Portable Pump Spray Applicator with Internal Agitators for Viscous Coatings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray application systems for paints and coatings, particularly for small areas and touch-up applications, are inconvenient due to their size, need for power sources, and the difficulty in achieving uniform application and re-dispersion of settled particles in viscous coatings like CARC, which are critical for military and industrial uses.
Innovation Solution
A portable, manually operable pump spray applicator with internal agitators, including small spherical balls and a larger striker, that effectively re-disperses settled particles in a bottle-shaped container, allowing for uniform application of viscous coatings without the need for external power or propellants, suitable for CARC and other polymeric coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power-driven or propellant-assisted spray systems are used, then high flow rate and uniform coating are achieved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coating fluid itself serves as the propellant by utilizing its own hydraulic pressure generated during pumping through the nozzle to atomize and spray the coating, eliminating the need for external power sources or propellants
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes external power sources, propellants, and complex mechanical drive systems from the spray application process, retaining only the essential pumping and nozzle components
2Manufacturing precision
If viscous coating fluid is sprayed through narrow orifice, then coating uniformity is improved, but force required to achieve spray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic pressure generated by the pump to force the viscous coating fluid through the narrow orifice at high pressure, enabling uniform coating without requiring excessive external force
Solution Approach 2:
The coating fluid is pre pressurized by the pump before entering the nozzle, cushioning the high viscosity fluid to enable it to flow through the narrow orifice smoothly and atomize uniformly
3Ease of operation
If portable manual spray system is used, then ease of operation and portability are improved, but spray force and coating quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The manual pump generates sufficient hydraulic pressure through efficient mechanical design to achieve effective spray and uniform coating quality without requiring external power sources, maintaining portability while ensuring coating quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes parameters such as pump pressure, nozzle orifice diameter, and coating fluid viscosity to achieve effective spray and uniform coating with a portable manual system
4Loss of time
If single-use disposable system is used, then cleaning time and effort are reduced, but waste generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed as a single-use disposable unit that eliminates cleaning requirements after use, with the entire applicator discarded after one application to avoid waste generation from cleaning materials and water
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
Enables efficient, uniform, and portable application of coatings, including CARC, with enhanced re-dispersion of settled particles, reducing waste and the need for cleaning, and providing consistent quality even after prolonged storage, suitable for remote and small-area touch-up applications.
Implementation Method 1
Power-driven techniques utilize engine-driven or motor-driven pumps to hydraulically force the coating fluid through the narrow orifice at high pressure
Implementation Method 2
As the gas expands during passage through the nozzle, entrained coating fluid atomizes to form droplets that are carried onto the surface being sprayed
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, manually operable, trigger-activated pump spray applicator can be used to apply paints and coating fluids in commercial and military end use applications, especially chemical agent resistant coating (CARC) fluids. The applicator includes an impermeable, preferably rigid-walled, container capped by a manually operable spray pump with a single fluid nozzle. The assembly has capability of producing an atomized spray of viscous coating fluids. The applicator includes internal agitators suitable to redisperse solid components of the coating fluid that settle after long-term storage. The agitators include a plurality of small, heavy spheres and a single large, heavy, striker. The inside bottom wall and side wall meet with a concave radius of curvature that matches the radius of the small spheres. The striker has a characteristic dimension of about 10-500% greater than the diameter of the small spheres.