Spray Installation For Highly-filled Dispersions

Abstract

A spray installation for highly-filled dispersions comprising a pressure container for a dispersion which at its lower end possesses an outlet connection for the dispersion and at its upper end an inlet connection for compressed air. The pressure container further is equipped with a removable cover having a flange bearing against a flange at the container body. The cover is retained at the container body through the agency of a clamping ring closure which engages over the flanges. A compressed air device is connected via a conduit with the inlet connection of the pressure container. There is also provided a blower mechanism and a spray gun. The spray gun is coupled via a dispersion feed line with the outlet connection of the pressure container and via an air conduit with the blower mechanism.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of spray installation for highly-filled dispersions.

Spray installations are already known to the art wherein the material to be sprayed, sometimes conveniently referred to herein as the sprayed material, is delivered by compressed air or conveying pumps to the spray or injection mouth of a spray gun in order to be distributed by means of compressed air which is at a lower or higher pressure. Nonetheless spray installations employing conveying pumps for the sprayed material possess the drawback that the conveying pumps, during spraying of highly-filled dispersions, for instance possessing quartz- and fiber constituents are subjected to extreme wear, can become clogged, and, notwithstanding the use of expensive and uneconomical regulation devices, regulation of the conveyed quantity still leaves something to be desired.

Spray installations which operate with compressed air are basically suitable for the spraying of highly-filled dispersions, yet do however possess the considerable drawback that they are not designed for large material throughput which arises when spraying highly-filled dispersions. As a result such installations have not been found to be adequate, so that even at the present time in the construction industry highly-filled dispersions, especially sprayed plaster and abrasive plaster possessing quartz- and PVC-granulate exceeding 1 - 2 mm. grain size, must be manually applied by means of a plasterer's smoothing trowel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence from what has been explained above it should be apparent that this particular technology is still in need of a spray installation for highly-filled dispersions which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art proposals. It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved construction of spray installation for highly-filled dispersions which is capable of effectively and reliably fulfilling the existing need in the art and is not associated with the previously mentioned drawbacks of the state-of-the-art proposals.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a spray installation for highly-filled dispersions which, with extremely simple use thereof, renders possible high throughput of the dispersion, can be economically manufactured and wear of the spray installation is reduced to a minimum.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to a new and improved spray installation capable of effectively and reliably handling materials, such as typically highly-filled dispersions without danger of excessive wear or clogging of the installation of other malfunction, the spray installation can be easily used without difficulty even by relatively unskilled individuals, and wherein handling is relatively simple and easy to carry out.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the inventive spray installation for highly-filled dispersions is manifested by the features that there are provided:

a. a pressure container for a dispersion which is provided at its lower end with an outlet connection for the dispersion and at its upper with an inlet connection for compressed air and which further possesses a removable cover having a flange bearing against a flange of the container body, the cover being retained at the container body by means of a clamping ring closure which engages the flanges;

b. a compressed air device which is connected via a conduit with the inlet connection of the pressure container;

c. a blower mechanism; and

d. a spray gun which is connected through the agency of a dispersion feed line with the outlet connection of the pressure container and through the agency of an air conduit with the blower mechanism.

By means of the spray installation as contemplated by this invention it is possible to faultlessly and quickly spray highly-filled dispersions of the most different viscosity and fillings, such as for instance injection or spray plaster, adhesion plaster formed on the basis of gypsum- and PVC having a quartz- or PVC-granulate filling exceeding 1mm. grain size, with fiber filling, such as for instance raw fibers having a fiber component exceeding 10mm., mortar and so forth. In this connection the size of the pressure container, the quantity of air and its pressure, the conduit- and spray gun cross-sections can be preferably accommodated to the momentarily encountered conditions.

The compressed air device renders possible an extremely simple conveying or feed of the dispersions and can be accommodated in most simple manner to most all types of dispersions and is especially insensitive to wear. By virtue of the provision of the blower mechanism there is provided a simple air supply for the spray gun which is independent of the compressed air device. The compressed air device which is relatively expensive can be accordingly designed much smaller and it is possible to dispense with complicated and disturbance-prone pressure reduction elements.

