Abstract:
A spray gun assembly for spraying paint or similar viscous media includes a gun housing provided with a handle, and a reservoir tank removably attached to the gun housing, the reservoir tank being a storage container adapted for removable attachment to the spray gun housing and comprising a paint can or a paint bag. The storage container is directly secured to a projection extending from the gun housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/702,855, filed Feb. 6, 2007 in the names of Alfred Wiring, Hermann Probst, Elmar Krayer and Jens Ulbrich. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a spray gun assembly for spraying paints and similar viscous media that can be propelled pneumatically or electrically, the assembly comprising a gun housing for accommodating a propulsion mechanism, components of the spray gun being adapted for effecting mixture and/or metering, a handle projecting from the gun housing, and a reservoir tank removably attached to the gun housing for holding the medium to be processed, with means for introducing the medium from the reservoir tank into the gun housing of the spray gun. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Spray gun assemblies of this type have been described in numerous different configurations and have also proven their effectiveness in practice. In order to enable a medium to be processed with such spray guns, it is necessary to remove the reservoir tank from the gun housing and to fill it. This procedure is time-consuming, and the paint or other medium can easily be spilled. Furthermore, it is often essential to carry out extensive cleaning work when changing the medium to be processed, and this also takes time. However, the principal disadvantage of these spray guns is that the viscosity of the medium put into the reservoir tank has to be adapted to the particular design configurations of the spraying device by means of which the medium is to be sprayed. This requires expert knowledge and skill. Frequently, it is not possible to achieve an optimum working method with spray guns of the prior art. 
         [0006]    The purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a spray gun of the aforementioned type that enables reservoir tanks of different configurations to be reliably attached to it straightforwardly and within a short period of time, such tanks being filled with a medium that is adapted to the spray gun to be used and/or the work to be undertaken, such that it is possible to process the material immediately after the reservoir tank has been attached to the gun housing. Accordingly, setup times are practically eliminated, and it should not be necessary to undertake any cleaning work; instead, it should be possible simply to remove one reservoir tank after a working step and to seal it. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide in a spray gun assembly of the aforementioned type wherein the reservoir tank is configured as a storage container that is adapted to the spray gun and adjusted to it, in particular in the form of a special paint can or paint bag, and wherein the storage container is attached directly to a projection that is preferably configured as a cover or plate that is connected to the gun housing and/or to the gun handle by a web, or can be attached to the gun projection by means of clamping elements supported against the projection. 
         [0008]    In a simple embodiment, the storage container can be configured in the form of a metallic paint can which can be screwed directly into a thread provided in the projection by means of a thread on an edge area of the can facing a projection opening. 
         [0009]    According to a further embodiment, an end area of the storage container facing the projection is provided with a radially projecting collar, the projection having a thread, and a clamping element configured as a clamping ring provided for clamping the storage container onto the projection, by pressing the clamping element against the projection and/or a seal inserted therein, either directly or by means of clamping arms projecting radially inwards acting on the collar. 
         [0010]    The clamping element provided for clamping the storage container can also be configured as a hollow body for accommodating the storage container. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a further embodiment, provision is made for the storage container to have a riser pipe, preferably arranged centrally and inserted in a recess formed in the base of the storage container, the riser pipe being directly formed onto the closing cap of the storage container and into which a riser pipe of the spray gun can be inserted when the storage container is connected, in which case the storage container may provided with one or more mixing bodies loosely inserted into it. 
         [0012]    In order to compensate for the differing heights of storage containers, it is appropriate for one or more clip-on legs to be provided, by means of which the support surface of the storage container can be adapted to the support surface of the handle, although it is also possible to adjust the height of the storage container to the support surface of the handle, or to change the position of the handle so that the support surfaces of the storage container and of the handle extend in one plane. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the reservoir tank can be composed of a flexibly deformable bag made from an elastic synthetic material, and the storage container is provided with a sturdy flat termination flange at its end facing the projection of the gun housing, such that the bag can be inserted in a support element that can be screwed into a thread provided in the projection by means of a thread provided in the upper end area of the support element, with the possibility of clamping a projecting edge of the terminating flange in between the support element and the projection. 
         [0014]    In a spray gun actuated by compressed air, it is appropriate for the interior of the bag and/or the space between the support element and the bag to be connected by separate ducts to an air guidance duct in the gun housing of the spray gun, so that air pressure supplies the medium to be processed to the gun housing. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, it is advantageous for the length of the riser pipe to be adapted to the height of the storage container, for example by means of projections or intermediate pieces, and for each storage container to be supported on the projection by a plate-shaped seal provided with at least one circumferential sealing lip protruding in the direction of the storage container and which makes contact internally against the edge of the opening of a storage container. 
