JPH0586264B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to pollution prevention, and more particularly, to an improved apparatus for minimizing ambient atmospheric pollution associated with airbrush cleaning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Airbrushes, including spray guns and similar devices, are often used, for example, by photographers and artists, to add contrast and color to enhance brilliance in drawings, prints, and photographs, and for other purposes. It is widely used for. Airbrushes use compressed air to break up or atomize a liquid carrying pigment. This liquid is withdrawn in a thin stream and directed from a needle valve controlled spray nozzle or tip to the target as a fine spray. The passageways and components of the airbrush through which the pigment-containing fluid passes require frequent cleaning to prevent pigments and binders from depositing on the components and to remove deposits. This is generally done by spraying a cleaning liquid such as water, an aqueous cleaning solution or an organic solvent, depending on the ink or paint being used. This cleaning procedure is generally performed during color changes during use or before discontinuing the use of the airbrush for a period of time, especially before long-term discontinuation. Cleaning sprays are generally released into the surrounding atmosphere, contaminating the atmosphere with particulate pigments and often other contaminants. This contaminant can be carcinogenic and toxic, both of which are highly undesirable and often dangerous.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved pollution prevention device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for minimizing ambient air pollution associated with cleaning an airbrush by spraying a cleaning solution through the airbrush.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a device, which is characterized by convenience, reliability, high efficiency and effectiveness, ease of application, low cost, and great versatility and adaptability.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the drawings that illustrate embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention is used in conjunction with conventional airbrushes, including spray guns, to deliver a liquid vehicle carrying a finely divided pigment or other coloring material in a low-dispersion, confined, high-velocity manner. Controllably sprays as a mist,
The airbrush can be cleaned of all particulate material in the airbrush tank, passageways, and nozzles by using a cleaning fluid in place of the previously sprayed ink or paint between uses of different colors. Remove deposits or residue.

A device according to the invention comprises a chamber having a front intake opening shaped and dimensioned to engage or seat the tip of an airbrush, and a rear relatively large exhaust opening; a porous filter disposed between the opening and the exhaust opening. Advantageously, a plurality of replacement filters are provided. The filters are spaced one after the other longitudinally between the openings and extend laterally across the chamber and form successive compartments with the walls of the chamber. The filters preferably become progressively finer from the front to the rear of the chamber. In order for the lid body or door to facilitate the replacement and cleaning of the filter,
Provide an entrance/exit to the interior of the chamber.

(Effects of the Invention) With the improved device of the present invention, the airbrush can be operated even in a small confined space.
Cleans reliably and efficiently in a conventional manner,
The method and apparatus of the present invention are simple, easy, low cost, and have great versatility and adaptability, and can minimize or not significantly increase pollution of the surrounding atmosphere.

Embodiment The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention, and reference numeral 10 designates an improved pollution prevention device when applied to an airbrush 11. FIG. The airbrush 11 is of any conventional construction and has a hand-held cylindrical body 12 with a conical spray tip or nozzle at its front end. and a peripheral ridge 14 between the rear and rear portions. A small cup-shaped tank 16 is disposed on the body member 12 and is in axial communication with the nozzle 13 by a needle valve finger-controlled by a button-shaped lever 17. The amount of compressed air delivered to the airbrush is controlled by the lever or by a flexible hose 18 connected to a compressed gas source.

The pollution prevention device 10 includes a chamber-forming box 19. The box body is made of paperboard, fibreboard, plastic, metal, or other suitable material, and has rectangular front and rear walls 20 and 21, rectangular side walls 2,
2, and a rectangular bottom wall 23. The square-wave lid body 24 may be elastic or self-hinged, for example.
It is hinged to the upper edge of the side wall 22 and extends from the front wall 20 to a point slightly in front of the rear wall 21. When the lid 24 is placed in a closed position overlying and engaging the top opening of the box 19 as shown in FIG. spaced in front of the edge, together with said rear wall, a box body 19;
A rectangular exhaust opening 15 is formed extending across the width. Depending from the front and side edges of the lid 24 are flaps or flanges 26 and 27, respectively, which extend over the upper edge of the front wall 20 and the lid when the lid 24 is in the closed condition. body 24
side wall 2 opposite to the side wall 22 to which is hinged
The upper edge of 2 is removably engaged with the upper edge of 2. The lid 24 need not be hinged to the side wall 22, but may be hinged to the front or rear wall, or may be in the form of a flanged lidded box 19 excluding the rear part. .

