U.S. patent number 3,813,012 [Application Number 05/340,317] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-28 for air powered sealant dispenser, including flexible tubular conduits as valve means.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Products Research & Chemical Corporation. Invention is credited to John E. Laird.
United States Patent |
3,813,012 |
Laird |
May 28, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
AIR POWERED SEALANT DISPENSER, INCLUDING FLEXIBLE TUBULAR CONDUITS
AS VALVE MEANS
Abstract
In an air powered gun dispenser for controlled discharge of a
flowable sealant material, the dispenser is provided with universal
adapters to receive and support various size cylindrical cartridges
of the sealant material. These cartridges are of the type having
one end formed with a discharge nozzle while the other end is
equipped with a dispensing plunger. A supply of pressurized air is
received by the dispenser and selectively applied against the
cartridge plunger to effect a discharge of the sealant material. To
provide manual control over the applied air pressure, a flexible
air inlet conduit is arranged to connect the supply of pressurized
air to a dispenser chamber communicating with the cartridge
plunger. A flexible air exhaust conduit also communicates with such
chamber. A manually operable and spring biased trigger actuator
provides for selectively discharging or terminating discharge of
the sealant material by alternately pinching and thus closing
either the inlet or exhaust conduits.
Inventors: |
Laird; John E. (Inglewood,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Products Research & Chemical
Corporation (Burbank, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23332833 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/340,317 |
Filed: |
March 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/326; 222/389;
222/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C
17/015 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05C
17/005 (20060101); B05C 17/015 (20060101); E04f
021/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/389,334,325-327,386,1,556 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Assistant Examiner: Slattery; James M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miketta, Glenny, Poms &
Smith
Claims
I claim:
1. In a dispenser for receiving and holding a cartridge of flowable
material and for discharging such material by selectively applying
a pressure-fluid to a drivable portion of such cartridge, the
improvement comprising; manually operable fluid pressure control
means for selectively applying said pressure-fluid having a
flexible tubular fluid inlet conduit adapted to receive a supply of
relatively high pressure-fluid and a flexible tubular fluid exhaust
conduit, said conduits communicating with the drivable portion of
said cartridge, and actuator means for selectively collapsing one
of said conduits to restrict the flow of fluid therethrough while
concurrently uncollapsing the other said conduit to allow flow of
fluid therethrough and vice versa, whereby said drivable portion of
the cartridge may be selectively pressurized to discharge the
flowable material from said cartridge or vented to terminate said
discharge.
2. In the dispenser of claim 1, said manually operable fluid
pressure control means further comprising spring biasing means for
continuously urging said actuator means to a position in which said
fluid intake conduit is fully collapsed and said exhaust conduit is
uncollapsed to respectively block and pass the flow of fluid
therethrough.
3. In the dispenser of claim 1, said actuator means of said
manually operable control means comprising; a pivotally mounted
member having first and second positions of limited relative
rotation, abutment means disposed in proximate relation to said
pivotally mounted member, and said flexible conduits arranged
between said abutment means and said member such that said inlet
conduit is collapsed between said abutment means and said member in
its first position and uncollapsed in its second position and said
exhaust conduit is collapsed between said abutment means and said
member in its second position of rotation and uncollapsed in its
first position.
4. In the dispenser of claim 3, said actuator means being further
defined by said pivotally mounted member having positions
intermediate said first and second positions of rotation in which
said inlet and exhaust conduits are partially collapsed so as to
afford limited inlet flow of pressure fluid to the drivable portion
of said cartridge and limited venting of fluid therefrom.
5. In the dispenser of claim 3, said actuator means further
comprising;
spring biasing means continuously urging said pivotally mounted
member to its first position of rotation, such that said actuator
means is biased to a normal off condition in which said inlet
conduit is closed and said exhaust conduit is open.
6. In the dispenser of claim 1, wherein said cartridge is received
within and supported by a cartridge holder and a pistol grip
structure is provided connected to said cartridge holder for
convenient manipulation of the dispenser, said actuator means
comprising;
a finger operated trigger member pivotally mounted on said pistol
grip structure for controlled movement between first and second
positions of relative rotation, abutment means disposed on said
pistol grip structure proximate to said trigger member, and said
flexible conduits being arranged between said abutment means and
said trigger member such that said inlet conduit is collapsed
between said abutment means and said trigger member in its first
position of rotation and uncollapsed in its second position, and
said exhaust conduit is collapsed between said abutment and said
trigger member in its second position of rotation and uncollapsed
in its first position.
7. In the dispenser of claim 6, said abutment means comprising an
inlet conduit abutment and an exhasut conduit abutment disposed on
said grip structure at spaced apart locations, and said inlet and
exhaust conduits arranged in crisscrossed relationship with respect
to said abutments so that said conduits pass only between their
associated abutments respectively and said trigger member.
8. A dispenser for flowable maerial contained within a cartridge of
the type having a fluid drivable portion at one end for forced
discharge of the material out of the other end, comprising;
cartridge holder means for receiving and supporting such a
cartridge and having a fluid drive chamber adapted for sealed
communication with said fluid drivable portion of said cartridge;
and
manually operable fluid pressure control means connected to said
cartridge holder means and having a flexible tubular fluid inlet
conduit and a flexible tubular fluid exhaust conduit communicating
with said pressure drive chamber, and actuator means for
selectively collapsing one of said conduits while concurrently
uncollapsing the other said conduit and vice versa.
9. The dispenser of claim 8, comprising,
a pistol grip structure connected to said cartridge holding means
for convenient manipulation of the dispenser, said inlet and
exhaust conduits extending upwardly from a butt end of said pistol
grip structure into communication with said pressure drive chamber
of said holder means, said actuator means comprising a trigger
member pivotally mounted to said pistol grip structure and abutment
means against which said inlet and exhaust conduits are selectively
collapsed by movement of said trigger member between first and
second positions of limited relative rotation.
10. The dispenser of claim 8, said manually operable control means
comprising spring biasing means continuously urging said actuator
means to a disposition in which said inlet conduit is fully
collapsed and said exhaust conduit is substantially
uncollapsed.
11. In a method of dispensing a flowable sealant material from a
cartridge containing such material including the steps of
alternately applying a fluid pressure to a drivable portion of the
cartridge for ejecting the material and exhausting such pressure
fluid to atmosphere to terminate said ejection, the improvement in
the steps of applying and exhausting the pressure fluid
comprising;
conducting pressure fluid at a relatively high pressure through a
flexible tubular conduit into communication with the fluid drivable
portion of the cartridge,
exhausting the pressure fluid communicating with the drivable
portion of the cartridge through a flexible tubular conduit to
atmosphere, and
selectively controlling the flow of fluid through said tubular
conduits by physically collapsing one of said tubular conduits
while uncollapsing the other and vice versa to achieve the
alternate modes of discharge and termination of the flowable
material from said cartridge.
12. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said cartridge holder means
comprises;
a hollow generally cylindrical head portion having an open end
communicating with said cartridge plunger and a closed end, said
head portion being formed with external threads adjacent its open
end;
a plurality of adapter rings having both internal and external
threads for optionally threadedly securing any selected one of said
retainers to said external threads on said head portion, thereby
adapting a single universal head portion of the dispenser for
receiving a plurality of different size and types of cartridges and
cartridge retainers.
13. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising;
a generally elongated pistol grip structure having one end
connected to said head portion with the axis of said head portion
generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said
structure;
said inlet and exhaust conduits extending upwardly and interiorly
of said pistol grip structure from a butt end thereof into
communication with said pressure drive chamber defined interiorly
of said hollow head portion; and
said actuator means comprising a finger operated trigger member
pivotally mounted to said pistol grip structure and abutment means
carried by said pistol grip structure against which said inlet and
exhaust conduits are selectively collapsed by movement of said
trigger member between first and second positions of limited
relative rotation.
