The disclosure relates to a spray gun, in particular, to an air cap arrangement for a spray gun and a spray gun with such an air cap.
The spray gun is a tool commonly used in industry, for instance, it may be used to spray paint to surfaces of various articles such as furniture, machines and particularly vehicles, respectively auto bodies. The spray gun can comprise a cup for receiving the paint material and a gun body for spraying the paint material. The paint cup can be arranged on the upper side, on the lower side or laterally of the spray gun. When the paint cup is arranged on the upper side, the spray gun is called gravity fed, when the cup is on the lower side, it's a suction or pressure fed spray gun and when the spray gun has a lateral cup it's called a side cup spray gun. As an alternative to the cup, the spray gun may comprise a hose connected with a pressure tank or a pump which supplies the spray gun with paint under pressure.
A gravity fed spray gun according to the state of the art is shown in
When the trigger 11 is pressed in excess of a certain point, also the paint needle 10 is moved backwards, leaves its seat in the paint nozzle 26 and the paint nozzle 26 is opened. The paint in the paint channel 42 can flow out of the paint nozzle 26. The compressed air that is blown out of the air nozzle 55 generates a vacuum that sucks the paint out of the paint nozzle 26. Additionally, the paint is pressed out of the nozzle by the following paint. The paint flows in direction of the nozzle because of gravity in the case that the spray gun is gravity fed or because of low=pressure when the spray gun is suction fed or because of pressure when the spray gun is pressure fed or when it's supplied with paint from a paint tank via a hose. When the paint flows out of the paint nozzle 55, the paint is atomized and blown into front direction. Here, a substantially cone shaped round spray is generated.
However, for many paint and finishing works, a flat spray is preferred, because a bigger surface can be painted in a shorter time. Moreover, a more uniform and more efficient coating is possible. Thus, most air caps 5 have two lateral horns 53, particularly on the air nozzle, which protrude in direction of the paint spray. These two horns 53 are also supplied with compressed air. The compressed air is set free through one or more horn air nozzles 531 in each horn. In most cases, the nozzles 531 are circular cylindrical bores, but they can also have another shape. Many spray guns have two horn nozzles with different diameters in each horn. The horn air is directed to the paint spray and deforms it from both sides. By that, the paint spray becomes flat. Its cross section becomes smaller in the direction from that the horn air is exposed and bigger in the other both directions, thus a flat spray is formed. The air cap 5 is rotatable around the spray axis. By that, the angle of the flat spray in relation to the spray guns can be changed. In most cases, a vertical spray is desired.
The spray gun head consists of a spray gun body head 23 and an air cap arrangement composed of the air cap 5, a cap ring 6 and a retaining ring 7. The air cap 5 comprises two air horns 53 each having one air horn nozzle 531. The air cap ring 6 surrounds the circumferential outside surface of the air cap 5, and is connected with the gun body 2. A step 51 is arranged on the circumferential outside surface of the air cap 5 in which the outer diameter of the step 51 is larger than the outer diameter of the circumferential outside surface of the air cap 5 such that the step 51 protrudes in the radial direction and acts as a stopper for the air cap 5. A protrusion 61 is arranged on the circumferential inner surface of the air cap ring 6 and contacts against a surface of the step 51 towards the front, to prevent the air cap 5 from moving forward with respect to the air cap ring 6. And a groove 52 is also arranged on the circumferential outside surface of the air cap 5, thus through setting the retaining ring 7 in to the groove 52, the situation that the air cap 5 slips backwards and out of the air cap ring 6 can be avoided. Therefore, the step 51 of the air cap 5, the protrusion 61 of the air cap ring 6 and the retaining ring 7 ensure the connection of the air cap 5 and the spray gun head 23, and the air cap 5 is not or hardly moveable along the spray axis. The step 51, the groove 52 and the protrusion 61 are advantageously run over the whole circumference of the air cap 5 or the air cap ring 6 respectively; the retaining ring 7 is advantageously cut at one position.
However, there are still some problems in such connection manner of the air cap 5 and the spray gun 23:
1) Since the retaining ring 7 is provided out of the cap ring 6, foreign matter such as the paint may be attached on the retaining ring 6 or near the retaining ring 6 such that it is difficult to keep the spray gun clean.
2) It is very difficult and hard for the user to remove the air cap 5 from the air cap arrangement, particularly from the air cap ring 6 for cleaning and maintenance, because the retaining ring 7 is sitting in the groove 52 of the air cap 5 very tightly and at least one tool is required for that purpose to pull or push the retaining ring 7 out of the groove 52.