The arrangement of the pressure container for the dispersion and which is separate from the spray gun renders possible free manipulation of the spray gun and a considerably larger supply of the dispersion to be sprayed. A considerable improvement as concerns handling and the throughput of the dispersion is realized for the spraying installation by the construction of the cover and its attachment by means of the clamping ring closure. Since, above all, when it is intended to be used at the construction site, the spraying installation must be easily transportable, so that it is not possible to design the pressure container to have any randomly large size. The ideal size of the pressure container preferably is in the order of magnitude of 60 - 100 liters. Since, for instance, already for average coarse abrasive plaster there must be sprayed per hour several hundred liters of highly-filled dispersion, it is necessary to fill a number of times per hour a pressure container with a capacity of about 60 - 100 liters. Now since for such dispersions and with a handy cross-section of the conduits there are already necessary pressures exceeding 6 - 10 atmospheres absolute in order to transport the dispersion from the pressure container to the spray mouth of the spray gun the use of conventional closures employing a number of screws are slow to manipulate and uneconomical. On the other hand, the provision of the clamping ring closure considerably reduces the refilling time and therefore in a most simple way increases the dispersion throughput capacity.

The new and improved construction of spray installation as contemplated by this development possesses a spate of advantages which could not be realized by any of the heretofore known prior art proposals of spray installations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pressure container, a compressed air device and a blower mechanism of a spray installation mounted upon a travelling carriage or frame;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the components of the spray installation depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in side view and partially sectional view the arrangement of the cover and clamping ring closure at the pressure container;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the arrangement of FIG. 3 also in section directly in front of the hinge of the clamping ring closure; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spray gun.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Describing now the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of inventive spray installation embodying a pressure container 1 which is equipped with three legs or supports 2. The floor 3 of the pressure container 1 is advantageously economically constructed as a semi-sphere, i.e., possesses a hemispherical configuration, even through a conical shape having a cone angle of 90.degree. would be more advantageous. The semi-spherical shape, which is less complicated to manufacture than the conical shape, possesses approximately the same advantages as the conical shape. Even when processing coarse grain dispersions of low viscosity the conical shape completely prevents the presence of a funnel at the container content whereas the semi-spherical shape extensively prevents the presence of such funnel at the container content during the spraying operation, therefore insures for complete emptying of the pressure container 1. Residues at the pressure container 1 reduce the useful space and therefore the throughput for a given container pressure, container content and conduit cross-section. Sprayed material which tends to settle at the floor 3 of the pressure container 1 leads to the formation of conglomerates or lumps, and thus to clogging of the conduits and the spray gun. The central portion of the pressure container 1, the actual material container, is formed by a cylindrical tubular body member 1a at the upper end of which there is secured a domed cover member 4 by means of a clamping or locking ring closure 11.

Details of the construction of the clamping ring closure 11 can be best ascertained by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. Both the cover member 4 as well as the container body 1a each possess a respective flange 6 and 7, the flanges being formed for instance of steel rings welded to the remaining parts of such cover member and container body respectively. The lower flange 7 secured to the container body 1a only slightly reduces the cross-section of the pressure container-cylindrical tube body, so that the useful filling opening 1b amounts to at least 95 percent of the cross-section of the cylindrical tubular body 1a. This opening 1b renders possible proper filling of the dispersion directly from a conventional material barrel or the like and simultaneously facilitates cleaning of the pressure container 1. A substantially ring-shaped groove or recess 8 is machined at the flange 6 of the cover member 4 at its contact face 6a', and into which there is inserted upon a cushion 9 or equivalent device, preferably formed of foam or cellular rubber, a sealing O-ring 10, for instance formed of nitrile, i.e., nitrile silicone rubber, 75.degree. Shore hardness. The cushion 9 increases the pressure play for the sealing O-ring member 10 which presses and seals against the lower flange 7 of the container body 1a. Consequently, any present irregularities or unevenness are compensated to a certain degree.

Both of the flanges 6 and 7 uniformly transmit the forces resulting during pressure build-up to an infinite number of locations over the entire periphery onto the clamping ring closure 11 which is preferably formed from a substantially U-shaped profile into two halves 11a and 11b and is preferably retained at one side by means of a hinge 12 and at the other side by means of a safety or security closure 13.

