Abstract: A self-lubricating water-cooled piston-style water pump has a unitary pump housing with a crankcase in direct water communication with the water pump inlet. A low pressure chamber is in direct water communication with the crankcase. A compression chamber is in direct pressurized water communication with a high pressure water manifold through a one-way valve. A high pressure water pump outlet extends outwardly from the manifold to the exterior of the housing. A crankshaft is connected to a connecting rod and a plunger rod, both of which are lubricated and water-cooled in the crankcase. A compression plunger has water channels therethrough connected to the plunger rod and in water communication with the low pressure chamber. The plunger is reciprocal within the compression chamber. A second one-way valve is on the plunger in the compression chamber to let water into the compression chamber.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning surfaces connects to a water source, and uses a portable cylindrical deionized water unit, a garden hose, a replaceable ion exchange resin cartridge, a brush pole system, and a second hose.

Abstract: A hand-held trim painting tool consists of a cylindrical body holding paint to be dispensed in a reservoir within the cylindrical body, a head attached to the body, a removable paint applicator attached to the head, a mechanism for loading paint into the reservoir, a valve permitting paint to be dispensed from the reservoir, an actuator incrementally opening and closing the valve, and a dispensing rate adjuster to regulate the rate at which paint is dispensed.

Abstract: A self-lubricating water-cooled piston-style water pump has a unitary pump housing with a crankcase in direct water communication with the water pump inlet. A low pressure chamber is in direct water communication with the crankcase. A compression chamber is in direct pressurized water communication with a high pressure water manifold through a one-way valve. A high pressure water pump outlet extends outwardly from the manifold to the exterior of the housing. A crankshaft is connected to a connecting rod and a plunger rod, both of which are lubricated and water-cooled in the crankcase. A compression plunger has water channels therethrough connected to the plunger rod and in water communication with the low pressure chamber. The plunger is reciprocal within the compression chamber. A second one-way valve is on the plunger in the compression chamber to let water into the compression chamber.

Abstract: A pad for handle grips of hand held paint spray guns. Frequent prolonged use of paint spray guns can result in the fatiguing and stressing of operator hands. Fatigue and stress can be aggravated by requiring the operator to hold his or her hand in essentially one position on the handle grip. The pad reduces such fatigue and stress. The pad fits within a recessed region that is molded into the paint spray gun handle where the operator's palm meets the grip. Alternatively, the pad could be attached to existing paint spray gun handle grips that are lacking the recessed region. The pad is made of a material that is less dense than the synthetic resinous material of the spray gun handle grip. Preferably, the material is plastic foam or gel and is attached to the spray gun handle using an acrylic glue. The pad is designed to absorb some of the vibrational energy that is transmitted to the operator's hand in current spray gun handles.

Abstract: An apparatus for painting a surface, having an absorbent paint applicator containing paint and contacting the surface; a tube filled with paint and connected to the applicator; and a metering device for incrementally metering paint onto the applicator from the tube. The metering device has a plunger reciprocating within the tube, with the plunger having a handle. The plunger can either be incrementally advanced within the tube by rotating the handle, thereby incrementally dispensing paint onto the applicator, or the plunger can be manually retracted within the tube to fill the tube with paint and manually advanced within the tube to dispense the paint. The plunger is helically grooved along its length and a converter translates rotation of the handle into linear motion of the plunger, thereby advancing the plunger within the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily storage of paint roller sleeves, the roller cage, and a portion of the handle assembly. The apparatus consists of an enclosure receiving the roller sleeve, the roller cage, and a portion of the handle assembly and also fully enclosing the roller sleeve and the roller cage.

Abstract: The invention, an apparatus for cleaning surfaces such as windows, connects to a water source, and uses a portable cylindrical deionized water unit, a garden hose, a replaceable ion exchange resin cartridge, a brush pole system, and a second hose. The cylindrical deionized water unit has an inlet opening, an outlet opening, first and second separate interior chambers; and a valve with first and second positions. The valve at the first position directs water flow through the inlet opening into the first chamber and out through the outlet opening. The valve at the second position directs the water flow through the second chamber and out through the outlet opening. A garden hose connects the inlet opening to the water source. A replaceable ion exchange resin cartridge fits into the second chamber. The brush pole system uses: a hollow pole with an inlet portal, an outlet portal, and a brush.

Abstract: A heat gun includes an infrared surface thermometer measuring the surface temperature of a target and a surface temperature indicator readable by an operator of the heat gun, and a nozzle directing heated air at the target. The infrared surface thermometer is pivotally mounted on the heat gun adjacent the nozzle, so as to be aimed at targets at varying distances from the nozzle. The surface temperature indicator is mounted on the heat gun at the end of the heat gun nearest the operator. Optionally, a laser mounted on the thermometer is used to aim the thermometer at the target.

