EP1683580B1 - Coating and spraying gun for building material - Google Patents

Abstract

The gun has a cylinder pneumatically actuatable under the control of a user to oppose itself to a return force exerted by a return unit (26) to respectively induce the release or closure of an opening. The cylinder has a piston (22) associated to a rod (18) whose free end (20) cooperates with an upstream end of a nozzle (14) in a relatively tight manner to close the nozzle.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a spray gun for coating a construction material, in particular a coating, a seal, a mortar, a cement or any other similar mixture, on any surface, especially indoor or outdoor, vertical or not.

Such a spray gun is associated with a device adapted to ensure the pumping and projection of said material, once it is constituted, that is to say, after mixing of its constituent elements.

PRIOR STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

The implementation of spraying or spray gun or coating is well known by the technicians of the technical field considered. Most of these lances or pistols implements a source of compressed air, capable of ensuring the projection of the actual construction material.

Among these bodies, the lance is known provided with a so-called "quarter turn" valve, thus able to seal the arrival of construction material. However, in such a configuration, in the event of untimely plugging at the outlet of the lance or the gun, the pressure of construction material increases very rapidly within the routing pipe thereof to the area of use, whereas the pumping device continues its operation, and therefore continues to supply said pipe material, except to provide a person at said pumping device to manually stop or remote operation.

We also know the lance to be plaster provided with another quarter-turn valve, but this time mounted on the arrival of compressed air. When this valve is closed, certainly, there is more projection of compressed air, however, the building material to be plaster continues to flow to the end of the lance, causing the consumption of it, in addition to dirt on the work area.

Spray guns are also known for spraying and possibly spraying pasty products using a gas under pressure such as air. Such a gun is for example described in the document FR1049806 and comprises, on the one hand, an open chamber outside in the form of a nozzle and into which the product to be sprayed is delivered and, on the other hand, a pressurized gas inlet tube whose axis coincides with that of the nozzle and which is provided with adjustment means allowing the operator to move his orifice towards or away from that of the nozzle by moving it along said axis, and consequently to adjust the conditions for projecting the product which of the chamber, is sucked into the annular space between the end of the tube and the nozzle, and then expelled to the outside by the gas stream. The adjustment means of the gas inlet tube comprise an operating lever, integral with the tube, which can be engaged in notches provided on the body of the gun, the operating lever being held in position by a return spring. .

Projection guns are also known, so-called as they are equipped with a trigger, manually actuated by the user. Such a gun is for example described in the document EP-A-1 134 028 .

Thus, compressed air is sent into the body of the gun by means of a pipe passing through the constituent handle thereof. The coatings and other similar products are themselves directed upstream of the handle, and their spraying is provided by means of compressed air by actuation of the trigger acting as a control member.

This type of device has the same drawback as lances equipped with a valve on the only compressed air supply, namely that when it stops operating the compressed air supply, it does not stop the flow of the coating or material that is to be projected out of the gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome these various disadvantages. It relates to a spray gun or coating, able both to be used to join or to plaster, and generally to project any building material, which is both simple to implement, easy design, thus promoting its dismantling and cleaning, in addition to its modular character.

This spray gun and coating a building material, including a coating, a seal, a mortar, a cement or any other similar mixture on a surface, and intended to be mounted at the end of a pipe for conveying said building material, comprises a gripping handle, defining an inlet chamber of said construction material in connection with said routing pipe, said chamber opening directly or through the intermediate a nozzle or a tip adapted to the outside of the gun through an opening provided for this purpose. This gripping handle acts as the body of a jack, the free end of the associated rod is provided with a shutter member of said opening. Said jack is provided with a return member inducing, in the absence of other constraints, maintaining in the closed position of said opening or, on the contrary, maintaining it in an open position, said jack being actuatable under the control of the user, so as to be able to oppose the force exerted by the return member, and thus respectively induce the release or on the contrary the closure of the opening.

According to the invention, the actuation of the jack can be performed pneumatically, the pistol grip also defining a compartment forming a front chamber of said cylinder, communicating with a compressed air supply under the control of the user, and clean to generate a force antagonistic to that exerted by the return member so as respectively to induce the release or, on the contrary, the closure of the opening.

In other words, the invention consists in providing the pistol with a shutter member actuable by a jack defined in the body of the handle of the pistol itself, said jack being itself under the control of a locking device. command, and capable of being implemented regardless of the type of projection desired, namely coating, plaster, joint, etc..While doing so, taking into account also the use of a pneumatically actuatable cylinder, it simplifies the implementation of the gun, by replacing the user to release the opening or closing projection against the restoring force exerted by the return member.

