Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/24—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
  • B05B7/2402—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device
  • B05B7/2405—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device using an atomising fluid as carrying fluid for feeding, e.g. by suction or pressure, a carried liquid from the container to the nozzle
  • B05B7/2424—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device using an atomising fluid as carrying fluid for feeding, e.g. by suction or pressure, a carried liquid from the container to the nozzle the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
  • B05B15/60—Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
  • B05B15/65—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
  • B05B7/12—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/24—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
  • B05B7/2402—Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device
  • B05B7/2478—Gun with a container which, in normal use, is located above the gun
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge

Definitions

• the present invention relates to equipment for applying liquid coating materials to a surface, and more particularly, to modular spray gun apparatus and methods.
• a wide variety of spray equipment for applying liquids such as paint, varnish, cleaning solvents, or other liquid materials to a surface are known.
• such spray equipment includes a spray gun having a needle assembly, a flow nozzle, and an air cap that are selected as an operating set based on the viscosity of the liquid that is being sprayed.
• a first operating set of needle assembly, flow nozzle, and air cap may be used for applying a base coat
• a second operating set of these components may be used for applying a top coat
• a third operating set of these components may be used for applying a clear coat.
• Prior art spray apparatus are generally characterized as having many individual parts that are assembled together in a complex, highly interdependent manner into a single housing.
• a prior art spray apparatus when an operator decides to change one of the or more of the parts, such as the needle assembly, the operator must laboriously disassemble numerous other parts of the spray apparatus to get to the needle assembly.
• the spray apparatus when the operator desires to switching from a first operating set (i.e. needle assembly, nozzle, and air cap) to a second operating set, the spray apparatus must be meticulously disassembled, and each individual component (needle assembly, flow nozzle, and air cap) individually replaced.
• the needle assembly typically includes a very fine-pointed needle that serves as a fluid valve and which operates to provide a finely-metered flow of liquid material through the nozzle.
• a modular spray apparatus includes a handle module and a head module that is removeably coupled to the handle module.
• the head module includes a first housing having an inlet adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurized gas, a flow passage extending between the inlet and an outlet, and a first coupling member proximate the outlet.
• the head module includes a second housing having a second coupling member removeably coupled to the first coupling member of the first housing, the second housing including a first intake port fluidly communicating with the outlet of the handle module, a second intake port adapted to be coupled to a source of liquid material, and a mixing passage fluidly communicating with the first and second intake ports and with a spray outlet.
• the head module further includes a nozzle fluidly communicating with the spray outlet, and a needle assembly operatively coupled to the second housing and operatively associated with the nozzle to control a flow of liquid material and pressurized gas emanating from the mixing passage through the nozzle.
• the head module is removeably coupled to the handle module, and may be de-coupled from the handle module without disassembly of the either the head module or the handle module.
• Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sprayer assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a bottom elevational view of the sprayer assembly of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a top elevational view of the sprayer assembly of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the sprayer assembly of Figure 1.
• Figure 5 is a partially disassembled side elevational view of the sprayer assembly of Figure 1.
• FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sprayer assembly 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• Figures 2 and 3 are bottom and top elevational views, respectively, of the sprayer assembly of Figure 1.
• the sprayer assembly 100 includes a handle module 110 and a head module 130.
• the head module 130 of the inventive sprayer assembly 100 is removeably coupled to the handle module 110, and may be de-coupled from the handle module 110 without disassembly of the either the head module 130 or the handle module 110.
• the handle module 110 includes a first housing 112 having an inlet 114 disposed in a lower portion thereof.
• the inlet 114 is adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurized gas 102 ( Figure 1), such as an air compressor, a gas bottle, or the like.
• a first control knob 116 is operatively coupled to the first housing 112 proximate the inlet 114.
• a second control knob 117 and a third control knob 118 are also operatively coupled to the first housing 112.
• control knobs 116-118 enable an operator (not shown) to controllably adjust a flow of pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas 102 through the handle module 110.
• a trigger 119 is pivotally coupled to the first housing 112 by pivot pins 121.
• the head module 130 includes a second housing 132 having a first intake port 134 adapted to be coupled to a source of liquid material 104 ( Figure 1).
• the source of liquid material 104 may be any type of known source, such as, for example, a gravity-fed supply bottle, a pressurized vessel, a supply hose, or any other source capable of supplying a liquid material that is suitable for sprayable application onto a surface, including, for example, paint, varnish, clear coat, wax, stain, water, cleaner, stripper, and solvent.
• the head module 130 further includes a threaded coupling member 136 that couples the head module 130 to the handle module 110, as described more fully below.
• Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the sprayer assembly 100 of Figure 1.
• Figure 5 is a partially disassembled side elevational view of the sprayer assembly 100 of Figures 1-4.
• the handle module 110 has a flow passage 120 disposed therethrough that extends from the inlet 114 to an outlet 122.
• a threaded engagement portion 124 is circumferentially disposed about the outlet 122 and is threadedly coupled to the threaded coupling member 136 of the head module 130.
• the head module 130 includes a second intake port 138 disposed within the threaded coupling member 136 and aligned with the outlet 122 of the handle module 110.
• the first and second intake ports 134, 138 are fluidly coupled to a mixing passage 140 having a spray outlet 142.
• one or more guide pins 139 may project outwardly from the head module 130 and may be slideably received into corresponding guide receptacles 125 disposed in the first housing 112 of the handle module 110.
