DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PRESSURIZED FLUIDS

Abstract

A device for dispensing pressurized fluids has a body structure that includes a handle structure with a trigger, a device for securing a container to the body structure and a fluid connection from the device for securing the container to an outlet nozzle of the device. The device for securing the container is designed in such a way that the container main axis is essentially parallel to the axis of the body structure so that the general shape of the device resembles more to a gun or a pistol so as to provide an ergonomic device for dispensing pressurized fluids which can be used in any position and which allows access to any locations in which the pressurized fluid has to be applied. A longitudinally movable needle is provided inside the outlet nozzle which is connected to a device for blocking the movement of the needle.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing pressurized fluids with a body structure that comprises a handle structure with a trigger, means for securing a container to said body structure and a fluid connection from the means for securing the container to an outlet nozzle of the device, the means for securing the container being designed in such a way that the main axis of the container is essentially parallel to the axis of the body structure. This device can be used for dispensing pressurized fluids, such as sealants, adhesives and foams, in particular polyurethane foam, which are contained in a pressurized container. The container with the fluid is fixed on the means for securing the container and the trigger of the handle structure is used for allowing the fluid to flow from the container towards the nozzle of the device.

Devices for dispensing pressurized fluids are widely used in construction and repair work for the application of self-hardening foam material, such as polyurethane foam, in applying the foam in mounting panels or other components. Such devices are also called guns. A current problem encountered during the use of such polyurethane guns is that the gun encounters obstructions such as structural members which impede or prevent access to locations at which foam is to be applied.

A gun for dispensing plastic foam material is disclosed in EP 1 046 427 A1. The gun comprises a manually operable indexing system for positioning a container in any of three orientations relative to the gun body. Although the foam dispensing gun is used to avoid impediment to locations at which foam is to be applied, it is still difficult to have access to some locations. Particularly, when an operator wants to apply foam at the ceiling, he is still hindered by the container being positioned above the axis of the gun body. The indexing system enabling an operator to position the container carrier and container thereon to any of three positions of orientation and to retain them in the selected position is thus not enough to provide access to locations where the height above the foam gun is limited.

Another example of a foam dispensing device is known from GB 2,446,785 A1. This document describes a disposable can of foam attached to an adapter and linked to a gun with a tube. The tube can rotate glidingly along the axis of the gun body structure. Further, a flexible tube is provided, linking the adapter to the spray head, the adapter being held in a bracket and being rotatable and locked at a pivot in the gun.

EP 2 275 208 A1 describes a gun for dispensing foam comprising a body structure, a handle structure, a means for securing a container to said body structure and a flexible tube for connecting the container to said gun by means of an adapter ring, wherein the container can be substantially vertically moved in said body. The drawback of this device is that the container might hinder access to locations where the foam is to be applied; furthermore, the flexible tube is not a very satisfying solution since the foam might harden inside the tube and block it.

US 2006/0255077 A1 is concerned with an aerosol product for use in control of bees or horseflies and more particularly a horizontal jetting structure aerosol product provided with a grip movably attached to a position orthogonal to an aerosol vessel body when contents are jetted.

A portable gun for discharging highly pressurized fluid material such as tear gas or capsicum spray comprising an elongate refillable pressure vessel for storing under pressure fluid material to be discharged is known from WO 98/26876 A1. The axis of the barrel is orientated in the same direction as the axis of the pressure vessel and the gun is supported from the body of a user by a sling so that the gun can be supported with the axes of the pressure vessel and barrel generally horizontally directed.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic device for dispensing pressurized self-hardening fluids, in particular polyurethane, which can be used in any position and which allows access to any locations in which the pressurized fluid has to be applied.

This objective is achieved according to the present invention in that the means for securing the container are designed in such a way that the container main axis is essentially parallel to the axis of the body structure.

In devices according to the prior art, the container main axis is essentially perpendicular to the axis of the body structure and thus hinders application of the fluid in some positions. According to the present invention, the container main axis is essentially parallel to the axis of the body structure so that the general shape of the device resembles more to a gun or a pistol. This allows applying the fluid in any position of the device without being hindered by the container and is also better in an ergonomic point of view. Unlike to the prior art in which the container main axis is perpendicular to the outlet nozzle, it is positioned essentially parallel to it according to the present invention.

The needle is used for opening the outlet nozzle and dispensing fluid upon manipulation the trigger. Likewise, the needle which is loaded by a spring blocks the outlet nozzle when the trigger is not actioned. The needle might also be used for pushing cured fluid outside of the outlet nozzle which is very important when dispensing self-hardening products like polyurethane (1-component polyurethane and 2-component polyurethane). The means for blocking the movement of the needle are used for security reasons in order to avoid unintentional manipulation of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for securing the container are positioned on the upper side of the body structure and the handle structure is positioned on the lower side of the body structure.

