Abstract:
A multi-component proportioning system for dispensing a multi-component coating composition is provided. The delivery system is particularly useful in providing multi-component compositions to a multi-component dispenser. The system provides very accurate mix ratios due to the consistent, reproducible displacement of components from the liquid pump assemblies used in the multi-component proportioning system regardless of viscosity. Such accuracy eliminates improper mixing of components that can lead to reworking and lost time, materials, and profits.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multi-component proportioning system and a delivery system utilizing the proportioning system as well as a method of using the system. The delivery system is particularly useful in providing multi-component compositions to a multi-component dispenser which then can then deliver the components, for example, to a siphon or gravity-fed spray gun. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various means have been suggested for proportioning and applying two or more components to a surface. In one such device, a main component and a secondary component are mixed together at an intermediate portion of a supply conduit to a coating spray gun. Check valves are provided upstream of a junction to prevent backflow from the junction and stop valves are provided in flow portions between the check valves and the junction to stop flow of material when the spray gun is shut off. 
     In another coating material supply device, coating materials reportedly are pumped by hydraulically controlled reciprocal pumps from a supply source at a constant flow rate by the pressure of a hydraulic fluid. In each of the hydraulically-powered reciprocal pumps, a coating material chamber having an inlet and exit and a hydraulic fluid chamber receiving the supply of the hydraulic fluid are formed adjacent with each other by way of a diaphragm so that the coating material in the coating material chamber is pumped out at a constant flow rate by the diaphragm. 
     A safety shut-down device for two-component sprayer systems is disclosed wherein the device is disposed in the compressed air line of a spray system particularly that which powers the spray component air motors and pumps. A pneumatically controlled main valve cuts off the compressed air to the air motors upon detection of a deficiency condition, i.e., lack of component pressure. Pressure is measured by pressure transducers which mechanically actuate deficiency valves. 
     In another multi-component spraying system, materials are pump-driven to a spraying means which includes a nozzle assembly which has a liquid nozzle for forming liquid, e.g., resin, into a fan-like film from a liquid orifice and a nozzle assembly for directing a flow of compressed air and catalyst at the film closely adjacent the orifice. Alternatively, compressed air impinges on a fan-like stream of resin and catalyst together prior to exiting the nozzle assembly as a mixture. The air pumps for each component being fed into the nozzle assembly may be individually controlled and the mixing unit for the materials may be carried, for example, on the belt of an operator, to reduce the weight of the hand-held spray gun. 
     In a device for simultaneously discharging a plurality of fluids. with or without mixing, the underside of a pistol grip handle of a spray gun or fuel nozzle is formed with a socket for a rotary insert which is connected to two or more supply conduits for flowable materials. The fluids to be discharged are presumed to be provided to the supply conduits by known means. 
     A multi-component system for applying a coating onto a substrate is provided whereby a plurality of separate components is supplied with at least one component being under pressure. Each component is transported to a common proportioning device powered by the pressure to provide a controlled volumetric ratio of the components. The components are homogeneously mixed to form a composition and the composition is sprayed or coated onto the surface of a substrate. The coating composition doubles in viscosity in centipoise at a temperature of 25° C. within a time period of less than 45 minutes from the time of composition formation. 
     A two-component pressure feed system is disclosed wherein a first tank is provided within which a second tank is located and separated from the first tank by a membrane. One component is held in each tank. Pressurized air is fed to the containers and, via a regulator, a regulator pipe and through an aperture in the lid. Pressurized air feeds the fluid components via tubes to a spray gun, where the components combine to be sprayed. 
