Method and system for preheating epoxy coatings for spray application

• US 8,919,666 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warren Environmental & Coating, LLC
• Original Assignee: Warren Environmental, Inc.
• Inventors: Warren, Danny, Smith, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): JONAITIS, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/048,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 239/135, 239/128, 239/132.1, 239/310, 239/226, 239/137, 239/139, 165/132, 165/140, 427/422, 427/426, 427/427.4, 427/421.1, 427/207.1, 118/300, 118/302
• US Class Current: 239/137
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/166 the material to be sprayed being heated in a container B05B7/208 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1673 heat being transferred to the material to be sprayed by a heat transfer conductive fluid B05B7/162, B05B7/1653 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/34 Applying different liquids or other fluent materials simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 2504/00 Epoxy polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/826 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2063/00 Use of EP, i.e. epoxy resins or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/06 with the heat-exchange conduits forming part of, or being attached to, the tank containing the body of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/024 the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled tubes, the coils having a cylindrical configuration

Abstract

A method and system for the spray application of epoxy materials is provided. The system includes a dual walled tank structure as a reservoir for containing and preheating the epoxy materials in preparation for mixing and spray application. Each component of the epoxy material is preheated before the components are mixed. After preheating, the components are then mixed together and spray applied. The method and system of the present invention provides a high quality spray applied epoxy coating while reducing equipment down time and cleaning.

Claims

1. A system for the cleaning of a multi-part epoxy material from a spray applicator, said multi-part epoxy material including at least a resin and a catalyst, said system comprising:

a heating jacket, wherein said heating jacket contains water;

means for heating said water disposed within said heating jacket;

a spray application system including heating components within the heating jacket in which the resin and catalyst are heated and a system for mixing and discharging said resin and catalyst;

wherein said water within said heating jacket is mixed with a detergent and directed through said spray application to flush said spray application system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said detergent is a biodegradable degreaser.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said spray application system further comprises:

a heating tank, said heating tank including an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer wall and said outer surface of said inner wall cooperating to form a heating jacket therebetween, said inner surface of said inner wall forming a resin chamber, wherein said heating jacket contains a heat transfer medium, wherein said resin is contained within said resin chamber;

means for heating said heat transfer medium disposed within said heating jacket;

a resin heat transfer conduit disposed within said heating jacket, said resin heat transfer conduit having an input end in fluid communication with said resin chamber and an output end disposed on the exterior of said heating tank;

a catalyst heat transfer conduit disposed within said heating jacket said catalyst heat transfer conduit having an input end in fluid communication with a catalyst reservoir and an output end disposed on the exterior of said heating tank;

means for establishing a flow of resin through said resin heat transfer conduit;

means for establishing a flow of catalyst through said catalyst heat transfer conduit;

a mixing pump configured to receive and mix said flow of resin and said flow of catalyst and discharge said mixture at an elevated pressure; and

a spray applicator for applying said discharged mixture,

wherein said heat transfer medium is said heated water.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said water further includes a biodegradable degreaser mixed therein.

5. A method for the cleaning of a multi-part epoxy material from a spray applicator, said multi-part epoxy material including at least a resin and a catalyst, said system comprising:

providing a heating jacket, wherein said heating jacket contains water;

heating said water disposed within said heating jacket;

mixing said water within said heating jacket with a detergent; and

directing said mixture through a spray application system including heating components within the heating jacket in which the resin and catalyst are heated and a system for mixing and discharging said resin and catalyst, wherein said mixture flushes said spray application system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said detergent is a biodegradable degreaser.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said spray application system further comprises:

a heating tank, said heating tank including an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer wall and said outer surface of said inner wall cooperating to form a heating jacket therebetween, said inner surface of said inner wall forming a resin chamber, wherein said heating jacket contains a heat transfer medium, wherein said resin is contained within said resin chamber;

means for heating said heat transfer medium disposed within said heating jacket;

a resin heat transfer conduit disposed within said heating jacket, said resin heat transfer conduit having an input end in fluid communication with said resin chamber and an output end disposed on the exterior of said heating tank;

a catalyst heat transfer conduit disposed within said heating jacket said catalyst heat transfer conduit having an input end in fluid communication with a catalyst reservoir and an output end disposed on the exterior of said heating tank;

means for establishing a flow of resin through said resin heat transfer conduit;

means for establishing a flow of catalyst through said catalyst heat transfer conduit;

a mixing pump configured to receive and mix said flow of resin and said flow of catalyst and discharge said mixture at an elevated pressure; and

a spray applicator for applying said discharged mixture,

wherein said heat transfer medium is said heated water.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said heat transfer medium is a mixture of water and detergent.