This cylinder can, depending on the designer's choice, be systematically in the closed position, avoiding the inadvertent flow of the projection material, after stopping the effective projection control, constituting one of the disadvantages of the devices of the prior art.

According to the invention, the rod of the jack slides collinearly with respect to the main dimension of the handle, and the material arrival chamber communicates by a concurrent derivation with the main dimension, itself in communication with the pipe. conveying said material.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the rod of the jack is hollow and is itself connected to another source of compressed air, also actuatable by the user, and to perform particular operations of the type plastering.

Advantageously, the handle is provided at the level of the opening area of a nozzle or a retractable nozzle or removably adaptable, very simply, such as for example by means of a nut.

According to the invention, the return member is constituted by a coil spring, the setting of which is a function of the admissible pressure within the front chamber of the jack.

Finally, the gun is equipped with a remote control distributor with two compressed air outlets, and to which a source of compressed air leads, to allow on the one hand, the operation of the complete installation, including projection of material, and secondly, the compressed air supply of the activation cylinder of the shutter member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématique d'une installation de pompage et de projection de matériau de construction, mettant en oeuvre le pistolet de l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un pistolet à jointer conforme à l'invention, dont les figures 3 et 4 sont des représentations schématiques en section, respectivement en position obturée et position ouverte.
• Les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues en perspective d'un pistolet à crépir, respectivement en position fermée et en position ouverte, dont les figures 7 et 8 sont des représentations schématiques en section.

The manner in which the invention may be implemented and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting indication in support of the appended figures.

• The figure 1 is a schematic representation of a pump installation and projection of building material, using the gun of the invention.
• The figure 2 is a perspective view of a joining pistol according to the invention, whose figures 3 and 4 are schematic representations in section, respectively in closed position and open position.
• The figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a plaster gun, respectively in the closed position and in the open position, whose figures 7 and 8 are schematic representations in section.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The figure 1 is a schematic view of a device for pumping and projecting construction material, which is associated with the gun referenced (6) or (7) according to the present invention, depending on whether it is a pistol join or pat.

This device is also subject to a patent application filed by the same applicant, the same day as the present patent application. It is therefore necessary to refer to it to know how it works.

This device consists of a tank (1) in the form of hopper, within which is poured the material to be sprayed in the form of a mixture of water and a powder material, to form a coating, a mortar, joint or cement, said material being intended to be projected, coated, jointed or plastered on an inner or outer surface, such as ceiling, wall, etc ..., by means of the spray gun (6, 7 ).

For this purpose, the tank (1) communicates with a pump (2) actuated by a motor (3). A conveying pipe (4) for the materials in question is detachably connected (5) to the pump (2) and to the spray gun (6) or (7).

In order not to unnecessarily overload the figures, the compressed air lines allowing the operation of the device described in connection with the figure 1 , were not represented.

It will now be described in more detail a gun (6) according to the invention, more particularly intended to join, and this in relation to the Figures 2 to 4 .

This pistol (6) is basically constituted by a gripping handle (10), of generally cylindrical shape, at which opens a branch (11), concurrent with the main axis (12) of symmetry and revolution of said handle. This branch (11) is intended to be connected to the pipe (4) for conveying the construction material, in this case a seal.

According to the invention, this handle (10) acts as a body or cylinder for a cylinder, described below in more detail. It further defines in the anterior zone an arrival chamber (13) located in the extension of the bypass (11), as can be seen on the figures 3 and 4 .

This chamber (13) communicates with an external opening through a nozzle (14) of defined diameter, suitable for producing a seal of desired thickness or size (s). This nozzle (14) is retractable and can in particular be removed after unscrewing a nut (15), sealing with the inlet chamber at this level being achieved by means of an O-ring (16).

It will be observed that the upstream end (17) of the nozzle (14) is frustoconical in shape, the truncated cone being of symmetry of revolution, and the axis of symmetry being concurrent and collinear with the axis (12) of symmetry of revolution of the cylinder body.

According to a feature of the invention, the jack comprises a piston (22) associated with a rod (18), also oriented along the axis of symmetry (12), and slidable in this direction. This rod (18) is received in a bearing (19) to ensure its guidance during its sliding within the cylinder body.

The free end (20) of the rod (18) is also substantially frustoconical in shape, so that, as shown in FIG. figure 3 , able to cooperate in a relatively tight manner with the upstream end (17) of the nozzle (14), so as to close the latter, and prevent any unwanted flow of the construction material present in the inlet chamber (13) when the stopping control of the pump (2) projection, and thus routing of said material is actuated.

