Abstract:
A method and apparatus for spraying paint and similar coatings. In one form the paint is sprayed at low pressure from a flat fan nozzle. A flat fan of air impinges upon the fan of paint at an angle of from 30*-70*. The air atomizes the paint to form a soft spray with low forward velocity. In another form of the method, two fans of paint are projected toward one another at an angle and an air fan is directed along the bisector toward the zone of intersection. The air fan atomizes both streams of paint. An electrode can be placed in the air stream to ionize the air stream which in turn charges the paint particles. The width of the paint spray pattern is varied by varying the included angle of the air fan. A spray gun is disclosed having two tubular paint nozzles for projecting two fan-shaped fans of paint. An air nozzle is mounted between the paint nozzles for projecting a fan of air against the paint fans to atomize the paint. The air nozzle is adjustable to provide air fans of different angles for varying the width of the paint spray pattern. An electrode is disposed in the air nozzle for ionizing the air stream. This electrode is energized through a resistor and flexible cable. The cable is spring-urged toward the resistor so that when the resistor is removed, the cable shifts causing a safety switch to open deenergizing the gun. When a nozzle mounting member is removed, the cable and surrounding tube are shifted forwardly to automatically close a valve to seal off the air and electrical conduits. Removable caps are provided on the ends of the tubular paint nozzles for facilitating cleaning of the nozzles.
Abstract:
An applicator system for melting thermoplastic material and supplying the molten or liquid material under pressure and at a controlled temperature to an applicator head or gun. The material is heated in a reservoir from which it is pumped to the applicator gun by a single-acting, sleeve-type piston pump. The pump is driven by a single-acting reciprocating air motor. There is an interlock valve associated with the air motor for controlling opening and closing of a valve of the gun. This interlock valve insures that the gun valve is never opened and molten material is never dispersed from the gun except when the molten material pressure is at a predetermined operating level.
Abstract:
A double acting hydraulic pump and air motor therefor including means for controlling the inlet and exhaust of air to and from the opposite sides of the piston in the air cylinder. The pump has a stepped diameter housing including an upper pump cylinder defining an outlet chamber for liquid and a lower pump cylinder received within the upper pump cylinder and defining an inlet chamber for liquid. A pump piston reciprocates in the two cylinders and is slidably received in two axially spaced stationary packing sleeves having a resilient spacer sleeve interposed axially therebetween. The spacer sleeve is formed of metal sheet adapted to deflect resiliently under load. The upper end of the upper pump cylinder is received within a recess in the lower end of the air motor housing. A retainer plate connected to the lower end of the air motor housing is provided with an opening to allow passage of the upper end of the upper pump cylinder and a pair of radially extending ears thereon. The pump housing is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis to align or misalign the ears and the opening and retain the pump housing to or release it from the motor housing.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for spraying a coating material such as paint, in a flat fan pattern. In the gun a stream of paint under a relatively low pressure is caused to flow in an annular film. Streams of gas at a slightly higher pressure are directed against the paint film so that the gas is sheared into microbubbles which are entrained in the paint stream to form a froth. The froth flows through a chamber in which the bubbles disperse uniformly in the paint and is then discharged through a narrow slit nozzle effective to give it a fan shape. As the froth is released to atmospheric pressure, the microbubbles of air expand rapidly and rupture, causing the paint to disintegrate into finely atomized drops. The apparatus includes a cooperating orifice plate and collar which define a thin annular paint flow channel; and a plurality of air injection channels which intersect the paint flow channel. Air is introduced through these channels and is directed against the paint film. In the preferred gun, the nozzle includes a hemispherical endwise portion provided with an elongated discharge slot. A protuberance or ball is disposed within the nozzle and deflects the froth so that the froth passes through a relatively narrow passageway between the ball and nozzle. A modified gun includes a conventional airless flat fan orifice; and does not utilize an internal ball.