14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein said head portion is formed
with annular coaxial margins circumferentially extending about its
open end for receiving and sealingly engaging with end margins of
different size cartridges.
Description
BACKGROUND
In general, the present invention relates to material dispensing
devices and apparatus and more particularly to an air powered
dispenser for controlled discharge of flowable sealant materials
such as caulking compounds, glazes, plastics, putty, and other
paste-like or semi-solid materials.
The use of sealant cartridges and dispenser guns therefor is a
convenient and economical way to store flowable sealant material
until needed and to facilitate the dispensing and application
thereof. Typically, the cartridges containing the sealant material
are formed of a plastic, paper or other low pressure resistant
substance. Generally, a cylindrical configuration is employed in
which one of the cartridge ends is formed with a discharge nozzle
or nozzle receiving opening while the other end is equipped with a
piston or dispensing plunger moveable with respect to the inside
diameter of the cartridge.
Although some dispensers are provided with a mechanical ratchet
drive for displacing the cartridge piston to dispense the material,
other dispensers are operated by air pressure. Because the air
powered devices are easier to use and control and permit a faster
application of the sealant material, they are preferred over the
mechanical type for many jobs, especially for large scale
construction and industrial projects and projects requiring careful
workmanship.
In an air powered dispenser, the cartridges are normally sealed by
an end closure engaging a marginal edge or end of the cartridge
adjacent its plunger and sealing it with respect to an air drive
chamber formed in the dispenser body. Into this chamber high
pressure air is introduced for acting against the plunger and
forcing the dispensable material out of the discharge or nozzle
end. Such dispensers may be provided with a hand or pistol grip
structure and equipped with an actuator or trigger for selectively
directing the supply of pressurized air to the driving chamber.
An air powered dispensing device and a cartridge suitable for use
therein are respectively illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,838,210
and 3,367,545. Devices such as these have been found very valuable
in reducing the time and improving the quality of workmanship in
the application of sealant materials particularly for industrial
projects.
Notwithstanding the success of existing dispensers of this type, it
is desirable to provide a lower cost air powered dispenser in which
the air control mechanism or means is substantially simplified.
With this in mind, it is one object of the present invention to
provide a dispenser which may be manufactured on a large volume
scale at a lower per unit cost and which nevertheless results in a
reliable, rugged, long lasting device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a
dispenser in which the valving mechanism for applying pressurized
air to the drivable plunger of the cartridge is inherently free of
the type of fittings, connections and valve mechanisms which have
in the past resulted in the leakage of air between the air supply
and the cartridge drive piston.
Another shortcoming of existing dispensing devices lies in their
inability to accommodate different sizes and types of sealant
cartridges. It is typical to have a different dispensing gun for
each of several sizes of commercially available cartridges. The
size of the cartridge may vary substantially depending upon the
type of sealant material carried therein and the quantity required
for completing each particular project or job. For industrial
applications, the cartridge may be of a relatively expensive
plastic variety for containing special and relatively expensive
sealant compounds. On the other hand, for general caulking
applications, the cartridge may be of the more usual paper
container type typically having quantities of 1/10 gallon or one
quart. Although some existing dispensers accommodate cartridges of
different length, and in this respect of different volume capacity,
for the most part available dispenser guns are capable of receiving
only a particular size and type of cartridge.
It is accordingly another object of the present invention to
provide such a lower cost air powered dispenser in which cartridges
varying not only in length but also in diameter and cartridges
varying in type, such as the more expensive plastic versus the less
costly paper cartridges, may be dispensed by a single universal air
powered gun.
