FOAM DISPENSING GUN

Abstract: A foam dispensing gun of the type having a disposable nozzle (16, 116) for mixing and dispensing separate fluid components of a resin system. The nozzle is retained on the gun by a sliding breach (14, 114) which also pivotally supports a valve actuating trigger (18, 118) to be in an operative position when the breach (14, 114) is moved to retain a nozzle (16, 116) to the gun and disabled when the breach is moved to release the nozzle for reloading. The breach (114) and trigger (118) may be further arranged so that the trigger (118) is inoperative in the absence of a nozzle (116) on the gun.

Description: TITLE OF THE INVENTION FOAM DISPENSING GUN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for mixing and dispensing multi-component fluids and more particu¬ larly, it concerns foam dispensing guns adapted to be used with resin systems in which two or more fluid components, separately stored in pressurized vessels, are mixed and dispensed as settable foam: U.S. Patents No. 3,399,837, issued September 3, 1968 to C. E. Frick, No. 3,633,795 and No. 3,784,110, the lat.ter two having been issued respectively on January 11, 1972 and January 8, 1974 to William R. Brooks, disclose dispensing guns for urethane foam and the like in which separate fluid components are fed individually to the gun, passed .separately through controlled valve ports and brought into contact with each other only upon reaching a mixing chamber of a nozzle from which the mixed components are discharged as foam. In each instance, the nozzle of the gun is designed to be disposable in order to avoid the necessity for cleaning any part of the gun which comes into contact with mixed as distinguished from separate foam producing fluid components. As a result, the initial fluent characteristics of the foam producing components may be maintained without wastage even though use of the gun may be interrupted for time intervals of sufficient duration for the mixture to set in and plug the nozzle. In , other words, OMPI the gun is restored to a ready-to-use condition simply- by replacing a nozzle plugged by solidified or set foam. The fluid components of .the foam producing resin system used with dispensing guns exemplified by the disclo- sures of the aforementioned patents, are fed to the gun under pressures up to 250 psi. Because of the pressure drop at the gun nozzle, the rate of fluid component flow is easily controlled by a relatively simple trigger actuated valve arrangement. Back pressure exerted on the nozzle in use, however, requires that the replaceable nozzle be retained on the gun body with sufficient holding force to handle the pressures involved without accidental dislodgement of the nozzle from the gun. In the past, the provision of a suitably strong nozzle mount has involved compromise with avoidance of complex, expensive or cumbersome gun struc¬ ture. An additional and particularly acu ι te problem is presented in the design of such foaming guns due to the potential for accidental discharge of the fluid components when the nozzle is not in place on the gun. During the replacement.of a nozzle, for example, accidental operation of the trigger-controlled valve on the gun could result in a sudden release of both fluid components under _the pres¬ sures mentioned. The occurrence of such accidental dis- charge presents not only a safety hazard to the operator of the gun but also a source of potential damage to previously dispensed foam and the working environment in general. While safety devices have been proposed, they have generally required positive action on the part of the gun operator to place the gun in a "safe" condition. Thus, failure of the operator to take such action will result in the gun being left in an unsafe condition where accidental discharge of the unmixed fluid components might occur. O SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a foam dispensing gun is provided with a disposable nozzle mounting structure and integrated valve control trigger so that retention of the nozzle against component fluid pressure is assured and so that the control trigger is automatically disabled upon removal of a nozzle from the gun. These functional attributes are achieved very simply by a breach component slidable between positions of nozzle retention and nozzle release in a direction perpendicular to the direction ' of fluid component flow from the body of the gun to the nozzle. The valve control trigger is supported pivotally from the breach to be in an operative relationship with gun body carried valve stems when the breach is posi- tioned to retain a..nozzle. When the breach is retracted to release the nozzle for removal, however, the trigger jls pivoted to an inoperative position away from the valve stems and cannot be returned to the operative position without movement of the breach either to engage and retain a nozzle or to at least partially block the gun body ports through which the fluid components of the resin system are fed to the nozzle. A principal object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of an improved foam dispensing gun of the type adapted for use with disposable nozzles, which is highly effective in operation, which is capable of low-cost manufacture using a minimal number of easily formed and assembled components and which is inherently safe in use. Other objects and further scope of applicability will ^ΪJRE OMPI - 4 - become apparent from the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating an assembled foam dispensing gun in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the gun of Fig. 1 with components positioned to receive a nozzle; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; F g- 5 is an exploded perspective view illustra-ting cooperating components of the foam dispensing gun; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alter¬ native embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 6 with the nozzle removed and with movable components in one relative position; ' Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but depicting movable components in another relative position; and Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating components in the embodiment of Fig. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In Fig. 1 of the drawings, an embodiment of a foam dispensing gun of the present invention is shown to include a gun body 10 and a handle 12 to which the gun body 10 is securely fixed by suitable means (not shown) such as interlocking dovetail formations, bonding, threaded fas¬ teners or the like. Also, the handle and body may be integral. The gun body 10 supports a slidable breach 14 which, in turn, supports a disposable mixing nozzle 16 and a depending trigger 18 having a yoke 20 at its upper end for pivotal attachment to the sliding breach 14 by a pin 22. Although the structure of each of the components as well as the manner in which they cooperate during operation of the gun will be described in more detail below, it will be noted here that the gun body 10, the handle 12, the sliding breach 14 and the trigger 18 are unitary components formed of suitable synthetic resinous or plastic material shaped by injection molding techniques ^ ' ' The gun body 10, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, is shaped externally to provide a front surface 24 joining at right angles with a planar top surface 26. A lower or base portion 28 is necked down to join with the top of the handle 12. Extending longitudinally through the body 10 are a pair of bores 30 and counterbores 32 the latter opening at the front face 24 and defining with the bores 30 annular ledges 34. A pair of vertical ports 36 extend between the counterbores 32 and the top surface 26 of the gun body as shown in Fig. 4. Received within each of the counterbores 32 is a valve assembly including a generally cylindrical valve body 38 and a valve needle 40. The valve body 38 defines a rearwardly diverging tapered seat 42 against which the valve needle 40 seats to prevent passage of fluid in a direction from a barbed nipple portion 44 of the valve body through the seat 42 to radial valve discharge ports 46. The ports 46 open to a circular recess 48 defining with the counterbore 32 a discharge manifold located between a pair of 0-ring seals 50 acting between the valve body 38 and the counterbore 32. The valve needle 40- includes a stem 52 supported for axial movement in the valve body by an annular bushing 54. An O-ring seal 56 prevents passage of fluid from the region of the radial outlet ports 46 past the valve stem 52 and bushing 54. A valve seating spring 58 acts in compression between a press nut 60 at the outer end of the stem 62 and the bushing 54. Thus, in the absence of any external force, the valve needle 40 will be biased against the seat 42 or to a closed condition by the spring 58. The barbed nipple portion 44 of each of the valve bodies 38 extends within one of two hoses 62 which connect the valve body 10 in fluid communication with separate sources of foam producing fluid components (not shown) . The outside diameter of the hoses 62 is selected to fit slidably within the bores 30. The external diameter of the barbed nipple 44 is selected to fit within each of the hoses 62 and in a manner such that insertion of the valve body rearwardly of the gun body will result in the ends of the hoses 62 being seized between the barbed nipple portion 44 of the valve body 38 and the bores 30. Press fit within each of the ports 36 is a nozzle coupling nipple 64. Each of the nipples 64 is provided with a stop flange 66 to limit the extent to which the coupling nipples may be depressed within the ports 36. Also, the projecting or top end of the nipple 64 is provided with a tapered seat 68. The breach 14, as indicated, is a one piece plastic molding shaped to establish a pair of laterally spaced vertical wall portions 70 and 72 joined by trans- verse top, rear and bottom wall formations 74, 76 and 78, respectively, (Figs. 1 and 5) . These latter transverse walls extend from the rear of the breach 14 only partially along its length thus permitting the substantial forward portions of the walls 70 and 72 to project in open spaced relationship. At the bottom of each of the sidewalls 70 and 72 is an L-shaped rail 80 adapted to be received in one of a pair of complementing undercut or L-shaped grooves 82 formed in the top surface 26 of the gun body 10 as shown in Fig. 5. To facilitate assembly of the breach 14 with the body 10, the grooves 82 are open through the front surface 24 of the gun body 10 as shown in Fig. 5. After the rails 80 of the breach 14 are slid rearwardly into the slots 82, the coupling nipples 64 are inserted into the ports 36. As may be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the inserted nipples project past the bottom wall formation 78 to provide a front stop for limiting forward sliding movement of the breach relative to the gun body significantly beyond the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Rearward movement of the breach is restricted by the rear end of the L-shaped rails 80 striking the back of the slots 82 to achieve the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. OM Each of the sidewall portions 70 and 72 of the breach 14 are provided with front and ' rear cam slots 86 and 88, respectively. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the slots 86 and 88 are spaced to receive respective fore and aft lugs 90 and 92 projecting laterally from the nozzle 16. The nozzle 16, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is a generally cylindrical member from which the lugs 90 and 92 project diametrically. A chamfer 94 is formed at the top rear edge of the body of the nozzle and also a pair of nozzle inlet port nipples 96 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) project downwardly substantially in the plane of the rear lugs 92 in a manner to register with the coupling nipples 64 projecting upwardly from th ' e top surface 26 of the gun body 10. To assemble or load the nozzle 16 into an opera¬ tive position, the breach 14 is slid rearwardly to a nozzle release position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this position, the nozzle may be dropped downwardly so that the lugs 90 enter the forward opening of the cam slots 86 whereas the lugs 92 drop into the upper opening of the rear cam slots 88. A slight forward movement of the breach from the position shown in Fig. 2 will result in the inlet port nipples 96 on the nozzle 16 regi.stering with and engaging the coupling nipples 64 sufficiently at least to prevent further forward movement of the nozzle 16. Upon continued movement of the breach 14 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a nozzle retention position as shown in Fig. 1, the forward lugs 90 on the nozzle will undergo relative sliding movement in the cam slots 86 without substantial vertical .variation. Because of the inclina¬ tion of the rear cam slots 88 in the breach, however, the rear lugs 92 will be cammed downwardly so that the inlet nipples 96 on the nozzle move into a fluid tight engagement with the coupling nipples 64. To remove a nozzle 16 from the gun the procedure is merely reversed. With reference again to Figs. 1 .and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the trigger 18 carries suitable valve stem engaging means such as a pair of set screws 98 in a position to engage the ends of the valve stems 52 when the breach 14 is positioned to retain a nozzle 16 or in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. In this condition- it will be appreciated that one grasping the handle 12 and squeezing the trigger 18 will cause the valve stems to move the valve needles 40 from the valve seats 42. Fluid components under pressure and supplied through the hoses 62 will pass simultaneously through the respective valve outlet ports 46, through the coupling nipples 64 and into the nozzle 16 where the fluid com¬ ponents are mixed and discharged as foam through a discharge orifice 100 on the nozzle 16. Also, it will be appreciated that by varying the extent to which the trigger 18 is moved in this manner, the rate of foam discharge from the nozzle orifice 100 may be regulated. When the breach 14 is moved to its rear position for the release or replacement of a nozzle 16, however, the trigger pivot pin 22 will be carried with the breach and the- trigger will be pivoted by engagement with the front surface 24 of the gun body to an inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 2. Moreover, any attempt to move the trigger 18 to a fluid discharging condition will result in forward movement of the breach. In light of the pivotal support of the trigger 18 from the breach 14, a substantial measure of inherent safety is provided in the foam dispensing gun of the invention. Because of the need for mixing the two fluid components of the resin system, these separate compo¬ nents are supplied under high pressure to the gun body 10 by way of the hoses 62. With a nozzle 16 in place, foam may be discharged with relative ease and accuracy of - 11 - control through the nozzle orifice 100. If the needle valves 40 are opened while no nozzle 16 is in place, however, the fluid components will issue in high velocity streams through the open coupling nipples 64 thus repre- senting a hazard both to the operator of the gun and to the work area in which the gun is being used. It is therefore important that the trigger 18 be disabled during nozzle replacement in the manner described above. A further measure of safety is provided by the breach 14 in the event it is moved to the forward position of Fig. 1 without placement of a nozzle 16. In particular, the top and rear walls 74 and 76 on the breach serve to prevent accidental discharge of unmixed fluid components directly from the coupling nipples 64. As may be seen in Fig. 1, the top wall 74 becomes located above the nipples 64 when the breach is moved to the forward position. Hence, if the trigger was acciden¬ tally pulled without a nozzle 16 in.place, the fluids issuing from the nipples 64 would strike the top wall 74 and be directed by the top wall and rear wall 76 forwardly away from the operator. In Figs. 6-9 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in -which parts corresponding either structurally or functionally to parts previously described with reference to Figs. 1-5 are designated by the same reference numerals but to which the number 100 has been added. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the gun components again include a body 110 supported by a handle 112, a slidable breach 114 for releasably retaining a nozzle 116 on the body 110 and a trigger 118 pivotally secured to the breach 114 by pins 122. In this embodiment, however, the body 110 and the breach 114 are slidably interconnected by cooperation between inwardly directed channel flanges 180 on the breach received in outwardly facing, open ended grooves 182 extending throughout the length of the body 110. This arrangement facilitates complete assembly of the body 110, including placement of the nozzle coupling nipples 164, prior to assembly of the body and breach merely by sliding the latter forwardly from the rear of the body. The trigger 118 may then be attached to the breach 114 by snap fitting the pins 122 into apertures 121 in forwardly extending portions of the sidewalls 170 and 172 of the breach. The trigger 118 in the embodiment of Figs. 6-9 is formed with a pair of rearwardly projecting lugs 123 having shoulder-like abutment surfaces 125 at the upper edge thereof. The lugs 123 are in the