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US 10,589,301 B2Granted
Check valve with nonlinear force load for HVLP spraying
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorsJames M. Dalton, Brian M. Mulgrew
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-volume low-pressure spray system includes a hose disposed between a compressor and a spray gun. The hose acts as an accumulator when the spray gun is deactivated. A check valve is disposed in a fitting connecting the hose to the compressor. The check valve includes a spring that applies a nonlinear force to a downstream end of a valve member, such that the valve member tips open in response to the pressure differential, providing a variable flowpath opening through the check valve.
Claims20
A high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) spray system for spraying a fluid, the spray system comprising:
- an air control unit configured to generate a flow of pressurized air;
- a spray gun configured to spray the fluid with the flow of pressurized air;
- a hose extending from the air control unit and configured to provide the flow of pressurized air from the air control unit to the spray gun;
- and
- a check valve having a longitudinal axis and including:
- a seat;
- a valve member movable between a closed position in which the valve member is engaged with a seat, a modulated position in which the valve member is tipped partially off of the seat while a portion of an upstream face of the valve member is still engaged with the seat, and an open position in which the valve member is disengaged from the seat;
- and
- a spring configured to generate an annularly asymmetric force on a downstream face of the valve member to maintain the valve member in the closed position and further configured to be overcome by the flow of the pressurized air such that the flow of the pressurized air causes the valve member to tip open to the modulated position;
- wherein the valve member includes an outer edge shaped such that the valve member rocks on the outer edge as the valve member transitions from the closed position to the modulated position, and such that the valve member slides along the longitudinal axis as the valve member transitions from the modulated position to the open position.
7 more elements
A check valve comprising:
- a valve member movable between a closed position, a modulated position, and an open position, the valve member including a downstream face, an upstream face, and an outer edge;
- wherein the valve member is engaged with a seat of the check valve with the valve member in the closed position;
- wherein a first portion of the upstream face is tipped partially off of the seat and a second portion of the upstream face is engaged with the seat with the valve member in the modulated position;
- and
- wherein the valve member is disengaged from the seat with the valve member in the open position;
- and
- a spring that provides an annularly asymmetric force on the downstream face of the valve member with the valve member in the closed position to maintain the valve member in the closed position;
- wherein the spring provides an annular force on the downstream face of the valve member with the valve member in the modulated position;
- wherein the valve member is configured to tilt from the closed position to the modulated position prior to sliding from the modulated position to the open position when actuating from the closed position to the open position.
6 more elements
A check valve comprising:
- a cage;
- and
- a seat disposed at an upstream end of the cage;
- a valve member movable between a closed position, a modulated position, and an open position, the valve member comprising:
- a valve guide having an upstream face and a downstream face;
- a retainer disposed adjacent the upstream face of the valve guide;
- an end cap disposed adjacent the downstream face of the valve guide;
- and
- a fastener extending though and securing the retainer, the valve guide, and the end cap;
- wherein the downstream face of the valve guide includes the asymmetric profile about the longitudinal axis of the check valve;
- and
- a spring disposed in the cage, the spring providing an annularly asymmetric force on a downstream face of the valve member to maintain the valve member in the closed position;
- wherein the valve member is configured to tilt to the modulated position prior to sliding to the open position when actuating from the closed position to the open position, and wherein a portion of an upstream face of the valve member maintains engagement with a seat when the valve member is in the modulated position and another portion of the upstream face is disengaged from the seat when in the modulated position;
- wherein the valve member is disposed within the cage between the spring and the seat, the upstream face of the valve member facing the seat and the downstream face of the valve member facing the spring.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.