Dispensing gun with safety ring

Abstract

A gun for dispensing a viscous composition, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds or the like, comprising a body, a bore within the body, an inlet for the bore adapted for connection to a source of pressurized composition to be dispensed, an outlet for the bore adapted for discharge of the pressurized composition, and valve within the bore for controlling the flow of composition under pressure from the inlet to the outlet. The valve is biased closed and includes a handle interconnected to the valve for selectively effecting opening of the latter and also includes safety ring movable between an operating position in which the handle is operatively connected to the valve for effecting opening of the latter upon movement of the handle and a safety position in which the handle is operatively disconnected from the valve means so as to prevent inadvertent movement of the handle from effecting opening of the valve and dispensing the composition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a gun for dispensing viscous compositions, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds and the like, and more particularly relates to a safety device for selectively preventing operation of such a dispensing gun.

Reference may be made to such U.S. Pat. Nos. as 1,733,441 and 2,744,659 illustrating lubricating or dispensing guns in the same general field as this invention. These dispensing guns have been long used for lubricating purposes in which case grease dispensed from the gun is forced into a grease fitting or for spraying heavy viscous compositions, such as automotive undercoating compounds. More generally, a difficulty with prior art dispensing guns has been that when the operator of the gun lays the gun down, the weight of the gun may momentarily actuate the handle or trigger, thus inadvertently dispensing a small quantity of the compound. Not only is this inadvertent dispensing of the compound wasteful and messy, but with certain compounds under high pressure it may pose a danger for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a dispensing gun in which accidental discharge of the composition to be dispensed is prevented; the provision of such a dispensing gun in which operation thereof may be selectively and conveniently controlled by means of a safety device positioned on the gun adjacent the operating handle or trigger thereof; and the provision of such a dispensing gun which is of economical construction, easy to use, and which is reliable in operation. Other objects and features of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Briefly, a gun of this invention for dispensing a viscous composition, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds or the like, comprises a body, a bore within the body, an inlet for the bore adapted for connection to a source of pressurized composition to be dispensed, an outlet for the bore adapted for discharge of the pressurized composition from the bore, and control valve means within the bore for controlling the flow of a composition under pressure from the inlet to the outlet. This valve means is biased closed and includes a handle interconnected to the valve means for selectively effecting opening of the latter and safety means movable between an operating position in which the handle is operatively connected to the valve means for effecting opening of the latter upon movement of the handle and a safety position in which the handle is operatively disconnected from the valve means so as to prevent the inadvertent movement of the handle from effecting opening of the valve means and dispensing of the composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a dispensing gun of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating various details of the dispensing gun and showing a safety device of this invention in its operating position;

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of the dispensing gun of this invention taken on lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the above-mentioned safety device in its operating position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the safety device in its safety position.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a gun of this invention, as indicated in its entirety at 1, for dispensing a viscous composition, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds or the like, is shown to comprise an elongate body 3 of generally circular cross section, a generally cylindric bore 5 within the body, and an inlet 7 at one end of the body constituting the lower end thereof for connection to a source (not shown) of pressurized composition to be dispensed. The dispensing gun also has an outlet 9 at the other or upper end of the bore adapted for discharge of the pressurized composition from the bore and control valve means generally indicated at 11 within the bore of the body for controlling the flow of the composition under pressure from the inlet to the outlet. Control valve means 11 is biased closed and includes a handle or trigger 13 interconnected to the control valve means for selectively effecting opening of the latter. The valve means also includes safety means, generally indicated at 15, movable between an operating position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) in which the handle is operatively connected to the valve means for effecting opening of the latter upon movement of the handle from its position shown in FIG. 2 inwardly toward the body and a safety position (see FIG. 4) in which the handle is operatively disconnected from the valve means so as to prevent inadvertent movement of the handle from effecting opening of the valve means and inadvertent dispensing of the viscous composition.

More particularly, control valve means 11 is shown to comprise valve seat 17 disposed within bore 5 between inlet 7 and outlet 9. A ball valve member 19 is positioned on the outlet side of valve seat 17 and is held in position relative to the valve seat by means of a valve closing member 21. A compression coil spring 23 is interposed between a shoulder 24 formed in bore 5 and valve closing member 21 thereby to bias the valve closing member and ball valve member 19 toward valve 17 so that valve ball member 19 is seated on its valve seat in a closed position thus preventing the flow of the composition from inlet 7 toward outlet 9. A valve control rod 25 threadably engages valve closing member 21 and extends longitudinally through bore 5 and outwardly beyond one end of body 3. A gland 27 slidably supports valve control rod 25 and a seal or packing 29 prevents leakage of the composition through gland 27 but permits axial movement of the valve control rod in and out of body 3. An adjustable stop or abutment, generally indicated at 31, is provided on the outer end of valve control rod 25, this stop or abutment comprising a stop nut 33 with a lock nut 35 threadably carried on a threaded outer end portion 37 of the control rod.

