claim as my invention: 1. in a spray gun, 60 a housing having a nozzle provided ivith an elongated tubular passage, a yieldable tube of a resilient material of the class consisting of rubber and synthetic rubber, said tube being snugly fitted in the passage with one 65 end positioned to discharge material therefrom,@ a material supply passageway in said housing comm,unicating with -the other end of said tube, a valve passage in said housing coaxial: with said tubular passage, 70 a movable valve mounted in said valve passage and cooperable with the other end of @the tube to open and close it in communication with said material supply passagei@vay, said other end of said rubber tube haviii.- a cou@iter75 sunk vaINe seat about the bore of the tube and

3,102@368 5 said valve having a conical-like head cooperable with said countersunk seat with said other end of isaid tube being nsiti,@ntly engageable with swd valve head whtn the valve is in a closed position, said conical-like head having a diameter smaller than 5 the diamete@r of said valve passaae enablin,- said valve and said conical-like head to be withdrawn from the housing in a direction axiilly away rrom said yieldable tube. 2. In a spray gun, 10 bousing having a nozzle provided with an clonga:Led tubular passage, yieldable tube of a resilient material of the class cor@sis@ing of rubber and synthetic rubber, said ,tube being snii.-ly fitted in the passage with one 15 end positioned to dischar.-e material therefrom, material supply passageway in said housir@g cor@iinunicating with the other end of said tube, valve passage in said housing coaxial with said tubular passage, 20 rnovable valve moluited in snid valve passa.-e compri,sing a rod htvin,@ 9, conical-li'Ke head formed ir.- te,-ral on its forward end cooperable with the oit'ner end of the tube to open and close it in cortimunication with said material supply Passageviay, 25 said other end of said tube having a countersunk valve seat about thi-- bore of the tube and with said conicallike head being cooperable with said countersunk seat with said other end of said tube being resiliently engageable with said valve head when the valve is 30 in a closed position, said conical-like head having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said valve passage enabling said valve and said conical4ike head to b@ withdrawn from the hgtising in a direction axially wvay from 35 said yieldable tube to permit said conical4ik-c heqd to be readily refinished and replaced in assenibly wi,th the gun. 3. -In a spray gun, housing having ia nozzle I>rovided Nvith Ln elongated 40 tubular passage, yieldable tube of a resilient material of the class consisting of rubber and synthetic rubber, said tube being snugly fitted in the passage with one end positioned to discharge material therefrom, 45 material supply passageway in said housing communicating with th-, other end of said tube, valve passage in said housin.- coaxial wit-h said tubular passage, movable valve motinted in said valve passage and 50 cooperable with the other end of the tube to open and close it in communication with said material slipply passageway, said other end of said rubber tube having a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tube and said 55 valve having a conical-like head cooperable with said countersunk seat with said other end of said tube being resiliently engageable with said valve head when the valve is in a closed position, said conical-like head having a diameter smaller than 60 the diatneter of said valve passage enabling said valve and said conical-like head to be withdranvn from the hoi-ising in a direction axially away from isaid yieldable tube, and a frusto-conical cap of a flexible rubberlike material 65 having a dispensing nozzle portion at one end and ,means for @snap-on, pull-off faissernbly witli said hou.,- in.- at an lopposite end for securing the cap, in protective relation over said nozzle. 4. In a spray gun, 70 housing having a nozzle pro@vided with an elongated tubular passage, yioldable ttibe of a resilie-,it material of the class consisting of rubber and synthetic rubber, said tube being snug-ly fitted in the elon,-ated tubular 75 6 a a a passage with one tube end positioned to discharge material therefrom, material supply passageway in said housing communicating with the other end of said tube, valve passage in said housing coaxial with said tubularpassage, movable valve mounted in said valve passage and cooperable with the other end of the tube to open and close it in communication with said material supply passageway, said other end of said tube having a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tube and said valve having a conical-like heid cboperable with said countersunk seat with said other end of said tube being resfliently engageable with said valve head when the valve is in a closed position ' said conicql-like head havin,@ a diameter smaller than the diameter of -said valve passage enabling said valve and said conical-like haad to be withdrawn from the housing in a direction axially away from said yieldable tube, said nozzle aDd isaid one ti-ibe end having a series of inclined peripheral air grooves for connection with an air supply, and ' frusto-conical cap of a flexible rubber-like material havin.