Three pairs of laterally aligned front, intermediate and rear vertical filter retaining grooves 28, 29 and 30, respectively, are suitably mounted on the inner surfaces of the opposing side walls 22. Groove pairs 28 and 30 are spaced a relatively short distance from the front and rear walls 20 and 21, respectively, and groove pair 29 is approximately halfway between groove pairs 28 and 29 and is relatively long from the front and rear walls 20 and 21, respectively. I'm keeping my distance. The bottoms of each pair of corresponding grooves 28, 29 and 30 are connected by respective transverse grooves 35 on the bottom wall 23 of the box. A preferably circular intake opening 32 is formed centrally in the front wall 20;
Its dimensions are, for example, from 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) to about 19.1 mm (3/4 inch) in diameter, and the airbrush tip or nozzle 13, or a portion thereof, is brought into substantially closed engagement with the opening. It is removably received or seated in the state, and the opening 32 is substantially sealed or limited to a wide width.

A first relatively coarse self-supporting filter member 33 of rectangular shape, of equal height to the front and rear walls 20 and 21, has its side edges vertically slidable in and out of the opposing front grooves 28. freely engage the bottom wall 2.
3 extends from the groove 35 to the sealing lid body 24.
A second filter 34 of a similar shape and having a finer porosity than the first filter 33 is removably supported vertically between the grooves 29, and a second filter 34 of a similar shape to the first filter 33 and 34 is vertically detachably supported between the grooves 29. A fine porosity filter 36 is vertically removably supported by the grooves 30 between the grooves. Filter 3
3, 34 and 36, together with the walls of the box, form successive relatively large compartments 37 and 38, respectively; the front wall 20 and the filter 33 form a relatively narrow intake compartment 39; The rear wall 21 and the filter 36 form a relatively narrow compartment, this last compartment being vented to the outside through the exhaust opening 15 when the lid 24 is in the closed position. The filters 33, 34 and 36 are constructed by opening the lid 24 to create an entrance to the inside of the box as shown in FIG.
The filters can be replaced by sliding them upwardly out of their respective groove pairs and inserting their corresponding filters.

Filters 33, 34 and 36 are preferably formed from a hydrophobic material resistant to organic solvents, such as fiberglass, polyurethane, polyester, nylon, polyolefin, etc., and may also be formed from fiber or filament, or It may also have a porous network structure.

The pollution prevention device 10 is applied to the cleaning of the airbrush 11, which cleaning takes place in a customary manner within a short time after use of the airbrush. That is, the tank 16 is first emptied and then filled with cleaning fluid. The composition of this cleaning fluid depends on the composition of the ink or paint used in the airbrush. This cleaning fluid is, for example, water, water and a dissolved cleaning agent, or an organic solvent.
The airbrush filled with the cleaning fluid is preferably held substantially hermetically with its spray tip engaged with the intake opening 32, and the button 17 is operated to open the air valve and the liquid needle valve. , thereby producing a spray and displacing the spray into a first
The liquid is injected toward the filter 33 and passed therethrough. The filter diffuses the spray and directs the mist in which the diffused particulate material is suspended into a first
into the compartment 37 of. The mist spreads into the first chamber and deposits particulate material or pigments on the surfaces of the first compartment. The mist, carrying the remaining finer particulate material, then passes under pressure through the second filter 34.
This second filter separates some of the particulate material and some of the remaining particulate material is transferred to the second compartment 38.
deposits on the surface of The upper particulate material-depleted fog then passes through a third filter 36 in which particulate material is further removed and the fog passes through the terminal compartment and exhaust opening 15 into the ambient atmosphere. go out to Some of the advancing particulate material is deposited on filters 33, 34 and 36.

(Effect of the invention) Box body 1 with a length of approximately 178 mm (approximately 7 inches), a height of approximately 102 mm (approximately 4 inches), and a width of approximately 127 mm (approximately 5 inches).
9. Approximately 6.35 mm (approximately 1/4 inch) thick with progressively finer porosity from front to rear.
Using filters 33, 34, and 36, the apparatus 10 removed approximately 90% or more of the particulate material coming out of the airbrush without compromising the normal cleaning of the airbrush. If desired, the filter is cleaned periodically in an aqueous detergent or a suitable solvent.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above,
Various substitutions and omissions and additions of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a contamination control device according to the invention in the open state and without the filter member attached, and FIG. 2 shows the device in its closed position with the filter member in place. FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3. 11... Airbrush, 13... Airbrush tip, 15... Exhaust opening, 19... Chamber forming box, 28, 29, 30... Filter holding groove, 32
...Intake opening, 33, 34, 36...Filter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for reducing the amount of particulate material released into the ambient atmosphere from an airbrush having a spray tip, wherein a cleaning fluid is pumped through the airbrush and in the passage of the fluid through the airbrush. a small intake opening at the front and a rear for engaging the airbrush tip, the liquid picking up particulate residue and carrying the residue being sprayed from the airbrush tip; A device for reducing the amount of emitted particulate material, comprising: a chamber having a large exhaust opening; and a filter disposed in the chamber between the front and rear openings.