US3875898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluidized bed apparatus for coating elements
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-25
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1994-01-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention involves the application of a protective coating on an element, such as an electrical component having connection leads extending from it, wherein the element is preheated and is then passed to a fluidized bed stage in which a powder of coating material is applied to the heated surface of the component or element to be coated which causes the coating material to coalesce on the body of the component. In the present invention the component is located at a fixed position and a movable fluid bed reservoir is dipped into a larger supply reservoir to be replenished with powder. The movable reservoir is then brought to the heated component so as to bring the powder into contact with the component to be coated. In order to maintain a precise uniform height which will coat only a predetermined portion of the component and will not extend unnecessarily over the lead of an electrical component, the movable bed fluid reservoir is vibrated in a predetermined manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Denver Braden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:29
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D1/00; B05D1/18; B05D1/22; B05D1/24; B05C; B05C19/00; B05C19/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for coating a remotely positioned heated element with a coating formed from powder particles which are capable of coalescing to form said coating on said element when said element is heated to a temperature below a predetermined deleterious temperature for the element but above the coalescent temperature of said particles comprising a first reservoir for containing a relatively large amount of said particles, first gas distribution means for supplying a distributed flow of gas upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir so as to provide a fluidized dense phase of said particles in said first reservoir having a free upper surface level, a second reservoir initially immersed in said dense of said particles of said first reservoir for containing a relatively small amount of said powder particles, second gas distribution means for supplying a distributed flow of gas upwardly from the bottom of said second reservoir so as to provide a fluidized dense phase of said particles in said second reservoir while said second reservoir is immersed in said dense phase of said particles in said first reservoir, holding means for holding said element, transporting means for transporting said second reservoir between its initial position in said dense phase of particles in said first reservoir so that said second reservoir is thereby filled with particles from said first reservoir to a second position adjacent said element at which the free upper surface level of said second reservoir overlies the portion of said element which is to be coated and vibrating means for vibrating said second reservoir independently of said first reservoir when it is positioned adjacent said element, so as to maintain said free upper surface level of said second reservoir at a predetermined coating level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for coating a remotely positioned heated element with a coating formed from powder particles which are capable of coalescing to form said coating on said element when said element is heated to a temperature below a predetermined deleterious temperature for the element but above the coalescent temperature of said particles comprising a first reservoir for containing a relatively large amount of said particles, first gas distribution means for supplying a distributed flow of gas upwardly from the bottom of said first reservoir so as to provide a fluidized dense phase of said particles in said first reservoir having a free upper surface level, a second reservoir initially immersed in said dense of said particles of said first reservoir for containing a relatively small amount of said powder particles, second gas distribution means for supplying a distributed flow of gas upwardly from the bottom of said second reservoir so as to provide a fluidized dense phase of said particles in said second reservoir while said second reservoir is immersed in said dense phase of said particles in said first reservoir, holding means for holding said element, transporting means for transporting said second reservoir between its initial position in said dense phase of particles in said first reservoir so that said second reservoir is thereby filled with particles from said first reservoir to a second position adjacent said element at which the free upper surface level of said second reservoir overlies the portion of said element which is to be coated and vibrating means for vibrating said second reservoir independently of said first reservoir when it is positioned adjacent said element, so as to maintain said free upper surface level of said second reservoir at a predetermined coating level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second reservoir has a pair of vertical outside sidewalls and a pair of upper walls each of which slope downwardly so as to intersect with said sidewalls at an acute angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second reservoir has a pair of vertical sidewalls and a pair of vertical deflector plates each of which is secured to one of said vertical sidewalls and is spaced outwardly therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means is located directly above said first reservoir and said transporting means comprises lift means for lifting said second reservoir vertically comprising a pair of spaced apart shafts coupled to said second reservoir at their top ends, an elongated member connected to the bottom ends of said shaft adjacent the outer ends of said elongated member, a vertically driven cylinder located below and approximately at the center of said elongated member and connecting means interconnecting said cylinder and said elongated member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vibrating means comprises means for vibrating said second reservoir simultaneously in the vertical and the horizontal directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second reservoir is of an elongated shape, said vibrating means comprises first and second vibrators located at opposite ends of the long dimension of said second reservoir and said first and second vibrators as coupled to said second reservoir by first and second coupling members respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second coupling members each have a vertical section and a horizontal section, each of said vertical sections being connected to one of the opposite ends of said elongated second reservoir and spaced apart from the other of said vertical sections by the long dimension of said second reservoir and each of said horizontal sections being connected to one of said vibrators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said vibrators have a stator and an armature and each of said armatures is secured to one of said horizontal sections of said coupling members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said vertical sections of said coupling members have a reduced width portion, the dimensions of which are predetermined so as to provide a predetermined ratio of horizontal to vertical vibration of components of said second reservoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |