Vehicle Paint Dryer Patents (Class 34/270)
  • Patent number: 10584920
    Abstract: In order to provide a treatment installation for treating workpieces that is of simple construction and enables optimised workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment installation should include a treatment chamber and a conveying device, by means of which the workpieces are suppliable to the treatment chamber, are removable from the treatment chamber, and/or are conveyable through the treatment chamber in a conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Oliver Iglauer, Kevin Woll, Dietmar Wieland, Joachim Wickenhaeuser
  • Patent number: 10094612
    Abstract: A coat drying device dries a wet-coated film that is coated on a continuously transported coating object having first and second parts, where the second part has a greater heat capacity than the first part. The coat drying device includes a heat source and a heat source moving device. The heat source provides thermal energy primarily to a coating surface of a second part. The heat source moving device moves the heat source to the second part such that a spacing between the second part and the heat source is maintained within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Natsume
  • Patent number: 10006711
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand dryer for drying a user's hands by means of an airflow discharged through an air outlet on the hand dryer. The airflow is generated by a motor-driven fan unit. The hand dryer comprises a plurality of air intakes, the air intakes being connected to the fan unit to form a plurality of parallel air-intake paths. Each air intake path is provided with a separate air-filter. The air-filters may be replaceable for individual replacement as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Peter David Gammack, Leigh Michael Ryan, Stuart James Steele, Stephen Benjamin Courtney
  • Patent number: 9423179
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation having a process chamber which comprises an inner space having a receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has an opening for the supply or discharge of workpieces. The process chamber is constructed so as to have a device for the introduction of gaseous fluid into the inner space, which device has at least one nozzle or aperture for the production of a fluid stream curtain between the opening and the receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has a device for supplying fresh air, with which device fresh air can be introduced into the receiving region at a side of the fluid stream curtain, which side faces away from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Duerr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Wieland, Oliver Iglauer, Christof Knuesel, Marius Winkler
  • Patent number: 9217605
    Abstract: A drying furnace including: a heating portion which heats a coating target having been subjected to electrodeposition coating, wherein (i) the heating portion sets an inner furnace temperature of an upstream of the drying furnace to be lower than a temperature at which moisture in electrodeposition paint boils, (ii) the heating portion sets an inner furnace temperature of a downstream of the drying furnace to be higher than or equal to a glass transition point, (iii) the heating portion locally heats a gap position formed at a member bonding portion of the coating target at the upstream of the drying furnace, and (iv) the heating portion sequentially changes a heated portion from an upper side to a lower side of the coating target when the gap position is locally heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki Totoki, Yasuhito Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8997374
    Abstract: A drying furnace (20) for drying an object (11) by hot air is provided with a heater (36, 38, 43, 45) that applies radiant heat to a hard-heating region (35, 42) having a larger heat capacity than the other region (37, 44) in the object (11) so as to heat the hard-heating region (35, 42) to a temperature approximate to a temperature of the other region (37, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Sato
  • Patent number: 8832961
    Abstract: A vehicle-drying air blower for drying a vehicle exterior, the air blower including a base housing having a fan disposed in a fan compartment thereof and a motor, which is operational communication with the fan, disposed in a motor compartment thereof. An air intake housing having an intake duct attached thereto receives an incoming air stream upon the activation of a trigger switch disposed on a handle on the base housing bottom side. A soft rubberized ergonomic grip area is disposed on a handle forward end proximal to a lower end thereof allowing a user to hold the air blower comfortably for an extended period of time during operation. A nozzle extending from a base housing collar is soft and rubberized to prevent denting and scratching a vehicle exterior during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Todd E. Vandewater
  • Patent number: 8732980
    Abstract: In order to provide a drier module for a drier for a coating plant, in particular for a coating plant for vehicle bodies, wherein the drier comprises a drier working space for receiving the objects to be dried, which space is bounded by a drier floor, a drier ceiling and lateral boundary walls, which reduces the transport costs for transporting the drier components from the production site to the erection site, it is proposed that the drier module comprise at least one section of a lateral boundary wall of the drier working space and one section of the drier floor and/or one section of the drier ceiling, wherein the drier floor section and/or the drier ceiling section are/is connected to the boundary wall section so as to be pivotable relative to the boundary wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Dürr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Napfel, Helmuth Zurich, Andreas Gerber
  • Patent number: 8535054
    Abstract: An oven assembly for baking coatings applied to an object includes a housing with a header receiving pressurized air from a ventilator disposed outside the oven. A heater provides heat to the pressurized air received from the ventilator raising the temperature of the pressurized air to between about two and four times curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coatings applied to the object. The header extends from the heater into the housing. The header has nozzles disposed at spaced locations directing pressurized air at the temperature being between about two and four times the curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coating applied to the object toward predetermined locations on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, James L. Pakkala, Guang Yu
  • Patent number: 8519307
    Abstract: An oven apparatus 24 having a modular construction for curing paint on the surface of a vehicle body 26 using radiant and convection heat. The oven apparatus 24 includes a plurality of oven modules 30. Each oven module 30 includes a pair of convection return air assemblies 128 for removing exhaust gases from the oven interior 98 and a pair of radiant heating tubes 100 for heating the vehicle body. Each of the convection return air assemblies 128 has a reflective outer surface 94 for reflecting radiant heat from the radiant heating tubes 100 at the vehicle body 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: GK Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Schumacher, Curt D. Hite, Tracy E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8513572
    Abstract: An oven apparatus 24 having a modular construction for curing paint on the surface of a vehicle body 26 using radiant and convection heat. The oven apparatus 24 includes a plurality of oven modules, each extending along an axis A along a length B. Each oven module 30 includes an interior shell 52, an outer shell 54 and a wall cavity 56 therebetween. A plurality of Z-shaped rails 84 are disposed in the cavity 56, wherein a rail leg 86 of each Z-shaped rail fixedly engages the outer shell 54. Further, a plurality of support clips 90 are disposed in the wall cavity 56 and fixedly engage the interior shell 52. The support clips 90 each have a clip cavity 96 for receiving a rail leg 88 of a Z-shaped rail 84 for allowing axial movement between the interior and outer shells 52, 54 while restricting transverse movement between the interior and outer shells 52, 54.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: GK Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Schumacher, Curt D. Hite, Tracy E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8393895
    Abstract: A manufacturing oven for and a method of baking a workpiece presenting a transverse orientation relative to the oven, includes dual radiant and convection heating sources operable to uniformly heat the workpiece by focusing convection heating air towards desirous parts of the workpiece, and preferably includes a chamber, a high emissivity false floor, at least one radiant heating element beneath the floor, at least one reflector beneath each element and configured to redirect radiant heat energy towards the floor, a fresh air heater for delivering fresh heated air into the chamber, an exhaust system for removing heated air and evaporated paint solvents from the chamber, and at least one ceiling fan operable to cause lighter heated air to flow from the ceiling of the chamber and towards the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Glen N. Schwartz, Joseph E Claya
  • Patent number: 8291610
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a paint applied onto a bodywork of a motor vehicle, which apparatus is provided with a radiating assembly equipped with at least one catalytic panel fed with hydrocarbon gas for generating a first infrared radiation emission spectrum in the short-wavelength infrared band, in virtue of a catalytic reaction between the hydrocarbon gas and the oxygen present in the air, and arranged so as to emit the infrared radiations towards the bodywork to dry the paint, and is further provided with at least one air supplying device for blowing compressed air onto the catalytic panel so as to affect the catalytic reaction and generate a second infrared radiation emission spectrum distributed on the entire short-wavelength infrared band and broader than the first emission spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Symach S.R.L.
    Inventor: Osvaldo Bergaglio
  • Patent number: 7905723
    Abstract: An oven assembly for baking coatings applied to an object includes a housing with a header receiving pressurized air from a ventilator disposed outside the oven. A heater provides heat to the pressurized air received from the ventilator raising the temperature of the pressurized air to between about two and four times curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coatings applied to the object. The header extends from the heater into the housing. The header has nozzles disposed at spaced locations directing pressurized air at the temperature being between about two and four times the curing temperature in Fahrenheit degrees of the coating applied to the object toward predetermined locations on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, James L. Pakkala, Guang Yu
  • Publication number: 20100088921
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying a paint applied onto a bodywork of a motor vehicle, which apparatus is provided with a radiating assembly equipped with at least one catalytic panel fed with hydrocarbon gas for generating a first infrared radiation emission spectrum in the short-wavelength infrared band, in virtue of a catalytic reaction between the hydrocarbon gas and the oxygen present in the air, and arranged so as to emit the infrared radiations towards the bodywork to dry the paint, and is further provided with at least one air supplying device for blowing compressed air onto the catalytic panel so as to affect the catalytic reaction and generate a second infrared radiation emission spectrum distributed on the entire short-wavelength infrared band and broader than the first emission spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Osvaldo BERGAGLIO
  • Patent number: 7600329
    Abstract: In order to provide an easy-to-assemble drier (100) for drying surface-treated workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies (110), which are each disposed on a respective workpiece carrier (109), comprising a drier housing (102) having a drier tunnel (108), through which the workpieces are moved along a conveying direction (112) and which is delimited in a downward direction by a drier floor (116) comprising a plurality of floor elements (118), and a conveying device (138) that conveys the workpieces through the drier tunnel (108), it is proposed that the conveying device (138) comprises a plurality of carrying roller units (140), which are disposed successively in the conveying direction (112) and each comprise at least one carrying roller (142), on which the workpiece carriers (109) rest as they are conveyed through the drier tunnel (108), wherein the carrying roller units (140) are each mountable separately on a respective floor element (118) of the drier floor (116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Ortlieb, Helmut Zurich, Jürgen Weschke, Peter Näpfel, Manfred Föttinger, Rudolf Strauss
  • Patent number: 7565753
    Abstract: A dryer assembly includes a blower unit having an inlet and an outlet. A restriction mechanism having a plurality of louvers is disposed generally at the inlet of the blower unit with the louvers being moveable between an open position and a closed position. An actuation mechanism is in communication with the restriction mechanism. The actuation mechanism selectively restricts air to the blower unit by moving the louvers into the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventor: Todd P. Christopher
  • Publication number: 20080014368
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for refinishing vehicles using infrared technology for drying and curing the paint coating. The method comprises the steps: A) applying a layer of a pigmented coating composition over a vehicle body or vehicle body part, subsequently applying a layer of clear coating composition, or applying alternatively a layer of pigmented top coating composition over the vehicle body or vehicle body part and B) curing the coating layers applied in step A), directly after completion of the application step, without interposing a final evaporation phase, by exposing to infrared radiation using a short-wave infrared radiator, a radiator distance in the range of 20 to 60 cm being adjusted and the quotient of radiator power in Kilowatt and radiator distance in centimeter ranges from 0.07 to 0.15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Feyrer, Andrew Duda, Stephen Naylor, Harald Kloeckner
  • Patent number: 7264467
    Abstract: A convection oven that achieves a substantially enhanced degree of air flow through the use of a special nozzle design. Turbo flow air nozzles create an air flow pattern to provide higher velocity airflow with a smaller fan size and ductwork. The turbo flow air nozzles include main supply nozzles that direct high velocity air through air entrainment and mixing sections that entrain air from the oven interior to generate the increased air flow in a heat transfer zone of the oven. Appropriate ductwork is provided to direct air from a fan or fans to the supply nozzles to generate a high velocity air flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: International Thermal Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Mitchell, Yougui Zhao
  • Patent number: 7200953
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating articles, in particular vehicle bodies, with at least one tempered, directed air jet comprises a housing, in which are formed a treatment chamber and at least one pressure chamber, which is separated from the treatment chamber by a partition wall. The tempered air is suppliable to the pressure chamber and may then flow as a directed air jet into the treatment chamber through a nozzle device, which penetrates an opening of the partition wall. The nozzle device is insertable from the treatment chamber into the partition wall and fastenable from the treatment chamber to the partition wall. Consequently, subsequent work on the nozzle device, in particular an exchange thereof, may be carried out more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Sonner, Ewald Hornisch, Achim Vogt, Rainer Benzinger
  • Patent number: 7063528
