Abstract: A multiple stage airflow diffuser apparatus for spreading the airflow to provide a uniform airflow in a plenum. The diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser stages positioned in a spaced, nested relationship.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of ventilating a treatment cubicle such as a painting or spraying cubicle used for painting items such as vehicle bodies. Wherein fresh air to be supplied to the cubicle is supplied via an air-permeable ceiling (1); and air supply chamber (2) is provided above the ceiling (1) and communicates with an inlet air chamber (3) which is connected via at least one aperture (4) to a fresh air supply system. The volume of fresh air flowing into the air supply chamber (2) can be regulated by altering the aperture (4). The proposed process is characterized by the fact that at least some of the fresh air drawn into the inlet air chamber (3) is forced to flow in a path parallel to the ceiling (1) for a predetermined distance before passing via the aperture (4) into the air supply chamber (2), while the parameters needed to regulate the fresh air flow are measured in the end region of the directed air stream.

Abstract: An integrated paint spray booth and air conditioning system and process utilize a spray booth housing, scrubber and filtering chambers located below the housing, and an air conditioning apparatus including an adiabatic saturator. The components are arranged to direct the air flow in the system substantially transverse to the length of the system. The air is conditioned to predetermined psychrometric values by sensing only the temperature of the water entering the saturator and the air exiting the conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: An airflow diffuser apparatus for controlling the airflow exiting a filter unit used in a paint booth. The airflow diffuser apparatus includes a diffuser formed of a plate positioned underneath the filter unit to diffuse the airflow exiting the filter unit to provide a more uniform airflow in the paint booth.

Abstract: A paint booth structure and method having, in one form a specially shaped painting volume wherein the painting occurs is provided with an air flow system to carry away paint overspray and a decreasing cross-sectional area in the direction of air flow to cause an increasing velocity air flow where the painting occurs.

Abstract: A personnel lift for use in spray booth systems having a partially enclosed work platform capable of X, Y, and Z axis mobility within the spray booth system and a flexible air supply conduit connecting the partially enclosed work platform to an air inlet manifold for supplying fresh air to the work platform.

Abstract: A plenum for a paint spray booth including at least one improved plenum module having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls each comprised of a truss adapted to cooperate with a plurality of stilts thereby independently supporting the plenum above the paint application zone of a paint spray booth. The improved plenum module permits the spacing between plenum stilts to be increased to at least sixty feet thereby decreasing construction costs, increasing the uniformity of airflow from the plenum and decreasing the potential for air leaks from and into the plenum. The improved plenum modules are adapted to be coupled in series and in parallel to provide plenum modules of varying lengths and widths.

Abstract: An air distribution apparatus in a paint spray booth plenum for increasing the uniformity of down draft velocities from the plenum to the spray booth paint application zone. The increased uniformity of down draft velocities correspondingly increases paint transfer efficiency and minimizes paint overspray buildup in the paint application zone. The improved air distribution apparatus includes airflow regulating elements and flow directing members which cooperate to distribute airflow substantially evenly across the plenum floor and into the paint application area. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of perforated plates and guide vanes are used to control the rate and direction of airflow in the plenum. The invention also provides for the adjustment of the rate and direction of flow through the use of slidable plates and adjustable guide vanes.

Abstract: A spray paint booth having an internal base formed by two parts of which one is a fixed perimetral walk way (2) and the other one is a mobile central base (3) that holds the vehicle and/or other elements that require painting, a lifting mechanism is placed at the bottom of this mobile structure with which its level can be changed compared to the side walking structure around it.

Abstract: An air supply plenum for a paint spray booth includes a housing with separating walls positioned between the ceiling and a filter support panel of the plenum housing. The air flow supplied to the paint spray booth area is divided by the walls into three distinct flows: (1) a central flow air, through which the article to be painted travels in the paint spray booth, (2) two outer greater flow areas where the operators and/or equipment for applying paint to the article to be painted are located. Filters are positioned in the supply plenum arrangement adjacent and above the filter support panel separating the plenum and paint spray booth. The filters run longitudinally along the length of the plenum and between the separating walls. The positioning of these filters in this manner minimizes the amount of turbulence of the flow provided to the spray paint booth.

Abstract: A paint spray booth including an air supply having a fan motor is controlled by first and second plenums and air restrictors that adjustably control the flow of air from the second plenum to first and second areas of the booth that require different velocities of airflow. A pressure sensor responsive to air in the second plenum controls the air supply to maintain constant pressure in the second plenum so that the speed of air in the first and second areas is adequately controlled.

Abstract: Cell for repairing a portion of a vehicle, including a plurality of modular panels, forming ceiling, cladding, floor, wherein the panels are secured together so as to make up a volume encompassing, on the one hand, all or some of the vehicle and, on the other hand, all of the means necessary for repairing the said vehicle, the said volume being equipped on one of its sides with at least one opening for the introduction of the said vehicle, the said opening being provided over all or some of its periphery with a sealing member allowing the said cell to be used in a configuration in which the volume and energy required are reduced.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a paint spray booth is located entirely within the booth below the paint application zone for supplying a modified temperature, humidity, and/or filtrated air to the application zone.

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 powder coating booth and a recirculating air system is provided for electrostatic coating of articles. The booth includes an operator compartment and a spray chamber. A recirculating fan supplies air to the operator compartment which passes through a window into the spray chamber. The fan also provides air flow through orifice plates at the top of the spray chamber to surround the articles in a controlled manner. The fan additionally supplies air against the back wall of the spray chamber. All of the air in the spray chamber is passed through a reclamation filter and back to the fan. The entire system can be provided on a mobile base.

