Radio controlled spraying device
First Claim
1. A radio operated control mechanism for operating a pressure sprayer, wherein the pressure sprayer comprises a motor driven pressure pump mechanism that receives liquid from a liquid source and receives selected additives from additive sources and pumps the liquid and selected additives under pressure through a hose to a hand held nozzle, the control mechanism including:
- a nozzle housing for the nozzle formed in the shape of a pistol grip handle with a barrel portion and a hand grip portion angularly disposed with respect to the barrel portion;
a liquid conduit mounted in the nozzle housing and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing outwardly from an outer end of the barrel portion;
a plurality of manually actuatable electronic switches mounted in the nozzle housing in position for manual actuation by a user while the user holds the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the switches including;
a deadman'"'"'s switch that is actuated only when a user is holding the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the deadman'"'"'s switch automatically becoming deactuated when the hand grip is released;
a liquid on/off switch; and
one or more additive switches for selecting chemical additives to the liquid;
a radio transmitter and power supply therefor mounted in the nozzle housing in electrical contact with the switches, the radio transmitter generating output signals comprising a carrier wave digitally encoded with control information representative of the state or change of state of each of the switches;
an antenna mounted to the nozzle housing and being connected with the transmitter to transmit the output signals from the antenna as airborne electromagnetic signals;
a radio receiver in electrical communication with the pressure pump mechanism, the radio receiver receiving the airborne electromagnetic signals transmitted from the antenna and converting the signals into electrical control signals that control the operation of the pump mechanism;
electrical controls connected to the pump mechanism in communication with the radio receiver, the electrical controls including;
an electrically operated main flow control valve that opens and closes a passageway from the liquid source to the pump mechanism, the passageway being closed and the liquid being shut off and not being delivered to the pump mechanism when the main flow control valve is deactuated;
a switch that controls the actuation of the pump motor; and
an additive flow control valve for each additive that controls the flow of each additive into the passageway along with the liquid passing from the source to the pump mechanism;
the electrical controls receiving the control signals from the receiver and operating the pump mechanism in response thereto, the control mechanism being such that it causes a control signal to be generated that deactuates the main flow control valve when the deadman'"'"'s switch is deactuated, the control mechanism causing the main flow control valve to be actuated only when both the deadman'"'"'s switch and the liquid on/off switch are actuated, and the control mechanism causing the additive flow control valve to open for each additive when the selection switch for that additive is actuated at the nozzle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power spraying device is disclosed for applying a liquid to a surface. The electronic control of the device is contained within the nozzle of the sprayer and emits radio wave signals to initiate operation of the device. The radio signals are detected by a receiver which converts the radio signals into control signals for a main pumping unit. The radio waves may also control the introduction of various chemicals into the liquid solution by the main pumping unit. The nozzle also contains a deadman'"'"'s switch for turning off the flow of liquid in case the unit is accidentally dropped.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A radio operated control mechanism for operating a pressure sprayer, wherein the pressure sprayer comprises a motor driven pressure pump mechanism that receives liquid from a liquid source and receives selected additives from additive sources and pumps the liquid and selected additives under pressure through a hose to a hand held nozzle, the control mechanism including:
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a nozzle housing for the nozzle formed in the shape of a pistol grip handle with a barrel portion and a hand grip portion angularly disposed with respect to the barrel portion; a liquid conduit mounted in the nozzle housing and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing outwardly from an outer end of the barrel portion; a plurality of manually actuatable electronic switches mounted in the nozzle housing in position for manual actuation by a user while the user holds the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the switches including; a deadman'"'"'s switch that is actuated only when a user is holding the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the deadman'"'"'s switch automatically becoming deactuated when the hand grip is released; a liquid on/off switch; and one or more additive switches for selecting chemical additives to the liquid; a radio transmitter and power supply therefor mounted in the nozzle housing in electrical contact with the switches, the radio transmitter generating output signals comprising a carrier wave digitally encoded with control information representative of the state or change of state of each of the switches; an antenna mounted to the nozzle housing and being connected with the transmitter to transmit the output signals from the antenna as airborne electromagnetic signals; a radio receiver in electrical communication with the pressure pump mechanism, the radio receiver receiving the airborne electromagnetic signals transmitted from the antenna and converting the signals into electrical control signals that control the operation of the pump mechanism; electrical controls connected to the pump mechanism in communication with the radio receiver, the electrical controls including; an electrically operated main flow control valve that opens and closes a passageway from the liquid source to the pump mechanism, the passageway being closed and the liquid being shut off and not being delivered to the pump mechanism when the main flow control valve is deactuated; a switch that controls the actuation of the pump motor; and an additive flow control valve for each additive that controls the flow of each additive into the passageway along with the liquid passing from the source to the pump mechanism; the electrical controls receiving the control signals from the receiver and operating the pump mechanism in response thereto, the control mechanism being such that it causes a control signal to be generated that deactuates the main flow control valve when the deadman'"'"'s switch is deactuated, the control mechanism causing the main flow control valve to be actuated only when both the deadman'"'"'s switch and the liquid on/off switch are actuated, and the control mechanism causing the additive flow control valve to open for each additive when the selection switch for that additive is actuated at the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radio operated control mechanism for operating a pressure sprayer, wherein the pressure sprayer comprises a motor driven pressure pump mechanism that receives liquid from a liquid source and receives selected additives from additive sources and pumps the liquid and selected additives under pressure through a hose to a hand held nozzle, the control mechanism including:
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a nozzle housing for the nozzle formed in the shape of a pistol grip handle with a barrel portion and a hand grip portion angularly disposed with respect to the barrel portion, the nozzle housing being formed at least in part from a radio transmissive plastic resin with the nozzle housing having an interior chamber for electronic components that is sealed against water penetration; a liquid conduit mounted in the nozzle housing and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing outwardly from an outer end of the barrel portion; a plurality of manually actuatable electronic switches mounted in the nozzle housing in position for manual actuation by a user while the user holds the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the switches including; a liquid on/off switch; and one or more additive switches for selecting chemical additives to the liquid; a radio transmitter and power supply therefor mounted in the nozzle housing in electrical contact with the switches, the radio transmitter generating output signals representative of the state or change of state of each of the switches; an antenna mounted in a water tight chamber inside the radio transmissive portion of the nozzle housing and being connected with the transmitter to transmit the output signals from the antenna as airborne electromagnetic signals; a radio receiver in electrical communication with the pressure pump mechanism, the radio receiver receiving the airborne electromagnetic signals transmitted from the antenna and converting the signals into electrical control signals that control the operation of the pump mechanism; electrical controls connected to the pump mechanism in communication with the radio receiver, the electrical controls including; a liquid control switch that controls the flow of liquid from the pump mechanism to the nozzle, liquid being pumped to the nozzle mechanism only when the liquid control switch is actuated; and an additive flow control valve for each additive that controls the flow of each additive to the nozzle mechanism along with the liquid pumped by the pump mechanism; the electrical controls receiving the control signals from the receiver and operating the pump mechanism in response thereto, the control mechanism being such that it causes liquid to be pumped to the nozzle mechanism only when the liquid on/off switch is actuated, the control mechanism causing the additive flow control valve to open for each additive when the selection switch for that additive is actuated at the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification