US2726802A

US2726802A - Loading rig for caulking guns

Info

Publication number: US2726802A
Application number: US223240A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry E Jones
Original assignee: FORCE FLO Inc
Current assignee: FORCE FLO Inc; FORCE-FLO Inc
Priority date: 1951-04-27
Filing date: 1951-04-27
Publication date: 1955-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1972-12-13

Description

Dec. 13, 1955 JONES LOADING RIG FOR CAULKING GUNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1951 IN V EN TOR. 1 #1421? V E JU/VFS A T TOPA/E rs,

Dec. 13, 1955 JONES 2,726,802

LOADING RIG FOR CAULKING GUNS Filed April 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I 2 Ll [7. 1 A 5 1% 5 v ,3- m1; I r [I I l v 7 1 I 4 V 111m 5 4 7 INVENTOR.

H14??? V E JONES ,4 770NEKS Uited States Patent 6 LOADING RIG FOR CAULKING GUNS Harry E. Jones, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Force-Flo, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 27, 1951, Serial No. 223,24

5 Claims. (Cl. 226-125) This invention relates to a loading rig for caulking guns, grease guns or the like.

In the loading of caulking guns, grease guns, etc., it is necessary to apply considerable force to the material. This may be done by superimposing a shallow piston on such material While in the original container, depressing the piston within the container, and causing or permitting the material to escape through an opening in the piston in or to which opening the gun to be loaded is atfixed. The piston can be depressed within the container by mechanical means, producing thereby the desired movement of the material through the opening in the piston and into the barrel of the caulking gun, grease gun or the like.

Generally speaking, loading rigs of this type have in the past been applied or afiixed to the container at its upper end, usually being clamped to the open end of the container just below the top chime. With such an arrangement, forces of large magnitude cannot be applied to the material within the container, this for the reason that under such conditions the container is likely to bulge, burst or collapse, particularly at the bottom chime. Therefore, prior systems for loading caulking guns, grease guns, etc. have in the main been designed to apply only moderate forces to the material within the container.

It is an object of the present invention to reinforce the container, particularly at the bottom chime, in such manner as to permit the application to the material within the container of forces of much greater magnitude than those heretofore contemplated. Another object is to provide for the dissipation of unexpendedforces through parts of the rig in direct contact with the ground, the floor or the foundation on which the rig is placed during loading, using a base plate for the purpose. Another object is to provide a strong, sturdy assembly which may be applied as a unit to a standard container such as a five-gallon pail and which, by virtue of the incorporation in the assembly of two or more cooperating levers, will apply forces of very great magnitude to the material-within the container. A further object is to provide new and improved means for holding the caulking gun, grease gun or the like in loading position in the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows and'from the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical central section with parts in elevation along the longitudinal axis of thecrosshead forming part of the loading rig. Figure 2 is a top plan of the loading rig of Figure 1 but with the actuating handle broken away for convenience in illustration. Figure 3 is a side elevation, seen from the right in Figures 1 and 2, with a caulking gun shown in position on the loading cylinder butwith certain parts of the rig omitted and others broken away in order to show details. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the loading cylinder, seen from line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5' is a horizontal section of the loading cylinder, with certain parts in plan, as seen from line 5-5- of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary section, on an enlargedscale, show- 2,726,802 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 ing the collar at the top of the loading cylinder together with one of the cams and the cam-operating handle.

Figure 1 shows the loading rig of the present invention applied to a conventional container 1 filled with caulking compound, grease or the like, the same taking the form of a standard five-gallon pail from which the covering lid has been removed. Container ,1 has at the closed end thereof the usual bottom chime 2. Within chime 2 is received a closely fitting circular shoulder 3 forming part of a raised pad 4 that is provided to support the end of container 1. Pad 4, which forms part of a circular footplate 5, also serves to center container 1 in relation to the foot-plate. By means of the foot-plate, particularly the chime-engaging shoulder 3 on pad 4 thereof, container 1 is reinforced against rupture or collapse while external force is being applied to it by the loading rig.

