Abstract: A multi-component feed system to feed two fluid materials from a feed tank to a spraygun is described. The combined pressure feed tank comprises a pressure feed tank with a lid. Inside the tank is a removable support structure having a cone-shaped member with a central chamber supporting a second container closed by a lid. A splash-proof membrane extends between the inner wall of container and the outer wall of container to protect a second fluid component, e.g. a catalyst from entering the lower chamber of tank. Air is fed to containers and via a regulator, a regulator pipe and through an aperture in the lid. Pressure air feeds the fluid components via tubes to a spray gun, where the components combine to be sprayed.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory nodding motion by a stepper motor so as to repeatedly to bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. Both the element array and the platen extend transversely to respective paths of travel of the print medium and the ribbon. The print medium is fed through the printer from an inlet region, between the platen and print head, and thence to an outlet region. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of print medium to the printer. Typically this rate is of the order of 250 to 400 mm per second. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen, overlying the print medium and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation.

Abstract: A nozzle and aircap for spray guns is described comprising a nozzle with a screw-threaded end for threaded engagement with to a spray gun. The front of the nozzle has a shoulder with a hexagonal central boss and eight holes forming passages for air passing through the spray gun. The boss tapers to a projecting fluid discharge end of the nozzle with a radius measuring 0.117 inch (2.971 mm). The discharge end extends with a straight parallel nozzle outlet for a distance of 0.0311 inch (0.787 mm). The discharge outlet of the nozzle is spaced rearwardly from the leading face of the aircap (0.1533 mm), and a central aperture is chamfered toward the leading face of the aircap and has an axial depth of 0.021 inches (0.533 mm).

Abstract: A spray nozzle operating on low air pressure is described comprising a nozzle to which a fluid to be sprayed is fed as indicated by the arrows and the flow of fluid is metered by a needle valve. Encircling the nozzle is an air cap along which air is fed, as indicated by the arrow to atomize the fluid and transfer it onto the workpiece to be sprayed. The outward shape of the nozzle is configured with a taper from the large outer diameter of the nozzle at a steep angle and by a further taper at a shallow angle to a small cylindrical tip which projects slightly in front of the front face of the air cap. A concave radius is formed between the taper and the end face measuring between 3 mm and 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A trigger operated air valve suitable for controlling both the flow of air to and the flow of feedback air from a nozzle assembly in high volume low pressure (HVLP) spray guns. A trigger moves a spindle against the pressure of a spring. As the trigger is moved, a first valve is opened to initiate a main flow of air to the spray gun nozzle assembly prior to opening a second valve which initiates the flow of feedback air from the nozzle assembly. When the trigger is released, the second valve is closed to terminate the flow of feedback air prior to closing the first valve to terminate the main flow of air to the spray gun nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A feedback air pressure sensing system is described, for use with spray guns, comprising an air pressure feedback line (1), an air regulator (2) with an air cap (3). Air is supplied from air line (4) via regulator (2) to a dual air-feedback valve (5) operated by trigger (6). Air continues along line (7) to spreader control valve (8) supplying fan air to spray gun cap (3). Air is also fed via line (9) to supply atomising air to air cap (3). The regulator (2) comprises a body (13), an inlet (16) for a main air supply to first (14) and second (15) air chambers, an inlet for feedback air to a third air chamber (26), a diaphragm (19) between outlet chamber (25) and a pilot chamber (27), the diaphragm (19) being supported in the regulator body (13) by a spring-loaded valve (18), and spring loaded adjustment means (24).

Abstract: A printing machine wherein printing onto a substrate is effected by a first movement of a print head (1) downwardly into contact with the substrate and then by a second movement over the surface of the substrate while thermal printing elements within the print head (1) are selectively energized. The first movement is controlled by downward movement of a pair of rollers (6,7) operated by synchronized angular movement of a pair of eccentric shafts (8,9) one of which is freely mounted within each roller (6,7). The first and second movements are driven by a first and second stepper motor respectively. The rollers may be coupled by drive belts (4,5).

Abstract: A pressure test gauge is described, more particularly for testing the air pressure at the outlet of a spray gun. The pressure test gauge comprises a body having an inlet which may take the form of a replaceable screw-in-unit sealed airtight with the body. The unit encircles the inlet and connects with passages passing through body. The passage is a small bore tube which connects the inlet with a pressure gauge which has a display. Intermediate the inlet unit and gauge is a valve comprising a barrel with an outer screw-thread screwed into the body. Extending axially of the valve is a metering hole. The gauge body may have ribs for facilitate gripping the body and a bracket with screws to secure it to a wall.

Abstract: A hinge is described having first and second members for respective attachment to two components to be hingedly interconnected. A movement arrestor is provided which serves as a check on the hinging movement of the two hinge members. The arrestor comprises a cam surface on the first hinge member and a roller mounted on the second hinge member. The roller is resiliently displaceable relative to the second member to force the roller into engagement with the cam surface so as to provide the desired check. In accordance with the invention the roller includes a polymer sleeve with which it engages the cam surface, to absorb and thereby reduce the noise and to reduce the wear produced as the roller moves over the cam surface as the hinge is opened and closed. The sleeve material may be PTFE or Nylon and may be snap fitted over the roller and may include an axial slot. The roller and cam surface are conveniently formed from metal.

