US3863903A - Agitator assembly for mixing paint - Google Patents

Abstract

A paint agitator assembly comprising an impeller carried by a magnet in the cup for mixing the paint, with the pain discharge tube located between the impeller end and the cup wall for preventing a vortex. The magnet is rotated by a second magnet external to the cup, and the second magnet is in turn rotated by a high speed air turbine through a series of plastic gears arranged to provide speed reduction and high torque for rotating the first magnet. The air for driving the turbine is provided through a throttling valve and metering orifice to the air turbine and follows a tortuous path extending in sequence through circumferentially offset holes to reduce noise.

Description

United States Patent Brehmer et al. Feb. 4, 1975 AGITATOR ASSEMBLY FOR MIXING 2,655,011 10/1953 lhle 259/D1G. 46 PAINT 2,712,926 7/1955 Von 259/108 3,672,645 6/1972 Terrels 259/122 [75] Inventors: John Brehmer, Cary; Russell C.

gz g f i ggggi gfi fi UL Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins [73] Ass1gnee: gtfiiwzggtvllflrner Corporation, [57] ABSTRACT I A paint agitator assembly comprising an impeller car- [22] Flled' 1974 ried by a magnet in the cup for mixing the paint, with [21] App]. No.: 432,556 the pain discharge tube located between the impeller end and the cup wall for preventing a vortex. The magnet is rotated by a second magnet external to the 259/108, 25%/(l))1ItG7./:g cup, and the Second magnet is in turn rotated by a I o n q s u 1 1 a e u u a u 1 s I I r s a [58] g fgz f'dg i'i" 35 2 432? 22 arranged to provide speed reduction and high torque for rotating the first magnet. The air for driving the turbine is provided through a throttling valve and me- 56 R f d tering orifice to the air turbine and follows a tortuous 1 e erences path extending in sequence through circumferentially UNITED STATES PATENTS offset holes to reduce noise.

1,784,416 12/1930 Brockmann 259/122 2,072,082 3/1937 Butts 259/122 14 Clalms, 9 Drawmg Figures PATENTEB FEB 4191sSHEET 3UF 3 AGITATOR ASSEMBLY FOR MIXING PAINT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to paint mixing and more particularly to an improved agitator assembly for mixing paint.

2. Description of the Prior Art Agitator assemblies for material mixing often utilize a rotating magnet and impeller in a mixing vessel. The magnet is rotated by a magnetic field usually provided by an externally located magnet, which is coupled to a power source. Magnetic coupling has the advantage of avoiding a rotary seal in the vessel wall, which is required if the impeller is mechanically coupled to the power source. Such seals become clogged, especially when used with paint of the type employed inpainting auto bodies. Alternatively, providing sufficient torque to rotate a magnet and impeller through magnetic coupling has not be practical if the material is paint.

Thus, auto body paint utilizes heavy pigments or metal flakes or, alternatively, extremely light solvents so that the flake or pigment settles quickly. This situation in turn requires a relatively high magnetic force or torque on the impeller to prevent pigment settling. If the pigment settles during painting of the body or between successive paint coats, the finished appearance is marred or uneven.

Various mixing approaches have been tried including a so-called trigger paddle, balls in the cups, top and side mounted quasi displacement pumps and air mixing. The trigger paddle is operated each time the operator operates the spray gun trigger and, therefore, does not stir often enough to mix the paint. Likewise, dumping balls in the cup, which move in response to occasional manual swirling of the cup, does not mix the paint often enough to secure a good mix. The top and side mounted quasi pumps directly drive propeller shafts in the paint and, therefore, require rotary seals which clog with paint and also result in variable speed. These quasi pumps are similar to turbines but have close fitting chambers which are expensive. Air mixing in which air is blown through the paint-evaporates the solvent too rapidly and creates an undesirable froth.