Forming part of base plate 5 are two opposed pairs of lugs 6 and 7, the lugs 6 receiving and holding the lower end of a pivotally mounted tie rod 8 and the lugs 7 receiving and holding the lower end of a pivotally mounted tie rod 9. The tie rods, which are threaded at their upper ends, form the principal fastening elements of the loading rig. Their threaded upper ends project through a crosshead applied to the open end of container 1. Surrounding the upper ends of

tie rods

8 and 9 where they project through the cross-head are washers 1G and 11 against which seat knob-shaped hold-down

nuts

12 and 13, respectively. The latter receive and cooperate with the threaded portions of

tie rods

8 and 9. The cross-head is slotted as at 14 and 15 in such manner as to permit quick engagement and disengagement of the fastening elements.

The cross-head itself consists of the two slotted

end blocks

18 and 19, a center block 21} having a centrally located circular hole 21 passing vertically therethrough, two

left side pieces

22 and 23, and two

right side pieces

24 and 25. At their outer ends,

left side pieces

22 and 23 adjoin and are welded to the side faces of slotted block 18; at their opposite ends, they abut and are welded to the end face of center block 20.

Right side pieces

24 and 25 are similarly welded to the side faces of slotted block 19 and the opposite end face of center block 20. Thus the cross-head consists of a built-up member that extends from one side to the other of the loading rig.

Passing vertically through and guided by the walls of hole 21 in center block 20 is an operating rod 26 of the nature of a piston rod. To its upper end, as by means of a set screw, is detachably afiixed a retainer 27. To its Iower end is welded a shallow piston 28 of such dimensions as to permit it to enter freely but without too much clearance into the open end of container 1. In a suitable peripheral groove, seen in Figure 1, piston 28 carries a gasket 29 which is formed as a strip by a process ofextruslon and applied to piston 23 before the piston is inserted in container 1. Gasket 29 is of a material such as synthetic plastic, synthetic rubber, natural rubber or the like that is able to stand up under such chemical or physical action as may be manifested by the caulking compound, grease, etc. with which container 1 is filled.

Centrally located on opposite sides of the cross-head and welded to center block 2%, left side pieces 22, 23' and

right side pieces

24, 25 are two rather

large side plates

31 and 32.

Side plates

31 and 32 extend vertically in parallelism to each other in such manner as to flank operating rod 26. In the form shown, the side plates are polygonal in shape, their upper ends inclining downwardly from left to right as seen in Figure l. Extending between and welded to

side plates

31 and 32 is a horizontal plate 33, rectangular in shape, that is provided near its center with a vertically extending circular hole.

Operating rod 26 passes through and is guided by the to tilt to one side or the other, although necessary clearance is of course provided.

Mounted on horizontal plate 33 is anupper coil spring 34 which is surmounted by a double washer assembly' 35.. By virtue of the presence thereon of oppositely extending integral tabs, the latter is of elongated configuration, the'elongation appearing in Figure 2. Both spring 34 and washer assembly 35 surround operating rod 26, the spring biasing the washer assembly into contact with a horizontal pintle 36, headed over as at 36a, that constitutes a stop extending transversely between the uppermost operating rod.

Immediately below transverse plate 33 is a similarly shaped double washer assembly 37 that is biased toward horizontal position by an underlying coil spring 38 surrounding operating rod 26. At its upper end, spring 33 abuts. washer assembly 37; at its lower end, it seatson center block 20. Like washer assembly 35, washer assembly 37 is provided with a central hole through which operating rod 26 passes. Such hole is only slightly larger than the diameter of the operating rod 26. Thus if washer assembly 37 is depressed at one end, it will bite into operating rod 26 -much as does washer assembly 35.

Overlying one end of washer assembly '37 is a pin 39, best shown in Figure 2, which forms part of a forked lever made up of two spaced

side members

41 and 42 through which passes-a pintle 43. The latter extends horizontally between

side plates

31 and 32. At its ends it is headed over as indicated at 43a. Pintle 43, which is stationary, thus serves as the fulcrum for the forked lever carrying pin 39. That end of the lever carrying pin 39 lies directly above the near end of washer assembly 37. 'At the opposite end of the lever, the two side members 41 and42 merge and are spot-welded together to provide an outwardly extending portion 44 mounting a short pivot pin 45. V

Pivot pin 45 is common to the forked lever just described, which is of the nature of an auxiliary lever, and an actuating lever 48, best shown in Figure 1, that is provided at its outer end with a grasping portion 49. Actuating lever 48 has the longer of'its two arms extending away from operating rod 26 and the various elements which surround and engage it. The shorter of its two arms, which extends toward operating rod 26, is formed as indicated in Figure 2 of two

side members

50 and 51 which encompass the outwardly extending portion 44 of the auxiliary lever carrying pin 39. A pin 52 forming the fulcrum for actuating lever 48 is carried by the upper end of an upwardly extending link 53 which at its lower end is mounted on a pintle 54, headed over as at 54a,

. that extends from one to the other of

side pieces

24 and 25. On opposite sides of link 53, pintle 54 is provided with spacers 55 and 56, shown in Figure 2.

Since pivot pin 45 is common to the actuating lever and the auxiliary lever, a force applied to actuating lever 48 at the grasping portion 49 thereof will be communicated to the outwardly extending portion 44 of the aux-- semb y 7- When, for example, a downwardly acting force is first applied to grasping portion ,49 of actuating lever 48, the latter pivots about fulcrum 52, thereby moving common pivot pin in an upward direction and, with it, the end of outwardly extending portion 44 of the auxiliary lever. The latter, being fulcrumed on pintle 43, moves upward at its right-hand end and downward at its left-hand end as seen in Figure 1, thus causing washer assembly 37 to bite into operating rod 26. As the stroke is continued, the pressure on washer assembly 37 forces operating rod 26 downward. Being rigidly affixed to the lower end of operating rod 26, piston 28 is forced downward within container 1 by the movement imposed on operating rod 26 by the rod-engaging means mounted on the supporting elements that go to make up the cross-head.

Piston 28 is provided as shown in Figure 3 with at least one opening (two or more may be present) which is tapped to receive the end 61 of a loading cylinder that is threaded for engagement with the tapped opening in the piston. Loading cylinder 60 is characterized at its upper end by an annular flange 62 that has the effect of providing loading cylinder 60 with an enlarged portion facilitating reception of the discharge end of the barrel of a caulking gun or the like. Located on a suitably formed shoulder within annular flange 62 is a gasket 63 of synthetic plastic, synthetic rubber or some other suitable material against which bears the discharge end of the barrel of gun 64. Below annular flange 62 is a sliding collar 65 that rides on and conforms closely to the outer dimensions of loading cylinder 60.

Fastened to and extending upward from sliding collar 65 are clamping means for caulking gun 64, the same taking the form of two vertically extending

straps

66 and 67. The latter are hooked inwardly at their upper ends a as indicated at 66a and 67a (Figure 3). Hooked ends 66a and 67a are adapted to engage the flange, designated 68 in the drawings, that forms part of the conventional caulking gun near its operating end. By removing the nozzle from caulking gun 64, locating the discharge end of the barrel on the gasket 63 in the socket formed at. the

upper end of loading cylinder 60, and depressing sliding collar 65, the caulking gun may be held erect on and clamped in leak-tight relation to loading cylinder 60.

This is accomplished as indicated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 by providing two

end cams

69 and 70 between annular flange 62 and sliding collar 65.

Cams

69 and 70, which are provided with flats 69a and 70a, respectively, are secured to loading cylinder 60 .by

rivets

71 and 72. They are'united by an operating handle 73 for simultaneous actuation. When a downward force is applied to the latter,

cams

69 and 70 rotate out of the position'shown into a position in which flats 69a and 70a no longer make contact with sliding collar 65. Instead, contact is made by the rounded parts of cams 69 and '70. Thus depressing the operating handle 73 has the elfect of depressing sliding collar 65 relative to loading cylinder 69, thereby clamping the loading gun firmly in the position shown in Figure 3.

In operation, a container filled with caulking compound,

grease or like material is freed of the covering lid and centered on pad 4 of foot-plate 5. Thereafter, the crosshead is applied in proper relation to the open upper end of the container, whereupon piston 28 will enter the container and will locate itself in contact or just out of contact with the top surface of the material in the container. 7

Tie rods

8 and 9 are then swung into a position in which they enter

slots

14 and 15 at the endsof the crosshead,

after which hold-down

nuts

12 and 13 are screwed down.

Thereafter the caulking gun 64 to be loaded is mounted as described on loading cylinder; 60, being clamped in place by depressing handle 73. This establishes an open conduit between the discharge end of the barrel of the caulking gun 64,1oading cylinder 60, and the interior of container 1 Thereafter, when piston 28 is depressed 'within container 1. the material with which the container is filled moves upward through loading cylinder 60 and into the open end of the barrel of caulking gun 64, all as indicated in Figure 3.

It is apparent that changes may be made in the loading rig of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, as, for example, by substituting for the rod-engaging means shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a mechanism of different type. Preferably, however, the system that is used will be one wherein forces of small magnitude are multiplied and applied as forces of large magnitude to operating rod 26 and the piston 28 at its lower end. Other methods of holding the cross-head to the container may be devised and used, although that described above permits of the ready dissipation through the foot-plate of unexpended forces applied to the grasping portion of the actuating handle. It is also apparent that other means, including locking nuts and the like, may be used for attaching the gun to the loading cylinder. The preferred form of clamping means shown in Figure 3 may of course be replaced by other clamping means without departing from the inventive concept.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in the appended claims, whatever features of the patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun-loading rig for application to a standard container holding caulking compound, grease or the like comprising a foot plate; a raised platform on the foot plate, said raised platform conforming closely to the shape of the bottom chime of a standard container for caulking compound, grease or the like; a piston; an operating rod extending upward from the piston; a crosshead connected to the foot plate, said cross-head being directly supported by and indirectly supporting the rod from the container; two upwardly extending side plates on the cross-head; rod-engaging means mounted between the side plates for progressively depressing the rod in relation to the cross-head; and, coupled to the rod-engaging means, a compound lever fulcrumed at a plurality of points intermediate its ends, the unexpended forces applied to the assembly by said lever being dissipated through said foot plate,

2. A gun-loading rig as in claim 1 in which the compound lever is made up of an actuating lever that is fulcrumed intermediate its ends and a cooperating lever that is fulcrumed intermediate its ends.

3. A gun-loading rig as in claim 2 in which the two levers have a common pivot pin located between their fulcrums.

4. A gun-loading rig as in claim 3 in which the fulcrum for the cooperating lever takes the form of a pintle extending between the two upwardly extending side plates on the cross-head.

5. A gun-loading rig for application to a standard container holding caulking compound, grease or the like comprising a piston; an operating rod extending upward from the piston; a cross-head straddling the rod for supporting the rod from the container; two upwardly extending side plates on the cross-head rod-engaging means mounted between the side plates for progressively depressing the rod in relation to the cross-head; a compound lever including an actuating lever provided with a grasping portion for transmitting force to the rod-engaging means; fastening means for the cross-head on which the side plates are mounted, such fastening means being spaced from the container; and, below the container, a foot-plate to which said fastening means are mechanically connected and by which unexpended force imposed at the grasping portion of the actuating handle is transmitted outside the rig itself, said foot plate having a raised platform characterized by a circular chime-engaging shoulder conforming closely to the shape of the bottom chime of a standard container for caulking compound, grease or the like.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,341,652 Lawrence June 1, 1920 1,466,256 Stelter Aug. 28, 1923 2,080,856 Thomas May 18, 1937 2,224,509 Canine Dec. 10, 1940 2,253,150 Thompson Aug. 19, 1941 2,305,238 Coates Dec. 15, 1942 2,489,809 Owens Nov. 29, 1949 2,545,605 Canine Mar. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,661 Germany July 13, 1877 58,458 Germany Aug. 27, 1891