    Abstract: An oven for heating a coating on a substrate, such as a painted vehicle body, including a first zone having radiant tubes and shields above the tubes and a second zone including side heat chambers having nozzles directing heated air onto a coated substrate and a hold zone. The radiant tubes may include a first linear portion extending through the oven and return loop beneath the substrate to conserve energy and sill ducts directing heated air against the underside of the vehicle body. The temperature is controlled by sensors contacting the radiant tubes and a proportional integral control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Durr Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, David J. Cole, Bruce Roesler, Douglas G. Smith, Adrien De Borchgrave d'Altena, James L. Pakkala
  • Patent number: 7021822
    Abstract: Temperature data representing transition of a temperature distribution of a coating target with time lapse is calculated Subsequently, the integrated value of the amount of heat applied to the coating is calculated on the basis of the temperature data. The dry state of the coating is estimated on the basis of the integrated value of the heat amount. In order to estimate the dry state of the coating, the integrated value of the amount of heat applied to the coating and the threshold values for the dry judgment of the coating are compared with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jianrong Shen
  • Patent number: 6990749
    Abstract: An oven assembly for drying paint on a product transported by a conveyor includes a plurality of modules positioned in a generally abutting relationship. Each of the modules includes a roof, side walls, and a floor having a length and a width. The floor is formed from abutting floor panels reinforced by a plurality of support members spaced along the length of the floor and having a length greater than the width of the floor. The side walls include an inner side wall panel disposed in an overlapping relationship with the floor and a side wall cladding panel supported by the support members along the width of the floor thereby concealing thermal insulating material disposed between the inner side wall panel and the side wall cladding panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dürr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Roesler, Lawrence A. Cook, Douglas G. Smith, David J. Cole, Jeffrey C. Andrews
  • Patent number: 6895689
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drying apparatus for drying paints which includes a casing having an opening at one end, an infrared lamp provided in the casing and adapted to radiate infrared rays toward a painted surface, an electric fan for blowing air in the casing toward the painted surface, a circulation path for causing at least a part of the air blown toward the painted surface to flow into the casing again, an atmospheric air inlet for introducing atmospheric air into the casing, and a flow rate adjusting mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the air flowing into the casing again. The drying apparatus makes it possible to shorten the requisite time for drying the painted surface and to obtain a high-quality painted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Makoto Ueno
  • Patent number: 6889446
    Abstract: A drier for objects, particularly for vehicle bodies, comprises, in a per se known manner, a housing in which is formed a drying chamber which accommodates the objects. In the said drying chamber, the objects are subjected to an IR radiation generated by at least one catalytic radiator. The drier can be used as a device for purifying air which contains pollutants, in that the intake air supplied to the drying chamber is routed exclusively via the catalytically active layer of the catalytic radiator, so that the organic impurities contained in the intake air can be catalytically oxidized there in a controlled manner. In this case, the catalytic radiator must be of heat-resistant design, such that it does not require air cooling. Both unpurified air, originating from another location, and the air containing organic impurities which is produced in the drier itself can be purified in the drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Heiko Schneider
  • Publication number: 20040231183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drying apparatus drying paints which includes a casing having an opening at one end, an infrared lamp provided in the casing and adapted to radiate infrared rays toward a painted surface, an electric fan for blowing air in the casing toward the painted surface, a circulation path for causing at least a part of the air blown toward the painted surface to flow into the casing again, an atmospheric air inlet for introducing atmospheric air into the casing, and a flow rate adjusting mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the air flowing into the casing again. The drying apparatus makes it possible to shorten the requisite time for drying the painted surface and to obtain a high-quality painted surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Ueno Makoto
  • Patent number: 6769909
    Abstract: An apparatus for curing paint on a surface of a vehicle body includes an oven enclosure having an oven section for receiving the vehicle body. A plurality of radiant tube heating elements is disposed in the oven section and each of the radiant heating tube elements has an exterior surface. An oven heater includes at least one burner disposed therein and is positioned external to the oven section. The oven heater is connected to the heating elements for providing heat energy to the oven section. A control means is connected to the oven heater for turning the oven burner on and off to maintain a predetermined temperature at the exterior surfaces of the heating elements whereby uncured paint on a surface of a vehicle body in the oven section is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Glen N Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6731866
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a repair device for vehicle capable of reducing the labor of an operator in paint and putty drying operation, facilitating the operation of the device, and providing a high quality paint surface. The repair device of the present invention includes a drying apparatus for drying a coating material coated on a panel surface, a distance detection sensor installed in the drying apparatus and detecting a distance between the drying apparatus and the panel surface coated with the coating material, and a moving device for moving the drying apparatus along the panel surface. The moving device moves the drying apparatus along the panel surface so that a value detected by the distance detection sensor comes within a specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Makoto Ueno
  • Patent number: 6062850
    Abstract: A drying oven for curing paint applied to a vehicle comprising a housing, radiant heat panel located on the side walls of the housing, a conveyor for carrying a vehicle through the housing and a convection heater unit positioned at a height below the conveyor such that heat from the convection heater is directed onto the under floor of the vehicle passing through the housing on the conveyor. In a first embodiment, the convection heater unit includes a feed pipe positioned below the conveyor and a plurality of nozzles extending from the feed pipe for directing hot air onto the under floor of the vehicle. In a second embodiment, a plurality of heat ducts are located below and to the side of the conveyor, each heat duct having an opening directed at the under floor of the vehicle on the conveyor for directing hot air onto the under floor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Ino, Susumu Nakahara, Yoshiyuki Nakai, Anthony Seccareccia, Shunji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6035547
    Abstract: A method for flashing an object painted with a water-borne high-solids automotive paint that substantially reduces the frequency of base-coat pop defects. The method subjects the painted objects to a first set of environmental conditions wherein the air temperature, relative humidity and airflow rate are maintained within certain ranges. The painted objects are maintained in these conditions for a period of time which exceeds an empirically derived minimum value. The peak metal temperature of the painted object is then raised to a second temperature range while being subjected to a second relative humidity level and second airflow rate so as to dehydrate the paint film to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Hess, Dennis D. Davidson
  • Patent number: 6035551
    Abstract: An automated air filtration and drying system including an energy and environmental management system for controlling, monitoring and supervising the operation and performance of the air filtration and drying system, a capture apparatus for capturing and controlling overspray, and a drying control module for rapidly drying a coated article using a continuously filtered and dehumidified flow of recycled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Optimum Air Corporation
    Inventors: Fred G. Scheufler, Richard D. Scheufler, deceased, by Fred G. Scheufler, executor, William H. Bayard
  • Patent number: 5836085
    Abstract: An improved paint spraying-paint curing booth for automobiles and the like is disclosed in which direct fired U-tube radiant heaters supply radiant heat to the freshly painted article effecting rapid heating and curing of the paint. The radiant heating system may be built into the booths during manufacture or retrofitted to existing spray booths. Substantial savings in both time and energy result from use of the disclosed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Joshua S. Ben-Ezra
  • Patent number: 5793019
    Abstract: An infra-red and forced air oven for drying a freshly painted object. The drying oven has a plurality of heating elements, which radiate infra-red energy, disposed about the object to be dried. Each heating element preferably has an annular shell, an electrically conductive coil carried by the shell, and an air passage through the shell through which air is forced by a fan. Electricity is provided to the electrically conductive coil which becomes heated and thereby heats the shell and radiates heat and infra-red energy into the oven. The fan forces air through the air passage of the shell so that heated air flows to the interior of the oven. Thus, the oven provides both radiant energy and forced air to dry an object within the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: DriQuik, Inc.
    Inventors: David Frederick Boyle, Thomas Alan Cherry, Gary Louis Solgere
  • Patent number: 5721805
    Abstract: A module for use in a heating appliance has a frame with first, second, third, and fourth sides. A first heating lamp is mounted substantially along the first side of the frame, a second heating lamp is mounted substantially along the second side of the frame, a third heating lamp mounted substantially along the third side of the frame, and an fourth heating lamp is mounted substantially along the fourth side of the frame. Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth heating lamps are mounted substantially diagonally to the frame. A first reflector reflects radiant energy from the first heating lamp, a second reflector reflects radiant energy from the second heating lamp, a third reflector reflects radiant energy from the third heating lamp, and a fourth reflector reflects radiant energy from the fourth heating lamp. A fifth reflector reflects radiant energy from the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth heating lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Cook, Jonathan S. Petty, Joseph R. Adamski
  • Patent number: 5718061
    Abstract: An automated air filtration and drying system diffusor is disclosed which includes at least one pair of parallel overlapping panels to balance a flow of air in a filtration and drying system. Aperatures are located in each of the panels. The aperatures of a second panel block the aperatures of the first panel. In a preferred embodiment, air flow generated by a rotary blower includes aperatures positioned in a rotary center of the panels with openings having a greater surface area than aperatures positioned on an exterior of the panels. A greater velocity is generated by air passing through aperatures having a smaller relative opening, thus balancing or equalizing the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Optimum Air Corporation
    Inventors: Fred G. Scheufler, Richard D. Scheufler, William H. Bayard
