Abstract: A packing assembly includes a clip configured to hold a packing stack in a desired arrangement on a longitudinal axis. The clip includes upper arms and lower arms through which the packing stack and slide laterally into and out of the clip. The upper arms and lower arms prevent radial movement of the packing stack and can further prevent axial movement of the packing stack relative to the clip. The clip facilitates installation of the packing stack on a piston by shifting the assembled packing stack axially onto the piston and then pulling laterally off of the packing stack while leaving the packing stack on the piston rod.

Abstract: A material sprayer includes a hopper and a shaker assembly mounted onto a sidewall of the hopper. The hopper includes at least one sidewall that extends along a first plane. The shaker assembly includes a resilient bracket, an electromagnetic coil, and an armature. The resilient bracket is mounted to the sidewall of the hopper and includes first and second ends and a curved portion. The electromagnetic coil is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket and is configured to generate a magnetic field in response to a current from a power source. The armature is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket such that the armature is able to move relative to the electromagnetic coil along an acceleration axis that is orthogonal to the first plane of the sidewall of the hopper.

Abstract: A piston is the driven component within a pump. The piston is driven along a longitudinal axis to pump a fluid through the pump. The fluid flows through the piston between an upstream end of the pump and a downstream end of the pump. The piston outputs the fluid into the downstream end of the pump at a vector offset from the longitudinal axis, thereby inducing rotation of the piston throughout the pumping process. Rotating the piston encourages even wear on various components within the pump, such as sealing rings surrounding the piston, thereby increasing the lifespan of the components and increasing the efficiency of the pump.

Abstract: A spray gun includes a gun body and valves configured to control flow of material and air through the gun body. A trigger is mounted to the gun body and is disposed relative to the valves such that the trigger actuates the valves in sequence to begin air flow and material flow. A sensor senses when the trigger is in an actuated state and the sensor causes a pump to begin pumping material to the spray gun. Release of the trigger causes the trigger to leave the actuated state. A detent mechanism holes the trigger in a detent state intermediate the actuated state and a resting state. The sensor does not sense the trigger with the trigger in the detent state. The trigger maintains the valves open with the trigger in the detent state.

Abstract: A piston rod includes a piston end that is removably attached to the piston rod body. A sleeve extends around the piston rod body and interfaces with a seal disposed within a pump. A ring extends from the piston end defines at least a portion of a socket formed in the piston end for connecting the piston end and the piston rod body. The ring has a cylindrical ring exterior and the sleeve rests on the cylindrical ring exterior such that the shank, the ring, and the sleeve radially overlap each other.

Abstract: A wear sleeve is removably mounted on a piston rod. The piston rod includes a piston cap, a piston rod body, and a piston head, with at least one of the piston cap and the piston head being removable from the piston rod body. The wear sleeve is disposed over the piston rod body and prevents the piston rod from contacting dynamic seals disposed within a pump. The wear sleeve is mechanically secured in a cylindrical recess on the piston rod between a cap shoulder of the piston cap and a head shoulder of the piston head.

Abstract: A wear sleeve is removably mounted on a piston rod. The piston rod includes a piston cap, a piston rod body, and a piston head, with at least one of the piston cap and the piston head being removable from the piston rod body. The wear sleeve is disposed over the piston rod body and prevents the piston rod from contacting dynamic seals disposed within a pump. The wear sleeve is mechanically secured in a cylindrical recess on the piston rod between a cap shoulder of the piston cap and a head shoulder of the piston head.

Abstract: A pump for use with a material sprayer includes a cylinder, a piston, a pump head, first and second check valves, and an elbow connected to the cylinder. The cylinder and the piston are coaxial with a pump axis. The pump head is configured to make a mechanical connection with the reciprocating drive mechanism so as to allow the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate the piston along the pump axis. The elbow includes a first end, a second end, and an inner fluid channel. The first end is configured to make a fluid connection with the hopper. The second end is configured to be fixed with respect to the cylinder. The inner fluid channel extends from the first end to the second end. The pump head and the first end of the elbow are configured to make mechanical and fluid connections with a single linear motion of the pump.

Abstract: A packing insertion tool for inserting a packing stack into a cylinder of a piston pump includes a packing holder on which the packing stack is mounted. The packing holder includes a body, a handle disposed at a first end of the body, and a plurality of fingers disposed at a second end of the body. The fingers extend axially from the body and the packing stack is mounted on the fingers, between the body and a retaining feature disposed at a distal end of the fingers. The fingers can flex to allow the diameter of the distal end of the fingers to change as the packing stack slides on to and off of the fingers.

Abstract: A packing assembly includes a clip configured to hold a packing stack in a desired arrangement on a longitudinal axis. The clip includes upper arms and lower arms through which the packing stack and slide laterally into and out of the clip. The upper arms and lower arms prevent radial movement of the packing stack and can further prevent axial movement of the packing stack relative to the clip. The clip facilitates installation of the packing stack on a piston by shifting the assembled packing stack axially onto the piston and then pulling laterally off of the packing stack while leaving the packing stack on the piston rod.

Abstract: A piston rod and piston head are the driven components within a pump. An upstream end of the piston rod is attached within an aperture of the piston head. At least one flute extends between the upstream end of the piston rod and the aperture, and the at least one flute is configured to provide a flowpath for a fluid, such as paint, to flow downstream of the piston head and piston rod. The flutes facilitate a smooth downstream flow of the fluid, thereby reducing hydraulic resistance and reducing wear caused by the fluid.

Abstract: A piston is the driven component within a pump. The piston is driven along a longitudinal axis to pump a fluid through the pump. The fluid flows through the piston between an upstream end of the pump and a downstream end of the pump. The piston outputs the fluid into the downstream end of the pump at a vector offset from the longitudinal axis, thereby inducing rotation of the piston throughout the pumping process. Rotating the piston encourages even wear on various components within the pump, such as sealing rings surrounding the piston, thereby increasing the lifespan of the components and increasing the efficiency of the pump.

Abstract: A piston is the driven component within a pump. The piston is driven along a longitudinal axis to pump a fluid through the pump. The fluid flows through the piston between an upstream end of the pump and a downstream end of the pump. The piston outputs the fluid into the downstream end of the pump at a vector offset from the longitudinal axis, thereby inducing rotation of the piston throughout the pumping process. Rotating the piston encourages even wear on various components within the pump, such as sealing rings surrounding the piston, thereby increasing the lifespan of the components and increasing the efficiency of the pump.

Abstract: A pump having significantly minimized or no ullage for pumping material (fluid or aggregate).

Abstract: A handheld sprayer comprises a housing, a turbine, a spray tip, a hopper and a trigger. An air flow passage extends through the housing. The turbine is configured to generate an airflow within the air flow passage. The spray tip is positioned to receive airflow from the air flow passage. The hopper is connected to the housing and is configured to discharge a fluid into the air flow passage. The trigger is mounted to the housing to control discharge of the hopper into the flow passage and airflow form the turbine. In different embodiments, the trigger controls airflow from the turbine to the spray tip or the hopper or both. Additionally, a method for spraying a fluid from a handheld sprayer comprises controlling airflow from a turbine and discharge from a hopper into a passage using a combined actuator.