Abstract
A hand-held spray gun used for discharging high pressure fluid from a fluid source through a spray wand so as to direct the pressurized fluid in a desired direction. The spray gun has a connector for connection to a hose from the fluid source, which connector can rotate 360 perpendicular to the direction of flow, but the spray wand connected at the discharge end of the spray gun does not rotate.
Claims
1. A spray gun for dispensing a pressurized fluid from a supply source through a spray wand, the spray gun comprising: a body including a barrel and a handle, the handle being disposed at an angle from the barrel and the barrel having a discharge end from which fluid is dispensed from the spray gun; a swivel connector connectable to a fluid supply and combined with the barrel near the discharge end of the barrel to provide an internal fluid flow path with the barrel, the swivel connector being independently rotatable relative to the barrel; the barrel having an inlet passageway and a discharge passageway, the inlet passageway being in fluid communication with fluid supplied through the internal fluid flow path provided by the swivel connector; a valve in the barrel for controlling fluid flow between the inlet and discharge passageways; and a trigger combined with the handle and operatively combined with the valve in the barrel to selectively control fluid flow between the inlet and discharge passageways, thereby providing for controlled discharge of fluid from the discharge end of the spray gun through a spray wand.
2. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the swivel connector is independently moveable circumferentially 360 relative to the barrel.
3. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the internal fluid flow path provided by the swivel connector and barrel is sealed from outside elements by a seal.
4. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the discharge end of the barrel has a connection for receiving an appropriate spray wand.
5. The spray gun of claim 1 further comprising: a valve seat in the barrel, wherein the valve is located in the valve seat; a retainer for normally holding the valve in a position to stop flow between the inlet and discharge passageways; and a valve stem combined with the valve and the trigger to selectively move the valve from the valve seat in response to movement of the trigger, wherein the valve is movable against a biasing force of the retainer in response to a movement of the trigger.
6. The spray gun of claim 5, wherein the retainer is a retaining spring.
7. The spray gun of claim 5, wherein the valve is a ball-shaped valve.
8. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the internal inlet passageway and the discharge passageway inside the barrel are substantially parallel.
9. The spray gun of claim 1, further comprising: a trigger lock combined with the trigger, the trigger lock having bifurcated arms pivotally mounted on the trigger; the handle having a slot to receive the trigger lock; and a stop member in the slot, wherein the bifurcated arms are engageable with the stop member to lock the trigger.
10. The spray gun of claim 1, further comprising a trigger guard that extends from the barrel to the handle to create an open space, the trigger being positioned in the open space.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spray device of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the front end of the spray device;
[0028] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view showing the major components of the spray device;
[0029] FIGS. 4A-4D are front views of the swivel connector on the barrel at different swivel points around the barrel;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a side view of the spray device with one side removed and some components removed to show other interior components;
[0031] FIG. 6 is another side view of the spray device with one side removed to show the interior components;
[0032] FIG. 7 is another side view of the spray device with one side removed to more clearly show some of the working parts; and
[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled spray device of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a hand held, trigger-actuated spray device or gun 10 adapted for controlling and directing high pressure fluid streams. FIG. 1 shows a spray gun 10 with a pistol-configured body or housing having a barrel 12 and a depending handle 14 disposed at an angle to the barrel 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing is formed by right and left hand housing sections 16 and 18, respectively, which are secured together in any suitable manner, as is well known to those skilled in the art. A fluid supply line (not shown) is connected to an adapter fitting 20 that is a part of a swivel connector 22 attached to the discharge end of the barrel 12 for supplying pressurized fluid to the spray gun 10. For example, the pressurized fluid may be supplied from a liquid pressure washer or other high pressure fluid supply source.
[0035] As best seen in FIGS. 3, and 5-7, for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to and through the spray gun 10, a trigger actuated operating assembly 24 is supported within the housing sections 16 and 18. The assembly 24 includes a valve portion 26 and a forward extending portion 28 that has an internal inlet passageway 30 and a discharge passageway 32 that are substantially parallel to each other. (See FIGS. 5, 7). At the outer end of the assembly 24 is an annular inlet port 34 that together with the swivel connector 22 provide for flow of fluid from the supply source through the adapter fitting 20 into the inlet passageway 30. Swivel connecter 22 is sealed from outside elements by a pair of seals, such as O-rings 35, which allow the swivel connector 22 to move 360 around the end of the barrel 12. Contained within the valve portion 26 are a valve chamber 36 and a valve seat 38 at the inlet end of the valve chamber 36. Extending and moveable within the valve chamber 36 is a ball-shaped valve 40 that is operatively connected to and selectively moved by a valve stem 42. The valve 40 and stem 42 may be separate members or one piece. Valve stem 42 extends through an axial bore in the valve seat 38, and the outer end of the valve stem 42 is maintained along an axial line by extending through the bore of an annular guide member 46 held in place by the valve portion 26 of the assembly 24. A valve seat retaining spring 48 biases the valve 40 normally onto the valve seat 38 in a position closing off the flow of fluid from the inlet passageway 30. When the valve 40 is moved from the valve seat 38 by actuation of the valve stem 42, fluid in the inlet passageway 30 will flow into the valve chamber 36 and then into the discharge passageway 32 from where it will be discharged from the spray gun. The outer end of the assembly 24 has a connector, such as threaded member 49, to provide for connection of an appropriate spray wand or nozzle (not shown) to the discharge passageway 32 for directing the discharged fluid in a desired direction and/or pattern, as is well known to those skilled in the art.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, the swivel connector 22 which is movable 360 around the end of the barrel 12. The swivel connector 22 is shown from an end view, at different points around the barrel 12.
[0037] As best seen in FIG. 7, a trigger 50 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 52 that is secured at the lower end of the barrel 12. Trigger 50 extends downwardly adjacent to the handle 14 so that it can be gripped by the fingers of a user's hand. Trigger 50 engages the outer end of the valve stem 42 so as to move the valve 40 between its normally closed position seated on the valve seat 38 and an open position that provides for the flow of high pressure fluid from the inlet passageway 30 through the valve chamber 36 and into the discharge passageway 32 Upon release of the trigger 50 by the user, the valve seat retaining spring 48 will exert pressure against the valve ball 40 to move it into engagement with the valve seat 38 while the valve stem 42 moves the trigger 50 away from the handle 14
[0038] Preferably, the spray gun has a trigger lock 54 that is adapted for easy and reliable operation for preventing unintended and potentially dangerous discharge of high pressure fluid from the spray gun. As best seen in FIG. 8, the trigger lock 54 has bifurcated arms 56 pivotally mounted on the inside of the trigger 50, the arms 56 terminating in a stop member 58 that is engageable in a slot 60 (FIG. 6) formed in the front edge of handle 14. When it is desired to use the spray gun, the user's fingers can easily unlock the trigger by moving the trigger lock 54 upwardly. Then, to lock the trigger 50, the user can move the lock 54 downwardly until the stop member 58 is engaged in the slot 60. The trigger 50 is further protected from inadvertent actuation by a trigger guard 62 that extends from the bottom of the barrel 12 downwardly and rearwardly where it is permanently joined to the lower end of the handle 14.
[0039] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments or examples described herein. The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.
