Apparatus and method for applying antifoulants to marine vessels
First Claim
1. An apparatus for spraying a coating material onto a target surface, comprising:
- a plasma generator operable to supply a plasma stream;
a plasma nozzle, including a proximal end operable to receive the plasma stream and a distal end operable to guide the coating material onto a target surface;
a heating element adjacent to the plasma nozzle operable to receive a portion of the plasma stream from the plasma generator and further operable to apply heat to a powder material received from a source external to the apparatus in order to form a molten powder material; and
an electrophoresis element coupled to the heating element and including at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart and aligned with one another such that the molten powder material passes through the space between the pair of electrodes, the electrophoresis element operable to enhance covalent bonding of a portion of the molten powder material to form a coating material.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma spray apparatus in the form of a gun is utilized to apply an antifoulant coating to marine vessels. The apparatus includes a plasma generator, an electrophoresis element, a heating element, a shield gas element, a liquid cooling system, a forced air system, and a vacuum system. The plasma generator ionizes gas to create a plasma stream, which is utilized in part to supply energy to the heating element that heats a powder material. The heated powder material is exposed to the electrophoresis element to create a covalently bonded coating material. The coating material is injected into the plasma stream and is applied to a target surface. The shield gas element injects a gas flow to surround and protect the plasma and coating material stream as the stream is in flight to the target surface. The liquid cooling system cools portions of the plasma generator and heating element. The forced air system cools a portion of the target surface as the coating material is being applied. The vacuum system removes fumes and stray particles during the application process.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for spraying a coating material onto a target surface, comprising:
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a plasma generator operable to supply a plasma stream; a plasma nozzle, including a proximal end operable to receive the plasma stream and a distal end operable to guide the coating material onto a target surface; a heating element adjacent to the plasma nozzle operable to receive a portion of the plasma stream from the plasma generator and further operable to apply heat to a powder material received from a source external to the apparatus in order to form a molten powder material; and an electrophoresis element coupled to the heating element and including at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart and aligned with one another such that the molten powder material passes through the space between the pair of electrodes, the electrophoresis element operable to enhance covalent bonding of a portion of the molten powder material to form a coating material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for spraying a marine antifoulant coating onto a target surface, comprising:
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a powder material coupling, operable to receive pressurized powder material from an external source; a heating element in communication with the powder material coupling, operable to apply heat to the pressurized powder material in order to form a molten powder material; an electrophoresis element coupled to the heating element and including a plurality of pairs of electrodes with each pair spaced apart and aligned with one another and the plurality of pairs of electrodes positioned adjacent one another such that the molten powder material passes through the space between the pair of electrodes the electrophoresis element operable to enhance covalent bonding of a portion of the molten powder material to form a coating material; a plasma generator, operable to supply a plasma stream, including; a gas chamber, operable to receive gas from an external source, a cathode, operable to supply a negative charge, and an anode, operable to supply a positive charge, and operating in combination with the cathode to ionize the gas; a plasma nozzle, including; a proximal end in communication with the plasma generator, operable to receive the plasma stream, a middle section, operable to receive the coating material from the heating element, and a distal end, operable to guide the coating material onto a target surface; and a shield gas system, including; a second gas coupling, operable to receive gas from an external source, a second gas passageway in communication with the second gas coupling, operable to transport gas from the second gas coupling, and a gas injector in communication with the gas passageway, located near the distal end of the plasma nozzle and operable to create a gas stream rotating about the longitudinal axis of the plasma nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification