Dampening mechanisms for compound applicator

A dampening mechanism in combination with a compound applicator. The combination includes a compound applicator which further includes an incrementally iterative advancement mechanism for urging a plunger along a tube reservoir in preselected incremental strokes. The plunger urges compound along the tube reservoir and out through an applicator head. The compound applicator includes a device for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir during an incremental stroke of the plunger.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concept relates to compound applicators and more particularly relates to dampening mechanisms used in compound applicators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Manual compound applicators normally utilize a trigger actuated advancement mechanism which pushes a push rod down a tubular reservoir which moves a plunger along the inside diameter of the tubular reservoir which in turn urges the compound housed within the tubular reservoir out through an exit end of the compound applicator.

By its very nature the advancement mechanism which is manually actuated creates pressure spikes within the tubular reservoir wherein the pressure is greatest when the trigger is first actuated and normally the pressure slowly decreases as one approaches the end of the trigger stroke.

These pressure fluctuations translate into variations in the quantity of material which is being ejected out of the end of the compound applicator thereby resulting in non-uniform distribution of the compound material that is being ejected out of the compound applicator.

There is a need for a compound applicator which minimizes the pressure fluctuations within the tubular reservoir thereby resulting in a more uniform distribution of material being ejected out of the compound applicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present concept is damping mechanisms in a compound applicator, the compound applicator including an incrementally iterative manual advancement mechanism for urging a plunger along a tube reservoir in preselected incremental strokes, and an applicator head communicating with the tube reservoir and distributing the compound.

One such damping mechanism relates to the plunger which further includes a piston which includes a means for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir at the beginning of an incremental stroke of the piston.

Preferably wherein the dampening means includes a diaphragm mounted to the plunger which is moveable between a high pressure position and a low pressure position.

As an alternative to the plunger with a damping means described above, another damping mechanism relates to the applicator head which further includes a pressure control connector which includes a means for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir at the beginning of the incremental stroke of the piston and travelling down the tube reservoir.

Preferably wherein the dampening means includes one or more diaphragms mounted to the applicator head which is movable between a high pressure and low pressure position.

A dampening mechanism in combination with a compound applicator, the combination comprises:a) a compound applicator which includes an incrementally iterative advancement mechanism for urging a plunger along a tube reservoir in preselected incremental strokes, the plunger urging compound along the tube reservoir and out through an applicator head;b) the compound applicator includes a means for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir during an incremental stroke of the plunger.

Preferably wherein the dampening means is mounted outside of the tube reservoir.

Preferably wherein the dampening means includes a resiliently deformable diaphragm with one side exposed to atmosphere and the other side exposed to the compound such that a pressure spike in the compound resiliently deforms the diaphragm thereby reducing the pressure spike in the compound.

Preferably further includes a pressure control connector for connecting the tube reservoir to an applicator head body and channelling compound from the reservoir to the body, the connector includes a hollow transverse section dimensioned to fit in a socket defined in the body, wherein at least one distal end of the transverse section includes the diaphragm.

Preferably wherein the pressure control connector includes a hollow longitudinal section attached to a hollow transverse section.

Preferably wherein the connector pivots within the socket between a down position and an up position about a pivot axis.

Preferably wherein the connector includes a hollow cylindrical transverse section dimensioned to fit in a cylindrical socket wherein each distal end of the transverse section includes the diaphragm.

Preferably wherein the dampening means mounted inside of the tube reservoir.

Preferably wherein the plunger includes a piston which includes a means for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir during an incremental stroke of the piston.

Preferably wherein the dampening means includes a resiliently deformable diaphragm mounted to the piston, with one side exposed to atmosphere and the other side exposed to the compound such that a pressure spike created by an incremental stroke of the piston deforms the diaphragm thereby absorbing a portion of the pressure spike which reduces the pressure spike in the compound.

Preferably wherein the diaphragm moveable between a low pressure position and a high pressure position.

Preferably wherein the piston includes a mounting cup for receiving the diaphragm thereon forwardly of the piston.

Preferably wherein the mounting cup extending forwardly from a front face of the piston, the forward portion of the cup dimensioned to receive the diaphragm thereon.

Preferably wherein the diaphragm includes bellows sidewalls, and a top membrane.

Preferably wherein the piston further includes vents for communicating air into the mounting cup thereby exposing the back side of the diaphragm to atmospheric pressure.

Preferably wherein the compound applicator further includes an applicator head for dispensing compound, the head includes a diaphragm mounted therein with one side exposed to atmosphere and the other side exposed to the compound such that a pressure spike resiliently deforms the diaphragm thereby reducing the pressure spike in the compound

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first of all toFIG. 2which shows a compound applicator102which includes a plunger100housed within the inside diameter104of a tube reservoir106which also includes an outside diameter108.

Compound applicator102includes an incrementally iterative advancement mechanism110which includes a trigger112and a push rod114. Note advancement mechanism110is of the type which are known in the art wherein a push rod114which is connected internally inside a tube reservoir106to a plunger100. The advancement occurs iteratively usually in preselected incremental strokes of 1/32″ to over 2″ per iteration.

Compound applicator102also includes an applicator head128which has a receiver130and a receiver socket132for connecting connector124therein.

Referring now toFIG. 1which shows the details of plunger100which includes the following major components namely; piston150which includes a piston skirt152having outer surface154.

Piston150further includes a diaphragm mounting cup156which has mounted thereon a support ring158for fastening a diaphragm160thereto.

A gasket162sandwiched between support ring168and diaphragm mounting cup156seals off air reservoir164which is defined within the diaphragm mounting cup156and diaphragm160.

Piston150further includes a front face170and there is defined therein a groove172for housing an O-ring174and an outer ring176therein.

Plunger100further includes a vented disk178and a washer180which defines an air passageway182there between.

Referring now toFIG. 4which shows plunger100in a low pressure position200wherein diaphragm160has not been deformed, from its natural rest position shown inFIG. 4.

Diaphragm160is made out of an elastic material such as rubber or other elastic materials known in the art and normally when no pressure is applied to diaphragm160it is in low pressure position200as shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 5depicts pressure applied to the trigger112of advancement mechanism110such that pressure within tube reservoir106significantly increases at the beginning of the incremental stroke and in some instances may spike as diaphragm160attempts to urge compound120out of the exit end122of tube reservoir106.

The inward deformation of diaphragm160as shown inFIG. 5causes are within air reservoir164to escape through vent185and then through air passageway182which is defined between washer180and vented disc178.

Shown as airflow206is the air that is trapped within air reservoir164escaping out through vent185and also through air passageway182.

This deformation of diaphragm160relieves or reduces temporarily the pressure within the tube reservoir106as the initial inertia of moving compound120down through tube reservoir106is overcome.

Since diaphragm160is made of an elastic material it will tend to want to return back to the low pressure position200which is also the rest position of diaphragm160. Once again as diaphragm160moves from a high pressure position202to the low pressure position200air is drawn in through air passageway182and through vents185.

By carefully selecting the size of vents185and air passageway182one can selectively control the amount of damping that diaphragm160effectively will create during any pressure spike within tube reservoir106.

An alternate embodiment is shown inFIG. 6namely rather than including a diaphragm160, plunger210includes bellows212which includes side walls214.

Plunger includes bellows mounting cup216and is shown in a low pressure position220. Bellows212also includes a top membrane222.

Bellows212shown in the low pressure position220inFIG. 6and inFIG. 7is shown in the high pressure position250wherein the bellows side walls214collapse and also there is some defamation of bellows212.

Therefore pressure fluctuations can be minimized within tube reservoir106using bellows212in a similar manner as diaphragm160will tend to want to return to the rest position which in this case is a low pressure position shown as220inFIG. 6.

There are some other notable features of plunger100namely the piston skirts152have an outer surface154which slides against the inside diameter104of tube reservoir106. This helps in sealing compound120within tube reservoir106and prevents leakage past plunger100.

Additionally there is a groove172within piston150which includes an inner O-ring174and an outer O-ring176which seals against the inside diameter104of tube reservoir106.

Therefore plunger100has a dual sealing mechanism namely piston skirt152and outer ring174both of which make slideable contact against the inside diameter104of tube reservoir106.

Referring again toFIG. 5one will see that airflow206essentially is vented into and in behind plunger100which essentially is simply an air space found behind plunger100as it advances forward down tube reservoir106. The space in behind plunger100within tube reservoir106is normally vented to atmosphere.

Further Embodiment

An alternate embodiment of the present concept, damping mechanisms for compound applicators, is shown as a sub-component of a compound applicator400inFIGS. 9 to 10.

Referring toFIGS. 8 to 11, the major components of compound applicator400are as follows: applicator head402attached to a tube reservoir106which in turns is attached to an applicator gun501.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 to 10the applicator head is depicted and shown generally as402. The major components of the applicator head402are as follows: pressure control connector404, body406, front skid408, and adjustment mechanism110.

Pressure control connector404includes a means for dampening pressure spikes created in the tube reservoir106comprising: a hollow junction410, one or more diaphragms412and one or more support inserts414. The hollow junction410having a transverse section416, a longitudinal section418and an outlet420. The outlet420communicates with flow channel656shown inFIGS. 9 and 10.

Transverse section416has an inner connector diameter429, an outer connector diameter430and pivots about pivot axis450as shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7where the connector pivots between a down position600and an up position601respectively.

The transverse section416also has a right shoulder422and left shoulder424. Each shoulder has an internal diaphragm lip426having a groove428. The edge of the internal diaphragm lip426defines a circular aperture having a diameter smaller than the inner connector diameter429.

The diaphragm412includes a flange432and a resilient membrane434. The outer diameter of the flange432is substantially equal to the inner connector diameter429. The diameter of the membrane is the diaphragm diameter436. The flange432has a thickness433equal to half the difference between the inner connector diameter429and the diaphragm diameter436.

The support insert414has a hollow cylinder structure with openings on both circular faces. The end diameter of the support insert414is a frame diameter431sized substantially equal to the inner connector diameter429. The support insert414includes an external diaphragm seat438which is a recess corresponding to thickness433such that it may receive a portion of the flange432.

The diaphragm414is captivated within the transverse section416. The internal portion of the flange432is received by the inner diaphragm lip426and is secured within the groove428. The external portion of the flange432is received by the support insert414when the support insert414is set within the transverse section416. For greater clarity, the diaphragm412is secured by the internal diaphragm lip426, the external diaphragm seat438and the inner surface of the transverse section416of the hollow junction410.

Referring now toFIG. 11the applicator gun508of the compound applicator400includes an advancement mechanism110which includes a push rod114and a trigger122. Advancement mechanism110is described above and of the type known in the art used in for example caulking guns.

Tube reservoir106is attached to applicator gun501at cap132and is attached at exit end134threadably to collar440of applicator head402both shown inFIG. 8. For greater clarity, the pressure control connector404of the applicator head402is connected to tube reservoir106via collar440which includes threads442which are shown inFIG. 8.

Tube reservoir106not shown inFIG. 8however shown inFIGS. 12 to 15houses a plunger502which is attached to push rod114and is urged longitudinally down through tube reservoir106for the purpose of urging compound or other materials found within tube reservoir106out through exit end122. Referring now toFIG. 11the material found within tube reservoir106may be further contained within a flexible mudpack504.

FIG. 10shows the compound120which is forceably urged by plunger502out through flow channel656and ultimately to the drywall274.

Further Embodiment—In Use

Referring now toFIGS. 9 and 10the applicator head402is shown firstly in a low pressure position660inFIG. 9wherein the membrane434of diaphragm412captivated in the pressure control connector404has a profile445with minimal curvature. In this position the pressure of the compound120is substantially uniform throughout the pressure control connector404. The low pressure position660is the resting condition of the dampening mechanism.

FIG. 10shows the applicator head402in a high pressure position661. The high pressure position661results from the sudden urging of the push rod114in an outlet direction444by the applicator gun501not visible inFIG. 10but shown inFIG. 11. For greater clarity, the push rod114is coupled with the plunger501therefore the plunger is also urged in the outlet direction444by the applicator gun204.

This sudden urging creates a local high pressure perturbation in the compound120beginning at the plunger502and moving through the longitudinal section418in the outlet direction444. When the perturbation reaches the transverse section416the membrane434of the diaphragm412resiliently deforms to have a convex profile446temporarily enlarging to stabilize the pressure and ensure a substantially steady mass flow rate through the flow channel656.

Referring toFIGS. 9 to 11the reader will note that placing the pressure control connector404at the inlet of the body406makes the precise means of compound120storage in the tube reservoir106immaterial. For greater clarity, the compound120may for example be contained directly in the tube reservoir106or within a further enclosure such as a mudpack504.

It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.