Ceiling Inlet Patents (Class 454/52)
  • Patent number: 11919033
    Abstract: Described herein is a coating system comprising an applicator head that is configured to apply a coating to a surface of a workpiece, a shroud comprising a housing and an internal cavity located inside of the housing, and a humidifying apparatus comprising an output that is fluidly coupled to the shroud, wherein the humidifying apparatus configured to introduce a quantity of humid air to the internal cavity of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AWI Licensing LLC
    Inventors: James M. Pohl, Christine J. Baldwin, Jeffrey A. Hake, William H. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11858091
    Abstract: An apparatus for recirculating fluids in semiconductor systems. The apparatus including a base portion, an inlet portion coupled to a first end of the base portion, and a nozzle coupled to a second end of the base portion. The nozzle including a helical groove extending from a position near a nozzle base portion to a position near a tip of the nozzle portion. The helical groove extending from an exterior surface through the nozzle portion to an interior surface of the nozzle portion. Methods of using the apparatus in a semiconductor recirculation system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Mega Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eiseler, Koh Murai, Michael Perkins, II
  • Patent number: 11759816
    Abstract: A transportable vehicle enclosure for painting vehicles includes side, front, rear, ceiling and floor portions, one of the portions being configured to allow vehicular access. In use, a vehicle may be placed within the enclosure. The enclosure further includes an air handling unit for respectively producing a first temperature level within the enclosure suitable for a spray mode of operation and a second temperature level within the enclosure suitable for a baking mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: David John Utting
  • Patent number: 11708992
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes: an air pressure measurement unit (111) configured to measure an air pressure value; an air conditioning unit (136) whose wind direction and airflow volume are changeable; a wind velocity calculation unit (132) configured to calculate a wind velocity of wind received by a portable terminal (110) from a variation in a plurality of atmospheric pressure values and to specify a presence direction that is a direction in which the portable terminal (110) is present with respect to the air conditioner (130); an air conditioning control determination unit (134) configured to determine a wind direction and an airflow volume of the air conditioning unit (136) in accordance with the wind velocity and the presence direction; and an air conditioning control unit (135) configured to control the air conditioning unit (136) so that the determined wind direction and airflow volume are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aki Kimura, Yuka Tsuda, Tetsuro Shida, Masataka Baba, Satoko Miki
  • Patent number: 11691170
    Abstract: A painting facility 1 includes a painting chamber 3 in which a spray painting operation is effected on a painting object W, an air supplying chamber 2 configured to supply air into the painting chamber 3 via an air supplying section 4a, 4b provided in a ceiling portion 30 of the painting chamber 3, and an air discharging chamber 5 configured to suction air and uncoated paint mist present in the painting chamber 3 via a floor discharging section of the painting chamber 3, two air supplying sections 4a, 4b are disposed in left-right symmetry relative to a position of the painting object W in a width direction of the painting chamber 3 as the center therebetween. Air is released in a radial form from an outlet portion 40 of each one of the two air supplying sections 4a, 4b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwakiri, Tomotaka Miwa
  • Patent number: 11313558
    Abstract: A system and controller where the pressure of the air is continuously monitored or read at a designated exhaust point and adjustments made to the flow of the air and gas to keep the efficiency of the appliance at a maximum to control the appliance (or the burner for an appliance) within specifications as dictated by the customer or consumer rather than training the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John James Schlachter, Mark Geoffrey Masen, Frank P. Mimick, Nicholas Roth Hanawalt, Lynn E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11085696
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drying system (1) comprising a drying plant (2) and a heat pump assembly (3) comprising one or more heat pumps operating with a primary fluid and being connected to at least two heat sources and at least one heat sink by means of a number of heat exchangers in a fluid network, in which a secondary fluid circulates. The heat sources may comprise dew point dehumidification in at least one heat exchanger (41) of process gas entering the drying plant; and recovery in another heat exchanger (42) of latent and/or sensible heat from exhaust gas leaving the drying plant. The heat sink may comprise pre-heating in a heat exchanger (51) of process gas used within the plant. Further, a method of integrating a heat pump assembly into a drying system is devised. By the invention, it is possible to increase the capacity of the drying plant while reducing the specific energy demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventors: Bernd Feuerriegel, Lorenzo Bellemo
