Light-activated mist sprayer system

• US 7,306,167 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Solutions, Inc. (FEMO Group Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: NCH Corporation
• Inventors: Colarusso, Joseph Thomas, Kiplinger, Dale Vilmer, Paulson, Michael Lee, Pearce, Robert Clarence III
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGAN, JAMES SEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/970,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20060086823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 239/63, 239/64, 239/67, 239/68, 239/71, 239/337, 239/548, 239/203, 239/17.19, 239/205, 239/206, 239/204, 239/208, 239/550, 239/565, 222/59, 137/78.1, 137/78.2, 137/78.5, 700/284, 43124-125, 431/29, 431/33
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/06 Devices for generating heat, smoke or fog in gardens, orchards or forests, e.g. to prevent damage by frost
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/245 for pesticide application or distribution, e.g. using a network of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/34 specially adapted for insects
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/035 to several spraying apparatus B05B9/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1939 Atmospheric

Abstract

An automatic mist-sprayer system comprising a control unit having electronic circuitry adapted to activate the sprayer for a predetermined interval in response to a sensed ambient light condition of desired intensity and duration. The system desirably further includes an electrical power supply and a plurality of spaced-apart sprayer heads. A preferred utility for the system of the invention is spraying dilute solutions of insecticide or insect repellent during the periods of significant insect activity that typically occur around dusk and dawn. Manual overrides and a remote receiving unit are also disclosed for use of the system at times other than dusk and dawn.

Claims

1. A fluid mist sprayer system comprising:

a source of treating fluid;

an electrical power source;

a pump for pressurizing the treating fluid as needed to discharge the treating fluid at a predetermined discharge pressure and flow rate;

at least one sprayer head configured to receive the pressurized treating fluid and to discharge the treating fluid in the form of a mist;

at least one flow conduit providing fluid communication between the source and the at least one sprayer head;

an ambient light sensor;

an electronic control unit that initiates a flow of pressurized treating fluid to the at least one sprayer head in response to sensed ambient light of predetermined intensity and duration, wherein the predetermined intensity and duration are those that occur at dusk and dawn; and

wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a light level discrimination module, a pump controller module, a power supply module, and a remote receiver module.

2. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the treating fluid is selected from liquids, gases, suspensions, and mixtures thereof.

3. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 2 wherein the treating fluid is selected from the group consisting of insecticide, pesticide, fungicide, biocide, insect repellent, water, air, or mixtures thereof.

4. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 2 wherein the treating fluid comprises an insect attractant.

5. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 4 wherein the attractant is carbon dioxide gas.

6. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the light level discrimination module comprises an optical coupler, a hysteresis detector, dusk and dawn timing discriminators, and a logic gate communicating with the pump controller module.

7. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the pump controller module comprises a misting duration selector, a misting duration timer and an AC pump controller.

8. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the power supply module comprises a step-down transformer, a rectifier, a filter and a regulator.

9. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the remote receiver module comprises an RF antenna and a receiver.

10. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the pump controller module further comprises a manual start/stop switch.

11. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 comprising an array of spaced-apart fluid sprayer heads communicating with the pump through at least one conduit.

12. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 9, further comprising a wireless remote transmitter synchronized to the receiver.

13. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 comprising a housing that contains the electronic control unit and the pump.

14. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the pump has an inlet that draws treating fluid from a container.

15. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 11 wherein the pump has an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the array.

16. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the ambient light sensor is spaced apart from the electronic control unit.

17. A fluid mist sprayer system comprising:

a source of treating fluid;

an electrical power source;

a pump for pressurizing the treating fluid as needed to discharge the treating fluid at a predetermined discharge pressure and flow rate;

at least one sprayer head configured to receive the pressurized treating fluid and to discharge the treating fluid in the form of a mist;

at least one flow conduit providing fluid communication between the source and the at least one sprayer head;

an ambient light sensor;

an electronic control unit that initiates a flow of pressurized treating fluid to the at least one sprayer head in response to sensed ambient light of predetermined intensity and duration, the electronic control unit further comprising a light level discrimination module, a pump controller module, a power supply module, and a remote receiver module.

18. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the treating fluid is selected from liquids, gases, suspensions, and mixtures thereof.

19. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 18 wherein the treating fluid is selected from the group consisting of insecticide, pesticide, fungicide, biocide, insect repellent, water, air, or mixtures thereof.

20. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 18 wherein the treating fluid comprises an insect attractant.

21. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 20 wherein the attractant is carbon dioxide gas.

22. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the light level discrimination module comprises an optical coupler, a hysteresis detector, dusk and dawn timing discriminators, and a logic gate communicating with the pump controller module.

23. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the pump controller module comprises a misting duration selector, a misting duration timer and an AC pump controller.

24. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the power supply module comprises a step-down transformer, a rectifier, a filter and a regulator.

25. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the remote receiver module comprises an RF antenna and a receiver.

26. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the pump controller module further comprises a manual start/stop switch.

27. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 comprising an array of spaced-apart fluid sprayer heads communicating with the pump through at least one conduit.

28. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 25, further comprising a wireless remote transmitter synchronized to the receiver.

29. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 comprising a housing that contains the electronic control unit and the pump.

30. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 17 wherein the pump has an inlet that draws treating fluid from a container.

31. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 27 wherein the pump has an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the array.

32. A fluid mist sprayer system comprising:

a source of treating fluid;

an electrical power source;

a pump for pressurizing the treating fluid as needed to discharge the treating fluid at a predetermined discharge pressure and flow rate;

at least one sprayer head configured to receive the pressurized treating fluid and to discharge the treating fluid in the form of a mist;

at least one flow conduit providing fluid communication between the source and the at least one sprayer head;

an ambient light sensor;

an electronic control unit that initiates a flow of pressurized treating fluid to the at least one sprayer head in response to sensed ambient light of predetermined intensity and duration, wherein the electronic control unit further comprises a light level discrimination module, a pump controller module, a power supply module, and a remote receiver module; and

wherein the ambient light sensor is spaced apart from the electronic control unit.

33. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the treating fluid is selected from liquids, gases, suspensions, and mixtures thereof.

34. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 33 wherein the treating fluid is selected from the group consisting of insecticide, pesticide, fungicide, biocide, insect repellent, water, air, or mixtures thereof.

35. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 33 wherein the treating fluid comprises an insect attractant.

36. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 34 wherein the attractant is carbon dioxide gas.

37. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the light level discrimination module comprises an optical coupler, a hysteresis detector, dusk and dawn timing discriminators, and a logic gate communicating with the pump controller module.

38. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the pump controller module comprises a misting duration selector, a misting duration timer and an AC pump controller.

39. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the power supply module comprises a step-down transformer, a rectifier, a filter and a regulator.

40. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the remote receiver module comprises an RF antenna and a receiver.

41. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the pump controller module further comprises a manual start/stop switch.

42. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 comprising an array of spaced-apart fluid sprayer heads communicating with the pump through at least one conduit.

43. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 40, further comprising a wireless remote transmitter synchronized to the receiver.

44. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 comprising a housing that contains the electronic control unit and the pump.

45. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 32 wherein the pump has an inlet that draws treating fluid from a container.

46. The fluid mist sprayer system of claim 42 wherein the pump has an outlet disposed in fluid communication with the array.