Abstract: A viscous material dispense system including a dispense valve having an outlet, a mix tube secured at an upper end thereof to the outlet of the dispense valve, a mixer shroud positioned telescopically over the mix tube and including a conical lower end, and an air shroud fitted telescopically over the lower end of the mixer shroud and defining a conical surface positioned in confronting relation to the conical tip portion of the mixer shroud. The air shroud and the lower end of the mixer shroud coact to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending flutes extending downwardly between the outer surface of the mixer shroud and the inner surface of the air shroud and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending flutes defined between the conical tip portion of the mixer shroud and the conical surface of the air shroud.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating machine which is capable of washing deposited paint from fore end portions of outer peripheral surface of a bell cup. Thinner passages are provided on the bell cup to communicate a paint reservoir with the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup. Thinner which flows out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup through the thinner passages is guided toward the marginal releasing edge of the bell cup. To this end, assist air is spurted out through assist air outlet holes which are provided in the fore end face of a shaping air ring at positions radially on the inner side of shaping air outlet holes. Accordingly, at the time of a washing operation, the thinner which has come out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup is forcibly pushed on the outer peripheral surface by the actions of assist air and shaping air as the thinner is guided toward the fore end of the bell cup to wash away deposited paint therefrom.

Abstract: A liquid coating nozzle is provided with a first block which has an inner liquid reserving section that extends in the longitudinal direction and an inner discharge section which includes a plurality of small holes formed in the longitudinal direction at a bottom portion of the liquid reserving section. The nozzle is also provided with a second block which has an inner space defining a gas reserving section that extends in the longitudinal direction outside the first block and an outer discharge section formed in the longitudinal direction at a bottom portion of the inner space. The outer discharge section includes a plurality of small holes and produces a gas flow that externally surrounds a linear or curtain-shaped liquid flow that flows downward from the small holes. This results in the formation of a thin coating film in a short time and reduces the consumption of liquid and coating nonuniformities.

Abstract: The invention is concentrated at the front end of such an air spray or HVLP gun and in particular details the relationship between the exterior of the fluid nozzle and the inside of the air cap. In particular, the fluid nozzle has a generally frustoconical outer surface which forms an included angle of about 50.degree.. The inside of the air passage at its rearward end has an included angle of about 20.degree. and then curves gently to the point where it is adjacent to the front of the air cap to form a domed inner surface.

Abstract: A jet pump for a heat gun includes an elongate hollow pump body lying along a longitudinal axis. The pump body has an inlet, a mixing section and an outlet. A nozzle unit is axially aligned with the inlet for directing pressurized fuel into the inlet of the pump body. Movement of the pressurized fuel into the inlet causes air to be drawn into the inlet to mix with the fuel within the pump body. A disk shaped air diverter is axially spaced away from the inlet of the pump body. The diverter has a length and a diameter. The diameter of the diverter is greater than the length of the diverter and larger than the inlet of the pump body. A housing is radially spaced from and surrounds the diverter forming a first annular gap therearound for air outside the housing to pass therethrough. The air moves around the diverter then changes direction between the diverter and the inlet of the pump body before entering the inlet.

Abstract: In an atomizer head that produces a conical droplet mist, two shaping air ducts are diametrically opposing and are provided in the vicinity of the mist outlet aperture. The shaping air jets emerging from these ducts flatten the droplet mist which thus has a larger cone angle in one direction and a smaller cone angle in the other direction. A droplet mist thus flattened can be used to apply a liquid layer in a manner particularly true to the areas and contours of a workpiece surface.

Abstract: The invention is a system of spraying coating on the surface of a substrate with a convergent spray gun that utilized separate pump and flow metering systems. Each part of a two part resin is pumped and metered separately. The third part which is a foaming agent and surfactant is also pumped and metered separately in a mix chamber. All three materials are mixed in the mix chamber and then atomized and combined with dry filler in the convergent zone of the spray gun. The quantity of the filler and the three part foaming resins are proportioned in order to maintain a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: An arc spray gun has a pair of tubular wire guides that guide two metal wires to a point of contact at the wire tips where an arc current through the wires effect an arc, thereby melting the tips. Primary gas channeling on a central axis issues a primary gas flow that atomizes the molten metal and effects a spray stream thereof. A gas cap has at least four orifices arcuately spaced equally about the central axis. The orifices direct secondary gas jets inwardly with a forward directional component toward a point of intersection of the orifice axes on the central axis. The point of intersection is located proximate the point of contact and spaced downstream therefrom sufficiently for the jets not to interfere substantially with the atomization. The spray stream thereby is constricted and accelerated by the secondary gas jets.

Abstract: Techniques for melting and forming aerosols from solid CIPC are disclosed. Solid CIPC in block form is convenient to ship and to handle. Solid CIPC in block form appears to have a consistency of solid paraffin wax. Solid CIPC is melted by controlled techniques to form a substantially pure liquid stream of CIPC. The molten or liquid stream of CIPC is converted to an aerosol of CIPC either by a pressurized, hot air stream or by a combustion gas stream.

Abstract: A meltblowing method and system for dispensing first and second fluids from corresponding first and second orifices of a die assembly to form a meltblown first fluid filament. The die assembly directs the first and second fluid flows parallelly, or divergently, or directs two second fluid flows convergently toward a common first fluid flow, whereby the first and second fluids are dispensed from orifices at equal first fluid flow rates and equal second fluid flow rates. The die assembly is compressably retained between opposing end plates coupled to an adapter for further coupling to a main manifold having a fluid metering device for supplying first fluid to the die assembly. The meltblown filaments are depositing onto a moving substrate by vacillating the filament non-parallel to a direction of substrate movement, whereby vacillation a first fluid flow is controllable by an angle between the first fluid flow and one or more flanking second fluid flows, among other variables.

Abstract: An improved air-assisted spray nozzle assembly includes a section for receiving liquid and gas streams and a spray tip located downstream therefrom. The spray tip has a downstream chamber for receiving the liquid and gas with passages, each terminating with a cavity. The cavity cooperates with complementary notched portions for directing discharging flow streams in a predetermined direction for defining a well defined conical or flat spray pattern.

Abstract: An improved spray gun having an aluminum gun body and a sprayhead made of a plastics material, preferably of polybutylene terephthalate. The sprayhead is permanently secured to the spray gun body, preferably with a swaged ring of stainless steel. The spray gun may be provided with a plastic handle which is preferably formed from polybutylene with 10% of a polyester elastomer. In one embodiment, the sprayhead is oriented relative to the gun body prior to securing to select either gravity feed or suction feed for the sprayed fluid.

Abstract: An improved HVLP spray gun which operates from an air supply source and an improved nozzle therefor are disclosed. The HVLP gun has a fluid nozzle including a first, integral, laterally extending portion including pressure reduction orifices which are calibrated, relative to a fluid passage in the nozzle, so that the spray gun operates as an HVLP spray gun. The fluid nozzle includes a second laterally extending portion including a surface, against which atomization air impinges after exiting the calibrated pressure reduction orifices, and a plurality of longitudinally extending air distribution holes, wherein atomization air, after passing through the calibrated pressure reduction orifices, is directed radially outwardly in an expansion chamber where the low velocity air is pressure equalized before exiting through the air distribution holes and being directed within the air cap inwardly toward a fluid atomizing annulus.

Abstract: A nozzle for paint spray guns, including a tubular nozzle body having a conical nozzle tip at one end and an outer thread at an opposite end, a first collar tightly mounted around the tubular nozzle body and having a plurality of axial through holes; and, a second collar tightly mounted around the tubular nozzle body between the first collar and the outer thread of the tubular nozzle body and having a plurality of axial through holes which are not in longitudinal alignment with the through holes of the first collar and through which compressed currents of air are driven toward the through holes of the first collar, after a mixing process at the annular space defined between the first collar and the second collar, to mix with the output spray of paint into a good atomization of paint.

Abstract: An improved flow regulating mechanism for paint spray guns includes a spray gun body, a flow regulating mechanism and a nozzle. The flow regulating mechanism is disposed in a secondary air duct of the spray gun body and comprises a regulating rod, a regulating knob, a fixed regulating ring and a movable regulating ring. The regulating rings are each provided with a central through hole and a plurality of spaced apart air vents running parallel to the through hole. The regulating rod is screwably disposed in the secondary air duct by the regulating knob. The movable regulating ring and the fixed regulating ring are disposed in the secondary air duct in sequence such that an air chamber is defined between the regulating rings. The size of the air chamber can be adjusted by the regulating rod. High-pressure air flowing via the secondary air duct of the spray gun body may be reduced in pressure and regulated to prevent sputtering of paint due to excessively high pressure.

Abstract: A controllable spray nozzle assembly with an elongated discharge passageway is provided with a short discharge orifice and valve seat insert element that is made separately for ease and accuracy of providing its orifice and valve seat and is mounted in sliding sealing relation with the outlet end of the passageway. A valve needle extends into the passageway and is selectively movable along the passageway for shut-off and/or flow rate control of the spray flow by the related axial positioning of its seat end relative to the separate discharge orifice and valve seat element that is inserted at the outlet end of the passageway. The separate discharge element has an external configuration that conforms to a portion of the nozzle body adjacent the outlet end for such seating thereon. The element's internal configuration defines a small discharge orifice through the element and a valve seat around the inner end of that orifice in opposed relation to the seat on the valve needle.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which uses a high volume low pressure air curtain in an "air chisel" to inhibit and reduce the bounceback and overspray of material sprayed on a work surface. The air chisel directs a lateral air curtain along each side of a plume of sprayed material parallel to the long axis of the plume and directed toward the contact of plume and work surface. An air chisel may be attached to a spray gun or may be mounted on a stand adjacent to the work surface. Any source of high volume low pressure air may serve to provide air to an air chisel.

Abstract: An atomizing method for atomizing a fluid atomizing material feeds fluid atomizing material into jet air. A pair of planar air jets flow through nozzle tips towards a center axis of an atomization material supply. This forms an air chamber which converges in front of the atomization material supply. The interior edge of the converged air jets has a zone of slow moving air that draws the fluid atomizing material into the converging air jets. The material is thus atomized and evenly distributed. The atomization material supplied includes such fluidized atomizing materials as molten metal droplets fused by arc heat, paints, blast materials, adhesives, powders, etc.

Abstract: Induction charging apparatus for HVLP spray guns and air-assisted airless spray guns includes an air cap having a central orifice for receiving a spray gun nozzle. The cap includes one or more charging electrodes adjacent the orifice and carrying a voltage sufficiently large to induce on the spray droplets charges of a polarity opposite to that on the electrodes. A rotatable electrical connector enables the cap to rotate 360.degree. while maintaining electrical connections between the electrodes and a power supply. The spray gun nozzle is an airless nozzle receiving liquid at a pressure of about 1,000 psi and having a spray tip from which liquid is sprayed along a flow path coaxial with the electrodes. Air at less than about 10 psi is directed along the flow path to assist in the atomization of the liquid from the airless nozzle.

Abstract: A manually-operated air atomizing device includes a trigger-operated valve which generates pneumatic control signals. The atomizing air, fan air and fluid supply are varied according to the position of the trigger. A set of preprogrammed valves control the proportion of atomizing air, fan air and fluid delivered to the atomizing device in response to the pneumatic control signals.

Abstract: A dispenser having a manually-operated dispensing valve assembly has a container for accommodating a spray product. The bottom of the container has a recess adapted to cooperate with a tube used to deliver air under pressure from an air pump into the container. The container includes a check valve which allows air to flow into the chamber of the container and prevent the flow of air out of the chamber of the container. When the container is placed on the air pump, it actuates a switch which energizes an electric motor which drives a pump for supplying air under pressure which is directed to the tube and into the chamber of the container past the check valve.

Abstract: A nozzle structure for a paint spray gun, is comprised of a central outlet for paint, an annular slot surrounding the central outlet, the annular slot being connected inside the nozzle structure via an annular duct to a number of virtually axially parallel bores, the bores being situated on at least one circle about a central axis of the nozzle structure, apparatus for providing, compressed air via the bores for delivery to the annular duct, and an air reversing disk located inside the annular duct and opposite the bores.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an atomizing method for atomizing a fluid atomizing material. The method includes feeding the fluid atomizing material into jet air. According to a feature of the instant invention, there is provided a method which includes jetting a pair of planar jet air flows through nozzle tips towards a center axis of an atomization material supply means, forming an air chamber which converges at a forward end, followed by supplying the, thus formed, air chamber with the fluid atomizing material in a non-atomizing form. The atomization material supply means includes fluid atomizing material such as molten metal droplet fused by arc heat, paint, blast material, adhesive, powder, etc.

