Nozzle arrangement for a spray gun

Abstract

A nozzle arrangement for a spray gun, in particular a paint spray gun, has at least one paint nozzle and an air cap. The paint nozzle has at least one outlet opening for the material to be sprayed and the air cap has at least one central opening which is bounded by at least one wall. The at least one wall forms a gap with at least one part of the paint nozzle, and a forward part of the paint nozzle has at least an inner face, an outer face and an end face. The end face of the paint nozzle encloses, at least in certain regions, an angle of greater than 90° or an angle of less than 90° with an outer face or an inner face of the paint nozzle. In the nozzle arrangements, the back-pressure counter to the outflow of the material to be sprayed is lower than in prior art nozzles. A spray gun, in particular a paint spray gun, having such a nozzle arrangement is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A nozzle arrangement for a paint spray gun comprising: a paint nozzle; and one air cap, wherein the paint spray gun is a compressed air paint spray gun in which air atomizes a material to be sprayed, wherein the paint nozzle has at least one outlet opening for the material to be sprayed, wherein the air cap has at least one central opening which is delimited by at least one wall, wherein a front part of the paint nozzle has at least one internal face, one external face, and one end face that is adjacent to the external face, wherein the at least one wall conjointly with a portion of the external face of the paint nozzle forms a gap in the radial direction, wherein the end face of the paint nozzle in relation to the portion of the external face of the paint nozzle that forms the gap at least in portions encloses an angle of more than 90°, wherein a portion of the end face of the paint nozzle is concave, the concave portion of the end face of the paint nozzle being an annular concave portion that completely encircles the outlet opening of the paint nozzle, wherein a region of the end face is between the concave portion of the end face and the internal face of the paint nozzle, this region being a straight face or a chamfer, and wherein the concave portion of the end face extends beyond the air cap.

2. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the external face of the paint nozzle that forms the gap is disposed so as to be substantially parallel with the internal face of the paint nozzle.

3. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal face of the paint nozzle in a front region runs so as to be substantially parallel with a paint nozzle longitudinal axis.

4. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of the paint nozzle in a front region tapers in the spraying direction.

5. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of the paint nozzle in a front region widens in the spraying direction.

6. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end face of the paint nozzle is assembled from at least two faces which in relation to the internal face of the paint nozzle enclose dissimilar angles.

7. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap is disposed so as to be at least in part substantially parallel with the portion of the external face of the paint nozzle that forms the gap.

8. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap in a region that faces away from the spraying direction has a spacing from the external face of the paint nozzle that is larger than in a region that faces the spraying direction.

9. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap in a region that faces away from the spraying direction has a spacing from the external face of the paint nozzle that is smaller than in a region that faces the spraying direction.

10. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap is designed so as to be convex at least in regions.

11. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap is designed so as to be concave at least in regions.

12. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paint nozzle has at least one duct for conducting air.

13. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle arrangement has an air-deflection disk for homogenizing the pressure conditions.

14. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air cap has at least two horns each having at least one horn air opening.

15. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the air cap at least in one region between the central opening and the horns has control ducts for exhausting air.

16. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control ducts in the assembled state of the paint nozzle and the air cap are at least in regions disposed so as to be substantially parallel with a paint nozzle longitudinal axis.

17. A paint spray gun, wherein said paint spray gun has a nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

18. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the region between the concave portion of the end face and the internal face is a transitional region therebetween formed by the straight face or chamfer.

19. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end face of the paint nozzle consists of the concave portion and the region that is the straight face or chamfer.

20. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one wall conjointly with at least part of the paint nozzle forms the gap for through which the air exits to atomize the material to be sprayed.

21. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap is formed such that the air exits from the gap and generates a vacuum on the end face of the paint nozzle so as to suction the material to be sprayed from the paint nozzle.

22. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the end face is located in front of the air cap.

23. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end face connects the external face and the internal face of the paint nozzle.

24. The nozzle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the external face of the paint nozzle that forms the gap runs substantially parallel with a paint nozzle longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder in an exemplary manner by means of eleven drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a nozzle arrangement according to the prior art, in a partial sectional view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detail of a first exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detail of a second exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of a third exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a detail of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a detail of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a detail of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a detail of a seventh exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a detail of an eighth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a detail of a ninth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view; and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a detail of a tenth exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in a sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) FIG. 1 shows a nozzle arrangement 1 according to the prior art, having a paint nozzle 2 and an air cap 3. The paint nozzle 2 by way of an external thread 21 is screw-fitted into a nozzle insert of a paint spray gun (not shown in FIG. 1). The air cap 3 with the aid of an air nozzle ring (not shown in FIG. 1) is screw-fitted to an external thread of the nozzle insert. The external thread 21 of the paint nozzle 2 for screw-fitting the nozzle insert is adjoined by a central part having a larger diameter, said central part for receiving a paint needle (not shown in FIG. 1) being hollow inside and on the rear side thereof that faces the external thread having an annular depression. A plurality of identical bores 29, in the exemplary embodiment shown six identical bores 29, which are axially parallel and are disposed on a circle about the nozzle longitudinal axis extend from this depression. The nozzle arrangement 1 disclosed in FIG. 1 furthermore has an air deflection disk 9 which causes the compressed air flow to be homogenized. Ahead of this air-deflection disk 9 the paint nozzle 2 both on the internal side thereof as well as on the external side thereof has a plurality of faces which in relation to the nozzle longitudinal axis are disposed at dissimilar angles. The front most region of the paint nozzle is formed by a hollow-cylindrical plug 27 which across the profile thereof has a substantially constant internal diameter and a substantially constant external diameter, said plug 27 forming the outlet 29 for the material to be sprayed. The front end face 22 of the plug 27 is substantially perpendicular to the side wall of the plug. When the spray gun is not in use, the outlet opening 29 is closed from the inside by a paint needle. The paint needle is moved out of the opening only once the trigger is sufficiently activated and releases said opening for the material to be sprayed, the latter then being able to exit the paint nozzle 2 or the outlet opening 29 of the latter, respectively.

(14) An air cap 3 which in the assembled state surrounds the paint nozzle 2 has a central opening, the diameter of the latter being larger than the external diameter of the paint nozzle plug. It is known in the prior art that the front end of the paint nozzle 2 can be flush with, or lie ahead of or behind the front wall of the air cap 3 about the central opening, or be flush with, or lie ahead of or behind the front end of the central opening, respectively. The central opening of the air cap 3 and the plug of the paint nozzle 2 conjointly form an annular gap 26. The so-called atomizing air exits from this annular gap 26, said atomizing air in the nozzle arrangement described above generating a vacuum on the end face 22 of the paint nozzle 2, on account of which the material to be sprayed is suctioned from the paint nozzle 2. The atomizing air meets the paint jet, on account of which the paint jet is shredded to form threads and strings. Said threads and strings, by virtue of the hydrodynamic instability and aerodynamic disturbances thereof, disintegrate so as to form droplets which are blown away from the nozzle by the atomizing air.

(15) The air cap 3 furthermore has two horns 30 which are diametrically opposed and in the spraying direction 5 project beyond the annular gap 26 mentioned and the material outlet opening 29. Two supply bores 31 run from the rear side of the air cap 3 to exit holes 33a, 33b in the horns 30. Each horn typically has at least one exit hole, but each horn preferably has at least two exit holes. The holes 33a, 33b are oriented such that said holes 33a, 33b in the exit direction 5 point to the nozzle longitudinal axis 20 behind the annular gap 26 such that the so-called horn air that exits the holes 33a, 33b can influence the air that has already exited the annular gap 26, or the paint jet, or the already at least partially created paint mist, respectively. On account thereof, the originally conical cross section of the paint jet, or of the paint mist, respectively, is compressed on the sides thereof that face the horns 30 and is elongated in the direction that is perpendicular thereto. A so-called wide jet which permits a higher operating rate is created on account thereof. Apart from deforming the paint jet, the horn air has the purpose of further atomizing the paint jet.

(16) So-called control openings 35 can be incorporated in the front face of the air cap 3, so as to be radially outside the central opening. Said control openings 35 are preferably disposed on a line between the two horns 30. The air exiting the control openings 35 influences the horn air, in particular weakening the impact of the horn air on the paint jet. The control air furthermore protects the air cap 3 against contamination in that said control air blows paint droplets away from the air cap 3. Moreover, said control air contributes toward further atomizing of the paint mist and toward transporting the paint mist in the direction of the object to be coated.

(17) The invention will be explained in more detail by means of a plurality of exemplary embodiments in the drawings hereunder. Those parts of the nozzles which in the figures are shown in a sectional view are designed in a rotationally symmetrical manner. The lower part of the drawing therefore mirrors the upper part along the longitudinal axis. For reasons of space, the reference signs have therefore only been entered on one side of the longitudinal axis.

(18) Alternatively, the nozzles can also be designed so as to be elongate or square.

(19) The spraying direction that in FIG. 1 is identified by the reference sign 5 also applies to drawings 2 to 11.

(20) FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, wherein only the relevant fragment of the nozzle arrangement is illustrated. The internal face 223a of the paint nozzle in the present exemplary embodiment is substantially parallel with the external face 222a of the paint nozzle. The end face 22a in relation to the external face 222a of the paint nozzle encloses an angle α of less than 90°. At the same time, the end face 22a in relation to the internal face 223a of the paint nozzle encloses an angle β of more than 90°. The wall 28a that delimits the central opening of the air cap is substantially parallel with the external face 222a, the internal face 223a, and the longitudinal axis 20a of the paint nozzle. The wall 28a that delimits the central opening of the air cap, conjointly with the external face 222a of the paint nozzle, forms a gap 26a. The end face 22a in the present case is composed of only one face which is adjacent to the external face 222a of the paint nozzle. There is only a chamfer 221a between the two faces. Said chamfer 221a is advantageous since a sharp-edged nozzle tip can lead to injuries and is more prone to damage than a nozzle tip having a chamfer or a radius. In principle, all edges can be slightly beveled or rounded. All chamfers illustrated in the figures can also represent larger faces. The present design embodiment of the nozzle arrangement has the advantage that the outlet opening 29a of the paint nozzle is shielded by the air exiting from the gap 26a.

(21) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention, in which the angle α between the external face 222b and the end face 22b of the paint nozzle is more than 90°, the angle β between the internal face 223b and the end face 22b being less than 90°. A chamfer 221b forms the front end of the paint nozzle. However, a further chamfer or radius can also be provided between the external face 222b and the end face 22b of the paint nozzle. The wall 28b that delimits the central opening of the air cap, the external face 222b of the paint nozzle, and the internal face 223b of the paint nozzle here too are substantially parallel with the paint nozzle longitudinal axis 20b. Here too, the wall 28b that delimits the central opening of the air cap, conjointly with the external face 222b of the paint nozzle, forms a gap 26b. It is advantageous in this second exemplary embodiment that the atomizing air, immediately upon exiting the gap 26b, cannot expand in the direction of the outlet 29b of the paint nozzle, as would be the case with a paint nozzle having an end face that is perpendicular to the external wall, but that the atomizing air from the end face 22b is guided onward in the spraying direction. The air flow, also on account of the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, follows the transition from the external face 222b to the end face 22b. The air meets the paint jet and atomizes the latter. The chamfer 221b can also be designed as a larger face on which the atomizing air can generate a vacuum on account of which the material to be sprayed is suctioned from the outlet opening 29b.

(22) An exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention having an end face 22c in a convex design is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the angle between the end face 22c and the external face 222c of the paint nozzle is less than 90°. In the case of curved end faces, the angle between the end face and the external face of the paint nozzle is defined as the angle between the tangent to the end face and the external face of the paint nozzle, or as the angle between a straight line from the starting point to the ending point of the curvature and the external face of the paint nozzle. The wall 28c that delimits the central opening of the air cap, the external face 222c of the paint nozzle, and the internal face 223c of the paint nozzle, here too, are substantially parallel with the paint nozzle longitudinal axis 20c. Here too, the wall 28c that delimits the central opening of the air cap, conjointly with the external face 222c of the paint nozzle, forms a gap 26c. It is advantageous in this embodiment that the paint jet that exits the outlet opening 29c can spread uniformly along the end face 22c. The chamfer 221c can also be designed as a larger face on which the atomizing air can generate a vacuum by way of which the material to be sprayed is suctioned from the outlet opening 29c.

(23) FIG. 5 shows a type of spoiler nozzle, the end face of the latter being formed by a concave face 22d and by a straight face or a chamfer 221d. The air that flows from the gap 26d, on account of the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect, follows the curvature and is directed in the spraying direction. The front, thin part of the paint nozzle can also be designed so as to be shorter such that the atomizing air on account of the curvature is directed more intensely in the direction of the paint nozzle longitudinal axis 20d, on account of which said atomizing air can act more intensely on the paint jet. If the chamfer 221d is designed as a larger face, the atomizing air thereon can generate a vacuum by way of which the material to be sprayed is suctioned from the outlet opening 29d.

(24) The nozzle arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 indeed all show a paint nozzle having a plug, that is a front part having an internal face and an external face running parallel with the paint nozzle longitudinal axis; however, the design embodiments mentioned above can also be applied to conical nozzles.

(25) A paint nozzle having a conical external face 222e is shown in FIG. 6. The wall 28e that delimits the central opening of the air cap here is substantially parallel with the external face 222e. The end face 22e here is approximately perpendicular to the external face 222e, the angle β between the internal face 223e and the end face 22e being more than 90°. However, in particular the angle between the end face 22e and the external face 222e can be more than or less than 90°. Of course, transitions between faces herein can also be formed by a chamfer or a radius.

(26) The nozzle arrangement shown in FIG. 7 likewise has a paint nozzle having a conical external face 222f. The end face here is composed of two faces 22f1, 22f2, which are disposed at dissimilar angles in relation to the paint nozzle longitudinal axis. Both the angle α between the internal face and the end face, as well as the angle β between the external face and the end face, are more than 90°. The end face in relation to the internal face and in relation to the external face of the paint nozzle thus at least in regions encloses an angle of more than 90°.

(27) FIG. 8 shows a nozzle arrangement according to the invention, having a wall 28g that delimits the central opening, a substantially hollow-cylindrical plug 4, and an internal face 32 that is adjacent to the wall 28g. An imaginary straight line 7 which runs so as to be parallel with the internal face 32 of the air cap and intersects the paint nozzle longitudinal axis does not intersect the hollow-cylindrical plug. The imaginary straight line in FIG. 8 is parallel with both the internal face of the air cap as well as with the external face of the paint nozzle. On account of the design embodiment shown, part of the atomizing air (symbolized by the arrows) can act directly on the paint jet without being deflected by the plug. This part of the atomizing air runs in a manner approximately identical to that of the straight line 7. Other parts of the air flow are deflected by the plug and on the end face of the latter generate a vacuum for suctioning the material to be sprayed from the outlet opening of the paint nozzle, or flow in the spraying direction and transport the paint jet or the paint mist, respectively, in the direction of the object to be coated.

(28) A nozzle arrangement having an air cap wall 28h in a convex design is illustrated in FIG. 9.

(29) The nozzle arrangement shown in FIG. 10 has a paint nozzle having a substantially S-shaped end face 22h and chamfer or face 221h.

(30) FIG. 11 shows a paint nozzle having a rounded end face 22i, wherein the rounding here on the external face 222i in the spraying direction commences ahead of the rounding on the internal face 223i. The end face 223i in relation to the external face 222i thus encloses an angle of more than 90°, the end face 223i in relation to the internal face 223i enclosing an angle of less than 90°.

(31) In the case of all exemplary embodiments mentioned, the pressure counter to the outflow of the material to be sprayed is lower than in the case of nozzle according to the prior art.

(32) The drawings illustrated are to be understood as merely not-to-scale diagrams, and the exemplary embodiments are to be understood as merely exemplary. The thickness of the paint nozzle walls and the thickness of the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap can vary, as can the projections of the paint nozzle beyond the front end of the air cap, the internal diameter and the external diameter of the paint nozzle, the size of the chamfers and radii, and the spacings between the paint nozzle and the air cap, in particular the spacings between the paint nozzle and the wall that delimits the central opening of the air cap. All design embodiments of end faces shown can be employed in the case of both paint nozzles with plugs, as well as paint nozzles without plugs, that is to say in which at least a front region is designed so as to be conical.