     An apparatus for applying multi-component coating compositions is also disclosed wherein at least two dosing devices, and air-assisted spray gun and a controlling device. Each dosing device has a supply container containing a component, a motor with a power controller, and a metering device. In each dosing device, the supply container is connected to the metering device which is connected the motor and to the spray gun. A connecting line between at least one metering device and the spray gun is fitted with a pressure transducer having means for measuring a decrease in pressure in the line and being connected to a control device connected to the motors to keep the pressure in the connecting line to a set value. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, in one aspect, provides a multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising: 
     1) first, second, third and fourth pressurized air ports in a first valve assembly; 
     2) the second and third pressurized air ports being connected to a first air cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof, 
     3) the first and fourth ports being connected to an air cylinder associated with a second valve at the first and second terminal ends thereof, 
     4) first and second exhaust ports on the second valve and being connected to a second cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof and to quick exhaust valves; 
     5) a liquid pump assembly for each component, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for the component and a piston rod attached to the piston extending beyond the pump assembly body; 
     6) a first and second trip plate adapted for contact with the piston rod associated with the liquid pump assembly for the first and second component; 
     7) an air pilot operator connected to the trip plate, the air pilot operator being adapted to contact a trip button in the first valve, the trip button determining air flow to the first, second, third and fourth air ports in the first valve; and 
     8) a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports being connected to the chambers of the liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from the inlet port to one chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from the other chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway to the component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to the first air cylinder by connecting rods, the spool valve assemblies for the first and second components being connected to the first and second terminal portions of the first air cylinder, respectively; 
     such that when: 
     1) the first and second lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the first line to the second valve and through the first exhaust port and from the second line to the second terminal portion of the first cylinder, the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can exit past the spool valve, while the piston with its rod moves across the liquid pump assembly and air exhausts through the third and fourth lines; 
     2) when the third and fourth lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the fourth line to the second valve and through the second exhaust port and from the third line to the first terminal portion of the first cylinder, the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies exit past the spool valve and air exhausts through the first and second air ports; 
     3) when the first trip plate contacts the trip button in the first valve, the air pilot operator in the second valve, the piston and the spool valve simultaneously change direction, the piston and spool valve traveling in opposite directions, the pistons being operated by air pressure and the spool valves being mechanically operated. 
     Where more than two liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies are required for the compositions containing more than two components, additional liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies may be added by connecting the piston rod of the additional liquid pump assembly to the piston of the liquid pump assembly adjacent thereto and the spool valve attached to the air cylinder to the spool valve of the additional spool valve assembly by a rod or other means known to those skilled in the art with appropriate alignment being maintained. 
     The relative ratios of each component being fed out of the proportioning system is determined by the total volume of component capable of being held in each of the chambers of the liquid pump assemblies and is proportional thereto. Virtually any ratio of components can be achieved by using liquid pump assemblies of the appropriate volumetric capacities. 
     The multi-component proportioning system of the present invention provides many advantages over previously known systems. The system provides very accurate mix ratios due to the consistent, reproducible displacement of components from the liquid pump assemblies regardless of viscosity. Such accuracy eliminates improper mixing of components that can lead to reworking and lost time, materials, and profits. 
     The present invention, in another aspect, provides a multi-component delivery system utilizing the proportioning system of the invention The multi-component delivery system comprises: 
     1) a supply source for each component; 
     2) a multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising: 
     a) first, second, third and fourth pressurized air ports in a first valve assembly; 
     b) the second and third pressurized air ports being connected to a first air cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof, 
     c) the first and fourth ports being connected to an air cylinder associated with a second valve at the first and second terminal ends thereof; 
     d) first and second exhaust ports on the second valve and being connected to a second cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof and to quick exhaust valves; 
     e) a liquid pump assembly for each component, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for the component and a piston rod attached to the piston extending beyond the pump assembly body; 
     f) a first and second trip plate adapted for contact with the piston rod associated with the liquid pump assembly for the first and second component; 
     g) an air pilot operator connected to the trip plate, the air pilot operator being adapted to contact a trip button in the first valve, the trip button determining air flow to the first, second, third and fourth air ports in the first valve; and 
     h) a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports being connected to the chambers of the liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from the inlet port to one chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from the other chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway to the component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to the first air cylinder by connecting rods, the spool valve assemblies for the first and second components being connected to the first and second terminal portions of the first air cylinder, respectively, 
     such that when: 
     a) the first and second lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the first line to the second valve and through the first exhaust port and from the second line to the second terminal portion of the first cylinder, the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can exit past the spool valve, while the piston with its rod moves across the liquid pump assembly and air exhausts through the third and fourth lines; 
     b) when the third and fourth lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the fourth line to the second valve and through the second exhaust port and from the third line to the first terminal portion of the first cylinder, the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies exit past the spool valve and air exhausts through the first and second air ports; 
     c) when the first trip plate contacts the trip button in the first valve, the air pilot operator in the second valve, the piston and the spool valve simultaneously change direction, the piston and spool valve traveling in opposite directions, the pistons being operated by air pressure and the spool valves being mechanically operated. 
