An exemplary fluid sprayer comprises a spray-coating system having a device configured to spray fluid material (e.g., paint, ink, varnish, stain, texture, herbicides, pesticides, food products, etc.) through the air onto a surface. The fluid material is typically provided from a fluid container by a fluid intake assembly. Fluid intake assemblies can use pressure feed, gravity feed, and/or suction feed mechanisms, for example. In one exemplary airless paint spraying system, a suction tube assembly extends into a paint container to provide paint material to a pump mechanism, which delivers pressurized paint to an output nozzle or tip.
In airless fluid spraying systems and the like, air within the fluid flow can cause sputtering or spitting of the paint material and uneven spray from the output nozzle. Such results are undesirable to the user.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one exemplary embodiment, a fluid intake assembly configured to provide an inlet fluid path for a fluid sprayer is provided. The assembly includes a fluid intake assembly body configured to be removably engaged to a portion of the fluid sprayer by rotating the body with respect to the portion of the fluid sprayer. The assembly also includes a fluid inlet tube configured to be supported by the body and extend from the body and within a fluid container to provide fluid flow along the inlet fluid path.
In one exemplary embodiment, an airless fluid sprayer is provided and includes a fluid intake assembly configured to provide an inlet fluid path from a fluid container and a fluid intake assembly mounting mechanism to which the fluid intake assembly is removably couplable such that a fluid tip extending from the fluid intake assembly is received within a fluid inlet port of the fluid sprayer.
In one exemplary embodiment, a method of securing a fluid intake assembly to a fluid sprayer is provided. The method includes engaging the fluid intake assembly to a portion of the fluid sprayer. The fluid intake assembly includes a fluid tip extending toward the portion of the fluid sprayer. The fluid tip is aligned with a fluid inlet port of the fluid sprayer. The method also includes rotating the fluid intake assembly with respect to the portion of the fluid sprayer such that the fluid tip is inserted into and forms a sealing engagement with the fluid inlet port.
These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
Spray gun 100 illustratively comprises an airless system and uses a pump mechanism for pumping the paint material from a paint source, illustratively a fluid container 102. In other embodiments, spray gun 100 can comprise an air-driven or air-assisted system.
Spray gun 100 includes a body comprising a housing 104 containing electrical components for controlling operation of sprayer 100 and an electric drive or motor operably coupled to drive a pump mechanism. The pump mechanism delivers paint from container 102 to an output nozzle 106 having a particular size and shape for generating a desired spray pattern. A fluid intake assembly (not shown in
Spray gun 100 also includes a handle 112 and a trigger 114 that enable a user to hold and control the operation of spray gun 100. A power source (not shown in
Container 102 is removably attached to cover 108 using a connection mechanism (generally illustrated by reference numeral 110), thereby allowing container 102 to be removed for filling, cleaning, etc. In one example, container 102 can be removed from cover 108 and reattached in a different orientation or replaced with a different container, for instance.
In conventional spraying devices and systems, when a container is removed (for example to refill the container) the fluid intake or inlet (e.g., a suction tube, etc.) is removed from the container. The fluid intake or inlet is pulled out of any remaining fluid in the fluid container and is exposed to air. During subsequent use, the air in the system can cause undesired sputtering or spitting of the fluid.
By way of example, during a paint spraying application the inlet end 205 of suction tube 204 is disposed in fluid 208 in container 102. This is illustrated in
As illustrated in
Body 210 defines a fluid path therethrough from inlet end 220 of tube 204 to an inlet port 222 (shown in
In one embodiment, body 210 is removably couplable to cover 108. For example, in one embodiment body 210 includes a locking mechanism 212 that is configured to engage a portion of cover 108. Mechanism 212 comprises a lip or protrusion 214 that extends toward and is received by an aperture 216 formed in an annular ring 218 of cover 108. Annular ring 218 extends from a bottom surface of cover 108 and is configured to engage and form a seal with a portion of container 102, for example. Body 210 is removed from cover 108 by disengaging locking mechanism 212 (i.e., depressing mechanism 212 to remove protrusion 214 from aperture 216). In one embodiment, locking mechanism 212 includes an angled surface 215 that aids in connecting body 210 to cover 108. When connecting assembly 200 to cover 108, surface 215 contacts ring 218 causing deformation of mechanism 212. In this manner, a user is not required to manually depress locking mechanism 212 to attach assembly 200 to cover 108.
