Patent US3793776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5213259A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5213259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paint booth humidity and temperature control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-09-30
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2011-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Humidity control system for regulating the relative humidity of air which is forced through a spray painting booth. The humidity control system employs a water spray nozzle which atomizes water to quickly change the relative humidity and temperature of the ventilation air moving through the paint spray booth. A flow control valve which opens at a predetermined rate to control the water flow to the water spray nozzle in a manner which provides for an overdamped response to changes in the relative humidity level. The humidity control system further includes a motor for operating the flow valve, a controller for energizing the motor, and suitable sensors for providing feedback to the controller. The low predetermined rate at which the flow valve opens allows the water flow through the flow valve to be modulated by the length of time which the motor is energizes.
Inventors
- 👤 William D. Stouffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:31
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B16/00; B05B16/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A humidity control system for a spray painting chamber wherein air which is being forced through a duct to the spray painting chamber is humidified with water from a pressurized water source, the humidity control system comprising: means for atomizing the water and spraying the atomized water directly into the air as it is forced through the duct such that the water and the air form humidified air having a relative humidity level; valve means for regulating the flow of the water from the pressurized water source to the means for atomizing the water; motor means for opening and closing the valve means at a predetermined rate; means for sensing the relative humidity of the humidified air, the means for sensing being mounted within the duct and downstream from the means for atomizing the water, the means for sensing providing a feedback signal which corresponds to the relative humidity level of the humidified air; and control means for energizing and deenergizing the motor means so as to modulate the time over which the valve means opens and closes at the predetermined rate, the control means operating on the feedback signal of the means for sensing to determine the length of time for which the motor means is energized, the predetermined rate for opening and closing the valve means being sufficiently low such that the response of the humidity control system is overdamped.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A humidity control system for a spray painting chamber wherein air which is being forced through a duct to the spray painting chamber is humidified with water from a pressurized water source, the humidity control system comprising: means for atomizing the water and spraying the atomized water directly into the air as it is forced through the duct such that the water and the air form humidified air having a relative humidity level; valve means for regulating the flow of the water from the pressurized water source to the means for atomizing the water; motor means for opening and closing the valve means at a predetermined rate; means for sensing the relative humidity of the humidified air, the means for sensing being mounted within the duct and downstream from the means for atomizing the water, the means for sensing providing a feedback signal which corresponds to the relative humidity level of the humidified air; and control means for energizing and deenergizing the motor means so as to modulate the time over which the valve means opens and closes at the predetermined rate, the control means operating on the feedback signal of the means for sensing to determine the length of time for which the motor means is energized, the predetermined rate for opening and closing the valve means being sufficiently low such that the response of the humidity control system is overdamped.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The humidity control system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined rate at which the valve means is opened or closed is not less than 1 hour between a fully closed position and a fully open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The humidity control system of claim 1 wherein the motor means has an output shaft which rotates at no more than about one revolution per minute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The humidity control system of claim 1 wherein the control means is a proportional plus integral controller which modulates the time at which the motor means is energized according to the feedback signal of the means for sensing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
The humidity control system of claim 1 further comprising a preheat system wherein the air is preheated prior to being humidified, the air being preheated with combuster means which is provided with fuel from a pressurized fuel source, the preheat system comprising: fuel valve means for regulating the flow of the fuel from the pressurized fuel source to the combuster means; fuel motor means for opening and closing the fuel valve means at a predetermined rate; temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the humidified air, the temperature sensing means being mounted within the duct and downstream from the means for atomizing the water, the temperature sensing means providing a feedback temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the humidified air; and fuel control means for energizing and deenergizing the fuel motor means so as to modulate the time over which the fuel valve means opens and closes at the predetermined rate, the fuel control means operating on the feedback temperature signal of the temperature sensing means to determine the length of time for which the fuel motor means is energized, the predetermined rate for opening and closing the fuel valve means being sufficiently low such that the response of the preheat system is overdamped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
236 words
A humidity control system for a spray painting chamber wherein air being forced through a duct to the spray painting chamber is humidified by a combination of water from a pressurized water source and pressurized air from a pressurized air source, the humidity control system comprising: nozzle means for atomizing the water, mixing the pressurized air with the atomized water to form a water and air mixture, and spraying the water and air mixture directly into the supply air as it is forced through the duct to form humidified air having a relative humidity level; valve means for limiting the flow of the water from the pressurized water source to the nozzle means; motor means for opening and closing the valve means at a predetermined rate; humidity sensing means mounted within the duct and downstream from the nozzle means, the humidity sensing means providing a feedback signal which corresponds to the relative humidity level of the humidified air; and control means for energizing and deenergizing the motor means so as to modulate the time over which the valve means opens and closes at the predetermined rate, the control means operating on the feedback signal of the humidity sensing means to determine the length of time for which the motor means is energized, the predetermined rate for opening and closing the valve means being sufficiently low such that the response of the humidity control system is overdamped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
236 words
A humidity control system for a spray painting chamber wherein air being forced through a duct to the spray painting chamber is humidified by a combination of water from a pressurized water source and pressurized air from a pressurized air source, the humidity control system comprising: nozzle means for atomizing the water, mixing the pressurized air with the atomized water to form a water and air mixture, and spraying the water and air mixture directly into the supply air as it is forced through the duct to form humidified air having a relative humidity level; valve means for limiting the flow of the water from the pressurized water source to the nozzle means; motor means for opening and closing the valve means at a predetermined rate; humidity sensing means mounted within the duct and downstream from the nozzle means, the humidity sensing means providing a feedback signal which corresponds to the relative humidity level of the humidified air; and control means for energizing and deenergizing the motor means so as to modulate the time over which the valve means opens and closes at the predetermined rate, the control means operating on the feedback signal of the humidity sensing means to determine the length of time for which the motor means is energized, the predetermined rate for opening and closing the valve means being sufficiently low such that the response of the humidity control system is overdamped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The humidity control system of claim 6 wherein the predetermined rate at which the valve means is opened or closed is not less than 1 hour between a fully closed position and a fully open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The humidity control system of claim 6 wherein the motor means has an output shaft which rotates at no more than 1 revolution per minute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The humidity control system of claim 6 wherein the control means is a proportional plus integral controller which modulates the time at which the motor means is energized according to the feedback signal of the humidity sensing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The humidity control system of claim 6 wherein the water is atomized to produce water particles of less than 200 microns in size.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for controlling the relative humidity of humidifying air supplied to a spray painting chamber wherein pressurized water is sprayed into supply air being forced through a duct into the spray painting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: relaying a signal which commands a valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time, the extent to which the valve is opened determining the flow rate of the pressurized water into the supply air; atomizing the pressurized water with a nozzle means located within the duct; introducing the atomized water into the duct through which the supply air is flowing to form the humidifying air; sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air downstream from the nozzle means; providing a feedback signal to control means, the feedback signal being derived from the sensed relative humidity level of the humidifying air; and modulating the signal to the valve in response to the feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time which the valve is to open at the predetermined rate, the valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined relative humidity level of the humidified air is attained.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for controlling the relative humidity of humidifying air supplied to a spray painting chamber wherein pressurized water is sprayed into supply air being forced through a duct into the spray painting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: relaying a signal which commands a valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time, the extent to which the valve is opened determining the flow rate of the pressurized water into the supply air; atomizing the pressurized water with a nozzle means located within the duct; introducing the atomized water into the duct through which the supply air is flowing to form the humidifying air; sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air downstream from the nozzle means; providing a feedback signal to control means, the feedback signal being derived from the sensed relative humidity level of the humidifying air; and modulating the signal to the valve in response to the feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time which the valve is to open at the predetermined rate, the valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined relative humidity level of the humidified air is attained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of atomizing the pressurized water includes atomizing the water with pressurized air.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
258 words
A method for controlling the relative humidity of humidifying air supplied to a spray painting chamber wherein pressurized water is combined with pressurized air and sprayed into supply air being forced through a duct into the spray painting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air within the duct; providing a feedback signal to control means; providing an output signal from the control means to command a valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time corresponding to the feedback signal, the extent to which the valve is opened determining the flow rate of the pressurized water to a nozzle located within the duct; separately supplying the pressurized air to the nozzle; mixing the pressurized air and the pressurized water with the nozzle to atomize the pressurized water and form atomized water; introducing the atomized water into the duct through which the stream of supply air is flowing to form the humidifying air; sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air; providing a second feedback signal to the control means; and modulating the output signal of the control means to the valve in response to the second feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time over which the valve opens at the predetermined rate, the valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined relative humidity level of the humidified air is attained; whereby the predetermined rate at which the valve opens is sufficiently low such that the response of the control means is overdamped.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
258 words
A method for controlling the relative humidity of humidifying air supplied to a spray painting chamber wherein pressurized water is combined with pressurized air and sprayed into supply air being forced through a duct into the spray painting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air within the duct; providing a feedback signal to control means; providing an output signal from the control means to command a valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time corresponding to the feedback signal, the extent to which the valve is opened determining the flow rate of the pressurized water to a nozzle located within the duct; separately supplying the pressurized air to the nozzle; mixing the pressurized air and the pressurized water with the nozzle to atomize the pressurized water and form atomized water; introducing the atomized water into the duct through which the stream of supply air is flowing to form the humidifying air; sensing the relative humidity level of the humidifying air; providing a second feedback signal to the control means; and modulating the output signal of the control means to the valve in response to the second feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time over which the valve opens at the predetermined rate, the valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined relative humidity level of the humidified air is attained; whereby the predetermined rate at which the valve opens is sufficiently low such that the response of the control means is overdamped.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
161 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: relaying a temperature signal corresponding to a predetermined temperature level to command a fuel valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time, the extent to which the fuel valve is opened determining the flow rate of fuel to a combuster means located within the duct; combusting the fuel so as to heat the supply air within the duct; sensing the temperature of the humidifying air; providing a temperature feedback signal to control means; and modulating the signal to the fuel valve in response to the temperature feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time over which the fuel valve opens at the predetermined rate, the fuel valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined temperature level of the humidified air is attained; whereby the predetermined rate at which the fuel valve opens is sufficiently low such that the response of the control means is overdamped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
197 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: sensing the temperature of the humidifying air within the duct; providing a temperature feedback signal to the control means; providing a temperature output signal from the control means to command a fuel valve to open at a predetermined rate for a length of time corresponding to the temperature feedback signal, the extent to which the fuel valve is opened determining the flow rate of fuel to a combuster means located within the duct; combusting the fuel so as to heat the supply air within the duct; sensing the temperature of the humidifying air within the duct; providing a second temperature feedback signal to the control means; and modulating the temperature output signal of the control means to the fuel valve in response to the second temperature feedback signal so as to adjust the length of time over which the fuel valve opens at the predetermined rate, the fuel valve ceasing to open further once the predetermined temperature level of the humidified air is attained; whereby the predetermined rate at which the fuel valve opens is sufficiently low such that the response of the control means is overdamped.
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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) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |