Abstract: Disposable air filter includes a filter element formed from a stacked plurality of annular disks. The disks are formed from a sorptive material and expand upon absorption of oil or water droplets. The disks are slightly compressed by a movable baffle. The baffle floats upon a stream of air entering the filter and directs the air radially through the filter element. The air flows between and through the disks with a resulting low pressure drop across the filter. As the disks expand, the baffle shifts axially within a filter housing to maintain the pressure drop across the filter element.

Abstract: A pulverulent coating material application and reclaiming system comprises a booth including a floor, a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed ends. Articles to be coated are conveyed through the booth between the walls and above the floor for coating by the pulverulent material. A dispenser dispenses pulverulent material onto the articles as they are conveyed through the booth. A receptacle is provided under the floor for reclaiming pulverulent material which does not adhere to the articles. The floor terminates short of ends of the booth to define adjacent to the ends entries to the receptacle for reclaimed pulverulent material. A floor wiping mechanism includes a wiper, low friction mountings on the wiper to permit low friction movement of the wiper on the floor, scraping blades mounted on the wiper in contact with the floor, and a prime mover for reciprocating the wiper at intervals lengthwise of the floor to return pulverulent material accumulated on the floor therefrom into the entries.

Abstract: A peristaltic voltage block (34) couples a dispenser (10) to a source (20) of coating material. The peristaltic voltage block (34) has a length (220) of resilient conduit, a wall against which the resilient conduit lies in generally planar loops (222), and a rotor (246) including rollers (250, 350) for movably contacting the length (220) of resilient conduit at multiple contact points for substantially dividing the coating material in the peristaltic voltage block (34) into discrete slugs of coating material substantially to interrupt the electrical path through the coating material from the terminal to the coating material source (20). Either the wall or the rollers (250, 350) includes first regions where the loops (222) of resilient conduit lie, and second, raised regions. The second, raised regions adjacent the first regions retain the loops (222) of resilient conduit (220) in position.

Abstract: Easily replaceable pressure reducers are located at the front of the spray gun behind the air and fluid nozzles. These reducers are calibrated and marked for use with a particular air/fluid nozzle combination and maintain .ltoreq.10 psig exit air pressure. If the air/fluid nozzle combination is changed, the pressure reducers matched to the new combination are installed at the same time, illustratively using a screwdriver. By designing the air/fluid nozzle combination and pressure reducer as matched sets, the spray gun can always inexpensively be kept in compliance with any requirements under which an HVLP device must operate. "Fan-" or shaping-compressed air driven from the same compressed air which supplies the nozzle air is supplied through an additional pressure reducer valve to reduce its pressure below that of the nozzle air. The fan air reducer employs a drilled orifice of a calculated diameter. The atomizing air reducer is of a needle type that utilizes a controlling outside diameter.

Abstract: The electrostatic potential supply comprises an operating potential source (+V.sub.cc), a transformer (122) having primary (156) and secondary (172) windings, and a resonant frequency, and a high potential rectifier and multiplier (124). The electrostatic potential supply also includes a phase comparator (110) and a voltage controlled oscillator (114) having a free running frequency of substantially the transformer (122) resonant frequency. The phase comparator (110) generates a control signal related to the frequency difference between the signal from the secondary winding (172) and the signal from the primary circuit (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 102-1, 2) to synchronize the voltage controlled oscillator (114) output frequency substantially with the frequency of the signal from the secondary winding (172). The voltage controlled oscillator (114) is coupled to the primary winding (156) to maintain the operating frequency of the transformer (122) substantially at its resonant frequency.

Abstract: A coating material dispensing system comprises an electrostatic high potential supply having an output terminal on which the supply maintains a high electrostatic potential, a source of coating material, and a dispenser for dispensing the coating material. The output terminal is coupled to the dispenser to supply potential to the coating material dispensed by the dispenser. A peristaltic device couples the dispenser to the source of coating material. The peristaltic device has a length of resilient conduit and contactors for movably contacting the length of resilient conduit at multiple contact points for substantially dividing the coating material in the peristaltic device into discrete slugs of coating material substantially to interrupt the electrical path through the coating material from the terminal to the coating material source. Thhe peristaltic device includes an inlet end for coupling to the source of coating material.

Abstract: A color changer comprises a manifold assembly including first and second fluid outlet passages for supplying coating material to first and second devices, respectively, a coating material circulation line extending through the manifold assembly, and valves for selectively coupling the coating material circulation line to the fluid outlet passages for separately controlling flow of coating material from the circulation line to the first and second outlet passages. The valves are coupled to the manifold assembly. The valves are arranged in pairs, one valve of each pair disposed across a respective coating material outlet passage directly opposite the other valve of its respective pair. The manifold assembly comprises a plurality of segments which are joined together to form the manifold assembly.

Abstract: An arc preventing electrostatic power supply suitable for operating an electrostatic paint atomizer such as a rotary atomizer. High voltage control is based on the high voltage current, as measured in the ground return path. The power supply is controlled to provide a substantially constant high voltage DC output up to a predetermined current and an output voltage which rapidly drops off as the current increases above the predetermined current. The magnitude of an AC component superimposed on the high voltage DC current is detected to determine incipient arcing. Upon detecting an incipient arcing condition, the output voltage is interrupted for a predetermined short time. When the output voltage is turned back on, it is ramped up from a low level back to the normal high voltage level. While the output voltage is less than a predetermined low level, the sensitivity of the incipient arc detection circuit is increased.

Abstract: A machine for automatically applying a balance correcting weight (44)-and-clip (46) assembly to vehicle wheel-and-tire assembly (12). The machine includes a conveyor (20) portion for conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to a weight (44) application station, orienting the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) properly to receive at the correct location the balance-correcting weight (44), and conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which the balance-correcting weight (44) has been applied away from the weight (44) application station. The machine includes a hammer (22, 24) having a storage orientation out of operating position permitting conveying of the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to and from the weight (44) application station and a use orientation in operating position adjacent the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which balance correcting weight (44) is to be applied, and means for moving the hammer (22, 24) selectively between its storage and use orientations.

Abstract: An improved paint spray gun with a regulated pressure feed paint cup. High pressure air is supplied through a hose and a fitting to the spray gun handle. The air pressure is reduced to a low pressure high volume flow within the gun for atomizing the paint. The inlet of a pressure regulator is connected through a quick connect fitting directly to the gun handle for receiving high pressure air. The regulator outlet is connected through a flexible hose to a barbed fitting on a check valve on a paint cup lid for applying a controlled paint feed pressure to the cup. The location of the regulator does not adversely affect the maneuverability or balance of the gun during use and the regulator can be quickly disconnected from the gun to facilitate cleaning the gun.

Abstract: A marking head for applying a marking composition to locations on elements. The marking head has a marking rod with a marking end and a motor for reciprocating the marking rod through a chamber filled with a marking fluid. The marking fluid is uniformly applied to the marking end of the marking rod by the use of a diffuser and a rod scaper each of which are positioned adjacent to the chamber filled with the marking fluid.

Abstract: An improved high volume low pressure air (HVLP) operated paint spray gun of the type having adjustable fan air and suitable for operation from a high pressure air source. The high pressure air passes from a high pressure chamber through first or second parallel calibrated orifices to supply both low pressure atomization air and low pressure fan air for controlling the shape of the spray pattern. In one embodiment, both orifices supply air to a low pressure chamber which in turn supplies both atomization air and fan air. A fan air control ring adjusts the flow of low pressure air to fan jet orifices. Rotating the fan air control ring controls both air flow through the second orifice to the low pressure chamber and air flow from the low pressure chamber to the fan jet orifices. In a second embodiment, one orifice supplies only low pressure atomization air and the other orifice supplies only low pressure fan air. A valve adjusts the flow of fan air.

Abstract: A valve for a pressure feed paint cup. An adapter is attached to a lid for the cup. A check valve assembly is secured to a threaded end of the adapter which extends below the lid and a vent valve is secured to a threaded end of the adapter which extends above the lid. An air line is attached to the vent valve to supply pressurized air to the paint cup. The check valve has a spherical valve ball which engages a conical valve seat near the diameter of the ball to increase the seating force without increasing the valve opening force. The valve seat and the valve ball are formed from low friction materials. A valve stem is manually moved to first open a vent valve which vents air pressure from the air line and then to move the valve ball from its conical seat.

Abstract: An electrode (60) for electrically charging dispensed coating material is electrically substantially isolated from the coating material dispensing device (16). Sources provide first (30-36) and second (70-76) coating materials, the first (30-36) of which is electrically substantially more conductive and the second (70-76) of which is electrically substantially less conductive. The first (30-36) or the second (70-76) coating material is alternately supplied to the coating material dispensing device (16). A high-magnitude electrostatic potential supply (58) provides electrostatic high potential to the electrode (60) and selectively to the coating material dispensing device (16).

Abstract: An improved pressure feed remote paint cup for use with a spray gun. The cup consists of a pressure tank with a large opening for filling and cleaning and a lid for closing the opening. The lid is secured to the tank with a separate threaded ring. The lid has an integral handle which facilitates holding from a point of balance during use. A pressure regulator and a pressure gauge are mounted on the handle.

Abstract: A machine is provided for automatically applying a balance correcting weight (44)-and-clip (46) assembly to a vehicle wheel-and-tire assembly (12). The machine includes a conveyor (20) portion for conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which the balance-correcting weight (44) is to be applied to a weight (44) application station, orienting the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) properly to receive at the correct location the balance-correcting weight (44), and conveying the wheel-and-tire assembly (12) to which the balance-correcting weight (44) has been applied away from the weight (44) application station.

Abstract: A peristaltic voltage block for use in systems for electrostatically aided atomization and dispensing of conductive coating materials includes a resilient, electrically non-conductive conduit arranged in multiple loops on a support mechanism. The voltage block also includes contactors for contacting the conduit substantially to occlude the conduit to divide coating material flowing in the conduit into discrete slugs, and a rotor supporting the contactors. A mechanism is provided for selectively moving the contactors into and out of occluding engagement with the conduit.

Abstract: A spray coating device includes a ring (14) surrounding a spray device (4) radially spaced and supporting at least one electrode (28). Gas flowing across the ring (14) and electrode transmits electrical charges from the electrodes to particles of atomized coating material, downstream from a spray head (6) of the spray device (4). The electrical charging of the coating material is considerably increased thereby.

Abstract: A flow of gas entraining particulate material is passed through a filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, with the particulate material remaining on the upstream side while the gas flows to the downstream side. The downstream side exhausts through an opening into a plenum chamber wherein a second valve is provided for intermittently providing a cleaning gas flow in the reverse direction through the filter to remove particulate material from the upstream side. Cleaning gas under pressure is provided to the second valve, opening of the second valve permitting cleaning gas to flow therefrom. A first valve controls gas flow through the opening, the first valve operating in synchronism with the second valve substantially to stop flow through the filter from the upstream side to the downstream side when the second valve provides the cleaning gas flow. The first valve includes a cylindrical throat having a first end and a second end.