Modular sprayer system for heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicles

• US 10,478,841 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Aerial, LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Aerial, LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US15/819,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 239 69, 239171, 239332, 239390, 239391
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/007 Metering or regulating systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/008 Tanks, chassis or related parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/047 Spraying of liquid fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/16 having selectively- effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/65 Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/007 At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels, for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0403 with pumps for liquids or other fluent material B05B9/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0426 with a pump attached to the spray gun or discharge device single-units hand-held apparatus in which the flow is effected by a pump B05B11/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/061 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/18 by spraying, e.g. insecticides spraying apparatus per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/70 Constructional aspects of the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/45 for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 : Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 : Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/30 : Supply or distribution of electrical power
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/02 : Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves G01S17/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A modular sprayer system for use with heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicles includes a liquid storage tank for receiving and storing any type of agricultural products. A mounting unit is located along the top of the tank and includes hardware for securing the system to a UAV. Skid-type landing gear is permanently secured to the outside of the tank, and an electric pump is disposed within the tank. The location of the pump dampens movement of fluid within the tank during flight. One or more elongated booms are in fluid communication with the pump and terminate into dispensing units having one or more nozzles for releasing the fluid. A control unit is in electrical communication with one or both of the UAV to which the system is secured and a system operator. A tank level sensor and imaging systems are communicatively linked with the control unit.

Claims

1. A modular sprayer system for use with heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicles, said system comprising:

a liquid storage tank having a top end, a bottom end, and a hollow interior space;

a mounting unit that extends upward from the top end of the liquid storage tank, said mounting unit including a plurality of apertures that are configured to engage mounting brackets on the unmanned aerial vehicle;

a pump that is in communication with the interior space of the liquid storage tank;

at least one elongated boom that is in fluid communication with the pump;

at least one dispenser unit that is in fluid communication with the elongated boom; and

a control unit that is configured to control an operation of the pump.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

landing gear that is permanently secured to the liquid storage tank.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the landing gear comprises a first pair of vertical shafts that are connected to a first horizontal skid;

and

a second pair of vertical shafts that are connected to a second horizontal skid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises:

an electric motor unit that is positioned within the hollow interior space of the liquid storage tank; and

a valve unit that is positioned along the top end of the tank at a location adjacent to the mounting unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the valve unit includes a plurality of outlets for removably engaging a plurality of different elongated booms.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a communication unit for communicating with another device;

a memory for storing operating instructions; and

a processor that is in communication with each of the communication unit, the memory, and the pump.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with a flight computer of an unmanned aerial vehicle to which the system is secured.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an electrical relay for controlling an operation of the pump, and

wherein an operation of the relay is controlled by the processor based on a communication from the flight computer of the unmanned aerial vehicle to which the system is secured.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a fluid level sensor that is in communication with the processor, said sensor being configured to determine a fluid level inside the liquid storage tank, and

wherein the determined fluid level is communicated to a device user via the flight computer of the unmanned aerial vehicle to which the system is secured.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an imaging system that is in communication with the processor, said imaging system being configured to capture at least one of visual images and LIDAR information, and

wherein the captured visual images or LIDAR information is communicated to a device user via the flight computer of the unmanned aerial vehicle to which the system is secured.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a power unit having a power cable for receiving power from a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle to which the system is secured.