Discharge apparatus and unmanned aerial vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12421017-B2
Application number	US-202017788737-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2020
Priority date	Dec 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A discharge apparatus for discharging contents in an aerosol container, comprising, a first flow channel connected to an aerosol container; a second flow channel connected to the first flow channel; a support configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel; and a change unit configured to change a shape of the second flow channel, wherein the support changes a support position of the second flow channel in response to a change in a shape of the second flow channel, is provided. In addition, an unmanned aerial vehicle on which the discharge apparatus is mounted is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A discharge apparatus for discharging contents in an aerosol container, comprising:
a first flow channel connected to the aerosol container;
a second flow channel connected to the first flow channel;
a support configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel; and
a change unit configured to change a shape of the second flow channel, wherein
the support has
a supporting member configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel, and
a tip member fixed to a tip of the second flow channel, and configured to keep a common axis with the supporting member and configured to slide relative to the supporting member,

the support changes a support position of the second flow channel in response to the supporting member pivoting around the change unit causing the change in the shape of the second flow channel, and
the shape of the second flow channel is changed according to a relative position relation of a connecting portion to the first flow channel, the support position and the tip of the second flow channel.

2. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second flow channel has
a supporting section that can be supported by the support, and
a non-supporting section that is different from the supporting section,
wherein the supporting section and the non-supporting section are configured to change in response to the change in the shape of the second flow channel by the change unit.

3. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising
a containing unit configured to contain the aerosol container,
wherein the first flow channel is fixed to the containing unit.

4. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support has a circular structure through which the second flow channel penetrates.

5. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the change unit is coupled to the support, and is configured to change the shape of the second flow channel by changing a position of the support.

6. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the change unit is configured to change a shape of the second flow channel by changing its position relative to the first flow channel.

7. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support has a tubular structure inside which the second flow channel passes,
wherein the change unit is configured to change the shape of the second flow channel by rotationally moving the support in a predefined direction.

8. The discharge apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the tip of the second flow channel is free with respect to the support.

9. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the change unit has a plurality of rotation mechanisms each of which is configured to rotate about a different axis.

10. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support has an annular structure inside which the second flow channel passes,
wherein the change unit is configured to change the shape of the second flow channel by translating or rotationally moving the support in a predefined translated or rotational direction.

11. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tip member is further configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel.

12. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tip member also serves as a discharge unit configured to discharge contents in the aerosol container.

13. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support further has a camera.

14. The discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the support further has a distance-measurement sensor for measuring a distance from an object.

15. A vehicle comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle; and
the discharge apparatus according to claim 1 mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

16. A discharge apparatus for discharging contents in an aerosol container, comprising:
a first flow channel connected to the aerosol container;
a second flow channel connected to the first flow channel;
a support configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel;
a change unit configured to change a shape of the second flow channel; and
a coupling unit for coupling the support to a fixture unit provided separately from the discharge apparatus,
wherein the support changes a support position of the second flow channel in response to the change in the shape of the second flow channel,
the change unit is fixed apart from a position coupling the fixture unit and the coupling unit, and
the change unit is configured to change the shape of the second flow channel by changing a position of the aerosol container with respect to the fixture unit.

17. A discharge apparatus for discharging contents in an aerosol container, comprising:
a first flow channel connected to the aerosol container;
a second flow channel connected to the first flow channel;
a support configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel; and
a change unit configured to change a shape of the second flow channel, wherein
the support has
a supporting member configured to support at least a part of the second flow channel, and
a tip member fixed to a tip of the second flow channel, and configured to keep a common axis with the supporting member and configured to slide relative to the supporting member,

the support changes a support position of the second flow channel in response to a change in the shape of the second flow channel,
the shape of the second flow channel is changed according to a relative position relation of a connecting portion to the first flow channel, the support position and the tip of the second flow channel, and
the tip member slides in relation to the supporting member when the change unit causes the second flow channel to pivot around the change unit.

18. The discharge apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a containing unit configured to contain the aerosol container,
wherein the first flow channel is fixed to the containing unit.

Assignees

• Toyo Seikan Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kominami Atsushi
• Araki Souji

Classifications

• B64D1/18

  by spraying, e.g. insecticides · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64U30/20

  Rotors; Rotor supports · CPC title

• B05B15/62

  Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups · CPC title

• B05B15/652

  whereby the jet can be oriented · CPC title