Abstract: An apparatus and method of reclaiming particles of powder material from a powder spray system (100) having an inlet passageway (190) of a collection subsystem (104) in fluid communication with an interior of a spray booth (108). An airflow conduit (250) extends between a trough (140) located under a conveyor belt (130) which in turn is located below the spray booth (108) and the inlet passageway (190) of the collection subsystem (104). Airflow through the airflow conduit (250) is augmented by a compressed air injector (280) disposed in the airflow conduit (250) and oriented so that it ejects compressed air in the direction of the inlet passageway (190). In this manner, particulate matter (overspray) settling in the trough (140) becomes entrained in an airstream (252) flowing into the collection subsystem (104). The collection subsystem (104) suitably includes a cyclone separator (170) and a filter stack (200).

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.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder coating system usable for coating articles transported along a substantially non-conductive article transport conveyor belt supported by a substantially non-conductive slide member. The system includes a substantially non-conductive coating booth with an open side portion supported by an upright support member disposed on a movable base member. The coating booth is laterally movable toward and away from the conveyor, and the coating booth is movable along the upright support member so as to position the coating booth downwardly toward and upwardly away from the conveyor. An electrostatic coating applicator is directed into the coating booth for applying powder coating to articles transported along the conveyor. A coating collector includes a coating booth exhaust duct coupled to the coating booth, and a conveyor exhaust duct laterally movable toward and away from the conveyor.

Abstract: A ventilation system for use, in example, on a spray booth or paint stripping enclosure, in which variable speed fans (or equivalent) are employed, and controlled by a sensor so that the flow rate exhausted from the booth (and directed either to an emission control device or vented to atmosphere) is continually adjusted to minimize the exhaust flow rate from the enclosure. The remainder of the ventilation air is recirculated back into the enclosure. An analyzer located in the recirculation duct continuously monitors the concentration of hazardous constituents present in the recirculation stream, and transmits this data to a central controller, which controls the ventilation fan systems. The central controller controls the recirculation duct and exhaust duct fan systems to achieve the highest recirculation rate possible, yet also maintain constituent concentrations in the recirculation duct at a safe level.

Abstract: An air distribution apparatus in a paint spray booth plenum for increasing the uniformity of down draft velocities from the plenum to the spray booth paint application zone. The increased uniformity of down draft velocities correspondingly increases paint transfer efficiency and minimizes paint overspray buildup in the paint application zone. The improved air distribution apparatus includes airflow regulating elements and flow directing members which cooperate to distribute airflow substantially evenly across the plenum floor and into the paint application area. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforated plates and guide vanes are used to control the rate and direction of airflow in the plenum. The invention also provides for the adjustment of the rate and direction of flow through the use of slidable plates and adjustable guide vanes.

Abstract: The invention features a clean room and a chemical air filter suitable for use in the air handling system of the clean room directly upstream of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The chemical filter is of the pleated filter type comprising an air permeable, relatively thick web of non-woven fibrous carrier material of pleated form. The web includes a matrix formed of a large multiplicity of synthetic fibers and is characterized in that activated carbon particles are distributed throughout the web, bound in the interstices of the matrix in a manner preventing loss to the air of particles in quantity substantially detrimental to the performance of the HEPA filter. The activated carbon particles are of the type selected to remove the predetermined gas-phase contaminant from the air from the source. The invention also features a non-off gassing filter casing that may easily be installed into existing clean room air handling systems.

Abstract: A system for removing airborne contaminants from the effluent air streams om spray paint booths and the like. The system includes a rectangular shaped underground pool having pool of water positioned below the work area. The underground pool has a plurality of suction pipes which are uniformly distributed throughout the pool at a distance of between one and two inches above the pool of water. The suction pipes terminate in a plenum located adjacent the underground pool. A gas turbine engine which is connected to the plenum is used to draw air including airborne contaminants into the plenum from the work area. Solid airborne contaminants such as droplets of water soluble paint, sand and the like will fall into the pool of water. Lighter airborne contaminants, such as gaseous toxins are drawn through the gas turbine type engine into a after-burning incinerator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing and controlling finer particles in a powder coating system returns the finer particles to the spraying apparatus to be sprayed on parts by the system. Finer particles are continuously removed from the system by application onto parts, and the accumulation of fines is thereby prevented. The finer particles may be sprayed through specially adapted spray guns, which also permits the utilization of the special advantages of spraying fine powder materials. By removing fine powder particles from the system before they build up, the present invention improves the powder coating operation in various respects.

