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US 12,715,013 B2Granted
Solvent dosing for a spray applicator
AssigneeGraco Minnesota Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Ingebrand, Christopher J. Pellin, Justin J. Weldon, Joseph E. Tix
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spray applicator is operable in a spray state, during which the applicator emits a plural component material formed within a mix chamber of the spray application, and a purge state, during which the spray applicator emits compressed air from the mix chamber. First and second portions of the purge air are provided to the mix chamber through separate flowpaths and combine within the mix chamber. Only one of the portions of purge air is routed through a dosing chamber to entrain solvent and carry the solvent to the mix chamber. The solvent assists in clearing residue from the mix chamber.
Claims21
A spray apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a sprayer body;
- a solvent reservoir configured to hold a solvent;
- a mix chamber supported by the sprayer body, the mix chamber including a mixing bore extending to a spray orifice;
- a spray valve supported by the sprayer body, wherein the spray valve is actuatable between a first position associated with a spray mode of the spray apparatus and a second position associated with a purge mode of the spray apparatus;
- and
- a purge air pathway extending through the sprayer body, the purge air pathway comprising:
- a common passage extending to an intersection;
- a first passage extending downstream from the intersection to a first inlet port of the mix chamber that fluidly connects the first passage and the mixing bore, the first passage configured to provide a first portion of purge air into the mix chamber through the first inlet port;
- and
- a second passage extending downstream from the intersection to a second inlet port of the mix chamber that fluidly connects the second passage and the mixing bore, the second passage configured to provide a second portion of purge air into the mix chamber through the second inlet port;
- wherein only a first one of the first passage and the second passage is fluidly connected to the solvent reservoir to receive the solvent from the solvent reservoir;
- and
- wherein a flow of the compressed air through the purge air pathway is fluidly disconnected from the mix chamber with the spray apparatus in the spray mode, and the flow of compressed air through the purge air pathway is fluidly connected to the mix chamber with the spray apparatus in the purge mode.
10 more elements
A sprayer apparatus comprising:
- a sprayer body;
- a mix chamber supported by the sprayer body, the mix chamber including a first inlet bore, a second inlet bore, and a mixing bore extending to an outlet orifice, the mixing bore configured to receive a first material from the first inlet bore and a second material from the second inlet bore;
- a first material pathway extending through the sprayer body to the first inlet bore;
- a second material pathway extending through the sprayer body to the second inlet bore;
- a purge air pathway extending through the sprayer body, the purge air pathway comprising:
- a common passage configured to receive a supply of compressed air;
- a first passage extending from the common passage to the first inlet bore of the mix chamber, the first passage configured to provide a first portion of the compressed air to the mix chamber through the first inlet bore;
- and
- a second passage extending from the common passage to the second inlet bore of the mix chamber, the second passage configured to provide a second portion of the compressed air to the mix chamber through the second inlet bore;
- wherein the first passage is fluidly isolated from the second passage at all locations of the purge air pathway between an intersection at which the first passage diverges from the second passage and the mix chamber such that a flow through the first passage reconverges with a flow through the second passage in the mixing bore;
- a solvent pathway formed in the sprayer body, the solvent pathway extending from a solvent reservoir to a dosing chamber;
- and
- a dosing rod supported by the sprayer body, wherein the dosing rod is configured to provide a dose volume of the solvent to a dosing chamber from the holding chamber;
- wherein the second passage extends through the dosing chamber at a location downstream of the intersection.
