Paint Delivery and Application Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. A paint delivery and application apparatus, comprising:
- a source of paint under pressure;
a paint applicator adapted to apply paint to a substrate;
a supply line interconnecting said source of paint with said paint applicator;
at least one pigging element in said supply line moveable between a first pig station adjacent said source of paint and a second pig station adjacent said paint applicator, wherein paint pushes said pigging element from said first pig station to said second pig station, delivering paint from said source of paint to said paint applicator; and
a source of purging solvent delivering a small volume of purging solvent to said supply line adjacent said first pig station upstream of said pigging element when located in said first pig station sufficient to lubricate said supply line.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A paint delivery and application apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a source of paint, a paint applicator, a supply line interconnecting the source of paint and the applicator and at least one pig in the supply line, wherein the paint pushes the pig from adjacent the source of paint to the paint applicator and a source of purging solvent delivering a small volume of purging solvent to the supply line when the pig is adjacent the source of paint adjacent to and upstream of the pig acting as a lubricant, reducing chattering and skipping of the pig and extending the life of the pig. Where the apparatus includes two pigs, purging solvent is delivered between the pigs adjacent the applicator, the pigs are delivered to adjacent the source of paint and a small volume of solvent is then delivered from between the pigs upstream of the pigs.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A paint delivery and application apparatus, comprising:
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a source of paint under pressure;
a paint applicator adapted to apply paint to a substrate;
a supply line interconnecting said source of paint with said paint applicator;
at least one pigging element in said supply line moveable between a first pig station adjacent said source of paint and a second pig station adjacent said paint applicator, wherein paint pushes said pigging element from said first pig station to said second pig station, delivering paint from said source of paint to said paint applicator; and
a source of purging solvent delivering a small volume of purging solvent to said supply line adjacent said first pig station upstream of said pigging element when located in said first pig station sufficient to lubricate said supply line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A paint delivery and application apparatus, comprising:
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a source of paint under pressure;
a paint applicator adapted to apply paint to a substrate;
a supply line interconnecting said source of paint with said paint applicator;
at least two pigging elements in said supply line moveable between a first pig station adjacent said source of paint and a second pig station adjacent said paint applicator, including a first pigging element adjacent said source of paint and a second pigging element adjacent said first pigging element when said first and second pigging elements are located in said first pig station; and
a source of purging solvent delivering a small volume of purging solvent to said supply line adjacent said second pigging element upstream of said second pigging element prior to delivering paint from said source of paint to said supply line, said paint then driving said first and second pigging elements through said supply line from said first pig station to said second pig station, thereby delivering paint to said paint applicator. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering and applying a paint to a substrate using a paint delivery and application system including a source of paint under pressure, a paint applicator, a supply line interconnecting said source of paint and said paint applicator, at least one pigging element in said supply line moveable in said supply line from adjacent said source of paint to adjacent said paint applicator, and a source of purging solvent, said method comprising the following steps in sequence:
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delivering between 5 and 50 ml of purging solvent from said source of purging solvent to said delivery line adjacent said pigging element upstream of said pigging element while said pigging element is located adjacent said source of paint; and
then delivering paint under pressure from said source of paint to said delivery line, thereby driving said pigging element from adjacent said source of paint to adjacent said paint applicator, delivering paint from said source of paint to said paint applicator and said paint applicator and applying paint to a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of delivering and applying a paint to a substrate using a paint delivery and applicator system including a source of paint under pressure, a paint applicator, a supply line interconnecting said source of paint and said paint applicator, a first pig station adjacent said source of paint and a second pig station adjacent said paint applicator, at least two pigging elements in said delivery line moveable between said first and second pig stations through said delivery line, and a source of purging solvent, said method comprising the following steps in sequence:
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delivering a small volume of purging solvent upstream of said pigging elements; and
delivering paint under pressure from said source of paint to said delivery line, thereby driving said pigging elements in said first pig station to said second pig station, thereby delivering paint from said source of paint to said paint applicator and said paint applicator then applying paint to a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification