Abstract: An adjustable air pressure valve for placement in a compressed air hose. Positioning a knob determines the pressure exerted by a spring on a valve member which allows air above a predetermined pressure to escape from the hose to the atmosphere. The knob is incrementally moveable to provide incremental pressure changes.

Abstract: An improved pressure gauge which constantly indicates gas pressure in a line. A tubular adapter is attached in a gas supply line. The adapter is provided with a passage which permits gas to flow into an annular chamber defined between an outer sleeve secured to the line adapter and a tubular plunger. The plunger, an annular seal, and a spring are retained on the adapter by the sleeve. The seal, plunger and spring are arranged concentrically about the adapter. Gas pressure entering the chamber forces the seal to engage the plunger which, when sufficiently high, compresses the spring, moving and exposing the plunger. The outer surface of the plunger is provided with numbers and lines thereon which indicate gas pressure at the gauge.

Abstract: An improved fluid tight seal for connecting a tube to a housing member. A generally D-shaped opening is formed in the housing member. The opening has a flat open side where the housing member is secured to and abuts a flat surface. A groove or slot extends around the opening. The slot has enlarged corners adjacent the flat side. The tube is provided with an annular groove adjacent the end to be attached to the housing member. The tube groove receives a resilient seal which is shaped to slide into the housing member slot. The seal has corner tabs which fill the enlarged slot corners. Prior to securing the housing member to the flat surface, the seal extends slightly from the slot. When the housing member is secured to the surface, the seal is compressed to form a high pressure resilient seal between the housing member and the tube. The seal is particularly useful for connecting a compressed air outlet tube to the cylinder head of an air compressor.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer including a manifold assembly adapted to be attached to a mechanism for supporting and/or moving the atomizer and an air bearing turbine motor housing assembly releasably secured to the manifold assembly. Sources of pressured fluid for actuating the atomizer and coating fluid are connected to the manifold which has fittings for releasably sealing to apertures in the rear cover of the housing assembly. The opposite end of the housing includes a shaping air cap and a shaping air ring which cooperate to define an annulus for discharging a thin ring of shaping air over the peripheral edge of an atomizer bell to direct fluid particles toward a target. Exhaust air from the turbine motor is vented to the inside of the housing and directed to a chamber behind the atomizer bell to aid in directing the fluid particles.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer including a manifold assembly adapted to be attached to a mechanism for supporting and/or moving the atomizer and an air bearing turbine motor housing assembly releasably secured to the manifold assembly. Sources of pressured fluid for actuating the atomizer and coating fluid are connected to the manifold which has fittings for releasably sealing to apertures in the rear cover of the housing assembly. The opposite end of the housing includes a shaping air cap and a shaping air ring which cooperate to define an annulus for discharging a thin ring of shaping air over the peripheral edge of an atomizer bell to direct fluid particles toward a target. Exhaust air from the turbine motor is vented to the inside of the housing and directed to a chamber behind the atomizer bell to aid in directing the fluid particles.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer including a manifold assembly adapted to be attached to a mechanism for supporting and/or moving the atomizer and an air bearing turbine motor housing assembly releasably secured to the manifold assembly. Sources of pressured fluid for actuating the atomizer and coating fluid are connected to the manifold which has fittings for releasably sealing to apertures in the rear cover of the housing assembly. The opposite end of the housing includes a shaping air cap and a shaping air ring which cooperate to define an annulus for discharging a thin ring of shaping air over the peripheral edge of an atomizer bell to direct fluid particles toward a target. Exhaust air from the turbine motor is vented to the inside of the housing and directed to a chamber behind the atomizer bell to aid in directing the fluid particles.

Abstract: A hand held spray gun including a gun body, a barrel and a nozzle assembly attached to the front of the barrel. A tubular retainer passes through a portion of the body and is threaded into a passage in the barrel to connect the barrel to the body. A fluid valve actuator extends from the body through the retainer and into the barrel passage for operating a fluid valve in the nozzle assembly. The retainer also functions as a guide for the valve actuator, holds a radial fluid seal for forming a sliding seal against the valve actuator and serves as a stop for a spring biased fluid seal between the valve actuator and the barrel.

