when the switch is open; and

an actuator operable to actuate the mechanical valve and the switch, the actuator being movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;

wherein in the first position, the mechanical valve is closed such that the flow of liquid is inhibited by the mechanical valve, and the switch is open such that the motor is deactivated;

wherein in the second position, the mechanical valve is open such that the flow of liquid is permitted by the mechanical valve, and the switch is open such that the motor is deactivated; and

wherein in the third position, the mechanical valve is open such that the flow of liquid is permitted by the mechanical valve, and the switch is closed such that the motor is activated.

19. The sprayer of claim 18, wherein the actuator moves sequentially between the first position, the second position, and the third position.

20. The sprayer of claim 18, wherein the reservoir includes a tank compartment and a pump compartment fluidly isolated from the tank compartment, and wherein the pump is located in the pump compartment.