Spray booth system and methods

• US 8,756,827 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Paint Booth Guys, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Paint Booth Guys, Inc.
• Inventors: Calabro, Matthew A., Calabro, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US13/441,445
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 343/80, 343/81, 344/13, 344/97, 34/90, 341/05, 342/01, 342/10, 342/18, 346/66, 118/64, 118/300, 118/312, 454/52, 454/54, 454/312, 432/64, 432/114, 432/145, 153/121, 153/161, 219/400, 219/405, 219/411
• US Class Current: 34/487
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 16/60 Ventilation arrangements specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 2210/12 Vehicle bodies, e.g. after being painted

Abstract

The current invention discloses a novel spray booth containing a plurality of spacers disposed on the walls or ceiling, and a plurality of fans attached to the spacers. A spacer allows a fan to be disposed at an angle and at a certain distance away from the wall or ceiling, allowing sufficient airflow for spraying or curing an object within the housing. Having fans emit airflow toward both the top and the sides of an object allows optimal coating and heating of the object. A ceiling fan may also be disposed within a plenum in the ceiling of the spray booth.

Claims

1. A spray booth, comprising:

a housing having a ceiling and a set of interior walls that define an interior for confining an object to be sprayed or cured;

a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end and a second end within said interior of said spray booth, wherein said first end of said each spacer is attached to said ceiling or an interior wall selected from said set of interior walls; and

a plurality of fans within said interior of said spray booth, wherein each fan is attached to said second end of said each spacer at a predetermined angle between about twenty (20) degrees and about seventy (70) degrees, wherein said each spacer has a length that allows sufficient air to pass between said each fan and said ceiling or said interior wall to increase airflow.

2. The spray booth of claim 1, wherein said each spacer further comprises a mounting frame.

3. The spray booth of claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is about 45 degrees.

4. The spray booth of claim 1, wherein said length of said each spacer is between about two (2) inches and about eight (8) inches.

5. The spray booth of claim 1, said each spacer and said each fan are disposed in an upper corner of said spray booth near an intersection of said ceiling and said interior wall of said spray booth.

6. The spray booth of claim 1, further comprising:

a plenum having a recess therein and including a filter media on at least one vertical side of said plenum; and

a ceiling fan disposed within a recess of said ceiling of said spray booth;

said plenum being disposed in overlying relation to said ceiling fan.

7. The spray booth of claim 1, further comprising a selectable fan zone control.

8. The spray booth of claim 1, wherein said each fan gradually increases said airflow onto said object.

9. The spray booth of claim 1, wherein said each fan engages at a pulsating frequency, whereby airflow pulses onto said object.

10. The spray booth of claim 1, further comprising a delay timer connected mechanically or wirelessly to said each fan.

11. The spray booth of claim 1, further comprising a control panel to control airflow onto said object throughout said spraying or curing or said object, said control panel connected mechanically or wirelessly to said each fan.

12. An assembly for a spray booth, the assembly comprising:

a first component, comprising a housing having a ceiling and a set of interior walls that define an interior for confining an object to be sprayed or cured;

a second component comprising a lateral dryer, said lateral dryer including;

a plurality of fans within said interior of said spray booth, each fan disposed at a predetermined angle between about twenty (20) degrees and about seventy (70) degrees relative to said ceiling, and

a plurality of spacers, each spacer having a first end and a second end, said first end including a mounting frame and attached to the ceiling or at least one interior wall selected from said set of interior walls near an intersection of said ceiling and at least one interior wall selected from said set of interior walls, wherein said each spacer has a length between about two (2) inches and about eight (8) inches;

a third component comprising an overhead dryer, said overhead dryer including;

a ceiling fan disposed within a recess of said ceiling, and

a plenum containing filter media on at least one vertical side of said plenum, wherein said plenum is disposed in overlying relation to said ceiling fan.

13. An assembly as in claim 12, further comprising a fourth component, said fourth component comprising a delay timer connected mechanically or wirelessly to the at least one fan.

14. An assembly as in claim 12, further comprising a fourth component, said fourth component comprising a control panel connected mechanically or wirelessly to the at least one fan.

15. A method of spray drying a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a spray booth containing said vehicle, said spray booth including a ceiling and set of interior walls;

disposing a plurality of fans on said set of interior walls;

disposing a ceiling fan within a recess of said ceiling, said ceiling fan remaining stationary in overlying relation to said vehicle;

determining one or more fans selected from said plurality of fans and said ceiling fan that are needed for said spray drying;

engaging said one or more fans at a predetermined speed to create airflows within said spray booth in response to said determination;

determining whether said one or more fans need to be operating at a pulsating frequency;

engaging said one or more fans at said pulsating frequency in response to said determination; and

allowing said vehicle to receive airflows from said plurality of fans and said ceiling fan, whereby said vehicle is dried.