US 6,203,857 B1Granted

Closed loop controllable fluid application system

OwnerDennis A. Patrickinventor

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Abstract

A closed loop controllable fluid application system is provided, comprising a substantially enclosed housing, having horizontal and vertical surfaces, with an inlet and an outlet slot formed in opposing vertical surfaces allowing passage of a work piece through the housing; and a mist outlet and a sump drain each formed in one of a horizontal and a vertical surface. Fluid circulation lines communicate with the housing and an application fluid source, terminating inside the housing with a connection to one or more controllable spray devices for delivering atomized application fluid to coat passing work pieces. A mist collector evacuates air through the mist outlet and extracts application fluid from the evacuated air. The mist collector and the sump drain are connected to fluid circulation lines for recycling excess liquid and air-borne application fluid. A method of using this fluid application system comprises the steps of pumping application fluid through the circulation lines to the spray head(s); atomizing application fluid; spraying atomized application fluid onto a work piece; and recycling excess application fluid by evacuating housing air, separating application fluid from evacuated air through the use of centrifugal force, and draining fluid through the sump drain.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method of using a closed loop controllable fluid application system for applying fluid from an application fluid source to a work piece having a plurality of planar surfaces, the fluid application system comprising:

a substantially enclosed housing having substantially vertical front, back and side walls, and a bottom horizontal wall;
an inlet opening in one of the front and the back walls, the inlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and into the housing;
an outlet opening in the other of the front and the back walls, the outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and out of the housing;
at least one atomizing spray device mounted to, and positioned within the housing so as to direct spraying of application fluid onto at least one of the work piece planar surfaces within the housing;
a sump drain in the housing bottom wall, for collecting any fluid run-off from the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;
a mist collector fluidly connected to the housing via at least a mist outlet opening in one of the walls, the mist outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of mist therethrough;
means for evacuating air from the housing;
means for maintaining an air pressure level inside the housing below atmospheric air pressure level;
means, operatively connected to the mist collector, for recycling any misted application fluid;
and
at least one circulation conduit for supplying application fluid to the at least one spray device, for transferring any collected fluid from the sump drain to the application fluid source, and for transferring any recycled misted application fluid from the recycling means to the application fluid source;
said method comprising the steps of:
pumping application fluid through the circulation conduit to the at least one spray device;
atomizing application fluid at the at least one spray device;
spraying atomized application fluid onto the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;
controlling the spray of application fluid within a predetermined set of variable, interdependent parameters;
and
recycling excess application fluid, the recycling step comprising the steps of:
recovering fluid overflow through the sump drain;
evacuating air from the housing into the mist collector;
and
separating application fluid from evacuated air in the mist collector, wherein separating of application fluid from evacuated air is accomplished through use of centrifugal force.

19 more elements

A closed loop controllable fluid application system, for applying fluid from an application fluid source to a work piece having a plurality of planar surfaces, the system comprising:

a substantially enclosed housing having substantially vertical front, back and side walls, and a bottom horizontal wall;
an inlet opening in one of the front and the back walls, the inlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and into the housing;
an outlet opening in the other of the front and the back walls, the outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and out of the housing;
at least one atomizing spray device mounted to, and positioned within the housing so as to direct spraying of application fluid onto at least one of the work piece planar surfaces within the housing, the at least one spray device comprising means, operatively connected to the at least one spray device, for controlling the spray of application fluid within a predetermined set of parameters;
a sump drain in the housing bottom wall, for collecting any fluid run-off from the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;
a mist collector fluidly connected to the housing via at least a mist outlet opening in one of the walls, the mist outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of mist therethrough;
means for evacuating air from the housing;
means for maintaining an air pressure level inside the housing below atmospheric air pressure level;
means, operatively connected to the mist collector, for recycling any misted application fluid;
at least one circulation conduit for supplying application fluid to the at least one spray device, for transferring any collected fluid from the sump drain to the application fluid source, and for transferring any recycled misted application fluid from the recycling means to the application fluid source;
and
a pump fluidly communicating with the circulation conduit, for transmitting application fluid through the circulation conduit under a predetermined pressure.

9 more elements

A closed loop controllable fluid application system, for applying fluid from an application fluid source to a work piece having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and at least one side planar surface, the system comprising:

a substantially enclosed housing having substantially vertical front, back and side walls, and substantially horizontal top and bottom walls;
an inlet opening in the front wall, the inlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and into the housing;
an outlet opening in the back wall, the outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and out of the housing;
two atomizing spray heads, each having a fluid application orifice, one head being mounted to the top wall of the housing, the other being mounted to the bottom wall of the housing, the spray heads being positioned within the housing so as to direct spraying of application fluid onto at least the work piece top planar surface and the bottom planar surface within the housing, the spray heads each comprising means, operatively connected to each spray head, for controlling the spray of application fluid within a predetermined set of parameters;
a sump drain in the housing bottom wall, for collecting any fluid run-off from the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;
a mist collector fluidly connected to the housing via at least a mist outlet opening in one of the walls, the mist outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of mist therethrough, wherein the mist collector comprises means for evacuating air from the housing, and means for maintaining an air pressure level inside the housing below atmospheric air pressure level;
at least one circulation conduit for supplying application fluid to the two spray heads, and for transferring any collected fluid from the sump drain to the application fluid source;
a centrifuge disposed within the mist collector and fluidly connected to the circulation conduit, the centrifuge adapted to separate evacuated air from any fluid particles, wherein the separated fluid particles flow into the circulation conduit and are transferred via the conduit to the application fluid source;
a pump fluidly communicating with the circulation conduit, for transmitting application fluid through the circulation conduit under a predetermined pressure;
and
means, operatively connected to the spray device, for supplying one of pressurized gas and pressurized liquid to atomize the application fluid.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/084,362Filed 22 May 1998 · division
Priority: 6 Jun 1995
Granted: 20 Mar 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B05B 7/1606
Incorporating means for heating or cooling the material to be sprayed: the spraying of the material involving the use of an atomising fluid, e.g. air
B05B 14/40
Arrangements for collecting, re-using or eliminating excess spraying material: for use in spray booths
B05C 9/04
Apparatus or plant for applying liquid or other fluent material to surfaces by means not covered by any preceding group, or in which the means…
Y02P 70/10
Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products: greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material…