Multi-component proportioning system and delivery system utilizing same

• US 6,601,733 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axalta Coating Systems Ip Co Llc (Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.), Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.), Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Larson, John C., Schnacky, Jayme L., Genatempo, Vincent F. Jr., Burmester, Alan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US09/405,887
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 222/135, 222/134, 222/267
• US Class Current: 222/135
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2497 several liquids from different sources being supplied to the discharge device

Abstract

A multi-component proportioning system for dispensing a multi-component coating composition is provided. The delivery system is particularly useful in providing multi-component compositions to a multi-component dispenser. The system provides very accurate mix ratios due to the consistent, reproducible displacement of components from the liquid pump assemblies used in the multi-component proportioning system regardless of viscosity. Such accuracy eliminates improper mixing of components that can lead to reworking and lost time, materials, and profits.

Claims

1. A multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising:

1) first, second, third and fourth pressurized air ports in a first valve assembly;

2) said second and third pressurized air ports being connected to a first air cylinder proximate a first and second terminal portions thereof;

3) said first and fourth ports being connected to an air cylinder associated with a second valve at the first and second terminal portions thereof;

4) first and second exhaust ports on said second valve and being connected to a second cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof and to quick exhaust valves;

5) a liquid pump assembly for each component, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for said component and a piston rod attached to said piston extending beyond said pump assembly;

6) a first and second trip plate adapted for contact with said piston rod associated with said liquid pump assembly for the first and second component;

7) an air pilot operator connected to said trip plate, the air pilot operator being adapted to contact a trip button in said first valve, said trip button determining air flow to said first, second, third and fourth air ports in said first valve; and

8) a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being connected to said chambers of said liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from said inlet port to one chamber of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from said chambers of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway to said component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to said first air cylinder by connecting rods, said spool valve assemblies for said first and second components being connected to said first and second terminal portions of said first air cylinder, respectively;

such that when;

1) the first and second lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the first line to said second valve and through said first exhaust port and from the second line to the second terminal portion of said first cylinder, said first chambers of said liquid pump assemblies can fill with components through said spool valves attached thereto and components in said second chambers of said liquid pump assemblies can exit past said spool valve, while said piston with its rod moves across said liquid pump assembly and air exhausts through the third and fourth lines;

2) when the third and fourth lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the fourth line to said second valve and through said second exhaust port and from the third line to the first terminal portion of said first cylinder, said second chambers of said liquid pump assemblies fill with components through said spool valves attached thereto and components in said first chambers of said liquid pump assemblies exit past said spool valve and air exhausts through said first and second air ports;

3) when the first trip plate contacts the trip button in the first valve, the air pilot operator in the second valve, the piston and the spool valve simultaneously change direction, the piston and spool valve traveling in opposite directions, the pistons being operated by air pressure and the spool valves being mechanically operated.

2. A multi-component delivery system comprising:

1) a supply source for each component;

2) a multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising;

a) first, second, third and fourth pressurized air ports in a first valve assembly;

b) said second and third pressurized air ports being connected to a first air cylinder proximate a first and second terminal portions thereof;

c) said first and fourth ports being connected to an air cylinder associated with a second valve at the first and second terminal portions thereof;

d) first and second exhaust ports on said second valve and being connected to a second cylinder proximate the first and second terminal portions thereof and to quick exhaust valves;

e) a liquid pump assembly for each component, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for said component and a piston rod attached to said piston extending beyond said pump assembly;

f) a first and second trip plate adapted for contact with said piston rod associated with said liquid pump assemblies for said first and second component;

p2 g) an air pilot operator connected to said trip plate, said air pilot operator being adapted to contact a trip button in said first valve, said trip button determining air flow to said first, second, third and fourth air ports in said first valve; and

h) a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being connected to said chambers of said liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from said inlet port to one chamber of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from said chambers of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway to said component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to said first air cylinder by connecting rods, said spool valve assemblies for said first and second components being connected to the first and second terminal portions of said first air cylinder, respectively;

such that when;

a) the first and second lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the first line to the second valve and through the first exhaust port and from the second line to the second terminal portion of the first cylinder, the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies can exit past the spool valve, while the piston with its rod moves across the liquid pump assembly and air exhausts through the third and fourth lines;

b) when the third and fourth lines are pressurized with air, air flows from the fourth line to the second valve and through the second exhaust port and from the third line to the first terminal portion of the first cylinder, the second chambers of the liquid pump assemblies fill with components through the spool valves attached thereto and components in the first chambers of the liquid pump assemblies exit past the spool valve and air exhausts through the first and second air ports;

c) when the first trip plate contacts the trip button in the first valve, the air pilot operator in the second valve, the piston and the spool valve simultaneously change direction, the piston and spool valve traveling in opposite directions, the pistons being operated by air pressure and the spool valves being mechanically operated.