SUMMARY
Briefly, these objects are achieved by a dispenser constructed in
accordance with the present invention to provide an improved
manually operable fluid control means for selectively applying and
exhausting the pressurized air with respect to the drivable piston
or plunger of the cartridge. The air control means includes a
flexible fluid inlet conduit communicating the pressurized air with
an air-drive chamber of the dispenser and a flexible air exhaust
conduit communicating between such chamber and ambient air. A
manually operable actuator means, which may be in the form of a
finger operated trigger member, provides for selectively collapsing
either the intake or exhaust conduits depending upon the desired
operation of the dispenser. For discharging the flowable material,
the actuator means is moved from a position in which the inlet
conduit is collapsed and thus closed and in which the exhaust
conduit is uncollapsed and thus open to a position in which the
inlet conduit is uncollapsed and open and the exhaust conduit is
collapsed and thereby closed.
This operation allows the supply air to enter the drive chamber and
displace the cartridge piston. The exhaust conduit is blocked to
prevent the higher pressure air entering the inlet conduit from
escaping to atmosphere. To terminate the discharge of flowable
material from the cartridge, the actuator means is moved to a
position in which the inlet conduit is collapsed and closed and the
exhaust conduit is uncollapsed and open. This permits the
pressurized air within the drive chamber to bleed or vent through
the exhaust conduit to atmospheric pressure causing an immediate
relaxation of the drive pressure against the cartridge piston and
the abrupt termination of discharge. The actuator means or trigger
member may be biased in the position described immediately above
which may be termed the normal or "off" condition of the
dispenser.
The air control means may be provided in a handle or pistol grip
structure having an upper socket-like head open at one end and
defining the air-drive chamber therein. External threads may be
provided adjacent the open end for receiving and securing a
threaded end of a hollow barrel-like retainer for the cartridge.
Depending upon the size and type of cartridge, adapters are
provided for adjusting the threaded end of the head-like socket to
accommodate different diameter cartridges and barrel shaped
cartridge retainers.
These and further objects and various advantages of the improved
air control means for a sealant dispensing gun according to the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from a consideration of the following detailed description of a
particular and exemplary embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser constructed according
to the embodiment of the invention herein, for applying a flowable
sealant material to a lap-joint of a work piece.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, substantially central, sectional view of
the dispenser of FIG. 1, with certain components thereof being
illustrated in elevation.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating
the actuator means of the present dispenser in a different
mode.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 2 taken generally along
the section lines for IV--IV therein.
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the dispenser shown in
FIG. 2 and taken along the lines of V--V therein.
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views similar to FIG. 2
illustrating different size cartridges and barrel retainers
therefor connected to a universal dispenser head or socket, shown
in phantom, by threaded adapter rings.
DISCLOSURE
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention generally comprises an air
powered hand held dispenser 11 for receiving and holding a
cylindrical cartridge 12 of flowable sealant material in which an
improved manually operable fluid-pressure control means, indicated
at 13, provides for selectively discharging the sealant material as
at 14 for application to a work piece 16.
The manually operable fluid control means 13 serves to controllably
apply a drive fluid, such as air, at a superatmospheric pressure to
a drivable portion of cartridge 12. In this instance, the drivable
portion of the cartridge is provided by a piston or moveable
dispensing plunger 17 communicating with a drive chamber 18 formed
in the dispenser.
Control means 13 is in this instance mounted within a pistol or
handle grip structure 19 of dispenser 11 and includes a flexible
fluid inlet conduit 21 and a similarly flexible fluid exhaust
conduit 22. Inlet conduit 21 serves to connect or communicate a
supply of pressurized air available via a hose 23, detachably
connected to a connector 24, to pressurizable drive chamber 18 of
the dispenser. Conduit 21 communicates with chamber 18 at an inlet
passageway 26. Also connected to chamber 18 is exhaust conduit 22
which communicates with the chamber at an exhaust outlet 27. The
other end of exhaust conduit 22 is vented to atmospheric air at an
open end 28 communicating directly with ambient air through an
opening 29 at the butt end of handle grip structure 19.
Control means 13 further includes an actuator means for selectively
pinching or collapsing one or the other of the flexible inlet and
exhaust conduits 21 and 22. The actuator means is manually operable
and may be provided as in the case of the present embodiment by a
trigger member 31 having spaced apart clamping portions 32 and 33.
Abutment means are provided in association with clamping portions
32 and 33 and the inlet and exhaust conduits are arranged between
the abutment means and the clamping portions of trigger member 31
such that the conduits may be alternately collapsed and uncollapsed
by movement of member 31.
In this embodiment the abutment means are provided by spaced
transverse pins 36 and 37 associated respectively with clamping
portions 32 and 33. Inlet conduit 21 is dressed between clamping
portion 32 of the trigger member and the abutment means formed by
pin 36, while exhaust conduit 22 is dressed between clamping
portion 33 and abutment means pin 37.
Moreover, trigger member 31 is pivotally mounted for limited
relative rotation between a first position illustrated by FIG. 2 in
which inlet conduit 21 is collapsed between the clamping portion 32
and pin 36, and a second position shown in FIG. 3 in which exhaust
conduit 22 is collapsed between clamping portion 33 and pin 37. In
other words, the actuator means may be provided as in this case by
a member 31 having hammer-like portions selectively and mutually
exclusively collapsing the respective conduits against anvil-like
abutments.
In this embodiment, trigger member 31 forms a manual finger
operated trigger of pistol or handle grip structure 19, and is
pivotally mounted about a transverse pin 38 carried by a front wall
39 of structure 19. Wall 39 is formed with recesses, such as recess
40, for receiving trigger member 31. Pins 36 and 37 here providing
the abutment means extend transversely between side walls 41 and 42
of the pistol grip structure as best shown in FIG. 4.
The air pressure control means may be further provided with means
for biasing the actuator means to a normal "off" position in which
the inlet conduit is fully collapsed and thus closed and the
exhaust conduit is uncollapsed and thus open. This is the first
position of trigger member 31 as shown in FIG. 2 and is illustrated
therein, the biasing means may be provided by a coiled compression
spring 43 having opposite ends nested and secured within opposed
recesses 46 and 47 formed in trigger member 31 and wall 39 of
structure 19. Spring 43 thus functions to force the lower end of
trigger member 31 outwardly from grip structure 19 causing member
31 to pivot to its first position with clamping portion 32
collapsing inlet conduit 21 against the abutment means provided by
pin 36.
It has been found that conduits 21 and 22 may be provided by a
relatively high pressure resistant plastic tubing, such as a
polyurethane tubing capable of handling a pressure in excess of 100
PSI. A normal operating pressure for the dispenser may be in he
range of 90 PSI. A suitable tubing for the conduits is available as
a reinforced polyurethane high pressure tubing.
The inlet conduit 21 should not only have sufficient strength to
resist the applied pressure, but it also should have a sufficient
flexibility to permit complete collapsing and closing under the
pinching force applied by trigger member 31. For this purpose, an
inlet conduit of the above material having an inside diameter of
1/16 inch and an outside diameter of 1/8 inch has been found
suitable. On the other hand, it has been found preferable to
provide a larger inside diameter tubing for exhaust conduit 22 to
permit rapid venting of the pressurized chamber. If the drive
chamber 18 is exhausted too slowly, the response time between
releasing trigger 31 and termination of the discharge may be too
slow. For this purpose, an exhaust conduit tubing of a larger size
than the inlet tubing may be used, and here a tubing of 1/8 inch
inside diameter and 1/4 inch outside diameter is satisfactory.
The pinching force applied by trigger member 31 in collapsing inlet
conduit 21 should be sufficient to close conduit 21 and prevent air
from leaking therethrough when the gun is in the "off" condition.
