CN1859951B - Modular spray gun apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular spray gun apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a handle module and a head module that is removable 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. Similarly, the head module includes a second housing having a second coupling member removable coupled to the first coupling member of the first housing, a nozzle fluidly communicating with a spray outlet, and a needle assembly operatively associated with the nozzle to control a flow of liquid material and pressurized gas emanating from a mixing passage through the nozzle.

Description

Modular spray gun apparatus and method

technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying a liquid coating material to a surface, and in particular to a modular spray gun arrangement and method.

Background technique

Spraying equipment for applying liquids such as paints, paints, cleaning fluids or other liquid materials to surfaces are of various known forms. Typically, such spraying equipment includes a spray gun with a needle assembly, fluid nozzle, and air cap (air cap), which are selected as operating kits based on the viscosity of the liquid being sprayed. For example, when painting an automobile, the base coat can be applied with a first set of operations consisting of a needle assembly, fluid nozzle, and air cap, the top coat can be applied with a second set of these elements, and the top coat can be applied with a second set of these elements. A third operating kit to apply the clear layer.

Prior art spraying devices are typically characterized by a number of individual parts which are assembled together in a single housing in a complex and highly interdependent manner. With prior art spraying devices, when an operator decides to change one or more of the parts, such as the needle assembly, the operator must laboriously disassemble a large number of other parts in the spraying device to gain access to the needle assembly. Thus, in the example of painting a car described above, when the operator needs to switch from the first operating set (i.e., needle assembly, nozzle, and air cap) to the second operating set, the spraying unit must be carefully disassembled, and the separate Replace each individual component (needle assembly, fluid nozzle, and air cap). All replacement elements of the second operating kit must then be reinstalled in the housing before the spraying device can be used. Every time the operator wants to switch from one operating suite to another, this process is time-consuming and laborious, thereby reducing the working efficiency of the spraying equipment and increasing the working cost.

Another consideration is that the needle assembly typically includes a pick that acts as a fluid valve and, in operation, serves to provide a finely metered stream of liquid material through the nozzle. During disassembly and handling of the various components of prior art spraying devices, the risk of injury from dropping or mishandling the pick increases, thereby negatively impacting the performance and operability of the spraying assembly.

Contents of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular spray gun arrangement and method. In one aspect, a modular device is provided, which includes a handle module and a head module detachably connected to the handle module. The head module includes a first housing having an inlet connected to a source of pressurized gas, a flow channel extending between the inlet and an outlet, a first connection proximate the outlet . Similarly, the head module includes a second housing having a second connector detachably connected to the first connector of the first housing, the second housing including a handle A first inlet port in fluid communication with an outlet of the module, a second inlet port for connecting to a source of liquid material, and a mixing channel in fluid communication with the first and second inlet ports and the spray outlet. The head module also includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the spray outlet, a needle assembly operably connected to the second housing and operatively associated with the nozzle to control the injection of liquid material and pressurized gas from the mixing channel flow through the nozzle. The head module is detachably connected to and detachable from the handle module without disassembling the head module or the handle module.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view of a spray assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the bottom view of the spraying assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the top view of the spraying assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the spraying assembly of Fig. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view, partially disassembled, of the spray assembly of FIG. 1 .

Detailed ways

The present disclosure generally relates to a novel modular spray gun apparatus and method. The details of several specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in Figures 1-5 in order to provide a more complete understanding of these embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that there are other embodiments of the present invention, or that the present invention can be implemented in a manner other than the detailed description below.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a spraying assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively a bottom view and a top view of the spraying assembly of FIG. 1 . As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the spraying assembly 100 includes a handle module 110 and a head module 130 . As described more fully below, the head module 130 of the spraying assembly 100 of the present invention is removably connected to the handle assembly 110 and can be removed from the handle module 110 without disassembling the head module 130 or the handle module 110 .

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the handle module 110 includes a first housing 112 having an inlet 114 at a lower portion of the housing. Inlet 114 is for connection to pressurized gas source 102 (eg, air compressor, gas cylinder, etc.) (FIG. 1). A first control button 116 is operatively connected to the first housing 112 near the inlet 114 . A second control button 117 and a third control button 118 are also operatively connected to the first housing 112 . As described more fully below, control buttons 116 - 118 allow an operator (not shown) to controllably adjust the flow of pressurized gas from pressurized gas source 102 via handle module 110 . Trigger 119 is pivotally connected to first housing 112 by pivot pin 121 .

The head module 130 includes a second housing 132 having an inlet port 134 for connection to the liquid material source 104 (FIG. 1). Liquid material source 104 may be any known type of source, such as a gravity-fed supply bottle, pressurized container, supply hose, or any other source capable of supplying liquid material suitable for sprayable application to a surface , such as paints, varnishes, clear coats, waxes, stains, water, cleaners, strippers, and solvents. The head module 130 also includes a threaded connection 136 that connects the head module 130 to the handle module 110, as described more fully below.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the spraying assembly 100 of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 5 is a partially disassembled side view of the spraying assembly 100 of FIGS. 1-4 . As best shown in FIG. 4 , the handle module 110 has a flow passage 120 therethrough extending from an inlet 114 to an outlet 122 . The threaded mating portion 124 is disposed circumferentially around the outlet 122 and is threaded onto a threaded connection 136 of the head module 130 . Similarly, the head module 130 includes a second inlet port 138 located within the threaded connection 136 and aligned with the outlet 122 of the handle module 110 . The first and second inlet ports 134, 138 are fluidly connected to a mixing channel 140 having a spray outlet 142. As shown in FIG. 5 , one or more guide pins 139 (two are shown) may protrude outwardly from the head module 130 and be slidably received within the first housing 112 of the handle module 110 . Correspondingly guide in the socket 125.

It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, the head module 130 may be detachably connected to the handle module 110 using any suitable connection means, including, for example, a quick release connection. Additionally, the threaded connector 136 can be part of the handle module 110 and the threaded mating portion 124 can be part of the head module 130, or both the head module and the handle module can include the threaded mating portion 124 and the threaded connector 136 may be a separate element. Alternatively, the guide pin 139 and the guide socket 125 may be omitted, and any other form of suitable connection assembly may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the head module 130 also includes a needle assembly 160 and a nozzle 170 connected to the spray outlet 142 . Needle assembly 160 includes needle 162 , biasing spring 164 , and standoff 166 . Needle 162 has a first end 163 removably connected to trigger 119 , and a second end 165 operatively engaged with nozzle 170 . A biasing spring 164 is located around the needle 162 and biases the needle 162 away from the seat member 166 toward the nozzle 170 . An air cap 144 is connected to the second housing 132 and is positioned around the spray outlet 142 .

In operation, the spray assembly 100 is connected to a source of pressurized gas 102 and a source of liquid material 104 . A biasing spring 164 biases the needle 162 into engagement with the nozzle 170 , closing the spray outlet 142 and preventing any liquid material from being ejected from the head module 130 . When the operator wants to apply liquid material, the trigger 119 is pulled in the first direction S toward the first housing 112 of the handle module 110, pulling the needle 162 away from the nozzle 170 and opening the spray outlet 142. Pressurized gas from source 102 flows through flow channel 120 and out outlet 122 of handle module 110 into second inlet port 138 of head module 130 . Liquid material is drawn from liquid material supply 104 into first inlet port 134 and mixed with pressurized gas in mixing channel 140 . The mixture of liquid material and pressurized gas then flows through spray outlet 142 and expands outwardly through nozzle 170 and air cap 144 in the desired spray pattern. When the operator releases the trigger 119 , the biasing spring 164 returns the needle 162 to engage the nozzle 170 , moving the trigger 119 in the second direction N and shutting off the mixed flow of liquid material and gas from the spray outlet 142 .

The spraying device 100 operates more efficiently than prior art spraying devices. When an operator wants to change to a different operating set (needle, nozzle, and air cap), for example, when switching from bottom to top coat in the process of painting an automobile, the operator can simply use the entire head module 130 as one The unit is removed from the handle module 110 . This is accomplished by detaching (eg, unscrewing) first end 163 of needle 162 from trigger 119 and detaching threaded connector 136 from threaded mating portion 124 of handle module 110 . The operator can then attach a second head module (not shown) with a different needle assembly, nozzle and air cap suitable for applying the top layer. Thus, by preparing a set of head modules suitable for applying multiple liquid materials, the operator can quickly and efficiently change the spraying characteristics of the spraying device 100 to suit the viscosity of any liquid to be applied. Compared with the replacement process of the operating structure of the spraying equipment in the prior art, this process takes less time and physical effort, thereby increasing the operating efficiency and reducing the working cost.

Additionally, because needle assembly 160 remains within head module 130 as a unit, needle 162 is less likely to cause injury during head module 130 replacement. Because the needle assembly 160 remains within the head module 130 as a unit, it is not necessary to disassemble and manipulate the needle and other elements of the manipulation kit. In this way, the risk of dropping or mishandling the needle 162 is reduced, thereby improving the operability of the spray assembly.

Referring again to FIG. 4 , the handle module 110 further includes a first valve assembly 126 connected to the first control button 116 , a second valve assembly 127 connected to the second control button 117 , and a third valve assembly connected to the third control button 118 Component 128. The first, second and third valve assemblies 126-128 each include a jack screw 150 connected to the respective first, second and third buttons 116-118, and a center body 152 connected to the jack screw 150. The valve assemblies 126 - 128 also include a sleeve 154 surrounding a portion of the jack screw 150 that is fixed relative to the first housing 112 , and an O-ring seal 156 between the jack screw 150 and the sleeve 154 .

It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, valve assemblies 126-128 may be replaced with other suitable conventional valve assemblies. Alternatively, valve assemblies 126-128 may simply be removed.

In operation, the first valve assembly 126 controls the flow of pressurized gas from the first portion 120a of the flow passage 120 to the second portion 120b of the flow passage 120 . When the first control button 116 is rotated in the first direction 157 (clockwise), the corresponding jack screw 150 of the first valve assembly 126 advances inwardly, causing the center body 152 to advance inwardly against the valve formed in the flow channel 120. The seat 153 in the wall reduces the flow of pressurized gas from the first portion 120a to the second portion 120b of the channel 120 . When the first valve assembly 116 is rotated in the second direction 158 (counterclockwise), the corresponding jack screw 150 and center body 152 of the first valve assembly 126 are drawn back away from the seat 153, thereby allowing more pressurized gas to flow from The first portion 120a flows into the second portion 120b. Similarly, the second valve assembly 127 can be operated using the second control button 117 to control the flow of pressurized gas from the second portion 120b to the third portion 120c of the flow passage 120 and can be operated using the third control button 118 A third valve assembly 128 is provided to control flow from the third portion 120c through the outlet 122 .

The valve assembly preferably allows the flow of pressurized gas through different portions of flow passage 120 to be controlled. However, the control button does not move in and out relative to the first housing 112 . Because each jack screw 150 moves its associated pro-central body 152 in and out as its respective control button is rotated, the control buttons remain close to the first housing 112 and do not move in and out with the central body 152 . This helps prevent damage to the control button and to the valve assembly.

The detailed description of the above embodiments is not an exhaustive description of the embodiments completed by the inventor within the scope of the invention. In fact, those skilled in the art will realize that some elements of the above embodiments can be combined or eliminated in various ways. , to generate more embodiments, and these further embodiments fall within the scope and teaching of the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined into a whole and parts to produce more embodiments, which fall within the scope and teaching of the present invention.

Therefore, while specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described for illustrative purposes, various equivalent embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings provided can be applied to other modular spray gun arrangements and methods, not just the few embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims (39)

