Abstract: A check valve comprises a housing, a fluid passage, a seat, a valve member and a stop. The fluid passage extends through the housing. The seat is disposed in the fluid passage. The valve member is positioned in the passage to engage the seat. The stop extends through the housing to engage the valve member. The stop is accessible from outside the housing to adjust a distance the valve member can travel from the seat. In one embodiment, the stop includes a variable stop feature, such as an offset pin or a cam. In another embodiment, the stop includes a pump control valve. In yet another embodiment, the housing includes markings to indicate a position of the stop. The valve member comprises a ball or a poppet in different embodiments.

Abstract: A drywall feed pump system supplies drywall joint compound to a fill port assembly that allows for the connection of tools with various couplings, such as continuous flow pump tools and conventional automated hand tools. The assembly includes a feed hose, a mounting plate, a coupling plate, and a quick-connect adapter. An inlet of the feed hose connects to the feed pump system to supply the assembly with joint compound. The mounting plate provides a location for the outlet of the feed hose and accessory couplings to attach. The coupling plate facilitates the attachment to the drywall feed pump system. The quick-connect adapter extends from the mounting plate and facilitates the connection of various accessory couplings.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for dispensing tape and mastic over gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes improved creaser wheel operation. The taping tool comprises an elongate body having first and second ends, and a creaser wheel pivotally mounted near the second end thereof for creasing dispensed tape. The creaser wheel is pivotable into a plurality of positions between a first position farthest away from the elongate body's first end and a second position nearest the elongate body's first end. The taping tool also includes an actuator for receiving user input indicative of a position of the creaser wheel desired by a user. In the absence of user input, the creaser wheel is configured to reside substantially in the first position. The creaser wheel is configured to pivot from the first position toward the second position in response to the receipt of user input.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for taping gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes a simplified tape advance/actuation assembly. The taping tool has an elongate body portion with first and second ends, and a connected head portion that directs dispensed tape toward a joint between wallboard members. The tape advance/actuation assembly has a control member forming part of the tool's elongate body portion and a tape engagement member housed by the tool's head portion. The tape engagement member moves in substantial unison with and in response to movement of the control member. The tape engagement member engages or disengages the tape depending at least in part on the position and/or direction of movement of the control member. The extent of the engagement between the tape engagement member and the tape may be adjusted though manipulation of a single fastener.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for taping gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes a swivel joint. The taping tool has a first portion for receiving a flow of mastic, and a second portion for receiving the flow of mastic and for dispensing tape and mastic. The first and second portions define fluid communication paths therein for the flow of mastic therethrough. The taping tool also has a swivel joint intermediate the first and second portions that defines a fluid communication path therein allowing mastic to flow from the taping tool's first portion, through the swivel joint, and into the taping tool's second portion. The swivel joint also allows the taping tool's first portion to rotate relative to the taping tool's second portion through an angle of 360 degrees about the taping tool's longitudinal axis, while mastic is flowing through the taping tool.

Abstract: A fill port assembly for coupling accessories to a feed pump system comprises a feed hose, a mounting plate and a quick-connect adapter. The feed hose has an inlet end for connecting to a feed pump manifold, and an outlet end. The mounting plate comprises a linkage coupled to the mounting plate for joining the fill port assembly to a feed pump system, and a discharge orifice extending through the mounting plate for receiving the outlet end. The quick-connect adapter extends from the mounting plate for joining accessory couplings to the mounting plate adjacent the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A coupler utilizes a conventional sanitary clamp member 12 having a handle 14 releasably clamping first and second halves 16 and 18 together. The inner surface of halves 16 and 18 is provided with a groove 20 having angled sides 20a and 20b which serve to axially press together male 22 and female 28 members together as handle 14 is tightened. Male member 22 has a generally cylindrical plug 24 with end 30 which extends into socket 28b of female member 28. An O-ring 26 is located on the circumference of plug 24 and seals against the inner cylindrical surface of socket 28b.

Abstract: A pump 24 with speed control is utilized. A dispenser 12 may have a trigger 16 which actuates a valve 16. Dispenser control 18 has “up” and “down” buttons, 20 and 22 respectively. The controls 28 (comprising elements 18, 20 and 22) for the pump 24 are remote from pump 24. The controls communicate with the pump via wires or radio frequency (RF) 26 to regulate pump speed. Quick button (20 and 22) presses will incrementally change the flow setting while long button (20 and 22) presses will change the settings at a higher rate. This control method can also be tied to the controls located on the pump 24. The potentiometer 30 on the pump 24 will set a max setting, and any adjustments at the valve can go below this setting and back up to it, but never exceed it.

Abstract: A removable waterproof enclosure (20) houses an RF control (22) and two triggers (or buttons) (24) and (26) to start and stop a drywall feed pump (16). The enclosure attaches to the power-fed drywall box tool handle(s) (28). It has a manual clamp (30) to keep it in a desired position on the handle (28) when desired. The clamp (30) also has a neutral or released position to allow it to slide freely with the user's hand for more versatility. Two triggers or buttons (24) and (26) on opposite ends of the RF enclosure (20) are used to control the pump (16) on/off from multiple hand grip positions.

Abstract: A single sprayer 12 is allowed to run in two completely different operating modes, thereby becoming suitable for medias controlled best by either system pressure or by flow rate. This provides the user with the ability to apply a wider range of products without incurring the higher cost of two separate systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a handle system for use with finishing tools utilized to finish wallboard joints. A finishing tool may be connected to the handle system and moved relative to a wallboard joint to appropriately apply mastic over the joint. In one embodiment, the handle system includes an elongate handle body having a tear drop cross-sectional shape. The shape enables the handle body to fit ergonomically within a user's hand and improves the user's ability to resist torque tending to cause the handle body to twist and a connected finishing tool to come out of contact with wallboard during use. The handle system further includes a pivoting connector assembly that permits a connected finishing tool to rotate relative to the handle body and that has a unique pivot pin that allows mastic to flow through the handle body, through the pivoting connector assembly, and into the connected finishing tool.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for taping gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes a simplified tape advance/actuation assembly. The taping tool has an elongate body portion with first and second ends, and a connected head portion that directs dispensed tape toward a joint between wallboard members. The tape advance/actuation assembly has a control member forming part of the tool's elongate body portion and a tape engagement member housed by the tool's head portion. The tape engagement member moves in substantial unison with and in response to movement of the control member. The tape engagement member engages or disengages the tape depending at least in part on the position and/or direction of movement of the control member. The extent of the engagement between the tape engagement member and the tape may be adjusted though manipulation of a single fastener.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for dispensing tape and mastic over gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes improved creaser wheel operation. The taping tool comprises an elongate body having first and second ends, and a creaser wheel pivotally mounted near the second end thereof for creasing dispensed tape. The creaser wheel is pivotable into a plurality of positions between a first position farthest away from the elongate body's first end and a second position nearest the elongate body's first end. The taping tool also includes an actuator for receiving user input indicative of a position of the creaser wheel desired by a user. In the absence of user input, the creaser wheel is configured to reside substantially in the first position. The creaser wheel is configured to pivot from the first position toward the second position in response to the receipt of user input.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a taping tool for taping gaps, seams, and/or joints between wallboard members that includes a swivel joint. The taping tool has a first portion for receiving a flow of mastic, and a second portion for receiving the flow of mastic and for dispensing tape and mastic. The first and second portions define fluid communication paths therein for the flow of mastic therethrough. The taping tool also has a swivel joint intermediate the first and second portions that defines a fluid communication path therein allowing mastic to flow from the taping tool's first portion, through the swivel joint, and into the taping tool's second portion. The swivel joint also allows the taping tool's first portion to rotate relative to the taping tool's second portion through an angle of 360 degrees about the taping tool's longitudinal axis, while mastic is flowing through the taping tool.