Vapor chamber for drying

Claim 1

An apparatus for fast curing wet resin coated articles, comprising a mechanical conveyor for continuously conveying the wet coated articles through a curing chamber, means for producing and passing a vaporous accelerator through the curing chamber in contact with the wet coating of the article during the period of its passage through the curing chamber, means for avoiding the escape of the vaporous accelerator to the atmosphere, means for controlling the temperature and density of the vaporous accelerator within the curing chamber, said means for producing the vaporous catalyst comprising an automatic vapor generator connected to a source of inert carrier gas under low pressure and installed between a supply of liquid catalyst and a mixing chamber incorporated with the curing chamber, the means for conveying or directing the vaporous catalyst-carrier mix to the curing chamber comprising fans located in supply chambers at each end of the mixing chamber, drawing from the mixing chamber and exhausting into supply chambers which are connected to manifolds located in the side walls of curing chamber which are connected to each end of transverse perforated diffuser tubes located above the conveyor which spray the catalyst carrier gas mix throughout the curing chamber and thus into contact with all exposed surfaces of the wet coated material, the means for providing and maintaining the required density of the vaporous catalyst carrier gas mix comprising a control for the heat supply to the vapor generator heating liquid associated with the liquid catalyst feed or supply control, the means for producing and maintaining the required temperature of the catalyst vapor carrier mix in the curing chamber comprising thermostatically controlled heat tapes located in the roof, floor and walls of the curing chamber as well as in the entrance and exit to such chamber, the means for minimizing the loss of catalyst comprising air curtains located between the ends of the curing chamber and the entrance and exit portals for the carrier, and the means for avoiding atmospheric pollution comprising means to release a suitable neutralizing agent into the exhaust plenum.

Claim 2

An apparatus for fast curing wet resin coated articles, comprising a mechanical conveyor for continuously conveying the wet coated articles through a curing chamber, means for producing and passing a vaporous accelerator through the curing chamber in contact with the wet coating of the article during the period of its passage through the curing chamber, means for avoiding the escape of the vaporous accelerator to the atmosphere, means for controlling the temperature and density of the vaporous accelerator within the curing chamber, said means for producing the vaporous catalyst comprising an automatic vapor generator connected to a source of inert carrier gas under low pressure and installed between a supply of liquid catalyst and a mixing chamber incorporated with the curing chamber, the means for conveying or directing the vaporous catalyst-carrier mix to the curing chamber comprising fans located in supply chambers at each end of the mixing chamber, drawing from the mixing chamber and exhausting into supply chambers which are connected to manifolds located in the side walls of curing chamber which are connected to each end of transverse perforated diffuser tubes located above the conveyor which spray the catalyst carrier gas mix throughout the curing chamber and thus into contact with all exposed surfaces of the wet coated material, the means for providing and maintaining the required density of the vaporous catalyst carrier gas mix comprising a control for the heat supply to the vapor generator heating liquid associated with the liquid catalyst feed or supply control, the means for producing and maintaining the required temperature of the catalyst vapor carrier mix in the curing chamber comprising thermostatically controlled heat tapes located in the roof, floor and walls of the curing chamber as well as in the entrance and exit to such chamber, the means for minimizing the loss of catalyst comprising air curtains located between the ends of the curing chamber and the entrance and exit portals for the carrier, and the means for avoiding atmospheric pollution comprising means to release a suitable neutralizing agent into the exhaust plenum.