1. A modular spraying device, comprising: A handle module comprising a first housing having an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas, a flow path extending between the inlet and an outlet, and a first connectors; and a head module comprising a second housing having a second connector detachably connected to the first connector of the first housing, the second housing comprising an outlet to the handle module a first inlet port in fluid communication with a second inlet port for connection to a source of liquid material, the head module further comprising a fluid control assembly for controllably emitting a flow of liquid material and a flow of pressurized gas, wherein the first The first and second connectors can be separated from each other without dismantling the head module. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the first and second inlet ports. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a supply container connected to the second access port. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid control assembly includes a nozzle and a needle assembly, the needle assembly being operably associated with the nozzle to control fluid ejected from the fluid control assembly flow of material. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting member comprises a detachable first connecting device on the outlet of the handle, and the second connecting member comprises a detachable second connecting device configured detachably connected to the detachable first connection means and located adjacent to the first access port of the head module. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the handle module further comprises a dispensing assembly connected to the first housing, and wherein the fluid control assembly is operably engaged with the dispensing assembly, and The head module is detachably engaged with the dispensing assembly when detachably connected to the handle module. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the fluid control assembly includes a needle assembly having a needle movably protruding from the head module to communicate with the Assign components to match. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dispensing assembly includes a movable trigger. 9. The device of claim 6, wherein the dispensing assembly includes a moveable trigger, the fluid control assembly includes a needle valve assembly having a needle extending from the A head module protrudes to mate with the trigger. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first housing of the handle module further includes at least one valve assembly and a pressure flow assembly, the valve assembly including a A control button, the pressure flow assembly controls the flow of pressurized gas between the first portion and the second portion of the flow passage. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the pressure flow assembly includes a jack screw connected to the control button, and a center body connected to the jack screw. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid control assembly further comprises an air cap connected to the second housing. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of pressurized gas connected to the inlet of the handle module. 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to be threadedly connected to each other. 15. An assembly for applying a liquid material comprising: source of liquid material; source of pressurized gas; and A spraying device connected to a source of liquid material and a source of pressurized gas, said spraying device comprising: A handle module comprising a first housing having an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas, a flow path extending between the inlet and a handle outlet, and a the first connector; and a head module comprising a second housing having a second connector detachably connected to the first connector of the first housing, the second housing comprising an outlet to the handle module a first inlet port in fluid communication with a second inlet port for connection to a source of liquid material, the head module further comprising a fluid control assembly for controllably emitting a flow of liquid material and a flow of pressurized gas, wherein the first The first and second connectors can be separated from each other without dismantling the head module. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the second housing includes a mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the first and second inlet ports. 17. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a supply container connected to the second access port. 18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the fluid control assembly includes a nozzle and a needle assembly, the needle assembly being operably associated with the nozzle to control fluid ejected from the fluid control assembly flow of material. 19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first connector comprises a detachable first connector on the outlet of the handle, and the second connector comprises a detachable second connector configured detachably connected to the detachable first connection means and located adjacent to the first access port of the head module. 20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the handle module further includes a dispensing assembly connected to the first housing, and wherein the fluid control assembly is operatively engaged with the dispensing assembly and The head module is detachably engaged with the dispensing assembly when detachably connected to the handle module. 21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the fluid control assembly includes a needle assembly having a needle movably protruding from the head module to communicate with the Assign components to match. 22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the dispensing assembly includes a movable trigger. 23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the dispensing assembly includes a moveable trigger and the fluid control assembly includes a needle valve assembly having a needle from the The head module protrudes to engage the trigger. 24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the first housing of the handle module further includes at least one valve assembly and a pressure flow assembly, the valve assembly including a A control button, the pressure flow assembly controls the flow of pressurized gas between the first portion and the second portion of the flow passage. 25. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the pressure flow assembly includes a jack screw connected to the control button, and a center body connected to the jack screw. 26. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the fluid control assembly further comprises an air cap connected to the second housing. 27. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a source of pressurized gas connected to the inlet of the handle module. 28. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to be threadedly connected to each other. 29. A method of applying a liquid material to a surface comprising: providing a handle module comprising a first housing having an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas, and a flow path extending between the inlet and a handle outlet; A head module is provided which includes a second housing having a second connector detachably connected to the first connector of the first housing, the second housing including a handle module A first inlet port in fluid communication with an outlet of the head module and a second inlet port for connecting to a source of liquid material, the head module further comprising a fluid control assembly for controllably emitting a flow of liquid material and a flow of pressurized gas, wherein the first and second connectors can be separated from each other without dismantling the head module; Connect the head module to the handle module; Connect a source of pressurized gas to the inlet of the handle module; connecting a source of liquid material to a second inlet port of the head module; flowing liquid material from the source of liquid material through the second inlet port; flowing pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas through the handle module; and A mixture of liquid material and pressurized gas is emitted from the head module. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of attaching the head module to the handle module includes removably attaching the head module to the handle module. 31. The method of claim 29, further comprising removing the head module from the handle module without disassembling the head module. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising connecting the second head module to the handle module. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the second housing includes a mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with the first inlet port and a source of liquid material through the second inlet port; and Also included is connecting the mixing chamber to a source of liquid material through a second access port. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the source of liquid material comprises a supply container connected to the second inlet port. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of connecting the source of liquid material to the second inlet port of the head module comprises connecting a gravity-fed supply container to the second inlet port of the head module. port. 36. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of connecting a source of pressurized gas to the inlet of the handle module includes connecting an air compressor to the inlet of the handle module. 37. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of flowing the liquid material from the source of liquid material through the second inlet port includes flowing the liquid coating material through the second inlet port and into the mixing channel. 38. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of flowing the liquid material from the liquid material source through the second inlet port includes flowing the liquid cleaning material through the second inlet port and into the mixing channel. 39. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of connecting the head module to the handle module comprises threading the head module to the handle module.

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