Aerial fluid spraying system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019247877-A1
Application number	US-201916273638-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2019
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aerial paint spraying vehicle includes a body and a paint reservoir removably coupled to the body and configured to store paint. The aerial paint spraying vehicle includes a pressure vessel removably coupled to the body and configured to pressurize the paint from the paint reservoir. The aerial paint spraying vehicle includes a paint applicator assembly configured to receive the pressurized paint and expel the pressurized paint through a spray nozzle towards a target surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aerial paint spraying vehicle comprising:
a body; a rotor configured to rotate and provide a lift force on the body; a paint reservoir removably coupled to the body and configured to store paint; a pressure vessel removably coupled to the body and configured to pressurize the paint from the paint reservoir; and a paint applicator assembly configured to receive the pressurized paint and expel the pressurized paint through a spray nozzle towards a target surface.

2 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-axis gimbal configured to allow the spray nozzle to move along multiple axes relative to the body.

3 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a control system configured to control the multi-axis gimbal.

4 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the control system receives a signal indicative of an orientation of the aerial paint spraying vehicle relative to the target surface and controls the multi-axis gimbal to orient the spray nozzle in a non-perpendicular orientation to the target surface during an expulsion of paint through the spray nozzle such that a reactive force parallel to the target surface is generated by the expulsion of paint.

5 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle expels the paint towards the target surface in a fan pattern.

6 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising a spray nozzle actuator that rotates the spray nozzle such that the fan pattern rotates.

7 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the spray nozzle actuator automatically rotates the spray nozzle such that the fan pattern is substantially perpendicular to a current movement direction of the aerial paint spraying vehicle.

8 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the paint applicator assembly comprises:
a valve assembly comprising a first end portion opposite of a second end portion configured to be movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second end portion is configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized paint at the closed position, and both the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized paint at the open position.

9 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a reactive jet nozzle that actuates based on the actuation of the paint applicator assembly to generate a counter force that counters at least a portion of a reactive force generated by the paint applicator assembly when expelling the paint.

10 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the reactive jet nozzle is coupled to the spray nozzle such that an outlet of the reactive jet nozzle is axially aligned with an outlet of the spray nozzle.

11 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a preparatory jet nozzle that generates a jet stream that generates a first reactive force that is substantially equal to a second reactive force generated by a paint expulsion from the spray nozzle, and wherein the preparatory jet nozzle generates of the jet stream before a paint expulsion from the spray nozzle and ceases the jet stream substantially simultaneously when the paint expulsion from the spray nozzle begins.

12 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel comprises compressed and liquid carbon dioxide.

13 . The aerial paint spraying vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the paint reservoir comprises a first carbon-fiber tank with a first threaded connection mechanism and the pressure vessel comprises a second carbon-fiber tank with a second threaded connection mechanism.

14 . A method of applying a paint to a target surface utilizing an aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
coupling a paint reservoir to the aerial vehicle; coupling a pressure vessel to the aerial vehicle; controlling the aerial vehicle to the target surface; and actuating a paint applicator on the aerial vehicle to apply the paint to the target surface.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising activating a preparatory jet nozzle prior to actuating the paint applicator and deactivating the preparatory jet nozzle substantially when actuating the paint applicator.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising activating a reactive jet nozzle that activates substantially simultaneously when actuating the paint applicator.

17 . A mobile spraying system comprising:
an aerial vehicle; a paint reservoir coupled to the aerial vehicle, the paint reservoir containing paint; a pressure vessel containing a liquid propellant and configured to pressurize the paint from the paint reservoir; and a paint applicator configured to receive the pressurized paint and expel the pressurized paint towards a target surface.

18 . The mobile spraying system of claim 17 , wherein the liquid propellant remains independent from the paint.

19 . The mobile spraying system of claim 17 , further comprising a gimbal configured to move the paint applicator in at least one axis independent of the aerial vehicle and wherein the gimbal controls the paint applicator to an orientation that is non-perpendicular to the target surface such that a parallel reactive force generated by the paint applicator propels the aerial vehicle.

20 . The mobile spraying system of claim 17 , wherein the pressure vessel is communicatively coupled to a jet nozzle that actuates when the paint applicator expels the paint towards the target surface, such that a reactive force generated by the paint applicator is countered by a force generated by the jet nozzle.

Assignees

• Wagner Spray Tech Corp

Inventors

• Fideler Brian Lee
• Kundem Jeshwanth Durga Sagar

Classifications

• B64D1/18

  by spraying, e.g. insecticides · CPC title

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B05B1/3046

  the valve element, e.g. a needle, co-operating with a valve seat located downstream of the valve element and its actuating means, generally in the proximity of the outlet orifice (B05B1/308 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B12/14

  for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials {or several in selected proportions} to a {spray apparatus, e.g. to a} single spray outlet · CPC title

• B05B15/652

  whereby the jet can be oriented · CPC title