US2347755A - Spray gun valve - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1944. w. M. sPRr-:NG

Y SPRAY GUN VALVE Filed AJuly 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l w. M. sPRENG SPRAY GUN VALVE' Filed July l5. 1940 May 2, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 q l IIL 34 Q /N Vf rofe L4M/EN MIPRENG 'Patented 'May 2, 1944 Warren M. Sprang, Ashland, Ohio, assigner to The F. E. Myers & Bro. Company, Ashland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application `uly 15, 1940, Serial No.`345,519

rClaimS. (Cl. 251-134) The present invention relates to a valve for spray guns for distributing solutions over surfaces, and particularly for applying insecticides over plants, bushes and trees.

The usual fdTm of spray gun is constituted of a barrel of a varying length, depending upon the use to whichthe gun is put, 'the barrel terminating at one end in a nozzle cap and at the other end in some form of a fluid shut-off. 'I'here is onlyone grip provided and that appears at the shut-o end, but there is no provision for adjusting the amount of shut-off to accommodate wear. Neither is there any provision for adjusting the mazdmum opening of the valve at the shut-off end, or the tightness with which the valve is clamped on its seat.

The entire weight of the long barrel, assuming that trees are being sprayed and call for a considerable length of barrel, is carried solely by the grip at the shut-off and in case spray fluids of considerable pressure and velocity are being handled by the gun, the user of the device finds the spraying Work exhaustive.

Again, in case it is desired to change the size of the spray in guns'of the unimproved type, it is usually necessary to remove the nozzle for the purposeof replacing the apertured disc in the nozzle by a disc having a different sized opening and the work of making this change can be accomplished only while the spray gun is not in use.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved spray gun in which two grips are employed, one of the grips being positioned at the end of the barrel and constituting an improved trigger structure and in which the force with which the valve is clamped on its seat is `controlled whenthe trigger is moved to its shut-oi position. There is also a provision for controlling the maximum valve opening when the trigger is moved to the open position. The other grip handle is positioned intermediate the ends of the barrel where it can be readily held by the hand of the user, and there is provided a simple and sturdy mechanism at this handle for regulating the character of the spray ejected bythe nozzle end of the barrel. Thus, the spray may be controlled while the gun is in continuous use and the same device that regulates the spray also serves as a second grip for supporting the barrel.

, It has been found in the ordinary form of spray gun, particularly when using certain forms of attacked, or clogged, so that it is necessary to take the gun apart to replace or clean these parts. Moreover, many of the spray guns on the market are fabricated in as few parts as possible, using welded. joints so that replacement of parts becomes a factory job, thus delaying the spraying operation at a time whenit is needed the most.

Accordingly, a still further object of my invention is to provide an improved gun in which the parts are not only as few and simple as possible, made of metal which does not lend itself to chemical attack but the parts may be readily detached from one another so that the user can instantly take the gun apart for either cleaning or replacev ment purposes.

Other objects and features will `be apparent as the following specification is perused in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal cross sectional view of the complete gun.

Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged sections taken along lines 2-2, 3-3 respectively in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, as indicated. l

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the shut-off trigger end of the gun.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 4. l

- Figure 6'is a longitudinal sectional view, some-J what enlarged, of the shut-off valve mechanism and trigger for operating the same. The trigger is shown in the closed valve position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the trigger in the open-valve position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the trigger end of the gun.

' This figure shows the relative positions of the various parts when the valve is open.

. Figure 9 is a view similar'to Figure 8 but showing the parts in a valve-closed position.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, the

, improved spray gun is constituted essentially of four main parts, namely, the barrel which is generally designated by the reference character I, the nozzle indicated 2 and positioned at one end of the barrel, the trigger shut-off 3 at the other end of the barrel, and the spray control mechanism 4 positioned intermediate the ends of the barrel.

