Spray Gun Light Assembly

Abstract

A light for attachment to a paint spray gun wherein a high intensity halogen lamp is forced air cooled from the source of air that is used in spray painting. The lamp has a flame retardant screen to prevent ignition of a combustible mixture within the spray area.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to obtain satisfactory results in spray painting, it is desirable that the surface being painted be well illuminated so the operator can see what he is doing. Since substantially all spray painting takes place indoors, artificial lights are used. These artificial lights are generally high intensity, stationary, explosion proof lamps that illuminate the entire object being sprayed. These prior art lights are expensive and at best not completely satisfactory since shadows are created by the operator, and the spray device. Also, in many instances the heat generated by the lamps creates a hot, uncomfortable environment.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention uses a high intensity halogen lamp mounted in a forced air cooled housing affixed on the spray gun. The halogen lamp, which is relatively small in size, does not interfere with the operator's handling of the spray gun; but the area being sprayed is brilliantly illuminated with white light that gives excellent color rendition. The halogen lamp, which produces much heat, is forced air cooled with some of the air which is furnished to the spray gun for paint spraying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a common type spray gun with the light of the invention attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the light of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a paint spray gun 20 of a common prior art type having a handle 21, a spray head 22, a trigger 23, and a paint container 25. A source of air under pressure is introduced at 27, and aspirates paint from container 25 through line 28 to head 22. Such spray gun and operation are well known.

The present invention, light 30, is supported from the spray gun 20 and is attached thereto. Light 30 includes tubular lamp housing 31 having mounted therein high intensity halogen lamp 32, of, for instance, a 250 watt capacity Housing 31, preferably of metal, is suitably cylindrical in shape and can be of, for instance, a 3/4 inch diameter and a 4 inch length. Housing 32 has a rectangular shape opening 33 which extends circumferentially for about 90.degree. and is of approximately a 1 inch length. The halogen lamp is so mounted and spaced within the housing 31 that the illumination from the lamp extends out through opening 33 into an arc as illustrated at 35 in FIG. 4. A conventional socket 36 having a lamp receiving portion of the screw-in type is suitably fixed at one end of housing 31 and has leading thereto electric conductor cord 37 having insulation thereon and having at its end a suitable plug for connection to a source of electrical current.

Housing 31 has at its end opposite socket 36 a metallic screen, or grid, 38 which is held in place in the housing by retainer ring 40. Grid 38 is of a fine mesh type commonly used for flame retardation, as, for instance, in Davy safety lamps. The function of the grid will be explained later.

A transparent lens 41, of tubular glass or the like, suitably of a cylindrical shape having a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of housing 31, and a length in excess of opening 33, is positioned longitudinally within housing 31 whereby lens 41 covers opening 33. Lens 41 abuts at one end against grid 38, and at the other end against air inlet pipe 42 which extends through the wall of housing 31. Pipe 42 extends into the interior of housing 31 for a short distance and is joined and sealed to said wall by suitable means. Pipe 42 extends, preferably at a slight angle, on the outside of housing 31 and has secured thereto a flexible air supply hose 37 connected to main air supply 27 by a T fixture 45.

A clip type bracket 46 having spring arms 47 is riveted or otherwise fastened to housing 31 so that opening 33 is positioned circumferentially approximately opposite bracket 46.

In operation, light 30 is secured onto line 28 of the spray gun by snapping bracket 46 about said line. In this position, opening 33 permits a diverging ray of light 35, as seen in FIG. 4, to be cast into the spray area in front of spray gun head 22. Cord 37 is plugged into a suitable source of current, and air source 27 is fed to the spray gun. Air from source 27 passes through line 43 to pass over and act as a coolant for lamp 32. The cooling air passes through pipe 42 into the interior of housing 33, about lamp 32, thereby cooling it, and on out grid 38.

Some of the cooling air escapes along the opening 48 formed between the exterior circumference of lens 41, and the interior circumference of housing 31, as seen in FIG. 4, and then through opening 33. This air escape permits the space immediately in front of the lens to be constantly washed by clean air, thus providing a clear medium through which the light rays from lamp 32 travel. This escape of air likewise prevents any combustible mixture of paint and volatiles from reaching the hot lamp through opening 33.

The cooling air passing out grid 38 likewise prevents any combustible mixture of paint and volatiles from reaching the hot lamp. Additionally, metallic grid 38 prevents any flame from passing from the interior of housing 31 to the exterior of the housing and into the spray area, in the event that any combustible mixture or volatiles do enter into the housing 31 and do ignite. The principle of flame retardation by a fine wire grid is well known, wherein the grid prevents passage of a flame from one side of the grid to the other.

The light 30 can be readily removed from the spray gun 20 after use, cleaned when necessary, and stored for further use.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a paint spray gun operated by air under pressure, a light comprising

a. a housing;

b. a halogen lamp mounted within the housing;

c. means for cooling the halogen lamp within the housing with a portion of the air intended for operating the spray gun; and

d. a bracket for securing the light on the spray gun.

2. A device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a transparent lens therein, the housing has an opening adjacent the lens to permit cooling air to escape from the housing and wash an area in front of the lens with cooling air.

3. A device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a wire grid through which some of the cooling air exits from the housing.