Sealant melter/applicator with automatic load switching system

Abstract

A sealant melter/applicator includes a sealant melting chamber, an internal combustion engine having a rotating power output shaft and an hydraulic pump which converts the rotary motion of the engine power output shaft into a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic pump is coupled to selectively energize a first hydraulic motor which rotates a sealant agitator positioned within the sealant melting chamber and a second hydraulic motor which drives a sealant pump for transferring sealant from the melting chamber through an applicator hose to a sealant discharge nozzle. A sealant flow control valve is coupled in series with the applicator hose to regulate the flow of sealant through the sealant discharge nozzle. A flow control valve position sensor is coupled to an hydraulic flow diverter valve. When the sealant flow control valve is placed in the "closed" position, the flow diverter valve directs the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic motor is activate the sealant agitator. When the sealant flow control valve is displaced into the open position, the flow diverter valve directs the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic motor to activate the sealant pump. By selectively activating the first and second hydraulic motors, the load on the engine is maintained substantially constant as sealant is intermittently discharged through the sealant flow control valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.