• the head module 130 may be removeably coupled to the handle module 110 using any suitable attachment device, including, for example, quick disconnect couplings.
• the threaded coupling member 136 could be part of the handle module 110 and the threaded engagement portion 124 could be part of the head module 130, or both the head and handle modules could includes a threaded engagement portion 124, and the threaded coupling member 136 could be a separate component.
• the head module 130 also includes a needle assembly 160 and a nozzle 170 coupled to the spray outlet 142.
• the needle assembly 160 includes a needle 162, a biasing spring 164, and a seat member 166.
• the needle 162 has a first end 163 removeably coupled to the trigger 119, and a second end 165 operatively engaging the nozzle 170.
• a biasing spring 164 is disposed about the needle 162 and biases the needle 162 away from the seat member 166 toward the nozzle 170.
• An air cap 144 is coupled to the second housing 132 and is disposed about the spray outlet 142.
• the sprayer assembly 100 is coupled to the source of pressurized gas 102 and to the source of liquid material 104.
• the biasing spring 164 biases the needle 162 into engagement with the nozzle 170, thereby closing the spray outlet 142 and preventing any liquid material from emanating from the head module 130.
• the trigger 119 is pulled in a first direction S toward the first housing 112 of the handle module 110, drawing the needle 162 away from the nozzle 170 and opening the spray outlet 142.
• Pressurized gas from the source 102 flows through the flow passage 120 and out of the outlet 122 of the handle module 110, into the second intake port 138 of the head module 130.
• Liquid material is drawn from the liquid material supply 104 into the first intake port 134 and mixes with the pressurized gas in the mixing passage 140.
• the mixture of liquid material and pressurized gas then flows through the spray outlet 142 and is expanded outwardly through the nozzle 170 and the air cap 144 in a desirable spray pattern.
• the biasing spring 164 forces the needle 162 back into engagement with the nozzle 170, moving the trigger 119 into a second direction N and shutting off the flow of mixed liquid material and gases emanating from the spray outlet 142.
• the sprayer device 100 exhibits improved operational efficiency over prior art spray apparatus.
• a different operating set such as, for example, when switching from a base coat to a top coat while painting an automobile
• the operator simply removes the entire head module 130 from the handle module 110 as a single unit. This is accomplished by uncoupling (e.g. unthreading) the first end 163 of the needle 162 from the trigger 119, and uncoupling the threaded coupling member 136 from the threaded engagement portion 124 of the handle module 110.
• the operator may then couple a second head module (not shown) having a different needle assembly, nozzle, and air cap suitable for application of the top coat.
• the operator may quickly and efficiently change the spray characteristics of the sprayer device 100 to accommodate the viscosity of any liquid material that is to be applied. This process takes considerably less time and effort than changing the operating configuration of the prior art spray equipment, thereby increasing operational efficiency and decreasing the cost of performing the job. Furthermore, because the needle assembly 160 remains within the head module 130 as a unit, there is far less chance for the needle 162 to be damaged during changes of the head module 130. Because the needle assembly 160 remains within the head module 130 as a unit, it is not necessary to disassemble and handle the needle and other components of the operating set.
• the handle module 110 also includes a first valve assembly 126 coupled to the first control knob 116, a second valve assembly 127 coupled to the second control knob 117, and a third valve assembly 128 coupled to the third control knob 118.
• the first, second, and third valve assemblies 126-128 each include a jack screw 150 attached to the respective first, second, or third control knob 116-118, and a center body 152 coupled to the jack screw 150.
• the valve assemblies 126-128 also include a sleeve 154 disposed about a portion of the jack screw 150 that is fixed relative to the first housing 112, and an O-ring seal 156 positioned between the jack screw 150 and the sleeve 154. It should be noted that, in alternate embodiments, the valve assemblies 126-128 may be replaced with any suitable, conventional valve assemblies. Alternately, the valve assemblies 126-128 may simply be eliminated. In operation, the first valve assembly 126 controls the flow of pressurized gas from a first portion 120a of the flow passage 120 into a second portion 120b of the flow passage 120.
• the corresponding jack screw 150 of the first valve assembly 126 advances inwardly, causing the center body 152 to advance inwardly against a seat 153 formed in the wall of the flow passage 120, thereby decreasing the flow, of pressurized gas from the first portion 120a into the second portion 120b of the flow passage 120.
• the first control knob 116 is turned in a second (or counter-clockwise) direction 158, the corresponding jack screw 150 and center body 152 of the first valve assembly 126 are withdrawn away from the seat 153, thereby allowing more pressurized gas to flow from the first portion 120a into the second portion 120.
• valve assembly 127 is operated to control the flow of pressurized gas from the second portion 120b of the flow passage 120 into a third portion 120c using the second control knob 117
• third valve assembly 128 is operated to control the flow from the third portion 120c out through the outlet 122 using the third control knob 118.
• the valve assemblies advantageously allow the flow of pressurized gas to be controlled through the various portions of the flow passage 120.
• the control knobs do not move in and out with respect to the first housing 112. Because each jack screw 150 moves its associated center body 152 in or out as its respective control knob is turned, the control knob remains in a position proximate to the first housing 112 and does not go in and out with the center body 152.

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Priority Applications (9)

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ID=34618855

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Cited By (7)

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Citations (3)

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• 2003
  • 2003-10-22 ES ES11189961.3T patent/ES2593408T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-22 AU AU2003284912A patent/AU2003284912A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-22 AT AT03779232T patent/ATE536921T1/de active
  • 2003-10-22 ES ES03779232T patent/ES2376427T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-22 WO PCT/US2003/033814 patent/WO2005049145A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2003-10-22 CA CA2541712A patent/CA2541712C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-22 EP EP11189961.3A patent/EP2444123B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-22 EP EP03779232A patent/EP1682231B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-22 CN CN2003801105710A patent/CN1859951B/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (3)

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