Sprayer Nozzle

Abstract

An airless sprayer nozzle attachment having provision for mounting a reversible spray tip unit wherein there is provided a semiresilient adapter member to be held to the barrel of a conventional airless sprayer, and there being threadedly received on the adapter member a collar having at its forward end a receiver section with a cross slot therein opening through one side of the collar, which cross slot receives therein a reversible spray tip unit which includes a retainer ring surrounding an orifice containing spray tip insert, said retainer ring being provided with annular faces on the opposite ends thereof, which faces are adapted to be engaged with and seal against the adjacent end of the adapter member by means of rotating the collar, and yet, the spray tip unit may be quickly removed for reversible purposes by merely rotating the collar slightly to disengage the associated face of the retainer ring from the adapter member and sliding the spray tip unit out of the slot.

Description

This invention relates to sprayer nozzles, and more specifically to reversible nozzles particularly useful in airless sprayers.

Airless sprayers are used to spray items such as paint, and other materials. One problem which is encountered with airless sprayers is that of unwanted clogging of the orifice through which the material exits the gun. A way of overcoming this problem is to provide that the spray tip unit can be reversible. That is, the spray tip unit can be so designed that it can be turned around and the material being sprayed is then forced through the orifice in the direction opposite the normal direction. This will normally clean out the orifice.

In the past, there have been provided reversible spray tip units. However, for the most part, they are expensive to manufacture, and difficult to maintain and use.

Briefly, embodiments of the present invention include a spray tip unit having a centrally disposed orifice therein through which the paint, or other material is ejected. This spray tip unit is designed such that it can be moved at a position where right angle to the bore of the barrel of the sprayer to a position where the orifice is aligned with said barrel bore, and then, the spray tip unit is moved toward the barrel of the sprayer until a provided area around the orifice is sealed against the end of the barrel or an adapter-sealing member between the barrel and the spray tip unit. Of particular importance is the preferred construction which enables the present invention to be used with almost any conventional airless sprayer--which construction lends itself to low cost manufacture and use.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a major object of this invention to provide an improved sprayer nozzle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a nozzle assembly for a spray gun, which nozzle assembly may be rapidly attached to almost any commercial spray gun.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a sprayer, a spray tip unit which can be easily and quickly reversed in order to eject any material plugging the spray orifice of the unit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spray nozzle assembly having a reversible spray tip unit, which assembly is very compact and light in weight.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spray nozzle assembly having a reversible spray tip unit, which assembly can be quickly and easily cleaned.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent in the detailed description below in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an airless sprayer with a preferred form of a spray nozzle assembly which incorporates the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of said spray nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the assembly as seen from the position of line 5-5 in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly showing the spray tip unit in the reversed position for purposes of unclogging the spray orifice.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a conventional airless sprayer, indicated generally by the arrow 10. This airless sprayer has a spray nozzle assembly, indicated generally by the arrow 11 on the front end of the barrel 13 of the sprayer and a handle 12 by which the sprayer is held. As is conventional with such sprayers, the sprayer 10 has a trigger 14, and a nipple 15 at the lower end of the handle 12. A tube containing the paint (or other material to be sprayed) under pressure is connected to the nipple 15. Through an internal conduit (not shown) the material to be sprayed is led through the valve (not shown) controlled by the trigger 14 into the barrel 13.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 5 in more detail, it can be seen that the barrel 13 is a typical airless sprayer barrel, and has a bore 17 which opens through annular front end face 18. Located slightly away from the end face 18, is a set of threads 19.

Received around the threads 19 is a ring 22 having threads 23 thereon interacting with the first mentioned threads. Disposed at the end of the ring 22 opposite the location of the threads 23 is an inwardly extending annular lip 24 which is used for a purpose to be described.

One of the important aspects of certain preferred embodiments of the present invention is that the assembly can be used on any conventional spray gun. To this end, there is provided an adapter, or seal, member 28 which is preferably made out of material such as teflon. As can be seen, the member 28 is generally cylindrical in shape, and has an axial bore 29 extending therethrough from rear annular face 30 to front end annular face 31. Also, the member 28 is provided at its rear face 30 with an annular flange 33, which has a diameter compatible with the ring 22. In practice, the ring 22 would be the particular ring provided by the manufacturer of the sprayer. Although the size and lead of the threads 19 will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, it has been found that most of such commercially available sprayers have a ring like ring 22 with an inwardly extending annular lip like lip 24, and the opening surrounded by the lip 24 is of a standard size. Therefore, a standard adapter member 28 will permit embodiments of the present invention to be used with almost any sprayer.

