US4600608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface coating apparatus and method
Assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
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Filing: 1982-10-08
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2002-10-08
Abstract
Abstract To reduce solvent wastage and the risk of pollution and explosions, articles to be surface coated (sprayed, flow coated or dip coated) are transported through a coating station disposed in a closed chamber having long inlet and outlet passages having the outline of said articles. Condensing regions are provided on opposite sides of the coating station to condense solvent vapor in the chamber. The arrangement in the chamber is such that the atmosphere is substantially saturated with solvent, the oxygen level is maintained below a predetermined level and only a small pressure difference is maintained between the pressures inside and outside the chamber to minimize escape of vapor.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis R. Ankrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:22
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B14/00; B05B14/40; B05B14/49; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S118/00; Y10S118/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for surface coating articles comprising a closed chamber having an inlet for articles to be surface coated and an outlet for articles which have been surface coated; means for transporting the articles through said closed chamber from said inlet to said outlet; a coating station in said chamber through which articles are transported in use to be surface coated; means for supplying a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent to said coating station; an inert gas source; means for feeding inert gas from said source into said chamber; a reservior opening into said chamber; means for collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in said reservoir, the arrangement being such that, in use, an atmosphere is maintained in the closed chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level; means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet; and a differential pressure transducer for comparing atmospheric pressure with said localized negative pressure and causing introduction of inert gas when a pressure difference is detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for surface coating articles comprising a closed chamber having an inlet for articles to be surface coated and an outlet for articles which have been surface coated; means for transporting the articles through said closed chamber from said inlet to said outlet; a coating station in said chamber through which articles are transported in use to be surface coated; means for supplying a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent to said coating station; an inert gas source; means for feeding inert gas from said source into said chamber; a reservior opening into said chamber; means for collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in said reservoir, the arrangement being such that, in use, an atmosphere is maintained in the closed chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level; means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet; and a differential pressure transducer for comparing atmospheric pressure with said localized negative pressure and causing introduction of inert gas when a pressure difference is detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collecting means includes means in the chamber for condensing solvent vapour.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inlet and said outlet are formed as respective passages having a cross-sectional shape which corresponds to but is slightly larger than the outline of the articles so that, in use, there is only a minimum clearance between the wall of the respective passage and the article, each inlet and outlet passage being of a length such that, in use, there will always be at least one article in the passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for creating a localised negative pressure comprises an extractor disposed in the region of said caoting station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for condensing solvent vapour at locations which are disposed upstream and downstream of said coating station within the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 where in addition to said differential pressure transducer, oxygen sensors are provided and an introduction of inert gas is controlled in response to signals from the oxygen sensors and said differential pressure transducers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of surface coating articles comprising the steps of transporting articles to be surface coated through a closed chamber from an inlet to an outlet thereof, surface coating said articles at a coating station in the chamber using a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent, collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in a reservoir opening into said chamber, and maintaining an atmosphere in the chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level, providing means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet and providing a differential pressure transducer for comparing atmospheric pressure with said localized negative pressure and causing introduction of inert gas when a pressure difference is detected.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of surface coating articles comprising the steps of transporting articles to be surface coated through a closed chamber from an inlet to an outlet thereof, surface coating said articles at a coating station in the chamber using a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent, collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in a reservoir opening into said chamber, and maintaining an atmosphere in the chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level, providing means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet and providing a differential pressure transducer for comparing atmospheric pressure with said localized negative pressure and causing introduction of inert gas when a pressure difference is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
Method according to claim 7 where in addition to said differential pressure transducer, oxygen sensors are provided and an introduction of inert gas is controlled in response to signals from the oxygen sensors and said differential pressure transducers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for surface coating articles comprising a closed chamber having an inlet for articles to be surface coated and an outlet for articles which have been surface coated; means for transporting the articles through said closed chamber from said inlet to said outlet; a coating station in said chamber through which articles are transported in use to be surface coated; means for supplying a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent to said coating station; an inert gas source; means for feeding inert gas from said source into said chamber; a reservoir opening into said chamber; means for collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in said reservoir, the arrangement being such that, in use, an atmosphere is maintained in the closed chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level; means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet; and oxygen sensors are provided for controlling an introduction of inert gas in response to signals from said oxygen sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for surface coating articles comprising a closed chamber having an inlet for articles to be surface coated and an outlet for articles which have been surface coated; means for transporting the articles through said closed chamber from said inlet to said outlet; a coating station in said chamber through which articles are transported in use to be surface coated; means for supplying a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent to said coating station; an inert gas source; means for feeding inert gas from said source into said chamber; a reservoir opening into said chamber; means for collecting (a) solvent from said coating composition and (b) excess coating composition in said reservoir, the arrangement being such that, in use, an atmosphere is maintained in the closed chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level; means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapour away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet; and oxygen sensors are provided for controlling an introduction of inert gas in response to signals from said oxygen sensors.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of surface coating articles comprising the steps of transporting articles to be surface coated through a closed chamber from an inlet to an outlet thereof, surface coating said articles at a coating station in the chamber using a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent, collecting solvent in the chamber, and maintaining an atmosphere in the chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which the oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level, providing means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapor away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet and providing oxygen sensors and causing introduction of inert gas in response to signals from said oxygen sensors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of surface coating articles comprising the steps of transporting articles to be surface coated through a closed chamber from an inlet to an outlet thereof, surface coating said articles at a coating station in the chamber using a surface coating composition containing a coating material and a solvent, collecting solvent in the chamber, and maintaining an atmosphere in the chamber which is substantially saturated with said solvent and in which the oxygen is maintained below a predetermined level, providing means for creating a localized negative pressure in the chamber at at least one location, said negative pressure being sufficient to encourage a general flow of vapor away from at least one of said inlet and said outlet and providing oxygen sensors and causing introduction of inert gas in response to signals from said oxygen sensors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |