Spray gun air cap with retention means
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsBrady P. Haislet, Bryan J. Hayward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spray gun air cap is disclosed comprising a forward end, a retention end opposite the forward end, a spray axis passing through the retention end and the forward end, and a sidewall positioned between the forward end and the retention end. The sidewall comprises a first air cap retention system comprising a reception feature comprising a retainer window opening to the retention end and extending toward the forward end. The retention system further includes an air cap rotation guide intersecting the retainer window and tracing an arc about the spray axis, the air cap rotation guide comprising a retention wall facing the forward end.
Claims34
A spray gun air cap comprising
- a forward end;
- a retention end opposite the forward end;
- a spray axis passing through the retention end and the forward end;
- a sidewall positioned between the forward end and the retention end;
- wherein the sidewall comprises a first air cap retention system comprising
- a reception feature comprising a retainer window opening to the retention end and extending toward the forward end;
- and
- an air cap rotation guide intersecting the retainer window and tracing an arc about the spray axis, the air cap rotation guide comprising a retention wall facing the forward end,
- wherein the retainer window extends through the sidewall toward the forward end.
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A method of assembling an air cap to a nozzle body comprising
- aligning a retention end of a spray gun air cap with a nozzle body along a spray axis such that a retainer window on the spray gun air cap is rotationally aligned with a nozzle body retainer feature;
- translating the spray gun air cap toward the nozzle body to cause the nozzle body retainer feature to pass into the retainer window;
- rotating the spray gun air cap in a first direction about the spray axis with respect to the nozzle body to cause the nozzle body retainer feature to ride along an air cap rotation guide until the nozzle body retainer feature contacts a first end stop;
- and
- rotating the spray gun air cap in a second direction opposite the first direction about the spray axis with respect to the nozzle body to cause the nozzle body retainer feature to ride along the air cap rotation guide until the nozzle body retainer feature contacts a second end stop,
- wherein the retainer window is positioned at an intermediate arcuate location between the first end stop and the second end stop, wherein the nozzle body retainer feature can pass transversely through the retainer window as the spray gun air cap is rotated between the first end stop and the second end stop.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.