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US 2007/0190263 A1Published application
Internal coating technique for non-cylindrical components
OwnerJohn Finch, Daniel Ford +3inventors
InventorsJohn Finch, Daniel Ford, Joseph Elmer, Tracey Montgomery, Mike Krushlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrophoretic coating for a non-cylindrical component, such as a faucet, utilizes a flexible anode and sleeve assembly. The flexible anode and sleeve assembly may be inserted into the interior of the faucet, and can bend around the non-cylindrical shape. The coating may then be applied within the interior of the component.
Claims25
A method of coating a non-cylindrical component comprising the steps of:
- 1) mounting a non-cylindrical component onto a fixture;
- 2) flowing a coating within an interior of said non-cylindrical component, and inserting an assembly of an electrode and a protective outer sleeve into the interior of said component, said assembly being flexible such that it can conform to said non-cylindrical shape;
- and
- 3) applying a charge on one of said electrode and said component to cause said coating to adhere to the inner wall of said non-cylindrical component.
1 more element
An apparatus for providing a coating to a non-cylindrical component comprising:
- a fixture for mounting a non-cylindrical component;
- a coating supply;
- an assembly of an electrode and protective outer sleeve, said assembly being flexible to conform to a shape of the non-cylindrical component;
- and
- a control to apply a positive electrical charge to one of said electrode and the component to cause the coating to adhere to the inner wall of the component.
2 more elements
An apparatus for providing a coating to a non-cylindrical component comprising:
- a fixture for mounting a non-cylindrical component, said fixture grounding said non-cylindrical component;
- an electrophoretic coating supply, including a supply line and a return line for flowing said electrophoretic coating through the non-cylindrical component during a coating process;
- an anode with a protective outer sleeve, said anode and protective outer sleeve being flexible to conform to a shape of the non-cylindrical component, said protective sleeve being less conductive than said anode;
- and
- a control to apply a positive charge to said anode, to cause the electrophoretic coating to adhere to the inner wall of the component, said protective sleeve having a cylindrical shape in a non-deformed state, with openings extending through a wall of said protective sleeve to allow said electrophoretic coating to contact the anode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.