Abstract: A hand-held trim painting tool consists of a cylindrical body holding paint to be dispensed in a reservoir within the cylindrical body, a head attached to the body, a removable paint applicator attached to the head, a mechanism for loading paint into the reservoir, a valve permitting paint to be dispensed from the reservoir, an actuator incrementally opening and closing the valve, and a dispensing rate adjuster to regulate the rate at which paint is dispensed.

Abstract: An airless sprayer for paint or the like consists of an electric drive unit connected to a piston. Driven by the electric drive unit, the piston reciprocates within the cylinder, thus spraying the paint or the like. Because of the close tolerance between the piston and cylinder (typically about 0.0002 to about 0.0003 inches), the sprayed liquid provides a seal between the piston and cylinder. To prevent this tolerance from increasing to the point of failure, the cylinder is manufactured from nitride hardened steel. A process for manufacturing the airless sprayer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A valve for causing pulsatile flow in a multi-piston plunger pump includes a valve poppet, a valve seat, and a spring biasing the valve poppet against the valve seat; and a mechanism holding the valve poppet in an open position, thereby producing pulsatile flow from the pump. The mechanism includes a magnet and an adjustment mechanism for moving the magnet toward and away from the valve poppet. When the magnet is moved toward the valve poppet, the magnet attracts the poppet away from the valve seat, and when the magnet is moved away from the valve poppet, the magnet releases the poppet. The spring then biases the poppet against the valve seat in a closed position.

Abstract: A valve for causing pulsatile flow in a multi-piston plunger pump includes a valve poppet, a valve seat, and a spring biasing the valve poppet against the valve seat; and a mechanism holding the valve poppet in an open position, thereby producing pulsatile flow from the pump. The mechanism includes a magnet and an adjustment mechanism for moving the magnet toward and away from the valve poppet. When the magnet is moved toward the valve poppet, the magnet attracts the poppet away from the valve seat, and when the magnet is moved away from the valve poppet, the magnet releases the poppet. The spring then biases the poppet against the valve seat in a closed position.

Abstract: A paint roller assembly, including a handle having an axially extending portion for mounting a roller; one end of the axially extending portion having an engagement member; and an end piece engaging the engagement member to hold the roller in place on the axially extending portion. The end piece has a pivoting latch for alternately gripping and releasing the engagement member.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser arrangement includes a self-contained pump and a discharge head. The pump has a liquid reservoir, while the discharge head has an applicator construction and an aperture. The aperture will be in liquid flow communication with the liquid reservoir. The discharge head is constructed and arranged to selectively take in liquid from an external liquid source through the aperture and convey the liquid to the liquid reservoir, when a pressure differential is established between the liquid reservoir and the external liquid source by the pump. The discharge head is also constructed and arranged to selectively eject liquid from the liquid reservoir through the aperture for distribution by the applicator construction. The applicator construction preferably includes a molded, flexible member with the aperture being in a portion of the flexible member. Methods of assembly and use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser arrangement includes a self-contained pump and a discharge head. The pump has a liquid reservoir, while the discharge head has an applicator construction and an aperture. The aperture will be in liquid flow communication with the liquid reservoir. The discharge head is constructed and arranged to selectively take in liquid from an external liquid source through the aperture and convey the liquid to the liquid reservoir, when a pressure differential is established between the liquid reservoir and the external liquid source by the pump. The discharge head is also constructed and arranged to selectively eject liquid from the liquid reservoir through the aperture for distribution by the applicator construction. The applicator construction preferably includes a molded, flexible member with the aperture being in a portion of the flexible member. Methods of assembly and use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-contained, completely portable pressure washer is disclosed which requires only connection to a conventional garden hose for operation. The portable pressure washer is driven by a two-cycle, internal combustion engine that is of relatively small size and weight. A positive displacement pump of the vane type is connected to the engine through a centrifugal clutch that causes operation of the pump only after a predetermined engine speed greater than idling speed has been reached. A garden hose is connected to the pump inlet and a substantially rigid spray wand having a spray head is mounted directly to the pump outlet. A primary handle on the engine housing and a secondary handle on the spray wand enable the user to carry and manipulate the portable pressure washer during all operative spray functions.

Abstract: A pressure washing system is disclosed which consists of a hydraulic pump driven by a variable speed internal combustion engine, a nozzle gun connected to the pump outlet, an unloader valve that senses the demand state of the nozzle gun for delivering water under pressure to the gun on demand, and for recirculating water to the pump inlet when the gun is in a non-demand position, and a throttle control device. The throttle control device senses pump outlet pressure and controls engine speed as a function of the demand/non-demand mode of the nozzle gun. Water is accordingly delivered at a high flow rate to the nozzle gun in the demand state, but recirculated at a much lower flow rate when the nozzle gun is in a demand state. The throttle control device also senses fluid pressure from the pump outlet to operate between engine starting and engine running modes.