NZ739709B2 - Remotely operated device - Google Patents

Abstract

Prior art problems include cutting insulation boards to fit interior walls, floor voids and ceilings is labour intensive, never 100% effective and an intrusive process for the occupants of the house. Other problems include cutting insulation panels to fit exterior surfaces also being labour intensive and other technical challenges with massive planning and aesthetic implications. Apparatus for spraying a material on a surface comprises at least one elongate member (408) having a distal end and a proximal end, at least one spray nozzle (1404) mounted at the distal end of the elongate member for spraying the material in a spray patter and a ground-engaging member (1420) mounted at the distal end of the elongate member and arranged to facilitate translational movement of the apparatus over a ground surface, a camera (1406) mounted at the distal end of the elongate member (1408) and connected to a camera output. The camera being arranged for capturing images of the spray pattern and the camera output being arranged to facilitate the viewing of images of the spray pattern from the proximal end of the elongate member. The apparatus also includes a control mechanism arranged to control the operation of the spray nozzle from the proximal end of the elongate member.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for spraying an insulation material on a surface of a void, the apparatus comprising: at least one elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end, and defining 5 a longitudinal axis; at least one spray nozzle rotatably and mechanically mounted at the distal end of the elongate member for spraying the insulation material in a spray pattern, wherein the spray nozzle is configured to be mounted at an angle relative to the ground surface, and wherein rotation of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis sweeps a path of the 10 spray nozzle through an arc; a ground-engaging member mounted at the distal end of the elongate member and arranged to facilitate translational movement of the apparatus over a ground surface of the void in response to pushing the elongate member in a direction of the longitudinal axis and in response to pulling the elongate member in a direction of the longitudinal axis; 15 a camera mounted at the distal end of the elongate member and connected to a camera output, the camera being arranged for capturing images of the spray pattern and the camera output being arranged to facilitate the viewing of images of the spray pattern from the proximal end of the elongate member; and a control mechanism arranged to control the operation of the spray nozzle from the 20 proximal end of the elongate member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging member comprises a support member provided with a sled, a ball or wheels.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sled defines a ground-engaging surface arranged to contact the ground surface, to be slidable relative to the ground 25 surface, in use, and to be rigidly connected to the elongate member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ground-engaging surface defines a convex profile in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the ground-engaging surface comprises a plurality of ground contact points each arranged to contact the ground surface 30 at one or more of a plurality of rotation angles of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ground contact points are arranged such that a rotation of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis away from a default rotational position raises a centre of mass of the apparatus away from the ground surface, MARKED-UP COPY whereby to impart a gravitational restoring force on the apparatus to return the elongate member to the default rotational position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a wheeled unit. 5

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wheeled unit comprises freely rotating wheels for engaging the ground.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the wheeled unit comprises a front wheel set and a rear wheel set and wherein the apparatus further comprises a further support member mounted between the distal end and the proximal end of the elongate 10 member and arrangeable to function as a fulcrum to suspend the rear wheel set away from the ground, whereby to steer the wheeled unit.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of the spray nozzle relative to the ground surface is selectable from a plurality of predefined angles. 15

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spray nozzle is mechanically connected to a motor such that rotation of a motor shaft of the motor sweeps a path of the spray nozzle through an arc.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the spray nozzle is mounted to the ground-engaging member. 20

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a handle at the proximal end of the elongate member.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member is removably attached to the ground-engaging member.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate 25 member is extendable, for example telescopically extendable, whereby to extensibly connect the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate member.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spray nozzle is connected to a spray material input.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the spray material input is connected to 30 a reservoir of spray material.

18. Apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the camera output is at the proximal end of the elongate member.