Easily removable filter bowl for paint spray guns

A filter bowl and filter cover assembly is provided wherein the filter bowl is adapted to be easily mounted upon and removed from the filter cover by a plurality of bolt fasteners as a result of the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl to the filter cover, being loosened to a predetermined degree and rotating the filter bowl relative to the filter housing in a clockwise direction so as to permit the head portions of the bolt fasteners to pass through key-hole shaped apertures formed within the filter cover. The filter bowl is able to likewise be easily and quickly re-installed upon the filter cover as a result of a reversal of the aforenoted removal procedures.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to paint spray guns for painting substrates, and more particularly to a new and improved filter bowl and filter cover assembly wherein the filter bowl or housing is adapted to be easily mounted upon and removed from the filter cover. A filter container assembly is disposed within the filter bowl or housing and comprises an internally disposed filter element for filtering the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun in order to ensure that undesirable dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, are not entrained with the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun whereby such dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, would obviously foul the paint and mar the finish of the substrate being painted. The filter bowl or housing is adapted to be secured upon the filter cover by means of a plurality of bolt fasteners, and the filter cover is, in turn, adapted to be fixedly mounted upon a suitable support surface, such as, for example, a wall member, by means of an integral mounting bracket which is fixedly secured to the wall member by additional bolt fasteners. The filter bowl or housing is able to be easily and quickly removed or disengaged from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket as a result of the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, being loosened to a predetermined degree so as to permit the head portions of such bolt fasteners to effectively be disengaged from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket. When the filter bowl or housing has been removed or disengaged from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, remain engaged with or mounted upon the filter bowl or housing so as not to become separated therefrom and thereby possibly become lost. The filter bowl or housing is able to likewise be easily and quickly re-installed or remounted upon the combination filter cover and mounting bracket as a result of a reversal of the aforenoted removal or disengagement procedures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paint spraying operations, comprising the use of paint spray guns, normally require the use of compressed air to effectively entrain paint therewith to be sprayed onto, for example, a suitable substrate to be painted. The compressed air needs to be filtered so as to effectively ensure that undesirable dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, are not entrained with the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun whereby such dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, would obviously foul the paint and mar the finish of the painted substrate. The compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun is normally filtered by means of a suitable filter element which is an integral part of a filter canister that is normally disposed within a filter bowl or housing. The filter bowl or housing is normally removably mounted upon a filter cover, and the filter cover is operatively connected to a mounting bracket which is fixedly mounted upon a suitable support surface, such as, for example, a wall member. The filter element needs to be frequently changed or replaced, and therefore, access to the filter element requires removal of the filter bowl or housing from the filter cover. Conventionally, the filter bowl or housing is mounted upon the filter cover by several different means or structural assemblies.

A first means or structural assembly for mounting the filter bowl or housing upon its filter cover comprises the use of a plurality of bolt fasteners or screws. The operative advantage of such a structural assembly is that since the bolt fasteners or screws require a tool, such as, for example, a screw driver or the like, to remove the bolt fasteners or screws from the filter cover, the filter bowl is fixedly attached to, and securely mounted upon, the filter cover so as not to be subjected to inadvertent, accidental, or un-authorized removal or disengagement therefrom. Conversely, however, the operative disadvantage of such a structural assembly resides in the fact that the bolt fasteners or screws must be completely removed or disengaged from the filter cover in order to, in turn, permit the filter bowl or housing to be removed from the filter cover in order to thereby permit maintenance personnel to in fact gain access to the filter element disposed internally within the filter bowl or housing. Accordingly, the disassembly and re-assembly process, to be performed upon this structural assembly, is quite time-consuming and tedious. A second conventional means or structural assembly for mounting the filter bowl or housing upon its filter cover comprises the use of a quick-release ring which, in fact, is released by means of a suitable latch mechanism, however, since the latch mechanism can be inadvertently or accidentally actuated, this structural assembly is not desirable from a system operational security or integrity point of view. A third conventional means or structural assembly for mounting the filter bowl or housing upon its filter cover comprises the use of an internally threaded retaining ring which may be mounted, for example, upon the filter bowl or housing and which is adapted to be threadedly engaged with an externally threaded portion of the filter cover, or alternatively, the use of an internally threaded retaining ring that may be mounted, for example, upon the filter cover and which is adapted to be threadedly engaged with an externally threaded portion of the filter bowl or housing. In either case, the disassembly and re-assembly procedures are, again, quite time-consuming and tedious.

A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved structural system for operatively connecting and mounting a filter bowl or housing upon a filter cover of a filter assembly such that the filter bowl or housing may be easily and quickly removed from, and mounted upon, the filter cover without exhibiting the operational disadvantages characteristic of the prior art or conventional filter bowl or housing mounting systems or structural assemblies. More particularly, a need exists in the art for a new and improved structural system for operatively connecting and mounting a filter bowl or housing upon a filter cover of a filter assembly wherein the filter bowl or housing may be easily and quickly removed from, and mounted upon, the filter cover, wherein the filter bowl or housing can only be removed from the filter cover in a conscious manner so as to effectively prevent the accidental or inadvertent removal of the filter bowl or housing from the filter cover, and wherein, when the filter bowl or housing is removed from the filter cover, the bolt fasteners or screws, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the filter cover, will remain engaged with the filter bowl or housing so as not to thereby be separated therefrom and possibly become lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved system or assembly, for mounting a filter bowl or housing upon a filter housing, wherein the filter bowl or housing has a filter container assembly disposed therewithin and which comprises a filter element for filtering compressed air being supplied to a paint spray gun in order to ensure that undesirable dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, are not entrained with the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun whereby such dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, would obviously foul the paint and mar the finish of the painted substrate. The filter bowl or housing is adapted to be secured upon the filter cover by means of a plurality of bolt fasteners, and the filter cover is, in turn, adapted to be fixedly mounted upon a suitable support surface, such as, for example, a wall member, by means of a mounting bracket which is integral with the filter cover and which is adapted to be fixedly secured to the wall member by additional bolt fasteners. The filter cover has a substantially square-shaped configuration and is provided with, for example, four through-bores or apertures within each one of the corner regions thereof.

Each one of the through-bores or apertures has a substantially key-hole shaped configuration wherein the head portion of each one of the bolt fasteners or screws is initially passed through the enlarged circular portion of a respective one of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures so as to effectively be disposed above the enlarged circular portion of the key-hole shaped through-bore or aperture. Accordingly, upon relative rotation of the filter bowl or housing with respect to the filter cover, the shank portions of the bolt fasteners or screws will move or pass into the relatively narrow slot portions of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures. The ends of the relatively narrow slot portions of each one of the key-hole shaped throughbores or apertures have enlarged portions which have counter-bored portions defining substantially radially inwardly extending vertically recessed C-shaped ledges or flanged portions, and consequently, upon lowering the filter bowl with respect to the filter cover, the heads of the bolt fasteners or screws will effectively be lowered and seated upon the flanged or ledge portions of the enlarged counterbored portions so as not to be able to pass back through the key-hole shaped through-bores or holes. Upon tightening of the bolt fasteners or screws, the filter bowl is therefore fixedly secured upon the combination filter cover and mounting bracket.

In order to remove the filter bowl from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, the reverse procedure is effectively implemented. More particularly, the bolt fasteners or screws are simply loosened predetermined degrees or amounts, and the filter bowl is moved upwardly so as to effectively disengage the enlarged head portions of the bolt fasteners or screws from their seated positions upon the vertically recessed radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portions of the enlarged counterbored portions of the filter cover. When the filter bowl is then subsequently rotated in the opposite direction, the enlarged head portions of the bolt fasteners or screws will now effectively be aligned with the enlarged circular portions of the key-hole shaped through bores or apertures formed within the filter cover whereby the enlarged head portions of the bolt fasteners or screws can pass back through the enlarged circular portions of the key-shaped through-bores or apertures of the filter cover so as to permit the filter bowl to be lowered and removed or disengaged from the filter cover in an easy and quick manner. It is to be appreciated that when the filter bowl or housing is removed from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket, remain engaged with or mounted upon the filter bowl or housing so as not to become separated therefrom and thereby possibly become lost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1-7thereof, a new and improved filter bowl and filter cover assembly, as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character100. The filter bowl and filter cover assembly100is adapted to be used for filtering incoming compressed air that is being supplied to, for example, a paint spray gun in order to ensure that undesirable dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, are not entrained with the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun whereby such dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, would obviously foul the paint and mar the finish of the substrate being painted. More particularly, it is seen that the new and improved filter bowl and filter cover assembly100comprises a filter bowl or housing102within which there is disposed a filter container104, as illustrated or seen withinFIG. 2, within which, in turn, there is disposed a filter element, not shown, for filtering the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun in order to ensure that undesirable dust, debris, contaminants, or the like are not entrained with the compressed air being supplied to the paint spray gun whereby such dust, debris, contaminants, or the like, would obviously foul the paint and mar the finish of the substrate being painted.

The filter bowl and filter cover assembly100further comprises a filter cover106to which the filter bowl or housing102is adapted to be removably attached, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter, and it is to be appreciated that the filter container104is fixedly secured to an undersurface portion of the filter cover106by means of a wing nut105which is adapted to be threadedly secured upon the lower end portion of an externally threaded shaft107fixedly connected to the filter cover106and passing through the filter container104. In addition, it is also to be appreciated that the filter cover106is adapted to be disposed within a horizontal mode or within a horizontally oriented plane such that when the filter bowl or housing102is attached thereto, the filter bowl or housing102will, in effect, be suspended or depend downwardly from the filter cover106. It is also seen that the filter cover104is integrally connected to, for example, a vertically oriented mounting racket108, and that the vertically oriented mounting bracket108is provided with, for example, a pair of apertures or through bores110for receiving or accommodating suitable bolt fasteners or screws, not shown. In this manner, the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108can be fixedly secured to a suitable support surface, such as, for example, a vertically oriented wall member, not shown.

As can best be appreciated fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the filter cover106may be provided with a plurality of different compressed air inlet and outlet ports, such as, for example, air inlet ports112,114and air outlet ports116,118, however, only one air inlet port and one air outlet port will be used at a particular time. The inlet and outlet ports112,114,116,118are internally threaded so as to be threadedly connected to, for example, a compressed air inlet connector which provides a supply of compressed air from a suitable compressed air supply source, not shown, and a compressed air outlet connector which is adapted to conduct the compressed air to, for example, the paint spray gun. Accordingly, when the other inlet or outlet port is not being used, suitable externally threaded plugs120,122will, for example, be threadedly mated with, and disposed within, the non-used inlet or outlet port as illustrated, for example, withinFIGS. 3 and 4. In accordance with the particular filter cover106disclosed withinFIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the plug122has actually been threadedly disposed within the air outlet port116, and that, as illustrated withinFIG. 1, a compressed air inlet connector124, having a shut-off valve mechanism126operatively associated therewith, has been operatively connected to the air inlet port114, while a compressed air outlet connector128, having a compressed air regulator and pressure gauge assembly130operatively associated therewith, has been operatively connected to the air outlet port118. Still yet further, as can be seen from the particular filter cover106illustrated withinFIG. 5, the air inlet port112has effectively been eliminated, and still alternatively, as can be seen from the particular filter cover106illustrated withinFIG. 6, the air inlet port112has effectively been replaced by means of a receptacle132for storing, for example, a suitable tool, such as, for example, an Allen wrench, for a purpose to be explained more fully hereinafter.

Continuing further, and as can best be seen or appreciated fromFIGS. 3-6, the filter cover106is seen to have a substantially square-shaped configuration, although, of course, as can also be seen or appreciated, the corner regions thereof are effectively substantially rounded or radiused. In addition, as can best be seen or appreciated fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the filter bowl or housing102is provided with a plurality of bolt fasteners or screws134, such as, for example, four bolt fasteners or screws134, only two of which are visible withinFIG. 4, although all four of the bolt fasteners or screws134are visible at their mounted positions withinFIG. 3. More particularly, it is seen that each one of the bolt fasteners or screws134comprises an externally threaded shank portion136having a relatively small diametrical extent, and a head portion138having a relatively large diametrical extent. In addition, it is seen that the filter cover106is correspondingly provided with four substantially key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140which, in turn, comprise relatively large substantially circular portions142and relatively narrow elongated slot portions144, as can best be seen inFIGS. 3-6. Still yet further, as can best be seen within or appreciated fromFIGS. 4-7, each one of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140is also provided with relatively enlarged counterbored regions146which are disposed opposite the enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140. Each one of the enlarged counterbored regions146has a diametrical extent similar to that of each one of the enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140so as to likewise accommodate the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134, however, it is also seen that each one of the enlarged counterbored regions146has operatively associated therewith a substantially C-shaped radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portion148which is located at a vertically recessed position due to the counterbored structure. It is therefore to be appreciated that these vertically recessed, radially inwardly extending ledge or flanged portions148effectively serve as vertically recessed seats within which the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134can be seated when in fact that filter bowl or housing102is fixedly attached to the filter cover106.

Having described substantially all of the structural components comprising the new and improved filter bowl and filter cover assembly100, as has been constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, the removal or disengagement of the filter bowl or housing102from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, as well as the installation or remounting of the filter bowl or housing102onto the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108will now be described. With reference being made, for example, toFIG. 3, the filter bowl or housing102is illustrated as being fully or completely installed or mounted in a fixed manner upon the combination filter cover and mounting bracket106,108. Accordingly, it is seen that the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134are disposed within the relatively enlarged counterbored regions146and are actually seated upon the vertically recessed substantially C-shaped radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portions148. Therefore, when in fact the filter bowl or housing102is desired to be removed or disengaged from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, the bolt fasteners or screws134will be loosened to a predetermined degree or amount whereby, in effect, the filter bowl or housing102will be loosely hanging or suspended beneath the filter cover106to a predetermined degree.

The filter bowl or housing102may then be moved or pushed vertically upwardly so as to permit the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134to effectively be removed, disengaged, or unseated from the vertically recessed substantially C-shaped radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portions148defined within the filter cover106and thereby be disposed within the upper regions of the relatively enlarged counterbored regions146defined within the filter cover104. The depth of the vertically recessed substantially C-shaped radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portions148with respect or relative to, for example, the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140can be more specifically appreciated fromFIG. 7wherein, for example, the difference in the depth dimensions, or in other words, the vertical distance that the vertically recessed substantially C-shaped radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge portions148are located below the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140, is denoted as D and may comprise, for example, approximately 0.045 of an inch (0.045″). Subsequently, the filter bowl or housing102may now be rotated in the clockwise direction, relative to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108as directionally viewed in either one ofFIGS. 3-6, whereby the relatively small or narrow shank portions136of the bolt fasteners134will be able to move through the relatively narrow elongated slot portions144of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140and in this manner permit the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134to now be effectively aligned with the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140.

It is to be appreciated that unless the filter bowl102is in fact initially moved vertically upwardly within the relatively enlarged counterbored regions146defined within the filter cover104prior to, for example, the clockwise rotation of the filter bowl or housing102relative to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, as has been previously noted, the clockwise rotation of the filter bowl or housing102will not in fact be able to be accomplished due to the fact that the head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134will still, in effect, be seated upon their flanged or ledge seat portions or members148and will engage, in effect, shoulder portions150which effectively separate the enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped through-bores or apertures140and the enlarged counterbored regions146. This structural arrangement therefore effectively comprises a safety locking system to the effect that the filer bowl or housing102does not simply drop away or be inadvertently disengaged from the filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108and that a conscious effort and procedure must be implemented in order to in fact remove or disengage the filter bowl or housing102from the filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108.

Once the filter bowl or housing102has in fact, however, been moved vertically upwardly so as to in fact permit the head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134to in fact clear the aforenoted shoulder portions150, and once the filter bowl or housing102has been rotated in the aforenoted clockwise direction, the filter bowl or housing102may now be totally dismounted, disengaged, and removed from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108as a result of the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134passing through the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140.Accordingly, free access to the filter element or the filter container104, disposed within the filter bowl or housing102, is now permitted so as to, in turn, permit the replacement of the filter element, not illustrated, disposed within the filter container104. It is to be appreciated further, as can best be seen inFIG. 4, that when the filter bowl or housing102has in fact been totally dismounted, disengaged, and removed from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, the bolt fasteners or screws134remain engaged with, attached to, or mounted upon the filter bowl or housing102so as not to be separated therefrom and thereby possibly become lost.

Continuing further, and conversely, when the old filter container104, having the old filter element disposed therein, has been replaced with a new filter container104having a new filter element disposed therein, the filter bowl or housing102is now ready to be remounted upon the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108by means of procedures which are effectively the reverse of the procedures previously effectuated to disengage, dismount, or remove the filter bowl or housing102from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108. More particularly, for example, the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134are aligned with and inserted through the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140such that the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134will be disposed vertically above the relatively enlarged circular portions142of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140. The filter bowl or housing102is then rotated, relative to the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, in the counterclockwise direction so as to permit the relatively narrow shank portions136of the bolt fasteners or screws134to pass through the relatively narrow slot portions144of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140until the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134are effectively aligned with and disposed above the relatively enlarged counterbored portions146of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140. The filter bowl or housing102is then vertically lowered so as to in fact permit the relatively enlarged head portions138of the bolt fasteners or screws134to in fact be seated within the counterbored portions146of the key-hole shaped bores or apertures140and upon the recessed radially inwardly extending flanged or ledge seat portions148. Finally, while the filter bowl or housing102is effectively hanging or suspended from the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108, the bolt fasteners or screws134may be tightened so as to in fact tightly and securely fasten the filter bowl or housing102onto the combination filter cover and mounting bracket assembly106,108.

Thus, it may be seen and appreciated that in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention, there has been provided a new and improved filter bowl and filter cover assembly wherein the filter bowl or housing is adapted to be easily mounted upon and removed from the filter cover. The filter bowl or housing is adapted to be secured upon the filter cover by means of a plurality of bolt fasteners, and the filter bowl or housing is able to be easily and quickly removed or disengaged from the filter cover as a result of the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the filter cover, being loosened to a predetermined degree so as to permit the head portions of such bolt fasteners to effectively be disengaged from the filter cover as a result of the filter bowl or housing being rotated relative to the filter cover so as to permit the head portions of the bolt fasteners or screws to pass through key-hole shaped through-bores or holes formed within the filter cover. When the filter bowl or housing has been removed or disengaged from the filter cover, the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl or housing to the filter cover, remain engaged with or mounted upon the filter bowl or housing so as not to become separated therefrom and thereby possibly become lost. The filter bowl or housing is able to likewise be easily and quickly re-installed or remounted upon the filter cover as a result of a reversal of the aforenoted removal or disengagement procedures.