Except for the area at which is located the flange 33, the adapter member 28 has a set of threads extending the length of its exterior surface. Received around said member 28 is a spray tip unit holder, or collar, 37 having therethrough an axial bore which has at its rear portion threads 38 which cooperate with the threads 35 on the adapter member 28.

At the front end of the color collar 37 there is a receiver section, preferably taking the form of a cross slot 39 opening into said bore of the collar 37 through one side of the collar. The cross slot 39 has rear and front sections 40 and 41 which have a lateral width (as shown best in FIG. 5) which is substantially equal to, or very slightly larger than, the outside diameter of the adapter member 28. The cross slot 39 also has an enlarged center section 42 approximately midlength of the slot (to the left and right as seen in FIG. 2). This enlarged center section 42 is included in order to provide pressure face 43 for a purpose to be described.

The spray tip unit preferably includes a spray tip retainer ring 46 having a bore 48 therein. As can be seen, the bore 48 has inward lip 49 at flat annular front face 50. The bore 48 is threaded as at 52 to flat annular rear face 53 of the ring 46 for purposes to be described.

Approximately midlength of the retainer ring 46 (to the left and right as seen in FIG. 2), the retainer ring is provided with a radial flange, or outward rib, 55 in order to provide front side 56 and rear side 57 thereof for a purpose to be described. The main body portion of the retainer ring 46 has an outside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the adapter member 28, and therefore, the diameter of the ring at this portion is slightly less than the lateral dimension of the rear section 40 and the front section 41 of the slot 39. The flange 55 has a diameter must slightly smaller than the lateral dimension of the center section 42 of the cross slot 39. Therefore, when the adapter member 28 is backed out of the cross slot 39 sufficiently, the retainer ring 46 may be easily moved from its position shown in FIG. 2 downward and away from the collar 37.

Embodiments of the present invention are not only used to spray regular paint. In many cases, it is desired to spray materials which have abrasives therein. Because of this, it is very desirable that the unit have a spray orifice constructed out of extremely hard material, e.g., carbide. This will add to the length of the life of the unit. On the other hand, it is very difficult to construct components out of such hard materials. For this reason, the retainer ring 46 has been shaped as previously disclosed in the drawings.

More particularly, there is provided a spray tip insert 60 made out of some material such 25, carbide. This spray tip insert 60 has a tapered bore 61 tapering from the rear face of the insert to orifice opening 62 at the front side of the insert. As it is desired that the spray emitted from the unit have a rather flat cross section, there is provided a cross slit 63 at the front side of the insert 60. Threaded into said retainer ring 46 at the front side of the insert 60. is a hollow plug 65 having threads 66. In said plug 66 there is provided a hex hole 67 which can receive an Allen wrench for purposes of unscrewing the plug. With this arrangement, the plug 65 can be unscrewed and the insert 60 may be pushed out. Then, a new insert 60 may be pushed into the position shown, and the plug 65 may be tightened to seal the area around the insert 60.

In practice, the assembly 11 is used as follows: Firstly, the adapter member 28 is removed from the collar 37. Then, the ring 22 may be passed over and around the adapter member 28 to the position shown in FIG. 2. Then, the adapter member 28 is threaded into the collar 37 either before or after the ring 22 is threaded into the collar 37 either before or after the ring 22 is threaded onto the barrel 13 and tightened. Then, the collar 37 is rotated onto the adapter member 28 until the front end 31 of the adapter member is almost to the position shown in FIG. 2. Then, the spray tip unit including the retainer ring 46 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2 and the collar 37 is rotated slightly further until the face 31 of the adapter member 28 engages the rear face 53 of the retainer ring. At that time, it is desired to tighten the insert further, and accordingly, flats 68 on the collar 37 are provided to accommodate a wrench.

This tightening action causes the pressure face 43 to push on the front side 56 of the flange 55, and urge the rear face 53 of the retainer ring 46 into sealing engagement with the front annular face 31 of the adapter member 28.

If the cross slit 63 is not at the desired relation to the handle 12 (it is most often desired that the cross slit be parallel to the handle) the following adjustment is made. The ring 22 is loosened slightly. Then, the collar 37 along with the adapter member 28 and the insert 60 are rotated together until the cross slit 63 has the desired orientation. At that time, the ring 22 is retightened.

