Alignment tool for a spray gun air cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208407-B2
Application number	US-202117302434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	Mar 5, 2021
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

An alignment tool for engaging with an air cap of an air assisted airless spray gun includes a tool body configured to fit over the air cap and an indicator disposed on the tool body. The indicator is configured to indicate an angular position of the air cap relative to a vertical gun axis of the air assisted airless spray gun. The alignment tool includes a first surface configured to engage with a first air horn of the air cap and a second surface configured to engage with a second air horn of the air cap to exert a rotational force on the air cap and change the angular position of the air cap relative to the vertical gun axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An alignment tool for adjusting an orientation of a spray pattern emitted by a spray gun, the alignment tool comprising:
a tool body extending between a first end and a second end;
a first engagement surface disposed at the first end, the first engagement surface at least partially defining a first opening configured to receive a first air horn of an air cap of the spray gun; and
a second engagement surface disposed at the first end, the second engagement surface at least partially defining a second opening configured to receive a second air horn of the air cap;
wherein the first engagement surface is configured to interface with the first air horn and the second engagement surface is configured to interface with the second air horn to exert a rotational force on the air cap about a spray axis through the air cap; and
wherein:
the tool body of the alignment tool extends between an open end and a closed end;
the open end is the second end and the closed end is the first end; and
the first opening is formed through the closed end and the second opening is formed through the closed end such that the first end is centrally closed between the first opening and the second opening.

2. The alignment tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
an indicator disposed on the tool body, the indicator configured to indicate an angular position of the air cap relative to the spray axis.

3. The alignment tool of claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises a pointed tip extending from an edge of the alignment tool.

4. The alignment tool of claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises:
a first axial projection extending a first axial distance from an annular edge of the alignment tool;
a second axial projection extending a second axial distance from the annular edge; and
a third axial projection extending a second axial distance from the annular edge;
wherein the first axial distance is smaller than the second axial distance and the third axial distance; and
wherein the first axial projection is disposed circumferentially between the second axial projection and the third axial projection.

5. The alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool further comprises:
a projection extending from the closed end of the alignment tool, the projection disposed between the first opening and the second opening, extending in a first axial direction away from the closed end, and defining a blocking chamber which is axially aligned with the spray axis.

6. The alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is formed through the closed end such that the first opening is an enclosed opening and the second opening is formed through the closed end such that the second opening is an enclosed opening.

7. The alignment tool of claim 6 , wherein:
the first opening is defined by a plurality of the first engagement surfaces;
the second opening is defined by a plurality of the second engagement surfaces;
a lower one of the plurality of the first surfaces is configured to interface with a first circumferential side of the first air horn;
an upper one of the plurality of the first surfaces is configured to interface with a second circumferential side of the first air horn;
a lower one of the plurality of the second surfaces is configured to interface with a first circumferential side of the second air horn; and
an upper one of the plurality of the second surfaces is configured to interface with a second circumferential side of the second air horn.

8. An alignment system comprising:
a spray gun configured to generate a fluid spray, the spray gun comprising:
a gun body;
an air cap assembly mounted to the gun body, the air cap assembly configured to emit a fluid spray fan from a spray orifice and at a fan orientation, wherein the air cap assembly comprises:
an air cap having a first air horn extending axially from the air cap and spaced radially from the spray orifice and a second air horn extending axially from the air cap and spaced radially from the spray orifice; and
an air cap housing connected to the gun body to secure the air cap to the gun body; and

the alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool is configured to extend over the air cap and engage with the first air horn and the second air horn to exert a rotational force on the air cap by the engagement between the alignment tool and the first air horn and second air horn to alter an angular position of the air cap and thereby alter the fan orientation.

9. The alignment system of claim 8 , wherein:
the spray gun includes a series of indicia formed on one of the gun body and the air cap housing; and
the alignment tool includes an indicator configured to interface with the series of indicia to indicate the angular position of the air cap about the gun axis.

10. The alignment system of claim 9 , wherein the series of indicia are formed by a plurality of tick marks formed on a gun body of the spray gun and arranged about a circumference of the air cap housing.

11. The alignment system of claim 8 , wherein the alignment tool is configured to mount to the air cap housing of the spray gun and the air cap housing is configured to secure the air cap to the spray gun.

12. The alignment system of claim 11 , wherein the alignment tool is removably mountable to the air cap housing.

13. The alignment system of claim 8 , wherein the first air horn extends at least partially through the first opening and the second air horn extends at least partially through the second opening.

14. The alignment system of claim 8 , wherein the spray gun is an air assisted airless spray gun.

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Heuer William C
• Wagner Christopher C
• Stech Amelia J
• Svenkeson-Koubal Dawn P

Classifications

• G01B5/25

  for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• B05B1/04

  in flat form, e.g. fan-like, sheet-like · CPC title

• B05B15/652

  whereby the jet can be oriented · CPC title

• B05B15/68 Primary

  Arrangements for adjusting the position of spray heads (B05B15/628, B05B15/652, B05B15/656 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B7/083 Primary

  comprising rotatable spray shaping gas jet outlets · CPC title