US3112885A

US3112885A - Sprayer with turret nozzle assembly

Info

Publication number: US3112885A
Application number: US156606A
Authority: US
Inventors: George R Bell; Edwin L Oberto; Robert F Fraser
Original assignee: Burgess Vibrocrafters Inc
Current assignee: Burgess Vibrocrafters Inc
Priority date: 1961-12-04
Filing date: 1961-12-04
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

Dec. 3, 1963 G. R. BELL. ETAL 3,112,885

SPRAYER wrm TURRET NozzLE ASSEMBLY Filed Dc. 4. 1961 2 sheets-sheet 1 @7i/922 zazzs' @eoge R. eil,

Dec. 3, 1963 Filed. Deo 4. 1961 G. R. BEITI. la'rAl.l

SPRAYER WITH TURRET NOZZLE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 I kyk/612240215' Gear e j?. 5e/,

United States Patent O Wllill-i EUllEE NZZLE ASSEMBL George lilell, Mundelein, Edwin L. Uberto, Libertyville, and Robert l?. Fraser, Gray/sialic, lll., assignors to llnrgess Jibrocrafters lne., Grayslalie, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. d, 1961, Ser. No. 156,666 d Claims. (tCl. 239-394) The present invention relates to a sprayer `for atomizing liquids having turret mounted interchangeable nozzles.

For a particular spraying job a specific spray pattern and a certain degree of atomization usually is to be preferred. Almost universally spray guns, c g. paint sprayers, are provided with Ian assortment of nozzles and provision is made for interchanging the nozzles -to change the spray dispersion pattern. ln some instances additional atomizing adjustments must be made in addition to physically replacing one nozzle with another. The various manipulations required to change the spray dispersion pattern with conventional equipment can be time consuming and burdensome, particularly in those instances in which frequent changes are required. Furthermore, since the parts must be removed and replaced with the alternate parts being set to one side there is always the opportunity for parts to be lost or misplaced.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a paint sprayer' with a turret assembly incorporating interchangeable nozzles which alternatively may be moved easily, quickly and accurately into effective position. Each nozzle has a predetermined spray pattern different from the others. One of the important features of our invention is the ease and speed with which a change may be accomplished from one nozzle to another to obtain the desired change in the dispersion spray pattern. Since no parts must be removed or replaced there is no opportunity for the user to lose or misplace the alternate nozzle parts that are not in use.

Gne of the requisites of an apparatus of the type of the present invention is that a iluid tight seal must be maintained between the liquid supply means, e.g. pump, and the particular nozzle that is being used to achieve the desired spray pattern. This fluid tight seal rnust eX- ist so long as the selected nozzle is in use, yet at the same time the means for achieving the fluid tight seal must not interfere with the ability of the user to change from one nozzle to another. We have devised a remarkably simple and effective apparatus which achieves the required fluid tight seal between the supply means and the nozzle being used. At the same time, as has already been mentioned, the user may easily and simply change from one nozzle to another. The seal prevents the `liquid from leaking from the apparatus as well as its emission from any of the nozzles other than the one selected for the desired spray pattern. Provision is made to insure accuracy of alignment between the selected nozzle and the conduit through which the liquid to be sprayed is delivered to that nozzle.

Particularly with those spray devices with which paints, etc., are to be used, the ability to clean the paint from the device following its use is an important factor to the user. lif the cleanup time is long and tedious with a particular device, that device is notlilzely to be favorably received by the user. The apparatus of our invention is such that ifor all practical purposes no yadditional cleanup time is required over that necessary with conventional devices utilizing removable interchangeable nozzles. In the usual instance the apparatus of our invention may be cleaned merely by spraying a cleaning duid therethrough. if paint should be allowed to solidify by reason of improper or incomplete cleaning. `The device Bdl Patented Dec. 3, i963 ice may be readily disassembled to enable a more complete cleaning of the parts thereof. The apparatus is sufliciently simple so that the disassembly is easy and its reassembly will be understood by even a relative novice. The services of a skilled mechanic are not required either to perform the disassembly or the reassembly.

A further feature of our invention is that the apparatus is sutilciently simple so that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Takin-g into consideration the desirability of readily interchangeable nozzles, embodiments of our invention may be sold competitively with conventional sprayers having nozzles that must be completely removed and replaced to change.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE l `is 4an elevational view of a sprayer embodying the turret nozzle assembly of the present invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are illustrative of different spray dispersion patterns that may be achieved by using diiferent nozzles;

FIGURE 4 is a section through one of the nozzles;

FEGURE 5 is an exploded view of the turret assembly and its mounting on the fluid supply apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section through the mounted turret assembly.