In summary, the means for securing the container are placed on the upper side of the body structure whereas the trigger is on the lower side of the body structure.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the handle structure is positioned at the end of the body structure opposed to the outlet nozzle.

In this embodiment, the lower end of the container, the end which is opposite to the opening of the container, extends over the handle. This device resembles some kind to a pistol and is used with only one hand.

In another embodiment of the invention, two handle structures are provided, one behind the other one, one of these handle structures being provided with the trigger.

This device resembles more to a machine gun or to a drilling machine and allows using both hands for supporting the device. In this device, the second handle will be in the region of the lower end of the container or even behind it. The trigger may be either on the front or on the rear handle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating point of the trigger is positioned above the body structure besides the container in its mounted position.

It has been found out that this raised position of the trigger allows an easier manipulation of the trigger since the momentum required for manipulating the trigger is smaller.

In this context, the rotating point of the trigger is preferably positioned essentially at the height of the main axis of the container in its mounted position.

This can be achieved by two extensions of the body structure extending upwards on both sides of the container, the rotating point of the trigger being placed on these extensions.

According to one embodiment, the means for blocking the movement of the needle are positioned at the free end of the handle structure.

According to another embodiment, the means for blocking the needle are positioned at the end of the body structure opposed to the outlet nozzle.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to the figures in which

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the device for dispensing pressurized fluids has a body structure 1 that comprises a handle structure 2 with a spring-mounted trigger 3, means 4 for securing a container 5 to said body structure 1. The means 4 for securing a container 5 are configured in such a way that a container 5 can be fixed tightly on them, e.g. by screwing. There may be adapters in order to fix different kinds of containers 5 on the means 4 for securing a container 5. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that a fluid connection 6 is provided from the means 4 for securing the container 5 to an outlet nozzle 7 of the device. By fixing the container 5 containing the pressurized fluid onto the means 4 for securing the container 5, the outlet of the container 5 is tightly connected to the fluid connection 6 which ends at the outlet nozzle 7.

In the device of the present invention, the means 4 for securing the container 5 are designed in such a way that the main axis 5′ of the container 5 is essentially parallel to the axis 1′ of the body structure 1.

The means 4 for securing the container 5 are positioned on one side of the body structure 1, called the upper side, and the handle structure 2 is positioned on the other side of the body structure 1, the so-called lower side.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the handle structure 2 is positioned at the end of the body structure 1 which is opposed to the outlet nozzle 7. However, two handle structures 2 could be provided, one behind the other one, one of these handle structures 2 being provided with the trigger 3.

It can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the rotating point 8 of the trigger 3 is positioned above the body structure 1 besides the container 5 in its mounted position. In the embodiment shown, it is positioned essentially at the height of the main axis 5′ of the container 5 in its mounted position. This is achieved in by two extensions 9 of the body structure 1 extending upwards on both sides of the container 5 in its mounted position, the rotating point 8 of the trigger 3 being placed on these extensions 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, a longitudinally movable needle 10 loaded by a spring is provided inside the outlet nozzle 7 which is connected to means 11 for blocking the movement of the needle 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the means for blocking the needle are positioned at the end of the body structure opposed to the outlet nozzle. Alternatively, the means 11 for blocking the movement of the needle 10 could be positioned at the free end of the handle structure 2.

It is of course within the scope of the invention to use a ball valve instead of a spring loaded valve.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A device for dispensing pressurized fluids with a body structure (1) that comprises a handle structure (2) with a trigger (3), means (4) for securing a container (5) to said body structure (1) and a fluid connection (6) from said means (4) to an outlet nozzle (7) of the device, wherein the means (4) for securing the container (5) are positioned on the upper side of the body structure (1) and the handle structure (2) is positioned on the lower side of the body structure (1) and a longitudinally movable needle (10) is provided inside the outlet nozzle (7), said needle (10) being connected to means (11) for blocking the movement of the needle (10), wherein the means (4) are designed in such a way that, in use, the main axis (5′) of a container (5) secured to the means (4) is parallel to the axis (1′) of the body structure (1) and to the outlet nozzle (7) of the device.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the handle structure (2) is positioned at the end of the body structure (2) opposed to the outlet nozzle (7).

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein two handle structures (2) are provided one behind the other one, one of these handle structures (2) being provided with the trigger (3).

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the rotating point (8) of the trigger (3) is positioned above the body structure (1) besides the container (5) in its mounted position.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the rotating point (8) of the trigger (3) is positioned essentially at the height of the main axis (5′) of the container (5) in its mounted position.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein two extensions (9) of the body structure (1) extending upwards on both sides of the container (5) are provided, the rotating point (8) of the trigger (3) being placed on these extensions (9).

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the means (11) for blocking the movement of the needle (10) are positioned at the free end of the handle structure (2).

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the means (11) for blocking the needle (10) are positioned at the end of the body structure (1) opposed to the outlet nozzle (7).