Self-aligning liquid coupler systems and related methods

US11618563B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-11618563-B2
Application numberUS-202016888440-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateMay 29, 2020
Priority dateSep 8, 2019
Publication dateApr 4, 2023
Grant dateApr 4, 2023

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  1. Title

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  2. Abstract

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  3. Assignees and inventors

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  4. Key dates

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  5. First independent claim

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  6. CPC / IPC classifications

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  7. Citations and related patents

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Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a first link to rotate about a pin joint, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. A system, comprising: a first link to rotate about a pin joint; a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end; and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening, the nozzle and the opening including poppet valve components to fluidly couple the nozzle to the opening. 2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conical taper of the funnel portion is to urge the nozzle towards the opening to accommodate misalignment between the nozzle and the opening. 3. The system of claim 1 , further including a pump to pump fluid to the nozzle from a fluid reservoir. 4. A system comprising: a first link to rotate about a pin joint; a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end; a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening, the funnel portion to interface with the nozzle; a structure; a stationary member; a first arm rotatably coupled to the structure and the stationary member; and a second arm rotatably coupled to the structure and the stationary member. 5. The system of claim 4 , further including a linear actuator rotatably coupled to the first arm at a first distance from the structure, the linear actuator rotatably coupled to the second arm at a second distance from the structure, the second distance greater than the first distance. 6. A system comprising: a first link to rotate about a first pin joint; a second link rotatably coupled to the first link at a second pin joint, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end, the nozzle having a vertical lever arm relative to the second pin joint; and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening, the funnel portion to interface with the nozzle. 7. A system comprising: a first link to rotate about a pin joint; a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end; and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the opening, the funnel portion to interface with the nozzle, the opening fluidly coupled to a fluid storage tank of a rotorcraft. 8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the rotorcraft is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • B64U70/99Primary

    Means for retaining the UAV on the platform, e.g. dogs or magnets · CPC title

  • with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

  • for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting · CPC title

  • the hose carrier comprising a pivoting unit · CPC title

  • Combined with valves · CPC title

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Frequently asked questions

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What does patent US11618563B2 cover?
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a first link to rotate about a pin joint, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, the second link having a nozzle at a first end and a weight at a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid inlet including a funnel portion and an opening, the funnel portion having a conical taper converging towards the open…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Deere & Co
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification B64U70/99. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Apr 04 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 3 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).