Abstract: A method for conveying a working medium within a supply line (2), wherein a pig package (48) is moved into the supply line (2) by means of a pushing medium conveyed by a first pump (40) to a proximal end of the supply line (2), is intended to enable TPS operation in a manner that is as technically simple as possible. To this end, a first conveying quantity of the pushing medium is determined by means of a first flow-measuring cell (44) associated with the proximal end, wherein a position of the pig package (48) in the supply line (2) is determined from the first conveying quantity and information about the cross-section of the supply line (2).

Abstract: A paint-spray line comprising a number of sprayers which are provided to discharge paint onto an item to be coated and are connected to a paint supply unit via a common main supply line is also suitable, to a particular extent and at an expense kept particularly low, for a need-based provision of individual quantities of paint which are kept at a particular minimum. For this purpose, the conveying device, provided for feeding paint into the main supply line is configured according to the invention as a single-piston pump.

Abstract: A color changer has a valve block for connecting a plurality of coating material lines to an application device. The valve block has a parallelepiped housing. The housing has a central color channel with an axial direction and contains valve bores for receiving valves and a length of a central color channel is as short as possible with a simultaneous supply of many paint feed lines. A first number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at first openings, a second number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at second openings on the opposite side of the color channel and offset in the axial direction with respect to the first number of valve bores. A third number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at third openings and a fourth number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at fourth openings.

Abstract: A paint-spray line comprising a number of sprayers which are provided to discharge paint onto an item to be coated and are connected to a paint supply unit via a common main supply line is also suitable, to a particular extent and at an expense kept particularly low, for a need-based provision of individual quantities of paint which are kept at a particular minimum. For this purpose, the conveying device, provided for feeding paint into the main supply line is configured according to the invention as a single-piston pump.

Abstract: A color changer has a valve block for connecting a plurality of coating material lines to an application device. The valve block has a parallelepiped housing. The housing has a central color channel with an axial direction and contains valve bores for receiving valves and a length of a central color channel is as short as possible with a simultaneous supply of many paint feed lines. A first number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at first openings, a second number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at second openings on the opposite side of the color channel and offset in the axial direction with respect to the first number of valve bores. A third number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at third openings and a fourth number of parallel valve bores open into the color channel at fourth openings.

Abstract: The paint-spraying apparatus exhibits a supply line 7 for coating material, extending from the color changer to the atomizer. Cut-off valves 26, 27 installed in the supply line delimit an insulating section 25 of said supply line, which insulating section is associated with means 28 to 32 for emptying and flushing said insulating section 25. A voltage divider 16 is connected in parallel to said insulating section 25. When colors are changed, the residual coating material present in said voltage divider 16 can be moved into the empty insulating section 25, after which it is forced by means of slugs back through the entire supply line 7 to the color changer 1, and is thus reclaimed.

Abstract: A valve for a branching and/or connecting location of a piggable line for coating material such as paint includes a valve housing for a first throughgoing line, to which at least one second line is selectively connectable, as well as a valve closure body that is spring loaded by a valve spring and that is movable against the force of the valve spring. The valve housing and the valve closure body respectively have flushly aligned bores that have the same contour and the same diameter as each other, and that are directly adjoining each other in the closed position. This diameter is equal to the clear inner diameter of the piggable line. For opening and closing the second line, the valve closure body is movable in the valve housing in the axial direction of the bore thereof.

Abstract: The paint-spraying apparatus exhibits a supply line 7 for coating material, extending from the color changer to the atomizer. Cut-off valves 26, 27 installed in the supply line delimit an insulating section 25 of said supply line, which insulating section is associated with means 28 to 32 for emptying and flushing said insulating section 25. A voltage divider 16 is connected in parallel to said insulating section 25. When colors are changed, the residual coating material present in said voltage divider 16 can be moved into the empty insulating section 25, after which it is forced by means of slugs back through the entire supply line 7 to the color changer 1, and is thus reclaimed.

Abstract: A valve for a branching and/or connecting location of a piggable line for coating material such as paint includes a valve housing for a first throughgoing line, to which at least one second line is selectively connectable, as well as a valve closure body that is spring loaded by a valve spring and that is movable against the force of the valve spring. The valve housing and the valve closure body respectively have flushly aligned bores that have the same contour and the same diameter as each other, and that are directly adjoining each other in the closed position. This diameter is equal to the clear inner diameter of the piggable line. For opening and closing the second line, the valve closure body is movable in the valve housing in the axial direction of the bore thereof.

Abstract: An electrostatic paint atomizer connected to a discharge station at high voltage is supplied, via an isolating conveying line, with individual divided-off quantities of paint enclosed between two pigs from a loading station at the other end of the conveying line. The paint is conveyed by a transport device supplying a thrust medium (compressed air or insulating liquid) to discharge the paint in the discharge station. A reverse transport device operating with compressed air transports the pigs back to the loading station. The length (L) of the conveying line between the loading and the discharge stations and the length (l) of a divided-off quantity of paint, are dimensioned to provide a sufficiently long isolating path (L-l) to avoid a voltage flashover. A continuous supply of paint is achieved with two parallel conveying lines, through which quantities of paint are metered with an offset from each other.

Abstract: A process for coating, in particular for painting, individual objects or small-series batches with a small quantity of paint uses a plurality of atomizers 2, 3, 4 connected one behind the other to a main supply line 5, at one end/start 6 of which a paint-supply unit 7 is arranged. Only the quantity of paint which is required for the painting job and an additional minimal residual quantity are introduced into the main supply line 5, irrespective of the length and the actual capacity of the main supply line 5, e.g. a paint quantity less than the volume capacity of the main supply line. The contents of the main supply line 5 are forced, by at least one pig 32, which is pushed through the line 5 by a pushing medium, to the atomizers 2, 3, 4, and the contents are then at least substantially completely discharged there.

Abstract: A voltage isolating device selectively electrically isolates from each other two points (13 and 15) of an electrically conductive flow medium having different electrical potentials along a flow path. The electrically conductive flow medium is conveyed in the inner space (18′) of a freely protruding carrier (17′) having at least one discharge opening (29). The carrier (17′) moves back and forth between a first isolating position and a second docking position to allow a transfer flow. The discharge opening (29) is closed until the docking position has been reached, wherein the discharge opening is opened, and is closed again when the carrier is moved out of the docking position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for painting a workpiece while switching paint colors between successive painting cycles includes a paint supply switching device, a paint feed line connected to the paint supply switching device, a separating element adapted to move back and forth in at least a portion of the paint feed line, first and second receiver stations adapted to receive the separating element at the end positions of its travel in the paint feed line, and a paint spray nozzle at a terminal end of the paint feed line. The separating element is actively held in the first receiver station while paint of a first color is supplied through the paint feed line and sprayed from the nozzle onto a workpiece.