# US 2017/0284041 A1 · Control system for self-propelled line striper

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- Number: US 2017/0284041 A1
- Document ID: US20170284041A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/629,408
- Filed: 2017-06-21
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-10
- Assignees: Graco Minnesota Inc.
- Applicants: Graco Minnesota Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher A. Lins; Thomas L. Triplett; James C. Schroeder; Steven R. Kuczenski; Barry W. Mattson; Brian M. Mulgrew; Douglas S. Ryder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284041A1

## CPC

- E01C 23/16: Devices for marking-out, applying, or forming traffic or like markings on finished paving (E01C23/14 takes precedence; inserting or forming in not-yet hardened paving E01C23/02, in recesses formed in fully-set paving E01C23/09; marking-out playing courts or playgrounds A63C19/06; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; road surface markings per se E01F9/50); Protecting fresh markings
- A63C 19/065: {Line markings, e.g. tapes; Methods therefor}
- 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}
- B05B 9/043: having pump readily separable from container
- B05B 13/005: {mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers}
- E01C 23/22: by spraying {(E01C23/206 takes precedence)}
- A63C 2019/067: {Machines for marking}
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)
- 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)

## Abstract

A line striping system comprises a chassis, wheels, a spray system, a propulsion system and a steering system. The wheels are mounted under the chassis. The spray system is mounted on the chassis. The propulsion system is mounted on the chassis to drive a wheel. The steering system is coupled to the chassis. The steering system comprises a handlebar rotatatable to steer a wheel, and a speed bar pivotable to control the propulsion system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-propelled paint system comprising:
a chassis;
a first wheel mounted to the chassis;
a second wheel mounted to the chassis;
a hydraulic propulsion system mounted to the chassis, the hydraulic propulsion system comprising:
a hydraulic fluid; and
a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic fluid and connected to the first wheel;
a paint system mounted to the chassis, the paint system comprising:
a paint pump powered by the hydraulic fluid; and
sprayers fluidly coupled to the paint pump; and
a steering system comprising:
a steering lever rotatable about a first axis to move the second wheel; and
a control lever mounted to the steering lever to control flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein:
the second wheel comprises:
a carriage having a swivel post connected to the chassis; and
a tire mounted to the carriage; and
the steering system further comprises:
a pair of linkages connecting the steering lever to the carriage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 2 wherein the steering system further comprises:
a caliper mounted to the swivel post;
a centering post extending from the carriage;
a stop post connected to the chassis;
a caliper mounted to the chassis and having arms surrounding the centering post and the stop post; and
a spring coupled to the arms of the caliper to position the carriage in a preferred orientation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 3 wherein:
the stop post is adjustably positioned on the chassis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 2 wherein each of the pair of cables comprises:
a flexible cable extending between the steering lever and the carriage;
a mechanism to adjust a length of the flexible cable; and
a ball joint coupling the flexible cable to the carriage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the steering system includes an activation switch configured to discharge fluid from the sprayers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the steering system includes a push-button mounted on the steering lever, the push-button being configured to discharge fluid from the sprayers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the steering lever and the control lever are mounted on an adjustable post.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 8 wherein the post extends telescopically such that the height of the steering lever relative to a platform of the chassis can be adjusted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the control lever is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 10 wherein rotation of the control lever about the second axis in a counter-clockwise direction causes forward movement of the self-propelled paint system and rotation of the control lever about the second axis in a clockwise direction causes rearward movement of the self-propelled paint system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein rotation of the control lever in opposite directions causes forward or reverse movement of the self-propelled paint system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the first axis extends generally perpendicularly to a plane of the chassis and the second axis extends generally parallel to the plane of the chassis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 wherein the steering lever includes controls for the paint system, the steering system, and hydraulic propulsion system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The self-propelled paint system of claim 1 and further comprising a pivot-point joining the control lever to the steering lever, the pivot-point extending along the second axis.

### Claim 16

A self-propelled cart comprising:
a chassis;
a drive wheel coupled to an aft end the chassis;
a swivel wheel mounted to a forward end of the chassis at a swivel;
a hydraulic propulsion system mounted to the chassis, the hydrostatic propulsion system comprising:
a hydraulic fluid;
a hydraulic pump for pressurizing the hydraulic fluid;
a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic fluid and connected to the drive wheel; and
a valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor; and
a steering system comprising:
a handle rotatable about a first axis;
a cable extending from the handle to the swivel wheel;
a control lever coupled to the handle and rotatable about a second axis; and
a cable extending from the control lever to the valve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The self-propelled cart of claim 16 and further comprising:
a spring-biased lever coupled to the chassis to apply rotational bias to the swivel wheel; and
an alignment post coupled to the chassis to arrest movement of the spring-biased lever.

### Claim 18

A line striping system comprising:
a chassis;
a first wheel and a second wheel mounted under the chassis;
a spray system mounted on the chassis;
a propulsion system mounted on the chassis to drive the first wheel; and
a steering system coupled to the chassis, the steering system comprising:
a handlebar rotatatable about a first axis to steer the second wheel;
a speed bar mounted to the handlebar at a pivot-point extending along a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis and the speed bar being pivotable about the second axis to control the propulsion system; and
a push-button mounted on the handlebar and configured activate the spray system;
wherein the handlebar and the speed bar are mounted on a post, the post providing a second pivot-point about which the handlebar rotates and the post being configured to extend telescopically such that the height of the handlebar relative to a platform of the chassis can be adjusted; and
wherein pivoting of the speed bar about the second axis in a counter-clockwise direction causes forward movement of the line striping system and pivoting of the speed bar about the second axis in a clockwise direction causes rearward movement of the line striping system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The line striping system of claim 18 wherein rotation of the handlebar about the first axis in a first direction causes leftward steering and rotation of the handlebar in a second direction causes rightward steering.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The line striping system of claim 18 wherein the speed bar controls the propulsion system via a cable that extends between the speed bar and a valve of the propulsion system.