     3) means for connecting each supply source to the component inlet port on a spool valve assembly, 
     4) means for connecting each component outlet port to a dispenser adapted to individually deliver the components to a coating device. 
     A flushing system may also be provided by adding a flush assembly to discontinue supply of the components and supply the inlets of each spool assembly with an appropriate cleaning solution. 
     The combination of the spool valve assembly, liquid pump assembly, mechanical and air pressure control and the quick exhaust valve virtually eliminate pulsing at the spray gun. With this delivery system, components can be fed directly from shipping containers and reactive activators can be fed by venting the container through a desiccant filter which maintains a dry atmosphere above moisture sensitive activators. This system requires no pressurized feed tanks, pumps or circulation systems to feed the components which reduces equipment needs and costs. The system further saves labor necessary in mixing components, cleaning mixing containers and handling waste over many known systems. 
     The present invention, in a further aspect, provides a method of using a multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising the steps of: 
     1) providing an air pilot valve assembly comprising first and second 4-way, 5-port valves, each valve having a pressurized air inlet, the first valve having first and second Y-connectors and an air pilot operator adapted to trip a trip button within the first valve to direct air flow to the Y-connectors and the second valve having first and second air inlet ports and first and second primary exhaust ports, 
     2) providing a liquid pump assembly for each of at least two components, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for the component and a piston rod attached to the piston extending beyond the pump assembly body, each of the liquid pump assembly piston rods for the first and second components being adapted to contact a trip plate, and the trip plate being connected to a piston rod adapted to traverse a second cylinder; 
     3) providing a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports being connected to the chambers of the liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from the inlet port to one chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from the other chamber of the liquid pump assembly through a passageway to the component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to a first air cylinder by connecting rods, the spool valve assemblies for the first and second components being connected to the first and second terminal portions of the first air cylinder, respectively; 
     4) providing pressurized air to the air inlet of the first 4-way, 5-port valve and allowing the air to exit the first valve through the first Y-connector; 
     5) allowing air flowing through a first port of the first Y-connector to enter into a terminal portion of a first air pilot operator portion; 
     6) allowing air flowing through a second port on the first Y-connector to flow into the first air cylinder and to cause a piston rod and a piston located within the first air cylinder and aligned with the central axis thereof and the spool valves to travel in a first direction; 
     7) allowing air to flow from the second exhaust valve of the air pilot valve assembly to an exhaust line connected to a second air cylinder and a first quick exhaust valve causing pistons and piston rods of the liquid pump assembly, the trip plate, the piston rod in the second air cylinder and the air pilot operator to travel in a direction opposite to that of the spool valves; 
     8) providing a component for each liquid pump assembly and associated spool valve assembly; 
     9) permitting the liquid pump assembly for each component to draw the component into the first chamber of the liquid pump assembly through the component inlet port of the spool valve assembly associated therewith and causing component contained in the second chamber of the liquid pump assembly to exit through the component outlet port of the spool valve assembly associated therewith; 
     10) allowing the spool valve and associated piston rods to continue travel in a first direction and the piston in the liquid pump assembly, the trip plate and the air pilot operator to continue travel in the opposite direction until sufficient travel has occurred that the air pilot operator contacts the trip button in first valve of the air operator assembly system causing air to flow into the second Y-connector; 
     11) allowing air flowing through a first port of the second Y-connector to enter into a terminal portion of a second air pilot operator portion; 
     12) allowing air flowing through a second port on the second Y-connector to flow into the first air cylinder and to cause the piston rod and a piston located within the cylinder and the spool valves reverse direction and to travel in a second direction opposite to the first direction; 
     13) allowing air to flow simultaneously with that of the air flowing through the port on the second Y-connector from the first exhaust valve of the air pilot valve assembly to an exhaust line connected to the second air cylinder and the second quick exhaust valve causing pistons and piston rods of the liquid pump assembly, the trip plate, the piston rod in the second air cylinder and the air pilot operator to reverse direction and travel in a direction opposite to that previously traveled; 
     14) permitting the liquid pump assembly for each component to draw the component into the second chamber of the liquid pump assembly through the component inlet port of the spool valve assembly associated therewith and causing component contained in the first chamber of the liquid pump assembly to exit through the component outlet port of the spool valve assembly associated therewith, 
