Fluid sprayer
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorsRobert W. Kinne, Christopher C. Hines, Diane L. Olson, Andrew J. Ericson, Sophia E. Drayna, Pamela J. Muetzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid sprayer includes a spray gun that is configured to output a spray of fluid for application on a substrate. A trigger of the spray gun is operatively connected to a controller to control actuation of a pump that drives the spray fluid to the spray gun. A solenoid is connected to a spray valve of the spray gun to actuate the spray valve open to cause spraying by the fluid sprayer.
Claims20
A spray system comprising:
- a handheld fluid spray gun comprising:
- a gun body having a gun handle;
- a trigger supported by the gun body;
- a nozzle configured to generate an atomized spray of spray fluid;
- and
- a spray valve actuatable between an open state, in which the spray fluid can flow to the nozzle, and a closed state, in which the spray fluid is prevented from flowing to the nozzle;
- a solenoid connected to the spray valve and configured to actuate the spray valve from the closed state to the open state, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the solenoid to control activation of the solenoid, the controller configured to provide a first power level to the solenoid to cause the solenoid to actuate the spray valve from the closed state to the open state and configured to provide a second power level different from the first power level to the solenoid to cause the solenoid to hold the spray valve in the open state, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level.
A method of spraying a spray fluid with a spray system including a handheld spray gun and a controller, the handheld spray gun comprising a gun body having a gun handle, the handheld spray gun further including a trigger supported by the gun body, the handheld spray gun further including a nozzle configured to generate an atomized spray of spray fluid, the handheld spray gun further including a spray valve actuatable between an open state, in which the spray fluid can flow to the nozzle, and a closed state, in which the spray fluid is prevented from flowing to the nozzle, and the handheld spray gun further including a solenoid disposed at least partially within the gun body and connected to the spray valve, the solenoid and configured to actuate the spray valve from the closed state to the open state, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger, the method comprising:
- generating a signal with the trigger based on actuation of the trigger;
- energizing the coil, by the controller, based on the trigger having generated the signal, the controlling energizing the coil with a first power level to cause the coil to electromagnetically move the plunger rearward to open the spray valve;
- energizing the coil, by the controller, with a second power level once the spray valve is in the open state to cause the coil to hold the plunger and hold the spray valve in the open state, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level;
- de-energizing the coil based on the trigger having ceased generation of the signal;
- and
- closing the spray valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.