The barrell is made up of as'many lengths of piping as may 'be desired and, as indicated, there are two lengths, formed by thetubing 5 which is screwed as at 6 into the tubing of larger diameter indicated at 1.

The nozzle 2 consists of a head casting or screw cap 8 having an hexagonal head indicated at 8, and a bore I' which tapers down to a. smaller opening indicated at, Il. I'here is a. cap which screws over a small diameter portion of the member 6, this cap serving to clamp a pair of washers to the right hand end of the member A3. One washer is made of rubber and constitutes a gasket, and the other washer is composed of a hard non-corrosive metal having a very small opening through which fluid issues as a Spray.

The trigger shut-off 3 is constituted of the following elements: The left hand end of the pipe 5 is screwed into a casting which is formed of a cylinder I6, from which extends a hollow handle element I1 having an upstanding projection I8 and a U-shaped cross section, as indicated in Figure 3. The lower end of the handle l1 terminates in a circular portion I9, which has internal threads 20 for accommodating the end of a screw pipe or hose (not shown) leading to -a source of spray solution held under pressure in any suitable and well known manner.

The cylinder I6 is provided with a projection 2l having an opening to receive a pin 22 (Figures 6 and '1) whichserves as a pintle or pivot for a bifurcated trigger` handle 23, the furcations of which span the ends of the projection 2| (Figure 2), so that the pin 22 permitsthe handle 23 to move toward and away from .the handle l1. The cylinder I6 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 24, which serves as a stop( for the trigger handle 23, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 6.

The lower surface of the handle l1 and the upper surface of the vtrigger handle 23 are preferably so shaped that when the composite handle is gripped the two handle elements may be readily accommodated within the hand.

Surrounding the upper part of the cylinder I6 is a hollow shield 25 of semi-circular configuration, the right hand end of the shield terminating at each side of the shield in a square boss extension 26 (Figures 4 and 5) which are slotted, as indicated at 21, to receive pins 28,

1 which are integrally secured to the trigger handle 23. Consequently, by lmoving the trigger 23 in the direction of the handle I1 the pin 28 is caused to move to the left, moving the shield 25 in the same direction. The latter, at the left hand end, terminates in a cylindrical extension 29 which is provided with diametrically positioned slots 30 which receive pins 3|, the latter being integrally secured to a cylindrical housing 32, which has an opening for carrying a rod 33 threaded at each end. A nut 34 is screwed t0 one end of the rod, and the purpose of this nut will be explained hereinafter. A screw 35 passes through the housing 32 to maintain a rigid p0- sition between the housing 32 and the rod 33.

Within the shield 25 and the housing 132 there is a sleeve having an hexagonal portion 316 which terminates at one end in a closed cylindrical portion 31 having an opening -through which the rod 33 extends. The opposite end of the sleeve is provided with a screw portion 38 and a portion of smaller diameter 39 (Figures 6 and 7). The portion. 39 is closed by a slidably tted plug 40 through which the rod 33 loosely extends. The opposite end of the sleeve 36 contains a washer 4l and packing material 42, and between the sion spring 43 loosely mounted about the rod 33. It will be noted that the Spring 43 bears against the packing 42 and thus annoying leakage is automatically prevented and it is never necessary for the operator to tighten up packing glands which is the usual practice with spray guns of the prior art. Next to the plug 46 on the right (Figures 6 and 7) there is a rubber washer 44 and a metal washer 45 made of noncorrodible material which serves as a valve diaphragm for opening and closing the passageway into the gun.

'I'he diaphragm 45 is adapted to be seated against the left hand side of a turned sleeve 46 which is securely pressed into place within a tapered bore of the cylinder I6. The diaphragm is held in position .on the rod 33 by an internally threaded cap member 41 having a slot 48 to receive the end of a screw driver during assembly of the valve mechanism. From the foregoing, it is evident that by moving the trigger 23 to the left, as indicated in Figure 7, the shield 25 moves in the same direction due to the action of the pins 28 in the slots 21 causing the housing 32 to move also to the left and to exert a push in the left hand direction on the nut 34.

The rod 33 is therefore moved to the left carrying with it the cap screw 41 and the diaphragm 45 and causing the plug 40 to move to the left relative to the sleeve 36. Thus the spring 43 is compressed and the action of the trigger 23 is to move the diaphragm 45 from its seat against the compressing action of the spring. It is apparent that by tightening up the nut 34, the distance between the left hand end of the sleeve 36 and the diaphragm 45 is foreshortened so that for a given left hand travel of the trigger 23 the diaphragm is moved farther from its seat.

Viewing it from another aspect, the tightening of the nut 34 serves to move the trigger 23.coun ter-clockwise due to the increased tension of the spring-43, so that when the trigger is moved from its extended right hand position to its left hand position, i. e. abutting the under surface of the handle l1, a greater movement is given to the diaphragm 45 causing the latter to move farther from its s'eat. Thus, the nut 34 controls the maximum opening of the valve.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, there is provided an additional control of the valve in that the force to be applied by the trigger in breaking the diaphragm from its seat, and therefore the amount of pressure necessary to start opening the valve can be adjusted by regulating the relative longitudinal position of the sleeve, 36 and the cylinder I6.

When the hexagonal head 36 is tightened, the cylinder 31 is caused to move to the right with respect to the cylinder I6, producing further compression of the spring 43. This causes the diaphragm 45 to be pressed more tightly against its seat, thereby causing greater effort at the trigger 23 for moving the valve from its seat. Thus, I have provided two control features at the trigger end of the gun in that the nut 34 serves to regulate the maximum opening of the valve after it has been moved from its seat by the trigger 23 and the hexagonal nut on the sleeve 36 serves to regulate the force to'be applied at the trigger 23 for breaking theA seal between the diaphragm' and its seat. Both of these features are readily accessible to the user of the gun since the nut 34 is entirely external of the parts, while the hexagonal portion of the sleeve 36 is accessible washer 4I and the plug 40 there is a. compres- 75 from the under side of the shield 25, which as aanwas has been pointed out herclnbefore is of a hollow Operation of the shut-olf valve Assuming that a spray solution under pressure is forced through the handle assembly Il of the gun from a spray pump (not shown), the handle l1 and the trigger 23 are grasped in one hand and compression is applied to move the trigger away from the stop 24 and to the left. Under these circumstances and assuming that the proper longitudinal adjustment of the sleeve 36 has been made, the diaphragm 45 will be moved to the left away trom its seat permitting the solution to pass between the diaphragm and the sleeve 45 into the pipe 5.

It will be noted that as soon as the iiuid reaches the right hand side of the diaphragm, the total pressure exerted at'the right hand side becomes greater than the total pressure exerted at the left hand side of the diaphragm due to the difference in the exposed areas. Consequently, as the valve is further opened by moving the trigger 23 continually to the left, the pressure of the uid actually assists in opening the valve until the` latter reaches its maximum position, as determined by the adjustments obtained through the nut 36. Thus, the only time that considerable pressure must be exerted on the trigger 23 is when the diaphragm is breaking the seal-after that, the pressure of the fluid not only serves to open the valve still further, thus'calling for-less pressure at the trigger, but also maintains the valve in its fully opened position.

The spray gun can therefore be used for long periods of time without fatigue since little or no eiort is required to hold the trigger against the handle l1 by compressing the grip.

It is apparent that the relative positions ofthe sleeve 36 and the cylinder' I6 are so regulated that the valve closing effort of the spring 43 is only slightly in excess of the valve opening effort maintained by the pressure of the iluid so that this preponderation of eifort is available to close the valve when the trigger 23 is released.

In the modied form of shut-01T Valve shown in Figures 8 and 9, the arrangement is such that as the handle l'l and trigger 23 are compressed in the hand, the trigger is forced toward the handle causing the spring 10 to be compressed. The spring forces the tail end 69 of the latch outwardly, and when the handle Il is gripped with a strong enough force the surface 1| of the latch will contact the inside surface of the lug -24. This action will hold the trigger in its compressed position near the handle so that the gripping force can be released. Thus, the valve is maintained in an open condition after thev trigger 23 has been once brought into contact with the handle l1 and then locked in this position by the latch 69. In order to release the trigger as described hereinbefore, it is only necessary to press the tail end 69 of the latch into its slot against the action of the spring l and thiswill cause the surface 'H to become disen-A gagedfrom the lug 24.

Spray volume controlling mechanism at the nozzle end of gun p Within the head casting 8 and also extending within the pipe 1, there s a whirlermechanism 52. The cylinder 5i! is provided with a plurality of angular slots which conveniently may be sawed into the wall of the cylinder.

The threaded end 52 of the member 50 is received in the right hand end of a vane-shaped member, the vanes of which there may be four, as indicated at 54, extending throughout most of the length. of the member. The distance across each pair of oppositely. disposed vanes is only slightly less than the internal, diameter of the barrel 1, so that the vanes serve to center the cylinder 50 with respect to the bore i0. The left hand end of this member terminates in a flat portion indicated at 55, which is provided witira transversely extending slot. This slot receives a pin 5lv extending upwardly, and integrally secured to a plate which forms apart of a cylindrical stem.

The plate rests on the upper surface of Aa hollow cylindrical member 60, which is closed at the lower end except for an opening through which the cylindrical stem extends. The cylinder 50 is provided with an outwardly extending v6l serving to secure the handle 66 to the stem.

The handle is hollow, and the lower end is left open in order to drain off small amounts of fluid which might leak through' the packing. It will be noted that the spring 64 bears downwardly against the packing, thus tending to maintain the packing in a tight condition and preventing any substantial amounts of iluid from passing through the handle.

In the normal operation of the spray gun the user will grip the handle 66 with his left hand and the combined trigger 23 and handle I1 with his right hand, directing the barrel at the position which it is desired to cover with the spray solution. The handlev in the left hand can be turned to give the exacttype of spray that is desired. It will be understood that the mist form of spray is desirable when the gun is placed close to the plant or tree being sprayed and wide coverage is desired, whereas the coarse or straight form of stream is desired when long throw is necessary, as when spraying the tops of trees.

In order to reduce the weight of the spray gun as much es possible, and to eliminate-corrosion, it is desirable to make most of the parts of aluminum, by casting. f Those parts which are sub-- jecte'd to the greatest wear, for example, the parts immediately surrounding the valve 45 and the spray adjusting mechanism are made of a harder metal, such as brass or bronze. It will be further evident that there are no Welded joints within the gun and such few joints as are necessary are all of the screw type permitting a ready dis-assembly of the various parts for replacement and cleaning.

The combination of the pistol grip handle `Il and the position of the adjusting handle 66 afiords a natural and easy position for the operator to hold the gun, at the same time giving the operator a firm grip on the ,gun against the recoil resulting from the discharge of the liquid at high pressures.

While I have` explained the improved spray it will be'understood that the gun may be used for spraying other liquids on other surfaces, such as spraying cold water, paint, or distributing of etching acids over metal surfaces. A

It will be4 understood that Idesire to comprehend within -my invention such modifications as may come within the claims and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hand-operated valve mechanism for controlling liquid passing through the barrel of a spray gun,'said mechanism comprising a shield partially surrounding the barrel and adapted to move with respect thereto, a hollow handle secured to said barrel, said shield lhaving sides which lie adjacent to said handle, said handle providing a passageway which communicates with the interior of said barrel, said passageway being normally closed by a valve, a trigger mounted on said barrel and adapted to move said shield longitudinally of the barrel when a gripping force is applied to the trigger, said shield being connected to said valve in order to open the passageway through the valve when the trigger is operated.

2. A hand-operated valve mechanism for controlling liquid passing through the barrel of a spray gun, said mechanism comprising a shield partially surrounding the barrel and adapted to move with respect thereto, a hollow handle secured to said barrel, said shield having sides which lie adjacent to said handle, said handle providing a passageway which communicates with the interior of said barrel, said passageway being normally closed by a valve, saidv barrel being closed at one end and a compression spring interposed between said closed end and said valve, means for adjusting the compressional effectsoi the spring, a trigger mounted on said barrel and adapted' to move said shield. longitudinally of the barrel when a gripping force is applied to the trigger, a rod connected between said; shield and said valve whereby when the trigger is operated the valve is caused to move -against the compressional effects of said spring to open thepassageway between the handle and barrel. 4 I

3. 'A hand-operated valve mechanism for vclontrolling liquid passing through the barrel of a spray gun, said mechanism comprising ,a shield partially surrounding the barrel and adapted to move with respect thereto, a hollow handle secured to said barrel, said shield having sides which lie adjacen'tgto said handle, said handle providing a passageway which' communicates with the interior of said barrel,'said passagewaybeing normally closed by a valve, said barrel being closed at one end by an adjustable cap mem- I ber which contains a compression spring engaging said valve, a trigger-mounted on said barrel and adapted to move said shield longitudinally of the barrel when a gripping'force is applied to the trigger, said shield being connected to said valve in order to open the passageway between the handle and the barrel when the trigvgun from the standpoint of spraying plants, etc.,

ger is operated against the compressional effects of said spring, said adjustable cap member being adapted to control the force necessary to be applied to said triggerin order to operate the valve.

4. A hand-operated valve'mechanism for controlling liquid passing through the barrel of a spray gun, said mechanism comprising a shield surrounding the barrel and adapted to move with respect thereto, said shield having a pair of slots at each end thereoi!r a hollow handle secured to said barrel and providing a passageway which communicates with the interior of the barrel, said passageway being normally closed by a valve, said barrel being closed at one end by a cap member which contains a spring for forcing ther valve into said (closed position, a trigger pivotally mounted on said barrel and provided with pins which extend into a pair of slots of said shield whereby thelatter is caused to move longitudinally of the barrel when the trigger is operated, a housing surrounding said cap member and adapted to move with respect thereto, said 4housing being provided with pins which t into one of the pairs of slots provided in said shield and a connecting rod extending between said housing and said valve through said cap member and spring whereby as the trigger is operated about its pivot the shield is moved with respect t the barrel, causing said housing also to move and to carry with it the connecting rod and valve in order to open the passageway between the handle and barrel.

5. A hand-operated valve mechanism for controlling liquid passing through the barrel of a spray gun, said mechanism comprising a shield surrounding the barrel and adapted to move with respect thereto, said shield having a pair of slots at each end thereof, a hollow handle secured to said barrel and providing a passageway which communicates with the interior of the barrel, said passageway being normally closed by a valve, said barrel being closed at one end by a cap member which contains a spring for forcing the valve 'into said closed position, a trigger pivotally mounted on said barrel and provided with pins which extend into a pair of slots of said shield whereby the latter is caused to move longitudinally of the barrel when the trigger is operated, a housing surrounding said cap member and adapted -to move with respect thereto, said housing being provided with pins which fit into one of the pairs of slots provided in said shield and a connecting rod extending between said housing and said Ivalve through said cap member and spring whereby as the trigger is operated about its pivot the shield is moved with respect to the barrel, causing said housing 4 also to move and to `carry with it the connecting rocl and valve in order to open the passageway between the handle and barrel, said cap member being adjustably secured to said barrel in order .to control the compressional effects of the spring and said connecting rod being adjustably secured to said housing in order to control the position of the trigger with respect to the handle.

WARREN M. SPRENG.

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