Modular continuous flow paint delivery system

A method for delivering paint from a first location generally remote from any desired point of paint application to a plurality of points of paint application at a predefined minimum paint application pressure comprising the steps of:

• drawing paint from a paint mixing and storage tank disposed at the first location;
• pumping the paint drawn from the paint mixing and storage tank with first pump means for discharge into a paint circulation pipeline at a first pressure sufficient to supply paint to an atmospheric pressure storage receptacle disposed at a second location generally in proximity with at least one desired point of paint application, said first pressure less than a second pressure sufficient to supply paint to a furthermost desired point of paint application directly from the first location at the predefined minimum paint application pressure;
• receiving paint from the paint circulation pipeline in the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle disposed at the second location;
• returning excess paint from the second location back to the paint mixing and storage tank at the first location;
• drawing paint from the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle at the second location;
• pumping the paint drawn from the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle with second pump means for subsequent pressurized discharge into a paint supply header at a third pressure sufficient to supply paint to said at least one desired point of paint application with the desired minimum paint application pressure, said third pressure less than said second pressure;
• receiving the pressurized discharge of the second pump means in the paint supply header for connection to said at least one desired point of paint application;
• branching at least one separate and independent branch paint supply line from the paint supply header for connection to said at least one desired point of paint application;
• and
• returning excess paint from each branch paint supply line independently and separately to the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle through a back pressure control valve means at the second location.

A method for delivering paint from a first location generally remote from any desired point of paint application to a plurality of points of paint application at a predefined minimum paint application pressure comprising the steps of:

• pumping paint drawn from a paint mixing and storage tank with first pump means for discharge at a first pressure sufficient to supply paint to an atmospheric pressure storage receptacle disposed at a second location generally in proximity with at least one desired point of paint application, said first pressure less than a second pressure sufficient to supply paint to a furthermost desired point of paint application directly from the first location at the predefined minimum paint application pressure;
• returning excess paint from the second location back to the paint mixing and storage tank at the first location;
• pumping paint drawn from the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle with second pump means for subsequent pressurized discharge at a third pressure sufficient to supply paint to said at least one desired point of paint application with the desired minimum paint application pressure, said third pressure less than said second pressure;
• returning excess paint from said at least one desired point of paint application to the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle at the second location;
• and
• controlling a direction of paint flow discharged from the first pump means with a directional flow control valve means for selectively discharging paint into the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle while continuing recirculation when in a first position and for selectively only recirculating paint back to the paint mixing and storage tank at the first location when in a second position.

A modular continuous flow paint delivery system for delivering paint from a first location generally remote from any desired point of paint application to a plurality of points of paint application at a predefined minimum paint application pressure comprising:

• a first paint circulation module having a paint mixing and storage tank at a first location generally remote from any desired point of paint application, first pump means for delivering paint from the pant mixing and storage tank at a first pressure sufficient to supply paint to an atmospheric pressure storage receptacle disposed at a second location generally in proximity with at least one desired point of paint application, said first pressure less than a second pressure sufficient to supply paint to a furthermost desired point of paint application directly from the first location at the predefined minimum paint application pressure, and paint return means for returning excess paint form the second location to the paint mixing and storage tank;
• a second paint circulation module having said atmospheric pressure storage receptacle disposed at said second location to receive paint delivered by the first pump means, second pump means for delivering paint from the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle at a third pressure sufficient to supply paint to said at least one desired point of paint application with the desired minimum paint application pressure, said third pressure less than said second pressure, and second paint return means for returning excess paint from said at least one desired point of paint application to the atmospheric pressure storage receptacle;
• and
• a single continuous recirculating pipeline from the first pump means to a directional flow control valve means for selectively switching between a combined atmospheric pressure storage receptacle fill and paint recirculation position, and a paint return only position to recirculate the paint back to the paint mixing and storage tank.