FIGURE 7 is a section as viewed at line '7 7 of FIG- URE d; and

FIGURE i8 is a view of the backside of the nozzle holder with the nozzles positioned therein.

FlGURE l illustrates a sprayer, generally lltl, having a sprayer body 11 to which is removably secured a fluid container l2. Except for our invention, hereinafter described in detail, the structure and operation of sprayer lil is conventional. Suflice it to say that it is a sprayer of the type that incorporates an electric pump (not shown) which withdraws the fluid from container il@ and delivers it under pressure to an atomizing and spraying nozzle. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art however, that our invention can be used with other types of sprayers different from that illustrated in FGURE l.

The duid from the sprayer pump is delivered to a luid discharge conduit 14. The turret nozzle device, generally l5, of our invention is mounted on conduit 11d. To this end a turret body i6 is threaded onto conduit i4. Body lo is held against rotation with respect to conduit ltd by a pair of set screws i7.

Body i6 is generally cylindrical with an outside surface .t8 which is approximately cylindrical but actually is a `frustum of la cone having 4its smaller diameter at outer face i9 of the body and its lar-ger diameter at shoulder itl on the rearward side of the body. Body i6 is formed about a cylindrical (or conical as the case may be) axis Ztl. As is best seen in FIGURE 6 the opening 22 in body 16 into which conduit 1d is threaded is offset from axis 2f. and parallel thereto.

A turret or nozzle holder 2tlis received on turret body lo. Turret 2.-@ is generally cylindrical in configuration about axis 2l, but has an inner face 25 which has a slight taper to conform to the conguration of the outside surface 18 of body 16. Turret 24 has three openings, 26, 27 and 28 in outer face 29 thereof. Openings 26-28 are offset from :axis 2l a distance such that they can be (depending on their rotational position) aligned with opening :22 in body i6. The rearward skirt of turret 24 has outer threads 3@ thereon.

Three nozzles, generally 32, 33 and 3d are received in openings Zt-ZS respectively. Nozzle 32 is illustrated in FlGURE 4. lt has a hollow nozzle body 35 with an internal opening 35a and `an opening 36 in the outer end thereof. Received in a groove about the outside of body is an O-ring gasket 37 which contacts the walls of turret 24 defining opening 26 to frictionally hold 'the nozzle inthe body. At the rear end of body 35 is an outwardly extending ilange 38 which contacts the inside of body 24 to limit the extent to which the nozzle 32 may be pushed through opening 26. At the rearward end of body 35 is an abutment 39 (FIGURE 6) slightly smaller in diameter than that of opening 22 and defining therewithin an intake opening 35h for the nozzle.

Within the internal opening 35a in body 35, immediately adjacent opening 36 is a fan disc 40. Fan disc 4t) has an axial opening 41 of a shape to define the desired spray pattern, e.g. an elongated slot to deline the fan shape pattern illustrated in FIGURE 3. Immediately adjacent fan disc 4t) is a jewel 42, e.g. sapphire, having an axial opening 43. `Opening 43 is extremely small, in the neighborhood of 0.016 inch in diameter. When a round spray pattern as illust-rated in FIGURE 2 is desired, jewel 42 is used alone without fan disc 40. Body 35 is staked about jewel 42 to hold the jewel in place.

Immediately to the rear of jewel 42 is a spinner 45 which is generally hexagonal in transverse cross-section so that it will be centered within opening 35a and at the same time allow the iluid to tiow thereabout. The torward end of spinner 45 has an axial opening 46 and a pair of offset end slots 47. Slots 47 cause a swirling movement of the tiuid as it enters opening 43 in jewel 42. A spring 48 has one end engaged about stud 49 of spinner 45 and the other end engaged in slot 50 of body 35. Spring 43 urges spinner 45 against jewel 42.

Nozzles

33 and 34 generally conform in construction to the specilic structure just described with respect to nozzle 32. The diii'erences in the nozzles are only that required to provide :different spray patterns and the appropriate atomization for each spray pattern.

