Fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633748-B2
Application number	US-201916664048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and purge air from the sprayer and provide the first and second component materials and purge air to a mix chamber for spraying. The fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body, material flowpaths extending from a second end to a cartridge bore, and a purge path extending from the second end to the cartridge bore. Fluid checks are disposed in the material flowpaths and purge path to prevent backflow out of the fluid cartridge. Side seals are disposed in the material paths and are pre-loaded to extend into the cartridge bore and engage a mix chamber within the cartridge bore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid cartridge for use with a plural component sprayer, the plural component sprayer having a mounting head configured to receive a first component material from a first fluid line and a second component material from a second fluid line, respectively, a mix chamber configured to receive the first component material and the second component material and combine the first component material and the second component material to form a plural component material for spraying, a handle, and a trigger, the fluid cartridge configured to be mounted in a receiving chamber formed in the mounting head to receive the first and second component materials from the plural component sprayer and provide the first and second component materials to the mix chamber, the fluid cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having a first end and a second end, the cartridge body configured to receive the first component material and the second component material through the second end;
a cartridge bore extending axially through the cartridge body between the first end and the second end, the cartridge bore extending between a first bore opening and a second bore opening, the cartridge bore configured such that the mix chamber of the plural component sprayer extends into the cartridge bore through the second bore opening;
a first material flowpath extending through the cartridge body and configured to route the first component material to the cartridge bore;
a second material flowpath extending through the cartridge body and configured to route the second component material to the cartridge bore;
a first fluid check disposed in the first material flowpath and a second fluid check disposed in the second material flowpath, the first fluid check disposed to prevent backflow of material through a first inlet of the first material flowpath and the second fluid check disposed to prevent backflow of material through a second inlet of the second material flowpath;
a first side seal disposed in the first material flowpath proximate the cartridge bore, the first side seal including a first seal member and a first side spring biasing the first seal member at least partially into the cartridge bore such that the first side seal is pre-loaded; and
a second side seal disposed in the second material flowpath proximate the cartridge bore, the second side seal including a second seal member and a second side spring biasing the second seal member at least partially into the cartridge bore such that the second side seal is pre-loaded;
wherein the cartridge body, the first fluid check, the second fluid check, the first side seal, and the second side seal form a single module configured to mount to and be dismounted from the receiving chamber as the single module;
wherein the single module is configured to mount to the receiving chamber such that the second end is disposed within the receiving chamber and such that the cartridge body receives both the first component material and the second component material from the plural component sprayer through the second end; and
wherein the single module is further configured to route the first component material and the second component material to the cartridge bore.

2. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a purge path extending from the second end to a purge chamber within the cartridge bore; and
a third fluid check disposed in the purge path proximate a third inlet of the purge path, the third fluid check disposed to prevent backflow through the third inlet.

3. The fluid cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first post extending from the second end, the first fluid check at least partially disposed in the first post;
a second post extending from the second end, the second fluid check at least partially disposed in the second post; and
a third post extending from the second end, the third fluid check at least partially disposed in the third post.

4. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , wherein:
the first seal member includes a first passage extending through the first seal member such that a first component material can flow through the first seal member via the first passage; and
the second seal member includes a second passage extending through the second seal member such that a second component material can flow through the second seal member via the second passage.

5. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first retaining member disposed at a first outlet of the first material flowpath, the first retaining member configured to interface with the first seal member to limit a distance that the first seal member projects into the cartridge bore; and
a second retaining member disposed at a second outlet of the second material flowpath, the second retaining member configured to interface with the second seal member to limit a distance that the second seal member projects into the cartridge bore.

6. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first projection extending radially from the fluid cartridge.

7. The fluid cartridge of claim 6 , further comprising:
a second projection extending radially from the fluid cartridge, the second projection disposed opposite the first projection.

8. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a locating feature extending into the cartridge bore.

9. The fluid cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the locating feature is a pin.

10. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a central extension projecting beyond the second end, wherein the cartridge bore extends fully through the central extension.

11. The fluid cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first seal housing mounted to the cartridge body, wherein the first fluid check and the first side seal are at least partially disposed in the first seal housing; and
a second seal housing mounted to the cartridge body, wherein the second fluid check and the second side seal are at least partially disposed in the second seal housing.

12. The fluid cartridge of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first post extending axially from the first seal housing and away from the second end, the first fluid check at least partially disposed in the first post;
a second post extending axially from the second seal housing and away from the second end, the second fluid check at least partially disposed in the second post; and
a third post extending axially from the cartridge body and away from the second end, a third fluid check at least partially disposed in the third post.

13. The fluid cartridge of claim 12 , further comprising:
a central extension formed by the cartridge body and projecting beyond the second end, wherein the cartridge bore extends fully through the central extension.

14. The fluid cartridge of claim 12 , further comprising:
a cartridge cover disposed on the cartridge body.

15. The fluid cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the cartridge cover includes posts and the cartridge body includes axial grooves, the posts disposed within the grooves.

16. The fluid cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the cartridge cover includes a first cover slot and a second cover slot, wherein a portion of the first seal housing extends through the first cover slot and a portion of the second seal housing extends through the second cover slot.

17. A mounting and mixing assembly comprising:
a fluid cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having a first end and a second end;
a cartridge bore extending axially through the cartridge body between the first end and the second end;
a first material fl

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Ross Daniel P
• Tix Joseph E
• Stewart Samuel R
• Weinberger Mark T
• Pellin Christopher J
• Velgersdyk Jeffrey N

Classifications

• B05B7/0408 Primary

  with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids · CPC title

• B05B7/1254

  the controlling means being fluid actuated · CPC title

• B05B7/2497 Primary

  several liquids from different sources being supplied to the discharge device · CPC title

• B05B7/04

  with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge (mixing in general B01F, e.g. B01F25/00; mixing valves F16K11/00) · CPC title

• B05B7/08

  with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets {, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel}, to form intersecting jets {, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point} · CPC title