US4836858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic assisted paint removal method
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1987-07-07
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Granted: 1989-06-06
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Expires: 2007-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A paint or other protective coating removal method involving the use of reciprocal motion ultrasonic frequency mechanical energy applied to the coating by a variety of tool and abrasive substrate members in the company of surface preparation agents such as coolant, heating, softening, and/or abrasive agents. The invention is particularly applicable and disclosed in terms of, protective coating removal from aircraft such as is often necessary for replacement or in the reutilization of aircraft with different identification markings. The coating removal method is environmentally and human operator safe in comparison with presently used coating removal methods such as abrasive blasting and chemical solvent removal.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore J. Reinhart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:00
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44D; B44D3/00; B44D3/16; B44D3/162; A; A47; A47L; A47L13/00; A47L13/02; A47L13/08; B08; B08B; B08B7/00; B08B7/02; B08B7/026; B08B7/028; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S451/00; Y10S451/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for safely removing the paint layer from a physical damage susceptible painted surface comprising the steps of: exciting a shaped edge scraping tool with reciprocal motion ultrasonic frequency kinetic energy; holding said scraping tool edge in pressured contact with said painted surface; and moving said ultrasonic energy excited scraping tool edge into successive areas of said paint layer while maintaining ultrasonic energy force transmitting contact between said tool and said paint layer and sliding contact between said tool and said damage susceptible surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for safely removing the paint layer from a physical damage susceptible painted surface comprising the steps of: exciting a shaped edge scraping tool with reciprocal motion ultrasonic frequency kinetic energy; holding said scraping tool edge in pressured contact with said painted surface; and moving said ultrasonic energy excited scraping tool edge into successive areas of said paint layer while maintaining ultrasonic energy force transmitting contact between said tool and said paint layer and sliding contact between said tool and said damage susceptible surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of changing the hardness of said paint prior to the application of said shaped edge ultrasonic excited tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said changing hardness step includes altering the temperature of said paint layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 further including the step of communicating abrasive material with the interface of said paint and said scraping tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said changing hardness step includes exposing said paint layer to heating fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said changing hardness step includes exposing said paint layer to cooling fluid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
The method for removing protecting coating material from the surface of an aircraft comprising the steps of: pretreating the aircraft coating material with a removal promoting agent; engaging a small region of the coating with a stress concentrating ultrasonic frequency vibratory motion energized tool member, said engaging including also sliding minimal energy transferring bearing of said tool member upon said aricraft surface; urging said tool member along said aircraft surface in continuing sliding motion relationship therewith and in persisting ultrasonic motion engaging relationship with the disintegrating and receding edge of said protective coating; and removing the disintegrated and loosened coating material from the field of coating engagement.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
The method for removing protecting coating material from the surface of an aircraft comprising the steps of: pretreating the aircraft coating material with a removal promoting agent; engaging a small region of the coating with a stress concentrating ultrasonic frequency vibratory motion energized tool member, said engaging including also sliding minimal energy transferring bearing of said tool member upon said aricraft surface; urging said tool member along said aircraft surface in continuing sliding motion relationship therewith and in persisting ultrasonic motion engaging relationship with the disintegrating and receding edge of said protective coating; and removing the disintegrated and loosened coating material from the field of coating engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said pretreating includes exposing the protective coating to a flow of pretreatment fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said pretreating step includes changing the hardness of said coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said pretreating step includes changing the temperature of said coating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said pretreating step includes cooling the protecting coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said pretreating step includes heating the protecting coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said pretreatment fluid is a chemical reactant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said pretreatment step and said removing step employ the same fluid flow.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of supplying abrasive material to the field of coating engagement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said urging step includes moving said tool member and the locus of said engaging with mechanical movement apparatus.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
The method for abrasive removal of protective coating material from the surface of an aircraft comprising the steps of: engaging a small region of the coating with ultrasonic frequency vibrating abrading material, said engagement including applying a force normal to the aircraft surface and urging said abrading material and said coating into intimate contact by way of said normal force; moving the region of abrading engagement over said aircraft surface in response to accomplished abrading; dispersing spent abrading material and removed coating material from the field of said engaging with a flowing fluid.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
The method for abrasive removal of protective coating material from the surface of an aircraft comprising the steps of: engaging a small region of the coating with ultrasonic frequency vibrating abrading material, said engagement including applying a force normal to the aircraft surface and urging said abrading material and said coating into intimate contact by way of said normal force; moving the region of abrading engagement over said aircraft surface in response to accomplished abrading; dispersing spent abrading material and removed coating material from the field of said engaging with a flowing fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 further including the step of adding additional abrading material during the course of said engaging step.
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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) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |