Method and apparatus for pulsed detonation coating of internal surfaces of small diameter tubes and the like
AssigneeScience Applications International Corporation
InventorShmuel Eidelman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulsed detonation gun comprises a small-diameter detonation tube, an igniter, and an outlet for discharging detonation products containing a coating material. A detonable or reactive mixture containing a coating precursor is formed in the detonation tube, and the detonable or reactive mixture is ignited to produce detonation or reaction products containing the coating precursor or a coating material formed in situ during a detonation process or a deflagration process. The coating material is discharged through the outlet and is contacted with the substrate to produce a coating. The device is particularly useful for coating the inside surfaces of small-diameter tubes and a variety of other difficult-to-reach substrate surfaces.
Claims46
A method for producing a coating on a substrate using a pulsed detonation gun, the method comprising:
- providing a pulsed detonation gun comprising a detonation tube having an internal diameter of less than 10 mm, an igniter, and an outlet for discharging detonation products;
- forming a detonable mixture containing at least one coating precursor in said detonation tube;
- igniting said detonable mixture to produce detonation products containing said coating precursor;
- and
- contacting said coating precursor with said substrate to produce a coating on said substrate.
A method for producing a coating on a substrate using a pulsed detonation gun in which a coating material is formed in situ from a coating precursor, the method comprising:
- providing a pulsed detonation gun comprising a detonation tube having an internal diameter of less than 10 mm, an igniter, and an outlet for discharging detonation products;
- forming a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor in said detonation tube;
- igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce high-temperature detonation or reaction products and to form said coating material;
- and
- contacting said coating material with said substrate to produce a coating on said substrate.
A method for producing a coating on an internal surface of a tube using a pulsed detonation gun, the method comprising:
- providing a pulsed detonation gun comprising a detonation chamber, an igniter, and an outlet for discharging detonation products;
- forming a mixture of at least one coating precursor in fuel or oxidizer;
- injecting said mixture into said detonation chamber and forming a detonable mixture;
- igniting said detonable mixture to produce detonation products containing said coating precursor;
- and
- contacting said coating precursor with said internal surface of said tube to produce a coating on said surface.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube has an internal diameter of less than 10 mm and comprises:
- at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor;
- an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor;
- and
- an outlet for discharging said coating precursor or said coating material toward a substrate.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube comprises:
- at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor;
- an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor;
- an outlet for discharging said coating precursor or said coating material toward a substrate;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with said detonation tube, wherein said nozzle is flexible and is displaceable to a plurality of coating positions.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube comprises:
- at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor;
- an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor;
- an outlet for discharging said coating precursor or said coating material toward a substrate;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with said detonation tube, wherein said nozzle is fixed at a predetermined angle greater than 0° relative to the axis of the detonation tube.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube comprises;
- at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor;
- an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor;
- an outlet for discharging said coating precursor or said coating material toward a substrate;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with said detonation tube, wherein said nozzle is configured as a showerhead having a plurality of small openings for directing the coating material toward a substrate to be coated.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising:
- a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube has an internal diameter of less than 10 mm and comprises at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor, an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor, and an outlet for discharging coating material toward a substrate;
- a low-pressure chamber for accelerating said detonation or reaction products discharged from said outlet;
- and
- low-pressure means for maintaining a pressure of less than 1 atmosphere in said low-pressure chamber.
A pulsed detonation coating apparatus comprising a detonation tube for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture, wherein said detonation tube comprises:
- at least one inlet for receiving a detonable or reactive mixture containing at least one coating precursor;
- an igniter for igniting said detonable or reactive mixture to produce detonation or reaction products containing said coating precursor or a coating material produced from said coating precursor;
- an outlet for discharging said coating precursor or said coating material toward a substrate;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with said detonation tube;
- wherein the total length of the coating apparatus is about 500 mm or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.