     15) allowing the spool valve and associated piston rods to continue travel in the second direction and the piston in the liquid pump assembly, the trip plate and the air pilot operator to continue travel in the direction opposite to that previously traveled until sufficient travel has occurred that the air pilot operator contacts the trip button in first valve of the air operator assembly system causing air to flow into the first Y-connector; and 
     16) repeating steps 5 through 15 until stoppage of delivery of the components is desired. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-component proportioning system of the present invention adapted for two components. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a proportioning system of the invention showing one mode of the liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies in cross-section for two component delivery. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a proportioning system of the invention showing another mode of the liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies in cross-section for two component delivery. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a proportioning system of the invention showing one mode of the liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies in cross-section for three component delivery. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the delivery system of the present invention utilizing the proportioning system of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, the multi-component proportioning system of the invention, in this instance two-component system  10 , has base plate  12 . Air pilot valve system  13  includes two 4-way, 5-port valves, such as, for example, Humphrey TAC 3 , Model 42PP, or the equivalent thereof, of which valve  14  is shown with the second valve, hereinafter termed “rear valve” behind and obscured by valve  14  and connected thereto; air inlet  18  is provided in valve  14  and air inlet  20  is provided in the rear valve; and exiting valve  14  are four exhaust ports, first exhaust port  22  being shown connected to line  24   a , second exhaust port (not shown) being connected to line  24   b . Quick exhaust valves  26   a ,  26   b , such as, for example, Humphrey, Model SQE-2, or the equivalent thereof are attached to lines  24   a ,  24   b . Each quick exhaust valve is shown with optional mufflers  28   a ,  28   b . Two additional exhaust ports (not shown) are in the bottom portion of valve  14 . 
     Further included in air pilot valve assembly  13  and extending from the rear valve are Y-connectors  30   a ,  30   b  having ports  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d . Line  34   a  connects port  32   a  to terminal portion  36   a  of air pilot operator portion  38   a  while line  34   d  connects port  32   d  to terminal portion  36   b  of air pilot operator portion  38   b , air pilot operator portions  38   a ,  38   b  being connected to valve  14 . Lines  34   b ,  34   c  connect ports  32   b ,  32   c , respectively, to air cylinder  40  which is attached to base plate  12 . Suitable air cylinders include, for example, a BIMBA®, Model 060 5-DXDE, or the equivalent thereof Two additional exhaust ports (not shown) are in the bottom portion of the rear valve. 
     Air pilot operators  42   a ,  42   b  of air pilot valve assembly  13  contact a trip button (not shown) within the rear valve and air valve operator guides  44   a ,  44   b  may be used. Of course, the air pilot operator could contact the rear valve without the use of trip rod guides  44   a ,  44   b  although the system may be somewhat less sturdy. Threaded portions  46   a ,  46   b  of air valve operators  42   a ,  42   b  are connected to trip plates  48   a ,  48   b . Trip plates  48   a ,  48   b  are further connected to piston rods  56   a ,  56   b  of liquid pump assemblies  50   a ,  50   b , such as are well-known in the art and having various volumetric capacities, respectively by devises  54   a ,  54   b . Piston rod  58  which traverses the longitudinal axis of cylinder  60 , such as, for example, a BIMBA®, Model 312-DXDE, or the equivalent thereof, shown broken away to reveal ports  32   a-d  and lines  34   a-d , is connected to devises  54   a ,  54   b  by clevises  52   a ,  52   b , respectively. Liquid pump assemblies  50   a ,  50   b  and cylinder  60  are attached to base plate  12 . Suitable liquid pump assemblies are and can vary in volumetric capacity from one ounce, or less, to one gallon, or more. The junctures of clevises  52   a ,  52   b  and devises  54   a ,  54   b  can be adjusted by moving air pilot operator portions  46   a ,  46   b  along trip plates  48   a ,  48   b  along threaded air pilot operator portions  46   a ,  46   b  to cause piston rods  56   a ,  56   b  of pump assemblies  50   a ,  50   b  to vary traverse length. The air pilot operator portions  46   a ,  46   b  then can contact the rear valve at the appropriate points in the pump cycles and alternately reverse the air flow between Y-connector  30   a  and Y-connector  30   b , as will be show with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Spool valve assemblies  62   a , right hand, and  62   b , left hand, are connected to liquid pump assemblies  50   a  and  50   b , respectively, and to piston rods and a piston (not shown) in cylinder  40  by connecting rod clevises  64   a ,  64   b , cylinder connectors  66   a ,  66   b  and  68   a ,  68   b , and spool valve assembly piston rod  70   a ,  70   b , respectively. Suitable spool valve assemblies are well-known to those skilled in the art. 
     Component inlet port  72   a  is provided to allow one component to enter spool valve assembly  62   a , pass through liquid pump assembly  50   a  and exit from spool valve assembly  62   a  through component outlet port  74   a . Component inlet port  72   b  is provided to allow the other component to enter spool valve assembly  62   b , pass through liquid pump assembly  50   b  and exit from spool valve assembly  62   b  through component outlet port  74   b.    
     In FIGS. 2 and 3, similar numbers, although seriesed differently, will be used for similar parts with some parts clearly denoted in FIG.  1  and not needed to demonstrate the operation of the multi-component proportioning system of the invention will not be denoted in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the ratio of the component which can pass through liquid pump assembly  150   a  and spool valve assembly  162   a  and the component which can pass through liquid pump assembly  150   b  and spool valve assembly  162   b  is 3:1, based on the difference in volumetric capacity of each liquid pump assembly. 
     In FIG. 2, the liquid pumping systems and the spool valve systems, shown in cross-section, show the systems in greater detail. Liquid pump assemblies  150   a ,  150   b  each have pistons  176   a ,  176   b  attached to piston rods  156   a ,  156   b , respectively. Piston rods  156   a ,  156   b , are adapted to contact trip plates  148   a ,  148   b  respectively. Trip plates  148   a ,  148   b  are connected to threaded portions of air pilot operator portions  146   a ,  146   b , respectively, as described with regard to FIG.  1 . In liquid pump assemblies  150   a ,  150   b , component chambers  178   a ,  180   a , and  178   b    180   b  are provided and adapted for being filled and emptied of first and second components. 
     Spool valve assemblies  162   a ,  162   b  include spool valves  184   a ,  184   b , composition inlet ports  172   a ,  172   b , and composition outlet ports  174   a ,  174   b , respectively. Inlet ports  172   a ,  172   b  are adapted for connection to first and second component containers. Composition outlet ports  174   a ,  174   b  are adapted for connection to a dispensing device. In spool valve assemblies  162   a    162   b , valve rods  170   a ,  170   b  are connected to spool valves  184   a ,  184   b , respectively. Spool valve rods  170   a ,  170   b  are connected to piston rods  182   a ,  182   b , the terminal portion of piston rod  182   b  being shown in FIG.  2  and the terminal portion of piston rod  282   a  being shown in FIG.  3 . The spool valve assemblies  162   a ,  162   b  are connected to liquid pump valve assemblies  150   a ,  150   b  by passageways  181   a′ ,  181   a″  and  181   b′ ,  181   b″.    
     With regard to the operation of the multi-component proportioning system, in FIG. 2, pressurized air enters 4-way, 5-port rear valve through air inlet  120  and exits the rear valve through Y-connector  130   a . Air flowing through port  132   d  flows into air pilot operator portion  138   b . Air flowing through port  132   c  flows into air cylinder  140  causing rod  182 , and ultimately, spool valves  184   a ,  184   b  to move from right to left. At the same time, pistons  176   a ,  176   b  are moving left to right together with piston rods  156   a ,  156   b , trip plates  148   a ,  148   b , piston rod  158 , and air pilot operators portions  142   a ,  142   b  due to air flowing to line  124   b  from valve  114 . 
     The movement of piston  176   a  causes a first component, such as a paint, to flow into filling chamber  178   a  from inlet  172   a  of spool valve assembly  162   a . At the same time, the first component, previously loaded into emptying chamber  180   a  is being forced by piston  176   a  to exit through outlet  174   a . The movement of piston  176   b  causes a second component, such as an activator, to flow into filling chamber  178   b  from inlet  172   b  of spool valve assembly  162   b . At the same time, the first component, previously loaded into emptying chamber  180   b  is being forced by piston  176   b  to exit through outlet  174   b.    