The security closure 13 possesses two projections or extended portions 14 and 15 which are welded in an upright position substantially tangentially perpendicular to a respective ring half. The projections 14 and 15 are each provided with an opening 16 which in the closed position of the clamping ring closure 11 are both coaxially aligned with regard to one another as well as with an inlet connection or stud 17. A connection nipple or stud 18 is placed through the opening 16 and is threadably connected with the inlet connection or stud 17. A ring flange 19 is welded in the opening 16 at the outer projection 15 of the security closure 13. The connection nipple 18 carries a multiple-edge or polyhedral profile member 20 which in the threaded-in condition of the connection nipple 18 is disposed within the ring flange 19. The arrangement of the polyhedral profile member 20 and the ring flange 19 is chosen such that the connection nipple 18 can be only tightened or released by means of a socket wrench or equivalent device. The compressed air conduit or line 22 which extends from a suitable compressed air device 21 is connected through the agency of a conventional compressed air coupling 23 with the connection nipple or stud 18. In order to be able to open the cover member 4 it is thus necessary to initially remove the compressed air conduit 22 by loosening the compressed air coupling 23. As a result the pressure within the pressure container 1 is released through the agency of the connection nipple or stud 18. Thereafter it is possible to threadably remove the connection nipple 18 by means of the socket wrench. Only then is it possible to open the clamping ring 11 and remove the cover member 4. Consequently, the compressed air within the confines of the pressure container 1 must be automatically relieved in pressure prior to removal of cover member 4.

The illustrated clamping or locking ring 11 possesses a profile member 11d having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the inner surfaces of the legs 11c of the U-portion of the U-shaped profile 11d converge towards the base 11e of such U-shaped profile 11d. Thus, upon applying the clamping ring 11 the flanges 6 and 7 of the cover and the container body respectively are pressed together owing to the wedge action exerted by the converging inner surfaces of the legs 11c of the clamping ring 11. This action could also be realized by utilizing a clamping ring having substantially V-shaped cross-section.

In contrast to the illustrated embodiment it would also be possible for the outer surfaces 6a and 7a of the flanges 6 and 7 to converge towards the outside and the inner surfaces of the legs 11c to extend parallely. It is also possible to combine both measures. Furthermore, the clamping ring 11 can be also constructed formed of a number of parts, wherein the individual segments are hingedly connected with one another. It is also possible to construct the inner surfaces of the legs of the U-portion of the clamping ring as well as also the outer surfaces of the flanges of the cover and the container body to be parallel to one another. Then the seal formed for instance from the previously discussed cushion 9 and the sealing O-ring 10 could be so elastic that for the purpose of applying the clamping ring such could be compressed to such an extent that the clamping ring could be slipped over the flanges.

Finally there is also present the further possibility of constructing the seal between the cover and container body 1a to be so elastic that it is compressed together by the weight of the cover member to such an extent that the clamping ring 11 is loosely seated at the flanges 6 and 7 when the pressure container 1 is without pressure. Only during the operating pressure do the flanges 6 and 7 of the cover member 4 and the container body 1a come to bear against the clamping ring 11. The seal thus expands owing to its inherent elasticity to such an extent that the pressure container is also absolutely tight in the operating condition.

The pressure container 1 (material vessel) stands upon the three legs 2 secured to the floor of the container 1 and can be raised and transported by means of two handgrips 24 (FIG. 2). In the sealed condition it is advantageous to transport the pressure container 1 by means of the travelling carriage 25 or equivalent structure. This travelling carriage 25 is transported until it has arrived at the pressure container 1 and such container is then suspended at its lower end by means of two holding plates 26 (only one of which is shown) applied at the carriage and two brackets 27 (only one of which is shown) secured to the pressure container 1 at the carriage 25 and at its top or upper region is secured by means of the centering bolts 28 or equivalent. The travelling carriage 25 supports the compressed air device 21 which possesses a compressor 29 for producing the high air pressure in the pressure container 1 for feeding the dispersion to the spray gun. Further, there is arranged at the travelling carriage 25 the blower mechanism 30 for producing the compressed air at low pressure serving to distribute the dispersion, preferably at a pressure below about 0.3 kp/cm.sup.2. Both units are powered by separate electric motors which are directly flanged therwith and advantageously designed for connection with the standard light power current network. The housing 30a of the blower mechanism 30 is constructed at one side as an instrument panel 31 containing an electric switch, a manometer and a compressed air regulating valve of standard construction, as schematically indicated. The upper sheet member cover or plate of the housing is designed as a tool box 32 in which there can be accommodated the socket wrench for the connection nipple 18, the spray gun such as gun 35 of FIG. 5, and the other tools and accessories.

