Fluid sprayer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12157138-B2
Application number	US-202418651098-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2024
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

A fluid sprayer includes a spray gun that is configured to output a spray of fluid for application on a substrate. A trigger of the spray gun is operatively connected to a controller to control actuation of a pump that drives the spray fluid to the spray gun. A solenoid is connected to a spray valve of the spray gun to actuate the spray valve open to cause spraying by the fluid sprayer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handheld spray gun, comprising:
a gun body that forms a handle, the handle having a handle front side;
a dry chamber located at least partially within the gun body;
a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger, the plunger at least partially located within the dry chamber;
a trigger located along the handle, the trigger comprising a switch, the trigger and the switch supported by the gun body;
a spray valve, the spray valve comprising a wet chamber, a ball and a seat;
a needle which connects between the plunger and the spray valve so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body, the needle extending into each of the dry chamber and the wet chamber;
a seal through which the needle extends and which prevents leakage from the wet chamber into the dry chamber;
a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve; and
a spray tip insertable into a bore of the handheld spray gun, the spray tip comprising an outlet orifice, the spray tip rotatable in the bore to reverse direction of fluid flow through the spray tip to remove clogs,
wherein the outlet orifice, the seat, the needle, and the coil are each coaxial along a spray axis, and the handle front side is located relative to the spray axis for balance such that the seat is forward of the handle front side while the solenoid is rearward of the handle front side; and
wherein the wet chamber is entirely forward of the solenoid, at least part of the wet chamber is forward of the handle front side, and at least part of the dry chamber is rearward of the handle front side.

2. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the gun body is a polymer housing.

3. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , further comprising a hose that extends from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle, the hose in fluid communication with the spray valve.

4. The handheld spray gun of claim 3 , further comprising a supply tube extending within the handle, the supply tube fluidly downstream of the hose and upstream of the spray valve.

5. The handheld spray gun of claim 3 , further comprising a gun fitting within the handle that connects with the hose at a location within the handle.

6. A handheld spray gun, comprising:
a gun body that forms a handle, the handle having a handle front side;
a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger;
a trigger located along the handle, the trigger comprising a switch, the trigger and the switch supported by the gun body;
a spray valve, the spray valve comprising a ball and a seat;
a needle which connects between the solenoid and the spray valve so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body;
a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve; and
a hose that extends from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle, the hose in fluid communication with the spray valve;
wherein the seat, the needle, and the coil are each coaxial along an axis, and the handle front side is located relative to the axis for balance such that the seat is forward of the handle front side while the solenoid is rearward of the handle front side,
wherein the hose is part of a conduit, the conduit further comprising a plurality of wires which extend along the hose from outside of the gun body to inside of the handle.

7. The handheld spray gun of claim 6 , wherein the conduit extends through a passage located on a bottom side of the handle.

8. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the spray valve is located outside of the gun body.

9. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid housing, the spray valve located within the fluid housing.

10. The handheld spray gun of claim 9 , wherein the fluid housing is located partially within the gun body and partially outside of the gun body.

11. A handheld spray gun, comprising:
a gun body that forms a handle, the handle having a handle front side;
a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger;
a trigger located along the handle, the trigger comprising a switch, the trigger and the switch supported by the gun body;
a spray valve, the spray valve comprising a ball and a seat;
a needle which connects between the solenoid and the spray valve so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body;
a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve; and
wherein the seat, the needle, and the coil are each coaxial along an axis, and the handle front side is located relative to the axis for balance such that the seat is forward of the handle front side while the solenoid is rearward of the handle front side,
wherein the spring is located partially within the gun body and extends outside of the gun body.

12. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the stator does not radially overlap with the handle front side.

13. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of stator does not radially overlap with a handle rear side of the handle.

14. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the spray valve does not radially overlap with the handle.

15. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid does not radially overlap with the trigger.

16. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the dry chamber houses the solenoid.

17. The handheld spray gun of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is closer to the spray valve than the coil is to the spray valve.

18. A handheld spray gun, comprising:
a gun body that forms a handle, the handle having a handle front side;
a solenoid at least partially located within the gun body, the solenoid comprising a plunger and a stator that includes a coil, the coil configured to electromagnetically move the plunger;
a trigger located along the handle, the trigger comprising a switch, the trigger and the switch supported by the gun body;
a spray valve, the spray valve comprising a ball and a seat;
a needle which connects between the solenoid and the spray valve so that the solenoid can pull the ball off of the seat to open the spray valve, the needle located at least partially within the gun body;
a spring which urges the ball toward the seat to close the spray valve; and
a solenoid housing and a valve housing, the coil and the plunger located inside of the solenoid housing, the spray valve located inside of the valve housing, the valve housing defining a wet chamber for spray fluid, wherein the valve housing is located forward of the solenoid housing and the solenoid housing is directly connected to the valve housing,
wherein the seat, the needle, and the coil are each coaxial along an axis, and the handle front side is located relative to the axis for balance such that the seat is forward of the handle front side while the solenoid is rearward of the handle front side.

19. The handheld spray gun of claim 18 , wherein the solenoid housing is directly connected to the valve housing by a threaded interf

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Kinne Robert W
• Hines Christopher C
• Olson Diane L
• Ericson Andrew J
• Drayna Sophia E
• Muetzel Pamela J

Classifications

• B05B12/0022

  associated with means for restricting their movement · CPC title

• B05B15/62

  Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups · CPC title

• B05B9/01 Primary

  Spray pistols, {discharge devices}(B05B9/03 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B9/0413

  with reciprocating pumps, e.g. membrane pump, piston pump, bellow pump (B05B9/0409 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B9/0861

  the motor being electric · CPC title