         [0016]    If a spray gun is configured in accordance with the present invention, it is possible for commercially available storage containers of widely different shapes and dimensions to be attached straightforwardly and in a very short time to the gun housing, in which case the containers can contain a medium that is ready for immediate processing. Preparatory measures, such as adjusting the viscosity, are consequently no longer required, rather, the medium to be processed can be optimally adapted to the particular working implement and application during the manufacture of a paint. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, it is beneficial that, when the spray gun configured in accordance with the present invention is used, there is scarcely any need for transferring the medium to be processed from one container to another, or any need for cleaning work. This is because the storage container can easily be removed from the gun housing following completion of a working procedure and, if necessary, sealed with the original cap, or disposed of. This means there are hardly any setup times. By offering straightforward handling in this manner, the processing of media with different consistencies is facilitated to a considerable extent without requiring additional work. 
         [0018]    The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular devices embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The drawings show a spray gun assembly configured in accordance with the present invention, with variously configured reservoir tanks, some of which are attached in different manners. In the drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of the spray gun in a partial section with a storage container screwed onto it as a reservoir tank; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a storage container attached to it by a clamping ring; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a storage container inserted into a hollow body; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a screwed-on storage container provided with a riser pipe; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  shows the spray gun and container of  FIG. 4  separated from each other; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a storage container attached by a clamping ring; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  shows the clamping ring of  FIG. 5  in a perspective view; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a screwed-on storage container provided with a leg; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a handle that is telescopically adjustable in length, and differently configured, screwed-on storage containers; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8A  shows the handle portion of the spray gun of  FIG. 8  telescopically shortened for use in conjunction with a shorter container; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a storage container configured as an elastic bag; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  shows the spray gun in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a storage container that is also configured as a bag; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 10A  shows the spray gun and container of  FIG. 10  separated from each other. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    The spray gun assembly  1 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is used for spraying paints and is similar viscous media and principally consists of a gun housing  2  for accommodating the components that are required for operating the spay gun assembly  1 , a handle  3  projecting from the gun housing  2 , and a reservoir tank  21  for holding the medium to be processed. An actuating lever  5  in a swivelling mounting is provided in order to trigger a spraying operation which, when it is moved, ejects the medium sucked out of the reservoir tank  21  mixed with air out of a nozzle  4  by means of compressed air supplied via a pressure line  7 . An adjusting nut  6  enables the intensity of the spray jet ejected from the nozzle  4  to be adjusted. The actuating lever  5  also enables different types of propulsion systems for the spray gun assembly  1  to be operated, for example, switching on an electrical swivelling armature pump or a blower. 
         [0034]    The reservoir tank  21  is arranged on the underside of the gun housing  2  at the level of the handle  3  in the illustrated embodiment. However, the handle can also be arranged above (not shown) and attached to the gun housing  2  so that the medium to be sprayed is supplied to the spray gun by gravity. The tank  21  comprises a storage container adapted and adjusted to the spray gun  2  in the form of a paint can  22  attached directly to the gun housing  2  of the spray gun. To make this possible, a projection  11  is formed onto the gun housing  2  that is configured as a U-shaped cover  12  and is held onto the gun housing  2 , or handle  3 , by means of two webs  13  and  14 . A female thread  15  is worked into the projection  11  and the paint can  22  is provided with a male thread  24  in the area of the can facing a can opening  23 ′, so that the can  22  can be securely attached to the projection  11  directly. 
         [0035]    When the opened can  22  is screwed in, a riser pipe  9  projecting from the projection  11  is introduced into the opening  23 ′ after a cap  23  has been removed, by means of which opening  23 ′ the medium to be processed is sucked into a duct  8  by the air flowing into the gun housing  2 , the duct  8  emerging in the inside of the gun housing  2 . The paint can  22  filled with a medium prepared in an appropriate manner, can therefore easily be attached to the projection  11 . A seal  25  inserted between the projection  11  and the cap  23  of the paint can  22 , having an opening  25 ′ for a riser pipe  9 , thereby guarantees that the paint can  22  is connected to the spray gun  1  with a liquid-tight seal. 
         [0036]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the reservoir tank  21 ′ that is also configured as a paint can  22  is attached to the projection  11  by means of a clamping element  31  that is configured as a clamping ring  32 . The clamping ring  32  is provided with a male thread  33  for this purpose and acts on a radially projecting collar  28  of the paint can  22  so that the paint can  22  is pressed against the seal  25  inserted into the projection  11  by virtue of the fact that the clamping ring  32  is screwed onto the projection  11 . 