  • Patent number: 5709038
    Abstract: An automated air filtration and drying system including an energy and environmental management system for controlling, monitoring and supervising the operation and performance of the air filtration and drying system, a capture apparatus for capturing and controlling overspray, and a drying/curing control module for rapidly drying a painted article using a continuously filtered and dehumidified flow of recycled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Optimum Air Corporation
    Inventors: Fred G. Scheufler, Richard D. Scheufler, William H. Bayard
  • Patent number: 5689899
    Abstract: In order to produce an optimally smooth paint surface in automobiles, the heating phase of the drying process is interrupted when an object temperature of about 65.degree. C. is reached. This object temperature is then held for at least two and at most three and a half minutes. Then the heating phase is continued until the holding temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ber Szenker, Johann Benning
  • Patent number: 5661912
    Abstract: Booth-type drier for a painting plant, in particular, for vehicle bodies, comprising a booth interior for receiving painted articles to be dried and at least one heating element arranged in the drier for heating the articles, the heating element being, for its part, heatable using waste air from the painting plant which has undergone thermal cleaning and has thereby been heated up and which is conducted through at least one pure gas pipeline, wherein to minimize the investment and operating costs, the pure gas pipeline is laid in the drier and designed to give off heat to the booth interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Durr GmbH
    Inventors: Satpal Bhatnagar, Gunther Kuchenthal, Dietmar Wieland
  • Patent number: 5594999
    Abstract: Radiant emitting walls enclose opposite sides of a central combustion chamber in an oven where coated objects to be dried are placed or passed. The radiant emitting walls generate primarily infrared radiation and have a nonuniform temperature distribution so that the temperature of the lower portion of the oven can be selectively adjusted to be significantly higher than the temperature of the upper portion. An insulated outer housing surrounds the radiant walls and defines combustion chambers each having a linear burner which runs substantially the entire length of the radiant emitting walls. The lower portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy primarily from radiation from the linear burners and the upper portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy from primarily radiation from the interior radiant emitting surfaces of the insulated outer housing and convection from the linear burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
    Inventor: Willie H. Best
  • Patent number: 5568692
    Abstract: An improved paint drying oven for vehicles includes a "hold" zone with a radiant energy generating floor. The floor preferably is defined by an inner wall and an outer wall spaced beneath the inner wall. Heated air is passed into the space between the inner and outer walls, and heats the inner wall to a temperature such that it emits radiant energy into the oven. The other walls of the oven do not include any heat generating structure, and thus the vehicle is dried entirely by the radiant energy generating floor. This invention maintains a relatively constant temperature at the vehicle body, thus achieving the main goals of the hold zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Durr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Crompton, Gregory M. Still, Anthony R. Gore
  • Patent number: 5456023
    Abstract: An advanced cure paint spray booth in which a high volume flow of air is directed over the surfaces of a freshly painted workpiece such as an automobile to accelerate drying. A squirrel cage blower or other high volume blower directs a flow of spray booth air through a plurality of nozzles to flow over the surfaces of the workpiece. The nozzles are individually aimed at surface areas on the workpiece by placing a handle of a directional light source in a nozzle air passage and manipulating the handle to simultaneously direct the light beam and the nozzle at the surface area to be dried. A plurality of nozzles, an air handling manifold and a blower may be formed into a module which is easily retrofitted to existing paint spray booths. When a plurality of modules are mounted in a spray booth, the modules may be independently controlled for increasing air flow only on a a painted area of a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventor: Richard S. Farnan
  • Patent number: 5398425
    Abstract: An oven has heating units to dry the paint on a freshly painted automotive vehicle. Each heating unit has infra-red tubes mounted on a frame. A reflector plate having a reflecting surface is provided behind the frame. The frame is mounted for swinging movement from an operative position adjacent to the reflecting surface of the reflector plate to an inoperative position allowing access to the reflecting surface to enable the reflecting surface to be cleaned. A quick acting latch is provided to releasably secure the frame in its operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas A. Cherry, Steven R. Lipple, Dennis G. Schmalzel
  • Patent number: 5397606
    Abstract: A coating of paint on a panel is dried by directing a narrow jet of air from a supply, preferably from an air mover, held at a predetermined distance from the panel towards one edge region of the panel, the jet being substantially narrower, when it reaches the panel edge region, than the length of the panel edge and the jet being inclined to the plane of the panel such that the air from the jet is entrained by the panel in a spreading laminar flow across the panel surface from that edge region to all the other edges thereof. This induces such laminar flow over substantially the whole surface and replaces vapor-laden air closely adjacent the surface with fresh air to accelerate drying. In a painting booth for cars several such air movers use part of the bulk air flow in the booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Christopher S. Jeffs