Material sprayer having sliding pump mounting

A material sprayer comprising:

• a frame;
• a hopper mounted to the frame;
• a reciprocating drive mechanism mounted to the frame;
• a pump assembly with a pump fluidly attached to the hopper and attached to the reciprocating drive mechanism, wherein the pump comprises:
• a pump axis that is oriented at an angle of 15 to 65 degrees relative to a vertical direction of gravity;
• a cylinder coaxial with the pump axis;
• a piston disposed in the cylinder and connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism such that the piston is coaxial with the pump axis and is driven by the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate along the pump axis, wherein the piston is disposed in the cylinder, wherein both the cylinder and the piston are coaxial with the pump axis;
• a first check valve;
• a second check valve;
• and
• an elbow connected to the cylinder, the elbow having a first end configured to make a fluid connection with the hopper, a second end configured to be fixed with respect to the cylinder, and an inner fluid channel extending from the first end to the second end and bending between the first end and the second end, wherein the pump head and the first end of the elbow are configured to make both of the mechanical connection and the fluid connection with a single linear motion of the pump.

A method of installing a pump assembly onto a material sprayer, the method comprising:

• providing the material sprayer, wherein the material sprayer comprises:
• a frame;
• a hopper mounted to the frame;
• a reciprocating drive mechanism mounted to the frame;
• a pump assembly with a pump fluidly attached to the hopper and attached to the reciprocating drive mechanism, wherein the pump comprises:
• a pump axis that is oriented at an angle of 15 to 65 degrees relative to a vertical direction of gravity;
• and
• a piston connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism such that the piston is coaxial with the pump axis and is driven by the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate along the pump axis;
• inserting a first end of an elbow of the pump assembly into a port of the hopper, wherein the pump assembly comprises:
• a pump comprising:
• a cylinder;
• the piston disposed in the cylinder, the piston comprising a piston head;
• and
• the pump axis, wherein the cylinder and the piston are coaxial with the pump axis;
• and
• an elbow comprising:
• the first end;
• a second end attached to the pump on a first end of the pump opposite from the reciprocating drive mechanism;
• and
• a bend portion extending between the first and second ends of the elbow;
• inserting the piston head into a slot of a collar of the reciprocating drive mechanism to form a dynamic mechanical connection between the pump and the reciprocating drive mechanism;
• and
• forming a fluidic connection between the pump and the port of the hopper.

A material sprayer comprising:

• a frame;
• a hopper mounted to the frame;
• a reciprocating drive mechanism mounted to the frame;
• a pump assembly with a pump fluidly attached to the hopper and attached to the reciprocating drive mechanism, wherein the pump comprises:
• a pump axis that is oriented at an angle of 15 to 65 degrees relative to a vertical direction of gravity;
• a piston connected to the reciprocating drive mechanism such that the piston is coaxial with the pump axis and is driven by the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate along the pump axis;
• a first ball check valve disposed within a lower section of the pump;
• and
• a second ball check valve disposed with a portion of a first end of the piston.