         [0037]    In accordance with  FIG. 3 , the clamping ring  32  of the clamping element  31  is provided with a hollow body  35  into which the reservoir tank  21 ′ is inserted. The hollow body  35  in this case is adapted to the handle  3  of the spray gun  2  so that their support surfaces run in one plane. The spray gun assembly  1  can therefore be put down securely. 
         [0038]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , a reservoir tank  41  in the form of a closed paint can  42  is attached to the projection  11 . For this purpose, the paint can  42  is equipped with a male thread  45  in the area of the formed cap  44  and this male thread  45  is screwed into the female thread  15  of the projection  11 . In addition, the cap  44  of the paint can  42  has a centrally arranged opening  48  that is sealed during transport, for example by a plastic foil, and is penetrated by a riser pipe  9 ′ projecting from the projection  11  when the paint can  42  is connected. When the paint can  42  is attached, the interacting threads  15  and  45  press it against the seal  25 . 
         [0039]    The paint can  42  is additionally provided with a riser pipe  47  as an extension of the opening  48 , the riser pipe  47  projecting into a recess  46  formed into the base  40  of the paint can  42 . In addition, mixing bodies  50  are inserted into the paint can  42  by means of which the medium in the paint can  42  can be mixed by shaking the paint can  42  before it is screwed onto the projection  11 . 
         [0040]    The supply of medium to be processed from the paint can  42  is assisted by the compressed air pressure that is applied to the medium. This is because compressed air can enter the paint can  42  by means of a duct  16  disposed in the web  13 , a process which involves the compressed air passing into the inside of the paint can  42  through an opening  25 ′ in the seal  25  and through one or more apertures  49  in the cap  44 . The pressurisation of the medium in the paint can  42  means that the medium is forced into the riser pipe  9 ′ and, through this, into the gun housing  2 . 
         [0041]    To enable paint cans with diameters that are not adapted to the projection  11  to be clamped onto it nevertheless, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the clamping element  31 , configured as the clamping ring  32 , is equipped with spring-loaded clamping arms  34  projecting radially inwards that act on the knurled edge area of the paint can  22 . The clamping arms  34  can deflect outwards, depending on the diameter of the paint can  22 , whilst, nevertheless, the paint can  22  is always clamped on securely by the clamping ring  32  that has the male thread  33  and is screwed into the projection  11 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the paint can  22  provided as a reservoir tank  21 , has a support  30  that extends vertically in a manner that is adapted to the paint can  22 . In this way, the support surfaces of the spray gun assembly  1  in the area of the reservoir tank  21  and of the handle  3  run in the same plane. In addition, the riser pipe  9  is equipped with an elastically deformable intermediate portion  10  so that the riser pipe  9  can also be adapted to the size of whichever spray can  22  is screwed on. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the seal  25  can be provided with sealing lips  26  that make contact on the inside with the opening  25 ′ in the cap  23  of the paint can  22 . In this way, a reliable seal is guaranteed. 
         [0043]    In order to ensure that the spray gun  1  stands securely, even with paint cans  22  and  22 ′ of differing heights, the sample embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 and 8A  has the handle  3  of the spray gun  1  provided with an insert  3 ′ that can be locked on the handle  3  in different height positions in accordance with the height of the drawn paint cans  22  and  22 ′, e.g. with the help of a spring detent  17 . 
         [0044]    In accordance with the depictions in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an elastically deformable paint bag  52  is provided as the reservoir tank  51 . The top end of the paint bag  52  is equipped with a flat, rigid flange  53  made from metal or plastic, with radially projecting edges  54 . 
         [0045]    The paint bag  52  is secured to the projection  11  by means of a pot-shaped container  56  that is provided with a male thread  57 . Screwing the container  56  into the projection  11  causes the flange  53  of the paint bag  52  to be clamped and pressed against the projection  11 . 
         [0046]    To supply the medium contained in the paint bag  52  to the spray gun  1 , the medium stored in the paint bag  52  is pressurised by compressed air in accordance with  FIG. 9 . The compressed airs flows from the gun housing  2  into the interior  58  of the paint bag  52  through the duct  16  provided in the web  13  and a passage opening  55  worked into the flange  53 . In the sample embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , on the other hand, a space  59  between the container  56  and the paint bag  52  is pressurised by compressed air that is able to enter the space  59  through the passage opening  55  formed in the flange  53 . The pressure applied to the medium in the paint bag  52  or to the bag  52  itself means that the medium is forced into the gun housing  2  and can then be processed by means of the spray gun assembly  1 . 
         [0047]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.