In one embodiment, cover 108 includes a wall 226 that extends from the bottom surface of cover 108 and receives body 210. Wall 226 is sized to receive an end 228 of body 210. In one embodiment, a seal mechanism 230 is provided about an outer peripheral surface of body 210 to engage wall 226.
Body 210 is sized to receive a fluid filter 231 within a compartment 232 formed therein. The fluid filter 231 is positioned between body 210 and cover 108 proximate port 222. In this manner, fluid filter 231 is positioned closer to the pump mechanism of the sprayer as compared to fluid intake assembly configurations having the fluid filter positioned at the fluid inlet (e.g., proximate a bottom of the fluid container). Positioning fluid filter 231 in the fluid flow between body 210 and spray gun 100 can improve the fluid suction capabilities (e.g., a reduced pressure drop along the fluid path).
Further, in fluid intake assembly configurations in which the fluid filter is positioned at the fluid inlet of the assembly (e.g., proximate the bottom of the fluid container) the cross-section of the fluid inlet (i.e., the fluid filter) is significantly larger than the cross-section of fluid inlet 220. By way of example, the smaller cross-section of fluid inlet 220 can improve the fluid intake and enable the fluid container to be tilted to greater degrees while keeping the fluid inlet 220 disposed in the fluid material.
Assembly 200 includes a valve mechanism 234 configured to allow fluid flow in a first direction and to resist and/or prevent fluid flow in a second, opposite direction. In the illustrated embodiment, valve mechanism 234 is positioned at the inlet end 220 of body 210 and allows fluid to flow through tube 204 in the first direction (generally illustrated by arrow 235) and prevents fluid from flowing (i.e., returning) through tube 204 in the second direction (generally illustrated by arrow 237), for example when the user releases trigger 114 and/or removes container 102.
In the illustrated embodiment, valve mechanism 234 comprises an end of a cylindrically shaped member 236 configured to be removably received on a tip end 238 of tube 204. Member 236 is sized to be securely retained on tip 238 during use, and is configured to be removable by user if desired (e.g., to replace valve 234, etc.). Tube 204 can include a ring or lip 240 that engages an end 242 of member 236. Lip 240 provides a mechanical stop mechanism for positioning member 236 on tube 204.
Examples of valve mechanism 234 include, but are not limited to, check valves, duckbill valves, flap valves, ball valves, reed valves, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, valve mechanism 234 is formed of a resilient material (such as an elastomer) and comprises a plurality of portions 239 movable between a neutral, closed position (shown in
In another embodiment illustrated in
Fluid intake assembly 800 includes a main assembly body 812 that is removably coupleable to portion 802. In one embodiment, body 812 is accommodated within a downwardly extending annular ring 814 of portion 802. In the illustrated embodiment, downwardly extending ring 814 has a substantially cylindrical shape. A flexible tube 816 is attached to main body 812. A first end of flexible tube 816 is attached to a tube fitting 818 using one or more barbs or ribs 820 (shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, body 812 comprises a first assembly body portion 832 and a second assembly body portion 834. A sealing engagement is formed at the interface of portions 832 and 834 that restricts or prevents air from entering body 812 and the inlet fluid flow. Further, the sealing engagement between portions 832 and 834 can also restrict or prevent fluid from leaking out of body 812. In one embodiment, portion 832 includes one or more features, such as radially protruding barbs or ribs 836, that are configured to engage portion 834. In one embodiment, a sealing mechanism, such as an o-ring and the like, can be retained between two or more ribs 836 and engage and form a seal with portion 834. Alternatively, or in addition, an inner surface of portion 834 can include a sealing mechanism 840, such as an o-ring and the like, formed thereon that is configured to engage portion 832. A ridge 838 that extends along the inner surface of body 834 and aids in securing portion 832 to portion 834 can also be provided.
The first assembly body portion 832 is removably coupleable to the second assembly body portion 834 and retains a fluid filter assembly 842 therebetween. The fluid filter assembly 842 is positioned along with inlet fluid flow through assembly 800 and is configured to remove particles from the fluid. In the illustrated embodiment, fluid filter assembly 842 comprises a fluid filter frame 844 supporting a filter medium 846. Filter medium 846 can comprise any suitable types of filtration materials, such as, but not limited to, paper, foam, mesh and the like.