Here the pinching force may be provided by a spring 43 having
approximately a 9 pound force and with a lever advantage of
approximately six to one between the point of applicaton of the
spring force to member 31 and the clamping point of portion 32. A
similar force and lever advantage applies to the closing of exhaust
conduit 22, however, the trigger force in this instance is applied
by the operator's finger. The foregoing leverage parameters may be
provided by a trigger member 31 having a length of approximately 1
1/2 inches between pivot pin 38 and the point of application of
force by spring 43, and approximately 1/8 to 3/8 inch spacing
between pivot pin 38 and the abutment pins 36 and 37.
In moving trigger member 31 between its biased "off" position shown
in FIG. 2 and an actuated "on" position illustrated by FIG. 3, it
is possible to create a throttling effect by moving member 31 to an
intermediate position of rotation. In particular, by an initial
depression of member 31 to an intermediate position of rotation,
the inlet conduit 21 is partially opened to allow some higher
pressure air to enter chamber 18, while conduit 21 is only
partially blocked so as to allow the escape of some of the higher
pressure air entering chamber 18, This may be utilized to achieve a
gradual application of drive pressure to plunger 17 and a
controllable discharge of the flowable material from the dispenser.
Once the flow is started, the trigger member can be depressed
fully, causing inlet conduit 21 to be completely open and exhaust
conduit 22 completely closed. This results in a maximum rate of
discharge.
It is an important capability of air operated dispensers that they
respond rapidly to the manual control to permit the abrupt
termination of material discharge. In the present fluid pressure
control means, this is achieved by releasing trigger 31 so as to
close off the inlet conduit 21 by permitting trigger member 31 to
be returned to its first position by the force of the biasing
spring 43. Simultaneously, exhaust conduit 22 is released from its
deformed collapsed condition to allow chamber 18 to be exhausted or
vented to atmosphere. In the present embodiment, exhaust conduit 22
extends downwardly within grip structure 19 and is held in place by
pins 71 and 72 so that its exhaust or venting end 28 is directed
outwardly of the butt end of handle structure 19. This directs the
blast of exhaust air away from the face of the user.
Alternatively, exhaust conduit 22 may be shortened so as to extend
just below abutment pin 37 and trigger portion 33 for venting
outwardly through the openings provided by recesses 40. In such
case, retaining pins 71 and 72 may be omitted and the opening 29 at
the butt end of grip structure 19 closed.
Also, by positioning conduit 21 so as to extend longitudinally with
the elongated pistol grip structure 19, the supply hose 23 may be
fastened to a convenient location on the dispenser, namely the butt
end 51 of handle grip structure 19. Hose 23 thus extends downwardly
from butt end 51 out of the way of the user and below the hand
holding the dispenser.
The conduits are crisscrossed between spaced apart pins 36 and 37.
This disposes the respective conduits in clamping or pinching
position between the clamping portions 32 and 33 of member 31 and
the abutment means provided by pins 36 and 37. By this arrangement,
it is less likely, if not impossible, for the dispenser to
malfunction by accidental pinching of the wrong conduit between the
clamping portions and abutments.
For receiving and retaining cartridge 12, dispenser 11 is provided
with a cartridge holder means in the form of a cylindrical
barrel-like retainer 52 having an inside diameter just slightly
larger than the outside diameter of the cartridge. At the forward
working end of dispenser 11, retainer 52 has a shape conforming to
that of cartridge 12, and is formed with a nozzle receiving opening
53 through which a nozzle fitting 54 of cartridge 12 may protrude.
Fitting 54 of cartridge 12 may threadedly receive a discharge
nozzle 56 as illustrated. Cartridge 12 and its associated nozzle 56
are generally of the type disclosed in aforementioned U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,838,210 and 3,367,545.
Opposite the forward working end of retainer 52, it is provided
with a flanged portion 57 having interior circumferentially
extending threads 58. To cooperatively and threadedly receive
retainer 52, the dispenser is provided with a hollow cylindrical
head or socket portion 61 mounted at an uppermost end of pistol
grip structure 19 with the axis of head 61 extending approximately
at right angles with the longitudinal axis of structure 19. The
hollow interior of head 61 defines chamber 18 which is closed at a
rear end by a transverse wall 62. The opposite and forward end of
head 61 is open so as to communicate with the interior of cartridge
12 and with dispensing plunger 17.
