Abstract:
Systems and methods for applying powder coating materials in electrostatic spray systems are provided. For example, a gravity feed of recovered powder coating from the recovery system to the feed system is disclosed. In addition, a powder feed system is disclosed wherein a powder suction lance assembly has only two operable positions, a first for feeding powder from a fluidized hopper and also corresponding to a purge position for a novel purge manifold, and a second retracted position for powder color changes and servicing. Also, a pump assembly block in physical communication with an air line attachment plate, a suction tube plate, and a hose manifold is disclosed. A plurality of attachment members removably attach the air attachment plate, a suction tube plate, and the hose manifold plate to the pump assembly block. Method for applying a first powder color and a second powder color in a powder feed center are also provided. The one method includes, among other things, the step of replacing a first pump assembly and with a second pump assembly that is in fluid communication with the one or more spray devices. The second pump assembly may be a new, previously cleaned, or color dedicated pump assembly. So configured, the present invention reduces the amount of time required for a powder color change in an electrostatic spray system and reduces color cross-contamination effects involved when changing between powder colors. Powder contacting surfaces are reduced, as well.
Abstract:
Powder overspray that is extracted from a spray booth is recovered back to a powder supply that is used to supply powder to the spray guns inside the spray booth. The powder overspray extracted from the booth is separated from the high flow air stream by a separator such as a cyclone separator. The powder falls into a transfer pan and a vacuum is used to convey the powder from the transfer pan to a vacuum receiver. The powder is then discharged to the feed hopper in the feed center. The use of a vacuum to convey powder from the cyclone to the feed center in effect permits substantially all of the powder overspray to be recovered from the spray booth directly to the feed hopper with minimal dwell or residence time within the cyclone or vacuum receiver subsystems during a spraying operation. The receiver can be rotated for easy cleaning, and the vacuum line cleaned by one or more cleaning elements drawn through the vacuum line.
Abstract:
A powder spray booth includes a booth canopy wall arrangement to contain powder during a spraying operation; and a booth floor that is rotatable relative to the booth wall during a spraying operation. The floor can be rotated about an axis that is also the longitudinal axis of the spray booth. The booth may be generally cylindrical in shape with a round floor. The booth canopy and top are supported on a base frame separately from the floor. By this arrangement, the floor can be rotated relative to the booth canopy. A powder extraction apparatus in the form of a low pressure duct suspended off the floor draws up powder that has collected on the floor. The extraction duct is stationary with respect to the rotating floor during a spraying operation. The floor may also be translated along the axis of rotation between a first position in which the floor can rotate and a second position in which the floor is sealed against a lower edge of the booth canopy wall. The booth canopy and floor are made of composite materials that are very low in conductivity to minimize powder adhering to the floor and booth walls. The booth is thus easy to clean with a substantially shorter time period required for color change.
Abstract:
A powder feed hopper includes a housing which mounts a porous plate adapted to support particulate powder material and receive an upwardly directed flow of fluidizing air to form an air-entrained fluidized bed in the housing above the porous plate. In order to improve fluidization, a baffle plate is mounted beneath the porous plate in the path of the pressurized air discharged from one or more air nozzles to create a circulating flow of air-entrained particulate powder material within the fluidized bed in which the flow moves upwardly along the wall of the housing and then inwardly and downwardly toward the center of the porous plate. Additionally, stirrer blades are located immediately above the porous plate to create turbulence and reduce the formation of concentrated channels of air atop the porous plate.
Abstract:
A powder spray booth includes a floor having a longitudinal opening, preferably centered about a central longitudinal axis of the booth. Below the floor surface is an exhaust duct having a tangential entry. Powder overspray is extracted from the booth through the exhaust duct by passing through the floor opening and into the tangential entry to the exhaust duct. A suction device is used to draw powder entrained air through the exhaust duct. The tangential entry produces a swirling powder flow in the nature of a vortex within the exhaust duct to keep the powder in process and not remaining in the exhaust duct. The exhaust duct may include movable plates that form part of the exhaust duct, and also a baffle arrangement for varying the size of the opening in the floor. The exhaust duct may be, for example, cylindrically shaped. The frame that is used to support the exhaust duct may be modular in design to facilitate designing the length of a spray booth for a particular application.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method of dislodging particles of powder material from the exterior of cartridge filters in the powder recovery unit of a powder spray system. In the powder recovery unit, particles of powder material collect on the cartridge filters as filtered air enters the hollow interior of the cartridge filters and moves toward the open tops thereof. Periodically, the flow rate of the filtered air through a cartridge filter is reduced and a pulse of air is directed into the open top of that cartridge filter, in a direction opposite to the normal direction of movement of the filtered air, to dislodge the particles from the cartridge. In addition, the cartridge filters are vertically disposed and compression mounted in such a way that the cartridge support hardware does not obstruct the air flow through the top opening of the cartridge filter.
Abstract:
An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.
Abstract:
An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.
Abstract:
A powder coating booth containment structure including first and second canopy halves, each of which is a substantially nonconductive, seamless, structural composite to substantially reduce oversprayed powder particle adhesion to the booth inner surfaces. The composite canopy halves, when assembled into a spray booth additionally including either a floor or a utility base and one or a pair of end units in the form of aperture bulkheads, vestibules, or a combination of both, are structurally sufficiently strong that no external support frame is required. The composite canopy halves can each include sidewall and ceiling portions, in an embodiment, that can be connected to a floor. In another embodiment, the canopy halves each additionally include a floor portion such that they may be connected together at a floor edge and placed atop a utility base. They may be connected to the utility base. In another embodiment, the canopy halves may each further include an integral end or ends, comprising aperture bulkhead or vestibule-type end portions. Methods of assembling these embodiments are also provided that require less time than for known powder coating spray booth assembly.
Abstract:
An apparatus for applying powder coating material onto large objects such as automotive, truck or other vehicle bodies includes a powder spray booth defining a controlled area within which to apply powder coating material onto the vehicle bodies, a powder kitchen located at a remote position from the powder spray booth, and, a number of feed hoppers located proximate the booth which receive powder coating material from the powder kitchen and supply it to automatically or manually manipulated powder spray guns associated with the booth. Oversprayed powder coating material is removed from the booth interior by a powder collection and recovery system which transmits the oversprayed powder back to the powder kitchen for recirculation to the powder spray guns.