Abstract: A pump for transferring particulate material from a source to a remote location, including a particulate chamber having open ends, check valves at the open ends, a vacuum source connected to the chamber adjacent one end, a gas source at the opposed end of the chamber and a control which alternatively connects the vacuum to the chamber to draw particulate material from the source to the chamber and connecting the gas under pressure to drive the particulate material to the remote location. In a preferred embodiment, the chamber has a cylindrical inner diameter and the source of vacuum is a venturi pump connected to a pinch valve permitting overflow of particulate material through the pinch valve and venturi pump, which is returned to the source. In one embodiment, the pinch valve surrounds an open end of the chamber permitting overflow while avoiding agglomeration of the particulate material.

Abstract: An oven assembly for drying paint on a product transported by a conveyor includes a plurality of modules positioned in a generally abutting relationship. Each of the modules includes a roof, side walls, and a floor having a length and a width. The floor is formed from abutting floor panels reinforced by a plurality of support members spaced along the length of the floor and having a length greater than the width of the floor. The side walls include an inner side wall panel disposed in an overlapping relationship with the floor and a side wall cladding panel supported by the support members along the width of the floor thereby concealing thermal insulating material disposed between the inner side wall panel and the side wall cladding panel.

Abstract: A differential static pressure measuring or activating device measuring fluid flow through a duct including two pitot tubes each including a proximal end connected to a valve, a distal end portion located in the duct extending generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the air flow through the duct having open distal ends and a plate located between the distal end portions of the tubes creating a differential static pressure between the open ends of the tubes. The open distal ends of the tubes incline toward the plate such that the open ends face toward and away from the direction of the gas flow through the duct.

Abstract: An exhaust duct orifice adjustment device for a gas-fired heater used to indirectly heat an oven communicating with a heat exchanger, wherein the exhaust duct includes a fixed annular orifice plate and a switch having a pressure sensor on opposed sides of the fixed orifice plate, turning off the burner if the pressure drop falls below a predetermined minimum. The orifice adjustment mechanism includes a moveable plate upstream of the fixed orifice plate having an opening communicating with the opening in the fixed orifice plate and an adjustment mechanism moving the orifice adjustment plate from a retracted position, wherein the opening through the fixed orifice plate is substantially unobstructed, to an extended position which restricts the opening through the fixed orifice plate, thereby adjusting the pressure drop.

Abstract: An under booth paint collection apparatus is positioned beneath a paint application booth that includes an air circulation system for painting a product with particulate paint. A plurality of discrete powder reclamation collectors are arranged in aligned rows beneath the booth. Continuously aligned air chambers are each positioned above one of the opposing rows of reclamation collectors. Each air chamber is defined by having opposed continuous side walls interconnecting said reclamation collectors. Each air chamber provides a continuous air plenum directing air and particulate paint not adhered to the product being painted from the application booth to the plurality of discrete reclamation chambers.

Abstract: A scrubber assembly for removing particulate paint from a flow of air through a paint application booth is disclosed. A sheet of water received from a water source flows over flood pan collecting paint particles suspended in the flow of air. A separation chamber receives air and particulate paint from the booth and water from the flood pan through first and second scrubbers. The first and second scrubbers extend downwardly from the flood pan. Each scrubber includes an inlet receiving air and particulate paint from the paint application booth and water from said flood pan. The first scrubber includes a first outlet discharging a first stream of air, particulate paint, and water received from the first inlet. The second scrubber includes a second outlet discharging a second stream of air, particulate paint and water received from the second inlet. The first and second streams intersect within the separation chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemically treating a metal part which includes an immersion tank containing a liquid chemical treatment solution, a conveyor conveying parts over the immersion tank, immersing and removing the part and at least one spray nozzle assembly located above the immersion tank which is supported on a track extending to a side wall of the tank and permitting maintenance of the spray nozzle assembly without draining the tank.

Abstract: A spray application system includes an enclosed spraybooth area in which airborne particles are generated and a scrubber system is located below the enclosed spraybooth area. The scrubber system includes an inlet receiving water and air from the spraybooth area along with airborne particles. The scrubber system transfers the airborne particles to the water for cleaning the air. A generally downwardly opening noise reflector is located directly over the inlet of the scrubber system and is configured to reflect sound generated by the scrubber system back into the inlet of the scrubber system. The reflector is spaced from the inlet of the scrubber system a distance equal to approximately the width of the inlet.

Abstract: A baffle system for separating entrained liquid from a gas stream including columns of U-shaped baffles extending into a liquid trough and including flashing at the top of the baffles on opposed sides, wherein the wet side flashing is longer than the dry side flashing, and a trough baffle directing the air stream upwardly reducing re-entrainment of liquid. The flange portions of the columns of baffles are spaced to provide for cleaning.

Abstract: A powder paint reclamation collector includes an upper chamber for collecting powder paint particles from a paint booth and a lower chamber that receives the particles from the upper chamber. A vacuum line communicates with the lower chamber retrieving the particles from the collector and transferring the particles to a reclamation system. An air chamber receives pressurized air from an air supply and communicates with the lower chamber through a porous plate. Air bleeds through the porous plate into lower and upper chambers for fluidizing the paint particles. The porous plate and an air chamber floor angle downward from the lower chamber towards the vacuum line to improve the flow of fluidized paint particles into the vacuum line.