A generally U-shaped pivot link 39 is pivotally secured to body 3 by a lower pivot 41. Handle 13 is pivotally connected to pivot link 39 by means of a pivot bolt 43 so that upon application of force on handle 13 toward body 3, pivot link 39 rotates slightly about lower pivot 41 generally in the direction that handle 13 is moved and the handle pivots about bolt 43 so that an upper end portion of the handle, so indicated at 45, moves generally upwardly with respect to valve control rod 25. This upper end portion 45 of handle 13 has a hole 47 through which the upper end of the valve control rod extends with the handle surrounding the control rod. A handle stop 48 projecting inwardly from the inner face of the handle is engageable with the outer surface of body 3 to prevent movement of the handle beyond a predetermined position thus precluding the possibility of the operator applying excessive force to the handle and to other components in the dispensing gun.

In accordance with this invention, safety means 15 is constituted by a compression link means between end portion 45 of the handle and the stop or abutment 33, including; a transfer member generally indicated at 49 having a spherical body 51 with rodlike projections or pins 53 extending diametrically outwardly of the spherical body on opposite sides thereof and having a bore 55 through the spherical body. Bore 55 has a diameter somewhat larger than the outer diameter of control rod 25 and is adapted to slidably receive the upper end of the control rod and to be freely movable therealong. Pins 53 extend outwardly from the spherical body 51 and are adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of upper portion 45 of handle 13 upon squeezing of the handle inwardly from its position shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the handle being recessed, as indicated at 56, for seating of the pins. Safety means 15 also includes a safety ring member generally indicated at 57 having a hole 59 therethrough for reception of the upper end of control rod 25, the safety ring being movable axially along the control rod. The safety ring has a first or lower surface 61 adapted to be engaged by pins 53 of transfer member 49. The safety ring also has a second or upper surface 63 adapted to contact stop nut or abutment 33. The bottom face of the safety ring is counterbored, as indicated at 65, and a recess or groove 67 is provided in the lower surface of the safety ring extending from one side of the ring to the other. As best shown in FIG. 3, safety ring 57 has ramps or transitions 69 between the bottom of recesses 67 and the lower surface 61 for purposes as will appear. A compression coil spring 71 is interposed between transfer member 49 and safety ring 57, a portion of this spring being received within counterbore 65 in the bottom face of the safety ring for biasing the transfer member and the safety ring apart from one another on control rod 25.

Safety ring 57 is rotatable on control rod 25 between an operating position (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) in which lower surface 61 of the safety ring is engageable by the upper surface of the pins 53 of the transfer member when the transfer member is moved upwardly along the control rod by pivotal movement of handle 13 and a safety position (as shown in FIG. 4). With the safety ring in its operating position, movement of the handle causes the transfer member to move into engagement with the safety ring and further causes the safety ring to abut against stop nut or abutment 33. Thus, the transfer member and ring together constitute a compression link between end portion 45 of the handle and the abutment 33 to transmit motion from end portion 45 of the handle to the control rod 25, thereby to move the control rod 25 outwardly with respect to body 3. As the control rod moves outwardly, valve closing member 21 is moved away from valve seat 17 thus compressing spring 23 and releasing valve ball member 19 and allowing the pressure of the composition in outlet 7 to lift the valve ball member clear of its valve seat thus opening bore 5 for the flow of the composition from inlet 7 to outlet 9. Upon releasing handle 13, spring 23 biases valve closing member 21 into engagement with valve ball 19 and again seats the valve ball on its valve seat closing the bore to the flow of composition therethrough. Thus, valve closing member 21, control rod 25, stop 31, safety ring 57, and transfer member 49 together constitute means (i.e., a linkage) for interconnecting spring 23 and handle 13 for moving the valve closing member against the bias of spring 23 away from valve seat 17 thereby to effect or permit movement of valve ball member 19 from its seated to its open position. Safety ring 57 is rotatable from its operating position to its safety position (see FIG. 4) in which groove 67 is in register with the pins 53 on transfer member 49 permitting lost motion of end portion 45 of the handle relative to abutment 33, movement of handle 13 then causing the transfer member simply to move up into grooves 67 but without causing movement of the safety ring or outward movement of control rod 25. Ramps 69 on safety ring 57 serve as a camming surface facilitating ease of movement of the safety ring from its safety position to its operating position. It will be noted that safety ring 57 acts like a safety link in the above-mentioned interconnecting linkage so that when the safety ring is in its safety position the linkage is inoperable.

