Device for dispensing a heated liquid

Abstract

A device for dispensing a heated liquid, such as a hot melt adhesive, which includes a dispenser body adapted to dispense the heated liquid, a solenoid valve, and a pneumatic section including a housing coupled between the solenoid valve and dispenser body. The pneumatic housing is formed from a thermally insulating material which may include a thermoplastic polymer such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or a fluoroplastic polymer to reduce heat transfer from the dispenser body through the pneumatic housing thereby thermally insulating the solenoid valve.

1 . A dispensing gun for dispensing a heated liquid, comprising: 
 a dispenser body adapted to be heated and including a liquid inlet, a liquid passage in communication with said liquid inlet, and an outlet in communication with said liquid passage, said dispenser body further including a valve element adapted to selectively allow and prevent flow of the heated liquid through said outlet from said liquid passage; and    a housing proximately coupled to said dispenser body, and including an actuating element enclosed therein and operatively coupled to said valve element for moving said valve element from a first to a second position to control dispensing of said heated liquid through said outlet, said housing being formed from a thermally insulating material to reduce heat transfer from said dispenser body through said housing.    
   
   
       2 . The dispensing gun of  claim 1  further including an actuator coupled to said housing and thermally insulated from said dispenser body for controlling the operation of said actuating element.  
   
   
       3 . The dispensing gun of  claim 2  wherein said housing includes a pneumatic housing coupled between said actuator and said dispenser body, said pneumatic housing formed from a plastic, thermally insulating material to reduce heat transfer from said dispenser body through said pneumatic housing thereby thermally insulating said actuator.  
   
   
       4 . The dispensing gun of  claim 3  wherein said actuator includes a solenoid valve, and wherein said actuating element includes a piston operatively coupled to said valve element by a pivot arm and operated by said solenoid valve to control dispensing of said heated liquid through said outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The dispensing gun of  claim 3  wherein said plastic, thermally insulating material includes a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       6 . The dispensing gun of  claim 5  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).  
   
   
       7 . The dispensing gun of  claim 5  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a fluoroplastic polymer.  
   
   
       8 . The dispensing gun of  claim 1  wherein said housing is coupled to a hydraulic section in a side-by-side configuration.  
   
   
       9 . A dispensing gun for dispensing a heated liquid, comprising: 
 a dispenser body adapted to be heated and including a liquid inlet, a liquid passage in communication with said liquid inlet, and an outlet in communication with said liquid passage, said dispenser body further including a valve element adapted to selectively allow and prevent flow of the heated liquid through said outlet from said liquid passage; and    a pneumatic housing proximately coupled to said dispenser body, and including an actuating element enclosed therein and operatively coupled to said valve element for moving said valve element to control dispensing of said heated liquid through said outlet, said pneumatic housing being formed from a thermally insulating material to reduce heat transfer from said dispenser body through said pneumatic housing.    
   
   
       10 . The dispensing gun of  claim 9  further including a solenoid valve coupled to said pneumatic housing and thermally insulated from said dispenser body for controlling the operation of said actuating element.  
   
   
       11 . The dispensing gun of  claim 10  wherein said pneumatic housing is coupled to said dispenser body in a side-by-side configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The dispensing gun of  claim 9  wherein said actuating element includes a piston operatively coupled to said valve element by a pivot arm.  
   
   
       13 . The dispensing gun of  claim 9  wherein said thermally insulating material includes a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       14 . The dispensing gun of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).  
   
   
       15 . The dispensing gun of  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a fluoroplastic polymer.  
   
   
       16 . A dispensing gun for dispensing a heated liquid, comprising: 
 a manifold including a heating element adapted to heat a liquid and having an outlet port;    a dispenser body coupled to said manifold and including a liquid inlet in fluid communication with said outlet port to receive the heated liquid, said dispenser body further adapted to be heated and including a liquid inlet, a liquid passage in communication with said liquid inlet, and an outlet in communication with said liquid passage, said dispenser body further including a valve element adapted to selectively allow and prevent flow of the heated liquid through said outlet from said liquid passage; and    a pneumatic housing proximately coupled to said dispenser body, and including an actuating element enclosed therein and operatively coupled to said valve element for moving said valve element to control dispensing of said heated liquid through said outlet, said pneumatic housing being formed from a plastic, thermally insulating material to reduce heat transfer from said dispenser body through said pneumatic housing.    
   
   
       17 . The dispensing gun of  claim 16  further including a solenoid valve coupled to said pneumatic housing and thermally insulated from said dispenser body for controlling the operation of said actuating element.  
   
   
       18 . The dispensing gun of  claim 16  wherein said pneumatic housing is coupled to said dispenser body in a side-by-side configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The dispensing gun of  claim 16  wherein said actuating element includes a piston operatively coupled to said valve element by a pivot arm.  
   
   
       20 . The dispensing gun of  claim 16  wherein said plastic, thermally insulating material includes a thermoplastic polymer.  
   
   
       21 . The dispensing gun of  claim 20  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).  
   
   
       22 . The dispensing gun of  claim 20  wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a fluoroplastic polymer.