Flanged swirl valve with relieved elastomer seal

A swirl valve for a spray paint gun comprising:

• a valve body having first and second opposite sides, and formed of a relatively hard material;
• a plurality of paint swirl apertures extending through the valve body between the first and second opposite sides;
• a seat-engaging surface on the second side of the valve body;
• a relatively soft elastomeric material layer co-molded with the valve body to form a surface thereon;
• and
• an axial stop positioned between the first and second sides of the valve body.

A swirl valve for mounting within a seat of a spray paint gun pump housing comprising:

• a valve body having first and second opposite sides and formed of a material characterized by a first hardness value;
• at least one passageway extending through the valve body between the first and second opposite sides for imparting a swirling momentum to a liquid passing through the passageway;
• a seat-engaging surface on one of the first and second sides of the valve body;
• a layer of elastomeric material bonded to the seat-engaging surface of the valve body, the elastomeric material characterized by a second hardness value which is less than the first hardness value;
• and
• a cavity formed in the elastomeric material surrounding the passageway sized to prevent migration of the elastomeric material into the passageway when the elastomeric material is compressed against the seat of the paint gun pump housing.

An improved swirl valve and airless spray paint gun assembly comprising:

• a motor;
• a paint container;
• and
• a pump subassembly including:
• a pump housing in fluid communication with the paint container and having a beveled seat at a discharge end of the pump housing;
• a piston mounted within the pump housing and driven by the motor for pumping paint from the container through the discharge end of the pumping housing;
• and
• a swirl valve mounted within the pump housing and including:
• a valve body having first and second opposite sides, and formed of a material characterized by a first hardness value;
• a plurality of paint swirl apertures extending through the valve body between the first and second opposite sides;
• a layer of elastomeric material co-molded with the valve body and forming a beveled surface on the valve body, the elastomeric material characterized by a second hardness value which is less than the first hardness value;
• and
• an axial stop positioned between the first and second opposite sides of the valve body.

A process for assembling an airless spray paint gun assembly comprising the steps of

• a) providing a pump housing having a beveled seat at a discharge end of the pump housing;
• b) providing a spray tip;
• c) providing a swirl valve within the pump housing, wherein the swirl valve includes:
• i) a valve body having first and second opposite side,
• ii) a plurality of paint swirl apertures extending through the valve body between the first and second opposite side,
• iii) a layer of elastomeric material co-molded with the valve body and forming a beveled surface on the valve body, and
• iv) an axial stop positioned between the first side of the valve body and the beveled surface formed by the elastomeric material co-molded to the valve body;
• and
• d) engaging the spray tip with the pump housing so that the beveled surface of the swirl valve formed by the elastomeric material engages the beveled seat at the discharge end of the pump housing, wherein the axial stop of the swirl valve is interposed between the spray tip and the discharge end of the pump housing to contact the discharge end of the pump housing and prevent cold flow and plastic deformation of the elastomeric material.