Guidance of treatment devices on target surfaces
A pair of vertical guide supports are slidably received in horizontally spaced rails removably mounted on a vertical target surface to be treated, such as the hull of a ship. A rack support interconnects the vertical guide supports and is vertically displaceable relative thereto with a rack plate thereby positioned in spaced relation to the target surface. A treatment device such as a pressurized paint ejector is positioned on the rack plate for selectively imposed movement therewith along linear paths to positions at which it is aligned perpendicular to the target surface to be completely treated by application or removal of paint for example.
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The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore.
The present invention relates to guided positioning of a surface treatment device in spaced relation to a target surface, such as the hull of a ship.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONShip hulls and other large surfaces are traditionally painted manually using power spray guns and involving for example scaffolding and over-spray protection during a relatively inefficient coating process. Such surfaces are also treated for removal of paint therefrom, involving discharges of grit or water under high pressures from de-paint devices attached to manipulating facilities requiring use of additional labor and materials. Patent protection was heretofore provided for surface attachable guidance apparatus and method for different devices, to the exclusion of coating of vertical surfaces such as ship hulls with paint. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide for efficient transfer of coatings such as paint to and from surfaces such as ship hulls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention rail track guidance facilities are attachable to a target surface, such as a ship hull, on which it is exclusively supported to thereby establish horizontal and vertical guide paths in spaced relation to the target surface along which a guide support for a surface treatment device is displaced to plural locations at which the treatment device is positioned preferably along an ejection axis aligned perpendicular to the target surface so as to perform paint coating or de-coating operations with maximized efficiency.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
Referring now to the drawing in detail,
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the treatment ejection device 12 positioned on the rack plate 40 at each of a plurality of locations along the support rails 30 and guide slots 34 in perpendicular alignment with the target surface 14 as shown in
Obviously, other modifications and variations of the present invention may be possible in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims
1. Apparatus for treatment of a target surface by coating thereof applied from an ejection device, comprising: guidance means exclusively supported on the target surface for establishing linear paths of movement in spaced relation thereto; support means on which the ejection device is positioned for ejection of the coating therefrom; and selectively controlled mounting means for positioning of the support means at different locations along said linear paths of movement on the guidance means from which said ejection of the coating onto the target surface is effected from the ejection device to perform said treatment of the target surface.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said target surface is a ship hull and said ejection device is a liquid paint applicator from which paint as the coating is applied to the target surface.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said guidance means includes: horizontal track rails on the target surface; and vertical guide means slidably received in the track rails for displacement of the support means along said linear paths of movement to the different locations.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said support means includes: a support rack mounted by the vertical guide means in perpendicular relation to the target surface.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said treatment of the target surface involves de-coating thereof by removal of the paint therefrom.
6. A method for treatment of a target surface under selective control of an ejection device, including the steps of: establishing linear guide paths along which movement of the ejection device is guided to positions in spaced relation to the target surface; and imparting vertical and horizontal movement to the ejection device in each of said positions from which said treatment is applied to the target surface.
7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said treatment involves application of a uniform coating of paint to the target surface by efficient transfer from the ejection device.
8. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said treatment of the target surface involves removal of paint therefrom.
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5033710 | July 23, 1991 | Antoniadis |
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- Miyazaki, Tatsuo et al., Article titled: “NC Painting Robot For Shipbuilding”, pp. 1-14.
- The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute for ProductionTechnology, University of Southern Denmark, Smart Painter, pp. 1-4.
- IRB 8400 Gantry Robot for load transfer from 25 to 2500kg, pp. 1-3.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 16, 2004
Date of Patent: Jul 4, 2006
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington, DC)
Inventor: Daniel B. McGoldrick (Alexandria, VA)
Primary Examiner: M. Clement
Attorney: Jacob Shuster
Application Number: 10/758,558
International Classification: B05B 13/02 (20060101);