US2659629A - Rechargeable pressure spray device - Google Patents

Description

T. T. GRAHAM RECHARGEABLE PRESSURE SPRAY DEVICE Filed Aug. l0, 1949 Nvfl, 1953 ATTORNEYS @Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECHARGEABLE PRESSURE SPRAY DEVICE Thomas T. Graham, Houston, Tex., assignor of one-half to Ocie P. Alexander, Houston, Tex.

Application August 10, 1949, Serial N o. 109,57 7

3 Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rechargeable pressure spray devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure spray device which is adapted to receive any suitable liquid to be sprayed such as an insecticide, paint, liquid wax, etc., which is so constructed that the device may be properly pressurized or charged, whereby the liquid within the device may be sprayed or dispensed as desired; the device being adapted to be charged at relatively high pressures.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved spray device which is adapted to receive a liquid to be sprayed and which has means for repressuring or recharging the device with the usual pressure charge cartridge, whereby the device may be continuously refilled and recharged and need not be discarded as is usual with the pressure bomb type of spray devices now in general use.

A further object is to provide a spray device, of the character described, wherein the recharging cartridge containing a pressure medium is mounted in a position in communication with the interior of the liquid container of the device and remains in such position until the liquid has been entirely dispensed or used, whereby all of the pressure medium in the cartridge is utilized in operating the device.

Still another object is to provide an improved rechargeable spray device, of the character described, having an improved filling arrangement whereby the device may be illed with the liquid to be sprayed to a desired level whereby the allowable air space for the reception of the pressure medium gas is controlled thereby to control the pressure to which the device is charged and also to control within certain limits the liquid to pressure medium ratio.

Still another object is to provide an improved spray device wherein the liquid and pressuring medium are brought together in a mixing chamber in advance of the ejection nozzle; said mixing chamber functioning to thoroughly admix the liquid and pressure medium to assure proper atomization of the liquid being sprayed.

A still further object is to provide a spray device, of the character described, wherein the opening establishing communication between the liquid eduction tube and the pressure medium chamber may be varied in size to provide a control of the liquid to pressure medium ratio of the mixture which is to be discharged from the outlet nozzle of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved control valve for a spray device which controls the discharge of the pressure liquid from the device, said valve providing for an instantaneous release when opened and an automatic shut-off when closed; the structure of said valve being such that the valve does not close directly against the pressure in the device which assures a more efficient closing action.

A further object is to provide a spray device which is constructed so that it may be more economically manufactured and which includes an improved type of puncturing element for opening the repressuring cartridge and for assuring that said cartridge will remain open until the contents of the device are dispensed; said puncturing element also having means engageable with the cartridge, whereby said cartridge may be withdrawn from the device by means of said element.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view of a spraying device constructed in accordance withthe invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the cartridge receiving tube,

Figure 4- is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the control valve,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the closure member for the cartridge receiving tube, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a container or vessel which forms the main part of the spraying device and which is preferably constructed of an upper half lila, and a lower half 10b which are connected together with a slip joint connection and then suitably welded along an annular bead l I. The bottom of the container is formed with an axial opening l2 which receives the lower end of a tube or sleeve I3 and the eX- treme lower portion of said tube is preferably reduced to provide an external shoulder lli on said tube which engages an upstanding annular rim l5 provided within the container. The tube i3 may be Welded or otherwise secured within the opening I2 and the upper or inner end of the tubing has its peripheral portion indented or curved inwardly as indicated at I6, with the indented portions I6 being preferably located diametrically opposite each other. -As will be explained, the tube I3 forms a receptacle for a gas cartridge C, and the inner surfaces Isa of the indented portions I6 provide a seating surface for said cartridge,

The tube I3 is provided with a port or opening I'I in its wall and the position of this open.- ing with respect to the bottom of the container l may be varied. An eduction or discharge tube I8 extends from the bottomI of the container and has connection with a threaded nipple or itting I9 which is secured into an opening 2li formed axially in the top of the container ID. A control valve A having a discharge nozzle B is connected with the upper end of the nipple I9 and said Valve is disposed exteriorly of the vessel as is clearly .shown in Figure l, es will he hereinafter explained, when the valve A is opened liquid is drawn upwardly through the tube I8 While the ses or other pressure medium in the upper portion of the container may pass into the tube through en opening 2l located just below the nipple, lil. Actually, when the valve is. opened the pressure medium in the upper portion of. the container passes through the opening 2l and functions to siphon or withdraw liquid upwardly through the eduction tube I8. The mixture of the pressure medium land the liquid is then discharged through the nozzle B in the form of an atomized spray.

