U.S. patent number 3,822,948 [Application Number 05/255,759] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-09 for viscous material applicator, especially paint applicator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fa. Rugel & Lutz Maschinenfabrik. Invention is credited to Alfons Handl.
United States Patent |
3,822,948 |
Handl |
July 9, 1974 |
VISCOUS MATERIAL APPLICATOR, ESPECIALLY PAINT APPLICATOR
Abstract
A so-called hose or peristaltic pump is designed so that the
pump itself limits the maximum pressure of the viscous liquids or
the like delivered therefrom. In one embodiment, the peristaltic
pump and its accessories, such as the driving motor, are mounted on
a rocker arm pivotally supported adjacent one end by a base
carrying a circularly curved support member engageable with the
hose, so that pinching rollers on a roller carrier forming part of
the pump compress the hose against this circularly curved member.
The weight of the pump and its accessories constitutes a pressure
regulating means. In other embodiments of the invention, the
pinching rollers are spring biased radially outwardly so that,
responsive to excessive pressure, they will move inwardly against
the spring bias. The spring bias may be applied directly to the
axles for the pinching rollers or to pivoted levers on which the
pinching rollers are mounted.
Inventors: |
Handl; Alfons (Friedrichshafen,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Fa. Rugel & Lutz
Maschinenfabrik (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
27183921 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/255,759 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 16, 1971 [DT] |
|
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2162455 |
Mar 7, 1972 [DT] |
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2210834 |
Feb 2, 1972 [DT] |
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2209261 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/146; 417/412;
417/477.11; 417/477.5; 417/477.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C
17/02 (20130101); B05C 17/0217 (20130101); F04B
43/1276 (20130101); B05C 17/0333 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05C
17/02 (20060101); B05C 17/03 (20060101); F04B
43/12 (20060101); B43k 005/02 (); F04b 003/08 ();
F24b 045/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;417/477,475,412
;401/146 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Croyle; Carlton R.
Assistant Examiner: Hersh; Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGlew & Tuttle
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A viscous material applicator, especially for applying paint to
surfaces, comprising, in combination, applicator roller means, a
peristaltic pump including a pump frame and a length of hose having
an inlet and an outlet, means connecting said applicator roller
means to said hose pump outlet, an arcuate guide on said frame
having said length of hose extending therealong, motor means,
pinching roller means, a motor shaft, a roller carrier driven by
said motor shaft, said pinching roller means being attached to said
roller carrier for engaging said length of hose to repeatedly
squeeze said length of hose against said arcuate guide, hose
reshaping roller means attached to said roller carrier for
repeatedly reshaping said length of hose following said squeezing
whereby the cross-sectional shape of said length of hose is
repeatedly varied from said inlet toward said outlet thereof, a
base plate fixedly mounting said frame, an elongated rocker arm
pivotally mounted at one end on said base plate and having a free
end, said rocker arm carrying said motor means and said roller
carrier, said rocker arm positioned between the elements carried
thereby and said base plate, said rocker arm being swingable about
a pivot axis which is in spaced parallel relation to said motor
shaft for movement of said motor means and said roller carrier
relative to said arcuate guide, and a set screw threadedly engaged
in the free end of said rocker arm and engaged with said base plate
to limit movement of said motor means and said roller carrier in at
least the direction toward said arcuate guide.
2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said rocker arm and
said motor means and said roller carrier mounted thereon constitute
pressure limiting means mounting said pinching roller means for
movement in a direction away from said arcuate guide responsive to
an increase in the pressure at said outlet to decrease the pressure
exerted on said length of hose by said pinching roller means, said
set screw abutting the upper surface of said base plate to limit
movement of said rocker arm toward said base plate.
3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said set screw is
threaded into said base plate to secure said motor means and said
roller carrier against movement relative to said arcuate guide, and
pressure limiting means comprising resilient means yieldingly
pressing said pinching rollers against said length of pump
hose.
4. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said resilient
pressure limiting means comprises longitudinal, radially extending
guide slots in said roller carrier, stop means on said roller
carrier, each of said pinching roller means having a shaft, each
shaft riding in its respective guide slot, and resilient spring
means arranged between said stop means and the respective one of
said pinching roller shafts whereby said resilient spring means
limit the pressure exerted by said pinching roller means on said
length of hose.
5. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said resilient
pressure limiting means comprise a drag lever for each pinching
roller, pivot means for journaling one end of each drag lever to
said roller carrier, means for journaling the pinching roller means
to the opposite end of its respective drag lever, elongated guide
slots extending substantially radially in said roller carrier, a
guide pin attached to said drag lever for riding in said guide
slots, stop means on said roller carrier, and compression spring
means secured between said drag lever and the respective stop
means, whereby said pinching rollers may yield against said
compression spring means.
6. The applicator according to claim 5, wherein said elongated
guide slots have a curvature with a center of curvature coinciding
with the pivot means of the respective drag lever.
7. The applicator according to claim 3, wherein said resilient
pressure limiting means comprise a rocker lever for each pinching
roller means, means for pivoting each rocker lever intermediate its
ends to the roller carrier, means for journaling the pinching
roller means to the respective rocker lever at one end thereof,
stop means on said roller carrier, and tension spring means secured
between said stop means and the other end of the respective rocker
lever.
8. The applicator according to claim 7, further comprising
adjustment means arranged between said stop means and said tension
spring means for adjusting the tension of said tension spring
means.
9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said means for
connecting said applicator roller means to said hose pump outlet
comprise a tubular member with apertures therein for wetting said
applicator roller means along the outside surface thereof, conduit
means arranged between said outlet and said tubular member, bracket
means connected to the end of said conduit means, pivoting linkage
means connected to said tubular member and to said bracket means,
support means for rotatably securing the applicator roller means to
the bracket means alongside said tubular member, spring means
operatively connected to said bracket means and to said pivoting
linkage means for pressing the tubular member against the
applicator roller means, and hydraulic pressure means effectively
interposed between the end of the conduit means and said tubular
member for supporting the pressing of the tubular member by said
spring means against the applicator roller means.
10. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein said hydraulic
pressure means comprise two elastically yielding bent tubes which
connect the end of said conduit means to the inside of the tubular
member and which simultaneously press the tubular member against
the applicator roller means in response to the hydraulic pressure
built up by said pump in said conduit means whereby a pressure head
is produced in said bent tubes.
11. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein a control valve is
arranged in said conduit means.
12. The applicator according to claim 10, further comprising
cleaning means built into said tubular member, said cleaning means
including a piston movable back and forth within the tubular member
when the latter is disconnected from said conduit means.
13. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein said tubular
member has a surface member facing said applicator roller
means.
14. The applicator according to claim 13, wherein said surface
member has a curved shape.
15. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein said applicator
roller means comprises hub means at its ends, and spring means
attached to said hub means, said spring means including a plurality
of relatively thin pin shaped springs extending substantially
tangentially relative to said hub means and also substantially
radially outwardly relative to said applicator roller means to the
periphery of said applicator roller means, said spring means
yielding inwardly whereby a sliding movement of said applicator
roller means is prevented.
16. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein said hub means
comprise hub block means with slots therein for receiving the inner
ends of said spring means, said spring means having a first bend
therein so that the spring means extend substantially tangentially
relative to the hub and a second bend at their outer end extending
substantially radially outwardly.
17. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein said applicator
roller means comprise bearing bushing means at each end thereof,
and means for rigidly interconnecting said hub means to said
bearing bushing means, whereby the rotation of the applicator
roller means is transmitted to the hub means.
18. The applicator according to claim 16, further comprising a
cover plate attached to said hub block means for covering said
slots.
19. The applicator according to claim 18, wherein said cover plate
is glued to said hub block means.
20. A viscous material applicator, especially for applying paint to
surfaces comprising applicator roller means, a hose pump including
a pump frame and a length of hose with an inlet and an outlet,
means for connecting said applicator roller means to said hose pump
outlet, means for locating a portion of said length of hose along
part of a circular path in said pump frame, motor means, pinching
roller means, a motor shaft, a roller carrier driven by said motor
shaft, said pinching roller means being attached to said roller
carrier for repeatedly squeezing said length of hose along said
circular path, hose reshaping roller means also attached to said
roller carrier for repeatedly reshaping said length of hose
following said squeezing whereby the crosssectional shape of said
length of hose is repeatedly varied from said inlet end toward said
outlet end thereof, and pressure limiting means arranged for
cooperation with said pinching roller means to limit the extent of
the squeezing movement of said pinching roller means, said pressure
limiting means comprising a rocker arm, a journal shaft secured to
said pump frame, said rocker arm being journaled to said journal
shaft, and means for attaching said motor means together with said
roller carrier with said pinching roller means and with said
reshaping roller means to said rocker arm in such a position that
the pinching and reshaping roller means bear against said length of
hose along said circular path whereby the weight of the rocker arm
and of the means attached thereto act as a pressure limit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a peristaltic or hose type pump,
and, more particularly, to such a pump which is especially useful
for conveying visous liquids including mortar and the like, or
liquids with glimmer particles, rock powder, glass powder, and the
like, with the pump itself being arranged to limit the maximum
pressure so that separate pressure relief valve means are
obviated.
