Apparatus for and method of spraying plural component materials

Claim 2

In a compressed air gun for spraying plural component material comprising a gun body, first and second means to connect the gun body with separate sources of first and second components to be mixed in and sprayed from the gun, means to connect the gun body with a source of compressed air, means for directing a flow of compressed air from the gun body, and an ejection orifice for the plural component material connected with the first and second means and cooperatively positioned with respect to said means for directing the flow of compressed air from the gun body to form a spray of plural component material, the improvement comprising means for mixing the first and second components in the connection between the first and second means of said body and the ejection orifice, means to connect the source of compressed air to the mixing means, said mixing means being movably fastened to the body between a first position where the first and second components are permitted to flow through the mixing means to the ejection orifice and a second position where flow of the first and second components is blocked and a flow of compressed air is permitted to flow through the mixing means and ejection orifice, said mixing means being movably fastened to said body so that its movement does not move the ejection orifice for the mixed components either longitudinally along its axis or laterally with respect to the means for directing the flow of compressed air, and actuation means for moving the mixing means between its first and second positions.

Claim 3

The compressed air gun of claim 1, wherein the means for directing a flow of compressed air from the gun body is formed of insulating material and the mixing means includes an elongated needle-like electrode about which the components are mixed maintained in position with respect to the liquid orifice and the means for directing a flow of compressed air from the gun to electrostatically charge the spray of plural component material.

Claim 4

A spray gun for plural component coating material with a combined valve, chamber and liquid orifice comprising a member having an outer surface shaped about an axis as a surface of revolution, an inner mixing chamber in which first and second liquid components of the coating material are mixed, two apertures between the inner chamber and the outer surface, and a liquid orifice at its front communicating with said inner chamber from which the mixed components are ejected; a spray gun body with means to deliver separately to the outer surface of said member from separate sources of supply: (1) the first liquid component to be mixed and sprayed, (2) the second liquid component to be mixed and sprayed, and (3) compressed air for purging and cleaning the inner chamber; the spray gun body including compressed air atomizing means at its front end cooperatively associated with the liquid orifice of the member; the member engaging the spray gun body at its outer surface and having two positions of operation angularly displaced about the axis of the outer surface, a spraying position in which the two apertures of the member Are aligned with the means delivering the first and second liquid components to the outer surface and in which the outer surface of the member blocks the means delivering compressed air, and a non-spraying position in which the two apertures are aligned with the means delivering compressed air to the outer surface and in which the outer surface blocks the means delivering the first and second liquid components; and an actuator to rotate the member about the axis of its outer surface to effect simultaneous mixing and spraying of the coating material in the spraying position and simultaneous termination of the mixing and spraying of coating material and purging and cleaning of the apertures, chamber and liquid orifice in the non-spraying position.

Claim 5

A spray gun for plural component coating material with a combined valve, chamber and liquid orifice comprising a member having an outer surface shaped about an axis as a surface of revolution, an inner mixing chamber in which first and second liquid components of the coating material are mixed, two apertures between the inner chamber and the outer surface, and a liquid orifice at its front communicating with said inner chamber from which the mixed components are ejected; a spray gun body with means to deliver separately to the outer surface of said member from separate sources of supply: (1) the first liquid component to be mixed and sprayed, (2) the second liquid component to be mixed and sprayed, and (3) compressed air for purging and cleaning the inner chamber; the spray gun body including compressed air atomizing means at its front end cooperatively associated with the liquid orifice of the member; the member engaging the spray gun body at its outer surface and having two positions of operation angularly displaced about the axis of the outer surface, a spraying position in which the two apertures of the member Are aligned with the means delivering the first and second liquid components to the outer surface and in which the outer surface of the member blocks the means delivering compressed air, and a non-spraying position in which the two apertures are aligned with the means delivering compressed air to the outer surface and in which the outer surface blocks the means delivering the first and second liquid components; and an actuator to rotate the member about the axis of its outer surface to effect simultaneous mixing and spraying of the coating material in the spraying position and simultaneous termination of the mixing and spraying of coating material and purging and cleaning of the apertures, chamber and liquid orifice in the non-spraying position.

Claim 6

The spray gun of claim 3 wherein the outer surface of revolution of the member decreases in diameter longitudinally along its axis of rotation and the spray gun body conformingly engages the outer surface of the member to provide a bearing surface that prevents movement of the liquid orifice longitudinally along its axis and laterally with respect to the compressed air atomizing means at the front of the spray gun body.

Claim 7

The spray gun of claim 3 wherein the outer surface of revolution of the member has a spherical portion and the spray gun body has a spherical portion engaging the outer surface of the member.