region of the yoke 120 and are eccentric with respect to the trigger pivot axis as defined by the pins 122. Also as may be seen in Fig. 9, the width of the abutment surfaces 125 is such that these surfaces extend inwardly from the legs ' or the yoke 120. These surfaces will, therefore, ultimately engage ramp-like or chamfered surfaces 127 on the bottom edges of the breach sidewalls positioned rearwardly behind the pivot axis of the trigger. As in the previous embodiment, the nozzle 116 is provided with pairs of diametrically projecting cylin¬ drical lugs 190 and 192. Also, the sidewalls 170 and 180 of the breach 114 are provided with ramp formations 186 and 188 to cooperate with the lugs 190 and 192, respec-. tively. In this instance, however, the formations 186 and 188 extend through the thickness of the sidewalls and are modified slightly in configuration. Specifically, each of the front sidewall formations 186 which cooperate with the lugs 190 include a single ejection ramp 185 and a semicircular end stop 187. The rear sidewall forma¬ tions 188 include a downwardly facing top ramp surface OM / 189 ending in a relatively large diameter circular sur¬ face 191 which in turn merges with an upwardly facing lower or ejection ramp surface 193. Operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6-9 to load or unload the nozzle 116 may be understood by a comparison of Figs. 6-8. Thus, in Fig. 7, the breach 114 is pulled rearwardly to its limit of such movement as determined by engagement of the shoulder surfaces 125 on the lugs 123 with the front surface 124 of the body 110. In this condition, the trigger 118 is pivoted upwardly out of engagement with the valve pins 152 in a manner similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1-5. In this instance, however, the lugs 123 function to restrict accidental removal of the entire breach 114 from the body 110. The nozzle 116 is placed so that the diametric lugs 190 and 192 thereon rest respectively on the ramp surfaces 185 and 193. Also, the inlet port nipples 196 in the nozzle will be received over the coupling nipples 164 sufficiently to prevent forward movement of the nozzle 116. The breach 114 is then moved forward either by direct manual pressure or by downward movement of the trigger 118. In this latter respect, the lugs 123 act as crank arms which, upon such downward- movement of the trigger 118, will cause forward movement of the breach 114. Such movement is continued until the semicircular stop in the front sidewall formation 186 engages the front pins 190. In this position which is illustrated in Fig. 6, the rear lug will be positioned under the upper portion of the enlarged circular opening 191 and be prevented from upward movement. Also in the position of Fig. 6, the gun is ready for actuation merely by squeezing the trigger 118 against the handle 112 to depress the valve pins 152 in the manner described above with respect to Figs. 1-5. To eject the nozzle, the breach is pulled rear¬ wardly to the position shown in Fig. 7. The cam surfaces 185 and 187 will coact with the lugs 190 and 192, respectively, to lift the nozzle from the nipples 164 for removal. The condition which occurs in the absence of a nozzle 116 and in the event of accidental squeezing of the trigger 118 when no nozzle is in place, is illustrated in Fig. 8. In particular, the trigger 118 is shown pivoted over the valve pins 152 but with the breach 114 advanced forwardly to such an extent that no depression of the yalve pins 152 can occur. In other words, when no nozzle is positioned in the breach and on the coupling nipples 164, the absence of the pins 190 for engagement of the pins by the semicircular end stops 187, coupled with the compressive resistance of the springs 158 urging the valve pins 152 forwardly, prevents trigger actuation of _ * the valve pins 152. Continued forward movement of the breach 114 is ultimately restricted by the back wall surface 176 engaging the coupling nipples 164. The embodiment of Figs. 6-9, therefore, has several advantages. In- particular, the organization of components in this latter embodiment facilitates assem¬ bly. Additionally, the gun structure prevents acci- dental discharge of resin in the absence of a mixing nozzle 116 being in place. Further, loading of the nozzle is facilitated by the leverage effect of the lugs 123 on the trigger 118 as described above. Thus it will be appreciated that as a result of the present invention, a highly effective foam dis¬ pensing gun is provided. It is contemplated and believed to be apparent to those skilled in the art from the preceding description that modifications and/or changes may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departure from the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that the foregoing description is illustrative of a preferred embodiment only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and scope of the present invention be determined by reference to the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. In a foam dispensing gun having a gun body with at least two passageways each adapted to be con¬ nected to a separate pressurized supply of a fluid component, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through said passageways and means for releasably re¬ taining a.disposable nozzle in fluid communication with said passageways downstream from said valve means, the improvement wherein said nozzle retaining means com¬ prises: a breach slidable between at least first and second positions in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow from said passageways; and means on said breach to engage and support a disposable nozzle when said breach is in said first position. ~~ 2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, including trigger means for actuating said valve means, said trig¬ ger means being supported by said breach to be operative when said breach is in said first position and inopera¬ tive when said breach is in said second position. 