Abstract: A convergent end-effector which combines a liquid and dry flow external to a spray nozzle eliminates clogging problems common in the prior art spray coating systems. The end-effector utilizes a nozzle with an orifice and at least one atomizing hole, a conduit for directing a liquid resin through the nozzle and an outer housing disposed around said conduit to form a cavity. Reinforcing material enters the cavity on an gas stream supplied and controlled by an eductor located prior to the outer housing, in the direction of the nozzle, and at an angle of less than about 90.degree. with respect to the conduit. The end of the conduit near the nozzle is preferably angled toward the nozzle to further direct the reinforcing material into the liquid resin.

Abstract: In an external mix, plural component application system, a first component material, such as a resin, is formed into a plurality of small, spaced streams arranged in a two-dimensional array and projected generally at a substrate or article. A second component material, such as a catalyst, is formed into two air-entrained sprays of second component material and directed at the plurality of small, spaced streams of the first component material from adjacent the opposite sides of the array of streams to assist atomization of the small, spaced streams into particles of first component material and to mix the plural components. A plurality of flows of compressed air are directed at the substrate or article from adjacent the opposing sides of the array of streams that are between the two sprays of second component material and provides containment of plural component emissions.

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: An improved molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter adapted for the spray forming of a refined molten metal from a molten metal refining or melting chamber wherein the molten metal is atomized into tiny molten droplets by gas impingement in a stream of molten metal and to the structure by which the molten metal droplets are preferentially directed to and deposited on a target surface. The molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter is adapted to control the flow of liquid metal droplets and to avoid a backflow of such droplets during the gas atomization by providing structure, such as small apertures to the inner diameter of the ring, by providing large holes through the inner diameter and adding a porous metal filter to cover the large holes or by providing a gas supply system independent from the atomization system gas supply, such that a pressure or diffused source of gas is provided at the inner bore.

Abstract: For an HVLP paint spray gun, an improved suction feed nozzle assembly including a fluid tip and an air cap. The air cap directs an annular flow of atomization air around a fluid discharge orifice formed by a tubular portion on the fluid tip to aspirate fluid from the orifice and to atomize the fluid. The air cap also directs pattern shaping air at the atomized paint. According to one feature of the invention, the spacing of the pattern shaping air orifices from the fluid discharge orifice is made sufficiently great that undue turbulence is not induced in the atomization air in the aspiration zone to maximize the fluid flow rate. According to a second feature of the invention, the fluid orifice in the fluid tip has a straight cylindrical portion and an expanding conical section connecting the cylindrical section to an annular flat front face of the tubular portion of the fluid tip.

Abstract: A medical device for inhaling metered aerosol has a cylindrical housing with a receiving chamber for receiving an aerosol container and first main air channels extending axially within the housing. A mouthpiece is coaxially connected to the housing. An atomizing and vortexing chamber is delimited by the housing and the mouthpiece. Second main air channels extend within the mouthpiece and communicate with the first main air channels. A partition is positioned between the receiving chamber and the atomizing and vortexing chamber. The partition has a stepped bore with a first section and a second section, the first section having a larger diameter than the second section. The first section opens into the receiving chamber and the second section opens into the atomizing and vortexing chamber to form an aerosol outlet. Branch air channels extend at a slant to an axial direction of the medical device within the partition so as to surround the stepped bore.

Abstract: A spray nozzle member jets out paint in a fan-shaped pattern. Air streams are jetted from a conically annular center air nozzle in such a way as to surround the fan-shaped pattern, whereby a conically atomized spray pattern is discharged from a deformed opening. Notches formed on the deformed opening cause the conical pattern to spread, and fan-shaped air streams produced by air from auxiliary air nozzles promote the spreading of the spray pattern to a greater extent. Oblique air streams are forwardly supplied from side air nozzles into that pattern, so that a fan-shaped spray pattern is again produced. Paint under a pressure of several kg/cm.sup.2 is discharged from a spray nozzle. An atomizing air stream, except the part thereof corresponding to the edge of the fan-shaped spray, converges on the front extremely close to the spray nozzle. The atomizing air stream is discharged under a pressure of less than 2 kg/cm.sup.

Abstract: An OFF/OFF valve including a fluid passage formed in the valve body, and having a valve seat, a smaller diameter portion extending from the valve seat on a downstream side of the valve seat, and a larger diameter portion extending from the smaller diameter portion on a downstream side of the smaller diameter portion. A valve element is disposed so as to be movable between a position adjacent the valve seat and a position within the larger diameter portion. The valve element is driven by a valve element driving assembly. When the valve is closed, the valve element moves toward the valve seat. When the valve element moves within the smaller diameter portion, the fluid which has passed through the valve element is drawn back due to the pumping effect of the valve element before the valve element finally reaches the valve seat and the valve is completely closed.

Abstract: An air-operated fluid spray gun for mixing multiple fluids together almost simultaneously with depositing the mixture on a surface by directing an atomized stream of one fluid out the end of the gun barrel toward the surface and injecting an atomized stream of another fluid generally radially into the first stream so that the streams mix thoroughly and the mixture is almost simultaneously deposited on the surface.

Abstract: Induction charging apparatus for HVLP spray guns includes an air cap having a central fluid exit orifice for receiving the spray gun nozzle. The cap includes one or more charging electrodes surrounding the orifice and carrying a voltage sufficiently large to induce on the spray droplets charges of a polarity opposite to that on the electrodes. The cap includes a rotatable electrical connector to enable the cap to rotate 360.degree., while maintaining electrical connections between the electrodes and a power supply.

Abstract: An improved method for row crop spraying whereby a solution is atomized by high speed air, imparted with an electrical charge, slowed with more high speed air, and deposited over crops including a nozzle for practicing such a technique. Such charged droplets are attracted to oppositely charged crops and are, therefore, more likely to adhere to crops than fall to the ground or to be swept away by the wind. Since a larger percentage of solution adheres to the plant, less solution can be applied thereby addressing both environmental and pecuniary concerns.

Abstract: A paint spray gun comprises a body having a compressed air supply to atomize paint from a paint source external to the gun. The gun has a needle which is spring urged forwardly and retractable by a trigger to control the opening and closing of a nozzle in a spray head. There are two sealing joints between the needle and the body of the spray gun, and they surround a portion of the needle which is upstream from the paint in the direction that the paint flows along the needle and out the nozzle. A sealing cartridge comprises a cylindrical body enclosing the two sealing joints surrounding the needle, and a prestressed compression spring surrounds the needle and is disposed between the two joints and urges the two joints away from each other against solid surfaces that deflect the joints into sealing contact with the needle. A needle support in the form of a single piece opens at one end in the spray head and at its other end contains the sealing cartridge.

Abstract: An improvement in reduction of particle size of painting and coating particles is achieved by providing a tapered channel(s) in the cylindrical wall radially of the spray apparatus' nozzle head, which is a wall adjacent the nozzle outlet slit. Using the "Bernoulli Principle," its venturi feature achieves a movement and acceleration of ambient air to intermix with the paint particles being dispensed through the nozzle outlet slit. The tapered channel(s) extends radially inwardly from an air inlet opening on the exterior face of the wall, fully through the wall, and into a downstream air outlet opening on the interior of the wall face, the tapering of the channel being of a downstream size-reducing nature.

Abstract: A liquid-atomizing spray gun having an improved nozzle construction for spraying liquids under predetermined hydraulic pressures, and with the assistance of carbon dioxide gases, wherein the nozzle includes a forwardly-projecting shield having ports directed toward the atomized spray pattern emanating from a spray tip. The nozzle also includes ports for ejecting CO.sub.2 gas for assisting in the atomization process, the overall design providing CO.sub.2 -assisted hydraulic spraying and preventing air entrainment into the atomized particles in the region proximate the spray nozzle.