The use of some semiresilient material such as teflon is definitely preferred for the adapter member 28. Firstly, this permits the rear face 30 to accommodate any irregularities in the front face 18 of the barrel 13, and eliminates the necessity of a separate gasket, or O-ring. Secondly, the same type of easy seal can be accomplished between the front end 31 of the adapter member 28, and the appropriate face 50 or 53 of the retainer ring 46. Additionally, the use of, e.g., teflon permits the threads 35 to be slightly larger than normal in relation to the threads 38, and thereby, provide a suitable locking action between the collar 37 and the adapter member 28. This eliminates the necessity of a separate lock nut on the adapter member 28.

When it is desired to remove the spray tip unit and reverse it, one need only turn the collar 37 approximately one-fourth of a turn relative to the adapter member. This will move the rear face 53 of the retainer ring 46 away from the front face 31 of the adapter member 28 sufficiently that the retainer ring (with its insert 60) may be easily moved at a right angle to the bore of the collar 37 away from the collar. Then, because the flange 55 is approximately midway between the front face 50 and the rear face 53 of the retainer ring 46, the retainer ring may be turned around and inserted to the position shown in FIG. 6. Then, the collar 37 is tightened as stated before, This causes pressure face 43 to act on the rear side 57 of the flange 55, and urges the face 50 of the retainer ring into sealing relation with the front face of the adapter member 28.

With the spray tip unit in the position shown in FIG. 6, the sprayer is given a few short bursts by briefly pulling the trigger 14. This clears the orifice opening 62. Then, the spray tip unit is reversed to the position shown in FIG. 2 (by loosening the collar 37, etc. and the work is continued.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that such is by way of illustration and that numerous changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention Accordingly, it is my intention that the invention be limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination with a sprayer having a barrel with a bore therethrough opening through a front face of the barrel:

a spray tip unit having a centrally disposed orifice through which paint may be sprayed, said spray tip unit having a front and a rear annular face around said orifice; means operatively connected to said barrel and selectively receiving said unit for moving said unit between a first position where said unit is sealed to said barrel such that paint coming through said barrel is forced through said orifice and a second position where said unit is not sealed to said barrel, said last mentioned means having a receiver section which selectively receives said unit with either of said front and rear faces of said unit facing said barrel, said receiver section permitting said unit to be moved away from said means when said unit is in said second position but not when said unit is in said first position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said connection means includes:

a collar having an axial bore therethrough of predetermined diameter, said collar being operatively connected to said barrel with said collar bore aligned with said barrel bore; and

said receiver section is a cross slot extending through one side of said collar into said collar bore, said cross slot being shaped complimentary to said spray tip unit so as to permit said spray tip unit to be slid between a position where said orifice is aligned with said collar bore and a position away from said slot and collar.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said connection means includes:

an adapter member having an axial bore therethrough of predetermined diameter with a rear face thereof engaging said front of said barrel; and

said connection means can move said receiver section to a position where one face of said spray tip unit engages and is sealed to said adapter member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said adapter member is of a semiresilient material to conform to any irregularities of said front face of said barrel and said engaged face of said spray tip unit.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said adapter member has at its end facing said barrel a radial flange;

a ring received around the adapter member and said barrel, said ring having threads one one thereof operatively received on threads on said barrel; and

said ring having an inwardly extending annular lip on another end thereof engaging said flange of said adapter member, whereby said adapter member can be sealed to said barrel front face in any selected position with said adapter member axial bore aligned with said barrel bore.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 including:

an adapter member having an axial bore and a front annular face, said member being received in said collar bore; and

wherein said spray tip unit comprises:

a retainer ring having a main body portion of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said collar bore diameter, said retainer ring having said front and rear annular faces, said retainer ring having at least one annular flange said flange being received in said slot in said collar for causing said retainer ring to move axially with said collar to urge one of said annular faces of said spray tip unit into sealing relation with the front annular face of said adapter member.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein: said retainer ring has a predetermined thickness and said flange is approximately midway between said front and rear annular faces whereby said retainer ring may be reversed when said retainer ring is only slightly away from said adapter member front face.

8. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said connection means includes a collar received on the adapter member for movement parallel to said adapter member axial bore;

said spray tip unit includes a retainer ring having thereon said front and rear faces of said unit; means on said collar and said retainer ring for causing the retainer ring to be moved toward said adapter member as said collar is moved axially toward said first position, and for permitting said retainer ring to be moved at a right angle to said axial bore through one side of the collar when said retainer ring is not in engagement with said adapter member.