  • Patent number: 10903057
    Abstract: A temperature adjustment device includes a pedestal to receive a substrate thereon, a first temperature control unit to set a first medium at a first temperature, and a second temperature control unit to set a second medium at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature. A pedestal flow passage is provided inside the pedestal to allow the first medium and the second medium to flow therethrough by switching between the first medium and the second medium. A first flow passage through which the first medium flowing from the pedestal flow passage is allowed to flow is provided. A second flow passage through which the second medium flowing from the pedestal flow passage is allowed to flow is provided. A heat pump is connected to the first flow passage and the second flow passage to transfer heat between the first medium and the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Hideki Wakai
  • Patent number: 10610817
    Abstract: Cleanroom particle capture systems and cleanroom workstations include a duct carrying a particle capture air stream. A fan and a particle filter are arranged at the first end of the duct with at least some of the particle capture air stream passing through the filter, wherein the particle capture airstream has a first air velocity at the filter. A blow off device provides a blow off airstream into the duct at a second end of the duct, with the blow off airstream having a second air velocity at the second end that is higher than the first air velocity. The duct has one or more intervening features to reduce the second air velocity such that it substantially matches the first air velocity when the blow off airstream reaches the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventors: Jawn P. Swan, Stephen Carfaro, Keith Swan
  • Patent number: 10596586
    Abstract: There is provided an energy recovery device for recovering energy from exhaust air which flows through a discharge line. The energy recovery device includes a heat exchanger device having at least a first heat exchanger unit and a heat pump, wherein the heat pump is connected at the high-temperature side thereof to the first heat exchanger unit and is arranged at the low-temperature side thereof in the exhaust air flow in the exhaust air flow direction downstream of the first heat exchanger unit or is connected at the low-temperature side thereof to a second heat exchanger unit which is connected downstream of the first heat exchanger unit in the exhaust air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Manfred Rick
  • Patent number: 10583451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a work booth safety system for an automotive body repair shop including a work booth with a ventilation system for evacuation of polluted air and an entrance closed or opened by a door or drape. The work booth is configurable into three different work modes: 1) For preparative dent repair, the entrance is kept open and electrical sockets and compressed air supply is deactivated. Ventilation air flow is mainly directed in a horizontal direction and evacuated through a wall ventilation outlet duct. 2) For spray application of a body sanding foundation, the entrance is closed and electrical sockets are deactivated, the compressed air supply is activated, and the ventilation air flow matches that of work mode 1. 3) For welding, the entrance is closed and electrical sockets are activated. The compressed air supply is deactivated and the ventilation air flows vertically upward through a roof ventilation outlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: PIVAB AB
    Inventor: Ronny Pihlblad
  • Patent number: 10259264
    Abstract: Tire-type device having bearing elements (7) within annular space (5) between inner and outer coaxial structures of revolution, the latter contacting the ground in contact patch (A). The bearing elements are independent in pairs and buckle under compression in contact patch (A). The smallest characteristic dimension E of section S of bearing element (7) is at most equal to 0.02 times the mean radial height H of the inner annular space (5), the surface density D of the bearing elements (7) per unit area of the radially outer structure of revolution, expressed in 1/m2, is at least equal to Z/(A*?Fr/n), where Z is the nominal radial load, A is the area of contact with the ground, and ?Fr/n is the mean force at break under tension of the n bearing elements made to buckle under compression. Two sidewalls (8) close space (5), forming a closed cavity that can be pressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Florian Vilcot
  • Patent number: 10052646