Using a true air driven turbine for rotating an external magnet to provide a magnetic field for rotating a magnet and impeller in the paint cup would offer the most advantageous solution. However, the turbine operates at high speeds and low torque. With low torque, the impeller stalls due to heavy pigments or flakes and good mixing does not occur. On the other hand, a positive displacement air motor of the vane or gear type to provide sufficient torque for rotating the magnets is relatively expensive. An air motor arrangement is also heavy and tiring to the operator, since the cup and agitator assembly are usually manually held. Therefore, the use of a magnetically driven impeller to mix paints having heavy pigments or metal flakes has heretofore been subject to a number of drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes to solve the above and other problems in paint mixing apparatus by utilizing an agitator assembly having a low cost air turbine in conjunction with a speed reduction gear train to rotate the magnets. With a low coat plastic turbine and plastic gears, this agitator assembly provides both the LII proper speed and torque for mixing paint having heavy pigments or metal flakes, together with the requisite economy. The plastic turbine and gears are carried in a plastic housing to also minimize weight and avoid tiring of the painters arm.

In order to provide maximum agitation of the paint while minimizing undesirable, vortex action, the paint discharge tube, which extends from an axial outlet conduit at one end of the paint cup, is extended'to a position between the periphery of the impeller and the wall of the cup.

The air for driving the turbine is passed from a throttling valve through a metering orifice for application to the turbine and then is passed sequentially through a series of circumferentially offset holes for muffling noise and vibration. In addition, the turbine blades are spaced circumferentially at unequal positions to thereby avoid resonant noises. The metering orifice provides a high speed air jet for the turbine, while limiting the applied air to thereby limit the drain on the air supply compressor, which is important in preserving the air supply, especially in the case of a low capacity compressor. The quasi pumps mentioned previously allow large quantities of air to escape past the ends and sides of the blades and gears resulting in relatively inefficient operation.

The paint impeller is also provided with a selfcentering arrangement which is effective to seat the impeller on its drive capstan in response to jiggling the can in the event the impeller has been dislodged during assembly of the cup lid and discharge tube.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved economical agitator assembly for mixing paint.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent on examination of the following specification, claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a spray gun, together with an associated paint cup and agitator assembly to which the principles of the present invention are applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along theline 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the paint cup and agitator assembly taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the paint cup taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along theline 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along theline 88 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I a conventional spray gun I0 is shown carrying apaint cup 12 connected thereto by means of a conventional conduit andfitting assembly 14.Assembly 14 may, for example, be of the type such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,714,967 issued Feb. 6, 1973 to Zupan et al. The spray gun is fed air by means of aconventional hose assembly 16 connected to a conventional pressurized air supply or compressor (not shown), which supplies air usually in a range between 40 psi. to 75 p.s.i., for the purpose of siphoning paint from thepaint cup assembly 12 through the conduit andfitting assembly 14 for dispersion through anozzle assembly 18 of the spray gun. Alternatively, the pressurized air is applied to the paint through a conduit (not shown) to drive it under pressure through the assembly l4 andgun 10. The paint from thenozzle assembly 18 is directed toward an object to be painted by an operator, whose hand holds the gun l0 andcup 12 by means ofhandle 20 on the gun.

Thepaint cup 12 carries anagitator assembly 24 for mixing paint in the cup. Aflexible conduit 26, connected to the air supply through athrottling valve 28 in the hose assembly, supplies air to theagitator assembly 24. Thevalve 28 permits air to be optionally supplied at a selected rate toassembly 24.

Thepaint cup 12 includes aback wall 30 and aperipheral wall 32 having an open end, which is closed by alid 34, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thelid 34 has anannular gasket 36 seated in a recess adjacent the lid periphery for engaging the open end ofcup 12 under pressure of a threadedsleeve 38. Thesleeve 38 encircles aconduit 40 passing axially through thelid 34 into thecup 12 through an appropriate or conventional seal. The threaded portion ofsleeve 38 engages a threaded opening in the back leg of a U-shaped locking bracket 42 having slots in the end legs thereof for engagement with apair oflugs 44 projecting radially outwardly from adjacent the upper end ofwall 32.

Thesleeve 38 is manually threaded through the back wall oflocking bracket 42 by means ofhandle 46 to lift the bracket againstlugs 44 and bear against thelid 34 to secure the lid or cover tightly against the open end ofwall 32.Conduit 40 has a fitting 48 at one end projecting fromlid 34 for attachment to thespray gun 10. The outer end of theconduit 40 projecting into thecup 12 sealingly communicates with one end of an aluminumpaint discharge tube 50.

Thetube 50 projects downwardly and radially outwardly to a position adjacent the juncture of the cup backwall 30 andperipheral wall 32 and radially outwardly of the ends of an impeller orvane 52 of theagitator assembly 24, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Theimpeller 52 comprises a longitudinally or radially extending vane integrally formed on aplastic cup member 54. An apertured axial finger grip orprojection 56 is formed intermediate the ends ofimpeller 52. Thecup member 54 is moulded around amagnet 58 having an annular steel backplate 60 secured to the upper surface ofmagnet 58 and adjacent the cup back wall. Thecup 54,magnet 58 andimpeller 52 are rotatably supported by acapstan 62 in a position spaced fromwall 30.

Thecapstan 62 has a beveled or conical periphery with the small diameter at one axial upper end for seating against the back wall of thecup member 54. An integrally formed threadedprojection 64 is formed at the lower or other capstan end extending axially through theback wall 30 of thepaint cup 12. Asteel shaft 66 substantially one inch long and having threaded axial openings at opposite ends, threads ontoprojection 64 and tightly seals the bottom capstan surface against theback wall 30. The opposite lower threaded axial end ofshaft 66 is engagedby'a screw 58 for securing acupshaped housing 70 to theshaft 66 andcup 12.

Thehousing 70 comprises a pair of radially spacedcircumferential walls 72 and 74 whose upper axial ends bear against the lower surface of aradial wall 76. The upper surface ofwall 76 bears against a top annular wall orsection 78 overlappingly engaging the surface ofcup wall 32. A radially inwardly extending wall80 is formed integrally onwall 78 for engagement with the cup backwall 30.Screws 82, passing through the back wall ofhousing 78 betweenwalls 72 and 74 throughwall 76, are threaded into locating lugs 84 formed onwalls 78 and 80, and serve to securewalls 76 and 78 tohousing 70 and in turn toshaft 66 andcup 12.

Theshaft 66 also carries an axially extending bushing or bearingmember 86 for rotatably supporting aplastic turbine 88, seen in plan view in FIG. 7. A hub extending axially fromturbine 88 has asmall diameter gear 90 integrally formed thereon. Theturbine 88 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending teeth orvanes 92 to enable theturbine 88 andgear 90 to be rotated or driven by the passage of air against the vanes. It will be noted that theturbine blades 92 are spaced circumferentially at unequal positions, in this case six differently spaced positions, to minimize resonant noises with the number and location of the vanes being chosen to maintain the turbine balance.

Theturbine 88 is located axially betweenwall 76, the back wall ofhousing 70 and withinwall 74, which forms a turbine chamber to which air is supplied under pressure through apassageway 94 in awall section 96 formed betweenwalls 72 and 74 at one circumferential position. Air is communicated topassageway 24, seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, from theconduit 26 and an appropriate fitting tangentially into the turbine chamber through a reducedmetering portion 98 ofpassageway 94 for driving the turbine. Metering throughorifice 98 provides a constant flow of high speed air. The air exits through a central opening formed in theradial wall 76 aboutgear 90, as seen best in FIG. 6, throughopenings 100 formed inwall 76 at positions spaced radially betweenwalls 72 and 74, and exits to atmosphere through openings orpassageways 102 formed in the back wall ofhousing 70. Theopenings 102 are offset circumferentially from passageways oropenings 100 for the purpose of muffling or reducing the noise of air passing through the described path.Ribs 103 onwall 76 assist in stiffeningwall 76 and reducing air noise.

Thegear 90 engages a largerdiameter plastic gear 104 rotatably carried on abushing 106 and acoaxial pin 108 mounted at opposite ends inradial walls 76 and 80. Asmall diameter gear 110, axially displaced abovegear 104, is integrally formed on the hub ofgear 104 and it in turn engages a largediameter plastic gear 112, as may be seen in FIG. 5. Thegear 112 is rotatably carried on theshaft 66 and has anannular projection 114 thereon moulded around amagnet 116 to mouldably secure the gear and magnet, and a steel backplate 118 secured to the lower surface ofmagnet 116.Magnet 116 is located adjacent, but spaced from,wall 30 and serves to rotate or drive themagnet 58 andimpeller 52. Thrust washers or retaining rings are also provided for the gears and wheel, and the washers properly space the gears and wheels.

In assembling theagitator assembly 24 to the cup, the capstan stud orprojection 64 is inserted through the axial opening inwall 30, and theshaft 66 carryinghousing 70 andwalls 76 and 78, together withwheel 88 and gears 90, 104, 110 and 112, are secured thereto. The impeller 152 is inserted into thecup 12 and thecup 54 engaged with thecapstan 62. It will be noted thatagitator assembly 24 may occupy any angular positionrelative wall 30.

Thereafter, paint is deposited in thecup 12 and thelid 34, together with the conduit andfitting assembly 14, are placed in position with thepaint discharge tube 50 located between the radial end of vane orimpeller 52 andwall 32. If theimpeller 52 is cocked relative thecapstan 62 when placing thetube 50 in position, thecup 12 is simply jiggled or swiveled about a vertical axis to align themagnets 58 and 116, which attract each other, to seat thecup 54 oncapstan 62.

The fitting 48 is attached to the gun l0, andconduit 26 is connected betweenpassageway 94 and the throttlingvalve 28. Application of air pressure to the gun throughhose assembly 16 creates a vacuum in the siphon or paintdischarge tube 50 so that paint is pressed throughtube 50,conduit 40 and through thegun nozzle 18 for dispersion to the object to be painted. Atmospheric air is supplied to thecup 12 in a conventional manner through a small opening inlid 34. Alternatively, air under pressure is supplied to drive the paint throughtube 50 under pressure.

Air is also supplied fromconduit 26 throughpassageways 94 and 98 for tangentially engaging theturbine vanes 92 to rotate theturbine 88 andgear 90 at high speed of substantially 6,000 R.P.M. The unequal vane spacing prevents the buildup of resonance and minimizes noise.Gear 90 and the remaininggears 104, 110 and 112 are arranged as speed reduction gears to provide a to 1 speed reduction so thatmagnet 116 is rotated through the gear train relatively slowly at 400 R.P.M. and thereby provides adequate torque to rotatemagnet 58 against the heavy paint load.Magnet 58 carriescup 54 andimpeller 52 into rotation to agitate and mix the paint. Movement of the paint would normally create a vortex and prevent adequate mixing, buttube 50 disrupts the vortex and drives the paint back over thevane 52 to ensure good mixing. The air, after driving theturbine 88, exits through the central opening inwall 76, through theopenings 100 and 102 inwall 76 and the back wall ofhousing 70, respectively.

It will be noted that the throttlingvalve 28 permits air to be selectively supplied toagitator assembly 24 in the proper amount, when needed for paint mixing, and to be terminated when unnecessary.Metering orifice 98 serves to limit the air drain on the supply compressor to substantially 7f; c.f.m., while providing a high speed jet for driving the turbine. This ensures that sufficient air pressure is available to drive the paint through thegun 10 even if the compressor capacity is as low as 5 c.f.m.