11 more elements
A method of spraying, the method comprising:
- placing a spray applicator in a spray mode, a spray valve of the spray applicator fluidly connecting a first material pathway with a mix chamber and fluidly connecting a second material pathway with the mix chamber with the spray applicator in the spray mode;
- emitting, by the spray applicator, a plural component material formed within the mix chamber by a first base component material provided to the mix chamber by the first material pathway and a second base component material provided to the mix chamber by the second material pathway;
- shifting the spray valve from a first position associated with the spray mode to a second position associated with a purge mode;
- flowing, with the spray applicator in the purge mode, a first portion of purge air to the mix chamber through a first purge air pathway and into the mix chamber through a first inlet bore of the mix chamber and a second portion of purge air to the mix chamber through a second purge air pathway and into the mix chamber through a second inlet bore of the mix chamber;
- and
- entraining a dose volume of solvent within the second portion of purge air at a location upstream of the mix chamber and downstream of an intersection where the first purge air pathway splits from the second purge air pathway, such that the dose volume of solvent is provided to the mix chamber through only the second purge air pathway and such that the dose volume of solvent enters into the mix chamber through only the second inlet port.
3 more elements
A spray apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a sprayer body;
- a solvent reservoir configured to hold a solvent;
- a mix chamber supported by the sprayer body;
- a spray valve supported by the sprayer body, wherein the spray valve is actuatable between a first position associated with a spray mode and a second position associated with a purge mode;
- and
- a purge air pathway extending through the sprayer body, the purge air pathway comprising:
- a first passage extending to a first inlet port of the mix chamber, the first passage configured to provide a first portion of purge air into the mix chamber through the first inlet port;
- and
- a second passage fluidly isolated from the first passage and extending to a second inlet port of the mix chamber, the second passage configured to provide a second portion of purge air to the mix chamber through the second inlet port;
- wherein only one of the first passage and the second passage is configured to receive the solvent from the solvent reservoir;
- wherein the spray valve comprises:
- a piston head;
- a first shuttle extending from the piston head to a first fluid bore formed in the sprayer body;
- a second shuttle extending from the piston head to a second fluid bore formed in the sprayer body;
- and
- wherein:
- the first shuttle fluidly disconnects the first passage from the first inlet port with the spray apparatus in the spray mode and fluidly connects the first passage with the first inlet port with the spray apparatus in the purge mode;
- and
- the second shuttle fluidly disconnects the second passage from the second inlet port with the spray apparatus in the spray mode and fluidly connects the second passage with the second inlet port with the spray apparatus in the purge mode.
16 more elements
A spray apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a sprayer body;
- a solvent reservoir configured to hold a solvent;
- a mix chamber supported by the sprayer body;
- a spray valve supported by the sprayer body, wherein the spray valve is actuatable between a first position associated with a spray mode and a second position associated with a purge mode;
- and
- a purge air pathway extending through the sprayer body, the purge air pathway comprising:
- a first passage extending to a first inlet port of the mix chamber, the first passage configured to provide a first portion of purge air into the mix chamber through the first inlet port;
- and
- a second passage fluidly isolated from the first passage and extending to a second inlet port of the mix chamber, the second passage configured to provide a second portion of purge air to the mix chamber through the second inlet port;
- wherein only one of the first passage and the second passage is configured to receive the solvent from the solvent reservoir;
- wherein the purge air pathway further comprises a common passage extending to an intersection;
- wherein the first passage and the second passage extend downstream from the intersection;
- and
- wherein the second passage extends through a dosing chamber at a location downstream of the intersection such that the second purge air portion entrains solvent within the dosing chamber;
- wherein the sprayer body comprises:
- a support housing;
- and
- a fluid cartridge mounted to the support housing;
- wherein the intersection is formed within the support housing and the mix chamber is at least partially disposed within a cavity formed in the fluid cartridge;
- wherein the first passage includes a first upstream portion extending from the intersection to a first outlet aperture formed in the support housing, and the first passage includes a first downstream portion extending from a first inlet aperture formed in the fluid cartridge to the mix chamber;
- and
- wherein the second passage includes a second upstream portion extending from the intersection to a second outlet aperture formed in the support housing, and the second passage includes a second downstream portion extending from a second inlet aperture formed in the fluid cartridge to the mix chamber;
- and
- wherein the second upstream portion includes an inlet passage extending from the intersection to the dosing chamber and a downstream passage extending from the dosing chamber to the second outlet aperture.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.