Abstract: A frame assembly for supporting a paint booth that includes a paint application chamber and a reclamation tank. A plurality of frame posts is spaced apart and affixed to a base floor. Opposing support members, each having a shell, are arranged end to end in a parallel column. Each of the shells is affixed to the upper end of at least two of the frame posts. The support member includes a horizontal structural element affixed longitudinally inside the shell, and at least one vertical support element affixed to the horizontal structural element inside the shell. Each of the shells forms a section of the reclamation tank and provides support to a section of the paint application chamber allowing the paint booth to be installed independently of a building that houses the paint booth.

Abstract: A spray application system includes an enclosed spraybooth area in which airborne particles are generated and a scrubber system is located below the enclosed spraybooth area. The scrubber system includes an inlet receiving water and air from the spraybooth area along with airborne particles. The scrubber system transfers the airborne particles to the water for cleaning the air. A generally downwardly opening noise reflector is located directly over the inlet of the scrubber system and is configured to reflect sound generated by the scrubber system back into the inlet of the scrubber system. The reflector is spaced from the inlet of the scrubber system a distance equal to approximately the width of the inlet.

Abstract: A baffle system for removing liquid entrained in a gas stream which includes a plurality of generally coplanar columns of upright generally U-shaped baffle members each including a web portion and opposed flange portions on opposite sides of the web portion. The baffle members are conventionally arranged, such that the web portions of the first column of baffle members face the direction of flow of the gas and the second column opens toward the direction of flow with the web portions of each column overlapping. The width of the web portions of the baffle members is equal to at least three times the length of the flange portions and more preferably at least four times the width of the web portions. In one embodiment, the free ends of the flange portions include inwardly projecting lips or hook-shaped portions and the flange portions preferably do not overlap.

Abstract: A discrete pod gas scrubber system for removing contaminants from the air of a work area, such as a paint spray booth. Each scrubber pod includes an inlet section having opposed converging planar walls and side walls, an intermediate section having opposed diverging walls and side walls communicating with the inlet section through a reduced diameter venturi, and an outlet section having a bottom wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the scrubber pod, a diverging top wall and an end wall. The end wall includes an orifice opening and orifice plates for adjusting the orifice opening and the combined lengths of the aligned scrubber pods are between fifty and ninety percent of the total length of the scrubber system, more preferably between sixty percent and eighty five percent of the total length. The scrubber system of this invention significantly reduces the noise generated in the work area normally located above the gas scrubber system.

Abstract: An improved rotary concentrator separates the desorption gas flow into two flow portions. The first flow portion is sent to a final processing system. The second portion is recycled to the rotary concentrator. In a first embodiment, gas is recycled to the process gas inlet. In a second embodiment, the recycled gas is reused as desorption inlet gas. Most preferably, the recirculated gas is relatively clean compared to the gas in the first portion which is sent to the final processing system. In this way, the improved rotary concentrator is more efficient and reduces the amount of gas which must be processed by the final processing system.

Abstract: A regenerative thermal oxidizer includes a heat exchange column formed of a body which defines at least one entire flow passage through the heat exchanger. The structure of the heat exchange column assists in purging residual gas to be cleaned from the heat exchanger prior to that regenerative heat exchanger moving into a mode where it receives the cleaned gas. The heat exchanger columns preferably have 70 to 80 percent of their surface area used as the flow passages. In a further geometric arrangement made possible by the inventive heat exchanger described above, two heat exchanger columns are positioned on opposed sides of a combustion chamber. End faces of the two opposed heat exchangers transfer radiative heat energy from the hotter of the two heat exchanger end faces to the cooler of the two heat exchanger end faces. In this way, radiative heat energy is not lost, but is reused to heat the other of the heat exchangers.

Abstract: A rotary concentrator is provided with homogeneous extruded adsorption blocks. In this way, greater air flow volumes can be processed since the flow passages can be made smaller as can the wall thicknesses. The present invention moves a slurry of adsorbent material, a solvent, and a binder into an extrusion die. The adsorption blocks are then extruded in the die. The blocks are then allowed to dry, and are placed in a rotary adsorption unit. In one embodiment, electrically conducted materials may be included in this slurry. An electric current may be placed on the blocks in the desorb portion of the cycle of the rotary adsorption unit. This heats the blocks, reducing the required volume of desorb gas.

Abstract: A unique purge system for a two heat exchanger RTO system uses separate purge valves associated with each of the first and second heat exchangers. In this way, the purge valves allow strict control over the flow of clean gas through the purge valves and into the heat exchanger. The inventive system insures that the two RTO systems can continue to operate efficiently and safely, while insuring that no dirty gas will reach the outlet passages.

Abstract: An improved paint drying oven for vehicles includes a "hold" zone with a radiant energy generating floor. The floor preferably is defined by an inner wall and an outer wall spaced beneath the inner wall. Heated air is passed into the space between the inner and outer walls, and heats the inner wall to a temperature such that it emits radiant energy into the oven. The other walls of the oven do not include any heat generating structure, and thus the vehicle is dried entirely by the radiant energy generating floor. This invention maintains a relatively constant temperature at the vehicle body, thus achieving the main goals of the hold zone.

Abstract: A rotary adsorption unit is disclosed wherein the desorb air is supplied by a regenerative thermal oxidizer. The system utilizes a closed desorb loop, with the desorb air being continuously cleaned at the regenerative thermal oxidizer and returned to the rotary adsorption unit. Fresh air is added into the desorb gas on the way to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, and an equal amount of air is bled off to maintain a constant air flow. The added air replaces oxygen that may be lost during cleaning of the desorb air.