US2175601A

US2175601A - Calking gun

Info

Publication number: US2175601A
Application number: US116808A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grund William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-12-19
Filing date: 1936-12-19
Publication date: 1939-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1956-10-10

Description

Oct. 10, 1939. w. GRUND 2,175,601

CALKING GUN Filed Dec. 19, 1936 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for discharging or dispensing plastic materials and more particularly to improvements in calking guns and devices of similar character.

The calking guns which have been employed heretofore for calking and pointing operations have been constructed primarily for dispensing relatively light-bodied material. Where heavy bodied material, particularly that having an elastic and adhesive constituency, was used, the calking guns were either too weak in construction or assembly to function efliciently or required a considerable amount of efiort on the part of the operator to actuate the guns.

An important object of this invention is to provide a calking gun which is particularly adaptable for discharging heavy bodied elastic and adhesive calking compounds. A further object of this invention is to provide such a gun which is capable of exerting a relatively high pressure upon the calking compound and which is of such a construction as to withstand continuous operation at high pressures for long periods of time. A meritorious feature of the invention is the case which the gun may be operated and at the same time exert a powerful force upon the calking compound contained therein. All these features are combined into a calking gun which is sturdy in construction and simple in assembly and operation.

More specifically, the invention comprehends a type of calking gun having a tubular body for containing the calking compounds and a piston therein for discharging the compound in controllable quantities from one end of the body. Operating mechanism for advancing the piston is located adjacent to the opposite end of the tubular body. This mechanism includes a pivoted lever, a pawl pivoted to the lever, and a rack and pinion assembly constructed in a novel way to multiply the action of the lever. In the embodiment of the invention described herein, the lever is arranged to rotate a relatively large wheel which in turn is adapted to rotate a relatively small pinion having operative connections with a piston rod. In addition to these features there is a novel provision for yieldably retracting both the pawl and the operating lever to an operating or released position. This last provision comprises a spring which by reason of its novel connection to the pawl acts to swing both the pawl and the lever to their initial operating positions.

The operating mechanism of the calking gun is disposed within a novel handle structure attached to the rear end of the gun, This handle structure is formed of one piece which in the embodirnent of the invention disclosed herein may be cast into the form shown in the drawing. The handle structure is adapted to fit into the rear end of the tube or cylinder in which the calking 5 compound is contained and novel provision is made for securing the handle structure in fixed position to the cylinder. As shown in the drawing, the rear end of the cylinder may be provided with a longitudinal slot through which the handle 10 structure may protrude.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of the invention will become more apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawingwherein: 15

Figure 1 is a side view of the calking gun partially broken away to disclose the operating head of the piston,

Figure 2 is a detailed view of the operating mechanism showing the detent for preventing 2 return movement of the piston,

Figure 3 is a view of the operating mechanism showing the lever-operating mechanism for advancing the piston in the cylinder,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along line 25 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the operating mechanism showing a manner of releasing the detent.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 30 I0 indicates a tubular chamber or cylinder in which the calking compound or other material is contained. A piston l2 reciprocates longitudinally in this cylinder and is adapted to discharge a calking compound through an opening in the 35 tapered cap H which is threaded to one end of the cylinder. The piston I2 is provided with a racked piston rod l6 which extends rearwardly from the piston and protrudes through the rear end of the cylinder. The piston rod is provided 40 with any suitable handle such as that indicated at I8 for retracting the same and the piston connected thereto. It is readily apparent that the cylinder is filled with calking compound by re- 5 moving the cap I! and introducing compound 4 into the forward end of the cylinder.

The operating mechanism for advancing the piston against the calking compound in the cylinder is contained within the handle structure 20 50 in the manner shown in Figure 3. The operating mechanism includes an operating lever 22. A pin 24 forms the axis about which the lever is pivoted. Forward swinging movement of the lever is limited by a stop element 26 shown in Figure One end of the pawl 28 is tapered for engage-- ment with a ratchet wheel 32 and it is obvious from Figure 2 that upward movement of the pawl will rotate the ratchet wheel counterclockwise, this being the only effective movement is can impart to the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel is associated with a pinion 34 in any suitable way for Joint rotation about the axis of a pin I. Pinion ll engages with the rack bar it as shown in Figure 3 and it is apparent that upon counterclockwise rotation thereof it will advance the rack bar and piston i2 associated therewith and exert a pressure upon the calking compound in the cylinder. As shown in Figure 3 the ratchet wheel '32 is of larger diameter than the pinion and this.

variation in size assists in multiplying the movement of the lever 22.

' The end of the pawl 28 opposite the ratchet wheel is provided with a stud 38 to which a coil spring 40 is connected. The opposite end of the coil spring is secured in any suitable way to a stationary part of the handle structure remote from the operating mechanism. The coil spring 40 is normally tensioned and exerts a downward pressure upon the lower end of the pawl 28. As shown in Figure 3 the coil spring I is at a slight inclination to the vertical and this relationship tends to swing the tapered end of the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel 32. The downward pull exerted by the coil spring 40 acts through the pivotal connection of the pawl to the lever 22 to swing the lever forwardly into released or inoperative position. The coil spring 40, therefore, accomplishes the dual function of yieldably engaging the pawl with the ratchet wheel 32 and yieldably disposing the lever 22 in inoperative position. The dual function of this spring eliminates the necessity of another spring to accomplish either one of these functions.

