Pneumatic Material Valve Actuation for Low-Force Spray Guns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spray guns, particularly paint spray guns, suffer from complex mechanical designs that lead to user fatigue due to the need to continuously pull the trigger against compression springs during prolonged use.
Innovation Solution
A spray gun with a pneumatic actuation system where the material valve is opened and closed exclusively by compressed air, reducing the mechanical effort required to operate the trigger, allowing for a more ergonomic and fatigue-free experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical actuation system with compression springs is used to close the material valve, then the trigger can be reset automatically, but the user experiences fatigue due to continuous mechanical resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression spring system with a pneumatic system. Compressed air from the air supply is directed through a channel to actuate the material valve closure. This substitution eliminates the need for the user to overcome mechanical spring resistance, as the pneumatic force performs the closing action automatically when the trigger is released, thereby reducing user fatigue while maintaining the automatic reset function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pneumatic actuation mechanism where compressed air serves as the working medium. An air channel connects the air supply to a pneumatic actuator that controls the material valve. The pneumatic pressure differential (higher pressure in the actuator chamber versus lower pressure on the opposite side) generates the force needed to close the material valve, replacing the mechanical spring system and reducing the operational burden on the user
2Force
If pneumatic actuation is used to open the material valve, then the force needed to actuate the trigger is reduced, but the system requires additional air supply infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing air supply system serve a dual function: it provides atomizing air for the spray operation and simultaneously serves as the power source for pneumatic actuation of the material valve. The air channel taps into the existing compressed air supply, allowing the same air source to perform both the spray atomization function and the valve actuation function, thereby reducing the need for additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the atomizing air function and the actuating air function into a single integrated system. The air supply, air channel, and pneumatic actuator work together as a combined system where the compressed air serves both to atomize the paint material and to provide the force needed to open the material valve, eliminating the need for separate actuation infrastructure
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
The pneumatic actuation significantly lowers the force needed to actuate the trigger, providing a more comfortable and efficient painting experience by eliminating the need for continuous mechanical resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the material valve can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region
Implementation Method 2
creates a vacuum at the end face of the material nozzle, sucking the material to be sprayed out of the material nozzle
Implementation Method 3
these threads and ribbons break up into droplets, which are blown away from the nozzle by the atomizing air
Implementation Method 4
the paint jet or spray jet, which originally had a circular cross-section (round jet), is compressed on the sides facing the horns and extended in a direction perpendicular to this
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a spray gun (1), in particular a pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun, in particular a hand-held pressurised air atomisation paint spray gun, which has at least one air valve (80, 82), in particular an air valve (80, 82) that can be actuated by means of at least one actuation element (18), in particular by means of at least one trigger, having at least one valve inlet region (62, 64) and at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), wherein the spray gun (1) has at least one material valve (96), in particular for material to be sprayed, and wherein the at least one material valve (96) is designed in such a way that it can be pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular exclusively pneumatically actuated, in particular opened, in particular wherein it can be actuated, in particular opened, by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region (92, 93), in particular wherein it can be actuated, in particular opened, exclusively by means of air from the at least one valve outlet region (92, 93). With the embodiment according to the invention, the force to be exerted to actuate the actuation element by the user of the spray gun is significantly lower than in spray guns according to the prior art, which allows for effortless operation.