- a dispensing nozzle poiLion with a dispensing passaae at one end in communication with said air grooves and said tube and means for securing the cap in snap-on, pull-off assembly @with said housin,@ @at @an opposite end in protective relation over said rozzles and for enclosing said grooves. 5. Tn a spray gun, housing having a nozzle provided with an elongated tubular passage, a yieldable tube of a resilient material of the class consisting of rubber and synthetic rubber, said tube being snugly fitted in the elongated tubular passage with one tube end positioned to discharge material therefrom, material supply passageway in said housing communicating with the other end of said tube, valve passage in said housing coaxial with said tubular passa.-e, movable valve mounted in said valve passage and cboperable with the other end of the tube to open and close it in communication with said material supply passageway, said other end of said tube having a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tube and said valve having a conical-like head cooperable with said counter!sunk seat with said other end 6f said tube bein-. resiliently engageable with said valve head when the valve is in a closed position, said nozzle and said one tube and having a series of inclined peripheral air grooves for connection with an air supply, and afrusto-conical cap of a f@lexible rubb.-r-like material having a dispensing nozzle portion with a dispensing passage at one end in cbmmunication with said air grooves and said tube and means for securing the cap in snap-on, pull-Off jassembly ivith sai.d housing at an oppo@s@te end in protective relation over said nozzles and for enclosin,- said grooves. 6. In a spray gun, a housing having a discharge end provided with a passage, a yieldable tube of a resilient rubber-like material, said tube be;n,@ snugly fitted in the tubular passage with one, e-ild positioned to discharge material therefrom, material supply passageway in said said housin-. commuilicating -,vith the other end of said tube, valve passage in said @,housing coaxial with sa@id tubular passa.-e, inovable valve moiinted in said valve passa.-c and

3,102,363 7 cooperable with the other end of the t,,ibe to open and close -it i-@i commuhication @vith said material suppl.y passageway, said otherend of said yieldable tube havin-, a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tub-- and said .5 valve having a conical-like head coop-,rable with said countersunk seat with said other end of said ,tube being resiliently en.-ageable with said valve head when the va'ive is -in a closed position, said conical-like head having a diameter smaller than 10 the diameter of said valve passa,@e enabling said valve and said c6nical-like head to be withdrawn from t@he housing in a direction axially a@way from said Yieldable tube, and reciprocal means connected to said valve for securing 15 the valve head in said valve seat and releasible for disengaging the valve head from said valve seat. 7. in a spray gun, housin,@ having a discharge end provided with a passage, 20 yieldable tube of a resilient rubber-like material, said tube being snugly fitted in the tubular passa,-e with one end positioned to discharge material therefrom, material supply passageway in said housing cOm- 25 municating with the other end of said tube, valve passage in said housiiig coaxial with said tubular passage, movable valve mounted in said valve passa.-e and cooperable with the other end of the tube to open 30 and close it in cammunication with said material supply passageway, said other end of said yieldable ttibe having a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tube and said valve having a conical-li@kc head cooperable with 35 said countersunk seat with said other end of said tub@f,- bein@g resiliently engageable with said valve head when the valve is in a closed position, sa,id conical-like head having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said valve passage enabling said 40 valve and said conical-like head to be withdra,@vn from the housin,- in a direction axially away from s.aid yieldable tube, rect,procal means connected to said valve for securin-. the valve head in said valve seat and releasible for 45 disengagin- the valve head from said valve seat, and a urethane foam coating on the exterior of said gun. 8. A nozzle structure @for attachment on a housing of a spra . y gun having a needle valve therein comi)risin@g 50 yieldable tube of a resilient rubber-like material having centrally located tube passage through which material can flow, nozzle having an ;elongated tubular passage with said tube mounted therein, 55 said nozzle having threads for securing said nozzle to a housing, an axially inner end of said tube havilig a countersunk valve seat about the bore of @t'ne tube for receipt of a conical-like valve head, co adjacent ends of said nozzle and said tube having a series of inclined periphe@-ally aligr,.ed air grooves for connection with an air supply, a frusto-conical cap of a flexible rubber-like material havin,g a dispensin,- nozzle portion with a material 6'5 and air discharge passage, said cap@ bein.- mounted over said adjacent ends of said, nozzle and said tube and prov-ldin.- a parlial closure for said peripher@ally aligned air grooves for 70 controlling air flow through said -rooves into caidmaterial and air discharge passage in sa,'@d cap, and an annular flexible rib mounted on one end of said cap for securin.- the cap in snap-on, ptill-off assenibly with a housing. 75 9. A nozzle structure for attac,@hment on a h6using of spray gun having a needle valve therein comprising a yieldable tube of a resilient rubber-h,ke material having centrally located tube passage @througl@l which material can flow, a nozzle havin-, an elongated tubular passage with said tube mounted therein, an axially inner end of said tube having a countersunk valve seat about the bore of the tube for receipt of a conical-li@ke valve -head, adjacent ends of said nozzle and said tube having a series of inclined peripherauy al-igned air grooves for connection with an air supply, a frusto-conical cap of a flexible rubber-like material having a dispensing nozzle portion with a material and air discharge passage, said cap being mounted over said adjacent ends of said nozzle and said tube and providing a partial closure for said peripherajly aligned air grooves for controllin- air flow through said grooves into said material and air discharge passage in said cap, and means mounted on one end of said cap for securing the cap in snap-on, pull-off assembly with a housing. lo, "tn a nozzle structur@- -for attachment on a housin.- of a spray @unhaving a needle valve therein, a yieldable tube of a @resilient rubber-like mateiial having central@ly located tube passage through whioh material can flow, a nozzle having an elongated tubular passage with said tube mounted therein, an axially inner end of said tube having a valve seat about the bore bf the tube for recoipt of a valve head, adjacent ends of said nozzle and said tube having a series of inclined peripherally aligned air grooves for connection @vith @an air supply, and a cap of a flexible rubber4ike material having a dispensing nozzle Pordon With a material and air discharge passage, said cap being mounted over said adjacent ends of a a a a a a a a a said nozzle and said tube and providing a partial closure for said peripheral@ly aligned air grooves for controlling air flow through said grooves into said n-iaterial and air discharge passage in said cap. ltl. In a spray gun, housing block having axially opening buffing compound and air chambers -at its opposite ends joined together by an axially extending valve passage, movable valve in said valve passa,,e and extended into said chambers, liozzle on said hous-ing forming a closure for said buffing compound chamber and having a yieldable rubber-like tube mounted in its bore providing a vailve seat for se@id va-lve, piston mounted on said movable Valve in said air chamber, closure plate mounted in said air cjhamber, snap ring retainer holcling the plate in assembly with the housing, valve adjustment screw mounted on sdd plate and having a tubular bore with an end of said valve engaged therein, resilient bumper disposed in said bore in said adjustment screw providing a cushioned valve stpp, spring between said closure plate and said piston for urging said piston and said valve in a direction toward the valve seat, and,air and buffing compound nipples on said housing operzitively connected with said chambers, the air nipple enabling air to be fl'owed into the air Chan-lb.-r to force the piston toward said ring to unseat said valve to permit buffing compotind to be dischar,- ed through said tube.

