# US 10,478,841 B2 · Modular sprayer system for heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,841 B2 - Document ID: US10478841B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/819,756 - Filed: 2017-11-21 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-06 - Assignees: Harris Aerial LLC - Applicants: Benjamin Harris - Inventors: Benjamin Harris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478841B2 ## CPC - 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} - A01C 23/047: {Spraying of liquid fertilisers} - A01M 7/0089: {Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06)} - B05B 9/0403: {with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence)} - 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)} - 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} - 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)} - B64C 25/52: Skis or runners - B64D 1/18: by spraying, e.g. insecticides - G01S 17/88: Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications - H04N 7/185: {from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control} - A01C 23/007: {Metering or regulating systems} - A01C 23/008: {Tanks, chassis or related parts} - B05B 1/16: having selectively- effective outlets - B05B 15/65: Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits - B64U 20/70: Constructional aspects of the UAV body - B64U 50/30: Supply or distribution of electrical power - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2101/45: for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting - B64U 2201/20: Remote controls - G01S 17/02: Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves (G01S17/66 takes precedence) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR ## 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 ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: landing gear that is permanently secured to the liquid storage tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the valve unit includes a plurality of outlets for removably engaging a plurality of different elongated booms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) 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.