Abstract: A system to dehumidify a substantially sealed chamber (2) which includes a recirculating duct (1) which recirculates air within the chamber. The duct includes an exchange aperture (3) facing the direction of flow of air (4). A fan (5) to draw air through the duct is positioned downstream of the exchange aperture. A heater (19) is provided preferably within the recirculating duct and preferably located downstream of the display aperture. The sealed chamber (2) may be a spray painting booth for painting vehicles.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for an airborne particulate booth, such as a dust or paint, include a velocity sensing device for detecting the velocity of the air flow in the booth, utilizing, in a preferred form, a pendulum mounted sail. The air flow from the booth moves the sail; the sail moves the pendulum; and the pendulum's motion is detected and used to control the booth's air flow intake and exhaust fans or blowers to maintain the air flow at essentially a preset or desired constant velocity. Additionally, the apparatus and method when used in a powder paint booth with powder filters, includes progressive pulsing means which pulse the powder filters in a manner such that the interval between pulses may be automatically and progressively changed to keep the powder filters operating at or near peak efficiency from the time they are installed until the time they can no longer be kept functioning efficiently by pulsing, but must be replaced.

Abstract: A baffle assembly for intercepting paint particles passing through a spray booth is disclosed. The baffle assembly includes an inner plate and an outer plate adjacent each end or edge of the inner plate. The inner plate is comprised of a central planar portion, which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of air flow, and having outer ends which are curved in an upstream direction and inwardly toward one another. Each outer plate includes a curved portion which terminates in a semi-circular portion. The inner plate is received and positioned within the outer plates so that each of its outer ends is substantially surrounded by and equidistant from its adjacent outer plate. In this manner, air flows between the inner plate and the outer plate in a first curved direction and then in a second opposite curved direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for powder spraying a automotive or other vehicle body in a powder spray booth includes a cabin purge zone in which a pair of inlet hood assemblies are positioned to the side window openings on each side of the body and the cavity is purged of excess powder by extracting the powder from the cavity through the inlet hood assemblies. The effective and efficient removal of suspended oversprayed powder from the interior of the vehicle cabin is accomplished through the production of a symmetrical air flow through the vehicle cabin in which air is exhausted through the two side window openings while the interior of the vehicle cabin is replenished with air through the front windshield opening and the rear window opening.

Abstract: A cross-draft spray booth is provided with an exhaust system, an air inlet and at least one columnar filtering unit. The columnar filtering unit includes a support frame, an exhaust outlet and a filtering medium in the shape of a column. The columnar filtering unit is preferably cylindrical, and utilizes non-porous filtering material.

Abstract: A cabin for spray coating objects with powdered material has flat filter surfaces and a cleaning device that moves relative thereto. The rear face of the filter is divided into a plurality of individual cell shaped sections sealed with respect to one another. A nozzle directs air from the rear face of the filter toward the interior of the cabin to dislodge powdery material from the filter's inner surface. The nozzle moves across the field of cell shaped sections supplying compressed air to at least one of the sections at a time during the cleaning cycle.

Abstract: A spray booth having a work area for an operator. A first fan assembly located in the back wall of the booth produces an exhaust air stream. Filter means are located between the first fan assembly and the work area. A second fan assembly supplies a make-up air stream and a laminar diffuser is connected to the second fan assembly and positioned above the operator to provide a downwardly directed air piston in the work area surrounding the operator In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust fan has a capacity of between about 340 and 400 CFM per foot width of the spray booth. In the preferred embodiment, the make-up air fan has a capacity of between about 230 and 300 CFM per foot width of the spray booth. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the make-up air fan has a capacity of between about 2/3 and 3/4 the capacity of the first fan assembly.

Abstract: A facility including a booth for solvent or paint application or drying process is provided with ventilation inlets and outlets to cause stratification of constituents such as VOCs or particulate in the booth. The ventilation air withdrawn from the booth is split into two air streams, one air stream contains a relatively low volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration, and the other a relatively high VOC concentration. The ventilation air from the low concentration stream is vented to the atmosphere (or alternatively back in the booth) and the ventilation air from the high concentration stream is conducted to a VOC emission control device. Thus, adequate VOC emission control is achieved, and the volume of air processed by the VOC emission control device is reduced, along with the corresponding VOC emission control costs.

