Spray applicator with air shut-off valve

A method of spraying product comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve housing defining a valve chamber having a valve inlet a valve outlet, the valve housing comprising an intermediate surface defining a portion of the valve chamber;
• providing a conduit member defining a fluid passageway having an inlet portion and a nozzle portion;
• arranging the conduit member such that pressurized fluid flowing out of the valve chamber through the valve outlet enters the fluid passageway through the inlet portion;
• disposing a substantially spherical valve member within the valve chamber;
• introducing pressurized fluid into the valve chamber through the valve inlet such that the pressurized fluid acts on the valve member to hold the valve member against the intermediate surface in a closed position in which pressurized fluid is prevented from entering the fluid passageway through the inlet portion;
• displacing the conduit member to move the valve member into an open position to allow pressurized fluid to enter the fluid passageway through the inlet portion.

A fluid dispensing device for dispensing texture material comprising:

• a main housing assembly defining a nozzle chamber, a trigger chamber, and nozzle, product, and air openings, where the nozzle and product openings allow fluid communication between an exterior of the main housing assembly and the nozzle chamber and the air opening allows fluid communication between the exterior of the main housing assembly and the trigger chamber;
• a valve housing defining a valve chamber having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve housing comprising a substantially frustoconical intermediate surface and being arranged within to the air opening, where the valve inlet is threaded to receive a threaded air hose fitting connected to a source of pressurized air;
• a conduit assembly movable along the valve axis and defining an air passageway having an inlet portion and a nozzle portion, where the conduit assembly is arranged such that the inlet portion is in fluid communication with the valve outlet and the nozzle portion is located adjacent a mixing location that is adjacent the nozzle opening;
• a substantially spherical valve member disposed within the valve chamber, where pressurized air entering the valve inlet forces the valve member against the intermediate surface of the valve housing in a closed position to prevent pressurized air within the valve chamber from flowing out of the valve outlet and into the inlet portion;
• and
• a trigger member movable between a forward position and a rearward position, where movement of the trigger member into the rearward position moves the conduit assembly to displace the valve member from the closed position into an open position in which pressurized air in the valve chamber is allowed to flow out of the valve outlet, into the inlet portion, through the air passageway, out of the nozzle portion, and to the mixing location.

A fluid dispensing device for dispensing product comprising:

• a main housing assembly defining a main chamber and nozzle, product, and fluid openings that allow fluid communication between an exterior of the main housing assembly and the main chamber;
• a valve housing defining a valve chamber having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve housing being arranged adjacent to the fluid opening;
• a fluid passageway having an inlet portion and a nozzle portion, where the inlet portion is in fluid communication with the valve outlet and the nozzle portion is located adjacent to a mixing location that is adjacent to the nozzle opening, where the fluid flows along the fluid passageway from the valve outlet to the mixing location;
• a valve member disposed within the valve chamber, where pressurized fluid entering the valve inlet forces the valve member against the valve housing in a closed position to prevent pressurized fluid within the valve chamber from flowing out of the valve outlet and into the inlet portion;
• and
• actuator means operable between a closed configuration and an open configuration for allowing an operator to displace the valve member from the closed position into an open position to allow pressurized fluid in the valve chamber to flow out of the valve outlet, into the inlet portion, through the fluid passageway, out of the nozzle portion, and to the mixing location, wherein the actuator means comprises a conduit member that defines the fluid passageway and a trigger member connected to the conduit member such that displacement of the trigger member displaces the conduit member to vary the amount of product that reaches the mixing location;
• and
• stop means for stopping the trigger member at any one of a plurality of stop locations;
• wherein
• the trigger member comprises an upper portion located within the main chamber, an intermediate portion attached to the conduit member, and a lower portion at least a portion of which extends out of a trigger opening formed in the main housing assembly;
• and
• the stop means is arranged within the main housing assembly to engage the lower portion of the trigger member.

A fluid dispensing device for dispensing texture material comprising:

• a main housing assembly defining a nozzle chamber, a trigger chamber, and nozzle, product, and air openings, where the nozzle and product openings allow fluid communication between an exterior of the main housing assembly and the nozzle chamber and the air opening allows fluid communication between the exterior of the main housing assembly and the trigger chamber;
• a valve housing defining a valve chamber having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve housing being arranged within to the air opening and the valve inlet being threaded to receive a threaded air hose fitting connected to a source of pressurized air;
• a conduit assembly movable along the valve axis and defining an air passageway having an inlet portion and a nozzle portion, where the conduit assembly is arranged such that the inlet portion is in fluid communication with the valve outlet and the nozzle portion is located adjacent to a mixing location that is adjacent to the nozzle opening;
• a valve member disposed within the valve chamber, where pressurized air entering the valve inlet forces the valve member against the valve housing in a closed position to prevent pressurized air within the valve chamber from flowing out of the valve outlet and into the inlet portion;
• and
• a trigger member movable between a forward position and a rearward position, where movement of the trigger member into the rearward position moves the conduit assembly to displace the valve member from the closed position into an open position in which pressurized air in the valve chamber is allowed to flow out of the valve outlet, into the inlet portion, through the air passageway, out of the nozzle portion, and to the mixing location;
• wherein
• the valve chamber comprises first, second, and intermediate portions, where a cross-sectional area of the first portion is greater than that of the second portion in planes orthogonal to the valve axis and the intermediate portion lies between the first and second portions;
• and
• the valve member is sized and configured to reside within the first portion of the valve chamber such that pressurized air can flow around the valve member within the first portion of the valve chamber;
• the intermediate portion of the valve chamber is sized and configured to prevent the valve member from entering the second portion of the valve chamber;
• the conduit assembly comprises a nozzle member and an actuator member, the nozzle member and actuator member having center bores and being configured to mate such that the center bores form the air passageway;
• and
• the actuator member comprises an engaging portion sized and configured to fit snugly within the second portion of the valve chamber such that (a) the actuator member does not engage the valve member when the trigger member is in the forward position, (b) the engaging portion of the actuator member engages the valve member to hold the valve member in the open position when the trigger member is in the rearward position, and (c) substantially all of the pressurized air flowing through the valve chamber enters the air passageway when the valve member is in the open position.