Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LINE MARKING APPARATUS
This invention relates to a line marking apparatus.
It has been conventional practice with line marking
apparatus to provide a removable container, for example of
plastics material, for line marking material supported on
a wheeled frame or chassis, there also being provided a
pump for supplying the line marking material to a line
l0 marking .head which incorporates a nozzle for spraying the
line marking material in a selected direction to mark a
line of predetermined width on a ground surface.
In some prior art apparatus it is known to provide two such
containers in order that the user should have a reserve
supply of line marking material. More recently it has been
known to replace one of the containers of line marking
material with a container of water of other flushing fluid
in order to flush line marking material from the supply
line between the pump and the line marking head and the
nozzle thereof. This permits the supply pipes to be
readily cleaned after the line marking apparatus has been
used. For example, according to DE-A-3 703 366 there is
provided a line marking apparatus in which a container for
line marking material and a container for cleaning fluid
are arranged side-by-side in a body comprising a support
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plate and side walls. A pump for the line marking material
is provided beneath the two containers.
It is a disadvantage of known line marking apparatus that
the apparatus is relatively cumbersome and heavy and has no
appeal to the user. Additionally, there are certain
drawbacks with the known arrangement of containers for line
marking material and cleaning fluid. One problem is that
the supply line for line marking material to the pump is
generally of significant length, and this part of the
supply line cannot readily be flushed with cleaning fluid,
and this can give rise to difficulties in the supply of
line marking material to the pump. A further problem is
that in cold weather the line marking material can increase
in viscosity or solidify with the result that the line
marking apparatus cannot be used.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a line marking apparatus which is able overcome or
minimise these disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a line
marking apparatus comprising a single body of monocoque
construction, the body incorporating a base, side walls and
a top; wheels mounted on the body to permit the apparatus
to be moved; and two bulkheads provided within the body in
order to divide the body internally into first, second and
third compartments, the first compartment being adapted to
receive line marking material, the second compartment being
AMENDED SHEET
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adapted to receive a cleaning fluid, and the third
compartment being adapted to receive pump means for the
line marking material and a power source for the pump
means.
The two bulkheads may be provided to divide the body
internally into forward, intermediate and rear
compartments. The forward compartment may be adapted to
receive the pump means and the power source therefore, the
l0 intermediate compartment may be adapted to receive line
marking material and the rear compartment may be adapted to
receive a cleaning fluid. The intermediate and rear
compartments may be positioned in heat conducting
relationship relative to one another.
The rear compartment may be positioned with at least one
side thereof abutting against a side of the intermediate
compartment.
2o The rear compartment may be provided in the lower region
thereof with an extension which extends around at least a
part of a further face of the intermediate compartment,
such as beneath the intermediate compartment, for example
across a majority of the surface area of the base of the
intermediate compartment. The extension may be provided
with a strengthening rib extending in the intended
direction of movement of the apparatus.
AMENO~D St;~Ff
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A rear axle may be mounted beneath a rear one of
compartments or part thereof (such as an extension
thereof), the rear axle carrying rear wheels. The rear
axle may be mounted beneath the rear compartment or part
thereof (such as the extension) by way of a pair of
transverse protrusions formed in the region of each side of
the base of the apparatus.
A channel may be provided between the intermediate
l0 compartment and the rear compartment for receiving an
electric cable or the like.
A longitudinally-extending rib may be provided in the base
of the apparatus, for example substantially along the
centre of the apparatus.
A forward one of the compartments may be provided with a
removable, for example hinged, cover.
A forward axle may be mounted beneath a forward one of the
compartments, the forward axle carrying front wheels. The
forward axle may be mounted beneath the forward compartment
by way of a pair of transverse protrusions formed in the
region of each side of the base of the forward compartment.
A line marking head may be mounted beneath a forward one of
the compartments so as to extend forwardly of the line
marking apparatus. The line marking head may be mounted
~INtE~tDED SHEET
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beneath the forward compartment by way of an elongate
member Which is received between a pair of protrusions
formed in the base of the forward compartment and extending
in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus.
The compartment for receiving line marking material may be
provided in an upper surface thereof with a large-diameter
aperture. The aperture may be provided adjacent the rear
face of the compartment for receiving line marking
material. That face of the compartment for receiving line
marking material adjacent the aperture may be deformed
outwardly so as to define an outwardly extending trough to
facilitate draining of line marking material from the
compartment.
A handle arrangement for propelling the apparatus may be
mounted in an upright groove formed in each side of the
body.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show more clearly how it may be carried into effect
reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an elevational diagrammatic view from one side
of an embodiment of a line marking apparatus according to
the present invention;
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Figure 2 is an elevational diagrammatic view corresponding
to Figure 1 but taken from the opposite side of the
apparatus;
Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the line marking
apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2; and
Figure 4 is a plan view from below of the line marking
apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The line marking apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4
comprises three sections, a forward section 1, an
intermediate tank 3 for line marking material, and a rear
tank 5 for water or other cleaning fluid.
The forward section 1 is provided for housing a battery, a
pump and valve apparatus for switching between supplying,
for example, line marking material, cleaning fluid, or a
mixture of line marking material and cleaning fluid to the
pump. The forward section 1 is constructed as a moulding
of plastics or like material incorporating a base, side
walls and a sloping top surface, there being provided in
the sloping top surface a removable, for example hinged,
cover 7 to provide access to the components provided within
the forward section.
A forward axle is mounted beneath the forward section 1, by
way of a pair of transverse protrusions formed in the
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WO 99109256 PCT/GB98/02473
region of each side of the base of the forward section, the
forward axle carrying front wheels 9. A line marking head
(not shown) is also mounted beneath the forward section 1
so as to extend forwardly of the line marking apparatus,
the line marking head being secured to the base of the
forward section 1 by way of an elongate member which is
received between a pair of longitudinal protrusions formed
in the base of the forward section.
The intermediate tank 3 for line marking material is
mounted immediately behind the forward section 1. This has
the advantage that the length of piping between the
intermediate tank 3 and the pump in the forward section 1
is kept to a minimum. The intermediate tank 3 is
constructed in the same manner as the forward section, that
is as a moulding of plastics or like material incorporating
a base, side walls and a top surface. A forward wall of
the intermediate tank (or a rear wall of the forward
section 1) forms a substantially fluid-tight bulkhead
between the intermediate tank 3 and the forward section 1.
The intermediate tank 3 is permanently secured to the
forward section 1, for example by welding or by way of a
suitable adhesive. An aperture 21 is provided in the top
surface of the intermediate tank 3 for enabling the tank to
be filled with line marking material and subsequently
drained. A further drain plug 25 is removably provided in
the base of the tank to facilitate the removal of any
remaining line marking material.
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The rear tank 5 for water or other cleaning fluid is
mounted immediately behind the intermediate tank 3, with
one face of the tank 5 lying adjacent to the tank 3. The
rear tank 5 is constructed in the same manner as the
intermediate tank 3 and the forward section 1, that is as
a moulding of plastics or like material incorporating a
base, side walls and a rear wal2 incorporating an inclined
top surface. A rear wall of the intermediate tank 3 (or a
forward wall of the rear tank 5) forms a substantially
fluid-tight bulkhead between the intermediate tank 3 and
the rear tank 5. The rear tank 5 is permanently secured to
the intermediate tank 3, for example by welding or by way
of a suitable adhesive. An inlet opening 19 is provided
towards the top of the rear wall of the rear tank 5 to
enable the tank to be filled with water or other cleaning
fluid. A drain plug 27 is removably provided in the base
of the rear tank 5.
The lower part of the rear tank 5 is provided with a
forward extension 11 which extends beneath the intermediate
tank 3 across a majority of the surface area of the lower
side ,of the intermediate tank 3. If desired, the drain
plug 27 may be provided in the extension il. The extension
11 offers a number of advantages. For example, the
extension of the rear tank protects the underside of the
intermediate tank 3 against damage from sharp stones or the
like: any damage to a tank for water or other cleaning
fluid is less serious than damage to the tank for line
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marking material. The extension 11 carries a rib 13 which
extends in the longitudinal direction of the line marking
apparatus substantially along the centre thereof, which rib
13 serves to strengthen the apparatus. The extension 11
also serves to conduct water or other cleaning fluid to the
forward end of the intermediate tank 3 with the result that
only a short length of piping is required between the rear
tank 5 and the pump in the forward section 1. Moreover, in
combination with the rear tank 5 lying adjacent to the tank
3, the extension 11 and the remainder of the rear tank can
be filled with warm water or other warm cleaning fluid in
cold weather in order to slow down any cooling of the line
marking material thereby giving the user Buff icient time to
employ the line marking apparatus before the line marking
material should solidify or become too viscous to use.
A rear axle is mounted beneath the extension 11 of the rear
tank 5, by way of a pair of transverse protrusions formed
in the region of each side of the base of the extension 11,
the rear axle carrying rear wheels 15.
A handle arrangement 17 is provided for propelling the line
marking apparatus. The handle arrangement is received in
an upright groove formed in each side of the rear tank 5
and is inclined rearwardly at a level above the rear tank
5 to facilitate propulsion of the apparatus. Switch means
(not shown) is provided on the handle arrangement 17 for
controlling operation of the pump. For convenience and for
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aesthetic reasons, electric cabling (not shown) extending
between the pump and the switch means may pass through a
channel formed between the rear tank 5 and the intermediate
tank 3.
It has been found that the arrangement of the tank for
cleaning fluid behind the intermediate tank 3 for line
marking material is particularly convenient for the balance
of the apparatus. This is because the tank for cleaning
fluid generally remains substantially full during use of
the line marking apparatus, while the intermediate tank 3
for line marking material empties progressively during use.
Thus, if the tank for line marking material was to be
positioned at the front or rear of the apparatus, the
centre of gravity of the apparatus would move rearward or
forward during use of the apparatus. Nevertheless, if
desired, the position of the tank for cleaning material may
be modified. For example, warming of the line marking
material may be more effective if the tank for cleaning
fluid is positioned within the tank for line marking
material. In this way, the tank for cleaning fluid can be
substantially entirely surrounded by line marking material
and can effectively transfer heat thereto. Access to the
tank for cleaning fluid can be by way of an aperture formed
in the upper face of the tank for line marking material.
The switch means has three positions, an "off" position, an
"on" position where the pump is energised until such time
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as the switch is returned to the "off" position, and a
momentary position in which the switch has to be held by
the user in order to energise the pump, the switch
returning to the "off" position when released by the user.
The "on" position allows the line marking apparatus to mark
a single long line on a sports field or the like, while the
momentary position facilitates the marking of one or more
short lines or dashes.
The aperture 21 in the intermediate tank 3 is of
substantial dimensions to facilitate filling and emptying
of the intermediate tank. A basket filter 23 may be
removably arranged within the aperture 21 to filter out
particles in excess of a predetermined dimension from the
line marking material when the line marking material is
poured into the intermediate tank 3.
The rear wall of the intermediate tank 3 may be curved
outwardly or may be formed with a shallow outwardly
extending V-shape (with the front face of the rear tank 5
being correspondingly shaped inwardly). When emptying the
intermediate tank 3, this permits the line marking material
to accumulate in the outwardly extending portion or trough
and also permits the periphery of the aperture to be
substantially aligned with the outermost part of the rear
face of the intermediate tank 3, thereby ensuring
substantially complete emptying of the intermediate tank 3.
To assist in ensuring the intermediate.tank 3 is completely
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emptied of line marking material and to facilitate any
cleaning thereof, the internal corners of the intermediate
tank may be rounded to ensure line marking material cannot
become lodged in the corners. If desired, the intermediate
tank 3 and/or the rear tank 5 may be provided with
calibration marks to indicate the volume of material or
fluid therein.
Thus, the line marking apparatus of the present invention
l0 comprises a single body of monocoque or integral
construction divided into two or more compartments (for
example, one compartment for the battery, pump, valve
apparatus and the like and another compartment for line
marking material: a further compartment may be provided for
cleaning fluid). Thus no separate frame or chassis is
required with the result that the line marking apparatus
can be significantly lighter and more easily manoeuvred
than known line marking apparatus. The line marking
apparatus can also be more aesthetically pleasing than
known line marking apparatus. Clearly, the arrangement of
the various sections can be otherwise than described with
reference to the drawings and the method of construction
can be other than described with reference to the drawings.
For example, the outer shell of the apparatus can be formed
as a single construction and the bulkhead or bulkheads
inserted subsequently and secured for example by welding or
adhesive.
