Spray gun/applicator

Abstract

An applicator is provided which through the use of valve assemblies and separate first and second tubing member delivers two separate materials separately to a mixing head. The mixing head is provided with two separate passageways which terminate into an outlet passageway. To help create equal pressure between the materials at the point where the materials meet, an impinger can be placed in one or both of the mixing head passageways. Material flowing into each mixing head passageway first meet and are mixed in the outlet passageway. A tip is attached to the mixing head and a static mixer can be disposed within the tip for further mixing of the combined materials prior to their application out of the tip onto the intended surface. Material is supplied to the valve assemblies by various methods such as hoses. A spray gun embodiment is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A spray gun comprising: 
 a mixing head having a body member having a first inlet passageway and a second inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, said first inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway, said second inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway; and    means for further mixing and spraying materials received from said outlet passageway;    wherein said first inlet passageway adapted for receipt of a first material and said second inlet passageway adapted for receipt of a second material.    
     
     
         2 . The spray gun of  claim 1  further comprising an on/off assembly for restricting flow of the first material and the second material into their respective inlet passageways.  
     
     
         3 . The spray gun of  claim 2  wherein said on/off assembly comprising: 
 a first on/off valve in communication with said first inlet passageway;  
 a second on/off valve in communication with said second inlet passageway; and  
 a handle connected to said first on/off valve and said second on/off valve, said handle automatically maintaining said first on/off valve and said second on/off valve in at least either an “on” position or an “off” position.  
 
     
     
         4 . The spray gun of  claim 1  wherein said means for further mixing and spraying comprising: 
 a mixing tube in communication with said outlet passageway; and  
 a tip member in communication with said mixing tube for spraying mixed material received from said mixing tube.  
 
     
     
         5 . The spray gun of  claim 1  wherein said mixing head further comprising a means for controlling a rate of flow of a material within said first inlet passageway, said first inlet passageway having a first end and a second end, said first inlet passageway receiving the first material at said first end, said first inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway at said second end.  
     
     
         6 . The spray gun of  claim 5  wherein said means for controlling comprising: 
 an impinger having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion therebetween, said impinger including a first aperture disposed at said second end and a second aperture disposed at said intermediate portion, said impinger defining an internal passageway, wherein a first end of said internal passageway terminates at the first aperture of said impinger, wherein said impinger second end having a diameter larger that a diameter of said impinger intermediate portion;  
 wherein said mixing head having an aperture extending from a first side of said mixing head to an intermediate position of said first inlet passageway, said aperture in communication with said first inlet passageway;  
 wherein said impinger is disposed within said mixing head aperture and a portion of said first inlet passageway.  
 
     
     
         7 . The spray gun of  claim 6  wherein the diameter of the second end of said impinger is chosen such that it effectively seals communication between said first inlet passageway and said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         8 . The spray gun of  claim 6  wherein the diameter of the second end of said impinger is slightly smaller than a diameter of said first inlet passageway at its second end such that a seal is created at the second end of the first inlet passageway and any material flowing into said first inlet passageway is directed through said second aperture of said impinger into said impinger internal passageway and out said first aperture of said impinger into said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         9 . The spray gun of  claim 6  wherein the size of said first impinger aperture is chosen such that an amount of pressure for material flowing into said outlet passageway from said impinger internal passageway is essentially equal to an amount of pressure for material flowing into said outlet passageway from said second inlet passageway.  
     
     
         10 . The spray gun of  claim 4  wherein said tip member having an internal passageway and said mixing tube having a static mixer disposed within a portion of an internal passageway of said mixing tube for further mixing of material received from said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         11 . The spray gun of  claim 3  wherein said first on/off valve is a first ball valve and said second on/off valve is a second ball valve.  
     
     
         12 . The applicator of  claim 3  wherein said first on/off valve adapted for connection to a first hose and said second on/off valve adapted for connection to a second hose.  
     
     
         13 . A multiple material spray gun comprising: 
 a mixing head having a body member having a first inlet passageway and a second inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, said first inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway, said second inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway;    a first on/off valve in communication with said first inlet passageway;    a second on/off valve in communication with said second inlet passageway;    a handle connected to said first on/off valve and said second on/off valve, said handle being movable to a locked “open” or “closed” position to automatically maintaining said first on/off valve and said second on/off valve in either an “on” position or an “off” position;    a mixing tube in communication with said outlet passageway; and    a tip member in communication with said mixing tube for spraying material received within from said mixing tube.    
     
     
         14 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 an impinger having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion therebetween, said impinger including a first aperture disposed at said second end and a second aperture disposed at said intermediate portion, said impinger defining an internal passageway, wherein a first end of said internal passageway terminates at the first aperture of said impinger, wherein said impinger second end having a diameter larger that a diameter of said impinger intermediate portion;  
 wherein said mixing head having an aperture extending from a first side of said mixing head to an intermediate position of said first inlet passageway, said aperture in communication with said first inlet passageway;  
 wherein said impinger is disposed within said mixing head aperture and a portion of said first inlet passageway.  
 
     
     
         15 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 14  wherein the diameter of the second end of said impinger is chosen such that it effectively seals communication between said first inlet passageway and said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         16 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 14  wherein the diameter of the second end of said impinger is slightly smaller than a diameter of said first inlet passageway at its second end such that a seal is created at the second end of the first inlet passageway and any material flowing into said first inlet passageway is directed through said second aperture of said impinger into said impinger internal passageway and out said first aperture of said impinger into said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         17 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 14  wherein the size of said first impinger aperture is chosen such that an amount of pressure for material flowing into said outlet passageway from said impinger internal passageway is essentially equal to an amount of pressure for material flowing into said outlet passageway from said second inlet passageway.  
     
     
         18 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 13  further comprising a static mixer disposed within a portion of an internal passageway of said mixing tube for further mixing of material received from said outlet passageway.  
     
     
         19 . The multiple material spray gun of  claim 13  wherein said first on/off valve is a first ball valve and said second on/off valve is a second ball valve.  
     
     
         20 . A method for mixing and applying multiple materials comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a first material into a first inlet passageway of a mixing head;    (b) providing a second material into a second inlet passageway of the mixing head;    (c) directing the first material out of the first inlet passageway into an outlet passageway of the mixing head and directing the second material out of the second inlet passageway into the outlet passageway such that the first material and second material meet and are mixed together; and    (d) spraying the mixed composition consisting of the first material and the second material out of a tip in communication with the outlet passageway through a mixing tube.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of directing the mixed first and second materials through a static mixer disposed within the mixing tube for further mixing prior to spraying.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein step (c) includes the step of delivering the first material and second material into the outlet passageway at essentially the same pressure.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein step (c) includes the step of delivering the first material and second material into the outlet passageway at essentially the same pressure.  
     
     
         24 . A mixing head for use with a spray apparatus, comprising: 
 a body member having a first inlet passageway and a second inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, said first inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway, said second inlet passageway in communication with said outlet passageway.