Patent · US Expired

Optimized spray device (OSD) apparatus and method

US6045056A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
31References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1997
Grant dateApr 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05B12/08
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for efficiently applying liquid coatings to a workpiece. The apparatus is a compressed air spray system tailored to achieve a desired transfer efficiency (TE) by controlling atomization. Liquid and pressurized air are supplied to a spray applicator. The atomized spray is applied to the workpiece. Atomization and TE, as well as associated fluid flow parameters, are measured at various gas pressures while maintaining a constant liquid flow rate. A graphical representation of the relationship between atomization and TE is produced. An optimized atomization corresponding to a desired TE is determined from the graphical representation of atomization and TE. The fluid flow parameters corresponding to the optimized atomization are set and regulated to produce the optimized atomization, thereby optimizing transfer efficiency.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.