Prior art pumps of the so called hose or peristaltic type are
rather simple and rugged in construction and are thus suitable for
conveying of viscous materials including even mortar and the like.
These pumps are provided with means for controlling the conveyed
quantity of visous material or the conveying pressure. These
control means are adapted to influence the squeezing or pinching
effect. One embodiment for controlling the squeezing effect
provides means for adjusting the radial spacing of the pinching
rollers from the hose section as is described, for example, in
British Pat. No. 897,022. In this prior art pump a tilted surface
is arranged in the pump frame. A hose support member is movable
along the tilted surface, whereby the bent hose section may be
placed more or less closely relative to the squeezing rollers
whereby the squeezing effect may be varied. Varying the position of
the hose section relative to the squeezing rollers for controlling
the conveyed quantity or the conveying pressure does not involve an
automatic control, in addition to which it employs elements which
require continuous maintenance. Another drawback is seen in that
separate pressure relief valve means are required since an
automatic control of the sqeezing action is not accomplished
according to the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is the aim of the invention to
accomplish the following objects singly or in combination:
To provide an applicator hose pump in which the conveying pressure
is automatically controlled and thus the need for a pressure relief
valve is obviated;
To provide pressure control means for a hose pump whereby the
squeezing force is controlled or determined substantially by the
weight of the driving motor and the elements attached thereto;
To provide a hose pump in which a constant conveying pressure
adjusts itself automatically whereby such pump is especially
suitable as a dosing pump for viscous materials;
To provide a hose pump which may be shut off instantaneously by
removing the squeezing rollers out of their effective range;
to provide a hose pump which together with its accessories will
result in a light weight compact structure so that the entire
apparatus is easily portable from construction site to construction
site as well as on the job itself;
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a peristaltic or hose
type pump in which the pump itself is arranged to limit the maximum
pressure so that separate pressure relief valve means are obviated.
path by means of rollers which are followed by reshaping rollers to
continuously vary the cross-sectional shape of the circular hose
section. A pressure relief valve is obviated by pressure control
means which control the force of the pinching or squeezing rollers.
In one embodiment this control is accomplished by attaching the
drive motor with its accessories to a rocker arm which is journaled
about a shaft in a pump frame so that the weight of the motor with
its accessories will determine the force with which the pinching
rollers bear against the circular hose length.
In another embodiment the pinching rollers are movably supported on
a roller carrier whereby the movement of the pinching rollers is
determined by compression or tension springs which in turn
determine the force with which the pinching rollers act against the
hose section.
In a specific example, in which the pump is used to supply a
viscous material applicator, the peristaltic pump has the advantage
that the danger to the hose section, for example, due to a sudden
closing of the outlet end at the applicator roller, is obviated
because either the motor on the rocker will be lifted by the
increasing pressure in the hose or the squeezing rollers will be
lifted against the respective spring means so that in any event the
quantity of conveyed viscous material is reduced or altogether
stopped. This is advantageous because it obviates the use of a
pressure relief valve which is an expensive element and rather
subject to failures especially where very viscous materials such as
mortar are to be conveyed.
Another advantage of the pump according to the invention is seen in
that, in the embodiment where the motor is located on a rocker arm,
the pumping action may be instantly stopped by simply lifting the
rocker arm so that the pinching rollers are disengaged from the
hose section. The rocker arm embodiment has the further advantage
that the weight effect may be limited to an upper value by means of
a setscrew which will determine the extent to which the squeezing
rollers may move toward the hose.