3) means for connecting each supply source to the component inlet port on a spool valve assembly;

4) means for connecting each component outlet port to a dispenser adapted to individually deliver the components to a coating device.

3. A method of using a multi-component proportioning system for a multi-component coating composition comprising the steps of:

1) providing an air pilot valve assembly comprising first and second 4-way, 5-port valves, each valve having a pressurized air inlet, said first valve having first and second Y-connectors and an air pilot operator adapted to trip a trip button within said first valve to direct air flow to said Y-connectors and said second valve having first and second air inlet ports and first and second primary exhaust ports;

2) providing a liquid pump assembly for each of at least two components, said liquid pump assembly comprising a piston which moves between a first and second chamber for said component and a piston rod attached to said piston extending beyond said pump assembly, each of said liquid pump assembly piston rods for said first and second components being adapted to contact a trip plate, and said trip plate being connected to a piston rod adapted to traverse a second cylinder;

3) providing a spool valve assembly associated with each liquid pump assembly and having a component inlet port and a component outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being connected to said chambers of said liquid pump assembly by passageways and a spool valve capable of directing incoming component entering from said inlet port to one chamber of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway and allowing outgoing component to exit from said other chamber of said liquid pump assembly through a passageway to said component outlet port, each spool valve assembly being further connected to a first air cylinder by connecting rods, the spool valve assemblies for said first and second components being connected to the first and second terminal portions of said first air cylinder, respectively;

4) when discharge of components through component outlet ports is desired, providing pressurized air to said air inlet of said first 4-way, 5-port valve and allowing said air to exit said first valve through said first Y-connector;

5) allowing air flowing through a first port of said first Y-connector to enter into a terminal portion of a first air pilot operator portion;

6) allowing air flowing through a second port on said first Y-connector to flow into said first air cylinder and to cause a piston rod and a piston located within said first air cylinder and aligned with a central axis thereof and said spool valves to travel in a first direction;

7) allowing air to flow from said second exhaust valve of said air pilot valve assembly to an exhaust line connected to a second air cylinder and a first quick exhaust valve causing pistons and piston rods of said liquid pump assembly, said trip plate, said piston rod in said second air cylinder and said air pilot operator to travel in a direction opposite to that of said spool valves;

8) providing a component for each liquid pump assembly and associated spool valve assembly;

9) permitting said liquid pump assembly for each component to draw said component into said first chamber of said liquid pump assembly through said component inlet port of said spool valve assembly associated therewith and causing component contained in said second chamber of said liquid pump assembly to exit through said component outlet port of said spool valve assembly associated therewith;

10) allowing said spool valve and associated piston rods to continue travel in a first direction and said piston in said liquid pump assembly, said trip plate and said air pilot operator to continue travel in said opposite direction until sufficient travel has occurred that said air pilot operator contacts said trip button in first valve of said air operator assembly system causing air to flow into said second Y-connector;

11) allowing air flowing through a first port of said second Y-connector to enter into a terminal portion of a second air pilot operator portion;

12) allowing air flowing through a second port on said second Y-connector to flow into said first air cylinder and to cause said piston rod and a piston located within said cylinder and said spool valves to reverse direction and to travel in a second direction opposite to said first direction;

13) allowing air to flow simultaneously with that of the air flowing through said port on said second Y-connector from said first exhaust valve of said air pilot valve assembly to an exhaust line connected to said second air cylinder and said second quick exhaust valve causing pistons and piston rods of said liquid pump assembly, said trip plate, said piston rod in said second air cylinder and said air pilot operator to reverse direction and travel in a direction opposite to that previously traveled;

14) permitting said liquid pump assembly for each component to draw said component into said second chamber of said liquid pump assembly through said component inlet port of said spool valve assembly associated therewith and causing component contained in said first chamber of said liquid pump assembly to exit through said component outlet port of said spool valve assembly associated therewith;

15) allowing said spool valve and associated piston rods to continue travel in said second direction and said piston in said liquid pump assembly, said trip plate and said air pilot operator to continue travel in the direction opposite to that previously traveled until sufficient travel has occurred that said air pilot operator contacts said trip button in first valve of said air operator assembly system causing air to flow into said first Y-connector; and

16) repeating steps 5 through 15 until stoppage of delivery of said components is desired.