Various modifications of the described agitator assembly can be constructed without departing from the concepts of the invention, which are set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An agitator assembly for a paint cup having a back wall and a peripheral wall, comprising a first magnet, an impeller, means securing said impeller to said first magnet, means on the back wall of said paint cup for rotatably supporting said first magnet and impeller in said paint cup, a second magnet, means supporting said second magnet for coaxial rotation with said first magnet and external to said cup in a position adjacent to said cup back wall for rotating said first magnet in response to rotation of said second magnet, an air turbine, a plurality of speed reduction gears, and means rotatably supporting said gears and turbine with said gears interconnected between said turbine and said second magnet for rotating said second magnet at a speed substantially below the speed of said turbine in response to the rotation of said turbine.

2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said gears are formed of plastic.

3. The assembly claimed inclaim 2 in which said means for securing said impeller to said magnet comprises a cup member formed of plastic having a peripheral wall in encircling engagement with said magnet, and said impeller is integrally formed on said cup memher.

4. The assembly claimed inclaim 3 in which said means on said paint cup comprises a capstan formed of plastic having one end for rotatably supporting said plastic cup member and first magnet, an axially extending wall passing axially through said first magnet, and a projection at the other end of said capstan extending through said paint cup back wall.

5. The assembly claimed in claim 4 in which said means supporting said gears comprises a shaft secured at one end to said capstan projection, a pair of axially spaced radially extending walls encircling said shaft, a

cup-shaped plastic housing, means securing the back wall of said cup-shaped plastic housing to the other end of said shaft with said turbine and a first small diameter gear rotatably supported on said shaft and located axially intermediate the back wall of said plastic housing and one of said radially extending walls, said second magnet and a large diameter gear rotatably supported on said shaft intermediate said radially extending walls, and an integrally formed large and small diameter gear rotatably supported between said radially extending walls for engaging said turbine small diameter gear and second magnet large diameter gear respectively.

6. In the assembly claimed in claim 1, a metering orifice for supplying air under pressure at a limited rate and tangentially to said turbine.

7. In the assembly claimed in claim 6, valve means for selectively supplying pressurized air at a controlled rate to said metering orifice to drive said turbine.

8. In the assembly claimed in claim 1, a paint discharge tube for said paint cup with said discharge tube having a terminating portion located between said impeller and the peripheral wall of said paint cup and adjacent the back wall of said paint cup.

9. The agitator assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said turbine includes vanes spaced at circumferentially unequally spaced positions.

10. An agitator assembly for a paint cup having a back wall and a peripheral wall, comprising a magnet, an impeller carried by said magnet, means extending through the back wall of said cup for rotatably supporting said magnet and impeller in said cup, a second magnet, a shaft secured to said extending means, means including a large diameter gear secured to said second magnet and supporting said second magnet for rotation about the axis of said shaft in a position axially aligned with said first magnet and adjacent to said back wall for rotating said first magnet in response to rotation of said second magnet, an air turbine including an integrally formed small diameter gear supported for rotation.

about the axis of said shaft at a position axially spaced from said paint cup back wall, and a pair of integrally formed gears rotatably supported for engaging said turbine gear and said second magnet gear respectively for rotating said second magnet at a speed substantially below the speed of said turbine in response to the rotation of said turbine.

11. In the assembly claimed inclaim 10, a cupshaped housing secured to said shaft with a metering orifice therein for passing air under pressure in a direction tangential to the vanes of said turbine.

12. In the assembly claimed in claim 11, a throttling valve interconnected between said orifice and a source of pressurized air for controlling the application of air to said metering orifice.

13. In the assembly claimed inclaim 12, circumferentially offset air passageways for sequentially passing air to atmosphere after passage tangential to said vanes to thereby limit the noise and vibration created by said air.

[4. In the assembly claimed inclaim 10. a lid for said paint cup, and a paint discharge tube secured to said lid at a position coaxial with said shaft and extending to a position adjacent the path described by a radial end of said impeller.

Claims (14)

1. An agitator assembly for a paint cup having a back wall and a peripheral wall, comprising a first magnet, an impeller, means securing said impeller to said first magnet, means on the back wall of said paint cup for rotatably supporting said first magnet and impeller in said paint cup, a second magnet, means supporting said second magnet for coaxial rotation with said first magnet and external to said cup in a position adjacent to said cup back wall for rotating said first magnet in response to rotation of said second magnet, an air turbine, a plurality of speed reduction gears, and means rotatably supporting said gears and turbine with said gears interconnected between said turbine and said second magnet for rotating said second magnet at a speed substantially below the speed of said turbine in response to the rotation of said turbine.

2. The assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said gears are formed of plastic.

3. The assembly claimed in claim 2 in which said means for securing said impeller to said magnet comprises a cup member formed of plastic having a peripheral wall in encircling engagement with said magnet, and said impeller is integrally formed on said cup member.

4. The assembly claimed in claim 3 in which said means on said paint cup comprises a capstan formed of plastic having one end for rotatably supporting said plastic cup member and first magnet, an axially extending wall passing axially through said first magnet, and a projection at the other end of said capstan extending through said paint cup back wall.

5. The assembly claimed in claim 4 in which said means supporting said gears comprises a shaft secured at one end to said capstan projection, a pair of axially spaced radially extending walls encircling said shaft, a cup-shaped plastic housing, means securing the back wall of said cup-shaped plastic housing to the other end of said shaft with said turbine and a first small diameter gear rotatably supported on said shaft and located axially intermediate the back wall of said plastic housing and one of said radially extending walls, sAid second magnet and a large diameter gear rotatably supported on said shaft intermediate said radially extending walls, and an integrally formed large and small diameter gear rotatably supported between said radially extending walls for engaging said turbine small diameter gear and second magnet large diameter gear respectively.

6. In the assembly claimed in claim 1, a metering orifice for supplying air under pressure at a limited rate and tangentially to said turbine.

7. In the assembly claimed in claim 6, valve means for selectively supplying pressurized air at a controlled rate to said metering orifice to drive said turbine.

8. In the assembly claimed in claim 1, a paint discharge tube for said paint cup with said discharge tube having a terminating portion located between said impeller and the peripheral wall of said paint cup and adjacent the back wall of said paint cup.

9. The agitator assembly claimed in claim 1 in which said turbine includes vanes spaced at circumferentially unequally spaced positions.

10. An agitator assembly for a paint cup having a back wall and a peripheral wall, comprising a magnet, an impeller carried by said magnet, means extending through the back wall of said cup for rotatably supporting said magnet and impeller in said cup, a second magnet, a shaft secured to said extending means, means including a large diameter gear secured to said second magnet and supporting said second magnet for rotation about the axis of said shaft in a position axially aligned with said first magnet and adjacent to said back wall for rotating said first magnet in response to rotation of said second magnet, an air turbine including an integrally formed small diameter gear supported for rotation about the axis of said shaft at a position axially spaced from said paint cup back wall, and a pair of integrally formed gears rotatably supported for engaging said turbine gear and said second magnet gear respectively for rotating said second magnet at a speed substantially below the speed of said turbine in response to the rotation of said turbine.

11. In the assembly claimed in claim 10, a cup-shaped housing secured to said shaft with a metering orifice therein for passing air under pressure in a direction tangential to the vanes of said turbine.

12. In the assembly claimed in claim 11, a throttling valve interconnected between said orifice and a source of pressurized air for controlling the application of air to said metering orifice.

13. In the assembly claimed in claim 12, circumferentially offset air passageways for sequentially passing air to atmosphere after passage tangential to said vanes to thereby limit the noise and vibration created by said air.

14. In the assembly claimed in claim 10, a lid for said paint cup, and a paint discharge tube secured to said lid at a position coaxial with said shaft and extending to a position adjacent the path described by a radial end of said impeller.

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