# US 2010/0189909 A1 · Pipe painting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0189909 A1 - Document ID: US20100189909A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/361,158 - Filed: 2009-01-28 - Published: 2010-07-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-28 - Assignees: McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company - Inventors: Carl A. Dixon; Don R. Butler, JR.; James R. Harrington; Chris L. Hyche - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100189909A1 ## CPC - B05D 1/18: performed by dipping - B05C 3/10: the articles being moved through the liquid or other fluent material (conveying articles through baths B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B05C 9/12: the auxiliary operation being performed after the application (B05C9/14 takes precedence) - B05D 7/222: {of pipes} - B05B 13/0207: {the work being an elongated body, e.g. wire or pipe (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0463 take precedence)} - B05C 9/14: the auxiliary operation involving heating {or cooling} - B05D 2254/02: Applying the material on the exterior of the tube - B05D 2254/04: Applying the material on the interior of the tube - Y10S 118/12: Pipe and tube immersion - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An apparatus and method for applying a fluid such as paint to the surfaces of a plurality of lengths of pipe, the apparatus including an automated processing line composed of a receiving platform configured for receiving the plurality of lengths of pipe, a vat down the line from the receiving platform for containing the fluid, a draining platform down the line from the vat, the draining platform being configured for elevating an end of each length of pipe of the plurality of lengths of pipe relative to an opposite end of the length of pipe, and a conveyor system configured for engaging the plurality of lengths of pipe and advancing the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat and across the draining platform by rolling. In use, the plurality of lengths of pipe are loaded onto the pipe receiving platform, rolled into the vat one length of pipe at a time, advanced through the vat by receiving each length of pipe of the plurality of lengths of pipe between a pair of teeth extending downward from the conveyor system, and rolling the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat, out of the vat and across the draining platform by advancing the conveyor system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated processing line for applying a fluid to a plurality of lengths of pipe comprising, a receiving section configured for receiving the plurality of lengths of pipe, a vat down the line from the receiving platform, the vat being operatively coupled to the receiving platform, a draining section down the line from the vat, the draining section being configured for receiving the plurality of lengths of pipe from the vat and elevating an end of each length of pipe of the plurality of lengths of pipe relative to an opposite end of the length of pipe, and a conveyor system configured for advancing the plurality of lengths of pipe by rolling the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat and draining section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 further comprising at least two rails extending substantially parallel to one another across the vat, the at least two rails being arranged within the vat relative to a fluid contained therein at a height sufficient to allow the plurality of lengths of pipe to be only partially submerged in the fluid as the plurality of lengths of pipe are rolled across the at least two rails. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 wherein the draining section includes a first rail having a substantially horizontal first portion and a second rail having a substantially horizontal second portion, the first portion being higher than and arranged substantially parallel to the second portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 wherein the draining platform includes a first rail including an upwardly angled first portion, a substantially horizontal second portion and a downwardly angled third portion, the second portion being located between the first portion and the third portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The processing line according to claim 4 wherein the first portion is adjacent to the vat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The processing line according to claim 4 wherein the draining platform includes the second rail, the second rail including a downwardly angled fourth portion, a substantially horizontal fifth portion and an upwardly angled sixth portion, the fifth portion being located between the fourth portion and the sixth portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The processing line according to claim 6 wherein the first portion and the fourth portion are adjacent to the vat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 further comprising a recycling apparatus including a collecting member arranged for collecting a fluid drained from the plurality of lengths of pipe in the draining section and pumping member for transporting the drained fluid to the vat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 further comprising a drying section down the line from the draining section, the drying section including one or more blowers arranged to blow air across and through the plurality of lengths of pipe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 wherein a section of the conveyor system that advances the plurality of lengths of pipe through the draining section includes a first track having a substantially horizontal first portion and a second track having a substantially horizontal second portion, the first portion being higher than and arranged substantially parallel to the second portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 wherein a section of the conveyor system that advances the plurality of lengths of pipe through draining section includes a first track having an upwardly angled first portion, a substantially horizontal second portion and a downwardly angled third portion, the second portion being located between the first portion and the third portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The processing line according to claim 11 wherein the section of the conveyor system that advances the plurality of lengths of pipe through draining section includes a second track having a downwardly angled fourth portion, a substantially horizontal fifth portion and an upwardly angled sixth portion, the fifth portion being located between the fourth portion and the sixth portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The processing line according to claim 12 wherein the second portion and the fifth portion are substantially parallel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The processing line according to claim 1 wherein a section of the conveyor system that advances the plurality of lengths of pipe through the vat includes a track having a row of teeth extending downwardly therefrom into an open face of the vat. ### Claim 15 A method of applying a fluid to a pipe comprising, rolling the pipe through a vat containing a fluid, rolling the pipe out of the vat and onto a pair of draining rails, wherein the draining rails include a first rail having a first portion and a second rail having a second portion, the first portion being positioned higher than the second portion, and rolling the pipe simultaneously across the first portion and the second portion and thereby moving one end of the pipe upwardly relative the another end of the pipe and draining a portion of the fluid from the pipe, wherein rolling the pipe through the vat, rolling the pipe out of the vat and onto the pair of draining rails and rolling the pipe simultaneously across the first portion and the second portion is carried out by a conveyor system having at least one track suspended above the vat and the pair of draining rails, the at least one track having at least two interconnected teeth extending outwardly therefrom and defining a gap for engaging the pipe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 further comprising collecting the fluid drained from the pipe and directing the drained fluid to the vat. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 further comprising rolling the pipe from the pair of draining rails into a drying section where air is blown across and through the pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein the pipe is only partially immersed in the fluid when it is rolled through the vat. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein the at least one track does not contact the fluid contained within the vat. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A pipe painted according to the method of claim 15. ### Claim 21 An automated processing line for applying a fluid to a plurality of lengths of pipe comprising, a vat containing the fluid, a pipe draining section positioned down the line from the vat for draining a portion of the fluid from the plurality of lengths of pipe, the draining section including a first rail having a first portion and a second rail having a second portion, the first portion being higher than and arranged adjacent to the second portion, and a conveyor system extending between the vat and the pipe draining section, the conveyor system being configured for engaging the plurality of lengths of pipe and advancing the plurality of lengths of pipe one-by-one through the vat and draining section by rolling, wherein a section of the conveyor system that advances the plurality of lengths of pipe through the draining section includes a first track having a third portion and a second track having a fourth portion, the third portion being higher than and arranged adjacent to the fourth portion, wherein the first portion extends substantially parallel to the third portion and the second portion extends substantially parallel to the fourth portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A pipe processed using the automated processing line of claim 21.