Abstract: An oven module for use in industrial baking applications is disclosed having apparatus for accommodating the longitudinal thermal expansion in the interior walls of the oven module located intermediate the ends of the module. The oven module is easily assembled into an oven baking line because its ends are fixed and do not vary due to thermal expansion. Therefore, the present oven module alleviates numerous disadvantages in the shipping and assembly of an oven baking line which has been experienced with prior known oven modules. The floor, walls and roof of the oven module have both an interior and an exterior structure so that the interior surfaces of the oven module can be independently and rigidly supported. At opposite ends of the module, the interior and exterior structures for the floor, walls and roof are fixed to a common support member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the debris that enters the air inlet of a paint overspray scrubber includes at least an upper collection pond positioned above the air inlet. Lower collection ponds are placed beneath the upper collection pond in horizontally overlapping positions with the upper collection pond so that debris not settling in the upper collection pond will settle in the lower collection pond, providing coverage beneath an entire paint application zone. Debris settling in the collection ponds is removed by providing flush water to rinse the accumulated debris from the collection ponds for removal from the system. Such a system prevents clogging of the air inlet and accumulation of debris on flood sheets in an-air scrubber chamber.

Abstract: A coating material color change system includes a manifold having a first passageway through which a selected color flows during its selection, a plurality of coating material passageways intersecting the main passageway, and an equal plurality of coating material supply valves mounted to the manifold. Each coating material supply valve has a body and a member movable in the interior of the valve body for controlling the flow of the coating material to be supplied by that coating material supply valve through a respective coating material passageway to the main passageway, and a mechanism for actuating the member. The mechanism is controllable by a superatmospheric pressure fluid signal selectively to control the position of the member and thus the supply of the coating material to the first passageway. The manifold and valve bodies include second passageways and means for coupling the second passageways to a source of operating fluid under superatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A first bring up zone of a camel-back oven utilizes a plurality of short and/or medium wave infrared lamps to raise the component temperature up to a desired level. Once within the paint baking oven, the component enters into the bring up zone where a computer activates the requisite number of infrared lamps at the proper intensity to achieve the desired component temperature. While the infrared lamps are activated, inlet air is directed over the lamps to prevent them from overheating. The invention allows for smoother car finishes by preventing bubbling and pops and raises the component temperature more quickly than conventional dark radiation panels.

Abstract: A paint baking oven utilizes air flow throughout the oven to ventilate solvents and/or resins which evaporate off during the paint baking process. Air is continuously introduced through air seals located along the paint baking oven at various points. This ventilation air is directed toward the center of the paint baking oven where it is exhausted at a rate proportional to the rate at which the ventilation air is introduced into the paint baking oven. Removing the solvent and/or resin laden air from the paint baking oven results in a more desirable final finish on the component being baked.

Abstract: A convection air holding zone utilizes turbulent ejector air flow along paths parallel to the path of travel of the article being baked in a paint bake oven. Air recirculation means are provided within the convection air holding zone which filters dirt particles from the air and a heat source is applied to the air to compensate for temperature loss due to heat exchange with the article and oven walls. Maintaining a turbulent air flow over the articles being baked in the convection air holding zone helps insure an even temperature throughout the zone, thereby enabling a more consistent paint finish on the article.

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: Partitions in a paint spray booth are adjustably coupled to a grated ceiling of the booth and extend to preselected heights above a grated floor of the booth. The adjustable partitions define a paint spray application zone therebetween wherein air flow rate between the ceiling and the floor of the booth is chosen for optimum paint transfer and overspray removal efficiency, while air flow between the partitions and the booth outer walls may be much lower to conserve investment and running costs. Air flow reducers, such as adjustable perforated plates, are positioned on the grated ceiling above the low rate air flow spaces between the partitions and the outer walls.