In the illustrated embodiment, fluid filter frame 844 comprises a ring shaped portion 848 and a plurality of cross-arms 850 attached to and extending within ring shaped portion 848. Arms 850 supports filter medium 846, which is illustratively disc shaped, as the inlet fluid flow passes therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, filter medium 846 is attached to fluid filter frame 844 using a fastener 852. In one example, fastener 852 includes a protrusion (such as a pin) that extends through an aperture 854 formed in filter medium 846 and is secured to frame 844. In this manner, filter medium 846 can be removed from fluid filter frame 844, for example to clean or replace filter medium 846.
The first assembly body portion 832 includes one or more alignment features 856 that are accommodated by one or more recesses 858 formed in the second assembly body portion 834. Alignment features 856 include a vertically extending projection 860 and horizontally extending projections 862 that are received by corresponding portions of recesses 858. Alignment features 856 provide for rotational alignment of body portion 832 with respect to body portion 834. In this manner, rotation of body portion 832 causes corresponding rotation of body portion 834.
Assembly body 812 can be configured to removably engage portion 802 using any suitable connection mechanisms. In the illustrated embodiment, assembly body 812 is configured to be engaged to, and disengaged from, portion 802 by rotating body 812 with respect to portion 802. In one embodiment, portion 834 comprises one or more threads configured to engage corresponding threads formed on an inner surface of ring 814. The threads can extend along some or all of the inner peripheral surface of ring 814. In the illustrated embodiment, body 834 includes a pair of helical ridges 864. Each ridge 864 extends along only a portion of the outer peripheral surface 866 of body 834. The inner surface of ring 814 includes corresponding helical ridges 868 that are configured to receive ridges 864 and secure body 812 to portion 802 through rotation of body 812 with respect to portion 802.
By way of example, to connect fluid intake assembly 800 to portion 802 body 812 is inserted into opening 815 of ring 814. An inlet port engaging portion 872, illustratively an angled tip, is aligned with inlet port 808. Body 812 is rotated in a direction represented by arrow 870 thereby engaging ridges 864 and 868. As body 812 is rotated, portion 872 is inserted further into port 808. A sealing engagement is formed at the interface of portion 872 and port 808 that restricts or prevents air from entering the inlet fluid flow. Further, the sealing engagement between portion 872 and port 808 can also restrict or prevent fluid leakage from port 808. In one embodiment, portion 872 includes a plurality of radially protruding ribs 874 that are configured to retain a sealing mechanism (not shown in
Body 832 can include one or more tabs 876 that provide a gripping surface for a user to rotate body 812. The connection structures of body 812 and portion 802 allow fluid intake assembly 800 to be secured to portion 802 by rotating body 812 less than one complete revolution. In one embodiment, body 812 is configured to be secured to portion 802 (such that tip 872 is adequately inserted into inlet port 808) by rotating body 812 less than approximately 90 degrees with respect to portion 802. It is noted that this is one example and is not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described herein.
At step 902, spray gun 100 is operated by the user to spray paint supplied from fluid container 102. A low paint warning is received at step 904. In one embodiment, the low paint warning comprises a fluid level indicator that indicates when a level of paint in fluid container 102 reaches and/or falls below a threshold level (e.g., five percent, ten percent, twenty percent, etc.). At step 906, the user suspends operation of spray gun 100 to refill container 102. For instance, in one embodiment the user decouples container 102 from spray gun 100 and removes suction tube assembly 200 from container 102. The valve mechanism 234 prevents fluid material in tube 204 from emptying back into fluid container 102 and restricts air from entering the inlet 220. Assembly 200 operates to retain fluid material in housing 210 and tube 204. During subsequent use at step 910 (e.g., after the user has refilled container 102 at step 908 and placed assembly 200 back into the fluid in container 102), valve mechanism 234 is disposed within the fluid in container 102 and spray gun 100 is operated with little or no air entering the fluid inlet 202.
While various embodiments of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the disclosure, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the system or method while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and/or the appended claims.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/754,370, filed Apr. 5, 2010, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12754370 | Apr 2010 | US |
Child | 12774504 | US |