IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0041295
(2002-01-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Cutler-Malone Industries, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
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A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate materi
A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material. The apparatus is powered by a motor source which maintains an optimum pressure range inside the entrance conduit through the use of a feedback loop operating between the motor source, the compressor, a pressure valve and a throttle. The apparatus is of the appropriate size so as to be mounted on a vehicle.
대표청구항
▼
A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate materi
A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material. The apparatus is powered by a motor source which maintains an optimum pressure range inside the entrance conduit through the use of a feedback loop operating between the motor source, the compressor, a pressure valve and a throttle. The apparatus is of the appropriate size so as to be mounted on a vehicle. le and positioned to permit fluid under pressure to flow through an orifice thereof and to be injected into the expansion chamber by way of a second opening so that the fluid under pressure will create a fluid flow within the expansion chamber along the guide surface for causing a greater velocity of particle flow from the expansion chamber of the nozzle in the direction of the extension of the guide surface when it is oriented at least partially horizontally than would occur under gravity alone. 2. The particle dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the fluid assist system further comprises a fluid pressure supply line connected to the orifice defining element and connectable to a pressurized fluid source. 3. The particle dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the orifice defining element includes an internal chamber that has a larger open area in transverse cross section than the orifice thereof, the internal chamber also being open from a side thereof that is connected to the fluid pressure supply line. 4. The particle dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the orifice defining element further includes a surface feature at a side thereof that is positioned within the expansion chamber, and which surface feature modifies the fluid flow from the orifice into the expansion chamber. 5. The particle dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a bottom guide plate and a top plate spaced from the bottom guide plate by at least one side wall, the side wall, bottom guide plate and the top plate forming the expansion chamber. 6. The particle dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the bottom guide plate extends beyond the open side of the expansion chamber and provides the guide surface for guiding particles along a portion of the nozzle as they are ejected from the expansion chamber. 7. The particle dispensing device of claim 6, further comprising at least one side guide element that also extends in the direction of the bottom guide plate from the expansion chamber so as to laterally limit the flow of particles from the nozzle and to guide the particles from the nozzle. 8. The particle dispensing device of claim 7, wherein the bottom guide plate diverges from the opening of the expansion chamber. 9. The particle dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the side guide element is adjustably connected to the nozzle so that it can be positioned at a first position substantially aligned with a diverging side edge of the bottom guide plate and at another position over a surface of the bottom guide plate. 10. A particle dispensing system to be supported on a movable vehicle and for dispensing optical elements onto pavement marking material, that has been applied to a surface as part of a pavement marking process while the vehicle is moving, the particle dispensing system comprising a pressurized fluid source and a particle dispensing device that comprises: a nozzle having an expansion chamber with an open side and an application direction guide surface extending within at least a portion of the expansion chamber to guide and direct particles along at least a portion of the nozzle so that they can be ejected from the expansion chamber in an application direction to the pavement marking material as directed by the guide surface; a particle feed tube connectable to an optical element supply container and connected with the nozzle, the particle feed tube including an internal passage that opens into the expansion chamber by way of a first opening; and a fluid assist system comprising an orifice defining element operatively connected to the pressurized fluid source, the orifice defining element also being operatively connected to the nozzle and positioned to permit fluid under pressure to flow through an orifice thereof and to be injected into the expansion chamber by way of a second opening so that the fluid under pressure will create a fluid flow within the expansion chamber along the guide surface for causing a greater velocity of particle flow from the expansion chamber of the nozzle in the direction of the extension of the guide surface when it is oriented at least partially horizontally than would occur under gravity alone. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pressurized fluid source comprises a pressurized air source. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a control system for controlling the air pressure within an air supply line that is connected to the orifice defining element. 13. The system of claim 10, further comprising an optical element supply container operatively connected with the particle feed tube by way of a particle supply line. 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a pressurized feed means for urging optical elements from the optical element supply container toward the feed tube of the dispensing device. 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the orifice defining element includes an internal chamber that has a larger open area in transverse cross section than the orifice thereof, the internal chamber also being open from a side thereof that is connected to the fluid pressure supply line. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the orifice defining element further includes a surface feature at a side thereof that is positioned within the expansion chamber, and which surface feature modifies the fluid flow from the orifice into the expansion chamber. 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the nozzle further comprises a bottom guide plate and a top plate spaced from the bottom guide plate by at least one side wall, the side wall, bottom guide plate and the top plate forming the expansion chamber. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the bottom guide plate extends beyond the open side of the expansion chamber and provides the guide surface for guiding particles along a portion of the nozzle as they are ejected from the expansion chamber. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the dispensing device further comprises at least one side guide element that also extends in the direction of the bottom guide plate from the expansion chamber so as to laterally limit the flow of particles from the nozzle and to guide the particles from the nozzle. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the bottom guide plate diverges from the opening of the expansion chamber. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the side guide element is adjustably connected to the nozzle so that it can be positioned at a first position substantially aligned with a diverging side edge of the bottom guide plate and at another position over a surface of the bottom guide plate. 22. The system of claim 14 in combination with a movable vehicle. 23. The combination of claim 22, wherein the movable vehicle comprises a motor driven vehicle. 24. A method of dispensing optical elements from a particle dispensing system having an optical element supply container and a pressurized fluid source that are supported on a movable vehicle onto pavement marking material that has been applied to a pavement surface as part of a pavement marking process, the method comprising the steps of: providing a particle dispensing device that comprises a particle feed tube having an internal passage that opens into an expansion chamber of a nozzle, the expansion chamber having an open side, the nozzle having an application direction guide surface forming at least a part of the expansion chamber and for guiding and directing particles as they are ejected from the open side of the expansion chamber in an application direction to the pavement marking material as directed by the guide surface; connecting the particle feed tube to the optical element supply container so that optical elements can be supplied to the expansion chamber of the nozzle; and connecting a fluid assist system to the nozzle by way of an orifice defining element that is operatively connected to the pressurized fluid source, the orifice defining element also being operatively connected to the nozzle and positioned to permit
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