CA2573868A1 - Spray gun - Google Patents

Spray gun Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2573868A1
CA2573868A1 CA 2573868 CA2573868A CA2573868A1 CA 2573868 A1 CA2573868 A1 CA 2573868A1 CA 2573868 CA2573868 CA 2573868 CA 2573868 A CA2573868 A CA 2573868A CA 2573868 A1 CA2573868 A1 CA 2573868A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
actuator
switch
pneumatic
spray tube
spray
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2573868
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Danny Davis
Edgar Fiedler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2573868 priority Critical patent/CA2573868A1/en
Publication of CA2573868A1 publication Critical patent/CA2573868A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/02Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
    • B05B7/12Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
    • B05B7/1254Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling means being fluid actuated
    • B05B7/1263Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling means being fluid actuated pneumatically actuated
    • B05B7/1272Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling means being fluid actuated pneumatically actuated actuated by gas involved in spraying, i.e. exiting the nozzle, e.g. as a spraying or jet shaping gas
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05BSPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B1/00Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
    • B05B1/30Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
    • B05B1/3026Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock

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  • Nozzles (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention is a pneumatic spray gun for spraying a liquid medium, wherein the spray gun uses a flexible spray tube to control the spraying of the liquid medium.
The spray tube has opposite first and second ends with a nozzle formed at the first end of the spray tube and the second end of the spray tube being removably coupled to a medium supply line contained in the housing. The spray gun further includes an actuator movable between a first position wherein the actuator pinches the spray tube closed and a second position wherein the actuator permits the spray tube to open, the actuator being operatively coupled to a trigger mounted on the housing for operating the actuator between its first and second positions.

Description

TITLE: SPRAY GUN

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to pneumatic spray guns for spraying liquid materials that can be atomized such as glue, paints and coatings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pneumatic spray guns are used extensively to apply liquid adhesive solutions.
Traditionally, pneumatic spray guns included a metal or plastic grip having a trigger operated valve which, when opened by pressing on the trigger, permitted a stream of atomized liquid to be sprayed out of the spray gun's nozzle. The spray guns usually include two lines, one for the liquid medium being sprayed, and one for pressurized air to atomize the liquid medium.

Traditional pneumatic spray guns as used for spraying paints have be successfully used for spraying solvent based liquid adhesives for many years. However, over the past few years, there has been an increased demand for water based liquid adhesives. Water based liquid adhesives behave very differently than solvent based adhesives. In particular, solvent based adhesives are much more stable, remaining liquid even when agitated. Water based adhesives, on the other hand, have a tendency to form clumps when the liquid experiences sheer forces.
Unlike solvent based adhesives, clumps formed in liquid adhesives do not dissolve back into solution, and in fact tend to cause additional clumping. As a result, when used in traditional pneumatic spray guns, water based adhesives tend to cause the spray guns to fowl quite badly during use, resulting in the need for continuous adjustment, until becoming inoperable. When a pneumatic spray gun is fowled by clumped adhesive, the gun must be disassembled to be cleaned. This is a laborious and time consuming task. Therefore, an improved spray gun which is not prone to fowling when used with water based adhesives is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pneumatic spray gun for spraying a liquid medium, the spray gun including a housing containing a resiliently flexible spray tube. The spray tube has opposite first and second ends with a nozzle formed at the first end of the spray tube and the second end of the spray tube being removably coupled to a medium supply line contained in the housing. The spray gun further includes an actuator movable between a first position wherein the actuator pinches the spray tube closed and a second position wherein the actuator permits the spray tube to open, the actuator being operatively coupled to a trigger mounted on the housing for operating the actuator between its first and second positions.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1. is a side view of a spray gun made in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 2. is a top view of the spray gun shown in figure 1.

FIGURE 3. is a cross sectional view of the spray gun showing only one medium supply channel and one actuator.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the spray gun showing two separate medium supply channels and two actuators.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to figure 1, a spray gun made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item 10 and includes a removable cap portion 12 fitted onto body 14 which is held in place by screws 42. Grip portion 16 is formed onto body 14 and is adjacent trigger 34 which controls the flow of air and liquid spray medium through the gun.
Couplings 58 and 56 are adapted to couple to medium supply lines 57 and 55, respectively and coupling 54 is configured to couple to an air supply line 53.

Referring now to figure 3, spray gun 10 has internal medium supply channel 20 which is continuous with coupling 58. Supply channel 20 is removably coupled to coupling 21 onto which coupling end 23 of flexible spray tube 22 is mounted. Flexible spray tube 22 has nozzle 28 formed on the end opposite coupling 23. Flexible spray tube 22 is made of a resilient yet flexible material such as silicone rubber, flexible PVC, urethane or the like, which is sufficiently flexible to be pinched closed by actuator contact 40 of pneumatic cylinder actuator 24. Actuator contact 40 and actuator 24 are dimensioned and configured such that contact 40 is movable between a first position, shown at 43 wherein the contact pinches tube 22 closed and a second position, shown at dotted line 41, wherein the contact does not pinch tube 22 such that tube 22 is fully opened. In effect, actuator 24 and contact 40 act as a shut off valve controlling the flow of material through flexible tube 22 by pinching the tube closed. Preferably, actuator contact 40 pinches tube 22 at point 26, which is immediately adjacent nozzle 28 to ensure that no material leaks out of the tube after the tube has been pinched closed.

Tube 22 is contained within a compartment 27 formed between cap 12 and body 14.
Tube 22 and coupling element 21 are continuous with supply channel 20. Tube 22 is formed as an assembly with coupling element 21 so that the entire tube assembly is a consumable item which can be easily replaced when it gets worn or dirty. Removing and replacing tube 22 and coupling element 21 is easily achieved by simply removing screws 42 which secure cap 12 to gain access to compartment 27.

Actuator 24 is controlled by first valve 48 which is coupled to air channel 46, which is in turn continuous with coupling 54. Valve 48 is a pneumatic control valve which controls the operation of actuator 24 by controlling the flow of air through air channel 38 which is coupled to actuator 24. Valve 48 operates like an on off switch controlling the operation of actuator 24 by shutting off or turning on the flow of air through channel 38. Valve 48 operates between an on state wherein the valve causes actuator 24 to move arm 40 into its first position, and an off state wherein the valve causes actuator 24 to move arm 40 into its second position.
Valve 48 has valve actuator 50 which is mounted onto housing 14 adjacent trigger 34 such that when the user squeezes trigger 34, actuator 50 is engaged and the valve is placed into its on state. Valve 48 is configured to normally remain in its off state so that when the user releases trigger 34, the valve will return to its off state which in turn causes actuator 24 to close off tube 22.

Gun 10 also has pneumatic valve 18 which controls the flow of air through second air channel 36. Second air channe136 exits at port 52 which is positioned adjacent nozzle 28 so that the flow of compressed air through port 52 causes the atomization of the liquid exiting nozzle 28.
Pneumatic valve 18 also has a valve actuator 44 which is mounted adjacent trigger 34 which when squeezed, depresses the actuator causing the valve to open to allow a flow of air to pass through air channe136. Preferably, actuator 44 of valve 18 is positioned closer to switch 34 than actuator 50 of valve 48 so that when the trigger is squeezed valve 18 is activated immediately before valve 48 is activated. This ensures that all of the fluid flowing from nozzle 28 is atomized.

Figure 4 illustrates how the present gun can be fitted with a secondary medium flow channe162 for delivering a second liquid material, such as an activator or catalyst, to the atomized stream of material flowing from the gun. The second flow channel exits at port 64 and the flow of material through the port is controlled by pneumatic valve 60.
Pneumatic valve 60 operates between an opened state wherein material can flow through channe162 and a closed state wherein the valve closes off the flow of material through the cannel.
Pneumatic valve 60 is coupled to pneumatic control valve 48 so that when control valve 48 causes actuator 24 to open tube 22, pneumatic valve 60 is simultaneously opened. In this way, two separate flows of liquid material are ejected through gun 10 simultaneously. Actuators 24 and 60 are adjustable to control the flow rate of both the medium and activator (or catalyst).

Atomization of the fluid is achieved by pressurized air which exits gun 10 through air passages in the body 14 as well as air passages 9 and air openings 7 in cap 12. Air passages 9 in cap 12 are coupled to air passage 36. The air passing from the passages in cap 12 contribute greatly to the shape and size of the spray pattern. It is therefore possible to offer various caps which would differ in configuration of the air passages, such as the size, quantity, angle and placement of the air passages. The advantage to users of the gun is to offer various spray patterns by interchanging the caps 12 only, without a need to change the entire gun.

The present invention has many advantages over the prior art. In particular, flexible tube 22 and actuator 24 form a very effective valve which applies very weak sheer forces onto the liquid contained in tube 22. As a result, the liquid in tube 22 is far less likely to congeal and clump as a result of continuously operating the spray gun on and off.
Furthermore, since flexible tube 22 is easily accessible and easily removed, it is easy for a user to service the spray gun to replace the tube in the event the gun becomes clogged.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A pneumatic spray gun for spraying a liquid medium comprising:
a housing;

a resiliently flexible spray tube having opposite first and second ends, a nozzle formed at the first end of the spray tube, the second end of the spray tube being removably coupled to a medium supply channel contained in the housing, the medium supply channel having a coupling for connection to an external medium supply line;

an actuator movable between a first position wherein the actuator pinches the spray tube closed and a second position wherein the actuator permits the spray tube to open, the actuator being operatively coupled to a trigger for operating the actuator between its first and second positions.
2. The pneumatic spray gun of claim 1 wherein the spray tube is contained in a compartment of the housing having a removable cover, the compartment having a nozzle port for receiving the nozzle and directing it away from the spray gun, the actuator pinching the spray tube at a position on the spray tube adjacent the nozzle.
3. The pneumatic spray gun of claim 1 wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to a first switch, the first switch operating between an on state wherein the switch causes the actuator to move into its first position and a closed state wherein the first switch causes the actuator to move into its second position, the first switch being positioned adjacent the trigger such that the trigger, when depressed, causes the first switch to change from its closed state to its on state.
4. The pneumatic spray gun of claim 3 wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator and the switch is a pneumatic valve.
5. The pneumatic spray gun of claim 3 wherein the gun further comprises an air line for supplying the gun with compressed air for atomizing the liquid medium and further comprising a second switch coupled to the air line, the second switch operating between an on state wherein air can flow through the air line to atomize the liquid medium and a closed state wherein the air line is closed, the second switch being mounted to the housing adjacent the trigger such that when the trigger is depressed, the second switch is placed in its open state.
6. The pneumatic spray gun of claim 2 wherein the removable cover has at least one air passage with an outlet for directing the sprayed liquid.
CA 2573868 2007-01-12 2007-01-12 Spray gun Abandoned CA2573868A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2573868 CA2573868A1 (en) 2007-01-12 2007-01-12 Spray gun

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2573868 CA2573868A1 (en) 2007-01-12 2007-01-12 Spray gun

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2573868A1 true CA2573868A1 (en) 2008-07-12

Family

ID=39595872

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2573868 Abandoned CA2573868A1 (en) 2007-01-12 2007-01-12 Spray gun

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2573868A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010052566A1 (en) 2010-11-25 2012-05-31 Festo Ag & Co. Kg Hand-held dispensing device i.e. medium spray gun, for manually controlled discharge of flowable medium, has squeezing elements coupled with hand operating element such that pipe element is squeezed based on position of operating element
CN106475245A (en) * 2016-12-09 2017-03-08 王梅竹 Portable snow spray machine

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010052566A1 (en) 2010-11-25 2012-05-31 Festo Ag & Co. Kg Hand-held dispensing device i.e. medium spray gun, for manually controlled discharge of flowable medium, has squeezing elements coupled with hand operating element such that pipe element is squeezed based on position of operating element
DE102010052566B4 (en) * 2010-11-25 2012-12-06 Festo Ag & Co. Kg Output device for a flowable medium
CN106475245A (en) * 2016-12-09 2017-03-08 王梅竹 Portable snow spray machine
CN106475245B (en) * 2016-12-09 2022-06-17 王梅竹 Portable snow sprayer

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Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead

Effective date: 20160519