Abstract: An air compressor assembly includes a compressor, a motor, and a drive assembly operatively interconnecting the motor with the compressor. The compressor contains a piston in a cylinder. The motor has an output shaft. The drive assembly includes a flywheel and a bearing that supports the flywheel for rotation about an axis. A drive belt transmits torque from the output shaft to the flywheel so as to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the output shaft. A linkage structure interconnects the flywheel with the piston so as to reciprocate the piston in the cylinder upon rotation of the flywheel. The drive assembly further includes a shaft extending along the axis between the flywheel and the bearing. A first end portion of the shaft is journaled in the bearing for rotation about the axis. A second end portion of the shaft is received within a bore in the flywheel with an interference fit between an outer surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the flywheel.

Abstract: A paint sprayer having an on/off switch, a bypass valve and a pressure adjusting valve has a single manually rotatable control that operates the switch, the bypass valve and the pressure adjusting valve.

Abstract: A reciprocating compressor apparatus includes a piston and a drive mechanism configured to reciprocate the piston. A housing contains a lubricant for the drive mechanism in a lubricant chamber at one side of the piston. The apparatus further includes a conduit pneumatically communicating the lubricant chamber with an opposite side of the piston, a check valve that prevents flow from the intake plenum to the lubricant chamber, and an inlet valve that acts as a throttling device to reduce the pressure in the inlet plenum.

Abstract: An airless paint sprayer has a pressure dampener in the paint supply line to the pump for providing consistent atomization at the spray gun orifice. During peak pressure times within the system and when an inlet check valve is open, paint within the pressure dampener is added to the paint in the supply line to overcome the tendency for the paint to cavitate and delivery an uneven spray pattern.

Abstract: A selective venting spray assembly is disclosed which includes a sprayer for dispersing a spray of liquid and a spray shaping air flow. An aircap is attached to the sprayer for atomizing and directing the spray. The aircap includes one or more spray shaping passages for receiving the airflow and directing it against the spray to alter the shape of the spray. A flow channel assembly is provided to fluidly connect the aircap to the sprayer. The flow channel assembly includes a flow passage selectively switchable between a first position where airflow is admitted from the sprayer to the spray shaping passage, and a second position where the airflow is diverted to a vent, to produce a non-shaped spray without creating damaging back pressure within the sprayer.

Abstract: A retaining ring is disclosed for joining first and second flow members, The retaining ring includes a ring body having an axial passage, and securing structures for connecting the ring body to mating structures on the first flow member. An annular end is formed onto the ring body at an end of the axial passage. The annular end includes an aperture for admitting the second flow member and retaining or portion of the second flow member in conjunction with the first flow member. One or more leaf springs are formed integrally on the annular end adjacent to the aperture, for applying an axially-directed biasing force sufficient to urge first and second flow members into contact and also allow rotational indexing of the second flow member without disconnecting or loosening the ring body.