Means are provided to align each of nozzles 32-34 with conduit 14. This vmeans is provided by a detent 53 which is received in an opening 54 in body 16. A spring 55 between the base of opening 54 and detent 53 urges lthe detent outwardly away from axis 21 of the body 16. The inner face 25 of turret 24 has three notches 56 which define a shoulder 57 at one end, with the notch being tapered at the other. When shoulder 57 is in abutment with detent 53 las illustrated in FIGURE 7 One of fthe nozzles 32-34 will be in proper alignment with conduit 14. Turret 24 may be rotated in one direction (illustrated by arrow 67) on body 16 since the tapered end of Ithe next nozzle is aligned with conduit 14 detent 53 will drop into the next notch 56.

A nut has internal threads 61 to engage threads 30 on -turret 24. Nut 69 has an inward shoulder 62 which abuts shoulder 20 of body 16. A handle 63 projects from nut 60.

In use, body 16 is secured to conduit 14 by set screws 17. A gasket is friotionally mounted in opening 22 at the end of conduit 14. When nozzle 32 is positioned in alignment with conduit 14 and nut 60 tightened on turret 24, the turret 124 is drawn onto body 16. At the same time the `drawing of the turret ltowards `body 16 causes gasket 65 to be compressed between the end of conduit 14 and abutment 39 on nozzle 32. Thus a iuid tight seal is achieved about the passageway provided by the internal opening 14a in conduit 14 and the internal opening 35a in nozzle 32. Through this passageway the fluid from the electric pump of the sprayer' 10 travels to and is sprayed from nozzle 32. Nozzle 32 produces a fan shaped spray pattern as generally illustrated in FIGURE 3. A spray pattern of this shape is particularly suitable for painting large flat surfaces such as walls, screens, floors, fences and :the like.

If a different spray pattern is desired lock nut 63 is loosened, i.e.

threads

61 and 30 are disengaged. The loosening of the nut allows a separation of the nut and the turret 24 so that the turret can be moved axially with respect to body 16 and rotated thereabout. Turret 24 then is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 67 (FIGURE 7) with respect to body 16. When the nozzle having the desired spray pattern is aligned with conduit 14 an accurate alignment is assured by detent 53 being in contact with abutment 57 of the appropriate notch 56. Nut 63 again is tightened on turret 24 to draw the turret onto body 16 and cause the abutment (eg. abutment 39) of the selected nozzle rto enter opening 22 and contact gasket 65.

A second of the nozzles usually is formed to define a circular spray pattern as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A spray pattern of this shape is suitable for painting odd shaped objects, e.g. chairs, desks, outdoor furniture, cabinets and the like. The third of the nozzles is so designed as to be a ogging nozzle, that is a nozzle to produce a maximum dispersion without a definite spray pattern. A nozzle of this latter type is particularly suitable for spraying insecticides, mothproofers, garden sprays and [the like.

The foregoing description of a specic embodiment is for the purpose of complying with 35 U.S.C. 112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations upon the appended claims inasmuch as modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art or devised 4by them. -For example, turret body 16 could be an integral part of sprayer body 11.

We claim:

1. In `a liquid sprayer the improvement comprising: a body having a liuid discharge conduit therein with a uid discharge opening in a lirst plane at the end of said conduit and a passageway from said plane to a face of said body; an annular resilient gasket mounted in said passageway at the end of said conduit and surrounding said opening; a turret mounted on said body for rotation about an axis spaced from said opening and normal to said plane; said turret being movable with respect to said body parallel to said axis; a plurality of nozzles mounted on said turret at spaced intervals about said axis, each of said nozzles having an intake opening in a second plane parallel to the iirst plane and spaced from said axis a distance equal to the spacing between the conduit opening and the axis, whereby rotation of said turret about said axis alternatively will position the intake opening of a selected one of the nozzles in alignment with the conduit opening, each of said nozzles having an annular abutment about the intake opening, said `abutment; corresponding approximately in diameter to the diameter of the gasket with the abutment of the one nozzle projecting into the passageway to align the one nozzle and abut said gasket; and means interconnecting the body and the turret to move the turret along said axis towards the body to bring said one nozzle into fluid tight sealing engagement with the gasket.