Abstract: An indexing air cap is described comprising an air cap (8), mounted to be adjustably rotatable on the spraygun body (1), a baffle (10) having a recess (12) and a seal (11) of low density plastics material, such as polyethylene, being located between the baffle and the spraygun body. The baffle (10) and the seal (11) having a plurality of holes (16) passing axially through them and being circumferentially spaced from each other. A pin (17) passing through an aligned set of the holes (16) in the baffle and seal to connect with a blind hole (18) in and lock them to the spraygun body (1). Rotation of the air cap through a predetermined angle of 90.degree. indexes the air spray cap to control the radial position and targeting of the spray pattern of the fluid being sprayed. The spray gun body has a mounting aperture which receives a mounting stud. Bevelled washers on the mounting stud are compressed to expand into engagement with the mounting aperture for locking the gun body to the mounting stud.

Abstract: A needle packing assembly is described comprising an annular seal (1) of ultra-high molecular weight plastics material such as polyethylene. A stepped concentric passage (4) passes through the seal with a shoulder (6). The outer end of the inner wall of the passage has a sealing lip (7) formed by a 15.degree. angle with the inner wall. The lip engages a needle (8) of a valve preventing the ingress of fluid past the seal. The assembly also includes a liner (9) made of a lower molecular weight yieldable plastics material such as P.T.F.E. to provide a slidable seal with the needle (8). The liner is forced against the shoulder (6) via a packing piece (10) and disc springs (12) by a nut (14) screw-threaded onto a sleeve in a spraygun. Adjustment of the nut (14) forces the liner to expand forming a self-lubricating bearing with the needle (8) and forces the sealing lip into engagement with the needle to prevent the passage of fluid past the seal.

Abstract: A miniature electronic pressure gauge is described comprising a case (10) having an aperture leading to a transducer (1) connected to an amplifier (3), the transducer (1) and amplifier (3) being powered from a power source (2) in the form of a storage battery such as a Nicod battery. A pressure signal from the amplifier (3) is fed to a linearization circuit (4) and to an analogue/digital converter (6) clocked with pulses from clock generator (5). The output of converter (6) is fed to a decoder/driver (7) for a seven segment L.C.D. (8). In a preferred construction the pressure gauge is releasably retained in a fluid-tight engagement in a bore in the wall of a pressure chamber of a paint spray gun.

Abstract: A spray gun operable by low pressure high volume air is described. The spray gun (10) comprises an air cap (128) formed with a central spraying aperture and a fluid nozzle (70) projecting toward the spraying aperture, the profile of the nozzle is a plain frustum of a core terminating at a small front face bounding an orifice through which fluid is discharged. The arrangement being such that in operation a flow of atomizing air that emerges through a gap between the nozzle (70) and the air cap (128) attaches to the nozzle (70) and to an emergent fluid jet which assumes a conical form that is a continuation of the nozzle surface and changes to a parallel jet before it breaks up into atomized droplets.

Abstract: A fastening assembly (1) for fastening a waterproof membrane and thick insulation to a roof deck comprises a screw threaded fastener (2) having a driving head (9), a clamp plate (5) for spreading the clamping load of the fastening assembly over an area of the surface of the waterproof membrane, a clamp tube (4) having a head (19& ) and a foot (18). The foot (18) is arranged to be engaged and held by the head (19) is arranged to engage and hold the clamp plate (5). An expanding auger (3) is formed between a screw thread (7) of the fastener (2) and the foot (18& ) of the clamp tube (4) In use, the auger (3) rotates with the fastener to expand the hole in the waterproof membrane through which the fastener (2) is inserted so that it accommodates the clamp tube (4) of the fastening assembly (1).

Abstract: A fastening assembly comprises a first internally open member such as a collar, and a second internally open member such as a bifurcated plug which is slidable realative to the collar to an assembled position in which the plug is located at least partially within the collar, at least one protrusion provided between the collar and the plug causing the plug to be deformed when in said assembled position, so as to create at least one inwardly directed jaw or fang for use in fastening engagement with a workpiece such as an externally threaded stud located at least partially within the plug, the advantage being that the amount of driving force which is transmitted in the driving direction to the stud through means of the fastening assembly can be minimized, so that the fastening assembly can have a knock-on/screw-off capability even if the stud is resiliently mounted on compressible foamed material.

Abstract: A tamperproof shackle seal comprising: a strap, a plug at one end of the strap, a housing at the other end of the strap, and a socket embedded within the housing; the strap, the plug and the housing having been integrally formed of a plastics material, and the socket having been separately formed of a plastics material; the plug including a leading end and a shoulder which faces away from said leading end; the housing having a sleeve-like wall which is integrally closed around the socket apart from at an open mouth; and the socket defining a cavity which is closed, apart from at an open entrance in alignment with said open mouth, with at least one resiliently deflectable portion of the socket protruding into said cavity; whereby, in use, said at least one resiliently deflectable portion flexes to permit insertion of the plug into the socket, and then abuts said shoulder to hold the plug captive in the socket.

Abstract: A caster pintle as disclosed having a resilient high tensile strength metal core encapsulated in a molded plastic body having a groove containing a resiliently collapsible friction ring and ribs for centering the ring in the groove prior to assembly of the pintle with a complementary socket.

Abstract: The system comprises an at least partially threaded male member of plastics material including one or more first discontinuities, such as a bolt with a plurality of substantially rigid webs between portions of a helical rib thereon, and an at least partially threaded female member of plastics material including one or more second discontinuities, such as a nut with a resiliently deflectable tongue whose free end is located beyond one end of the helical rib therein.Threaded advance of the male member, relative to the female member, causes deflection and resilient return of the first and/or second discontinuities as they pass one another, such as deflection and resilient return of the tongue as it passes each of the webs, to give an audible click and an abrupt change in drive torque or other tangible indication of the extent of said threaded advance.