# US 2019/0168247 A1 · System with a spraying nozzle unit and method for spraying an inorganic mass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168247 A1 - Document ID: US20190168247A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/313,386 - Filed: 2017-07-26 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-28 - Assignees: Refractory Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Refractory Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Matthäus Haider; Christian Manhart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168247A1 ## CPC - B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)} - B05B 7/1431: {comprising means for supplying an additional liquid (B05B7/1418 takes precedence)} - B05B 12/08: responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material {to be} discharged, of ambient medium or of target {; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means} - B05B 12/1418: {for supplying several liquids or other fluent materials in selected proportions to a single spray outlet (controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid G05D11/02)} - B05B 13/0431: {with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to three-dimensional [3D] surfaces} - G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} - G01N 29/22: Details {, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details} - G01N 29/46: by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis {or wavelet analysis (spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14)} - G05D 11/135: {by sensing at least one property of the mixture (G05D11/139 takes precedence)} - E04F 21/08: Mechanical implements (E04F21/14 takes precedence; spraying in general B05B; sand-blasting B24C) - 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) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract A system for applying an inorganic coating material to a surface (110) comprising:—a spray nozzle unit (50), having the following features:—a first end portion (51) with a first connection (11) for a first supply hose (10), for supplying a first component of the coating material,—a second end portion (52) for discharging the coating material from the spray nozzle unit (50),—a connection unit (60) for mixing and transporting components of the coating material from the first end portion (51) to the second end portion (52),—wherein the connection unit (60) comprises a mixing chamber (61) with at least one further connection (21,31) for supplying a second component of the coating material,—and wherein at least one electronic sensor (70) is mounted on the connection unit (60), to detect an oscillation amplitude (81) arising at the connection unit (60),—a data processing unit (80),—a comparison unit (90),—a control unit (100), wherein the control unit (100)—generates a warning signal (101) when the control data (91) lie above a predetermined limit value, and/or—varies the volume flow (102) of at least one of the components of the coating material depending on the control data (91) is generated by the comparison unit (90). As well as methods for applying an organic coating material obtained by mixing a plurality of components in a spray nozzle unit (50). ## Claims ### Claim 1 System for applying an inorganic coating material to a surface (110) comprising: a spray nozzle unit (50), comprising the following features: a first end portion (51) with a first connection (11) for a first supply hose (10), for supplying a first component of the coating material, a second end portion (52) for discharging the coating material from the spray nozzle unit (50), a connection unit (60) for mixing and transporting components of the coating material from the first end portion (51) to the second end portion (52), wherein the connection unit (60) comprises a mixing chamber (61) with at least one further connection (21, 31) for supplying a second component of the coating material, and wherein at least one electronic sensor (70) is mounted on the connection unit (60) to detect an oscillation amplitude (81) arising at the connection unit (60), a data processing unit (80) for acquiring the oscillation amplitude (81) detected by the electronic sensor (70) of the spray nozzle unit (50) and for calculating an actual frequency spectrum (82) or target frequency spectrum (82) from the oscillation amplitudes (81) detected, a comparison unit (90) for comparing an actual frequency spectrum (82) with a target frequency spectrum (82) and generating control data (91), a control unit (100), wherein the control unit (100) generates a warning signal (101) when the control data (91) lie outside a defined range, and/or varies the volume flow (102) of at least one of the components of the coating material depending on the control data (91) generated by the comparison unit (90). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison unit (90) determines actual frequency components (92) and/or target frequency components (92) by summing the respective frequency amplitude values (93) from the actual frequency spectrum (82) and/or the target frequency spectrum (82) over a defined frequency range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison unit (90) generates control data (91) from the weighted summation of the deviations or quotients between the actual frequency components (92) and the target frequency components (92). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises a manipulator mechanically connected to the spray nozzle unit to allow application to a hard-to-access surface (110), such as the inner surface of a metallurgical vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection unit (60) comprises a pipe (62) connected to the mixing chamber (61), wherein the sensor (70) is mounted on the pipe (62). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (70) is a piezo-electric acceleration sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (70) is integrated into a clamp which surrounds the connection unit (60). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection unit (60) between the first end portion (51) and the second end portion (52) of the spray nozzle unit builds a substantially step-free and kink-free path. ### Claim 9 Method for applying an inorganic coating material obtained by mixing several components in a spray nozzle unit (50) with at least one electronic sensor (70) to a surface (110), comprising the following steps: Measuring the oscillation amplitude (81) detected by the electronic sensor (70) of the spray nozzle unit (50) during the mixing and transport of an inorganic coating material through the connection unit (60) of the spray nozzle unit (50) Calculating an actual frequency spectrum (82), from the measured oscillation amplitudes (81), Generating control data (91) by comparing an actual frequency spectrum (82) with a stored target frequency spectrum (82), as well as Generating a warning signal (101) when the control data (91) lie outside a defined range, and/or Variation of a volume flow (102) of at least one of the components of the coating material as a function of the control data (91) generated by the comparison unit (90). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a calculation of actual frequency components (92) or target frequency components (92) is performed for the generation of control data (91) by summation of frequency amplitude values (93) over a specific frequency range of the actual frequency spectrum (82) or target frequency spectrum (82). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one frequency component (92) is calculated in the frequency range of 3000-9300 Hz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control data (91) are generated by the weighted summation of the deviations or quotients between the actual frequency components (92) and the target frequency components (92). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a target frequency spectrum (82) is obtained by the following steps: Setting a target consistency of the coating material by varying the volume flows (102) of the components of the coating material, Measuring the oscillation amplitude (81) detected by the electronic sensor (70) of the spray nozzle unit (50), when the coating material is mixed and transported with the target consistency by the connection unit (60) of the spray nozzle unit (50), Calculating a target frequency spectrum (82) from the measured oscillation amplitudes (81), Storing the target frequency spectrum (82). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray nozzle unit (50) comprises the following features: a first end portion (51) with a first connection (11) for a first supply hose (10), for supplying a first component of the coating material, a second end portion (52) for discharging the coating material from the spray nozzle unit (50), a connection unit (60) for mixing and transporting components of the coating material from the first end portion (51) to the second end portion (52), wherein the connection unit (60) comprises a mixing chamber (61) with at least one further connection (21, 31) for supplying a second component of the coating material, and wherein at least one electronic sensor (70) is mounted on the connection unit (60) to detect an oscillation amplitude (81) arising at the connection unit (60). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Method according to claim 14, characterized in that, further a dry, in particulate a dry refractory, first component of the coating material is provided by the first supply hose (10) to the spray nozzle unit (50) and a liquid, in particular an aqueous, second component of the coating material is provided by the second supply hose (20) to the spray nozzle unit (50), wherein the first component and the second component of the coating material are mixed in the spray nozzle unit (50), and the mixed coating material is directed to the second end portion (52) of the spray nozzle unit (50) and there leaves the spray nozzle unit (50) in the direction of the surface (110) to be coated; the mixed coating material then impinges on the surface (110) to be coated and, after drying, forms the coating of the surface (110).