3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the gun body defines a top surface, each of said passage¬ ways opening through a coupling nipple projecting from said top surface to engage a complementing inlet nipple on the disposable nozzle and to restrict movement of the nozzle in a direction parallel to said top surface and to the direction of sliding movement of said breach between said first and second positions. 4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said means on said breach to engage and support a dis¬ posable nozzle includes front and rear pairs of cam formations to engage complementing lugs on the dis¬ posable nozzle. 5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said rear cam formations define slots positioned sub¬ stantially at the location of said coupling nipples and inclined to move the rear end of the nozzle toward said coupling nipples upon movement of said breach from said second position to said first position. 6. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said gun body is formed having a pair of undercut parallel slots in said top surface, said breach having ' a pair of complementing rails retained slidably in said undercut slots. 7. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said breach comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertical wall portions joined by transverse top and rear wall formations extending from the rear of the breach only partially along its length so that substantial forward portions of the vertical wall portions project in open spaced relationship, said top and rear transverse wall formations extending_to be positioned over said coupling nipples when said breach is in said first position. 8. A foam dispensing gun adapted to be con¬ nected to separate pressurized fluid components to be mixed and dispensed from the gun, said gun comprising: a gun body having a pair of fluid passage¬ ways adapted to be connected to the respective pres¬ surized fluid components, a pair of coupling nipples defining outlets for said passageways and valve means for controlling flow of the fluid components through said passageways to said outlet nipples; a disposable cylindrical nozzle member having fore and aft lugs thereon projecting in a common diametric plane and a pair of inlet nipples projecting in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said lugs; a breach supported by said body for sliding movement between at least first and second positions in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow from said coupling nipples, said breach having front and rear cam formations to engage said fore and aft lugs, respectively on said nozzle member; and trigger means pivotally supported from said breach to be in operative position for control of said valve means when said breach is in said first position and to be disabled for valve actuation when said breach is moved to said second position. 9. The apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein the plane of said inlet nipples include said aft lugs, said rear cam formations defining slots having an opening positioned in the plane of said coupling nipples when said breach is in said second position and being inclined to move said aft lugs and said inlet nipples into engage¬ ment with said coupling nipples upon movement of said breach from said second to said first position. 10. The apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said breach includes transverse wall formations posi¬ tioned to overlie said coupling nipples when said breach is in said first position. 11. The apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said gun body comprises a top surface having undercut slots formed therein to receive complementing depending rails on said breach and a front surface perpendicular to said top surface, said valve means including actuating stem means projecting from said front surface, said trigger means depending from said breach when in said first position to be pivotal into engagement with said stem means. 12. The apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein movement of said breach to said second position causes said trigger means to pivot by engagement with said front surface out of contact with said valve stem means. 13. The apparatus recited in either of claims 2 , 3, or 8 comprising stop means on said breach engage- able with said nozzle to establish said first position, said breach being movable to a third position upon actuating movement of said trigger means and in the absence of said nozzle to disable said trigger means for actuation of said valve means. 14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said breach and said body are slidably interconnected by means including open ended guideways, said trigger having stop lug means engageable with said body for limiting rearward movement of said breach to said second position. 15. The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said stop lug means cooperate with said body to pry said breach from said second position toward said first position upon actuating movement of said trigger means. 16. The apparatus recited in claim 13, includ¬ ing yieldable biasing means for retaining said valve means in a closed condition, said valve means being moved toward an open condition by actuating movement of said trigger means against said biasing means when said breach is retained in said first position by engagement of said nozzle, said trigger means being pivotal about said valve means by retention of said valve means under said bias means, thereby to move said breach to said third position in the absence of a nozzle.

Inventors: HARDING G
Applicants: UNIVERSAL FOAM SYSTEMS INC
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B05B7
IPC codes: B05B7, B29B7