Abstract: A system to dehumidify a substantially sealed chamber (2) which includes a recirculating duct (1) which recirculates air within the chamber. The duct includes an exchange aperture (3) facing the direction of flow of air (4). A fan (5) to draw air through the duct is positioned downstream of the exchange aperture. A heater (19) is provided preferably within the recirculating duct and preferably located downstream of the display aperture. The sealed chamber (2) may be a spray painting booth for painting vehicles.

Abstract: An air supply housing arrangement for a paint spray booth is located at an elevation in the booth such that the air flowing through a booth paint spray zone is processed below a level of water held in a booth recirculation tank.

Abstract: A pressure gradient control system includes a ventilated area divided into a plurality of intercommunicating zones, a zone-to-zone pressure gradient detecting device for detecting pressure gradients between adjacent zones, a control unit for adjusting quantities of air supply or exhaust to/from the zones based on detection information received from the zone-to-zone pressure gradient detecting device to establish a predetermined pressure gradient between adjacent zones, and an interior-ambient pressure gradient detecting device for detecting pressure gradients between an ambient area and those of the zones communicating with the ambient area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for powder spraying a automotive or other vehicle body in a powder spray booth includes a cabin purge zone in which a pair of inlet hood assemblies are positioned to the side window openings on each side of the body and the cavity is purged of excess powder by extracting the powder from the cavity through the inlet hood assemblies. The effective and efficient removal of suspended oversprayed powder from the interior of the vehicle cabin is accomplished through the production of a symmetrical air flow through the vehicle cabin in which air is exhausted through the two side window openings while the interior of the vehicle cabin is replenished with air through the front windshield opening and the rear window opening.

Abstract: A spray booth having a work area for an operator. A first fan assembly located in the back wall of the booth produces an exhaust air stream. Filter means are located between the first fan assembly and the work area. A second fan assembly supplies a make-up air stream and a laminar diffuser is connected to the second fan assembly and positioned above the operator to provide a downwardly directed air piston in the work area surrounding the operator In the preferred embodiment, the exhaust fan has a capacity of between about 340 and 400 CFM per foot width of the spray booth. In the preferred embodiment, the make-up air fan has a capacity of between about 230 and 300 CFM per foot width of the spray booth. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the make-up air fan has a capacity of between about 2/3 and 3/4 the capacity of the first fan assembly.

Abstract: A facility including a booth for solvent or paint application or drying process is provided with ventilation inlets and outlets to cause stratification of constituents such as VOCs or particulate in the booth. The ventilation air withdrawn from the booth is split into two air streams, one air stream contains a relatively low volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration, and the other a relatively high VOC concentration. The ventilation air from the low concentration stream is vented to the atmosphere (or alternatively back in the booth) and the ventilation air from the high concentration stream is conducted to a VOC emission control device. Thus, adequate VOC emission control is achieved, and the volume of air processed by the VOC emission control device is reduced, along with the corresponding VOC emission control costs.

Abstract: A paint spray booth is provided which comprises a floor covered with flowing liquid, the floor including an elongated passageway formed therein defined by a pair of passageway walls and having an entrance opening and an exit opening. The paint spray booth further comprises a mechanism for exhausting air from the booth and pulling a stream of paint particle laden air downwardly through the openings. The booth further comprises a first longitudinally extending concave plate positioned to receive the mixed stream of water and air exiting from the exit opening, and a second longitudinally extending concave plate laterally spaced from the first concave plate. The first and second concave plates cooperate to define a flow chamber therebetween and a discharge opening. The first and second plates are designed to minimize paint buildup in the flow chamber and to trap the noise generated at the discharge opening to reduce the amount of noise returning through the passageway.

Abstract: A control system for controlling capturing and disposing of volatile organic compounds ("VOC's") and other substances that includes a spray booth having an entrance, an exit, an accessible working area and one or more areas adjacent the working area, the use of air curtains to provide invadable spray booth sealing closures at the entrance, exit, working and adjacent areas, an interior air flow supply means directing air flow generally in the direction of the article to be sprayed to move the floating particles and vapors in a decided direction, air evacuation means to recycle the supplied air and remove the VOC's and other substances entrained therein to a remote location, and means to dispose of the VOC's and other substances evacuated from the control system.

Abstract: A spray booth for applying a coating to a substrate includes an outer chamber (12) containing a fluid therein having a predetermined first temperature and/or humidity and an inner chamber (14) in fluid communication with the outer chamber (12). The inner chamber (14) contains the fluid therein at a higher predetermined second humidity and/or temperature. The inner chamber (14) includes a fan (42) for recirculating a flow of the fluid at the second predetermined temperature and/or humidity therethrough and filters (34,36,44,46) for removing airborne comtaminants. A temperature and/or humidity control device (58) exhausts a predetermined amount of the fluid from the inner chamber (14) out of the inner (14) and outer chambers (12) said exhausted fluid being essentially free of toxic contaminants, the exhaust of the fluid drawing fluid from the outer chamber (22) into the inner chamber (14) to lower the temperature and/or humidity in the inner chamber (14).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of powder coating relatively large objects such as automotive or other vehicle bodies comprises a spray booth having an interior which includes a cut-in coating zone having a relatively large area to permit the application of powder onto the interior portions of the vehicle body such as the inner door flanges, a side coating zone area wherein the vertically oriented, exterior surfaces of the vehicle body are coated such as the doors and fenders, an overhead coating zone in which the horizontally oriented, exterior surfaces of the vehicle body are coated such as the hood, roof and trunk, and, two transition zones separating the three coating zones.