1n lling the container I0, said container is inverted from the position shown in Figure 1 and the liquid to be sprayed,I which may be an insecticide,y paint, liquid Wax or any other noncoagulating, non-viscous liquid, is introduced through the open end of the tube I3. The liquid will enter the container until its level reaches the elevation at which the port or opening Il is. located and. with the container inverted it will be evident that air will be trapped between, the plane in which the opening l1 is located and the bottom of the container. Ihis trapped air prevents any further liquid from being introduced into the. interior of the container and, assures that a desired space will be allowed within the container for. the reception of a pressuring medium.

After the liquid is introduced into the container I!! a gas cartridge C, such as may be purchased on the open market, is inserted into the tube and the rounded inner end of the cartridge will. cheese. the seat Ilia. The cartridge C may contain any suitable gas. under pressure, such as CO2 or Freon, and the length of the tube is as to locate the reduced end 22 of the cartridge within the tube. As is well known, the reduced end 22- o the cartridge Cv is normally closed; by a lead or other soft metal closure.

Following insertion of the cartridge C a plug element or closure 23 is adapted. to be threaded within the, end of the tube, I3 and this. closure has a cylindrical sump or recess 2 4 formed in its inner end for receiving the reduced end of the cartridge C. An O-.ring or other elastic sealing member which is mounted within a peripheral groove. oh the plus: element is adapted to form. e pressure-tight Seill between the element 23 and the-wall of the tube or sleeve I3. InV the base. of the recess 24 oi the plug elementv an axial pin 26 isprovided, and. when. the plus element is. thfeaded into the tube as illustrated in Figure l, the pin member 31..

25 is arranged to puncture the lead closure 22 of the cartridge C. The pin 26 is of a particular construction being formed with a pointed end 26a and having an overhanging prong 2Gb at one side thereof. The pin also has a vertical channel or groove 25e (Figure 6) formed therein. When the pin punctures the material at the end of the cartridge C said pin enters the interior of the cartridge and the prong 26h overhangs the material which has been displaced by the entry of the pin as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. Because the pin is substantially cylindrical in cross-section and because the material which closes the cartridge is relatively soft, there might be a possibility of said material closing around the pin, and the groove or recess 26e in said pin prevents` any possibility of an unintentional closure of the cartridge. Thus, once the cartridge is punctured said cartridge is open and the pressure medium therein may escape through the tube and then into the interior` of the main container I0.

The. parts are so proportioned that when the plug element 2 3 is threaded into the tube or sleeve I3 as shown in Figure 1, the pin 28 has opened the cartridge C. and has released the pressure medium into the container I0. The plug element 23 is formed with an enlarged circular disc or flange 2 which has its peripheral edge uniformly scalloped to provide a firm hand gripping surf-ace whereby threading of the plug element into the tube or sleeve is facilitated. The enlarged ange or disc 21 is of sufficient area so that it may function as a support or base member for the entire device after the same has been rie-pressured and. is ready for use- After the device has been properly lled and pressured by means or the cartridge C the liquid may be dispensed or sprayed as desired by manipulation of the control valve A. The details of the valve. A are clearly shown ih Figure 4 and include a cylinder or housing 28 having one end threaded at '29, to receive the discharge nozzle B. The. nozzle. is generally conical in shape and has a restricted discharge opening or orifice 3B and inwardly oi the orifice is a recess 3l which is adapted to receive a valve seat member 3 2. The valve, seat member is preferably constructed of an elastic material such as neoprene and has an annular seating surface 33 at its inner end with axial passage 34 communicating with the oriiice in, the. discharge nozzle. A ball valve 35 iS. adapted. to engage the seat 33 and is carried by the.' inner ena or a plunger as. The bere :sa of the housing is slightly larger than the plunger and a seal between said plunger and` said bore is formed by an O-ring or other elastic sealing operating stem 38 of reduced diameter extends from the plunger and has its outer endproiecting from the end of the housing or cylinder, said outer end having connection with the upper end 3 5, of' an operating handle die. A coil spring d I which surrounds the stem 38- is eennned between. the plunger and' the lupper en cl 39 oi the handle and constantly exerts its pressure to hold. the. valve 3G in a seated positions` With the, valve. 3,5 engaging its seat, the annular packing 31. around the plunger is disposed beyond a. passage 42v which extends through the connectingl nipple I .S and one end of this passage communicates. with the bore 28a of the cylinder 2.8. The other end.. of the passage is. in communication with a mixing chamber 4.3] which is formed within the connecting nipple 'I'Sr and said chamber has its opposite end communicating with the eduction or discharge tube I8. The opening 2| in the upper portion of the tube I8 communicates with the mixing chamber :i3 and thus when the valve is opened the pressure medium from within the upper end of the container I0 flows through the opening 2| into the mixing chamber and then into the bore of the cylinder through the reduced passage 42. This pressure medium creates a suction effect and also due to its pressure upon the liquid level forces liquid upwardly through the tube I8; it is apparent that the pressure medium and the liquid are admixed within the mixing chamber 43 and then ow outwardly around the plunger 3B past the unseated valve 35 and through the orifice 30 in the nozzle B. The mixing chamber assures proper atomizaticn of the liquid so that efficient spraying from the nozzle is assured. Opening of the valve is eiected by depressing the handle to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 with the handle fulcruming at the point F. When the handle is released the spring 4I immediately returns the valve to a seated position and because the plunger 36 and valve 35 are moving in the direction of ow, the flowing liquid under pressure will actually assist in moving the valve 35 to a seated position. In other words, the valve plunger 36 and valve 35 are not moved directly against the pressure liquid but are rather moved along the line of iiow of the discharging liquid with the result that a quick closing action on the valve is had.

