Radio controlled liquid monitor

• US 7,243,864 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Trapp, James M., Boissonneault, Raymond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dinh Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/270,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 239/587.1, 239/587.2, 239/280, 239/456, 239/458, 239/71, 239/73, 169/52, 169/60, 169/24, 169/51, 285/277, 285/920
• US Class Current: 239/587.2
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 31/24 attached to ladders, poles, towers, or other structures with or without rotary heads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/92 Remotely controlled

Abstract

A radio controlled liquid monitor, capable of rotation about a vertical axis through an infinite arc is disclosed. A rotatable body is rotatably mounted onto a base element for rotation about a vertical axis, and a discharge elbow is rotatably mounted on the rotatable body for rotation about a horizontal axis. A horizontal drive unit and a vertical drive unit operate on gears on the rotatable body and the elbow, to enable the rotatable body to rotate about a vertical axis, and the discharge elbow to rotate about a horizontal axis. A control module is attached to the rotatable body which receives radio control commands from an operator via a portable transmitter apparatus or a fixed transmitter apparatus. The control module and drive unit receive electrical power and control signals through a rotating connector positioned within the base element and rotatable body so that the control module and drive units receive electrical power and control signals regardless of the rotational position of the rotatable body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conveying and directing a fluid to a desired location comprising:

a base element having a first hollow conduit formed therethrough, said first conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end adapted to be connected to a source of fluid;

a rotatable body rotatably mounted to said base element, said rotatable body having a second hollow conduit formed therethrough, said second conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second conduit communicates with the second end of the first hollow conduit, said rotatable body capable of rotation about a vertical axis through an arc;

a discharge elbow rotatably mounted to said rotatable body, said discharge elbow having a third hollow conduit formed therethrough, said third conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end of said third conduit communicates with said second end of said second conduit, said second end of said third conduit terminating at a discharge opening which directs discharge of the fluid in a desired direction, said discharge elbow being capable of rotation about a horizontal axis through an arc; and

a control module capable of receiving control signal commands, said control module operably connected to a horizontal drive apparatus and a vertical drive apparatus so that said control module may provide control signals to said horizontal drive apparatus and said vertical drive apparatus in response to receipt of radio control signal commands to control the rotation of said rotatable body and said discharge elbow;

said control module further capable of causing said rotatable body to rotate back and forth in oscillation between predetermined limits established electronically by said control module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined limits are variable and can be programmed into said control module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined limits are variable and can be programmed into a transmitter in communication with said control module.