# US 2010/0163645 A1 · Poppet check valve for air-assisted spray gun

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- Number: US 2010/0163645 A1
- Document ID: US20100163645A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/346,593
- Filed: 2008-12-30
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30
- Assignees: Graco Minnesota Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel R. Johnson; Glen W. Davidson; Eric J. Finstad; Pamela J. Muetzel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163645A1

## CPC

- B05B 7/2416: {characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives}
- B05B 7/2437: {and a secondary stream of atomising fluid being brought together in the container or putting the carried fluid under pressure in the container}
- F16K 15/026: {the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open}
- F16K 15/063: {the valve being loaded by a spring}
- B05B 7/066: {with an inner liquid outlet surrounded by at least one annular gas outlet}
- B05B 7/0815: {with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}

## Abstract

An air-assisted sprayer comprises a platform, a fluid cup, an air reservoir, a spray cap, a pressure line, a fluid reservoir and a poppet valve. The fluid cup is connected to the platform to hold a volume of fluid. The air reservoir extends through the platform and is configured to receive pressurized air. The spray cap is connected to the platform to receive pressurized air from the air reservoir. The pressure line connects the air reservoir with the fluid cup to pressurize the volume of fluid. The fluid reservoir extends from the fluid cup to the platform to provide pressurized fluid to the spray cap. The poppet valve is in fluid communication with the pressure line between the volume of fluid and the air reservoir to prevent fluid from entering the air reservoir.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air-assisted sprayer comprising:
a platform;
a fluid cup connected to the platform to hold a volume of fluid;
an air reservoir extending through the platform and configured to receive pressurized air;
a spray cap connected to the platform to receive pressurized air from the air reservoir;
a pressure line connecting the air reservoir with the fluid cup to pressurize the volume of fluid;
a fluid reservoir extending from the fluid cup to the platform to provide pressurized fluid to the spray cap; and
a poppet valve in fluid communication with the pressure line between the volume of fluid and the air reservoir to prevent fluid from entering the air reservoir.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 1 wherein the poppet valve is manually removable from the sprayer without the use of tools.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 2 wherein the poppet valve is configured to be manually disassembled to clean fluid from within the poppet valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 3 wherein the poppet valve is carried by the pressure line between the fluid reservoir and the cup.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 4 wherein the poppet valve is spliced into the pressure line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 1 wherein the poppet valve comprises:
a first housing comprising:
a first barbed fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a first annular body extending axially from the first barbed fitting;
a second housing comprising:
a second barbed fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a second annular body extending axially from the second barbed fitting and threaded onto the first annular body to define a valve cylinder extending axially between the first and second barbed fittings; and
a spring-actuated poppet assembly disposed within the valve cylinder to permit one-way fluid flow.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 6 wherein the spring-actuated poppet assembly comprises:
a valve seat threaded into the first annular housing, the valve seat comprising:
a central bore;
a shoulder disposed within the central bore; and
a poppet seat disposed adjacent the central bore;
a poppet comprising:
a poppet head configured to rest within the poppet seat;
a seal channel extending into the poppet head;
a resilient member extending from the poppet head through the central bore; and
a hook extending from the resilient member;
an o-ring disposed within the seal channel; and
a valve spring disposed between the hook and the shoulder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 7 wherein the poppet valve includes contours or flats to facilitate manual unthreading of components.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 7 wherein the first housing, the second housing, the valve seat and the poppet are comprised of a solvent-resistant material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 8 wherein the poppet includes a nub extending axially from the poppet head away from the valve seat.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 6 wherein the first and second fittings are barbed.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 1 wherein the poppet valve produces a pressure drop in the fluid cup of less than approximately ten percent.

### Claim 13

An air-assisted spray gun comprising:
a platform;
a fluid cup connected to the platform to hold a volume of a fluid;
a trigger pivotably mounted to the platform;
a fluid reservoir extending through the platform, the fluid reservoir comprising:
a coupling for receiving a source of pressurized fluid from the fluid cup at a first end of the fluid reservoir; and
a fluid nozzle disposed at a second end of the fluid reservoir;
an air reservoir extending through the platform to intersect the fluid reservoir, the air reservoir comprising:
a coupling for receiving a source of pressurized air at a first end of the air reservoir;
a discharge orifice disposed at a second end of the reservoir concentric with the fluid nozzle; and
a fluid segment for providing pressurized air from the air reservoir to the fluid cup;
a valve positioned within the platform to intersect the air reservoir and the fluid reservoir and to engage the trigger; and
a check valve connected to the fluid segment between the volume of fluid and the air reservoir.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The air-assisted spray gun of claim 13 wherein the check valve comprises a poppet valve removable from the fluid segment without the use of tools and is configured to be manually disassembled to clean fluid form within the poppet valve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 14 and further comprising a pressure line connecting the fluid segment with the fluid cup, wherein the check valve is spliced into the pressure line.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 15 wherein the check valve comprises:
a first housing comprising:
a first fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a first annular body extending axially from the first barbed fitting;
a second housing comprising:
a second fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a second annular body extending axially from the second barbed fitting and threaded onto the first annular body to define a valve cylinder extending axially between the first and second barbed fittings; and
a spring-actuated poppet assembly disposed within the valve cylinder to permit one-way fluid flow.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 16 wherein the spring-actuated poppet assembly comprises:
a valve seat threaded into the first annular housing, the valve seat comprising:
a central bore;
a shoulder disposed within the central bore; and
a poppet seat disposed adjacent the central bore;
a poppet comprising:
a poppet head configured to rest within the poppet seat;
a seal channel extending into the poppet head;
a resilient member extending from the poppet head through the central bore; and
a hook extending from the resilient member;
an o-ring disposed within the seal channel; and
a valve spring disposed between the hook and the shoulder.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 17 wherein the first housing, the second housing, the valve seat and the poppet are comprised of a solvent-resistant material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The air-assisted sprayer of claim 13 wherein the poppet valve produces a pressure drop in the fluid cup of less than approximately ten percent.

### Claim 20

An in-line poppet valve for an air-assisted sprayer, the poppet valve comprising:
a first housing comprising:
a first fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a first annular body extending axially from the first barbed fitting;
a second housing comprising:
a second fitting for connecting to the pressure line; and
a second annular body extending axially from the second barbed fitting and threaded onto the first annular body to define a valve cylinder extending axially between the first and second barbed fittings; and
a spring-actuated poppet assembly disposed within the valve cylinder to permit one-way fluid flow, the poppet assembly comprising:
a valve seat threaded into the first annular housing, the valve seat comprising:
a central bore;
a shoulder disposed within the central bore; and
a poppet seat disposed adjacent the central bore;
a poppet comprising:
a poppet head configured to rest within the poppet seat;
a seal channel extending into the poppet head;
a resilient member extending from the poppet head through the central bore; and
a hook extending from the resilient member;
an o-ring disposed within the seal channel; and
a valve spring disposed between the hook and the shoulder.