Abstract: A paint spray booth utilizes longitudinal air flow along paths parallel to a path of travel through a tunnel in the booth of objects to be painted, the air flow directed inwardly from both entrance and exit ends of the tunnel. An exhaust duct for the inwardly directed, longitudinally flowing air is positioned between the entrance and exit ends and includes an exhaust slot which surrounds at least a portion of a paint spray application area within the tunnel for drawing out overspray-laden exhaust air. Maintaining flow of exhaust air along the path of travel of the painted objects increases paint transfer efficiency and minimizes contamination of paint recovered from the exhaust air. The invention finds particular advantage in powder spray booth applications and is adapted to modularization thereby enabling retrofitting of existing spray booths with apparatus arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Abstract: A device for removing the excess sprayed material in a spraying operation (e.g., the spraying of wet lacquer or the like) includes a spraying booth, a suction booth and an aspirator. A partition provided with openings separates the spraying booth and the suction booth. The openings are defined as tapering nozzles so that the air and sprayed particles are passed through the nozzles at a high rate of speed. This construction minimizes the deposition of particles on the partition. Once in the suction chamber, the air flow is slowed so that the particles will dry. The aspirator is located in an upper region of the suction booth so that the particles are drawn upward. A filter is positioned in front of the aspirator to collect the dried particles. The particles thereby form filter cakes which are easily removed from the filter.

Abstract: A collapsible spray housing and method of using the housing in electrostatic powder spray operations. The housing is collapsible so that it can be folded and inserted into a conventional cartridge filter type powder recovery system. Separate collapsible housings may be maintained, each interconnected with a respective cartridge filter, dedicated to running one particular color therethrough. A skeletal frame may be employed upon which the various collapsible housings may be inserted and removed between successive runs different colors.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for use in an aeroplane hangar. The hangar includes a fuselage work area for works on a fuselage of an aeroplane and a main-wing work area for works on a main wing of the aeroplane, with the work areas being partitioned by a partition wall. An air conditioning device is provided for conditioning temperature of air to be fed to either work area. Further, a recycling device is provided for cleaning air exhausted from the one area and then feeding the cleaned air to the other area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a large-scale controlled environment booth for performing maintenance operations such as painting an aircraft. The booth is a building within a building having an air circulation system, filter banks, heating and air conditioning equipment, a fume oxidizer,and circulating and exhaust air fans. The invention is capable of several modes of operation permitting thermal conditioning and complete, partial or no recirculation of air through the booth.

Abstract: A control system for controlling capturing and disposing of volatile organic compounds ("VOC's") and other substances that includes a spray booth having an entrance, an exit, an accessible working area and one or more areas adjacent the working area, the use of air curtains to provide invadable spray booth sealing closures at the entrance, exit, working and adjacent areas, an interior air flow supply means directing air flow generally in the direction of the article to be sprayed to move the floating particles and vapors in a decided direction, air evacuation means to recycle the supplied air and remove the VOC's and other substances entrained therein to a remote location, and means to dispose of the VOC's and other substances evacuated from the control system.

Abstract: A paint spray booth, which can also be utilized as a paint drying oven is disclosed and is especially suitable for use in businesses, such as automobile repair shops, to both paint and quickly bake the paint so that the number of automobiles that may be handled in a given time is increased significantly. The booth-oven comprises an enclosure which has a single air supply fan for moving air though the booth-oven. Preferably, the booth-oven has, in addition to a direct heater, a heat exchanger for more economical operation, and/or may be provided with an air recirculating system for additional savings. The booth-oven is structured so that paint laden air generated during the paint spraying operation is routed around or away from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An electrostatic paint powder booth apparatus having filters for recovery of overspray powder entrained in the air drawn from the housing in which workpieces are sprayed. The apparatus comprises interchangeable particulate filter systems in combination with alternative airflow paths, allowing for rapid changeover between successive runs of differing colors without intermixing of the different colors.

Abstract: A liquid to powder spray booth conversion insert compartment is provided that can be rolled up to a conventional wet paint spray booth to convert it to dry powder usage. A pleated fiber filter having a pore size of 20 microns inclined above powder collection trays is provided to allow collection and reuse of the powdered materials. A prefilter of progressive weave filter material is provided at the input side of the compartment to remove large size matter while allowing the sprayed powder particles to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of powder coating relatively large objects such as automotive or other vehicle bodies comprises a spray booth having an interior which includes a cut-in coating zone having a relatively large area to permit the application of powder onto the interior portions of the vehicle body such as the inner door flanges, a side coating zone area wherein the vertically oriented, exterior surfaces of the vehicle body are coated such as the doors and fenders, an overhead coating zone in which the horizontally oriented, exterior surfaces of the vehicle body are coated such as the hood, roof and trunk, and, two transition zones separating the three coating zones.