Rotational atomizer with external heating system

• US 6,972,052 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Durr Systems Incorporated (Durr AG)
• Original Assignee: Behr America Incorporated (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Inventors: Kleiner, Marcus, Herre, Frank, Melcher, Rainer, Baumann, Michael, Krumma, Harry, Giuliano, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Fiorilla, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): TADESSE, YEWEBDAR T
• Application Number:
  US10/650,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20040081769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 118/300, 118/302, 239/223, 239/224, 239699-700, 239/703
• US Class Current: 118/300
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/001 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1035 Driving means; Parts thereof, e.g. turbine, shaft, bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/1092 Means for supplying shaping gas
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/001 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0415 Driving means; Parts thereof, e.g. turbine, shaft, bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0426 Means for supplying shaping gas
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1613 comprising means for heating the atomising fluid before mixing with the material to be sprayed

Abstract

In a coating device with a rotary atomizer, for preventing the condensation of spray cabin air on components cooled by the lower-pressure exhaust air of the drive turbine of the atomizer, a heating device is provided, which can heat air flowing through the atomizer or components in heat-conductive contact with the outlet path of the turbine exhaust air.

Claims

1. A coating device with a rotary atomizer mounted on a coating machine, with a turbine motor of the rotary atomizer driven by a fluid stream, with a shaft of the rotating atomizer driven by the turbine motor and being supported by a bearing unit, with an inlet path through which the fluid stream is supplied under pressure to a turbine wheel of the turbine motor, and with an outlet path through which the fluid stream at a lower-pressure evacuates from the bearing unit, the device comprising:

a heating device for heating one of the fluid stream flowing through the turbine wheel, the inlet path, and the outlet path including a heat exchanger positioned along both the inlet path and the outlet path.

2. The coating device according to claim 1 wherein the heating device is located outside of the rotary atomizer.

3. The coating device according to claim 1 wherein the bearing unit includes channels separate from the inlet and outlet paths with a medium heated by the heating device flowing through said channels.

4. The coating device according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor.

5. A coating device comprising:

a turbine including an inlet for receiving a first fluid stream and an outlet for evacuating the first fluid stream and a rotatable shaft;

a bearing supporting the shaft of the turbine in rotation;

a rotary alomizer connected to the shaft and positioned externally with respect to the housing adjacent the second end and including a bell-shaped plate;

at least one steering passage for communicating a second fluid stream towards the bell-shaped plate; and

a heater for heating-the first fluid stream positioned downstream of the outlet.

6. The coating device of claim 5 wherein the heater heats the first fluid stream and is positioned upstream of the inlet.

7. The coating device of claim 5 wherein the heater heats the first fluid stream upstream of the inlet and downstream of the outlet.

8. The coating device of claim 5 wherein the heater heats the bearing.

9. The coating device of claim 8 wherein the bearing is an air bearing and the heater heats an air stream passing through the bearing.

10. A coating device comprising:

a turbine including an inlet for receiving a first fluid stream and an outlet for evacuating the first fluid stream and a rotatable shaft;

a bearing supporting the shaft of the turbine in rotation;

a rotary atomizer connected to the shaft and positioned externally with respect to the housing adjacent the second end and including a bell-shaped plate;

at least one steering passage for communicating a second fluid stream toward the bell-shaped plate; and

a heater for heating the first fluid stream upstream of the inlet and downstream of the outlet.

11. A rotary atomizer for applying a coating, comprising:

a turbine motor, a shaft driven by said turbine motor supported by a bearing unit, a rotating bell-shaped plate supported on said shaft receiving coating from said rotary atomizer, a fluid passage extending through said rotary atomizer receiving fluid under pressure and driving said turbine motor, said fluid passage having an outlet directing fluid toward said rotary bell-shaped plate, thereby shaping a coating sprayed by said rotating bell-shaped plate, and a heater heating fluid received through said fluid passage, thereby heating fluid driving said turbine motor and fluid directed toward said bell-shaped plate, thereby reducing water condensation of fluid received through said fluid passage.

12. A rotary atomizer for applying a coating, comprising:

a turbine motor, a shaft driven by said turbine motor supported by a bearing unit, a rotating bell-shaped plate supported on said shaft receiving coating from said rotary atomizer, a fluid passage extending through said rotary atomizer around said bearing unit and having an outlet directing fluid toward said rotating bell-shaped plate, thereby shaping a coating sprayed by said rotating bell-shaped plate, and a heater heating fluid received through said fluid passage, thereby heating fluid received round said bearing unit and fluid directed toward said rotating bell-shaped plate, thereby reducing water condensation of fluid received through said fluid passage.

13. A rotary atomizer for applying a coating, comprising:

a turbine motor supported by a bearing unit driven by a fluid stream, a shaft of said rotary atomizer driven by said turbine motor, an inlet path through which said fluid stream is supplied tinder pressure to a turbine wheel of said turbine motor, and an outlet path through which said fluid stream evacuates said bearing unit at a lower pressure; and

a heating device for heating one of said fluid stream flowing through said turbine wheel, said inlet path and said outlet path, a temperature sensor connected to a temperature regulator regulating said heating device to maintain a temperature of one of said fluid stream, inlet path and outlet path to reduce water condensation and wherein said heating device heats said fluid stream upstream at said inlet path and downstream of said outlet path.