WO1990001373A1

WO1990001373A1 - Improved in-line blowgun and coupler combination

Info

Publication number: WO1990001373A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/002664
Authority: WO
Inventors: Melvin A. Nordeen
Original assignee: Nordeen Melvin A
Priority date: 1988-08-05
Filing date: 1988-08-05
Publication date: 1990-02-22

Abstract

In many work situations it is desirable to switch back and forth between using a pneumatic tool and using a blowgun, but this is time consuming and accelerates wear of the connection coupling. Therefore, disclosed is an in-line blowgun whereby both the blow gun and a pneumatic tool may be simultaneously coupled to the discharge end of an air line in a manner allowing the blowgun to be independently operated, yet still maintaining the ability of utilizing alternate pneumatic tools. The in-line blowgun (110) includes a main body (112) having a main fluid passage (114) extending therethrough with an inlet end (116), for the attachment of an air line, and an outlet end (118), having a quick disconnect coupler for the attachment of pneumatic tools. A branch passage (132) defines the in-line blowgun. A push button (166) connected to the valve element (158) allows for selective use of the air nozzle.

Description

Improved In-Line Blowgun & Coupler Combination

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved in-line air nozzle and coupler for use in conjunction with pneu¬ matic tools. More particularly, this invention relates to several improvements of my Combined Coupling and Air Nozzle described in U. S. Patent No. 4,078,728, issued to me March 14, 1979.

Background Art

As previously described, persons who utilize pneumatic tools often wish to use a blowgun in combination with those tools but without disconnecting and reconnecting the air line for each operation. The need therefore existed for an in-line blowgun between an air hose and the coupler which could be operated independently on the same air line. I invented such a blowgun comprising a releasable fitting at the outlet end of the blowgun. In other words, my invention enabled a pneumatic tool to be coupled directly to an in-line air nozzle. Further, my air nozzle also comprised a valve structure for variably throttling a stream of compressed air from the main pas¬ sage through a lateral branch passage to the outlet end of the nozzle. However, during the past years of opera- tion since my original invention was described in U. S. Patent No. 4,078,728, several problems have arisen with the internal workings of the valve structure, coupler, and nozzle, and it has become necessary to modify my original invention in certain respects which shall be leter described as the improvements thereto. One problem with my original invention was per¬ forming internal maintenance because the exterior shell was of one piece construction. The internal parts could not be inspected nor cleaned without disassem¬ bling the nozzle. This problem has now been remedied by adding a removable compression plug at the base of my new in-line blowgun for access to the main passage.

Other problems with my original invention were air leaks. The major air leak was caused by improper seat¬ ing of a resilent O-ring between the valve seat and valve face in the intermediate part of the main flow passage. The O-ring was merely held in place by force of the valve face which opposed the seat, however when the valve was open the O-ring often became dislodged from the valve seat. This particular problem was corrected by seating the O-ring in a circular groove within the valve face. Thus, attachment of the O-ring to the valve face now insures proper seating when the valve is closed.

A lesser but still important problem was the leakage of air through the threads of the micro-adjusting throttle knob. When the valve was open and compressed air was diverted from the main passage to the nozzle, a consid¬ erable amount of compressed air was released through the threads of the micro-adjusting throttle knob. This problem was solved by entirely eliminating the micro- adjusting throttle, and placing a resilient O-ring in a circular groove on the supporting shaft of the push button. The valve spring was relocated in the main passage directly under the valve head due to elimina¬ tion of the micro-adjusting throttle where it had been previously located, and internal threads were added at the nozzle outlet for adapters to regulate and direct the air stream. Another problem arose with the quick disconnect coupler. When attached to the in-line air nozzle the unit was too long and cumbersome. Also the conventional knurled surface of the sliding locking collar did not provide a suitable gripping surface. These problems have now been remedied by integrally combining the coupler base as part of the blowgun outlet passage to shorten its length and also utilizing a sliding locking collar with deep circular friction grooves to eliminate slipping. The final problem with my original invention was that the nozzle outlet was unsuitable for many applica¬ tions due to its large diameter, especially in fragile work such as art or electronics, where an air stream needed to be critically directed and controlled. When one depressed the valve, a blast of air from the nozzle outlet (and to some extent from the micro-adjusting throttle) was unpredictable and non-directional which often caused undesirable results. This problem was corrected by modifying the nozzle outlet to receive conventional adapters for each particular use.