2. ln a liquid sprayer the improvement comprising: a body having a liquid discharge conduit therein with a uid discharge opening in a plane at the end ot said conduit and a passageway from said plane to a face of said body; an annular resilient ygasket mounted in said passageway at the end of said conduit and surrounding said opening; a turret mounted on said body for rotation about an axis spaced from said opening and normal to said plane, said turret being movable with respect to said body parallel to said axis, said turret having a plurality of tubular openings extending therethrough parallel to said axis and spaced thereabout, said openings being spaced from the axis a distance equal to the spacing between the conduit opening and the axis; a plurality of tubular nozzles positioned in said turret openings respectively, each nozzle having a tlange adjacent an end thereof and abutting the side ot' said turret and adjacent said body, said end being annular and smaller in external dimensions than said tlange, said end corresponding approximately in diameter to the diameter of the gasket and deiining an intake opening for the nozzle, one of said nozzles being an effective nozzle and being positioned with said end thereof in said passageway and in contact with said gasket; and means interconnecting the body and the turret to lmove the turret along said axis toward the body to bring said effective nozzle into uid tight sealing engagement with the gasket.

3. In a sprayer having a iluid conduit projecting therefrom and a t-urret nozzle assembly, the improvement cornprising: a turret body detaehably mounted upon said sprayer, said body having a tubular opening in which is received said conduit with the outer end of the conduit being spaced inwardly from the outer end of the opening; an annular resilient `gasket in said opening and abutting said conduit; a -nozzle holder encompassing said body and rotatable about an axis parallel to and spaced from the opening, said holder having notches in the inner surface thereof; a plurality of spray pattern nozzles mounted in said holder `at spaced intervals about said axis and parallel thereto, said nozzles being spaced from said axis the same distance the axis is spaced 4from the opening, said nozzles having an end smaller in cross section than said opening and adapted to enter the opening and to abut the gasket; 1a detent in said body normally biased outwardly thereof to cooperate with said notches to align each of said spray pattern nozzles with said conduit to permit a flow of fluid therethrough; and means for holding said body and said holder in assembly with one of the nozzles in the opening and abutting the gasket.

4. The improvement in a sprayer and nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 3 in which said body is undercut at a rear portion thereof to provide a shoulder thereon; said holder is threaded rearwardly thereof; and said means is a lock nut having a radially inwardly projecting shoulder for abutment with said shoulder of said body and said nut is threaded forwardly thereof to receive said holder in threaded engagement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,968,391 Hamilton July 31, 1934 2,132,333 Wendell et al. Oct. 4, 1938 2,794,690 Eichenauer Mar. 22, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 287,203 Germany Sept. l5, 1915 1,036,048 France Apr. 22, 1953 154,677 Australia June 7, 1954 787,227 Great Britain Dec. l14, 1957

Claims

1. IN A LIQUID SPRAYER THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A FLUID DISCHARGE CONDUIT THEREIN WITH A FLUID DISCHARGE OPENING IN A FIRST PLANE AT THE END OF SAID CONDUIT AND A PASSAGEWAY FROM SAID PLANE TO A FACE OF SAID BODY; AN ANNULAR RESILIENT GASKET MOUNTED IN SAID PASSAGEWAY AT THE END OF SAID CONDUIT AND SURROUNDING SAID OPENING; A TURRET MOUNTED ON SAID BODY FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS SPACED FROM SAID OPENING AND NORMAL TO SAID PLANE; SAID TURRET BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS; A PLURALITY OF NOZZLES MOUNTED ON SAID TURRET AT SPACED INTERVALS ABOUT SAID AXIS, EACH OF SAID NOZZLES HAVING AN INTAKE OPENING IN A SECOND PLANE PARALLEL TO THE FIRST PLANE AND SPACED FROM SAID AXIS A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE SPACING BETWEEN THE CONDUIT OPENING AND THE AXIS, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID TURRET ABOUT SAID AXIS ALTERNATIVELY WILL POSITION THE INTAKE OPENING OF A SELECTED ONE OF THE NOZZLES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CONDUIT OPENING, EACH OF SAID NOZZLES HAVING AN ANNULAR ABUTMENT ABOUT THE INTAKE OPENING, SAID ABUTMENT CORRESPONDING APPROXIMATELY IN DIAMETER TO THE DIAMETER OF THE GASKET WITH THE ABUTMENT OF THE ONE NOZZLE PROJECTING INTO THE PASSAGEWAY TO ALIGN THE ONE NOZZLE AND ABUT SAID GASKET; AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE BODY AND THE TURRET TO MOVE THE TURRET ALONG SAID AXIS TOWARDS THE BODY TO BRING SAID ONE NOZZLE INTO FLUID TIGHT SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GASKET.