Apparatus for spraying material with two fluids

Claim 2

Apparatus for spraying two different fluids on material as it is carried at a predetermined rate by a conveyor, said apparatus comprising above said conveyor, two series of spray heads, means supporting said spray heads above said conveyor and operable to effect their movement across said conveyor first in one direction and then the other the spray heads of one series alternating with those of the other series, each spray head having a spray port and a valve normally closing that port, means to deliver one fluid to the heads of one series and to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are opened, means to deliver the other fluid to the heads of the other series to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are open, means operable to open the valve of each head when it is in at least one predetermined position relative to the conveyor in each direction and while it travels a predetermined distance across the conveyor from that position and including controls to enable the fluids to be delivered to the spray heads of either or both series in either direction or in but one of said directions.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the supporting means includes a rotatable unit including an axial shaft, structure supporting said shaft with its axis centrally of and vertically with respect to the conveyor, and the fluid delivery and discharge means includes concentric passages in one end portion of the shaft, one passage for each fluid, conduits effecting communication between each of said passages and the spray heads of the appropriate one of the two series and a separate supply conduit for each of the fluids, means connecting each fluid supply conduit to the appropriate passage and enabling the shaft to rotate relative thereto, and means to deliver atomizing air to the spray heads of both series.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which the delivery means for the atomizing air includes second concentric passages in the other end portion of said shaft, one passage for each series of spray heads, conduits effecting communication between each of said second passages and the spray heads of the appropriate one of the two series thereof, a separate air conduit for each second passage, means connecting each air conduit to the appropriate one of said second passages and enabling the shaft to rotate relative thereto, and each air conduit is connectable to a source of air under pressure and includes an adjustable pressure regulator.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 in which there are at least four spray heads, the supporting means includes a rotatable unit including an axial shaft, structure supporting said shaft with its axis centrally of and vertically with respect to the conveyor, and the fluid delivery and discharge means includes a circular series of at least four bores in said shaft spaced from the axis thereof and extending lengthwise thereof, one bore for each spray head of both series, a conduit placing each of said bores in communication with the appropriate spray head, each bore having a laterally opening inlet port, the inlet ports arranged as two pairs of diametrically opposed ports, one port for the upstream side of the supporting means and the other for the downstream side thereof, the two pairs of inlet ports spaced vertically from each other, and means encircling said ports and enabling said shaft to rotate relative thereto, said encircling means having a pair of diametrically opposed delivery ports for each pair of inlet ports that register therewith as the shaft turns, and delivery conduits, one for each delivery port and in communication therewith and connectable to a source of air under pressure, each delivery port including a valve, said encircling means having relief means with which each of the inlet ports is in communication after the shaft has turned a predetermined number of degrees.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 in which there are eight spray heads and the shaft has a second circular series of bores spaced from the axis of the shaft and from the bores of the first series and extending lengthwise of the shaft, one bore of the second series for each of the other four spray heads, a conduit placing each bore of the second series in communication with the appropriate spray head, the bores of said second series having inlet ports arranged and disposed in the same manner as those of the first series, and the encircling means includes two rings, one below the other, one encircling the ports of the first series and one encircling the ports of the second series, the ring for the second series having delivery ports arranged and disposed in the same manner as those for the first series, and delivery conduits, one for each delivery port of the second series and in communication therewith and with the appropriate one of the conduits for the first series of bores to be controlled by the valve thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 in which each inlet port of the first series includes a pair of radial bores arcuately spaced from each other and opening with respect of the shaft, and an intersecting bore opening outwardly through the encircling means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the relief means includes relief ports in the ring for the second series of bores, the relief ports being arranged as two pairs of diametrically opposed ports vertically spaced from each other and in the plane of the appropriate pair of inlet ports encircled by said ring and angularly spaced therefrom, and each bore of the first series has a second port in the plane of the relief ports for the corresponding inlet ports of the second series of bores.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 and means connected to each ring and operable to turn them relative to the shaft and to each other.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the supporting means includes a rotatable unit including an axial shaft, structure supporting said shaft with its axis centrally of and vertically with respect to the conveyor, and the fluid delivery and discharge means includes concentric axial passages in the lower end portion of the shaft, one passage for each fluid, conduits effecting communication between each of said passages and each spray head of the appropriate one of the two series of spray heads and a separate supply conduit for each of the fluids, means connecting each fluid supply conduit to the appropriate passage and enabling the shaft to rotate relative thereto, and means to deliver atomizing air to the spray heads of both series.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the valve of each spray head is normally closed and is opened by air pressure, and the valve opening means includes a concentric series of bores extending downwardly in said upper shaft end, one bore for each spray head and conduits effecting communication between each bore and the appropriate one of said valves.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the supporting means includes a series of arms, one arm for each spray head of both series, each spray head connected to the outer end of the appropriate arm, the shaft includes a flange intermediate its rods to which the inner ends of the arms are connected and the flange includes a hub on its undersurface and the lower shaft end is an assembly axially connected thereto, and including vertically spaced chambers, means separate said chambers from each other, one chamber for each fluid passage and having ports to which the fluid conduits of the appropriate series of arms is connected, and one chamber in communication with the inner one of the atomizing air passages and having ports to which the atomizing air conduits of one series of spray heads are connected and the hub has ports in communication with the outer atomizing air passage to which the atomizing air conduits of the other series of spray heads are connected.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means to deliver fluid to the spray heads and to discharge it as a spray includes separate fluid delivery means and separate delivery means for fluid-atomizing air for each series of spray heads, each fluid delivery means and each air delivery means including supply conduits and conduits effecting communication between the appropriate supply conduits and the appropriate spray heads and said air delivery means includes an adjustable pressure regulator in control of each supply conduit.

Claim 14

Apparatus for spraying two different fluids on material as it is carried at a predetermined rate by a conveyor, said apparatus including two series of spray heads, rotatable means supporting said spray heads above said conveyor and operable to effect their movement along a circular path the axis of which is centrally of and vertical with respect to the conveyor, the spray heads of one series alternating with those of the other series, each spray head having a spray port and a valve normally closing that port, means to deliver one fluid to the heads of one series and to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are opened, means to deliver the other fluid to the heads of the other series to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are open, means operable to open the valve of each head while it travels through a predetermined arc over the conveyor, the rate of rotation of the unit relative to the rate of the conveyor travel being such that the major portion of the path of the spray provided on the operation of each spray head is overlapped by the spray of the next operated spray head.

Claim 15

Apparatus for spraying two different fluids on material as it is carried at a predetermined rate by a conveyor, said apparatus including two series of spray heads, rotatable means supporting said spray heads above said conveyor and operable to effect their movement along a circular path the axis of which is centrally of and vertical with respect to the conveyor, the spray heads of one series alternating with those of the other series, each spray head having a spray port and a valve normally closing that port, means to deliver one fluid to the heads of one series and to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are opened, means to deliver the other fluid to the heads of the other series to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are open, means operable to open the valve of each head while it travels through a predetermined arc over the conveyor, the rate of rotation of the unit relative to the rate of the conveyor travel being such that the major portion of the path of the spray provided on the operation of each spray head is overlapped by the spray of the next operated spray head.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 in which the spray heads provide a spray that is of substantial radial extent but is relatively narrow.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14, and means to control the number of spray heads that are in service and the radial extent of each spray is such that an overlap occurs with the minimum number of spray heads in service.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 in which there are eight spray heads, four for each series, and the rotatable supporting means, with a conveyor travel in the order of forty feet per minute, rotates at a rate within the approximate range of from 15 to 25 R.P.M.

Claim 19

Apparatus for spraying two different fluids on material as it is carried at a predetermined rate by a conveyor, said apparatus comprising above said conveyor, two series of spray heads, means supporting said spray heads above said conveyor and operable to effect their movement across said conveyor first in one direction and then the other the spray heads of one series alternating with those of the other series, each spray head having a spray port and a valve normally closing that port, means to deliver one fluid to the heads of one series, means to deliver to said heads air under pressure operable to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are opened, and a pressure regulator common to all of said air delivery means of said one series, means to deliver the other fluid to the heads of the other series, means to deliver to said last named heads air under pressure operable to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are open, and a pressure regulator common to all of said last named air delivery means, means operable to open the valve of each head when it is in at least one pRedetermined position relative to the conveyor in each direction and while it travels a predetermined distance across the conveyor from that position.

Claim 20

Apparatus for spraying two different fluids on material as it is carried at a predetermined rate by a conveyor, said apparatus comprising above said conveyor, two series of spray heads, means supporting said spray heads above said conveyor and operable to effect their movement across said conveyor first in one direction and then the other the spray heads of one series alternating with those of the other series, each spray head having a spray port and a valve normally closing that port, means to deliver one fluid to the heads of one series, means to deliver to said heads air under pressure operable to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are opened, and a pressure regulator common to all of said air delivery means of said one series, means to deliver the other fluid to the heads of the other series, means to deliver to said last named heads air under pressure operable to discharge that fluid as a spray when the valves of those heads are open, and a pressure regulator common to all of said last named air delivery means, means operable to open the valve of each head when it is in at least one pRedetermined position relative to the conveyor in each direction and while it travels a predetermined distance across the conveyor from that position.