GB2551240A

GB2551240A - Spraying device

Info

Publication number: GB2551240A
Application number: GB1704359.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wright James; Czako Agnes; Goode Ian; Duffin Tony
Original assignee: SUSTAINABLE VENTURE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS Ltd
Current assignee: SUSTAINABLE VENTURE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-24
Filing date: 2017-03-20
Publication date: 2017-12-13
Also published as: GB201704359D0; GB201605096D0

Abstract

A device 1 is provided for spraying a building surface, such as the underside of a suspended floor (2, see fig 5). The device comprises an outer member 4, a chassis (5, see fig 2) adapted for movable support of the outer member and an inner member 3 arranged for extension from a forwards end of the outer member. A spray head 11 is attached to a forwards end of the inner member. A means 12 is provided for extending the inner member (in a telescopic manner), including a push-chain (15, see fig 3) and a sprocket drive (14) for the push-chain. The outer tube member of the device may be closed along its length. The inner member may be withdrawable to an extent to protrude for the rear end of the outer member or the inner member is stopped from protruding from the rear end of the outer member. The spray head may be pivotally mounted on the inner member for lateral movement to spray from side to side.

Description

SPRAYING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device for spraying a building surface, particularly but not exclusively, the underside of a suspended floor.

Building insulation has been improved in many respects in recent years.

Walls are built with cavities, which can be insulated with injected foam. The underside of a suspended floor is not easy to insulate, without lifting floor boards.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for insulating the underside of a suspended floor.

According to the invention there is provided a device for spraying a building surface, the device comprising: an outer member, a chassis, adapted for movable support of the outer member, an inner member arranged for extension from a forwards end of the outer member, a spray head attached to a forwards end of the inner member and means for extending the inner member, including a push-chain and a sprocket drive for the push-chain.

Normally the outer member will be a tube closed along its length.

Whilst it is envisaged that the inner member may be withdrawable to an extent to protrude from the rear end of the outer member, in the preferred embodiment, the inner member is stopped from such protrusion.

It is envisaged that the spray head may be adapted to spray in a spread manner. However we prefer to use a narrow spray and provide for lateral movement of the spray head for spraying across the width of a floor between its joists.

In the preferred embodiment, the spray head is pivotally mounted on the inner member for lateral movement to spray from side to side. A further pivot is provided for elevation to spray upwards. Cables are provided for controlling these movements. The inner member extension mechanism is adapted to withdraw the cables whilst keeping them taut. Conveniently this is done by providing winches for winding of the cables in synchronism with the means for extending the push-chain. An additional mechanism is provided for superimposing a lift shortening of a head lifting one of the cables. Another mechanism is provided for imposing respective shortening and lengthening on left and right ones of the cables for moving the head left and right.

The chassis is preferably adapted for determining the orientation of the outer member, conveniently with two pairs of upper and lower rollers. The rollers allow advance and withdrawal of the outer member. Further the chassis is preferably provided with means for adjusting its height and also means for bracing it in a position fixed with respect to a wall through which the members extend in use.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the sprayer device without support;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the roller base support;

Figure 3 is a cut through side view of the drive chain extension mechanism;

Figure 4 is a cut through side view of the cable winding mechanism;

Figure 5 is a side view of the device in use against an external wall;

Figure 6 is a top view of the sprayer head; and

Figure 7 is a view of the control system.

Referring to figures 1, 2 & 5, there is a spraying device 1 for spraying the underside of a suspended floor 2, which has an inner member 3 and an outer member 4. A chassis 5, supports the outer member 4 against a wall 6. The position of the chassis is adjustable due to rear supports 7 and adjustable wall supports 8. The rollers 9 allow orientation of the outer member 4 and the ability to advance and withdraw the outer member 4 with regard to the wall 6. A brick is removed to create an aperture in the wall 6. Once supported via the chassis 5 the outer member 4 is advanced into the floor space 10 through the aforementioned aperture. The inner member 3 is extended into the floor space 10 so that a sprayer head 11 attached to the inner member 3 can reach the extremity of an area to be sprayed. Extension and retraction of the inner member 3 within the outer member 4 is manually operated from a winch 12. As seen in figure 3 the winch 12 turns a chain drive 13 which engages a sprocket 14 and actuates a push-chain 15. Movement of the inner member 3 within the outer member 4 is facilitated by bearings 16 situated top and bottom within the outer member.

The cable winding mechanism as shown in figure 4 is connected to the inner member extension mechanism by a chain drive 17 which allows twisting There are rollers 18 sized to advance and withdraw the cables whilst keeping them taut. This is done by the winch 12 which winds the cables in synchronism with the means for extending the push-chain 15.

The sprayer head 11 must remain horizontal for passing through walls, however it must be near to vertical during spraying. The sprayer head 11 is lifted to near vertical as shown in figure 5 by a control button 19 shown in figure 7. This button is connected to a linear actuator 20 which pulls the sprayer head up by lifting the cable 21 which shortens the length to the sprayer head 11 as shown in figure 5. The sprayer head 11 can return to the horizontal position by the control button 19 which via the same process lowers the cable 21 and lets the sprayer head 11 fall back to a resting position, seen in figure 1.

To reach either edge of the joist cavity the sprayer head 11 is able to move laterally. This is actuated by a winch 22 which rotates a shaft 23 connected to a bar linkage 24 which in turn rotates the entire cable winding assembly via a bearing 25.

This pulls the cable 26 taut in the direction the winch 22 was turned, causing the sprayer head 11 to laterally move in the same direction as shown in figure 6. When the sprayer head 11 is in the desired position there is an on/off button 27 to begin (and stop) spraying. The inner member 3 is then retracted into the outer member 4 enough so that the next part of the suspended floor 2 can be sprayed. This process is repeated until the inner member 3 lies fully within the outer member 4.

When the inner member 3 is fully retracted inside the outer member 4, to allow the outstanding length of the outer member 4 to be sprayed under the floor the outer member is pulled backwards through the rollers 9. When spraying is complete the device is removed. Ventilation bricks are then installed and the next joist cavity is attempted.

To determine the position of the sprayer head 11 in the floor space 10 there are two guidance cameras, one on the sprayer head directed away from the operator 28 and another on the inner member directed towards the operator 29. The information from these cameras is displayed on screens 30 and 31.

There is a distance sensor 32 located on the top of the inner member 3 to ensure that the sprayer head 11 is the correct distance from the underside of the floor for spraying. This sensor is linked to three LED's, "Too High" 33, "OK" 34, "Too Close" 35 on the operation panel as seen in figure 7.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance, the device could be adapted to spray a wall cavity.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for spraying a building surface, the device comprising: an outer member; a chassis, adapted for movable support of the outer member; an inner member arranged for extension from a forwards end of the outer member; a spray head attached to a forwards end of the inner member; and means for extending the inner member, including a push-chain and a sprocket drive for the push-chain.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member is a tube closed along its length.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner member is withdrawable to an extent to protrude from the rear end of the outer member.

4. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner member is stopped from protruding from the rear end of the outer member.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the spray head is adapted to spray in a spread manner.

6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the spray head is configured for lateral movement with respect to the device.

7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the spray head is pivotally mounted on the inner member for lateral movement to spray from side to side.

8. The device of claim 7, pivot for elevating the spray head to spray upwards.

9. The device of any of any preceding claim, further comprising cables for controlling movements of the spray head.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the inner member extension mechanism is adapted to withdraw the cables whilst keeping them taut.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising one or more winches for winding of the cables in synchronism with the means for extending the push-chain.

12. The device of claim 9, 10 or 11, further comprising an additional mechanism for superimposing a lift shortening of a head lifting one of the cables.

13. The device of any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising another mechanism for imposing respective shortening and lengthening on left and right ones of the cables for moving the head left and right.

14. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the chassis is adapted for determining the orientation of the outer member.

15. The device of claim 14 where the orientation is determined with two pairs of upper and lower rollers that allows advance and withdrawal of the outer member.

16. The device of any preceding claim where the chassis is provided with a means for adjusting its height, and a means for bracing it in a position fixed with respect to a wall through which the members extend in use.

17. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising two guidance cameras to determine the position of the spray head in the floor space, one on the spray head directed away from an operator and another on the inner member directed towards the operator.

18. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a distance sensor located on top of the inner member to ensure that the sprayer head is the correct distance from a surface.