US2765869A - Spray booth and baffle moving means therefor - Google Patents

Description

SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR.

Filed Dec. 21, 1953 i w. R. BENJAMIN ET AL- Oct. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ben William R, 6 George M.

Oct. 9, 1956 w. R. BENJAMIN ET AL 236 36 SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I i l l l l I .zzi/eniov msx William 1?. .Bmy'am in j 'eovgye @Q, war/ 6? my, fimdvwmm Oct. 9, 1956 w. R. BENJAMIN ETAL 2,765,869

SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 QQHQHQHQHGQ AHOQQHQHDU 0 ,QQQOQQUQ o QOQQUOQQMQU QQHQHQHQHOQ 8m ,UQHQUQU v nOnooom Qu nQhQHQHQUQU ,UQUQHQUQMQU znfionsjz'lizhm R egjamz'n' Get. 9, 1956 R. BENJAMIN ET AL 2,765,869

SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q/zZZz'wm Beyzefamin Y2 @earya 6 g. (71 a SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR William R. Benjamin, Glenside, Pa., and George A.

Harker, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Rinks Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,262

4 Claims. (Cl. 1823-76) This invention relates to improvements in a spray booth of the general type used for the spraying of coating materials, and refers particularly to a movable curtain structure whereby the stray or fugitive spray particles are removed from the atmosphere surrounding the spraying operation.

In the spraying of articles, spray booths are usually provided within which the spraying operation is performed. To remove the stray or fugitive spray particles from the booth a current of air is induced through the booth, and to remove the spray particles from the induced air stream so that said stream may be conveniently discharged to the atmosphere, baffles or the like are employed which are disposed in the path of travel of the spray-laden 'air whereby the stray or fugitive particles are picked up or attach themselves to the bafiies from which they may be reclaimed or removed.

The present invention is particularly directed to a baffle or curtain construction for picking up or catching the spray particles in a stream of air induced through a spray booth, the baffle or curtain construction being such that the operation of catching or picking up the stray or fugitive spray particles from the induced air stream and the removal or reclamation of the particles from the baffles or curtains is carried out in a most efficient and convenient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the spray booth embodied in the present invention taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved spray booth.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views through the movable baffles or curtains showing different phases of operation of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates generally a spray booth for the spraying of ceramic materials or the like, said booth comprising a top 2, a bottom 3, side walls 4 and and an end wall 6. The booth is divided into three sections, a spraying section 7, a baffling section 8 and a discharge section 9. The spraying section is open at one end to permit the passage of air which is drawn through all of the sections by fan 10. A duct 11 is positioned upon the discharge section of the booth, an electric motor 12 remotely positioned from the duct being connected to fan 16 by belt 12 to operate the fan to draw or induce air through sections 7, 8 and 9.

The actual spraying of the coating material takes place in the section 7 and, hence, the atmosphere in said section carries large quantities of stray or fugitive spray particles. Section 7 is divided from section 8 by a plu- Fatented Oct. 9, 1956 rality of baffles 13 which are provided with staggered apertures 14 whereby the air, carrying the stray and fugitive spray particles, is drawn from section 7 through the baffles 13.

The illustrated spray booth is particularly adaptable for spraying ceramic material which is subsequently fused upon the article being sprayed, as by firing or the like. Such ceramic spraying materials are relatively expensive and, hence, it is desirable to reclaim as much of said material in the dry state as possible. This reclamation is performed by the baffles 13 which intercept the major portion of the stray or fugitive particles carried by the passing air whereby it may be reclaimed.

The air, carrying that portion of the stray or fugitive particles not captured by the bafiles 13, enters section 8. However, the air moving through section 8 although it carries only a minor portion of the stray or fugitive particles, cannot be discharged directly to the atmosphere, since, if ceramic materials are employed, the particles are highly abrasive and otherwise highly objectionable. Hence, it has been the practice to move the spray-laden particles through additional baffles wherein the stray particles are substantially entirely removed from the air before it is discharged to the atmosphere. The present invention is particularly directed to a bafile arrangement suitable for this above described purpose.

Spaced from the baffies 13 in section 8, the side walls 4 and 5 carry a plurality of adjacent guides 15 which comprise channels which are vertically disposed and adjacent each other, there being a corresponding number of oppositely spaced guides on the opposite walls 4 and 5. Each pair of opposite channels or guides 15 is adapted to receive a bafiie frame 16 which slides vertically in said guides in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Adjacent the lower portion of the discharge section 9 is a vat or tank 17 having a vertical wall 18 which defines a portion of the baflle section 8. The vat or tank 17 carries a body of liquid 19 which may be water or a solvent for the material being sprayed in section 8. Thus, when the baffle frames 16 are in their uppermost position in guides 15 said frames comprise a division wall between the upper portions of sections 8 and 9.

The baffie frames 16 each comprise a rectangular panel 20 which is bordered on its four sides by oppositely extending angle-irons 21. The panels 20 are each perforated, being provided with a plurality of apertures 22 whereby the air withdrawn from section 8 by fan 10 may move to section 9 when the frames are in their uppermost position. As will be hereinafter more fully described, all of the bafiie frames but one will always be in upper position. Hence, during the spraying operation, the sprayladen air drawn through the apertures 22 will be caused to traverse a tortuous path through the frames 16 in moving to section 9 since the panels 20 are so formed that when in their uppermost position the apertures 22 of at least two panels are staggered with respect to each other. In thus moving, fugitive spray particles carried by the moving air impinge upon and adhere to the panels. In this fashion the stray or fugitive spray particles are removed from the air before the air is discharged through conduit 11.

Of course, as the spraying operation continues,,the panels 20 become more or less laden with the captured spray and become relatively dry and, hence, means is con templated for removing said captured spray from the panels and again wetting the panels. The means contemplated for cleansing and Wetting the panels constitutes a most important aspect of the present invention and is described in detail, as follows.

A supporting platform 23 is positioned above'the top wall 2 and carries a plurality of fluid pressure cylinders 24. The cylinders 24 are disposed parallel to each other and correspond in number to the number of frames 16. A piston rod 25 is reciprocally positioned in each cylinder 24 and at the extending end of each rod a cable 26 is secured. An aperture 27 is provided in the platform 23 and immediately below said aperture a corresponding aperture 28 is provided in the top 2. The apertures 27 and 28 are positioned in vertical alignment with the frames 16 carried in the guides 15.

I A plurality of sheaves 29 are carried by brackets 39 above the apertures 27 and 28, the sheaves corresponding in number with the number of cylinders 24 and frames 16 and respectively corresponding in position with each frame 16. Each cable 26 passes over a corresponding sheave and is secured to the upper portion of a respective frame 16. Thus, by the proper manipulation of the piston rods 25 a desired frame or frames may be raised or lowered in guides 15.

For purposes of example, four frames 16 are shown and described, but more or fewer frames may be employed, as desired. When four frames are employed, four corresponding cylinders 24 are contemplated, one for each frame. In operation, it is desired that the cleansing of the frames be so carried out as to not Y interrupt the spraying operation and, hence, it is contemplated that a maximum number of frames be in uppermost position at a given time. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the cleansing of one frame at a time.

The fluid pressure cylinders 24 may be operated 'by a gaseous fluid or liquid, but in either case, means is contemplated for selectively manipulating the piston rods 25. For purpose of illustration, an arrangement such as that shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 may be employed, although it is to be understood that other suitable selective mechanisms are contemplated.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a pair of rotary valves 31 and 32 which are respectively connected 'to the opposite ends of each cylinder 24 by pipes 33 and 34. An electric motor 35, connected to a conventional speed reducer 36 drives shafts 37 and 33 which respectively manipulate the rotary valves 31 and 32. The valves 31 and 32 may each be connected to a source of fluid under pressure by pipes 39.

The arrangement is such that as the valves 31-and 32 are driven, the pistons 25 will be manipulated in sequence to lower and raise the frames 16. The guides 15 extend downwardlyinto the tank or vat 17 and, hence, when a frame is lowered from its uppermost position the frame is immersed in the bath 19 whereby the fugitive spray captured by the frame is removed therefrom and may, in some :instances, be reclaimed for use, but at all events is cleansed and in condition to receive or capture additional sprayafter it is moved to upraised position.

iReferring particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the sequential movement or displacement of three of the frames is illustrated. In Fig. frames 16a, 16b and 1651 are in their uppermost positions, that 'is, in position to catch spray from the air passing from section "8 to section 9.

Thecylinders 24 associated :with the upraised frames will beconnected to fluid under pressure through three of the pipes. The fluid under pressure in the remaining pipe 54 may be relieved and fluid under pressure may be introduced into the pipe 33 corresponding to said cylinder. Hence, the frame 16c will be immersed in the cleansing bath '19. Of course, when the vfluid under pressure is relievedin the pipe 34 corresponding to the lowered frame it may not be necessary to introduce fluid under pressure through the corresponding-pipe33 since the weight'of the frame 16c may be sufiicientto move-the piston rod outwardly. If such is the case the valve -31 and pipes 33-may be eliminated since wit'would only be necessary to positively raise the frames, gravity being employed toJowenthem.

In Fig. 6 frame 16c has been raised and frame 16b has been lowered into the cleansing bath, whereas at another phase of operation (Fig. 7) frame 16b has been raised and frame 16a has been lowered. A succeeding phase would find frame lowered and frame 16a raised, and

so on.

Of course, the dwell of each frame in the bath 19 may be controlied to suit specific conditions as to the character of the sprayed material, the nature of the liquid 19 and the density of the stray or fugitive spray in section 8.-

in addition, if desired, one or more frames may be lowered into the bath at the same time or there need be no appreciable period of dwell of the frames in the bath; that is, one or more of the frames may be continuously moving into and out of the bath. Of course, where a plurality of frames are employed it is preferable to have the majority of them in upraised, operative position at any predetermined time so that the fugitive spray may be eifectively removed from the passing air.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with a coating material and air is passed through said booth to continuously remove the atmosphere from the vicinity of the spraying operation, of at least three baffles disposed in plane-parallel face-to-face vertical relationship in said spray booth in the path of travel of air removed from the vicinity of said spraying operation whereby fugitive spray particles in said air are caught by said battles, a vat for a cleansing liquid positioned beneath said baffles and separate means for moving each of said baffles one at a time vertically in a direction parallel to their respective planes into and out of the liquid in the vat to remove from said baifles spray particles caught by said batfies.

2. In combination with a spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with a coating material and air is passed through said booth to continuously remove the atmosphere from the vicinity of the spraying operation, of a plurality of baflles disposed in plane-parallel relationship to each other and disposed with their planes at rightangles to the path of the .air moved from the vicinity ,of the spraying operation whereby fugitive spray particles in said air-are caught by said vbafiies, a vat for a cleansing liquid positioned beneath said battles, and means for sequentially moving said bafiles into and out of the liquid in the vat while maintaining the remaining baiiles stationary to remove from said bafiies the spray particles caught by said bafiles, said means comprising a plu rality of cables respectively suspending said battles, and means for selectively drawing and releasing one of said cables at a time to raise and lower a selected battle.

3. in combinationwitha spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with .a coating material and air is passed through said booth to continuously remove the atmosphere from :the vicinity of the spraying operation, of a plurality of baflies disposed in spaced plane-parallel relationship to each other and disposed in .the path of the air moved from the vicinity of the spraying operation whereby fugitive spray particles in said air are caught by said bafllesa vat for a -.cleansing liquid positioned beneath said baflles, means for sequentially ,moving said baflles one ;at ;a. time into and out of the liquid in -the vat while maintaining the remaining baffles stationary to remove from said baflles :the spray particles caught by said baffles, said means comprising .a plurality of cables respectively s spfiudiussaid battles, fluid pressure cylinder and piston means connected to-each of .said cables, and means for selectively actuating said fluid pressure cylinder and piston means selectivelyto raise and lower abaflle relative to said vat while maintaining the remaining baflles stationary in.,the path of travel of said air.

.4. A spray :booth within which articles are sprayed with acoating-rnaterial comprising a housinghaving side walls and atop, means carried by said'hou sing fprpgssingzai-r in a'substantially horizontal direction through said spray booth in which fugitive spray particles from the spraying operation are carried, a plurality of pairs of vertical guides carried by the side Walls of the housing on the lower pressure side of the vicinity of the spraying operation, baflles slidably carried in said guides for plane- 5 parallel vertical movement therein and for movement into the path of travel of said air from the vicinity of the spraying operation, a vat positioned in said spray booth be neath said bafiles for holding a cleansing liquid, and separate means for selectively moving less than all of said 10 baflles into and out of said vat to cleanse said bafiles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,816,836 Gagen Aug. 4, 1931 15 6 Gagen Sept. 1, 1931 Strindberg Feb. 16, 1937 Richards Feb. 18, 1941 Roche Sept. 30, 1941 Ransburg et a1. Nov. 1, 1949 Meyer Jan. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Mar. 10, 1931

Images