Patent Publication Number: US-2011062702-A1

Title: Hose manifold with integrated filtration and shut-off check valves

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application claims the benefit of US Application Ser. No. 61/053,786, filed May 16, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Spray guns for application of fast setting materials such as polyurethanes and polyureas are well known. Because these materials set up so fast, it is important that the gun or applicator be easily disassembled with a minimum of tools for cleaning. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention integrates fluid filtration by means of cylindrical mesh screens and incorporates a check valve backup fluid shut-off system into the hose manifold. Two threaded check valve assemblies (one assembly on the iso side, one on the resin side) with slip on cylindrical filter screens are assembled into the hose manifold to filter the iso and resin fluids. 
     When the hose manifold is assembled to the main fluid section of the foam applicator, pin features within the main fluid section open the spring loaded check balls in the hose manifold to allow for full fluid flow to the main fluid section. When the hose manifold is removed from the main fluid section, the spring-loaded balls automatically check to act as a backup shut-off system and prevent fluid leakage. The hose manifold does not need to be removed from main fluid section to access the filter screens. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-section of the manifold of the instant invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a spray gun with the hose manifold. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The hose manifold  10  of the instant invention integrates fluid filtration by means of cylindrical mesh screens  12  and incorporates a check valve  14  backup fluid shut-off system into the hose manifold  10 . Two threaded check valve assemblies  16  (one assembly on the iso side, one on the resin side) with slip on cylindrical filter screens  12  are assembled into the hose manifold  10  to filter the iso and resin fluids. 
     When the hose manifold  10  is assembled to the main fluid section  18  of the foam applicator  20 , pin features  22  within the main fluid section  18  open the spring loaded check balls  24  in the hose manifold  10  to allow for full fluid flow to the main fluid section  18 . When the hose manifold  10  is removed from the main fluid section  18 , the spring-loaded balls  24  automatically check to act as a backup shut-off system and prevent fluid leakage. The hose manifold  10  does not need to be removed from main fluid section  18  to access the filter screens  12  which may be removed or cleaned by unscrewing check assemblies  16  from the bottom of hose manifold  10 . 
     It is contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made to the hose manifold without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.