Disclosure of Invention

The improvements to my original Combined Coupling and Air Nozzle, which are the subject of the present invention, involve improvements to the internal working parts and the coupler.

With regard to the internal working parts of my improved in-line blowgun, the compression spring has been relocated in the main passage between the valve head and a removable expansion plug which has now been placed in the base of the main passage. The main object of relocating the compression spring is one of necessity due to elimination of the micro-adjusting throttle which originally contained the compression spring in bias with the valve stem. Another object of relocating the com¬ pression spring is to facilitate its assembly, inspec¬ tion, maintenance and replacement by providing access to it through a removable expansion plug in the base of the main passage and upon which the spring rests.

Another improvement to the working parts of my original air nozzle is the relocation of the resilient O-ring which., forms the seal between the lateral and main air passages. Originally this O-ring was loosely seated in the valve seat and held in place by the closed valve. When the valve was opened the O-ring would often shift position, due to the compressed air flow, and would not always seat properly when the valve was closed causing air leaks. The main object of relo¬ cating the O-ring within a circular groove in the face of the valve is to provide proper seating of the O-ring and eliminate its shifting each time the valve is opened and closed. Another objective of relocating the O-ring on the valve face is to facilitate inspection and cleaning of the O-ring by access through the removable expansion plug located in the base of the main air pas- sage.

Yet another improvement to the working parts of my improved in-line blowgun is the complete elimination of the micro-adjusting throttle. The main object of elim¬ inating the throttle is to correct the problem of air leakage through the threads of the micro-adjusting throttle knob, which was directly related to the amount of air released through the nozzle outlet. This leak¬ age problem has now been solved by installation of a resilient O-ring in a circular groove on the supporting shaft of the push button.

Still yet another improvement to my improved- in¬ line blowgun is the addition of internal threads at the nozzle outlet to receive a variety of attachments and modern fittings, including but not limited to, a quick coupler plug means for attaching a rubber tip, long extension line, solvent gun or Schrader valve filling attachment, all of which having to do with the control, regulation and utilization of the compressed air stream from the nozzle outlet.

And finally, the coupler base has been formed as an integral part of the improved in-line blowgun outlet. The main object of integrally combining the coupler and blowgun is to provide a single unit at the end of a compressed air nose which can be releasably attached to a variety of pneumatic tools by simply inserting the tool into the coupler. A major improvement is the sub- stitution of circular friction grooves in place of the knurled surface of the sliding locking collar for grip¬ ping by the human fingers in order to release the tool. Another object of the new coupler is to shorten the length between the new in-line blowgun and the tool, and thereby provide more support for the tool.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new Improved In-Line Blowgun & Coupler Combination in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of my new Improved In-Line Blowgun & Coupler Combination with portions thereof being broken away, showing the improvements thereof in respect to the original apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5; while Fig. 5 is an enlarged, side, elevational view of my original Combined Coupling and Air Nozzle with portions thereof 5 being broken away, as originally described in U.S. Patent No. 4,078,728, like numerals retained.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 110 generally designates the improved in-

10 line blowgun of the instant invention which includes a main body 112 having a main fluid passage 114 extending therethrough including inlet and outlet ends 116 and 118. The inlet end 116 includes a diametrically en¬ larged threaded portion 120 in which the discharge end

15122 of a flexible air line 124 may be removably threaded and the outlet end 118 of the passage 114 has a quick disconnect coupler formed as an integral part of the body 112.

The main fluid passage 114 shown in Fig. 2, ad- 0 ditionally includes an intermediate portion 128 defin¬ ing a valve seat 130 and the body 112 has a branch passage 132 formed therein including an inlet end portion 134 and an outlet end portion 136 opening exteriorly of the body 112. The outlet end portion of 5 the branch passage 136 is internally threaded 137 to receive adapters of conventional and original design for controlling and directing the air flow. The outlet end of the main fluid passage 118 forms an integral threaded base 170 for receiving a quick disconnect coupler shown partially disassembled in Fig. 2 and consisting, in order of assembly, a valve spring 172, a valve 174, a valve gasket 176, a sliding locking collar spring 178, a sliding locking collar of new design with circular friction grooves 180, and the coupler plug receiver 182. When assembled with the coupler base 170, the coupler plug receiver 182 may be directly connected to a variety of pneumatic tools and easily released by pulling the sliding locking collar 180 with the human fingers away from the di¬ rection of the tool. But if a person using the pneu- tool simply desires to use the improved in-line blowgun defined by the branch passage 132, it is only necessary for that person to grasp the mainbody 112 and depress the push button 166 whereby air will flow from the outlet end of the branch passage 136.

An elongated valve element 158 extends from the valve head 164 in the intermediate portion of the main fluid passage 128 to a push button 166 disposed exte¬ riorly of the body 112. The circular base of the push button contains a resilient O-ring 169 to prevent leak¬ age of air when the button 166 is depressed. A compres- sion spring 168 engages the valve head 164 in the inter¬ mediate portion of the main fluid passage 128 and is supported by a removable expansion plug 165 in the body 112 remote from the valve seat 130. A circular groove 167 in the valve face 164 serves as a seat for a resil¬ ient O-ring 156 which opposes and is seatable against the valve seat 130. With attention now invited more specifically to Fig. 3 of the drawings, my original Combined Coupling and Air Nozzle is illustrated for comparison to Fig. 2, and is referred to in general by reference numeral 10. The valve body 44 and throttle adjusting element 48 have been eliminated. The intermediate portion 28 of the main passage 14 has been reduced and redesigned to acco odate the valve seat 30 to the position shown at 130 in Fig. 2. The resilient 0-ring 6 as shown loosly held between the valve body 44 and the valve head 64 in Fig. 3_» has now been affixed into a circular groove 167 in the valve head 164 in Fig. 2 and now is shown tightly seated in the valve seat 130 when the valve is closed. The compression spring 68 shown in bias with the valve element 58 in Fig. 3 has been relocated to 168 in the intermediate passage 128 between the valve head 164 and an expansion plug 165, all as shown in Fig. 2. The branch passage 32 in Fig. 3 has been internally thread¬ ed at 137 in Fig. 2 to receive conventional and original adapters which now replace the throttle adjusting el- ement 48 in Fig. 3. The old style coupler 26 in Fig. 3 has been replaced with an integral coupler of new design as shown in 180 of Fig. 2.

Claims

1. An improved in-line blowgun and coupler combina¬ tion, wherein the improvements comprise: a main body having a reduced main fluid passage extending therethrough including a reduced intermediate portion and inlet and outlet ends; a quick dis¬ connect coupler integrally combined and formed as part of the outlet end of the main fluid passage; a branch passage having an outlet end portion open¬ ing outwardly of said body and an inlet portion opening into said intermediate portion of said main fluid passage; a valve seat defined in the said intermediate portion between the branch pas¬ sage and main fluid passage; a valve means exte¬ riorly operable by a push button to open and close the branch passage, said valve means containing a resilient O-ring mounted in a circular groove defined in the valve head and opposing the valve seat; a compression spring opposing the valve head in the intermediate portion of the main fluid pas- sage and supported by a removable expansion plug in the main body remote from the push button.

2. The in-line blowgun of claim 1 wherein the outlet end portion of said branch passage is internally threaded to receive adapters to control and reg¬ ulate the air flow.