Powder spray coating injector device

• US 5,846,031 A
• Filed: 08/15/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GEMA Volstatic AG
• Original Assignee: GEMA Volstatic AG
• Inventors: Rutz, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US08/698,513
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 406/142, 406/143, 406/152, 406/153
• US Class Current: 406/142
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1404 Arrangements for supplying particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1472 Powder extracted from a powder container in a direction substantially opposite to gravity by a suction device dipped into the powder
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/42 Nozzles

Abstract

Powder spray coating injector device consisting generally of three tubes nested coaxially. Fluidized powder is carried through an inner one of the tubes and compressed air is carried through annular passages between the inner tube and an intermediate tube and between the intermediate tube and an outer tube. The compressed air is used by a fluidizer to fluidize the powder coating material and by an injector to convey the fluidized powder coating material to a conventional powder spray applicator. Upstream ends of the tubes, relative to the direction of powder feeding, are connected via an adapter to an end section. The end section is provided with at least one fluidizer and the injector through which fluidized power is sucked. Any residual powder is easily cleaned from the injector device by positioning a cap over the fluidizer and injector and by delivering compressed air to the cap while fluidizing and injector air is supplied to the device.

Claims

1. An injector device for powder spray coating material comprising an adapter having an injector duct which extends between first and second ends and having at least one compressed air duct extending to said first end, said injector duct having a straight axis and terminating at a vacuum chamber adjacent said first end, a front section attached to said first end of said adapter, said front section having an injector nozzle with a nozzle orifice located on said axis and adapted to direct a flow of powder conveying air received from said at least one compressed air duct in said adapter axially into said injector duct, such flow of powder conveying air creating a reduced pressure in said vacuum chamber, at least one powder intake duct extending through said front section to a front face and connecting to said vacuum chamber, and at least one fluidizer on said front face of said front section having a plurality of small air passages adapted to discharge fluidizing air received from said at least one compressed air duct in said adapter into a space adjacent said front section to fluidize powder in such space.

2. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said vacuum chamber extends between said adapter and said front section.

3. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said powder intake duct is generally semicircular in cross section in a direction perpendicular to said axis and wherein said powder intake duct extends partially around said axis.

4. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 3, and wherein said at least one fluidizer comprises two fluidizers spaced on said front face on diametrically opposite sides of a powder inlet end of said powder intake duct.

5. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said front section is threaded onto said adapter.

6. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 5, and further including a replaceable injector sleeve positioned in said injector duct, said injector sleeve having an axial bore through which fluidized powder is conveyed, and a plurality of powder conveying air bores in said injector sleeve adapted to direct flows of powder conveying air in a conically oblique direction relative to said axis in the direction in which powder is conveyed.

7. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 6, and further including a powder duct tube threaded to said adapter second end coaxial with said injector duct, an intermediate tube having a diameter larger than said powder duct tube threaded to said adapted second end coaxial with said powder duct tube, and an outer tube having a diameter larger than said intermediate tube threaded to said adapter second end coaxial with said intermediate tube, said powder duct tube and said intermediate tube are spaced apart to define a first pressurized air space adapted to carry pressurized air for said powder conveying air bores in said injector sleeve, and a passage in said adapter connecting said first pressurized air space with said powder conveying air bores.

8. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 7, and further including a filter located between said adapter and said injector sleeve, said filter passing pressurized air from said adapter passage to said powder conveying air bores while preventing the passage of powder from said powder conveying air bores to said adapter passage.

9. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 8, and wherein said injector sleeve and said filter are removable from said injector duct at said second end of said injector duct, and wherein said powder duct tube retains said injector sleeve and said filter in said injector duct when said powder duct tube is threaded to said adapter.

10. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 7, and wherein said intermediate tube and said outer tube are spaced apart to define a second pressurized air space adapted to carry pressurized air for said fluidizer and for said nozzle orifice, a passage in said adapter connecting said second pressurized air space to said fluidizer, and a passage in said adapter connecting said second pressurized air space to said nozzle orifice.

11. An injector device for powder spray coating material, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said front face of said front section is generally conical, wherein said fluidizer is located on said axis at an apex of said conical front face, and wherein said powder intake duct extends to said conical front face adjacent said fluidizer.