FREDETTE, Mathieu (2148 Grafton Crescent, Gloucester, Ontario K1J 6K8, CA)
MOUNT, Dennis, William (6412 Bernice Court, Ottawa, Ontario K1C 7E5, CA)
FREDETTE, Mathieu (2148 Grafton Crescent, Gloucester, Ontario K1J 6K8, CA)
| The invention is claimed as:
1. A paint gun washer having means for manually or automatically supplying clean or dirty solvent or a combination of clean and dirty solvent to one or more paint spray guns located in said gun washer for cleaning.
2. A paint gun washer according to claim 1 wherein said gun washer is provided with a solvent supply nozzle adapted to mate with a quick disconnect fitting on a paint spray gun to be cleaned.
3. A paint gun washer according to claim 2 wherein said solvent supply nozzle is provided with means for actuating a solvent supply pump upon engagement with said quick disconnect fitting with said nozzle to pump solvent through said nozzle.
4. A paint gun washer according to claim 2, wherein said gun washer has a shroud for accommodating a spray nozzle of said paint spray gun, said shroud communicating with a vacuum supply source to enhance solvent flow through said gun.
5. A paint gun washer according to claim 2, wherein means are provided for applying compressed air to said gun to enhance solvent flow through said gun.
6. A paint gun washer having a push-to-connect fitting for engagement with a solvent supply nozzle on a gun washer.
7. A paint gun washer according to claim 6 wherein said fitting is a female fitting.
8. A paint gun washer according to claim 6 having a deflector located inside a paint gun cup beneath said fitting, said deflector positioned to cause solvent entering the cup through a nozzle engaged with said fitting to splash into contact with internal wall surfaces of the cup.
9. A paint gun washer according to claim 8 wherein said deflector is dish shaped and has its concave surface facing said fitting.
10. A paint gun washer according to claim 8 wherein means are provided for suspending said deflector beneath a top wall of the cup.
11. A paint gun washer according to claim 10 wherein said deflector is suspended beneath said top wall of the cup by means of downwardly depending brackets or posts.
12. A paint gun washer for paint guns and like devices, the washer comprising a wash compartment, a bracket for mounting a paint gun in or on the wash compartment, a first fluid spray nozzle mounted in operative relation to a paint gun mounted on the bracket, the nozzle being adapted for connection to a source of wash fluid, and a drain mechanism for draining wash fluid away from the mounted gun.
13. A paint gun washer for paint guns and like devices according to claim 12 wherein the fluid spray nozzle is mounted and configured to direct wash fluid only to the inside of a paint gun reservoir cup.
14. A paint gun washer according to claim 13 wherein the fluid spray nozzle is mounted in and on a paint gun reservoir cap.
15. A paint gun washer according to claim 12 wherein said drain mechanism is arranged for attachment to a nozzle of the paint gun for draining wash fluid away from interior parts of the gun.
16. A paint gun washer according to claim 12 wherein said fluid spray nozzle is located at a position separated from the mounted paint gun so as to direct wash fluid onto the outside surfaces of the paint gun.
17. A paint gun washer according to claim 16, further including a second fluid spray nozzle, the second nozzle being mounted and configured to direct wash fluid only to the inside of a paint gun cup. |
PAINT GUN WASHER STATION FOR PAINT GUNS AND THE LIKE
[0001] The present invention relates generally to apparatus for cleaning paint spray guns. This utility patent application claims domestic priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/834,453 filed July 31, 2006.
[0002] Paint spray guns are commonly used in automotive body and paint shops. A paint spray gun typically comprises a casing having a nozzle through which the paint is sprayed and a handle provided with a trigger and a connector for connecting the gun to a compressed air hose. A cup for holding a supply of paint is removably attached to the casing. The cup may be attached to the top of the casing, in which case the paint is fed by gravity into the casing, wherein it is atomized and ejected from the nozzle as a spray. Alternatively, the cup may be attached to the under-side of the casing, in which case the paint is siphoned into the casing by the stream of compressed air. Such guns are re-usable and therefore require to be cleaned with solvent after use. Typically, cleaning is performed in a washing machine somewhat similar to a dishwasher or, alternatively, the spray gun may be cleaned manually in a spray paint gun washer station which may comprise a large sink to accommodate the spray gun, a source of solvent and a drain for removal of contaminated solvent from the washing operation. In the conventional gun washing machine, the paint cup is removed from the casing and the spray gun and the cup are placed in the machine, where they are cleaned by subjecting them to multiple jets or sprays of solvent. This operation is time consuming, uses an excessive amount of solvent and is not particularly thorough. The cleaning may also be performed manually, in which case, the cup can be left attached to the gun and the solvent
sprayed into the cup and through the gun casing and nozzle. However, this is a relatively messy and inefficient process. Both machine washing and manual cleaning require that after spraying with solvent, the gun must be removed from the wash site and coupled to an air hose to flush the solvent through the gun. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a paint gun washer station which is readily adapted to use in either Full Bath (internal and external gun cleaning) or Walk Up (internal gun cleaning only) modes of operation, which can use either clean or dirty solvent for cleaning or a combination thereof and which is efficient and cost-effective in use. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paint gun washer station has a novel cup, a quick disconnect filling and a wide-dispersion spray nozzle for location inside the gun cup. Another novel filling engages the downstream gun nozzle, and the filling is connected to an exhaustor waste withdrawal hose. To ensure that the solvent entering the cup washes the internal wall surfaces of the cup, deflects the solvent entering the cup so that it splashes against and cleans the internal wall surfaces adequately. The Full Bath cleaning can be done in ether MANUAL or AUTOMATIC modes of operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
[0005] Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a paint gun washer station with its cover in a closed position;
[0006] Figure 2 is a front view of the paint gun washer station of
Figure 1 with its cover in an open position;
[0007] Figure 3 is a fluid flow diagram of the paint gun washer station of Figure 1 in its MANUAL mode of operation;
[0008] Figure 4 is a compressed air flow diagram of the paint gun washer station of Figure 1 in its MANUAL mode of operation;
[0009] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the interior of the upper compartment of the paint gun washer station, with spray guns in position for cleaning in the Full Bath AUTOMATIC mode of operation of the paint gun washer station;
[0010] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a support bracket employed to support a gravity fed spray gun being washed in the Walk Up cleaning mode;
[0011] Figure 7 is a fluid flow diagram of the paint gun washer station in its AUTOMATIC mode of operation;
[0012] Figure 8 is a compressed air flow diagram of the paint gun washer station in its AUTOMATIC mode of operation;
[0013] Figure 9 shows a gravity fed spray gun wherein the cup is provided with a quick disconnect or push-to-connect fitting for cleaning in the Walk Up mode;
[0014] Figure 10 shows the spray gun of Figure 7 in position for cleaning in the Walk Up mode; and
[0015] Figure 11 illustrates an arrangement for automatically actuating a pump to supply solvent through the push-to-connect fitting for cleaning in the Walk Up mode.
[0016] Figures, 12, 13, 14 and 15 illustrate a spray nozzle and other components of the invention which can be used for gun cleaning in the Walk up mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Generally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for cleaning paint spray guns. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hollow pedestal P having upper wash compartment 1, intermediate compartment 2 and open lower compartment 3. The intermediate compartment 2 defines a fixed container which stores a supply of fresh clean solvent for the cleaning operations in the upper compartment 1 and compartments 1 and 2 are separated by the floor Ia of upper compartment 1. Referring to Figure 3, a pour-in coupling 23 for charging container 2 with clean solvent is provided in floor Ia and a well 36 is attached to the rear of pedestal P and is supplied with solvent through a hole 38 in the pedestal wall, which communicates with the interior of container 2. A drain 24 for removing contaminated solvent from upper wash compartment 1 is also provided in floor Ia and extends through the floor 2a of container 2 and via a drain hose 26 into the drum 5. The drain 24 is provided with a hole 25 just below the floor Ia which serves as an overflow for excess solvent in the container 2 and well 36. Compartments 2 and 3 are separated by the floor 2a of compartment 2. Access to lower compartment 3 is by means of an opening 4 (Figure 1), through which a drum 5 for dirty solvent may be introduced. Access to upper compartment 1 is by means of an opening 6 (Figure 2), which is provided with a cover 7, shown in its closed position in Figure 1 and in its open position in Figure 2. The cover 7 is hinged to a top plate 21 of the pedestal P. As may be seen in Figure 2,
the upper compartment 1 defines a spray gun wash station, which can accommodate one or more guns for simultaneous cleaning. (See also Figure 5). Also provided in upper compartment 1 is an air-hose 27 for blowing out of solvent residue in the spray guns, as will hereinafter be explained more fully.
[0018] The apparatus operates in two different modes, namely
AUTOMATIC and MANUAL modes. The apparatus can be operated in Full Bath mode or in Walk up mode.
[0019] Figure 3 includes a fluid flow schematic for the MANUAL mode operation, the fluid flow path being shown in broken lines. In the MANUAL mode, solvent is supplied to a nozzle 33 positioned at the top of the compartment 1 to apply solvent to the equipment to be cleaned. The solvent supply to nozzle 33 is from two sources — namely, dirty solvent from drum 5 and clean solvent from container 2. The nozzle is fed with clean solvent from the outlet of an air-driven centrifugal pump 34, which draws from well 36. The nozzle 33 is also fed with dirty solvent from the outlet of an air-driven centrifugal pump 40, which is located upon and draws from drum 5.
[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic of the compressed air flow path in the
MANUAL mode operation, the flow path being shown in dot-dash lines. A conventional compressed air supply (not shown) is connected to the inlet of an OPEN/CLOSE valve 42, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of a two-position valve 44, which can be set to MANUAL or AUTOMATIC operation by diverting air to a MANUAL outlet or an AUTOMATIC outlet. The MANUAL outlet of valve 44 is connected through a first foot pedal operated valve 46 to the air motor of pump 34 and
through a second foot pedal operated valve 48 to the air motor of pump 40. As is more clearly understood from Figure 4a, the MANUAL outlet of valve 44 is also connected directly to a compressed air-driven exhaust vent 50 for upper compartment 1 , located on top plate 21, and to air-hose 27. The AUTOMATIC outlet of valve 44 is connected to diaphragm pump 52, as will be hereinafter be explained more fully.
[0021] In operation of the apparatus in its MANUAL mode, having firstly charged container 2 with clean solvent through pour-in coupling 23, the valve 42 is opened and the valve 44 is placed in the MANUAL position. Compressed air now drives exhaust vent 50 to apply a partial vacuum to wash compartment 1. The article to be washed is then placed in line with spray nozzle 33 and the foot pedal of valve 48 is depressed to actuate pump 40, which then supplies used solvent from drum 5 to nozzle 33. The paint guns or other article can be washed on its external surfaces in Full Bath mode; or the internal, paint-flow control gun mechanism surfaces can be washed in Walk up mode.
[0022] After the article has been washed sufficiently with used solvent, the foot pedal of valve 48 is released and the foot pedal of valve 46 is depressed to actuate pump 34, which then supplies clean solvent from container 2 via well 36 to nozzle 33, in order to provide for rinsing of the dirty solvent from the article. Used solvent exits through drain 24 and returns through hose 26 to drum 5. After the solvent-cleaning is complete, the air-hose 27 is attached to the spray bun 8 or 9 to blow out residual solvent and complete the cleaning process. Referring still to Figure 4, it may be noted that foot pedals 46 and 48 are shown at two different levels. They are shown in this way solely for the purpose of better illustrating the compressed air flow
paths through the foot pedals. In practice, the foot pedals are spaced apart on opposite sides of the opening 4, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are positioned at substantially the same level, to facilitate sequential operation of the foot pedals as described above.
[0023] Turning now to AUTOMATIC mode of operation, in Figure 5, two spray guns 8 and 9 are shown in position for cleaning within upper wash compartment 1. Spray gun 8 is of the gravity feed type and comprises a casing 10 and a paint cup 11 located on the top of the casing 10. Paint cup 11 has an open end 1 Ia (see Figure 6) through which paint is introduced into the cup prior to a spraying operation, the open end 1 Ia being provided with a cover (not shown) which is secured to the cup after it has been filled with paint. Spray gun 9 is of the siphon feed type and comprises a casing 12, a paint cup 13 adapted for fastening to the under-side of the casing 12, and a siphon tube 30 extending from the casing into the paint cup. In Figure 5, the paint cup 13 is shown detached from the casing 12 for cleaning separately, as will hereinafter be explained.
[0024] For cleaning the gravity fed spray gun 8, a first cleaning siphon comprises a support bracket 15 as shown in Figure 3 and for greater clarity, a perspective view of bracket 15 in isolation from the remainder of the apparatus is shown in Figure 6. The bracket is generally U-shaped having an elongated base 16, a forked member 17 extending from one end of the base 16 and a bifurcated member 18 extending from the opposite end of the base. The bifurcated member 18 comprises inner and outer portions 18a and 18b, respectively. Outer portion 18b is provided with mounting holes 19 which align with holes 20 in the top surface 21 of pedestal 1,
whereby bracket 15 may be bolted to the underside of the top surface 21 to hang down inside the wash station defined by upper compartment 1. Inner portion 18a is fitted with a nozzle 22 which sprays clean solvent towards forked member 17. Forked member 17 has tines 17a and 17b, which are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate therebetween the junction between the paint cup 11 and the casing 10 of the gravity fed spray gun 8 and to support spray gun 8 with the open paint cup 11 in line with nozzle 22. The ends of tines 17a and 17b are upwardly turned to retain the spray gun in position and prevent it from sliding off the tines.
[0025] Because the nozzle 22 is separated by some distance from the open top of the paint cup 11, it is contemplated that some of the solvent or wash spray may fall upon the outside of the paint cup 11 and the gun 8. Other portions of the spray from the nozzle 22 will fall into the paint cup 11, thus permitting the interior mechanism of the gun 8 to be cleansed. Took a persistent terrier cleansing, compress air from an airline (not shown) can be directed through the air fitting. So as to draw solvent from the cup 11 and through the gun barrel and nozzle.
[0026] For cleaning the siphon fed spray gun 9, a second cleaning station is provided by a nozzle 31 which extends from a bracket 32 located upon the inside wall of the compartment 1. In this case, the paint cup 13 is removed from the casing 12 before placing these items in the paint gun washer station, thus exposing siphon tube 30. To position the gun 13 for cleaning, the tube 30 is placed over the nozzle 31. Thus, the nozzle 31 functions to support the gun 13 and also squirt solvent through the tube 30, from which the solvent passes through the casing 12 and exits
from the spray nozzle of the gun. Again come if desired, the solvent can be directed from a nozzle 22 or other sources to wash the exterior surfaces of the gun 9.
[0027] Figure 7 is a fluid flow schematic for the AUTOMATIC mode operation. In the AUTOMATIC mode, solvent is supplied to the nozzles 22 and 31 by means of a compressed air driven diaphragm pump 52 which draws used solvent from drum 5.
[0028] Referring to Figure 8, the AUTOMATIC outlet of valve 44 is connected through a push valve 53 and a timer 54 to a diaphragm pump 52 and to vent 50 and air-hose 27. The push valve 53 is positioned so as to open when the cover 7 is closed, whereby air is permitted to pass to timer 54. If the cover 7 is open, valve 53 is closed, which blocks air flow through the timer to the pump 52, vent 50 and air-hose 27, and thus prevents operation of the system in its automatic mode. The timer can be set to regulate the length of time air is applied and thus the operating time of the system in its automatic mode.
[0029] In operation of the apparatus in its AUTOMATIC mode for cleaning a spray gun 8, the cover 7 is opened and the gun 8 is passed through the opening 6 and placed upon the bracket 15, with the paint cup resting upon the tines 17a and 17b and the open end 11a of the paint cup facing the nozzle 22. If it is desired to clean a siphon type gun 9, the gun is disassembled and the component parts positioned in the wash compartment 1 as described above. The cover 7 is then closed to prevent escape of solvent or solvent fumes into the atmosphere, the valve 42 is opened and the valve 44 is placed in the AUTOMATIC position. The components to be cleaned are then placed in position for receiving solvent from the nozzle 22 and/or 31 as described
above. The air hose is connected to the spray gun 8 or 9 as shown in Figure 5. The cover is then closed and the timer is set for the desired length of cleaning operation. Valve 42 is then opened and compressed air is now applied to pump 52 which sucks solvent from the drum 5 and applies it to the nozzles 22 and 31. Again, dirty solvent from the washing operation exits wash compartment 1 through drain 24 and returns through hose 26 to drum 5.
[0030] Simultaneously, the vent 50 and air hose 27 are activated to vent the wash compartment and blow compressed air through the gun to complete the cleaning process.
[0031] In a further embodiment of this invention illustrated especially in figures 9-15, the paint gun washer station accommodates, in a novel arrangement, a spray gun 100 as shown in Figures 9 - 13. The gun 100 has a cup 111 which remains closed during cleaning. The cup 111 is closed by a novel cap, which is provided with a quick disconnect or push-to-connect fitting 112 to spray solvent into the interior of the cup 111 in a diverse effused sprays so as to wash completely the cup interior or. In this embodiment, nozzle 22 is replaced by a modified nozzle 122 as shown in Fig. 10, which includes an elongated portion 122a over which the push-to-connect fitting 112 is positioned.
[0032] When this embodiment of the invention is available, the operator can simply walk up to the gun cleaning station and position the gun with the fitting 112 over the nozzle 122. With the gun so positioned, the diaphragm pump 52 can then be actuated to spray solvent directly through the nozzle 122 and the fitting 112 into the interior of the gun. Conveniently, a support bracket 115 (similar to the
bracket 15 illustrated in Figure 6) may be used to support the spray gun, as shown in Figure 10, which shows the fitting 112 engaged with nozzle 122. Referring to Figure 11, in place of diaphragm pump 52, an electrically operated pump 152 can be provided to pump solvent through the nozzle 122. Actuation of pump 152 maybe effected automatically upon the fitting 112 engaging with nozzle 122 by providing a spring- loaded sleeve or washer 123 on nozzle 122 which is engaged by fitting 112 and pushed upwardly into engagement with a micro-switch 124 or other switch device in circuit with the electrical supply to pump 152. Thus, when the fitting 112 is positioned over nozzle 122 and pushed upwardly into engagement with sleeve 123, continued upward movement causes the micro-switch 124 to close and actuate pump 152 to supply solvent to the nozzle 122.
[0033] A shroud 113 is preferably located on the support bracket and is positioned to receive the spray nozzle of the gun. Solvent exiting the spray nozzle is captured by the shroud, which is fitted with a waste pipe 114 communicating with the drum 5 for appropriate collection of the used solvent. Desirably, a vacuum pump is provided to suck solvent through the shroud and thus prevent solvent fumes from entering the atmosphere.
[0034] This arrangement has two advantages. Firstly, the operator does not need to close the cover 7 (indeed, no cover is necessary) to perform the cleaning operation, since little or no solvent escapes into the atmosphere. Secondly, the operator can clean the gun very quickly in a single operation by simply holding the gun in position with the cup engaged with the solvent nozzle and the spray nozzle of the gun inserted into the shroud and then actuating the solvent pump (and simultaneously
the vacuum pump) for the required length of time to flush the paint waste from the interiors of the cup and the gun casing. No solvent reaches the exterior of the gun a poor top, so they may need not be dried extensively or otherwise treated before the gun can be returned to its intended use. Additionally or as an alternative to the application of vacuum to the gun by means of the shroud and vacuum pump, an air hose (for example air hose 27 in Figures 2 and 5) may be connected to the gun to assist in flushing paint waste from the gun casing.
[0035] Turning again to Figure 9, cup 111 is provided beneath the fitting 112 with an inverted dish-shaped deflector 125 which is visible through cutaway portion 126. Deflector 125 is held in place by brackets or posts 127 which are secured to the deflector and also secured to and depend downwardly from the inside surface of the top wall of the cup. As solvent under pressure enters the cup through the nozzle 122, it impinges upon the concave surface of the deflector 125 and splashes around the inside wall surfaces of the cup, thereby ensuring that the walls are adequately cleaned.
[0036] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.
Next Patent: CONTAINER WITH TINTABLE FLOWABLE CONTENT AND METHOD OF PAINTING