Remote controlled spraying device
AssigneeHydro-Chem Systems, Inc.
InventorJim C. Teague
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal remote control mechanism for controlling a power spraying device comprises an electronic control contained within the nozzle housing of the sprayer. Membrane switches in the controller are actuated to cause radio wave signals to be generated and transmitted by an internal antenna. The radio signals are detected by a receiver which converts the radio signals into control signals for a main pumping unit. The radio waves may also control the introduction of various chemicals into the liquid solution by the main pumping unit. The nozzle also contains a deadman's switch for turning off the flow of liquid in case the unit is accidentally dropped. A delay feature lets the operator change hands without deactuating the system. The nozzle gun can be used for wired cable systems as well as for radio controlled systems.
Claims14
A radio operated control mechanism for operating a pressure sprayer, wherein the pressure sprayer comprises a motor driven pressure pump mechanism that receives liquid from a liquid source and pumps the liquid under pressure through a hose to a hand held nozzle, the control mechanism including:
- a nozzle housing for the nozzle formed in the shape of a handle with a barrel portion and a hand grip portion;
- a liquid conduit mounted in the nozzle housing and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing outwardly from an outer end of the barrel portion;
- a plurality of manually actuatable electronic switches mounted in the nozzle housing in position for manual actuation by a user while the user holds the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the switches including:
- a deadman's switch that is actuated only when a user is holding the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the deadman's switch automatically becoming deactuated when the hand grip is released;
- and
- a liquid on/off switch;
- a radio transmitter and power supply therefor mounted in the nozzle housing in electrical contact with the switches, the radio transmitter generating continuing output signals comprising a carrier wave encoded with control information representative of the state or change of state of each of the switches;
- an antenna mounted to the nozzle housing and being connected with the transmitter to transmit the output signals from the antenna as airborne electromagnetic signals;
- a radio receiver in electrical communication with the pressure pump mechanism, the radio receiver receiving the airborne electromagnetic signals transmitted from the antenna and converting the signals into electrical control signals that control the operation of the pump mechanism;
- electrical controls connected to the pump mechanism in communication with the radio receiver, the electrical controls including a switch that controls the actuation of the pump, the electrical controls receiving the control signals from the receiver and operating the pump mechanism in response thereto;
- the control mechanism being such that it deactuates the pump when the deadman's switch is released or the on/off switch is deactuated or when the receiver fails for a predetermined period of time to detect a continuing signal indicating that the deadman's switch continues to be actuated, the control mechanism causing the pump to be actuated only while the receiver continues to receive a signal indicating that both the deadman's switch and the liquid on/off switch are actuated.
A remote control mechanism for operating a pressure sprayer, wherein the pressure sprayer comprises a motor driven pressure pump mechanism that receives liquid from a liquid source and may receive selected additives from additive sources and pumps the liquid and selected additives under pressure through a hose to a hand held nozzle, the control mechanism including:
- a nozzle housing for the nozzle formed with a barrel portion and a hand grip portion, with the nozzle housing having an interior chamber for electronic components that is sealed against water penetration;
- a liquid conduit mounted in the nozzle housing and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet facing outwardly from an outer end of the barrel portion;
- a plurality of manually actuatable electronic membrane switches mounted in the nozzle housing in position for manual actuation by a user while the user holds the nozzle housing by the hand grip, the switches including:
- a deadman's switch that is actuated only while an operator is holding the hand grip;
- and
- a liquid on/off switch;
- electrical control switches mounted in the interior chamber in the nozzle housing in electrical communication with the membrane switches, the electrical control switches generating output signals representative of the state or change of state of each of the membrane switches, the electrical control switches including relays that are connected so as to be actuated by the membrane switches;
- an electrical power supply means in the pressure washer in communication with the pressure pump mechanism for supplying actuating power to the pump, the pump including electrical switch means for turning the pump on when power is supplied to the electrical switch;
- and
- a wired cable interconnecting the electrical switches with the electrical power supply means such that the load current from the electrical power supply means passes through the relays actuated by the membrane deadman's switch and the membrane on/off switch to actuate the pump, the membrane switches turning the relays on and off to turn the load current on and off without requiring that the load current flow through the membrane switches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.