US4553702A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spraying system
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-02-04
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Granted: 1985-11-19
•
Expires: 2003-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A modular fluid spraying system including: at least one container for the fluid or fluids to be sprayed the container being fluid plug connectable to at least one fluid pumping which is in turn fluid plug connectable to at least one boom section, the boom section carrying fluid supply connections and being fluid plug connectable to other boom sections and to at least one sprayhead assembly detachably securable to the said boom section or sections; and at least one electronic data processing circuit electrically plug-connectable to the system and pre-set so as to regulate at least one electrically responsive operating parameter of the system when the system is connected to a source of electrical power in use; whereby various numbers of containers and/or various numbers of boom sections may be added or subtracted to the system to achieve a desired combination of fluid delivery and spray area.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A. Coffee
- 👤 Peter C. Bennett
- 👤 Leonard E. Houghton
- 👤 Graham C. Johnson
- 👤 John A. Sommerville
- 👤 Peter H. Boyce
- 👤 William J. P. Currall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:25
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B7/00; B05B7/24; B05B7/2486; A; A01; A01M; A01M7/00; A01M7/0089; A01M7/0092; B05B5/00; B05B5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A modular fluid spraying system comprising: at least one fluid container for supplying fluid to be sprayed having a fluid outlet port; at least one fluid pumping means having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; said fluid outlet port of the container being plug connectable with the fluid inlet port said pumping means; a plurality of boom sections being third plug connectable with each other and with the fluid outlet port of the pumping means; at least one sprayhead assembly detachably securable and fluid plug connectable to at least one of said boom sections; and at least one electronic data processing circuit electrically plug connectable to the system and pre-set to regulate at least one electrically responsive operating parameter of the system when in use; different containers and boom sections thereby being plug connectable within said system so as to readily achieve different system configurations of fluid delivery and sprayed area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A modular fluid spraying system comprising: at least one fluid container for supplying fluid to be sprayed having a fluid outlet port; at least one fluid pumping means having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port; said fluid outlet port of the container being plug connectable with the fluid inlet port said pumping means; a plurality of boom sections being third plug connectable with each other and with the fluid outlet port of the pumping means; at least one sprayhead assembly detachably securable and fluid plug connectable to at least one of said boom sections; and at least one electronic data processing circuit electrically plug connectable to the system and pre-set to regulate at least one electrically responsive operating parameter of the system when in use; different containers and boom sections thereby being plug connectable within said system so as to readily achieve different system configurations of fluid delivery and sprayed area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein each container includes at least one signal means adapted to interface with said data processing circuit and pre-set to regulate at least part of the spraying process in a way that is at least partly determined by the characteristics of the particular fluid to be sprayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A spraying system as in claim 2 wherein the signal means comprises a digital memory device electrically plug connectable to the electronic data processing circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A spraying system as in claim 2 wherein the signal means and its associated container are fluid/electrically plug connectable to the system at a common location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein at least one sprayhead assembly comprises an electrostatic sprayhead and is fluid/electrically plug connectable at a common location to its associated boom section which in turn, also carries fluid/electrical supply connections which are fluid/electrically plug connectable at common locations to other boom sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A spraying system as in claim 5 wherein each sprayhead assembly includes a high voltage generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein said electronic data processing circuit is of modular construction whereby its capacity can be varied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 including means for mounting the system on a vehicle for use in spraying of agricultural chemicals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 having a first electronic data processing circuit pre-set to provide remote control of at least part of the spraying process and a second electronic data processing circuit remote from the first electronic data processing circuit, the said first and second electronic data processing circuits being interconnected by a serial digital data communication link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A spraying system as in claim 9 in which the first electronic data processing circuit is mounted on a first part of the vehicle and the second electronic data processing circuit is mounted on a second part of the vehicle carried or drawn by the first part in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein a separate pumping means is provided for each container and which delivers fluid from a common outlet to at least one boom section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein each container includes a liquid detector and an off/on valve at its outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein each sprayhead assembly includes at least one electrical device which interfaces with the electronic data processing circuit and is pre-set so as to enable the electronic data processing circuit to influence the operation of the system in accordance with the number of sprayhead assemblies actually connected in the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 having a plurality of sprayhead assemblies electrically connected in a serial daisy-chain digital data transfer link with at least one electronic data processing circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A spraying system as in claim 14 in which the sprayhead assemblies are electrically interconnected with mating plug and socket assemblies which automatically maintain the electrical continuity of sid serial daisy-chain link with the remaining sprayhead assemblies when sprayhead assemblies are disconnected therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said boom sections is provided with at least one electrical circuit device which interfaces with the electronic data processing circuit and is pre-set so as to enable the electronic data processing circuit to influence the operation of the system in accordance with the number of boom sections actually connected within the system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A spraying system as in claim 1 wherein at least one said boom section has first electrical/fluid connectors disposed at predetermined intervals along it; and having at least one sprayhead assembly adapted for physical connection to said boom section at substantially any desired location along it and including second electrical/fluid connectors adapted to interconnect with said first connectors nearest available to the desired location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |