Thermal Metal Spraying Apparatus

• US 20130000550A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Comau Incorporated (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Brown, Theodore Robert, Graham, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/301
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/28 with integral means for shielding the discharged liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to limit area of spray; with integral means for catching drips or collecting surplus liquid or other fluent material means for any of these purposes, per se, B05B12/16, B05B12/32, B05B14/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/20 Masking elements, i.e. elements defining uncoated areas on an object to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/26 for masking cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/36 Side shields, i.e. shields extending in a direction substantially parallel to the spray jet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/40 Devices for making a normally hidden area accessible for the spray material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0618 only a part of the inside of the hollow bodies being treated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0636 by means of rotatable spray heads or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/069 the hollow bodies having a closed end
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/203 the material to be sprayed having originally the shape of a wire, rod or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/224 the material having originally the shape of a wire, rod or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 4/00 Coating by spraying the coating material in the molten state, e.g. by flame, plasma or electric discharge build-up welding B23K, e.g. B23K5/18, B23K9/04
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 4/12 characterised by the method of spraying
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 1/20 characterised by constructional features providing for lubrication

Abstract

A thermal metal spraying apparatus for use with a thermal metal spraying torch for applying a metal coating to a workpiece through a torch spraying nozzle having a spraying orifice. The thermal metal spraying apparatus provides a substantially tubular shroud having a first end and a second end adaptable to concentrically receive the torch spraying nozzle. The shroud has an opening at the second end, wherein the opening is selectably alignable with the spraying orifice. A drive mechanism is connected to the shroud and is operable to translate the shroud between a first position, wherein the opening at the second end is not aligned with the spraying orifice, thereby preventing the spraying of the metal coating on the workpiece, and a second position, wherein the opening at the second end is aligned with the spraying orifice permitting the spraying of the metal coating toward the workpiece.

Claims

1. A thermal metal spraying apparatus having a thermal metal spraying torch for applying a metal coating to a workpiece through a torch spraying nozzle having a spraying orifice, comprising:

a substantially tubular shroud having a first end and a second end and adaptable to concentrically receive said torch spraying nozzle, and said shroud having an opening at said second end, wherein said opening is selectably alignable with said spraying orifice; and

a drive mechanism connected to said shroud and operable to translate said shroud between a first position, wherein said opening at said second end is not aligned with said spraying orifice thereby preventing the spraying of said metal coating on said workpiece, and a second position, wherein said opening at said second end is aligned with said spraying orifice permitting the spraying of said metal coating toward said workpiece.

2. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a deflection insert connected to said second end of said shroud adjacent said opening for deflecting said metal coating away from said workpiece when said shroud is in said first position.

3. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 2, further comprising:

said deflection insert positioned at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said shroud.

4. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 1, further comprising:

said shroud having a mechanical spline formed on an inner diameter at said first end of said shroud, and said mechanical spline engageable with a mating spline on said torch spraying nozzle for allowing linear movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle along a longitudinal axis of said shroud and preventing rotational movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle.

5. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 4, further comprising:

said drive mechanism having a motor connectable to said torch spraying nozzle and having a threaded drive shaft extending from said motor; and

a receiver block connected to said first end of said shroud and having a threaded aperture for threadably receiving said drive shaft, wherein said motor drives linear movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle along said longitudinal axis of said shroud by rotating said drive shaft within said threaded aperture of said receiver block.

6. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a substantially tubular outer mask for receiving said shroud in a substantially concentric matter;

a longitudinal passageway formed between said outer mask and said shroud; and

a pressurized air source in communication with said passageway for selectively directing said metal coating away from said workpiece through the application of pressurized air.

7. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 6, further comprising:

an adjustment mechanism connected to said outer mask for changing the longitudinal length of said outer mask relative to said shroud.

8. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 7, further comprising:

said adjustment mechanism having a flexible bellows portion connected to said outer mask for contracting and expanding the longitudinal length of said outer mask.

9. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 6, further comprising:

said shroud having a mechanical spline formed on an inner diameter at said first end of said shroud, and said mechanical spline engageable with a mating spline on said torch spraying nozzle for providing linear movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle along the longitudinal axis of said shroud and preventing rotational movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle.

10. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 9, further comprising:

said drive mechanism having a motor connectable to said torch spraying nozzle and having a threaded drive shaft extended from said motor; and

a receiver block connected to said outer mask, and said receiver block having a threaded aperture for threadably receiving said drive shaft, wherein said motor drives linear movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle along said longitudinal axis of said shroud by rotating said drive shaft.

11. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 10, further comprising:

a pair of opposing rollers rotatably connected to said receiver block and rollably engaging said shroud to provide rotational movement of said outer mask relative to said shroud and to provide linear movement of said shroud relative to said torch spraying nozzle.

12. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 6, further comprising:

a vacuum system for vacuuming said metal spray that is unadhered to said workpiece.

13. The thermal metal spraying apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a manipulator connected to said shroud and connectable to said torch spraying nozzle for properly positioning said shroud and said torch spraying nozzle relative to said workpiece.

14. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 13, further comprising:

a processing cell for enclosing said manipulator, said torch spraying nozzle, said shroud, and said workpiece.

15. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 14, wherein said processing cell further comprises:

a workpiece delivery system having a retractable drawer that moves between an open position, wherein said drawer moves outside said processing cell for loading and unloading said workpiece, and a closed position, wherein said drawer moves inside said processing cell, allowing said metal coating to be sprayed on said workpiece.

16. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 14, wherein said processing cell further comprises:

an automatic tool changing system having a retractable drawer that moves between an open position, wherein said drawer moves outside of said processing cell for loading and unloading at least one alternative metal spraying torch, and a closed position, wherein said drawer moves inside said cell allowing said at least one alternative spraying torch to be accessed by said manipulator.

17. The thermal metal spraying apparatus stated in claim 16, further comprising:

an automatic tool changer connected to said manipulator for engaging and disengaging said torch spraying nozzle.

18. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 14, further comprising:

a vacuum system disposed within said processing cell for collecting said metal spray that does not adhere to said workpiece.

19. The thermal metal spraying apparatus as stated in claim 15, further comprising:

said retractable drawer having a workpiece holding fixture disposed therein and adaptable for receiving said workpiece to allow said metal spray to be applied to said workpiece while said workpiece is disposed within said workpiece holding fixture.