Abstract: An improved nozzle assembly for an HVLP paint spray gun. The nozzle assembly includes at least an air cap and a fluid tip, and preferably also includes a baffle for uniformly distributing air flow through the nozzle assembly. The fluid tip has a conical front end which terminates at a fluid discharge orifice adjacent a vertex. The fluid tip is positioned to extend to and to be in axial alignment with an opening in the air cap. The fluid discharge orifice is located at substantially the front face of the opening. The fluid tip and the air cap form an annular air discharge opening. The conical front end of the fluid tip has a vertex angle of from 60.degree. to 90.degree., and preferably about 60.degree.. The air cap has a thin wall surface surrounding the opening and has an annular interior surface surrounding the opening in the shape of a frustum of a right circular cone having a vertex angle of from 100.degree. to 150.degree. and preferably of from about 124.degree. to about 128.degree..

Abstract: A spray gun apparatus having air passages for the atomization of liquid passing through a liquid outlet orifice, and having air passages for directing air flow against the atomized particles emitting from the spray orifice, wherein the atomizing air passages are separated from the fan air passages, and an adjustable control valve selectively controls the volume of air through the fan air passages. The spray apparatus has an air spray nozzle including a spray nozzle concentrically fitted into an air cap, both parts being precisely aligned along a common axis; the air cap includes a contoured groove for smoothly directing air flow to fan air orifices.

Abstract: Coating a substrate with a reinforced resin matrix comprised of liquid resin and reinforcing material can be accomplished with an apparatus where the liquid resin and the reinforcing material are mixed external to the apparatus prior to impacting the substrate. The liquid resin is directed through a cylinder 12 and then through an orifice 7 in nozzle 1, while the reinforcing material is carried in a gas stream through cavity 13, around cylinder 12, and past the nozzle 1. As the reinforcing material passes the nozzle 1, it is drawn into the liquid resin. Due to the distribution of the reinforcing material around the liquid resin flow, the reinforcing material is substantially homogeneously wetted by the liquid resin prior to impacting the substrate.

Abstract: A plural component external mix air-assisted/airless spray gun has an airless tip from which resin is emitted in a fan-shaped spray and an injector nozzle for directing an unatomized stream of catalyst into the resin adjacent to the airless tip. The catalyst injector nozzle is built into an ear of an air cap and the air cap is keyed to the airless tip to guarantee the positional relationship between the injector nozzle and the airless tip. Injecting a stream of unatomized catalyst into the resin stream immediately downstream from the airless tip provides thorough mixing of the catalyst into the resin, increased utilization of the catalyst and decreased emissions of catalyst fumes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spray coating selected areas of a circuit board with an insulative coating material without coating regions of the circuit board to be left uncoated. A liquid spray device emits the coating material and an air assist attachment connected to the liquid spray device directs jets of air into impinging relation with the coating material emitted therefrom to transform the coating material into an atomized, shaped spray pattern for coating the selected areas. The air assist attachment can be disabled so that the spray device transforms the coating material into a non-atomized, shaped spray pattern for coating selected areas without coating regions of the circuit board to be left uncoated.

Abstract: A spray gun using high volume, low pressure air includes a liquid nozzle with a conical face and a coaxial liquid outlet therein and a housing having an air chamber of greater diameter than a diameter of said liquid nozzle, for providing atomizing air to an air cap, fitted to said air chamber. The air cap has a centered opening therein subtended by a radially expanding frusto-conical surface, for accepting the conical face of said liquid nozzle. Pattern adjusting outlets are provided for directing air in a direction towards the liquid nozzle axis. A distributor, disposed within said air chamber controls and releasably coupled to the air cap, in combination with said air cap, air flow to said pattern adjusting outlets from the air chamber. The distributor is coupled to the air cap, in a manner enabling rotational movement of said air cap to control air flow to said pattern adjusting outlet.

Abstract: An air spray gun comprising a nozzle with a frustoconically profiled tip, a cylindrical through bore, a V-shaped groove running across said through bore to form an oblong opening for ejecting paint under a pressure of 1 to 6Ckgf/cm.sup.2 and atomizing the ejected paint by compressed air having a pressure of 0.5 to 2 kgf/cm.sup.2, wherein an air cap is arranged to form an annular air outlet between the outer periphery of the nozzle tip and a central air outlet of the air cap and the nozzle tip is located within a front central through bore of the air cap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generates a stream of atomized fluid for applying a substantially uniform coating of atomized fluid to a surface, such as the application of a liquid flux coating to circuit boards. An ultrasonic atomizer discharges a conical spray pattern of atomized fluid, and an air horn discharges a stream of air intersecting the path of the atomized stream of fluid for entraining the atomized stream of fluid within the stream of air. Two air jets are located on either side of the ultrasonic atomizer relative to each other, and each discharges a low pressure jet of air in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the other. Each jet of air in turn shears the conical spray pattern of atomized fluid into a respective plume of atomized fluid. The two plumes of atomized fluid are then entrained into the moving sheet of air discharged by the air horn, thus forming a substantially uniform linear dispersion of atomized fluid for coating a surface with the atomized fluid.

Abstract: A replaceable baffle for dropping high pressure air to low pressure air for atomization and for pattern shaping in a high volume low pressure (HVLP) air paint spray gun. The baffle has a first plurality of orifices for distributing and dropping the air pressure to a low pressure for atomization and has orifices arranged in two stages for dropping the air pressure to a low pressure for pattern shaping. The baffle may be replaced with a baffle having different sized orifices to permit use of different air cap and/or fluid tip designs on the spray gun when applying paints having different flow properties.

Abstract: A spray gun including a rotatable spray head for creating a spiral flow of shaping air to more effectively apply multiple coats of liquid spray onto an article without dripping. The spiral flow of shaping or fanning air is further created by a turbine mechanism or air distributor. A drive mechanism, including a reversible motor, alternately rotates the spray head in either a clockwise direction or a counter clockwise direction relative to a housing assembly of the spray gun, depending on the direction of movement of the spray gun. In this way, the spray gun can effectively apply the liquid spray to the sides of an article, such as a grill, having a plurality of parallel, spaced portions. Preferably, the motor is an air motor having a drive shaft on which gearing is mounted for rotation therewith. A cylindrical portion of the housing assembly rotatably supports the spray head by bearings mounted thereon.

Abstract: A spray gun including a gun body having an air inlet channel, an air expansion chamber and an air distribution chamber. The air inlet channel and the air expansion chamber are interconnected by an orifice for achieving sonic velocities and reducing the pressure of the air. The air expansion chamber and air distribution chamber are interconnected by a distribution disc which allows the air to flow from the air expansion chamber into the air distribution chamber for distribution out of an air outlet nozzle at low pressure for atomizing paint.

Abstract: An automatic spray gun for use in an automatic spray system which is a modular unit, wherein each working component is a separate module that can be removed from and re-assembled on the spray gun body itself for cleaning, repair and replacement without disturbing the setting of the gun body in the automatic spray set-up, such as distance from the work pieces to be sprayed, angle and the like. The needle valve which stops and starts the flow of liquid to be atomized and sprayed is operated by an air pressure piston and cylinder component which is a separate module and designed in a way whereby the pressurized air which powers and initiates operation of the piston and cylinder module can also be utilized to start and stop the flow of a separate source of pressurized air to atomize the liquid as it flows from the nozzle orifice and to delay the stop of atomizing air until after flow of pressurized air to hold the needle valve in its open position has been stopped.

Abstract: An improved shaft sealing ring for a portable paint gun of the type having an axially movable control shaft for controlling a supply of pressurized air to atomize a stream of paint. The sealing ring has a truncated frustro-conical surface tapering from a radially extending retaining surface toward a front end of the sealing ring and a radially extending flange at a back end of the sealing ring with an outer peripheral groove in an outer surface of the ring body between the flange and the retaining surface. The ring is installed by urging the front face through an opening having a diameter smaller than that of the face, the opening defined by a wall extending radially inwardly as a part of the gun housing. The flange is resiliently deflected to form a seal when the ring is installed. A central bore of the seal is sized to receive the shaft with a seal between the shaft and the ring provided by a ridge extending radially into the bore of the ring at the back end thereof.