US2225168A - Metal spraying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1940. H. R. FORTON METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1938 INVENTOR.

HAROLD R.FOR TON- H. R. FORTON 2,225,168

METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

I I I "mi i ,lifH INVENTOR HAROLDR. RT BY zmf? 2 7 ad A ORN s Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS Harold R. Forton, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 3. 1938, Serial No. 193,800

6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for atomizing and spraying molten metals, and aims to provide an improved construction,'of light, compact, and portable nature, usable with any desired source of heat, but especially applicable for use in conjunction with a blowtorch or the like,

which provides both a support for the apparatus and a very convenient and portable source of heat.

10 Another object is the provision of such apparatus which, though adapted to be heated by an open flame, such as that of a blowtorch, protects the metal against undue oxidation and does not propagate flame or products of combustion with the metal being sprayed.

Still another object is the provision of such apparatus so constructed that clogging is reduced to an absolute minimum and provided with permanently incorporated means, which is quickly and easily operable, by which any clogging which occurs can be eliminated without interrupting the spraying process for more than a brief instant.

A further object comprises the provision of such spraying apparatus incorporating means whereby the size of the projected particles may be adjusted within wide limits, allowing the projection of an extremely fine mist, or of relatively coarse droplets, or a spray of any intermediate character.

A still further object worthy of note is the provision of an extremely simple and compact nozzle construction, so arranged as to be guarded against undue cooling by the air blast.

Still another object is the provision of such apparatus which is aifixable to a blowtorch or other suitable support in any of a plurality of positions, enabling most convenient adaptation of the apparatus to various uses and to the convenience of various operators, and forright-hand or lefthand operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally through an improved spraying device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing in side elevation a blowtorch by which the spraying apparatus is 55 carried, and accessory apparatus.

nil

Figure 2 is an elevational view, taken at right angles to Figure 1 and looking at the rear of the assembly, with the control knobs broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the assembly.

Figure 4'is a sectional detail of the nozzle, 5 clean-out rod and adjusting valve, partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view of a somewhat modified construction, shown mounted upon a chemical ring stand, and

Figure 6 is a top plan of such modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character I0 designates the tank of a combustible liquid blowtorch, which is illustrated as of conventional construction, although it will be obvious that this might be modified as desired, and serves merely as a convenient'portable source of heat, as well as to support the apparatus. The blowtorch, as shown, is provided with a handle l2 and pump [4 arranged in the well known manner, while the flame nozzle is and its adjusting handle iii are also indicated as conventionally arranged. The drip cup 20 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly projecting arm 22 which supports at its end, in position to be heated by the flame from nozzle I5, a crucible 25, indicated as attached to the supporting arm by screws and provided with a flaring mouth into which the 30 metal to be sprayed may be inserted or fed. A stick of such metal, arranged to melt and feed by gravity, is indicated in dotted lines at 23.

The flame nozzle l5 and drip cup 20 are rigidly assembled and rotatably attached to the neck 3 I9, as by means of the set screw 2|. Since the entire spraying apparatus is carried by these elements, this will be seen to enable turning the assembly with relation to the blowtorch, so that by pointing it in any desired direction the con- 40 venience of the operator or the requirements of the work to be done may be best suited.

A flame shielding hood 26 is provided, arranged to direct the frame against the crucible and secured to a bracket 21 which is clamped as by 4 means of a set screw as to the flame nozzle l5. By moving the bracket to any desired position alon the nozzle, the hood may be adjusted for best operation.

An aspirating nozzle assembly, attached to the front of the crucible by means of screws 3|, will be seen to be generally of flat cylindrical form and provided with a conical re-entrant face having central concentric openings through which the metal and air are discharged. The nozzle 5 casing is generally designated 30. The air opening 33, of annular'form, surrounds the central metal discharge orifice 35. Air for the discharge blast enters the annular chamber 36 through a supply tube'31, the air being controlled by a valve mounted upon the handle of the blowtorch and presently to be described in greater detail. The metal-discharge nozzle 10 may be protected against direct impingement of the air blast by a forwardly projecting cylindrical wall 38 extending forwardly from the back wall of the nozzle casing, with which it is formed as a unit.

The rear extremity of the metal discharge nozzle 4,0 is counterbored and provided with a suitable frusto-conical seat for an adjusting valve 45 having a cooperatively tapered tip. The valve is movable toward and from such seat, formed at the rear ,end of the metal discharge nozzle, to adjust the metal discharge rate. It also functions, when set to positions nearly closed, to break up the metal into minute particles and insure a finely atomized spray. The metal control valve 45 is formed as an elongated rod which projects through the back wall of the crucible and through hood 26 and bracket 21, being threaded in a boss 24 formed on the back of the crucible, and freely slidable and rotatable in the bracket 21. An adjusting knob fixed to the rearwardly projecting extremity of the valve stem provides for turning the same to adjust the valve setting.

The valve will be seen to be of tubular form, and the central passage therethrough of substantially the same diameter as the metal discharge,

orifice 35, so that a clean-out rod 50 of suitable dimensions may be projected through the valve and nozzle, to clean the latter. A button 54 is provided upon the rear end of the clean-out rod, which projects beyond the knob 44. The cleanout rod is made to rotate with the valve during adjustment, and is urged toward retracted position by a spring 63. An off center rod 62 carried by the button 64, which is fast upon the cleanout rod, projects slidably through an opening in the knob 44, while the spring 63 encircles the rod 82.

The valve body 50 may be secured to the top handle support 43, by the same screw I6 which holds the handle in place. The air is controlled by a needle valve 55 threaded and rotatably adjustable in the valve body by means of a knob 56 to control the admission of air to tube 31 and so to the nozzle. The air is supplied from any suitable source (unshown) through a tube 51. A boss 5| projects upwardly from the valve body to support a pressure gauge 65 which, being located on the nozzle side ofthe valve, measures the static pressure in the air blast chamber, which blowtorch handle.

pressure exists because of the restricted size of the air outlet.

The valve body is herein shown as provided with a pair of integral tines 58 adapted to straddle the upper handle l3 of the blowtorch to position v the valve body. The valve body 50 remains in substantially the position shown herein regardless of the angular positions assumed'by the metal spraying apparatus relatively to the The air tube 31 is preferably formed of flexible metal and may be readily bent into various desired shapes to enable ready adjustment around the neck I!) of the blowtorch whenever it is desired to change the position of the metal spraying device relatively to the handle of the blowtorch. The air tube 51 remains stationary with the valve body-50 during such adjustments, and may be readily connected with a source of air under pressure by any desired means, as for example, by the rubber connector 59 In the modified construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the crucible 25A is constructed similarly to the crucible 25 of the first described embodiment and provided with a. vertically perforated supporting ear 23A having a set screw which enables convenient attachment of the crucible to a rod-like support, such as the chemical ring stand, designated 22A. Since the interior portions of the nozzle, crucible, control valve and clean-out portions may correspond to those already described, parts are shown in'elevation only, and given reference numerals similar to those already used, distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each. The air supply tube 31A in this embodiment supports the air control valve 50A and is in turn supported by a bracket 52A projecting from the side of the crucible. Detailed 1 clean-out rod button A, and air valve adjusting knob 56A, and that a Bunson burner or other suitable source of heat (unshown), may be placed in such position beneath the crucible as to heat the same to enable projection of the atomized metal by the air or other desired projecting gas.

This may be supplied from a suitable source (unshown), through the supply tube 59A.

What I claim is:

1. Means for atomizing and discharging molten metal, comprising in combination with a source of heat for melting the same and a receptacle within which the metal is adapted to' be melted and having a discharge orifice therein, means for aspirating and discharging molten metal through and'frorn said orifice, valve means for adjusting the opening of said orifice, said valve means having an opening extending therethrough and being arranged at lea-st partly within the receptacle, and a clean-out rod projectable through said opening in the valve means from outside of the receptacle, and through said orifice, to clean the same.

2. Means for atomizing and discharging molten metal, comprising a receptacle having a discharge orifice in one face thereof, means for aspirating and projecting metal through. and from said orifice, said receptacle also having an opening in an opposite face thereof in alignment with said orifice, valve means projecting through said last mentioned opening to a position adja- 'cent said orifice to adjust the size of the latter,

said valve means having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, and a clean-out rod projecting through said valve means from the rear of said. receptacle and extensible into said orifice to clean the same.

3. Means for atomizing and projecting molten metal, comprising in combination with a source of heat, acrucible having a metal discharging orifice in one wall thereof and having another opening substantially opposite and aligned with said orifice, means for aspirating the molten metal to draw it through and discharge it from said orifice, valve means for adjusting the dimensions of said orifice, comprising a rod-like valve member projecting through said opening into abutting relation with the inner end of said orifice, said valve member being threaded in said opening and rotatable to adjust said orifice, said rod-like valve member being hollow, and a cleanout rod extensible through said valve member and into said orifice.

' 4. Means for melting, atomizing and projecting metal, comprising in combination a blowtorch having a support and a flame throwing nozzle carried thereby, a drip cup carried by the support beneath the nozzle, a bracket portion formed as a structural unit with said drip cup and projecting forwardly beneath the nozzle, a receptacle for metal to be melted, carried by said bracket portion in front of said nozzle, means also supported by said bracket portion for aspirating and projecting metal melted in the receptacle, said last named means, together with the receptacle, bracket portion, and nozzle being rotatably carried by said support and swingable about a common axis.

5. Means for atomizing and projecting molten metal, comprising in combination with a source of heat, a crucible having a metal discharging orifice in one wall thereof and having another opening substantially opposite and aligned with said orifice, means for aspirating the molten metal to draw it through and discharge it from said orifice, valve means for adjusting the dimensions of said orifice, comprising a rod-like valve member projecting through said opening into abutting relation with the inner end of said orifice, said valve member being threaded in said opening and rotatable to adjust said orifice, said rod-like valve member being hollow, a clean-out rod extensible through said valve member and into said orifice, and spring means urging said rod in one direction.

6. Means for melting, atomizing and projecting metal, comprising in combination, a blowtorch having a flame throwing nozzle, a support formed as a structural unit with said nozzle and projecting forwardly thereof, a receptacle for metal to be melted carried by said support in front of said nozzle, means also carried by said support for aspirating and projecting metal melted in the receptacle, and a shielding hood arranged over and larger than said nozzle and open at its front andrear, portions of the hood being adapted to extend upon either side of said receptacle and in spaced relation therewith, said hood portion being detachably carried by the nozzle and movable along the same to change the draught characteristics thereof and the proportion of the flame which is allowed to escape without directly impinging the receptacle.

HAROLD R. FORTON.

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