Patent ID: 8387898
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: B05B,F16C

Abstract:
1. A paint sprayer for spraying a liquid to atmosphere, the paint sprayer comprising: an outboard motor bracket; an inboard motor bracket defining a bearing bore; a stator interposed between the outboard motor bracket and the inboard motor bracket; an outboard bearing supported by the outboard motor bracket; an inboard bearing comprising an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the inner race and the outer race, the outer race being supported by the inboard motor bracket, the outer race and the inner race provide a first axial face and a second axial face that are substantially concentric, face away from the outboard bearing, and are radially spaced apart from each other; a shaft extending through the bearing bore of the inboard motor bracket, the shaft being supported by the inboard bearing and the outboard bearing; a rotor supported by the shaft in proximity with the stator; a discharge volute adjacent to the inboard motor bracket and defining a discharge opening; a turbine housing being adjacent to the discharge volute and defining a suction inlet; a turbine wheel attached to the shaft and disposed within the turbine housing such that the shaft, the rotor, and the turbine wheel rotate as a unit at a rotational speed that varies; a paint canister to hold the liquid therein; a paint gun connected in fluid communication with the paint canister, the paint gun defining an air inlet and a spray outlet; a hose connecting the discharge opening of the discharge volute to the air inlet of the paint gun; a paint gun valve borne by the paint gun, the paint gun valve being movable between an open position and a closed position to selective open and obstruct flow from the air inlet to the spray outlet, the rotational speed of the turbine wheel increases in response to the paint gun valve moving from the open position to the closed position; and an annular seal disposed around the shaft and axially engaging the first axial face and the second axial face of the inboard bearing with the annular seal being held against the first axial face and the annular seal being pneumatically urged against the second axial face with an axial pneumatic pressure that increases with the rotational speed of the turbine wheel, the annular seal includes an upstream surface that faces toward the turbine wheel, the annular seal includes an inner periphery that defines a radial clearance adjacent thereto.