9 12. The gun of claim II further characterized by said valve ha@ving a conical-like head hav-ing a maidmum diameter smauer than a diameter of said axially extending valve passage so the valve may be withdrawn -from the gun after the snap ring retainer is detached from the housing. 13. The gun of cla@im 11 further characterind by said @housing having a rubberlike abrasive discharge cap engaged over said nozzle and provided with means for snap-on, puu-off engagement with said housing. 14. The gun of claim 13 further characterized by said tube and said nozzle having inclined peripherally ahgned 3,102,368 10 air grooves and by said housing having air supply passages for flowing air through said air grooves for coaxial nungling with the abrasive being discharged through said cap. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 11,459,975 Fleniing-Williams ------ June 26, il923 2,07 1,472 Pletcher ------------ -- @Feb. Z3, 19@37 10 2,@ 107,084 Pletcher ------------ --- Feb. 1, 11938 2,901,183 Kohi ------------ Aug,. 25, 1959 3,066,874 Becker ---------------- Dec. 4, 1962

Uni'ted States Patent Office 3p I02,368 P a t e n t e d S e p t . 3 , 1 9 6 3 ABRASIVE SPRAY GUN Leslie W. Smith, 1722 Larlmoor Blvd., Berkley, Mich. Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 200,831 14 CWms. (Cl. 51-11) 5 This invention relates to a spray gun baving nozzle means which is not only capable of resisting the abrasive action of grit and the like contained in buffing compounds, but also which has corqponents which may be more 10 economically man@ufactured and more economically reconditioned orreplaced. In the use of so-called automatic spray guns for sprlying grit containing materials, such as buffing compounds, it has been found that the metallic parts of the nozzle, such 15 as a needle valve when one is @used, wear out very rapidly due to the high pressure that is employed in the ejection of the material@ In such guns, as is well konwn, the material is forcibly discharged from a central passageway under the propelling 20 or aspirating effect of higli velocity air jets focused in the locale of the material discharge orifice. In my prior U.S. Patent 2,658 312, a spray gun nozzle structure is provided with a yield@@le rubber-lik, tube that is snu,-jy fitted in the grit discliarge passa.-e to increase 25 the overall life of the nozzle of the gun as the yieldable material of the tube functions to resist the abrading action ol the grit compound to a greater extent than where metal parts are used in contact with the material bein"@ sprayed. 30 The instant spray @un has been developed primarily for spraying abrasive material exclusively and not for use as a paint spraygun. In the past, it has been the practice to manufacttire the meterin@g rod or a needle valve from stainless steel and to provide it -with an enlarged conical- 35 like head disposed in threaded assembly on the needle. In use, guns of this type, break dovm periodically due to the abrasive action of the spraying compbund br grit on the conical-like head. In the past, where the head has become worn, it has been necessary to remove a number of 40 parts at the nozzle end of the -Un in order that access may be -ained to the conical-like head. Then the conicallike head is unscrewed from 'Lhe needle and -enerally replaced. Frequently, it is virtually impossible to remove the conical-like head from the rod because the threads 45 are locked together. According to important features of the present inven,- tion, the conical-like head is forined so as to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the valve passaue, en,iblin.- th-- valve and its conical-like head to be withdrawn 50 from the housing at the rear end of the gun so that it is no lon.aer necessary to remove the nozzle structure of the gun in order to service the conical-like head. Accordin.- to still other important featur(,s of this in-%Tention, the conical-like head is formed int6,@ral in one piece with the valve fron a steel softer than stainless steel so that it ca-i be easily resurfac-@d and rel,31aced in the gun with a minimum of effort. According to further important features of this invention, the gun is provided with a metallic nozzle carrying 60 the @resilient tube, the tube having an end projecting beyond the nozzle, the periphery of the nozzle and the tube having aligned inclined grooves, and a flexible dispenser cap is disposed over the grooves permitting an air stream 65 to be flowed through the grooves into the stream of buffing cbmpound or git whereby the construction of the nozzle structure of the spraygun is simplified and can be more economically manufactured. Still another important object of this invention is to pro- 7o vide a new and in-lproved abrasive spray gun having a u,@ethane foam coatin- . on its exterior to protect the glin 2 from deleterious substances wiaich may be contained in the air field adjacent to a buffin,.- wheel and thereby lengthen the useful li'te of the spray gun. Other objects and features of this invention will mo;re fully become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the acceompanying drawing illustrating a single embodiment, and in which: FIGURE I is a side view partly in se-,tion of an automatic spray gun, embodying fe,,itures of my invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ta-ken substantially on the line II-11 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, as shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlar.aed cross-sectional view taken substantial'y on the, line 111-III looking in the direction indicated by the arrows ' as shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a nozzle for use in lpy spray i.-un; and FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a yieldab,le tube for assembly in the nozzl-- of mv spray gun. As shov/n on the drawings: The reference numeral @9 desi,@nates generally an automatic spray gun embodying the features of my invention. The gun 9 includes a housing 10 which is preferably made of a sin,@le piece of a stiitable material such as brass. The housing @10 includes a threaded nipple 11 f6r connection to a fluid supply under pressure, such as air, which is adapted to be used in the aspirating and projection of the material froni the gun. A similar threaded nipple @12 is provided with a conriection to the air supply for delivering air under pressure for actuating a reciprocai piston or diaphragm 13 disposed in the piston housin,,@,14. The piston 13 is mounted on a rec.iprocal or movable needle valve or rod l@5 in th,e piston h6tising 14. To this end, a pair of piston rin-,s 16 and 17 are rnounted on the valve 15 on axially opposite sides of piston 13. The piston 13 may be comprised of any suitable material such as leatler and the like. In order to hold the piston 13 as well as the plates 16 and,17 in@ proper position. on the rod 15, a pair of ke I ys I,.' and 19 are dispos-@d on opposite sides of the piston n'ngs 16 and 17. @ in'order to close the open end of -the p;.ston housing 14, a piston closure plate 20 is engaged against housin,@ shoulder 21 and held in assembly therewith by means of a snap rina retainer 22. The needle or valve 15 projects axial@ly forwardly of the piston housin.- 14 thtough a housing passage 23 which passage has conventional types of packing glands 24 and 25 dispbsed at axially opposite ends thereof to permit the piston 15 to be freely moved or reciprocated. The plate 20 is provided with an adjustment screw 27 which has @threads 28 holding the screw 27 in assembly with:the@ plate. The screw 27 has a tubular body 29 and a resilie-.it bumper 30 is disposed witliin tne tubular body along with an ejid 15a of the valve or needle 15. A spring 31 is disposed in the piston housing 14 between the piston 13 and -the plate 20 for exerting a force to cause a @con-ical-like head 15b to be seated against a countersunk valve seat 33 on a yieldable tube 34. The resilient bumper 30 provides means for controlling the pressure on the needle 15. According to important features of the present inv@-nlion, the conical-like head 15b is smaller in size and diameter at its greatest point, as compared with the diametet of the housing passage 23, so that the needle 15 as well as the piston 13 can be disassembled from the housing 10 by removing the snap rina. 22 and drawing the screw 27 as well las the needle 15 out of assembly with the housing 10. It will be appreciated that durin.the operation of the gun 9 that the con.ical-like head 15b frequently becomes wom and that it must be refinished periodically so that the c onical-like head may properly

3 seat on the tube 34. In the past, the practice@ has been to provide the valve 15 with a replace!aible conical-like shaped head which formerly was mounted in thteadcd asse.ailbly on the pin. The conical-shaped head is at a diame@'Ler in excess of the diameter of the housing passage 23 so that it has not been possible to draw the needle 15 out of assembly with the housing 10 before removing the conical-shaped head. In the past, in order to remove the conical-shaped head, it his been necessary to detach the nozzle struoture on the gun so tha-t the head could be unscrewed from the needle. It has now been found tha-t where the gun 9 is to be used for sprayin- abrasive materials and not as a p,aint -spray gun, that it is no longer necessary,to employ a conical-shaped head comprised of a staiiiless steel "Material, It -will further be appreciated tha,t in the past, where the gun has been intended to be used for spraying paints as well as git, that it was necessary for @the conical-shaped head to be mad,- from a very hard material. According to the present invention, it has been found that where the gun is to be used for spraying oTit exclusively, that the conical-shaped head may be made fr(ym a relatively soft material such as a mild typa steel or the like toreduce the cost of the gun. In the past, where the replaceable tips have become worn, it has been necessa,ry tothrow the old tip @away and mount a new conicalshaped head artip on the needle. The present needle construction is more economical since the needle 15 can be easily removed from @the housing 10 when its conicalshaped head 15h becomes worn so that the conical-shaped head 15b can be easily refinished and replaced in the housing 10 with a miniinum of effort. The technique of rejuvenating the conic,,.I-shaped head 15b is far simpler, less expensive and can be carried out in a very short time as compared to the practices previously followed. In the past, where the head was threaded on the valve, and where the conical-shaped head became worn, it was frequently very ;difficult to remove the conica-l-shaped head and specialtools were required to perform this time-consurmng task whereby the guns wouldfrequently be shut down for a relatively long period of time. According to still further features <)f this invention, the spray gun 9 is pro-vided with a new and improved nozzle structure indicated generally at 40. The nozzle structura 40 includes ithe tube 34, a nozzle 41 and a removable cap 42. The nozzl-- 41 is preferably comprised of -la hard material such as steel and the like. The yieldable tube 34 is preferably :comprised of a resilient or rubberlike material such a-s rlibber and synthetic rubber. The cap 42 is preferably comprised of a flexible material such as a flexible rubber or synthetic rubber. The nozzle 41 has a reduced end 43 provided with a series of threa@ds 44 secured in threaded assembly with internal threads in an -open end of the housing 10 at one end of a material receiving chamber 45. It widl further be seen in FIGURE I that the nozzle 41 has a frusto-conical seat 46 for backing up an enlarged tube end 34a as well as the valve seat 33. The tube 34 is of a greater length than the nozzle 41 so that)the enlarged titbe end 34a projects axially beyond the threaded portion 44 of the nozzle 41 at one end and so that its taptred opposite end 34b extends axially beyond the other end of the nozzle 41 when the tube 34 is mounted with axially eytending n6zzle passage 47. The gun, 9 is provided with a buffing coinpound inlet nipple 48 through which buffing compound is urged uiider pressure and caused to flow through axial tube passa.-e 34c @and out through material and air discharge cap 49 when the va@lve 15b is unseated. By@ provid-ing the -un 9 with -the air inlet nipple 11, air can be caused to flow through an axial housing air pass-,t@,-eway 50 into annular housing groove 51 throiigh circumferenti,ally spaced peripherally aligned tir grooves 52 and 34d in the iiozzle 41 @ind the tube 34 and the" 3,102,368 4 through the cap disrharge passage 49. The air and buffing compbund axe mixed at the lip end 34b of the tube 34 and dischar,@ed under pressure from the nozzle structure 40. In UTder to regulate air flow through housing passage 50 by varying the passage area, a thumb or metering screw 53 (FIGURE 2) is mounted on the @gun. The cap 42 is provided with means for snap-on, pulloff assembly with the housing 10; including an annular rib 54 mounl,ed on the radi0y inner side of an axially 10 extending annular cap flange 55 for snap-o-@i engagement in housing groove 56. The housing 10 is further provided with a handle H to assist in the holding of the gun 9, durin-, its use. By reason of the use of the tube 34, the overall life 15 of the nozzle 40 of the gun may be increased sinc(- the yieldable material of this tube will resist the abrading aotion of the material to a greater extent than is true in the case where metal parts are used in contact tl-ie material. The tube may be made froni any suitable 20 rubbe@r-like material or a suitable synthetic @ubstitute, depending, of course, on ithe character of the mater al being sprayed. For illustration, in spraying some types of material it might be desirable to us-, a synthetic material such as neoprene, although excellent restilts may 25 be obtained by niaking the tube from rubber u ar stock. Furthermore, the yieldable characteris@Lic of t e tube enables it to sealingly engage the valve head 15,b when the valve is closed, th-Lis effectively shutting off the supply 30 of buffing Material. In addition, the yieldvible characteristic of the rjaaterial of the tube permits the tube to be pre-adjusted for rate of flow by the simple expedient of turning ithe adjustment screw 27. Also, thp- tube 34 is easily replaceable when no longer usable. 3,5 The nozzle struct@ure 40 has been simplified, since the nozzle 4il and the tube 34 are provided wi-th inclined aligned air grooves 52 and 34d rather than internal bores or the like. The cap 47, is adapted to fl-t over the inclined grooves to form partial elosures for them and to 40 assist in controlling air flow @o the cap discharge passage 49. Tho novel construction of the needle valve 15 enables the gun 9 to be more readily serviced with a minimum of effort and expense. 45 According to stil@l another importanit feature of the present iniention, I have found that it is desirable to encase the gun 9 witli a styrofoam or urethane coating to keep the gun fron-i becoming compound covered while in use Nvhereby the useful life of the gun 5o may be extended. , The provision of the urethane foam coatihg is an@ optional feature and when applied to the gun, it provides means for protecting the external surfaces oi' -the gun from becomin.- abraded during the buffing ope-raiion. 55 R will ibe understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope the novel concepts of the present invention. I