Claim 8

A compressed air gun for plural component material comprising a gun body, means forming a mixing chamber within said gun body for mixing components of the material just prior to being ejected from the gun, the means being movably fastened within the gun and adapted to be connected within the gun to the components of the material to be mixed and to compressed air, a liquid orifice in communication with said chamber for ejecting the mixed material from the gun, and compressed air means carried by the gun body for atomizing the material ejected from the orifice into a spray of liquid material, means for automatically moving the chamber from a position where components are introduced to the mixing chamber to a position where the introduction of the components to the chamber is terminated and compressed air is introduced to the chamber to purge and clean it without moving the liquid orifice out of cooperative association with the compressed air means thereby atomizing the mixed material purged from the gun during cleaning.

Claim 9

A compressed air gun for plural component material comprising a gun body, means forming a mixing chamber within said gun body for mixing components of the material just prior to being ejected from the gun, the means being movably fastened within the gun and adapted to be connected within the gun to the components of the material to be mixed and to compressed air, a liquid orifice in communication with said chamber for ejecting the mixed material from the gun, and compressed air means carried by the gun body for atomizing the material ejected from the orifice into a spray of liquid material, means for automatically moving the chamber from a position where components are introduced to the mixing chamber to a position where the introduction of the components to the chamber is terminated and compressed air is introduced to the chamber to purge and clean it without moving the liquid orifice out of cooperative association with the compressed air means thereby atomizing the mixed material purged from the gun during cleaning.

Claim 10

The spray gun of claim 6, wherein the means for atomizing the material into a spray includes a plurality of orifices directing compressed air in such manner as to form the spray of liquid material into an elliptical spray pattern.

Claim 11

The spray gun of claim 6, wherein the means forming a mixing chamber is rotatable and includes an outer surface of revolution and the gun body includes bearing surfaces conformingly engaging the outer surface of the mixing chamber means to maintain the liquid orifice in cooperative association with the compressed air means.

Claim 12

The spray gun of claim 6 wherein the means forming the mixing chamber includes apertures adapted to be connected to the components of the material to be mixed when in one position and adapted to be connected to the compressed air for purging the residue from the chamber when in a second position.

Claim 13

The spray gun of claim 6 wherein the gun body includes a handle and a trigger adjacent the handle to move the means forming a mixing chamber, the means for automatically moving the chamber storing energy from actuation of the trigger to be used upon release of the trigger to terminate spraying and to introduce compressed air to the mixing chamber and liquid orifice to purge and clean them.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 including the step of electrostatically charging the spray of material.

Claim 21

A compressed air gun for spraying plural component liquid material capable of connection to separate supplies of the liquid components of the plural component material comprising an atomizer having means forming a mixing chamber for the liquid components and separate apertures for introducing each of the liquid components into the mixing chamber and an orifice to emit the mixed plural component liquid material and having means to emit compressed air cooperatively positioned with respect to the plural component emission orifice to form a spray of plural component material, a gun body carrying said atomizer and means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies of the liquid components and to a source of compressed air, said means forming a mizing chamber and said means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies being carried at the front of the gun body and constructed to permit movement relative to each other while maintaining the plural component emission orifice and the means to emit compressed air in their cooperative spray-forming position, and an actuator carried by the gun body to cause relative movement of the means forming the mixing chamber and the means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies between a first position where each of the separate apertures directly adjoins each of the connecting means and permits flow of the liquid components through the apertures into the mixing chamber, and a second position in which each of the connecting means are blocked and the flow of liquid components is terminated and in which the apertures are positioned in communication with the source of compressed air to direct a flow of air through the apertures, the mixing chamber and the orifice for purging and cleaning.

Claim 22

A compressed air gun for spraying plural component liquid material capable of connection to separate supplies of the liquid components of the plural component material comprising an atomizer having means forming a mixing chamber for the liquid components and separate apertures for introducing each of the liquid components into the mixing chamber and an orifice to emit the mixed plural component liquid material and having means to emit compressed air cooperatively positioned with respect to the plural component emission orifice to form a spray of plural component material, a gun body carrying said atomizer and means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies of the liquid components and to a source of compressed air, said means forming a mizing chamber and said means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies being carried at the front of the gun body and constructed to permit movement relative to each other while maintaining the plural component emission orifice and the means to emit compressed air in their cooperative spray-forming position, and an actuator carried by the gun body to cause relative movement of the means forming the mixing chamber and the means for connecting said atomizer to each of the separate supplies between a first position where each of the separate apertures directly adjoins each of the connecting means and permits flow of the liquid components through the apertures into the mixing chamber, and a second position in which each of the connecting means are blocked and the flow of liquid components is terminated and in which the apertures are positioned in communication with the source of compressed air to direct a flow of air through the apertures, the mixing chamber and the orifice for purging and cleaning.