Pivoted to a pin 44 is a detent or dog 48 having a pointed extremity engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The detent l is normally pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel by any suitable spring mechanism such as a spring wire ll shown in Figure 2. Actuating mechanism for swinging the detent to a released position against the tension of the wire spring 48 comprises an arm I! pivotally connected to the pointed extremity of the detent. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, arm 50 extends rearwardly of the handle structure and protrudes through an aperture in the rear of the handle structure. The rear end of the arm 50 is notched at 52 for a relatively short distance and, as shown in Figure 2, this notched construction is adapted to engage with the wall of the handle structure. When the arm 50 assumes this position shown in Figure 2, the detent it is swung free of the teeth on the ratchet wheel and the latter may be rotated clockwise. When the arm ill assumes the position in Figure 3, the detent is yieldably pressed into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel and clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel is therebyprevented.

The handle structure 2|! is preferably formed of a single piece of metal cast into the desired formation. The handle structure is slotted throughout its extent to provide a pair of spaced walls 54 shown in Figure 4. These spaced walls extend the full length of the handle structure and are joined together only along the rear of the handle as is clearly apparent in Figure 3.

The walls 44 are provided on their outside surfaces with a pair of complementary circular flanges II and I8. These circularflanges are substantially the same diameter as the interior wall of cylinder II. when the handle structure is inserted into the cylinder II, the circular flanges I. and II enter the cylinder and their peripheries bear against the inner wall of the cylinder. This relationship is clearly apparent in Figure 4. In order that the lowermost portions of the handle structure may extend perpendicularly from the side of cylinder il a longitudinal slot is provided on the under part of cylinder ll adjacent the rear end thereof. This slot is of substantially the same width as the outside dimensions of the walls "-54. This assembly is likewise clearly shown in Figure 4.

It is clearly apparent that except for the actuating arm ill and the spring wire 4|, all the operating mechanism is located in the space within the walls 54-. As shown in Figure 4, the rack bar I extends between the walls -54 and between the pinion I4 and a roller which is Journaled about the pin 44. This provides a bearing for the rack bar and enables it to ride through the handle structure with less friction.

To operate the mechanism, the handle structure is grasped by one hand of the operator and pressure exerted to swing the lever rearwardly toward the fixed part of the handle. This movement will swing the pawl 28 upwardly against the tension of the coil spring 40 and by reason of the engagement between the pawl and the ratchet wheel the latter will be rotated in a counterclockwise rotation. Rotation of the ratchet wheel will impart rotation to the pinion I4 and the latter will advance the rack bar and the piston associated therewith in the cylinder. When the operator releases the pressure on the lever 22, it will swing forwardly to released position because of the force applied thereto by the coil spring 40. The return movement of the lever will lower the pawl to a new position on the ratchet wheel. During the forward advance of the rack bar It, the detent 40 is in continuous engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel and as soon as the latter stops rotating, the detent functions to prevent return rotation. In order to retract the rack bar and the piston associated therewith for filling purposes, the arm 8| is bodily shifted until the notch 52 interlocks with the end wall of the handle structure. Upon movement of the arm ii to this position, the detent It will be free of the teeth on the ratchet wheel and clockwise rotation of the ratchet and the pinion associated therewith can be effected. The rack bar is now free for retractable movement.

1 claim:

1. A calking gun comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a slot in the'bottom rear end thereof, a piston in the cylinder having an operating rod extending rearwardly thereof above and beyond said slot, an integral handle structure for the gun comprising an external hand grasping part and a part positioned inside of the rear end of the cylinder, said last mentioned part comprising spaced walls extending vertically through the slot in the cylinder and forming a chamber in the space between the walls adapted to house mechanism for operating the rod and through which the operating rod of the piston extends, said spaced walls extending upwardly through the slot in the cylinder into contact with the inner top side of the cylinder and having on their opposite sides a pair of spaced complementary circular flanges of substantially the same diameter as the inner wall of the cylinder apertured to receive said rod, the peripheral edges of said flanges bearing against the inner wall of the cylinder and acting in combination with the slot through which the spaced walls extend to securely hold the handle structure to the cylinder of the gun.

2. A calking gun comprising, in combination, a cylinder having a slot in the bottom rear end thereof, an integral handle structure separately constructed and assembled on the rear end of the cylinder, said handle structure comprising an external hand grasping part and a part positioned inside of the rear end of the cylinder, said last mentioned part comprising spaced walls extending in parallel relationship through the slot in the rear end of the cylinder, said walls provided with means projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof into engagement with the inner surfaces of the cylinder to hold the same against movement therewithin.

3. A calking gun comprising, in combination, a cylinder opening out through the rear end and provided with a slot in the bottom rear end also opening out through the rear end of the cylinder, a handle structure for the gun comprising two spaced parallel walls whose outside transverse dimensions are equal to the width of the slot, said walls forming on the outside of the cylinder an external hand grasping part and on the inside of the cylinder a housing for operating mechanism, said handle structure being insertable into and removable from the gun by slidable movement through the openend of the slot in the rear end of the cylinder.

4. A calking gun comprising, in combination, a cylinder open at its rear end and provided with a longitudinal slot in the bottom adjacent tothe rear end thereof and opening out through the rear end, and a handle structure having a portion slidable into the'cylinder through the open rear end thereof and another portion forming an external hand grasping means, and an intermediate part of said handle structure connecting said internal cylinder fitting portion and said external hand grasping portion and being of a size to slide lengthwise into said slot when the handle structure is assembled on the cylinder.

WILLIAM GRUND.