US 11,724,272 B2
Systems and methods for a material sensor for a material pump
Christopher Lee Strong, Frederick, CO (US)
Assigned to Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/793,809.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/413,403, filed on Oct. 26, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2018/0111146 A1, Apr. 26, 2018
Int. Cl. B05B 12/00 (2018.01); B05B 12/08 (2006.01); F04B 49/04 (2006.01); B05B 9/04 (2006.01); B05B 12/14 (2006.01); B05B 7/24 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 12/008 (2013.01) [B05B 9/0409 (2013.01); B05B 12/006 (2013.01); B05B 12/085 (2013.01); F04B 49/04 (2013.01); B05B 7/2489 (2013.01); B05B 12/1418 (2013.01); B05B 12/1472 (2013.01); F04B 49/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a material tank configured to supply a material;
a material sensor system, comprising:
an inlet configured to receive a continuous flow of the material from the material tank, wherein the material sensor system is external to the material tank, wherein, in operation, the material sensor system receives the continuous flow of the material from the material tank via the inlet;
a bottom wall at least partially enclosing an inner cavity configured to receive the continuous flow of the material from the inlet, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first surface configured to contact the material and a second surface opposite the first surface;
an outlet configured to output the continuous flow of the material from the inner cavity;
a float system comprising a float, wherein the float is configured to float in the continuous flow of the material passing through the inner cavity, and wherein the float is aligned with the inlet and is configured to move in a first direction along a flow direction of the continuous flow of the material through the inlet and into the inner cavity and to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and
a switch coupled to the second surface of the bottom wall and disposed external to the inner cavity, wherein the float system is configured to engage the first surface of the bottom wall in response to an interruption in the continuous flow of the material through the inner cavity, and wherein the switch is configured to send one or more signals to a control valve system when the float system engages the first surface of the bottom wall;
a spray gun comprising a main body having an additional inlet configured to receive the continuous flow of the material into the main body of the spray gun; and
a material pump fluidly coupled between the outlet and the additional inlet and configured to receive the continuous flow of the material from the outlet, wherein the material pump is configured to direct the continuous flow of the material to the additional inlet of the spray gun to enable the continuous flow of the material from the material tank to the additional inlet until occurrence of the interruption in the continuous flow of the material through the inner cavity.