External circumferentially extending threads 63 are provided at the
forward end of head 61 for threadedly receiving the internal
threaded end of retainer 52. A seal is automatically formed between
an axial end margin 64 of cartridge 12 and a reduced annular margin
66 at a forward end of head 61 upon threadedly securing retainer 52
to head 61 with the cartridge therein. The axial displacement of
margin 64 of the cartridge toward head 61 upon threading of
retainer 52 forces a radius provided on margin 64 to squeeze
against a forwardly facing shoulder 65 adjacent the reduced margin
66 of the head and seal therewith. This completes drive chamber 18
for receiving pressurized fluid such as air and displacing the
plunger 17 in the direction of discharge. Thus, retainer 52 and
head 61 form a cartridge holder and a drive chamber 18 which is
connected at 67 to an uppermost portion of pistol grip structure
19.
In use, retainer 52 is threadedly detached from head 61, and an
expanded cartridge, if any, is removed therefrom and a new one
inserted. Retainer 52 is thereupon threadedly secured to head 61
and an air hose 23 is attached to fitting 24.
The particular control over the air pressure applied to plunger 17
involves a novel method of dispensing the sealant material. In
particular, the method of controlling the air pressure generally
comprises conducting the air or other fluid at a relatively high
pressure through a flexible conduit, such as conduit 21, into
communication with the drivable portion, namely plunger 17, of the
cartridge. Also involved is the step of exhausting the pressurized
air which is in communication with plunger 17 through another
flexible conduit extending to atmosphere. Controlling the flow of
air or fluid through these conduits is achieved by the steps of
physically collapsing one of the conduits while uncollapsing the
other and vice versa to effect alternate modes of discharge and
termination of discharge of the flowable material from the
cartridge.
The various components and structures of dispenser 11 may be formed
of any suitably strong and rugged material. For example, in this
embodiment, retainer 52, head 61 and pistol grip structure 19 may
all be fromed of a rugged molded plastic. Trigger member 31,
fitting 24 and, of course, spring 43 may be formed of metal.
With reference to FIG. 4, pistol grip structure 19 may be of a two
part molded plastic construction in which a first part includes
side wall 41, inner wall 39 and a rear wall 68, while the second
part is provided by side wall 42. Abutment pins 36 and 37, together
with exhaust conduit guide pins 71 and 72, may be integral with
side wall 41 and supported at opposite ends within indentations or
recesses 73 formed on the inside surface of side wall 42. This
provides adequate support for the plastic pins 36 and 37 which must
withstand the transverse shear force applied by clamping portions
32 and 33 of member 31. The two part construction of grip 19 may be
secured together by suitable means such as an adhesive, or screw
means (not shown).
Head 61 may be formed of a one or two piece molded plastic part and
joined to the uppermost end of structure 19 by suitable connecting
means, such as a boss or other protrusion (not shown) to which the
upper margin of handle structure 19 may be securely clamped and
permanently fastened, such as by an adhesive.
For a dispenser in which the pistol grip structure 19 is formed of
plastic, integral conduit fittings 74 may be molded as an integral
part of the plastic structure. These fittings may be generally of a
standard type having a hollow nub 75 formed with one way barbs (not
shown) over which the tubular conduits may be forced. Flanged metal
ferrules 76 may be provided for slipping over the outside of the
tubes into secured coaxial relation with the barbed nubs for
providing a reliable air seal and strong mechanical connection of
the conduits to the fittings.
Air inlet fitting 24 may be threaded to a bore 77 communicating
with the lower inlet conduit fitting 74. Inlet and outlet
passageways 26 and 27 are formed in the plastic parts so as to
communicate with the respective inlet and exhaust fittings 74 at
the upper end of structure 19.