The sprayed material emanating from the outlet connection or stud 33 of the pressure container 1 is conducted by means of a hose of suitable cross-section to the connection stud 34 of the spray gun 35 of FIG. 5. At the connection stud 34 there merges a channel 36 of the spray gun 35 which serves to guide the dispersion to be sprayed. In the dispersion channel 36 there is arranged immediately after the connection stud 34 a reduction component 37 having a conical-shaped throughpassage opening 37a in order that the dispersion channel 36 can be reduced in cross-section relative to the hose infeed, in order to reduce as much as possible the dimensions and weight of the spray gun 35. The cone of the reduced portion should be designed so as to possess an angle which is as acute as possible and should not exceed an angle of about 20.degree.. The spray gun 35 possesses a gun handle 37 at the lower end of which there is arranged the connection stud 34 and which further possesses at the lower portion merging with the reduction portion 37 reduction- and shut-off element 38, for instance in the form of the stopcock illustrated in FIG. 5. The dispersion channel 36 is introduced above the gun handle 37 into an air conduit or pipe 39, the cross-section of which is approximately twice as large as that of the dispersion channel 36. The gun or pistol handle 37 and therefore also the first portion of the dispersion channel 36 form with the front portion of the air conduit 39 an obtuse angle, amounting preferably to 115.degree. . If the angle is selected to be larger then the spray gun is not very handy; if it is reduced then the dispersion channel will be curved much too strongly and coarse grained material will tend to become lodged at the curved portion and will lead to clogging.

The air conduit 39 is open towards the rear and is connected by means of a hose of suitable cross-section with the blower mechanism 30. At the air conduit end there can be arranged a reduction- and shut-off element of conventional construction and merely schematically indicated in FIG. 5 by reference character 50. The dispersion channel 36 and the air conduit 39 are extended coaxially linearly towards the front and terminate at the material nozzle 40 and the air nozzle 41. The material nozzle 40 is fixedly threadably connected with the conduit of the dispersion channel 36. The air nozzle 41 can be displaced with respect to the material nozzle 40 for the purpose of regulating the air flow by means of the threading 42. The material- and air nozzles are designed so as to possess a conical-shape, the cone angle of which can be varied depending upon the properties of the dispersion to be sprayed and the required application finish.

Since the spray gun 35 is operated with blower air of the lowest pressure (from 0.1 kp/cm.sup.2) it is essential that the blower air be linearly guided to the air nozzle 41 without any hindrance in a coaxial tube arranged about the dispersion channel. In order that there can be used an inexpensive low pressure blower, for instance a vacuum cleaner blower, the air conduit cross-section must be selected to be so large that the air velocity at the conduit is below 12 meters per second.

The inventive construction of pressure container with the clamping ring closure is not only suitable for spray installations for highly-filled dispersions, rather can also be used for the most different other purposes, especially for such where the pressure container for instance for refilling and cleaning purposes must be more frequently opened.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A spray installation for materials, especially highly-filled dispersions, comprising, in combination:

a. a pressure container including a container body for housing a dispersion and having a lower end region and an upper end region;

b. outlet connection means for the dispersion provided at the lower end region of the pressure container and an inlet connection means for compressed air provided at the upper end region of the pressure container;

c. a removable cover member provided for said pressure container, said removable cover member having a flange;

d. said container being provided with a flange, and the flange of said cover member bearing against the flange of said pressure container;

e. a single clamping ring closure means engaging with said flanges for securing the cover member to said container body of the pressure container;

f. a compressed air device;

g. conduit means for connecting the compressed air device with said inlet connection means of the pressure container;

h. a blower mechanism;

i. a spray gun;

j. a dispersion feed conduit means for connecting said spray gun with said outlet connection means of the pressure container;

k. air conduit means for connecting of said spray gun with said blower mechanism; and

l. at least one of said flanges possesses a substantially ring-shaped groove in which there is arranged a cushion and upon said cushion a sealing O-ring member.

2. The spray installation as defined in claim 1 wherein said substantially ring-shaped groove is provided at the flange of said cover member.

3. A spray installation for materials, especially highly-filled dispersions, comprising, in combination: a pressure container including a container body for housing a dispersion and having a lower end region and an upper end region; outlet connection means for the dispersion provided at the lower end region of the pressure container and an inlet connection means for compressed air provided at the upper end region of the pressure container; a removable cover member provided for said pressure container, said removable cover member having a flange; said container being provided with a flange, and the flange of said cover member bearing against the flange of said pressure container; clamping ring closure means engaging with said flanges for securing the cover member to said container body of the pressure container; a compressed air device; conduit means for connecting the compressed air device with said inlet connection means of the pressure container; a blower mechanism; a spray gun; a dispersion feed conduit means for connecting said spray gun with said outlet connection means of the pressure container; air conduit means for connection of said spray gun with said blower mechanism, said clamping ring closure means being formed of at least two parts, wherein the parts at one side are hingedly connected with one another and at the other side are connected with one another by means of a quick closure mechanism, said quick closure mechanism being constructed as a safety closure which can only be opened after said pressure container is relieved of pressure, and the parts of the clamping ring closure means include respective end portions supporting said safety closure, each of said end portions incorporating a projection having an opening, wherein the projections in the closed position of said safety closure are located in front of one another and the openings are in alignment, a connection nipple provided for said inlet connection means for the compressed air extending through said openings so that in order to open said safety closure it is first necessary to remove said connection nipple.

4. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, wherein said connection nipple is provided with a polyhedral profile member, a compressed air coupling supported by said connection nipple, one of said projections being externally located with respect to the other projection and equipped with a ring flange surrounding said polyhedral profile member of the connection nipple so that said profile member is only accessible by means of a socket wrench and with the compressed air coupling released.

5. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, wherein said container has a container opening which is closed by said cover member, and wherein said container opening is at least approximately as large as the cross-section of the container body.

6. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, wherein said spray gun possesses a material nozzle having a mouth and a dispersion channel having a tapering cross-section terminating at said material nozzle, said dispersion channel having a portion disposed behind said material nozzle which extends linearly, an air channel coaxially arranged with regard to said linearly extending portion of said dispersion channel and surrounding said linearly extending portion, said air channel terminating at an air nozzle, said air nozzle having an opening which surrounds said mouth of the material nozzle.

7. The spray installation as defined in claim 6, wherein the opening of said air nozzle is adjustable in axial direction with regard to said mouth of the material nozzle.

8. The spray installation as defined in claim 7, wherein said air channel possesses approximately twice the crosssection of said dispersion channel.

9. The spray installation as defined in claim 8, wherein said spray gun possesses a mouth portion and a gun handle which forms an obtuse angle with the mouth portion of the spray gun, a connection stud for the dispersion feed conduit means at the end of the gun handle, said dispersion channel extending through said gun handle up to said connection stud.

10. The spray installation as defined in claim 9, wherein said obtuse angle amounts to approximately 115.degree..

11. The spray installation as defined in claim 9, wherein the dispersion feed conduit possesses a larger cross-section than that of the dispersion channel of the spray gun, and wherein said spray gun is provided with a reducing portion following said connection stud for the dispersion feed conduit means, said reducing portion possessing a converging angle.

12. The spray installation as defined in claim 11, wherein said converging angle of said reducing portion amounts to at most 20.degree..

13. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, wherein said spray gun is provided with a reducing- and shut-off element.

14. The spray installation as defined in claim 13, wherein said spray gun possesses a connection means for said dispersion feed conduit means, said reducing- and shut-off element being connected with said connection means of said dispersion feed conduit means.

15. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, wherein said spray gun possesses a reducing- and shut-off element.

16. The spray installation as defined in claim 15, wherein said reducing- and shut-off element is operably connected with said air conduit means.

17. The spray installation as defined in claim 3, further including a travelling carriage for supporting said pressure container, said compressed air device and said blower mechanism.

18. The spray installation as defined in claim 17, wherein said pressure container is provided at its lower end with leg means and coupling means for releasably connecting the pressure container with the travelling carriage.

19. A spray installation for materials, especially highly-filled dispersions, comprising, in combination:

a. a pressure container including a container body for housing a dispersion and having a lower end region and an upper end region;

b. outlet connection means for the dispersion provided at the lower end region of the pressure container and an inlet connection means for compressed air provided at the upper end region of the pressure container;

c. a removable cover member provided for said pressure container, said removable cover member having a flange;

d. said container being provided with a flange, and the flange of said cover member bearing against the flange of said pressure container;

e. a single clamping ring closure means engaging with said flanges for securing the cover member to said container body of the pressure container;

f. a compressed air device;

g. conduit means for connecting the compressed air device with said inlet connection means of the pressure container;

h. a blower mechanism;

i. a spray gun;

j. a dispersion feed conduit means for connecting said spray gun with said outlet connection means of the pressure container;

k. air conduit means for connection of said spray gun with said blower mechanism;

l. said clamping ring closure means being formed of at least two parts, wherein the parts at one side are hingedly connected with one another and at the other side are connected with one another by means of a quick closure mechanism;

m. said quick closure mechanism including means for constructing the same as a safety closure which can only be opened after said pressure container is relieved of pressure; and

n. the parts of the clamping ring closure means include respective end portions supporting said safety closure, each of said end portions incorporating a projection having an opening, wherein the projections in the closed position of said safety closure are located in front of one another and the openings are in alignment, a connection nipple provided for said inlet connection means for the compressed air extending through said openings so that in order to open said safety closure it is first necessary to remove said connection nipple.