Exhaust air temperature control system
AssigneeSaint Clair Systems
InventorMichael R. Bonner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for devices driven by or utilizing decompressing air is provided. The system includes a supply of compressed air connected to a compressed air-utilizing device. A source of heated fluid is provided and is connected to a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the heated fluid to the compressed air. The compressed air is heated in the heat exchanger sufficiently that upon decompression the temperature of the device is not lowered to the ambient dew point. The system is particularly applicable to devices utilizing compressed air for the spraying of liquid materials
Claims10
An apparatus for driving a device with compressed air comprising:
- a compressed air source;
- a device operable with air supplied from the compressed air source via a compressed air supply line, the device including at least one compressed air exhaust port;
- at least one sensor in communication with the compressed air supply line, the at least one sensor located proximate to the exhaust port, the at least one sensor providing a sensor output;
- a heated fluid source for providing a heated fluid proximate the at least one device via a heated fluid supply line;
- a heat exchanger connected to the compressed air supply line and the, heated fluid supply line;
- an electronic controller, the electronic controller operable on the heat exchanger upon receipt of at least one output form the at least one sensor;
- a process fluid source;
- a process fluid supply line in communication with the process fluid source;
- at least one process fluid sensor in communication with the process fluid supply source, the at least one process fluid sensor located in the process fluid supply line, the at least one sensor providing a process fluid sensor output;
- and
- a process fluid temperature controller, the process fluid temperature controller receiving the process fluid sensor output, the process fluid temperature controller providing output to the electronic controller;
- wherein the device operable with air supplied from the compressed air source includes at least on outlet in fluid communication with the process fluid supply line, at least one compressed gas outlet driving at least one movable component of the device and at least one compressed gas nozzle.
A system for the application of liquid materials to a substrate comprising:
- a compressed air source;
- an coating application booth;
- a rotary device positioned in the application booth for atomizing and spraying a liquid material, wherein the rotary device is driven by decompressing air supplied from the compressed air source, the rotary device including at least one atmoziser and at least one shaping air generator;
- at least one sensor in communication with the compressed air supply line, the at least one sensor located proximate to the exhaust port, the at least one sensor providing a sensor output;
- a heated fluid source for providing a heated fluid proximate the at least one device via a heated fluid supply line;
- a heat exchanger for heating the compressed air prior to driving the rotary device by transferring heat thereto from fluid supplied by the heated fluid source;
- an electronic controller, the electronic controller operable on the heat exchanger upon receipt of at least one output form the at least one sensor;
- a process fluid source;
- a process fluid supply line in communication with the process fluid source;
- at least one process fluid sensor in communication with the process fluid supply source, the at least one process fluid sensor located in the process fluid supply line, the at least one sensor providing a process fluid sensor output;
- and
- a process fluid temperature controller, the process fluid temperature controller receiving the process fluid sensor output, the process fluid temperature controller providing output to the electronic controller;
- wherein the device operable with air supplied from the compressed air source includes at least on outlet in fluid communication with the process fluid supply line, at least one compressed gas outlet driving at least one movable component of the device and at least one compressed gas nozzle.
A method of controlling coating composition quality in a liquid spraying apparatus comprising the steps of:
- connecting a compressed air supply line with a device at which air is decompressed;
- connecting the compressed air supply line to a heat exchanger and passing compressed air therethrough;
- connecting a supply line carrying heated fluid to the heat exchanger such that the heated fluid can elevate the temperature of the compressed air in the heat exchanger;
- supplying the compressed air passed through the heat exchanger to the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.