According to the invention, the cylinder body defines another compartment (21) located in the extension of the arrival chamber (13), but posteriorly thereto. This compartment is intended to constitute the front chamber of said cylinder. It communicates via a pipe (23) with a source of compressed air supply, not shown, but under the control of a remote control distributor (24), and a push button (31).

This front chamber (21) is therefore likely to push the piston (22), and corollary the rod (18) at the bottom of the cylinder body (towards the top on the figure 4 ), and therefore corollary, the opening of the arrival chamber (13) on the outside.

In addition, an elastic return member (26), consisting in this case of a coil spring, is received in the extension (27) of the cylinder body, of smaller diameter than the compartment (21), and comes to bear against the rear face of the piston (22) and against the bottom of said extension (27). The latter is provided with an orifice (34) capable of being protected by a venting member (40), constituted in this particular case by a sintered bronze filter.

Thus, in the absence of any constraint, and especially in the absence of a sufficient compressed air pressure within the front chamber (21) of the jack, it is subjected only to the force exerted by the spring (26), thereby inducing the thrust of the piston (22) and therefore the rod (18) towards the opening of the inlet chamber (13), so that it is in position as shown in figure 3 .

On the other hand, the introduction of compressed air via the pipe (23) into the front chamber (21) following the actuation of the push button (31) induces the thrust of the piston towards the top on the figure 4 , ie in the direction of the rear of the handle, and therefore corollary compression of the spring (26), causing the recoil of the piston (22), therefore the rod (18), and thus releasing the opening of the nozzle (14) and the release of the projection material.

In order to ensure sealing, in particular compressed air, the bearing (19) for sliding the rod (18) is provided with seals (28) known per se and received in grooves provided for this purpose. within said landing. This particular zone of reception of the joints is also opposed to any introduction of construction material at the compartment (21).

The actual supply of construction material arriving as already said, through the pipe (4) opening into the inlet chamber (13) through the bypass (11), is controlled by the remote control distributor ( 24). It acts via a compressed air pipe (not shown), providing control and regulation of the projection device briefly described in connection with the figure 1 and whose details are better explained in the jointly filed patent application.

For this purpose, this remote control distributor (24) is provided with a trigger (29), hinged at (30), inducing, when it is actuated, the thrust of a pushbutton (31), releasing the compressed air within the front chamber (21) of the cylinder, and corollary, causes the release of the opening of the inlet chamber (13) to the outside.

Stopping the actuation of the pushbutton (31) stops the introduction of compressed air into the chamber (21) allowing the release of the pressure thus exerted, and corollary, leaving control to the spring (26) inducing the thrust piston (22) and thus the closure of the nozzle (14).

While the example described illustrates the default closure of the arrival chamber, it is perfectly conceivable, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, exactly the opposite situation.

In this case, the spring (26) is supported not at the rear end of the extension (27), but at the intermediate partition defining the compartment (21), and the pipe (23) of compressed air ends at the rear area of said compartment. The user then induces the closing of the arrival chamber by actuating the push button (31).

This configuration can be advantageous when it is necessary to proceed with the grouting, and generally to the coating or the projection of large surfaces without requiring any interruptions, and avoiding the effects of fatigue inherent in the actuation of said push button (31). This configuration can also be obtained by implementing a double effects cylinder.

We have shown in relation with the Figures 5 to 8 another embodiment of the invention, corresponding to a plaster gun (7). The general principles described in relation to the spray gun to be applied, mentioned in connection with the description of Figures 2 to 4 remain identical. The nozzle consisting of the nozzle (14) is replaced by another tip more suitable for the projection of plaster (32). Its implementation is identical and relies on unscrewing and then screwing on the nut (15).

However, for this configuration of the gun, the rod (18) is replaced by a hollow rod (33), and in addition, one of its two free ends (35) is likely to emerge at the rear of the handle by a hole (34), also acting as a guide bearing of said rod (33), depending on the action taken by the user. Said end (35) is in fact connected to another source of compressed air (41), whose flow rate is adjustable by the user by means of a control valve (36). In addition, the other end of the rod (33) is provided with a specific air intake nozzle (39), allowing the projection of air concomitantly with the projection of coating, in order to achieve effectively the plaster. This nozzle (39) is also configured so as to play the shutter function of the opening of the inlet chamber (13) of the gun on the outside, like the free end (20) of the rod (18). In this case, it is also frustoconical in shape, whose axis of symmetry coincides with the axis of symmetry of revolution of the handle (10).