3) As the retaining ring 7 is lying at the air cap 5 in front of the air cap ring 6, the air cap 5 has to be relatively long, i.e. it has to protrude out from the air cap ring 6 relatively far. By that, much material is required for manufacturing the air cap 5 and the air cap 5 becomes heavier.
4) Since the retaining ring 7 is provided out of the cap ring 1, the gun is not aesthetically pleasing.
Furthermore, as shown in
The disclosure relates to an air cap arrangement and a spray gun that addresses at least some of the issues identified above.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, an air cap arrangement for spray gun comprises an air cap, an air cap ring and a retaining ring, in which the air cap has a circumferential outer surface extending longitudinally, and the air cap ring has a circumferential inner surface extending longitudinally. The air cap ring comprises a groove configured to extend on the circumferential inner surface of the air cap ring; the air cap also comprises a groove configured to extend on the circumferential outer surface of the air cap, and the retaining ring is arranged in the groove of the air cap ring and the groove of the air cap to limit the axial movement of the air cap within the air cap ring.
In some embodiments, the air cap ring further comprises a protrusion configured to protrude radially from the circumferential inner surface of the air cap ring, and the groove of the air cap ring is further configured to extend circumferentially and locate closer to the front end of the air cap ring than the protrusion. The air cap can further comprise a step configured to protrude radially from the circumferential outer surface of the air cap, and the groove of the air cap is configured to extend circumferentially and locate closer to the front end of the air cap than the step. And the front surface of the step can contact against the rear surface of the protrusion.
In an embodiment, the inner surface of the rear end of the air cap ring is provided with a thread.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is flexible.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is a polygonal ring.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is made of elastic material.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is made of rubber material.
In an embodiment, the rear end of the air cap is provided with a circular protrusion protruding backward, and the end, protruding backward, of the circular protrusion is provided with a circular cone surface.
In an embodiment, the step and the protrusion run over the whole circumference respectively.
In an embodiment, at least one of the step and the protrusion is discontinuous.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is an entire ring.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring comprises a cut.
According to another aspect of the disclosure a spray gun comprises a gun body and an air cap arrangement, wherein the spray gun head of the gun body is connected with the air cap arrangement, the air cap arrangement comprises an air cap, an air cap ring and a retaining ring, in which a rear rend of the air cap ring is connected with the spray gun head, the air cap has a circumferential outer surface extending longitudinally, and the air cap ring has a circumferential inner surface extending longitudinally. The air cap ring comprises a groove configured to extend on the circumferential inner surface of the air cap ring; the air cap also comprises a groove configured to extend on the circumferential outer surface of the air cap. And the retaining ring is arranged in the groove of the air cap ring and the groove of the air cap to limit the axial movement of the air cap within the air cap ring.
In some embodiments, the air cap ring further comprises a protrusion configured to protrude radially from the circumferential inner surface of the air cap ring, and the groove of air cap ring is further configured to extend circumferentially and locate closer to the front end of the air cap ring than the protrusion. The air cap can further comprise a step configured to protrude radially from the circumferential outer surface of the air cap, and the groove of the air cap is further configured to extend circumferentially and locate closer to the front end of the air cap than the step. And the front surface of the step can contact against the rear surface of the protrusion.
In an embodiment, the inner surface of the rear end of the air cap ring is provided with a thread to be connected with the external thread of the spray gun.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is flexible.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is a polygonal ring.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is made of elastic material.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring is made of rubber material.
In an embodiment, the rear end of the air cap is provided with a first circular protrusion protruding backward, and the end, protruding backward, of the circular protrusion is provided with a circular cone surface. A paint nozzle arranged in the spray gun is provided with a second circular protrusion protruding forward, and the end, protruding forward, of the second circular protrusion is provided with a circular cone surface, contacting against the circular cone surface of the first circular protrusion.
In an embodiment, the step and the protrusion run over the whole circumference respectively.
In an embodiment, at least one of the step and the protrusion is discontinuous. In an embodiment, the retaining ring is an entire ring.
In an embodiment, the retaining ring comprises a cut.
Through the structure of the air cap arrangement of present disclosure, it is easy to remove the air cap from the air cap ring for cleaning; the air cap can readily rotate with the air cap ring to adjust the orientation of the spray flat; the air flow is more stable because it is not disturbed by the retaining ring; and the air cap can be aligned with the paint nozzle. Therefore the air cap arrangement and the spray gun of present disclosure involves advantageous technical effect while overcoming the problem in the prior art.
The drawings constitute a portion of the description for further understanding of the present disclosure. These drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and explain the principle of the present disclosure together with the description. In the drawings, the same part is represented by the same reference sign. In the drawings,
The front direction mentioned herein refers to a direction pointed by the spray gun head, and the rear direction refers to a direction substantially opposite to the front direction; and the up direction mentioned in the present application refers to a direction substantially opposite to the handle direction in a normal hand-held operation state when the handle points downwards. The left side or right side mentioned herein refers to a side of the spray gun or spray gun body corresponding to the operator's left hand or right hand, viewing from the operator's angle, in the normal hand-held operation state when the spray gun head points to the front and the handle points downwards.
As shown in
It should be noted that in
The air cap 5 can be inserted from the rear end of the air cap ring 6 arranged with the retaining ring 7, to form the air cap arrangement, as shown in
Furthermore, since the groove 52 is located in front of the step 51, when the air cap 5 is inserted into the air cap ring 6 from the rear of the air cap ring 6, the retaining ring 7 disposed in the groove 62 will enter the groove 52 of the air cap 5. Thus the retaining ring 7 can prevent the air cap 5 from moving backward with respect to the air cap ring 6.
Thus, in the air cap ring arrangement above, the air cap 5 can rotate in the air cap ring 6 around the spray axis, and the air cap 5 is not or hardly moveable in the direction of spray axis.
The step 51, the groove 52 and the protrusion 61 advantageously run over the whole circumference of the air cap 5 or the air cap ring 6 respectively; the retaining ring 7 is advantageously cut 71 at one position, As shown in
Since the retaining ring 7 is flexible to some extent, the air cap 5 can be pressed out only by pressing the air cap 5 toward the rear end of the air cap ring 6 when the user wants to remove the air cap 5 from the air cap ring 6. Therefore, compared to prior art, it is easy to remove the air cap 5 from the air cap ring 6 and clean it.
As shown in
Furthermore, since the retaining ring 7 is arranged in the air cap ring 6 rather than exposed to outside, therefore the foreign matter is prevented from attaching on or near the retaining ring 7 such that the spray gun is kept clean.
Furthermore, as shown in the
Furthermore, as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
The spray gun according to the present disclosure and a spray gun having an air cap arrangement according to the present disclosure may further have a paint needle 10, a needle sealing arrangement comprising a sealing element 12, a pressure spring 14 and a fixing element 16. The sealing arrangement seals the paint conducting channel in the spray gun body against the outer areas. The paint needle 10 is sliding within the axial symmetrical sealing element 12 when the spray gun is activated, i.e. when the trigger is pulled, by which the sealing element wears out. However, due to the pressure spring 14, which lies against the fixing element 16 and presses against the sealing element 12, the sealing element 12 always lies in its seat tightly. The spray gun can further comprise an air distribution ring 17, a colored marking ring 18, a sealing element 20 in the paint cup connection, a hook, a pressure measuring device and other components known in the state of the art.
Accordingly, through the structure of the air cap arrangement of present Example 1, it is easy to remove the air cap 5 from the air cap ring 6 for cleaning; the air cap 5 can readily rotate with the air cap ring 6 to adjust the orientation of the spray flat; the air flow is more stable because it is not disturbed by the retaining ring 7; and the air cap 5 can be aligned with the paint nozzle 26 more precisely. Therefore, the air cap arrangement of Example 1 involves advantageous technical effect while overcoming the problem in the prior art.
However, the example described above is only used to explain the disclosure, but should not be viewed as the limitation to the disclosure. For example, although the retaining ring 7 used in the Example 1 is hexagon, the retaining ring 7 can also be any other polygonal ring with different number of edges, such as pentagon and heptagon. Furthermore, although the retaining ring 7 in the above Example 1 comprises a cut at the position 71, the retaining ring 7 can also be an entire ring. Although the step 51 and the protrusion 61 in the Example 1 run over the whole circumference of the air cap 5 or the air cap ring 6, the step 51 and/or the protrusion 61 can be discontinuous, as long as they may prevent the air cap 5 from moving forward.
As shown in
As shown in
And preferably, the retaining ring 7′ is an entire circular ring. However, as for present disclosure, the retaining ring 7′ can be cut to increase its flexibility. Furthermore, the retaining ring 7′ can also be configured as a polygonal ring as described in Example 1.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201620911120.1 | Aug 2016 | CN | national |