    Abstract: A method and system for treating objects, the objects are conveyed through a treatment cabin and treated in a treatment space. During treatment solvents are released. Cabin air flows through the treatment space, which absorbs solvents and is discharged as process air from the treatment space. At least one proportion of the process air charged with solvent is recycled in the treatment space and at least one proportion of the process air can be discharged as exhaust air. Fresh air is fed to the treatment space, which contributes to the cabin air, such that the cabin air includes a circulating air proportion and a fresh air proportion. The solvent concentration is captured in the cabin air and/or in the process air and/or in the exhaust air and the circulating air proportion and the fresh air proportion of the cabin air are regulated as a function of the captured solvent concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EISENMANN SE
    Inventors: Jürgen Fernholz, Werner Swoboda
  • Patent number: 9970673
    Abstract: A method includes pairing manipulated variables and controlled variables in an HVAC system, perturbing a variable, controlling the HVAC system to maintain controlled variables in a comfort range, determining a state of the system, and deriving a model from the state of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Karel Marik, Ondrej Holub
  • Patent number: 9573153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coating installation (1) for coating components (3, 5), in particular for painting aircraft components, having a first coating booth (2), in particular for coating large aircraft components (3), a multi-axis coating robot (7) that positions a coating device, in particular a rotary atomizer, a travel axis (8) for moving the coating robot (7) along the travel axis (8), the travel axis (8) running within the first coating booth (2), and a second coating booth (4), in particular for coating small aircraft components (5). According to the invention, the travel axis (8) for the first coating robot (7) extends as far as into the second coating booth (4), such that the coating robot (7) can optionally coat components (3, 5) in the first coating booth (2) or in the second coating booth (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wulf Heuschen, Hartmut Kmitta, Marc Furmannek
  • Patent number: 9427692
    Abstract: A paint booth is provided with a booth body and a purifier. The purifier is provided with a water tank, water rope formation mechanism, sludge removal mechanism, exhaust mechanism, barrier member, inclined plate, and windshield plate. Water falling from nozzles of a water case forms water ropes. The inclined plate has a water receiving surface sloping forwardly down from the barrier member toward a water surface of the water tank. A lower end of the windshield plate is in contact with water in the water tank. An airflow reversal section is formed between a lower end of the inclined plate and the water surface. Air directed downward from an airflow inlet is turned upward at the airflow reversal section and directed to an exhaust chamber through air circulation sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BUNRI Incorporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tashiro, Makoto Tashiro
  • Patent number: 9205444
    Abstract: A conditioning system that conditions exterior air for use in a spray booth. The exterior air is conditioned and subsequently used to carry away coating mist, dust, and contaminants from a spray area. The conditioning system heats, cools, humidifies, and dehumidifies the exterior air to a variable set point. The variable set point, while bounded by dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity constraints, is selected based upon cost and/or energy minimization. Additionally, the set point selection may be based upon future predicted weather conditions that are determined with a mathematical profile of previous weather conditions and weather trends in a localized domain, where the localized domain is a geographic area surrounding a manufacturing plant that includes a spray booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shubho Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 8920391
    Abstract: A container for use in a system for spray coating a human subject includes a container body configured to hold a skin coating composition. The container further includes a first end portion having a male coupling valve, where the male coupling valve is configured to couple to a female fitting disposed in a spraying apparatus, where the male coupling valve is further configured to prevent flow of the skin composition from the container while the male coupling valve is not coupled to the female fitting. The container further includes a second end portion opposite the first end portion and having a vent, where the container is configured for inverted connection to the spraying apparatus such that when the male coupling valve is connected to the female fitting the male coupling valve is at a location below the vent, and where opening of the vent allows airflow into the container as the skin coating composition flows out of the container through the male coupling valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sunless, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Thomason, Nicholas J. Mastandrea
  • Publication number: 20140311406
    Abstract: Spray booth (21) for applying paint on basically flat parts (22), said spray booth having a plenum (24) and comprising a conveying system (25) for conveying the flat parts (22) to be painted, at least a device (23) for applying paint on said moving parts, and at least a suction system, wherein the plenum (24) of the spray booth has a semi-cylindrical shape, having its axis perpendicular to the direction of the advancing part (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CEFLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventors: RICCARDO BEDESCHI, ANDREA LUCA GUIDUZZI, STEFANO CHIARINI
  • Publication number: 20130337733
    Abstract: A spray booth (100) for providing a controlled environment for spraying of particulate material is disclosed. The spray booth (100) is mounted on a support rail, and is movable along the support rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Williams
  • Patent number: 8597263
    Abstract: A lotion application compartment (10) includes an apparatus for topical application of a fluid to a human or animal body. The apparatus includes a spray nozzle (20) and a support (80) for the body. The apparatus further comprises of one or more of the following: a structure for moving the support, so as to change the distance between the body and the spray nozzle (20); a structure for varying the spray pattern, spray pressure, spray frequency and/or spray duty cycle of the nozzle (20); a structure for varying the rotational speed of the support (80); and a structure for raising the body's skin temperature directly by radiation. A lotion application compartment (10) consisting of apparatus for topical application of a fluid to a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising a spray nozzle (20) and a support (80) for the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Hipperson
  • Publication number: 20130171920
    Abstract: A conditioning system that conditions exterior air for use in a spray booth. The exterior air is conditioned and subsequently used to carry away coating mist, dust, and contaminants from a spray area. The conditioning system heats, cools, humidifies, and dehumidifies the exterior air to a variable set point. The variable set point, while bounded by dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity constraints, is selected based upon cost and/or energy minimization. Additionally, the set point selection may be based upon future predicted weather conditions that are determined with a mathematical profile of previous weather conditions and weather trends in a localized domain, where the localized domain is a geographic area surrounding a manufacturing plant that includes a spray booth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shubho Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 8015938
    Abstract: Coating zones having guide elevated rails for coating and/or handling robots are disclosed. The coating zones may include walk-in control areas positioned one above the other on the outside of the side walls. In the upper control area, in which control and supply devices for robots on elevated guide rails may be provided, the side wall may generally slant inward. Load-bearing structures for the elevated guide rails may be braced by supporting members extending generally perpendicular to the line of conveyance of the application objects on or under the floor level or at the ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Duerr Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Jürgen Haas, Michael Baumann, Bekim Maxharraj, Nedime Maxharraj, legal representative, Marcus Frey, Hans Vetters, Jan Grigoleit
  • Publication number: 20100272915
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a paint spray booth which consists of an inflatable structure. The structure comprises downdraft jets powered by the same air pressure that inflates the building. The downdraft air jets blow volatile paint fumes toward the bottom portion of the paint booth where one or more ventilation exhaust jets extract the volatile gases and filter the volatile gases out before ejecting clean air to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Seth Anthony Laws
  • Patent number: 7569037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an atomized liquid solution upon a person, comprising a spray enclosure booth; an exhaust vent located below an anticipated user's facial area zone, the exhaust vent disposed within the bottom tray or a lower area of at least one wall or a lower area of a door and configured for exhausting ambient atomized liquid solution from the spray enclosure booth; a rigid conduit support defining a central air flow conduit connected to a bottom tray and pneumatically connected to an exhaust vent and providing structural integrity to the enclosure booth; an atomizing spray head assembly movably connected to the rigid conduit support and physically supported by the rigid conduit support; and an exhaust system configured to exhaust ambient atomized liquid solution from the spray enclosure booth by drawing atomized solution into the exhaust vent then through and out of the rigid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Spivak
  • Patent number: 7527664
    Abstract: A system for machining workpieces (12) and separating the chips from the workpieces (12) includes a plurality of workstations (14) detachably interconnected by a housing (16) and arranged along a processing path (A). A coolant and filtration device (56) extends through the workstations (14) and is adaptable for separating the chips from the workpieces (12). A mist collection device (54) is cooperable with the workstations (14) and the coolant and filtration device (56) for removing mist generated by the workstations (14) while machining the workpieces (12). The workstations (14) are interconnected with the mist collection device (54) and the coolant and filtration device (56) to form a single machining module (10) of various dimensions and configurations to be adaptable for various manufacturing environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Durr Ecoclean, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Jackson
  • Publication number: 20080311836
    Abstract: A conditioning system that conditions exterior air for use in a spray booth. The exterior air is conditioned and subsequently used to carry away coating mist, dust, and contaminants from a spray area. The conditioning system heats, cools, humidifies, and dehumidifies the exterior air to a variable set point. The variable set point, while bounded by dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity constraints, is selected based upon cost and/or energy minimization. Additionally, the set point selection may be based upon future predicted weather conditions that are determined with a mathematical profile of previous weather conditions and weather trends in a localized domain, where the localized domain is a geographic area surrounding a manufacturing plant that includes a spray booth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shubho Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 7072630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the data rate of a reverse link communication of an access terminal includes receiving a reverse activity bit (RAB) from an access point in the communication system, and passing the RAB to a digital filter to produce a filtered RAB. In one embodiment, the reverse link data rate is determined based on the filtered value of the RAB. Furthermore, a processor in the access terminal may determine whether the access terminal is in an idle mode, and passing a non-busy state value of the RAB to the digital filter when the access terminal is in the idle mode. The filtered RAB may be compared to a threshold to determine a mode of reverse link data rate determination. The mode defines a set of criteria for an aggressiveness level of increasing or decreasing the reverse link communication data rate. The processor, therefore, determines the data rate based on the filtered reverse activity bit in accordance with the determined mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Gerard Lott, Jean Put Ling Au
  • Patent number: 7066091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling impurity levels in an enclosed printing press environment are disclosed. A disclosed system controls impurity levels by using variable speed fans to control the intake of air into the enclosed environment and the exhausting of air from the enclosed environment. The exhaust fan is used to control the impurity levels within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the speed of the exhaust fan are based on sensors which measure impurity levels in the enclosed environment. The intake fan is used to maintain a constant static pressure level within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the intake fan speed are based on static pressure sensors within the enclosed environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: Selva X. Kumar
  • Patent number: 7045013
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a spray booth that comprises a spray booth housing having a ceiling and side walls that define an interior for holding an object to be sprayed. A pressurized air plenum is disposed above the ceiling and is adapted to supply air into the interior. A filter media is used to filter air from the plenum before entering into the interior. At least one fan is disposed in the interior below the filter media. The fan is operable to locally increase air flows in the vicinity of the object to increase evaporation rates associated with a spray application on the object, and to enhance air flow over the object during a dry or a cure cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Garmat USA
    Inventor: Karel DeRegge
  • Patent number: 7014338
    Abstract: A spray booth has an enclosure structure, a ventilation system and overhead lighting. An upper region of the structure defines an air inlet plenum. Air exits the inlet plenum into the work area of the booth through an array of filter elements. The resistance to airflow of the filter elements may be tuned to encourage non-uniform airflow in the workspace, and, in particular, to create a proportionately large inflow in a central region, and a flow near the walls. Part of the inflow may be located outboard of the overhead lighting assemblies, and part of the inflow may be located inboard of the lighting assemblies. The overhead lighting assemblies may be spaced apart by a distance that may be greater than the width of objects to be coated in the spray booth, and the lighting assemblies may be canted inward at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal, such that the wash of light from the spaced apart light sources may tend to be convergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Global Finishing Solutions Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos F. Pippa, Allan C. Day, John Marcinkowski
  • Patent number: 7001262
    Abstract: A system and method for handling airflow in a paint booth where a primary plenum encloses a secondary plenum having a damper to control the amount of air entering the secondary plenum from the primary plenum. The secondary plenum is installed above a paint spray applicator and an anemometer. A damper at the secondary plenum inlet controls the amount of airflow from the primary plenum in real time based at least in part on the air velocity detected by the anemometer. The present invention can be employed with a system having variable density filter media extending across the primary plenum outlet to regulate the velocities of air moving through various locations of the paint booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Ernest Henry Tong
  • Patent number: 6964708
    Abstract: A booth for coating objects with powder, in particular for powder painting, comprises in a manner known per se a housing, in which there is situated at least one application device, with which powder can be applied to the objects. Situated in the upper region of the housing is an air plenum, which is fed with supply air via an inlet opening. The air plenum is closed off downwardly by a filter ceiling. In contrast to known filter ceilings, the one according to the invention is air-permeable in its marginal region only, while in its central region it consists of air-impermeable material. The supply air is thus introduced into the interior of the booth as a kind of “air curtain” which flows mainly along the side walls of the housing of the booth, entrains in the process stray excess powder which has not adhered to the objects to be coated, and supplies it to at least one extraction opening situated in the bottom of the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Erwin Hihn, Wolfgang Bezner
  • Patent number: 6866717
    Abstract: A powder spray booth includes a booth canopy wall arrangement to contain powder during a spraying operation; and a booth floor that is rotatable relative to the booth wall during a spraying operation. The floor can be rotated about an axis that is also the longitudinal axis of the spray booth. The booth may be generally cylindrical in shape with a round floor. The booth canopy and top are supported on a base frame separately from the floor. By this arrangement, the floor can be rotated relative to the booth canopy. A powder extraction apparatus in the form of a low pressure duct suspended off the floor draws up powder that has collected on the floor. The extraction duct is stationary with respect to the rotating floor during a spraying operation. The floor may also be translated along the axis of rotation between a first position in which the floor can rotate and a second position in which the floor is sealed against a lower edge of the booth canopy wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Shutic, Larry Fenik, Scott Miller, Brean Bark
  • Patent number: 6739966
    Abstract: A spray booth comprises a housing having a ceiling and a set of walls that each have a bottom end and a top end, with the walls and the ceiling defining an interior. An air intake is disposed in the ceiling, and an exhaust outlet is disposed near the bottom end of one the walls. A circulation system is used to introduce air into the interior through the intake and to exhaust air through the outlet. Further, the air intake is configured to produce a airflow gradient within the interior such that the flow rate decreases in a direction toward the outlet and such that the airflow through the interior is in a generally downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Garmat USA Inc.
    Inventor: Karel J. DeRegge
  • Patent number: 6613145
    Abstract: A coating booth for film having a table on which a film to be coated is mounted, an air intake which is provided in the ceiling of the booth and through which open air is cleaned and introduced into the inside of the booth, and an exhaust system which sucks up the introduced air from the side walls of the table to make a substantially horizontal air flow inside the table and discharges the air outside, wherein the table has a substantially horizontal tabletop with a plurality of suction holes so that a film mounted thereon are held by suction by the action of the air flow inside the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Alumibody Maintenance Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomio Asahi
  • Publication number: 20030143940
    Abstract: A spray booth comprises a housing having a ceiling and a set of walls that each have a bottom end and a top end, with the walls and the ceiling defining an interior. An air intake is disposed in the ceiling, and an exhaust outlet is disposed near the bottom end of one the walls. A circulation system is used to introduce air into the interior through the intake and to exhaust air through the outlet. Further, the air intake is configured to produce a airflow gradient within the interior such that the flow rate decreases in a direction toward the outlet and such that the airflow through the interior is in a generally downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Garmat USA Inc.
    Inventor: Karel J. DeRegge
  • Patent number: 6533654
    Abstract: A spray booth comprises a housing having a ceiling and a set of walls that each have a bottom end and a top end, with the walls and the ceiling defining an interior. An air intake is disposed in the ceiling, and an exhaust outlet is disposed near the bottom end of one the walls. A circulation system is used to introduce air into the interior through the intake and to exhaust air through the outlet. Further, the air intake is configured to produce a airflow gradient within the interior such that the flow rate decreases in a direction toward the outlet and such that the airflow through the interior is in a generally downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Garmat USA Inc.
    Inventor: Karel J. DeRegge
  • Publication number: 20030040269
    Abstract: Information from fan filter units and differential pressure gauges provided in a ceiling of a clean room is used to control directions and volumes of air flows blown from respective fan filter units. In order to improve a wind velocity distribution in the clean room, pressure in a ceiling chamber is made uniform and control of the FFU revolution speeds of fan filter units is made easy. In order to control directions of air flows in the clean room, damper adjusting mechanisms are provided under a grating floor of the clean room. Such arrangement enables optimizing an operating condition of the clean room and achieving energy saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Makoto Yokoyama, Keiichi Ono, Fumiyuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 6364762
    Abstract: An atmospheric transport module is provided. The module includes an enclosed housing having a top region, a central region, a bottom region, and a load cell region. A blower is located in the top region of the enclosed housing and is configured to generate a flow of air downward into the central region. A shelf in the load cell region defines a separation between the central region and the bottom region of the enclosed housing. The shelf is at least partially spaced apart from a wall of the load cell region to thereby define a slot behind the shelf. A perforated sheet is configured to extend horizontally from the shelf and further define the separation between the central region and the bottom region. In this example, air flow generated by the blower is restricted from freely flowing through the perforated sheet and is partially caused to be redirected toward the shelf of the load cell, through the slot and into the bottom region of the enclosure housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Farro F. Kaveh, David E. Jacob, Dean Jay Larson, Martin R. Maraschin
  • Patent number: 6264547
    Abstract: In vehicle spraying booths (1), air is supplied to and discharged from the inner chamber (1a) by an air feeding device. The air supplied is conditioned so that its temperature lies in a desired temperature range and air pollution limit values can be ensured for a person working in the inner chamber (I). A displacement device (10) with a vehicle receiving region that can be moved in at least one direction of displacement in the spraying booth (1) is arranged in the spraying booth (1). This reduces the required booth width to the sum of the width required for working and the width of the vehicle being sprayed, and the required booth length to the length of the vehicle being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Robert Wälti
  • Patent number: 6226568
    Abstract: A method of rapidly balancing air flows in a complex paint spray booth having a series of cells supplied by a common air flow that is pushed by an adjustable speed supply fan and then divided into downdrafts for each of the said cells accompanied by cross-flows between said cells. The downdrafts and cross-flows converging into exhaust flows drawn by an adjustable speed exhaust fan, the system having control elements for changing the downdrafts and/or cross-flows, and further having means for passing the exhaust flow through a waste paint water scrubber having an adjustable venturi gap width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventors: Ernest Henry Tong, Dimitar Filev, Yu-Ning Liu
  • Patent number: 6146264
    Abstract: An automotive paint booth containing multiple contiguous chambers can be supplied with down flowing air streams in the various chambers for removing airborne particulates produced by the painting operations. Cross flow of particulates between contiguous chambers can be controlled by slightly varying the down flow velocities in the respective chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Henry Tong, Dimitre Filev
  • Patent number: 6139421
    Abstract: A paint spray cell and air plenum assembly, comprising (a) a paint spray cell having a perforate air inlet wall occupying at least a substantial portion of one side of the cell and having at least one electrostatic paint sprayer to direct charged spray particles along a desired path to a receptive target, (b) a plenum having an undivided air supply and an outlet joined to the cell inlet wall to admit the air uniformly therethrough, and (c) variable density filter media at the plenum outlet to create differential velocity flows through said inlet wall that affect paint particles differently in different locations to both optimize paint transfer efficiency to the target and reduce paint particle adherence to objects other than the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Henry Tong, Yu-Ning Liu
