Patent Publication Number: US-2011062251-A1

Title: Quarter turn side seal assembly

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/053,256, filed May 15, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     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 side seal assembly consists of three main components: a hardened and precision ground side seal, a spring and a housing in which the side seal and spring are assembled into (see  FIG. 1 ). The side seal is considered to be a wear item that the operator may have to remove and reassemble. The side seal contains two tabs that fit through a slot feature in the housing. The tabs on the side seal slide through the housing slot into a relief area that allows the side seal to turn 90 degrees and fall into a shallow pocket that keeps the side seal retained. Spring force ensures that the side seal cannot easily disengage from the pocket that the tabs are resting in. 
     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  is an exploded view of the side seal assembly of the instant invention. 
         FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  are views showing the side seal at different points during assembly with  FIG. 4  being the final assembled location of the side seal in the housing. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a spray gun utilizing the side seal assemblies of the instant invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The side seal assembly, generally designated  10 , consists of three main components: a hardened and precision ground side seal  12 , a spring  14  and a housing  16  in which the side seal  12  and spring  14  are assembled (see  FIG. 1 ). All three parts are constructed of stainless steel in the preferred embodiment. The side seal  12  is considered to be a wear item that the operator may have to remove and reassemble. 
     The side seal contains two tabs  22  that fit through a slot feature  24  in the housing. The tabs  22  on the side seal  12  slide through the housing slot  24  into a relief area  26  that allows the side seal  12  to turn 90 degrees and fall into a shallow pocket  28  that keeps the side seal  12  retained. Spring  14  force ensures that the side seal  12  cannot easily disengage from the pocket  28  that the tabs  22  are resting in. 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  show the side seal  12  at different points during assembly with  FIG. 4  being the final assembled location of the side seal  12  in the housing  16 . O-rings  18  and  20  are located on the exterior of side seal  12  and housing  16  respectively for sealing. 
       FIG. 5  shows the side seal assemblies  10  exploded away from the fluid housing  30  of spray gun  32  into which they are threadedly installed. 
     It is contemplated that various changes and modifications may be made to the side seal assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.