Patent ID: 9739712
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: A01G,A63J,F41H,G01J,G01M,G01N

Claim:
1. A rain and fog testing apparatus, comprising: a first and second fluid shutoff coupler; a plurality of dispersion heads, wherein each of said plurality of dispersion heads comprise a valve configured to control output of the valve's respective dispersion head; a fluid channel coupled with and disposed between said first fluid shutoff coupler and said second fluid shutoff coupler, said fluid channel is fluidly coupled with said plurality of dispersion heads, wherein said plurality of dispersion heads are configured to selectively produce a spray pattern in a pattern such that said spray pattern does not result in a gap in the spray pattern over a predetermined volume of area comprising a test area, wherein said plurality of dispersion heads are further configured to generate overlapping spray pattern portions in the spray pattern over the test area; a liquid pump fluidly coupled to the fluid channel through one of said first or second fluid shutoff couplers; a liquid heater configured to selectively heat liquid supplied to said plurality of dispersion heads; and a controller that provides electrical control of the first fluid shutoff coupler, the second fluid shutoff coupler, the plurality of dispersion heads, the liquid pump, and the heater; wherein the second fluid shutoff coupler is configured to fluidly couple said fluid channel to a plurality of additional fluid channels; wherein the controller adjusts orientation of output from the dispersion heads by adjusting each said valve as well as operating the first fluid shutoff coupler, the second fluid shutoff coupler, the plurality of dispersion heads, the liquid pump, and the liquid heater to create a rain or fog output approximating a spray pattern simulation of one of a plurality of rain or fog events over said test area.