The configuration of barrel-like retainer 52 as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 is suitable for accommodating certain sized
cartridges generally of the shape of cartridge 12. However, certain
cartridges such as those illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8 have
configurations which are not compatible with retainer 52;
nevertheless, these diversely shaped cartridges are accommodated by
specially shaped retainers, each capable of being threadedly
connected to the same universal head 61 and pistol grip structure
19 of FIGS. 1 through 5. In particular, FIGS. 6 through 8
illustrate in phantom the principle parts of the dispenser 11
discussed above namely, socket or head 61, pistol grip structure 19
and trigger member 31 in which the air control means is mounted,
for receiving the various shaped cartridges and barrel
retainers.
For example, FIG. 6 provides a hollow, cylindrical, barrel-like
retainer 81 and a threaded adapter ring 82 to modify the gun
dispenser for receiving a standard commercial 1/10 gallon paper
cartridge 83. Such paper cartridges include a built-in nozzle 84
and a dispensing plunger 86 corresponding to detachable nozzle 56
and plunger 17 of cartridge 12 disclosed and described herein
above. These 1/10 gallon cartridges have a diameter slightly larger
than that of cartridge 12 for which dispenser 11 is designed.
However, by providing adapter ring 82 having internal threads 88
for threadedly mounting ring 82 to the standard external threads of
head 61 of the dispensing gun, the dispenser is readily adapted to
accommodate the standard 1/10 gallon paper cartridge. Ring 82 in
particular is formed with a forwardly extending annular portion
defining a reduced circumferentially extending annular margin 91,
here tapered, and an adjacent circumferentially extending forwardly
facing shoulder 92 for receiving and sealingly engaging margin 87
of the paper cartridge. To cause this sealing engagement, retainer
81 is provided with a circumferentially extending flange 93 having
internal threads 94 mated to threads 89 formed on the forward
portion of ring 82. Retainer 81 upon thereaded attachment to
adapter ring 82 causes the paper cartridge to be forced against
shoulder 92, deforming margin 87 and causing a seal to form,
similar to the forced sealing of cartridge 12 by retainer 52
described above.
In FIG. 7, head 61 of the dispenser gun is adapted to receive a
relatively large diameter cartridge 101, and for this purpose a
threaded expansion ring 102 is provided. Ring 102 has internal
threads 103 mated to the standard external threads of head 61, and
is provided with coaxial external threads 104 for receiving an
internally threaded flange portion 106 of large diameter retainer
107. Expander ring 102 may be formed similarly to the forward end
of head 61 for receiving and sealingly engaging an end margin 108
of cartridge 101. In this instance, cartridge 101 is of the same
type as cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 2, although of different
diameter, and as such is provided with a threaded nozzle receiving
fitting 109 at the forward end.
FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which a
smaller diameter cartridge is accommodated, by providing a retainer
formed with an expanded flanged end for threadedly engaging the
external threads of standard head 61. Thus, a relatively small
cartridge 111, which might be used for small capacity storage of a
relatively expensive sealant or other flowable material, is carried
within a mated retainer 112 which for the most part is shaped
similarly to retainers 52 and 107. However, the nonworking end of
cartridge 112 is provided with an enlarged diameter hollow,
cylindrical or flange portion 113 having internal threads 114 mated
to the external threads of head 61. To provide for the sealing of
an end margin 116 of the smaller diameter cartridge 111, head 61 as
shown in FIG. 8, and also as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is provided
with a circumferentially extending annular margin 117, and an
adjacent circumferentially extending and forwardly facing shoulder
118 for receiving and sealing with end margin 116 of the cartridge
in a manner similar to the seating and sealing engagement of end
margin 64 of the larger diameter cartridge 12 against annular
margin 66 and shoulder 65.
While only a particular and preferred embodiment of the present
invention has been disclosed herein, it will be readily apparent to
persons skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the
invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure and description
thereof are for illustrative purposes only and do not in any way
limit the invention which is defined only by the following
claims.
* * * * *