As has been noted the coil spring 4I acts against the valve plunger 36 to hold the valve 35 in a seated position and the O-ring 37 confines the pressure in the area between the O-ring and the ball 35 so that this pressure is acting against that end of the piston in which the ball is mounted. It is evident that by controlling the size and strength of the spring 4I, the valve plunger 36 is maintained seated against a desired pressure; however, if the pressure in the area around the ball 35 and acting against the end of the plunger exceeds the pressure of the spring fil the plunger will be moved to an open position automatically so that pressure may escape from the vessel. In this manner, the valve and the particular arrangement of pressure acting thereon, together with the spring 4I, provides an automatic relief valve which will prevent excessive pressure building up within the container. This structure eliminates the necessity of requiring a separate relief valve since the relief feature for relieving excessive pressure is incorporated in the single control valve.

It is pointed out that the opening 2i in the upper portion of the tube I8 may be varied in size to vary within certain limits the ratio of pressure medium to liquid; obviously, if this opening is larger, a larger volume of pressure medium will be permitted to flow into the mixing chamber to admix with the liquid, whereas if the opening is smaller a lesser volume of pressure medium is introduced into the chamber.

It is apparent that the valve A may be manipulated as desired to spray or dispense the liquid within the container I0 in a desired manner. The pressure medium cartridge C remains in position within the device and the pin 26 maintains the end 22 of said cartridge open at all times. Thus, all of the pressure within the cartridge C Will ultimately be discharged into the container and will subsequently be ejected along with the liquid through the discharge nozzle B.

6.. It might be lnoted that unless the cartridge C remains in communication with the liquid chamber of the device at all times the entire gas supply within the cartridge C would not be utilized.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple and efficient spraying device is provided. The opening I'I in the tube not only controls the amount of liquid which may be introduced but also by its position will control the final pressure medium to liquid ratio. After the liquid is introduced the cartridge C is inserted Within the tube I3 and the plug element 23 threaded into the tube whereby its pin may puncture the cartridge C and permit escape of the pressure medium into the container. The parts remain in this position until the container has been emptied through the discharge of fluid through the spray nozzle. Due to the overhanging prong 26h of the puncturing pin 26 removal of the plug element from the tube will result in a withdrawal of the cartridge C. The cartridge may then be disconnected from the pin and discarded, after which the container may be relled with the desired liquid and properly repressured by insertion of a new cartridge in position within the tube.

The control valve A is of exceptionally simple construction and is arranged to provide for quick opening and quick closing. Before being discharged the liquid under pressure is passed through the mixing chamber 43 where it is thoroughly admixed with the pressure medium which assures efficient atomization of the liquid being discharged from the nozzle B.

