A method for monitoring a nozzle mouthpiece for placing on a nozzle for spraying materials, in particular dispersions, emulsions or suspensions.

A wedge device to selectively maintain a riser of a pop-up sprinkler head in a raised position, and a method of using the wedge device, the wedge device including an elongated member formed in a curved configuration between opposite sides of the elongated member to approximate a cylindrical outer surface of the riser, and a gripping member extending from proximate a top end of the elongated member to facilitate gripping of the wedge device, wherein a bottom end of the elongated member is configured to be inserted between the riser and a wiper seal of the pop-up sprinkler so as to wedge the riser in the raised position.

A paint sprayer includes an end bell, a motor connected to the end bell, a pump drive connected to the end bell, a pair of protrusions attached to an extending from the end bell such that each protrusion is cantilevered from the end bell, and a pump assembly comprising a pair of mounting holes and containing a piston. The pair of mounting holes is adapted to receive and slide onto the pair of protrusions to mount the pump assembly on the end bell as well as slide off of the pair of protrusions to remove the pump assembly from the end bell. The pump drive is configured to covert rotational motion output by the motor to reciprocal motion. The pump assembly is configured to pump paint when reciprocated by the pump drive while mounted on the end bell.

A paint sprayer includes an end bell, a motor connected to the end bell, a pump drive connected to the end bell, a pair of protrusions attached to an extending from the end bell such that each protrusion is cantilevered from the end bell, and a pump assembly comprising a pair of mounting holes and containing a piston. The pair of mounting holes is adapted to receive and slide onto the pair of protrusions to mount the pump assembly on the end bell as well as slide off of the pair of protrusions to remove the pump assembly from the end bell. The pump drive is configured to covert rotational motion output by the motor to reciprocal motion. The pump assembly is configured to pump paint when reciprocated by the pump drive while mounted on the end bell.

A nozzle monitoring system is provided for a sprayer system of a work vehicle. The system includes a first sensor configured to generate signals associated with vibrations of a first nozzle apparatus on the work vehicle that disperses a primary fluid from the sprayer system during operation; and a controller having a processor receiving the signals generated by the first sensor and having a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions. The processor executes the stored instructions to: convert the vibrations into a frequency domain representation; generate an image from the frequency domain representation; classify the image to generate a clog condition probability; and generate, based on the clog condition probability, a command to initiate a cleaning event of the first nozzle apparatus.

A nozzle apparatus is configured to distribute a primary fluid. The nozzle apparatus includes a support plate; a fluid manifold; a fluid nozzle element; an actuator gear assembly; and a pincher gear assembly having a first pincher gear and a second pincher gear mounted on the support plate. The actuator gear assembly is configured to drive the pincher gear assembly between a first position in which the first and second pinchers are positioned relative to each other and relative to the fluid nozzle element such that the fluid nozzle element has a first cross-sectional shape and a second position in which the first and second pinchers are positioned relative to each other and relative to the fluid nozzle element such that the fluid nozzle element has a second cross-sectional shape. The first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.

A nozzle apparatus includes a manifold defining a nozzle cavity within an interior, a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage, an air outlet passage, and an air inlet passage. A nozzle holder and a nozzle element are selectively pivotable within the nozzle cavity. In the nominal position, the nozzle element inlet is oriented toward the fluid passage inlet and the nozzle element outlet is oriented toward the fluid passage outlet such that the primary fluid flows through the fluid inlet passage and out of the nozzle outlet through the fluid outlet passage. In the cleaning position, the nozzle element inlet is oriented toward the air outlet passage and the nozzle element outlet is oriented toward the air inlet passage such that the flow of air is directed through the air inlet passage, and out of the air outlet passage to direct debris out through the air outlet passage.

A self-cleaning filter apparatus includes a filter unit and a plunger unit. The filter unit includes a screen device; and a filter unit housing that houses the screen device. The plunger unit includes a rod end housing coupled to the filter unit housing; a plunger rod with a first plunger rod end positioned within the rod end housing and a second plunger rod end within the filter unit housing; and a plunger assembly secured to the second plunger rod end. During a first filter cleaning event segment, the plunger rod is configured to translate between a nominal position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the first screen device end and a cleaning position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the second screen device end. The plunger rod is configured to dislodge, at least in part, debris from within the screen device during at least the first filter cleaning event segment.

A self-cleaning filter apparatus includes a filter unit and a plunger unit. The filter unit includes a screen device; and a filter unit housing that houses the screen device. The plunger unit includes a rod end housing coupled to the filter unit housing; a plunger rod with a first plunger rod end positioned within the rod end housing and a second plunger rod end within the filter unit housing; and a plunger assembly secured to the second plunger rod end. During a first filter cleaning event segment, the plunger rod is configured to translate between a nominal position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the first screen device end and a cleaning position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the second screen device end. The plunger rod is configured to dislodge, at least in part, debris from within the screen device during at least the first filter cleaning event segment.

A fluid ejection device that includes a housing, a fluid reservoir disposed in the housing and a fluid ejection head. A revolving maintenance station that includes an ejection head wiper and an ejection head capping device is movably attached to the housing and is configured for rotation to selectively position the ejection head wiper or the ejection head capping device adjacent to the fluid ejection head.