  • Patent number: 5922130
    Abstract: A spray booth includes an outer enclosure in which the temperature and humidity of a fluid (such as air) is not controlled and a fluid handling unit within this enclosure, which circulates and controls the temperature and humidity of a smaller volume of the same fluid (air) to develop an environment suitable for application of coatings to desired substrates. In use, fluid is drawn from the outer enclosure into the inner, fluid handling unit in order to clean and modify the temperature and humidity of the fluid being handled, conditioning it to be delivered to the region of limited size which is established for receiving the substrate to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Sermatech International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Mosser, Bruce McMordie
  • Patent number: 5912184
    Abstract: An enclosure provided with an air supply system, an exhaust system, and controls for manipulating the flow, temperature, dewpoint and relative humidity of the air within the enclosure are disclosed. The present invention aims to achieve with these components a system for containing chemical contaminants created during processing of silicon wafers during the chemical/mechanical, polishing/planarization processes involved in creating those wafers. The system prevents drying of the slurry used to process wafers by controlling the relative humidity within the enclosure via a humidifier, sensors and a controller that dynamically reacts to changes within the enclosure atmosphere. Preventing slurry drying is critical to maintaining high wafer throughput by reducing gouging and scraping of wafers and also by reducing equipment down time needed to clean dried slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Intelligent Enclosures Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher O'Sullivan Young
  • Patent number: 5885154
    Abstract: A controlled environment room encompassing a room space is provided with air supply structure which includes a room ceiling surmounting the room space, a top closure disposed above the ceiling and spaced apart from the ceiling to form a plenum chamber therewith, and an array of steel joists extending between and constructed and arranged to support the ceiling and the closure, the joists each including a pair of spaced apart chords which are components of the ceiling and are constructed and arranged to support the ceiling, the chords defining between them elongate slots extending through the ceiling, the slots providing air passageways extending from the plenum chamber to the room space for conducting pressurized air from the plenum chamber to the room space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventors: Michael F. Napadow, Thomas L. Rowe
  • Patent number: 5882404
    Abstract: Powder coating apparatus (10) comprises an enclosure or booth (12) in which an article to be powder coated is locatable. Spray heads (24) are provided in the booth (12) to spray water over the inside of the booth (12) to remove over-spray powder coat material from the booth (12), following coating of an article, and removal thereof from the booth (12). Material washed from the booth (12) can be collected for recovery from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Edward Christopher Gummer
  • Patent number: 5855509
    Abstract: A paint spray booth and air supply arrangement includes a main fan for blowing air and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the main fan for receiving blown air therefrom. A support grid is positioned beneath the air supply plenum and includes a plurality of grid openings. A painting chamber is positioned beneath the support grid. A plurality of diffuser modules are positioned within the plurality of grid openings, respectively, for directing blown air from the air supply plenum in a substantially vertically downward direction through the painting chamber. Each diffuser includes an adjustment feature for selectively adjusting the speed of air directed therethrough. An apparatus is provided for individually adjusting the adjustment feature in each of the plurality of diffuser modules for creating areas of variable air speed through the painting chamber corresponding with each diffuser module while the diffuser modules being adjusted are supported on the support grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventors: William H. White, Maximilian K. Carthew
  • Patent number: 5820456
    Abstract: A paint spray booth (10) has a spray chamber (11), an air make-up unit (15), and an air exhaust system with an exhaust air fan (26) and an exhaust damper (25). The booth has a pressure transducer (29) that senses the pressure of air both inside and outside the booth and which transmits control signals indicative of sensed changes in the differential air pressure to motors that drive the exhaust fan or the exhaust damper. In this manner the exhaust air flow rate is adjusted to compensate for changes in the differential air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignees: Sandy J. Pangle, Robert B. Kennedy
    Inventor: Thomas L. Nelson