It is pointed out that by locating the charging cartridge within a receptacle which is in constant communication with the interior of the container wherein the liquid is disposed, it is possible to utilize all of the pressure from the cartridge. Thus, the container may be charged under a relatively high pressure because with the cartridge being held open the actual pressure charge within the container is the pressure of the medium within the cartridge. The increased pressure is desirable because obviously, when the control valve A is opened the higher pressure will result in a greater spray of the liquid and will also project the spray a greater distance from the nozzle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a rechargeable spray device having a liquid container with an outlet in its upper end and a control valve communicating with the outlet for controlling the discharge of liquid from the container through said outlet, a sleeve mounted wholly Within the interior of the container having its inner end communicating with the interior of the container and its outer end secured to the inner Wall of the container, the bore of the sleeve being open to atmosphere through an opening in the bottom of the con- 7 tainexi, whereby said container may be inliiteil and the liquid introduced through said $1,253,119, said sleeve having a lateral port in its Weill termediate its ends at a predetermined pQll tor controlling the level to whigh the Q ,Qntflel may be filled, a recharging pressure mdiurn cart: ridge insertable entirely within the sleeve, n C 0.- sure for the open end of the sleeve 01? CQIlflllllS the cartridge therein, thread means c Qllrllillg said closure to said sleeve to permit Said, QlQllr@ to move inwardly toward Said .Qarr`l d, @im fil. puncturing element carried by the cloliie adapt: ed to engage and puncture the end of. the ser: tridge when the Yclosure -S @hladd inwardly within the sleeve, said thread means n dine Said puncturing element within said .cartridge @filer punciurine thereof. and said puneiuiring degli@ having a vertical channel ,estaplifshI ization from the interior of said ca yexterior thereof whereby Lhfl@ 1S @38911.69 .a Per llease of the pressure medium @9m lll@ Qll'trife into the interior O f .the flnzdllelf 2. A sprayer deviee including, .a solidali@ f Or receiving a liquid ,to lee sprayed and l1.. lig ,im Outlet Opening ai one end illeledilf ,d rif-@Maele having ,Qommunicetiqri Vwith ille misil??? 9? the liquid container and spaed from the outlet opening thereof, a drldg@ hdl/.1115.21 PleSSlllZilg @ef ,dium therein inseritaple within the reeptacld a closure for Aclosing ine .end of. the leegi'ele and lfor .confining the cartridge therein ,means n the closure ,for opening aid Acartridge id release ,the pressurizing medium into theinterior o f thecon- Gainer .to Preseglie? fill? same., .e liddid .edddiidn tribe extending imm ,the :leider perdn 0f the 991,1- tain container, a QIiilQl .valve hevige ddrilinuriicdildl with the outer end of said tuhe for controlling the discharge Qf the liquid therefrom, and a comimunieaiion pori 111111,@ l.upper ,periidnfdf the lube below the ,Outlet and above ,the-liquid level ln ille i9 the .Outlet erwin; ville Aend 0f the i9?? eergliiiidg ille pressure medium in the neer edition di illedileliier ig eiiiei" the; @be and @dirig with" the lidilidillerei, Said ,copi i291 valve including a houding .hiilns d ,discharge opening eslldbl Hengel ieeidhiouslrle, an annular shoulder o n said plunger sealing with. seid lidilsineend Serine irl Seid hdus'ifie lem-Oie from said discharge opening and engaging said shoulder to urge said plunger to elose said diselie'ree evening;

'-Ihe sprayer deye set forth in laim 2, toseiner "with e' disearse I ieZZle eomieeied i0 the valve f0.1 disehaigingeiomized liquid therefrom when sadvalve is Opened, ySeid ndzzle'having e resilient Valve seat therein, and a ball valve on ,Said'iilimger remdie from seid vShoulder and er1- gagfeahle with said seat to close said nozzle, s aicl outer end of said tube being disposed between said Iball valve and said shoulder whereby said ,pntaner can vbe pressurized by injecting a pressure medium into 4the nozzle to force said valve Open.

THOMAS T. GRAHAM.

Befereneee Cited .in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number New@ Dale 545,351 Durafort Aug. 27, 1895 v6'74,fi9 2 Brnie et al. May 21, 1901 956,704- Hepler May 3, 1910 I11455'19@ neas Jury e, 1915 1,657,782 Berg JanfSl, 1928 ,1,657,783 Berg Jan, 31, 1928 1,979,390 `Jacobs Nov. G, 1934 1,992,490 Lewis Feb. 26, 1935 dioses? ,Logon Jan. 1s, 193e J2,137,786 Schlosser Nov. 22, 19,38 2,195,554 ,Beardsley Apr. 2, 1940 2,378,451 Vensei June 18, 1945 2,441,011 lp'odeln May 4, 1948

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