It will also be noted that with safety ring 57 in its operative position (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the handle is operatively connected to the above-mentioned interconnecting means so that upon movement of the handle opening of valve means 11 is effected and with the safety ring in its safety position (see FIG. 4) this interconnecting means is operatively disconnected from the handle thus preventing opening of the valve.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A gun for dispensing a viscous composition, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds or the like, comprising a body, a bore within said body, an inlet for said bore adapted for connection to a source of pressurized composition to be dispensed, an outlet for the bore adapted for discharge of said pressurized composition from said bore, and valve means for controlling the flow of said composition under pressure from said inlet to said outlet, said valve means comprising a valve seat in the bore, a valve member movable toward and away from the seat, a rod extending from the valve member out of one end of the bore, spring means biasing the valve member toward the seat to close said valve means, a handle pivotally mounted on the body, the rod extending through an end portion of the handle, an abutment on the rod outward of said end portion of the handle, and compression link means between said end portion of the handle and said abutment, said compression link means comprising a member adjustable on the rod between an operative position wherein said link means constitutes a compression link between said end portion of the handle and said abutment to transmit motion from said end portion of the handle to the rod to move said valve member away from said seat when the handle is swung to open said valve means, and a safety position permitting lost motion of said end portion of the handle relative to said abutment.

2. A gun as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compression link means comprises a transfer member which slidably receives the rod, said gun having spring means interposed between said members.

3. A gun as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transfer member has pins engageable by said end portion of said handle, and said adjustable member comprises a ring rotatable on said rod between said transfer member and said abutment, said ring having recesses for receiving said pins when the ring is in its said safety position.

4. A gun for dispensing a viscous composition, such as lubricating grease, automotive undercoating compounds or the like, comprising a body, a bore within said body, an inlet for said bore adapted for connection to a source of pressurized composition to be dispensed, an outlet for the bore adapted for discharge of said pressurized composition from said bore, and control valve means within said bore for controlling the flow of said composition under pressure from said inlet to said outlet, said valve means being biased closed and including a handle interconnected to said valve means for effecting opening of the latter and safety means movable between an operating position in which said handle is operatively connected to said valve means for effecting opening of the latter upon movement of the handle and a safety position in which said handle is operatively disconnected from said valve means so as to prevent inadvertent movement of the handle from effecting opening of the valve means and dispensing of said composition, said bore including a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet, and said valve means comprising a valve member movable from a seated position in sealing engagement with said valve seat thus preventing the flow of said composition therepast and an open position in which the valve member is clear of said valve seat thus permitting the flow of composition from said inlet to said outlet, means for biasing said valve member into its seated position, and means extending outwardly of the body for interconnecting said biasing means and said handle for moving of the biasing means away from said valve seat thereby to effect movement of said valve member from its seated to its open position, said safety means being carried by said interconnecting means outwardly of said body so that when said safety means is in its operating position said handle is operatively connected to said interconnecting means thereby to effect opening of said valve means upon movement of the handle and when said safety means is in its safety position the handle is operatively disconnected from said interconnecting means thus preventing opening of the valve means, said handle being pivoted with respect to said body, and said interconnecting means including a rod extending outwardly of said body, said rod being movable outwardly relative to said body for effecting opening of said valve means, and a stop carried by said rod and spaced outwardly from said body, said handle having a portion thereof at least partially surrounding said rod between said body and said stop, said safety means comprising means disposed on said rod between said stop and said handle portion, this last-said means being movable relative to the rod between a first position constituting said operating position in which it connects the handle to said stop so that upon pivoting of the handle said handle portion moves said rod outwardly thereby to effect opening of said valve means and a second position constituting said safety position in which said handle may be pivoted without moving said rod outwardly without consequently effecting opening of said valve means, said safety means further comprising a transfer member disposed between said handle and said stop axially movable along said rod and engageable by said handle, and a safety ring disposed on said rod and movable therealong between said transfer member and said stop, said safety ring constituting said means disposed on said rod and having a first surface adapted to engage a portion of said transfer member when the safety ring is in its operating position, said safety ring further having a second surface engageable with said stop, whereby with said safety ring in its operating position movement of said handle causes said rod to move outwardly relative to the body so as to effect opening of said valve means, and a recess in said first surface in register with said portion of said transfer member engageable with said first surface of the safety ring when said safety ring is in its safety position, whereby with said safety ring in its safety position said handle is operatively disconnected from said rod and thus movement of the handle does not effect opening of the valve means.