     This action continues until trip plate  148   b  and air pilot operator  142   b  move sufficiently to the right to contact a trip button in the rear valve, causing air to flow into y-connector  130   b  and to ports  132   a  and  132   b . This causes piston rod  182   b  in air cylinder  40 , spool valves  184   a ,  184   b  and connecting members to move left to right. Simultaneously, air flows through line  134   a  to actuate air pilot operator  138   a  and air exhausts through ports  132   c  and  132   d.    
     As air pilot operator  138   a  actuates, valve  114  shifts to the left allowing air to flow through line  124   a  and quick exhaust valve  126   a  into cylinder  60 . Simultaneously, line  124   b  exhausts allows quick exhaust valve  126   b  to quickly exhaust through optional muffler  128   b  causing air pilot operator  142   a ,  142   b , trip plates  148   a ,  148   b , piston rod  158 , piston rods  156   a ,  156   b , and pistons  176   a ,  176   b  to reverse direction such that pistons  176   a ,  176   b  are traveling left to right. 
     This can be seen in FIG. 3, wherein pressurized air enters 4-way, 5-port rear valve through air inlet  220  and exits the rear valve through Y-connector  230   b . Air flows from port  232   a  to air pilot operator portion  238   a  and from port  232   b  to air cylinder  240  through line  234   b . This causes the piston  282   a  and ultimately spool valves  284   a ,  284   b  to move from left to right. The air flowing through line  234   a  into pilot control portion  238   a  causes air pilot control  242   a ,  242   b , trip plates  248   a ,  248   b , piston rod  258   b  and ultimately pistons  276   a ,  276   b  to move from right to left. The first component brought into what was filling chamber  178   a  in FIG. 2 is now exiting from what has become emptying chamber  280   a . Similarly, emptying chamber  180   a  has now become filling chamber  278   a . The rapid reversal of the spool valves and the pistons in the liquid pump assemblies due to the configuration of the proportioning system and the presence of the quick exhaust valves, virtually eliminates the pulsing, or surging, found in delivery systems using known proportioning systems. 
     In FIG. 4, a three-component proportioning system is shown. This system differs from the two-component system in that a third unit including a liquid pump assembly and a spool valve assembly are added. As with FIGS. 2 and 3, similar numbers, although seriesed differently, will be used for similar parts with some parts clearly denoted in previous FIGS. and not needed to demonstrate the operation of the three or more-component proportioning systems of the invention will not be denoted in FIG.  4 . 
     In FIG. 4, liquid pump assemblies  350   b, d  and spool valve assemblies  362   b, d  are substantially as shown in FIG.  2 . Liquid pump assemblies include pistons  376   a, b , piston rods  356   a, b , filling chambers  378   a, b , and emptying chambers  380   a, b  with liquid pump assembly  350   d  additionally having shaft  392  added and spool valve assemblies  362   b , d including component inlets  372   a, b , component outlets  374   a, b , and spool valve  384   a, b  with spool valve assembly  362   d  additionally having shaft  390  added. The portion of proportioning system  310  located between liquid pump assemblies  350   a, b  and spool valve assemblies  362   a, b  are as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3  with the various valves, ports, lines, trip mechanisms, cylinders, and other parts serving the same functions as described with regard to FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     In FIG. 4, additional liquid pump assembly  350   c  has been added which includes piston  376   c  and piston rod  388 . Piston rod  388  is connected to piston  376   a  through shaft  392  and piston  376   c  and piston rod  388  are axially aligned with pistons  376   a, b  and piston rods  356   a, b . Liquid pump assembly  350   c  also includes filling chamber  378   c  and emptying chamber  380   c . Further, in FIG. 4, spool valve assembly  362   d  has been provided with shaft  390  for attachment of valve rod  386 . Right hand spool valve assembly  362   c , has been added and includes component inlet  372   c , component outlet  374   c  and spool valve  384   c . Spool valve  384   c  is connected to spool valve  384   a  by valve rod  386  and both spool valve  384   c  and rod  386  are axially aligned with spool valves  384   a, b  and valve rods  370   a, b . Each of liquid pump assembly  350   c  and  362   c  are attached to each other and to base plate  12 . 
     In proportioning system  310 , pistons  376   a, b, c  are capable of moving left to right as in FIG. 2, and adapted to cause filling chambers  378   a, b, c  to fill with components through component inlets  372   a, b, c  and emptying chambers to discharge through component outlets  374   a, b, c  as spool valves  384   a, b, c  move right to left. As described with regard to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the pistons  376   a, b  move sufficiently to the right and spool valves  384   a, b  move sufficiently to the left and the air pressure in lines  334   c, d  is such as to cause air pilot operator  342   b  and to contact the trip button in the rear assembly. Upon contact, rod  382  in cylinder  340  reverses direction, allowing piston  376   c  and spool valve  384   c  to move in the same direction at the same rate as their counterparts in liquid pump assemblies  350   b, d  and spool valve assemblies  362   b, d.    
     As can be seen from FIG. 4, additional liquid pump assemblies and spool valve assemblies, aligned as shown in FIG. 4, can be added for additional components. This can be achieved by simply inserting a liquid pump assembly configured as  350   d  and a spool valve assembly configured as  362   d  for each additional component between liquid pump assemblies  350   c, d  and spool valve assemblies  362   c, d,  shown in FIG. 4, with appropriate piston and valve rods. 
     FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram for a delivery system of the invention utilizing the proportioning system of the invention. In FIG. 5, multi-component delivery system  500  utilizes the type of multi-component proportioning system  510  substantially as shown in FIG.  1 . Pressurized air is supplied to 4-way, 5 port valve  514  and rear 4-way, 5-port valve, behind and obscured by valve  514 , through air supply lines  516  and  518 , respectively, from control unit  520  which is supplied with pressurized air from line  522 . Control unit  520  also supplies dispenser air through line  524  to dispenser  526  to aid dispensing of a component mixture exiting dispenser  526 . Such control units and dispensers are well-known in the art. 
     Optionally, compressed air can be provided to operate agitator  528  through line  530  if a component requires agitation to prevent, e.g., separation of materials in the component. Multiple such agitators can be used if required by multiple components. A first component, provided in container  532 , is drawn into component inlet  534  through lines  536  and  538  by the action of proportioning system  510 . A second component, provided in container  540 , is drawn into component inlet  542  through lines  544  and  546  by the action of proportioning system  510 . Optional desiccant breather tube  548  may be installed on a container as illustrated with container  540  when the component in the container is particularly sensitive to, or reactive with, moisture. 
     Proportioning system  510  also supplies the first and second components through component outlets  550  and  552  and component lines  554  and  556 , respectively, and delivers them to dispenser  526 . 
     Flushing system  560  is preferably provided to aid in cleaning lines  538  and  546 , proportioning system  510 , lines  554  and  556 , as well as dispenser  526 . Such flushing systems are well-known in the art. In such a flushing system, flushing assembly  562  is valved such that the flow of components from lines  536  and  544  can be halted and a cleaning liquid, such as water or a solvent depending on the components being used, can be provided from container  564  through line  566  to flushing assembly  562 . The flushing assembly is adjusted, when the component flow is halted, to provide cleaning liquid to lines  538  and  546 , proportioning system  510 , lines  554  and  556 , as well as dispenser  526 , by the continued functioning of the proportioning system. 
     The multi-component proportioning systems and the multi-component delivery systems of the invention are particularly useful in spray paint applications such as, for example, automotive refinishing and spray painting of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Where multiple components of different colors are required to achieve a desired color match for coating a relatively small area such as, for example, in automobile refinishing applications is particularly efficient. With the present proportioning system, no premixing of components is required, thus reducing waste due to left over mixtures and the delivery and proportioning systems of the invention are readily cleanable with little loss of unused product. Also, two reactive components, one being a color-carrying component and having, for example, hydroxyl or amine groups in the chemical structure of the component, and the other being a component reactive with the color-carrying component, for example, an isocyanate which can react with the hydroxyl or amine groups. 
     The multi-component proportioning systems and the multi-component delivery systems are also ideally suited where components such as a resin and a curing catalyst for the resin are required to be mixed prior to spraying or coating of the combined components and pot life of the combined components can be a problem, pot life generally referring to the time the combined components remain in a useful condition, i.e., sprayable or coatable and not setup, or hardened. 
     Another use for the multi-component proportioning systems and the multi-component delivery systems is in the application of certain fast-cure adhesives where mixing is required immediately prior to application. With the present systems, only that amount required needs to used and waste of relatively costly components is reduced. Additionally, the flushing system, when used as part of the delivery system can aid in assuring prompt cleaning of the equipment before the adhesive hardens and renders the component lines, the proportioning system or the dispenser permanently inoperative. 
     Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.