In addition, the rod (33) is secured to the piston (22), this time not at one of its ends, but substantially in the middle. However, the operating principle remains identical to that of the example described above.

Again, the configuration shown provides, by default, the shutter of the arrival chamber (13). However, it must be kept in mind that the reverse configuration falls within the scope of the present invention.

The transition from one gun mode to another operates very simply. The handle (10) is in fact made up of two parts (37, 38) or (37, 38 ') that can be fixed to one another, for example by screwing. Reference (42) shows the place of cooperation of the respective threads, external and internal of these two parts.

In the simple projection or coating configuration ( Figures 2 to 4 ), the appropriate rod / piston / spring assembly (18, 20, 22, 26) is inserted in the front part (37), before screwing the rear part (38).

When it is desired to pass to the "plaster" configuration, after unscrewing the rear part (38) and removing the aforementioned active assembly, the new active hollow rod / piston / spring assembly (33, 39, 22, 26) in the anterior portion (37), and then a further posterior portion (38 '), provided with an outlet and posterior guide (34) of the hollow stem (33).

Said rear portion (38 ') is further provided with an orifice (43), positioned this time laterally, and capable of being protected by a venting member (44), also constituted by a filter in sintered bronze.

Then we proceed to connect the control lines or supply compressed air. It also proceeds to the modification of the tip (14, 32) by simply unscrewing and screwing the nut (15).

In order to ensure sealing at this rear portion (38 ') at the exit zone (34) of the hollow rod (33), said rear portion (38') is provided with a seal of sealing (45).

The whole of the interest of the device according to the invention is conceived, allowing within the same handle to have two types of pistol, in particular to join on the one hand, and to project, to coat or to plaster other go.

It also conceives the simplicity of realization of such a pistol, easily removable and therefore cleanable.

Claims (8)

1. Gun for coating and spraying a building material, and particularly a coating, a sealant, a mortar, a cement or any other similar mixture, on a surface, and designed to be mounted on the end of a line (4) conveying the said building material, comprising a gripping handle (10) defining an inlet chamber (13) for the said building material in communication (11) with the said intake line (4), the said inlet chamber (13) opening directly or via a nozzle (14) or a nipple (32) adapted to the exterior of the gun via an opening provided for the purpose, the gripping handle (10) acting as the body of a cylinder, whereof the free end of the associated rod (18, 33) is equipped with a shutter member (20, 39) of the said opening, the said cylinder being equipped with a return member (26) causing, in the absence of other stresses, the maintenance of the said opening in the shut position or, on the contrary, the maintenance thereof in the open position, the said cylinder being actuated under the control of the user, in such a way as to oppose the force exerted by the return member (26) and thereby cause the release or, on the contrary, the shutting of the opening, respectively, characterized in that the cylinder can be actuated pneumatically, and in that the gripping handle (10) defines a compartment (21) forming a front chamber of the said cylinder, communicating with a compressed air intake (23) under the control of the user, and suitable for generating an opposing force to that exerted by the return member (26) in such a way as to cause the release or, on the contrary, the shutting of the opening, respectively.
2. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claim 1, characterized in that the handle (10) has a symmetry of revolution at its main portion, and in that the rod (18, 33) slides colinearly with regard to the axis of symmetry (12) of the said handle.
3. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claim 2, characterized in that the inlet chamber (13) of the building material communicates via a bypass (11) converging with the axis of symmetry (12) of the handle, the said bypass (11) itself being in communication with the line (4) conveying the said material.
4. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the gripping handle (10) comprises two parts (37, 38) or (37, 38') joinable to one another, particularly by screwing.
5. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rod (33) is hollow and in that it is itself connected to a compressed air source (41), also being actuated by the user, and serving to carry out particular operations such as plastering, the end (39) of the hollow rod (33) acting as a shutter member of the inlet chamber (13), being formed of a compressed air intake nozzle.
6. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the nipple (32) or the nozzle (14) are retractable and movably adaptable to one of the ends of the handle.
7. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the return member consists of a helical spring (26) which is tared according to the permissible pressure in the front chamber (21) of the cylinder defined by the handle, the piston (22) and the rod (18, 33).
8. Coating and spraying gun for building material according to Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it is equipped with a remote controlled distributor (24) having two compressed air outlets, which is accessible to a compressed air source, for, on the one hand, operating the complete installation, particularly for spraying material to which the said gun is connected via the inlet line (4) and, on the other, supplying compressed air to the cylinder actuating the shutter member.

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