Apparatus for controlled application of a viscous fluid

A system for dispensing a viscous fluid, comprising:

• a portable source of pressurized gas;
• and
• a hand-held actuation apparatus connected to the source of pressurized gas via a hose;
• where the actuation apparatus includes an applicator coupling configured to releasably retain an applicator that includes a syringe barrel that is loaded with a quantity of the viscous fluid and which includes a dispensing tip for the viscous fluid;
• wherein the actuation apparatus includes:
• a housing;
• a gas supply coupling disposed on or within the housing, the gas supply coupling being configured to receive the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas via the hose;
• a valve disposed between and in fluid communication with both the gas supply coupling and the applicator coupling, having a first open position in which a vent outlet is closed and the valve is configured so that the valve can be gradually and controllably opened to thereby adjustably control the delivery of the pressurized gas from a valve inlet to the applicator coupling, a second closed position in which the valve inlet is closed and the vent outlet is open, such that when the valve is closed the pressurized gas delivered to the applicator coupling is vented through the vent outlet;
• and
• a trigger operatively coupled with the valve, the trigger being configured to permit a user to adjustably depress the trigger to gradually and controllably open the valve and thereby to use the pressurized gas delivered to the applicator via the applicator coupling to controllably dispense the viscous fluid from the applicator, wherein ceasing to depress the trigger causes the valve to move to the closed position in which the valve inlet is closed and the vent outlet is open such that pressurized gas delivered to the applicator coupling is vented through the vent outlet, to promptly discontinue dispense of viscous fluid from the applicator.

A method of applying a viscous fluid to a workpiece, comprising:

• coupling an applicator to an applicator coupling disposed on a housing of a hand-held dispensing apparatus, wherein the applicator includes a syringe barrel that is loaded with the viscous fluid and a dispensing tip for the viscous fluid;
• coupling a pressurized gas supply to a gas supply coupling disposed on or within the housing, wherein the housing includes a valve disposed between and in fluid communication with both the gas supply coupling and the applicator coupling, the valve having a first open position in which a vent outlet is closed and the valve is configured so that the valve can be gradually and controllably opened to thereby adjustably control the delivery of the pressurized gas to the applicator coupling, and a second closed position in which a valve inlet is closed and the vent outlet is open, such that when the valve is closed the pressurized gas delivered to the applicator coupling is vented to the vent outlet;
• engaging a trigger member operatively coupled with the valve, where the trigger member is configured to gradually and controllably open the valve so that the pressurized gas delivered to the applicator via the applicator coupling controllably dispenses the viscous fluid from the applicator;
• applying the viscous fluid to the workpiece;
• and
• disengaging the trigger member to cause the valve to move to the closed position in which the valve inlet is closed and the vent outlet is open such that pressurized gas delivered to the applicator coupling is vented through the vent outlet, to promptly discontinue dispensing of viscous fluid from the applicator to the workpiece.