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.
Claims16
A handheld spray gun, comprising:
- a gun body that forms a handle, the handle having a handle front side;
- a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger, the plunger at least partially located with the dry chamber;
- a trigger located along the handle, the trigger comprising a switch;
- a spray valve, the spray valve comprising a ball and a seat;
- a needle which connects between the plunger and the spray valve so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body;
- a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve;
- and
- a conduit that extends from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle, the conduit including a hose configured to provide spray fluid to the spray valve and a plurality of wires which extend along the hose from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle.
A method of spraying a spray fluid with a handheld spray gun, the handheld spray gun comprising a gun body that forms a handle having a handle front side, a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil electromagnetically moving the plunger, the handheld spray gun further comprising a trigger, the trigger comprising a switch, the trigger and the switch supported by the gun body, the handheld spray gun further comprising a spray valve comprising a ball, and a seat, the handheld spray gun further comprising a needle which connects between the plunger and the ball so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body, the handheld spray gun further comprising a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve, the handheld spray gun further comprising a conduit that extends from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle, the conduit including a hose configured to provide spray fluid to the spray valve and a plurality of wires which extend along the hose from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle, the method comprising:
- generating a signal with the switch based on the switch sensing actuation of the trigger, the signal transmitted to an electronic controller along the conduit by a wired connection between the switch and the electronic controller;
- energizing, by transmitting power along the conduit via a wired connection between the stator and the electronic controller, the coil based on the switch having generated the signal, the coil electromagnetically moving the plunger rearward when energized;
- transferring rearward motion from the plunger to the ball via the needle such that the spring is overcome and the ball moves away from the seat to open the spray valve and allow spray fluid to flow through the spray valve to be atomized by the spray tip;
- ceasing generating the signal with the switch based on the switch sensing release of the trigger;
- de-energizing the coil based on the switch having ceased generation of the signal;
- and
- moving the ball forward into engagement with the seat to close the spray valve, the ball pushed forward by the spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.