Abstract: A hand held electrostatic spray gun having an electrostatic power supply mounted in the gun. The power supply includes a circuit module mounted in the gun handle which produces heat during operation. The circuit module has a heat conducting housing which is intimately attached to a heat conducting tube extending through the handle. Compressed air delivered through the tube to a nozzle for assisting atomization and/or pattern shaping cools the circuit module.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer including a manifold assembly adapted to be attached to a mechanism for supporting and/or moving the atomizer and an air bearing turbine motor housing assembly releasably secured to the manifold assembly. Sources of pressured fluid for actuating the atomizer and coating fluid are connected to the manifold which has fittings for releasably sealing to apertures in the rear cover of the housing assembly. The opposite end of the housing includes a shaping air cap and a shaping air ring which cooperate to define an annulus for discharging a thin ring of shaping air over the peripheral edge of an atomizer bell to direct fluid particles toward a target. Exhaust air from the turbine motor is vented to the inside of the housing and directed to a chamber behind the atomizer bell to aid in directing the fluid particles.

Abstract: An improved rotary paint atomizing device in the form of a bell and a cover plate which is releasably attached to the front center of the bell. Paint fed along the axis of the device onto a conical projection on the back surface of the cover plate accelerates and flows outward in a radial direction. The cover plate surface is curved so that as the paint flows outwardly, it also flows first forward and then back until it reaches radial slots formed in a peripheral rim on the cover plate where the cover plate contacts an interior bell surface. Paint discharges from the slots onto a conical interior bell surface and flows in wide, closely spaced ribbons which merge into a uniform, continuous thin sheet before it is discharged from the bell edge. As the paint discharges from the bell edge, the sheet produces extremely fine uniform ligaments which break up to produce fine, uniform small paint particles.

Abstract: A continuous electrical connection between a high voltage power source and a paint charging electrode in an electrostatic spray gun. The electrode is mounted on a valve needle which is reciprocated by a trigger mechanism as the spray gun is operated. A novel spring establishes and maintains the electrical connection from a stationary contact on the gun barrel to the moving valve needle. The spring may be mounted on a spacer tube mounted coaxially about the valve needle. The spacer tube can move in an axial direction to exert a force on a seal between the barrel and the valve needle without affecting the electrical connection.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer (20) includes a manifold assembly (22) adapted to be attached to a mechanism for moving the atomizer and an air bearing turbine motor housing assembly (21) releasably secured to the manifold assembly. Sources of pressured fluid for actuating the atomizer and coating fluid are connected to the manifold (29) which has fittings (32, 33, 34, 35, 36) for releasably sealing to apertures (42) in the rear cover (43) of the housing assembly. The opposite end of the housing includes a shaping air cap (24) and a shaping air ring (25) which cooperate to define an annulus for discharging a thin ring of shaping air over the peripheral edge of an atomizer bell (26) to direct fluid particles toward a target. Exhaust air from the turbine motor (46) is vented to the inside of the housing and directed to a chamber (79) behind the atomizer bell to aid in directing the fluid particles.

Abstract: A high speed non-incendive rotary painting assembly including a high voltage power supply, an air supply means and a paint supply means is disclosed. The rotary painting assembly comprises a non-conductive body. A high speed, non-conductive turbine is connected to a non-conductive atomizer bell. In one embodiment, the non-conductive turbine is connected to a non-conductive rotatable shaft which mounts the non-conductive atomizer bell. In another embodiment, the non-conductive shaft is fixed. The non-conductive shaft rotatably mounts a non-conductive turbine and rotary atomizer bell assembly.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston compressor of the type having the piston fixed to the connecting rod. The centerline of the cylinder is offset from the centerline of the crankshaft in a direction which reduces the maximum angle between the piston and the cylinder axis during the compression stroke. The offset reduces the maximum side loading on the piston to in turn reduce piston seal wear.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling operation of valves which supply atomization air and pattern shaping air and coating fluid to a spray gun. In response to a trigger signal, air is immediately supplied to the spray gun. After a predetermined time delay, fluid is supplied to the spray gun. Fluid continues for the remainder of the duration of the trigger signal and air is continued for a predetermined time after the trigger signal has ceased.