The embodiment wherein the squeezing or pinching rollers are
movably supported on a roller carrier against the action of
compression or tension springs has the advantage that the entire
apparatus may be even lighter and still more compact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now
be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates, at its lower portion, a schematic side view of
one embodiment of a hose pump according to the invention and, at
its upper portion, a front view of the applicator means connected
to the hose pump whereby the drive motor and the pinching rollers
are arranged on a rocker arm and the roller wetting tubular member
is pressed against the applicator roller by spring means as well as
by hydraulic pressure means and wherein pivoting linkage means
secure the wetting member to a carrier bracket;
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the hose pump according to FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a side view similar to that of FIG. 1, wherein, the drive
motor is rigidly secured to a pump frame and the pinching rollers
are movably supported on a roller carrier against the action of
compression spring means;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the applicator section, the front view of
which is shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a hose pump
according to the invention, wherein the pinching or squeezing
rollers are movably supported on drag levers which are spring
biased;
FIG. 6 is a partial side view similar to that of FIG. 5, but with
the pinching rollers supported on spring biased rocker arms.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
While the peristaltic or hose type pump of the present invention
has a wide range of applications, it will be described, solely by
way of example, as used for supplying paint to a paint
applicator.
FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of the present apparatus in a
somewhat schematic manner. The paint pump is supported on a pump
frame 2 and sucks the liquid paint 31 out of a paint container 100.
An inlet conduit or suction conduit 4 is connected to the inlet end
of a length of hose 6. The outer end of the suction conduit 4 is
provided with a suction piece 30 and reaches into the paint
container 100. The outlet end 5 of the pump is connected through
conduit means 24 to the applicator section of the present
apparatus.
Operation of the pump conveys the paint through the contuit 24 to
the applicator section, for example, at a gauge pressure of 5 atms.
The conduit 24 may be provided with a handle and/or with a control
valve 26 operable by an actuator 27. The outlet end of the conduit
24 is connected to bracket means 28 to which are attached an
applicator roller 112 and a tubular wetting member 111 which
supplies the paint to the outside surface of the paint roller 112.
The operator merely has to move the roller 112 up and down along
the wall surface 118 after he has opened the valve 26 whereby a
uniform paint application to the wall 118 is assured.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump frame 2 includes a base
plate 1 which carries a curved support member 3 at least a portion
7 of which conforms to part of a circular arc for supporting the
length of hose 6 along such circular arc. As mentioned, the suction
conduit 4 and the supply or outlet 5 are interconnected by the
curved length of hose 6. The curved portion of the length of hose 6
covers a circular arc of about 120.degree..
A rocker arm 15 is journaled to the pump frame by means of a shaft
16. The outer end 14 of the rocker arm 15 extends sufficiently
above the base 1 to permit a rocking motion of the rocker arm 15. A
drive motor 12 is secured to the outer end 14 of the rocker arm 15.
A roller carrier 8 is attached to the shaft 13 of the motor 12.
Pinching rollers 9 are secured to the roller carrier 8. Behind the
pinching rollers 9, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the
roller carrier 8, there are arranged hose reshaping rollers 10. The
rotational axes of the reshaping rollers 10 are displaced by
90.degree. relative to the rotational axes of the pinching rollers
9. The rotational axes of the pinching rollers 9 extend
substantially parallel to the shaft 13. The rehsaping rollers 10
are arranged in pairs so that one reshaping roller is arranged on
one side of the hose while the opposite reshaping roller is
arranged on the opposite side of the hose. Each pinching roller and
its respective reshaping rollers are spaced from each other along
the circumference of the roller carrier 8 in such a manner that the
rotation of these rollers along the length of the hose 6 will
repeatedly squeeze and reshape the hose 6 whereby a rather
effective pumping action is accomplished.
The motor shaft 13 and the pivot axis 16 of the rocker arm 15
extend in parallel to each other. The rocker arm 15 and its free
end 14 are of such a dimension that the motor 12 will be in a
position to bear with its rollers 9 and 10 against the hose 6 in
its curved arc portion 7. Since hose pumps as such are known it is
not necessary to explain their operation in further detail.
Due to the arrangement of the motor 12 with its accessories on the
free end of the rocker arm 15, the invention accomplishes a
pressure relief feature because the rocking movement of the rocker
arm 15 in response to the weight of the motor 12 and its
accessories will automatically control the pumping pressure,
whereby the use of a pressure relief valve has been obviated.
Another advantage of this arrangement is seen in that the pumping
pressure or the quantity of conveyed paint may easily be increased
by simply attaching an additional weight to the free end 14 of the
rocker arm 15. For establishing an upper limit however, the
invention provides a setscrew 17 which is adjustably secured to the
outer end 14 of the rocker arm 15. The setscrew 17 bears against
the base 1 and thus limits the downward movement of the motor 12
and thus the extent to which the rollers 9 may squeeze the curved
portion of the hose 6.
Referring further to the top portion of FIG. 1, the roller 112 is
rotatably secured to the bracket 28 by a bent rod 114. The tubular
member 111 for wetting the outer surface of the roller with paint
is connected to the bracket 28 by pivoting linkage means 15" which
in the shown embodiment form a double scissor linkage. A hairpin
spring 117 urges the tubular member 111 against the roller 112.
Elastically yielding tubular members 29 and 110 supply the paint
into the wetting member 111 whereby a pressure head is established
in the tubular members 29 and 110 which also urges the wetting
member 111 against the outer surface of the roller 112 as will be
described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.
In FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 the motor 12 with its accessories such as the
shaft 13 and the roller carrier 8 is rigidly secured to the base
plate 1 for which purpose the setscrew 17 may engage a threaded
hole in the base plate 1.
In FIG. 3 the pinching rollers 9 are movably secured to the roller
carrier 8 which comprises longitudinal guide slots 15' extending
substantially radially relative to the roller carrier 8. The shafts
of the pinching rollers 9 in FIG. 3 bear against compression
springs 16' which rest against stop means 18. The pressure of the
springs 16' may be adjustable by means well known in the art.
The pressure of the compression springs 16 determines the pumping
pressure of the pump which is protected against an overload because
when the pumping pressure in the hose 6 exceeds the pressure of the
springs 16' the pinching rollers 9 will be lifted off the hose 6
whereby the pump stops pumping.
Incidentally, the curved portion 7 of the support member 3 forms a
channel member for the hose 6 as is best seen in FIG. 2 which also
illustrates the arrangement of the reshaping rollers 10 in pairs
substantially behind the respective pinching roller 9.
Referring now on FIG. 5, the pinching rollers 9 are journaled to
the free ends of drag levers 19, the opposite ends 20 of which are
pivoted to the roller carrier 8. Compression springs 21 are
arranged between the respective drag levers 19 and stop means 22 on
the roller carrier 8. Here again the pressure of the springs 21 may
be adjustable by well known means. Preferably, the journal shafts
of the rollers 9 at the free ends of the levers 19 may be guided in
arcuate guide slots 23 extending substantially radially in the
roller carrier 8. The guide slots 23 have preferably a curvature
with a center in the pivot point at the free end 20 of the
respective lever 19.
To save space, only a portion of FIG. 6 is shown to illustrate yet
another embodiment for yieldingly supporting the pinching rollers 9
by means of rocker levers 48 connected to the roller carrier 8 by
pivot means 49. The rollers 9 are journaled to one end of the
rocker arms or levers 48 whereas the opposite end 50 of each arm is
connected to a tension spring 51 which in turn is connected to an
adjustment screw 53 threaded into a stop member 52 which is rigidly
attached to the roller carrier 8. After adjustment of the screw 53
and thus of the tension of the respective spring 51, the screw 53
is secured in the desired position by means of double nuts 55. Stop
means 54 may be further provided on the roller carrier 8 for
limiting the outward rocking movement of the levers 48.
Referring to FIG. 4 the conduit means 24 may have attached thereto
an extension means such as a pipe 122 to which is secured the
bracket 28. The pipe 122 is connected to the tubular members 29 and
110 through an intermediate piece of hose 127. The operation of the
present apparatus is apparent from the direction of the arrows
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrating the movement of the paint into
the hose piece 127 and thence into the tubular members 29 and 110,
from there into the wetting member 111 and through the apertures
113 onto the surface of the roller 112.
The pivot linkage 15" assures a parallel guidance of the wetting
member 111 so that it will be uniformly pressed against the surface
of the roller 112 along its entire length. The applicator means may
be secured to the bracket 28 by a screw and wing nut 120 which
facilitates the angular positioning of the applicator means
relative to the bracket 28. Although the invention has been
described with reference to specific example embodiments, it is to
be understood, that it is intended to cover all modification and
equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *