Ball Lock Mounting Arrangement for High-Pressure Spray Guns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball lock arrangements are inadequate for securely connecting body parts of apparatus under high pressure, such as spray guns, as they lack a reliable mechanism for varying the clamping force and pressure relief.
Innovation Solution
A novel ball lock arrangement featuring a connecting body with a shank, centrally axially extending bore, and radially extending bores, utilizing a round-headed plunger and cam mechanism to control ball movement, providing three distinct engagement phases for secure clamping and pressure relief, driven by a hexagon drive and retained by a pin and spring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ball lock arrangement with an adjustment screw is used, then the connection can be secured, but the mechanism lacks reliability for high-pressure applications and cannot provide pressure relief
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static adjustment screw mechanism with a dynamic cam mechanism that can vary the clamping force on the balls. The cam's rotational position allows continuous adjustment of the plunger's axial position, enabling three distinct engagement phases: fully engaged (tight clamping), partial engaged (pressure relief), and fully disengaged (complete separation). This dynamic adjustment capability provides both high-pressure reliability and pressure relief functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism changes the geometric parameters of the ball lock system by varying the axial position of the plunger relative to the balls. As the cam rotates, it changes the degree to which the plunger forces the balls into the radially larger space, thereby changing the clamping force parameter. This allows the system to adapt between different engagement states for reliable connection and pressure relief.
2Reliability
If the radially larger space is used to allow ball movement, then the connection can be secured, but the mechanism lacks control over engagement phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the balls. The cam translates rotational motion into controlled axial movement of the plunger, which in turn controls the balls' position. This intermediary provides precise control over the engagement phases, allowing the operator to achieve tight clamping, pressure relief, and complete separation through simple rotational movements of the cam.
3Ease of operation
If a cam mechanism is introduced to control ball movement, then engagement phase control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cam mechanism with the existing ball lock structure by integrating the plunger as part of the cam assembly. The cam, plunger, and balls form a unified control system where the cam's rotation directly controls the plunger's position, which in turn controls the balls. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining the three distinct engagement phases.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures a secure and adjustable connection between spray gun components, allowing for tight clamping, partial release of pressure, and complete separation, enhancing the reliability and functionality of high-pressure apparatus assembly.
Implementation Method 1
rise and fall of the plunger being effected by a cam portion which is drivable from a position on the exposed surface of the connecting body
Implementation Method 2
The cam guide profile is configured to provide three distinct phases; fully engaged, partial engaged and fully disengaged
Implementation Method 3
Optionally, there is further included a cam spring which resists axial motion of the cam
Implementation Method 4
The cam is conveniently driven by a hexagon drive accessible at the exposed surface of the connecting body
Data Source
AI summary
A paint gun assembly including a spray head and a connecting manifold. The spray head includes a bore terminating in a radially extending space of gradually increasing radius. The bore receives a shaft that has an axially extending bore which connects with radially extending bores in which balls are contained. The shaft also contains a plunger with a rounded end, engaging the balls. When forced into the axial bore, the plunger forces the balls into the radially extending bores and out into the tapered, radially extending space. The plunger engages a cam which is exposed at a surface of the manifold body and includes a hexagon drive to adjust the angular rotation of the cam using a suitable key. The manifold body provides a recess for receiving a retaining pin, whose end is received in the cam guide profile. Axial movement of the cam is resisted by a compression spring.