Patent Application
20050115497
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The present invention relates to a novel system of utility in the general field of spray booths, prep stations and mix rooms.
It is well known that while conducting sanding, mixing, preparation, spraying, and/or other operations on an object, considerable quantities of dust, fumes, particulate emissions, and/or other unwanted dangerous evaporants are generated. The best way to remove those unwanted emissions is by flowing air through the working area.
The simplest technique is the horizontal flow or cross-draft. This method, although relatively very simple and inexpensive to implement, moves any unwanted part along the length of the object before expelling it, thus exposing the worker to hazardous particles and making it very difficult to attain a superior finish of the object.
Another configuration is the vertical flow or downdraft. Most prior art uses this method which gives the best results in terms of finishing and of working environment for the operator. With this technique the air flows from the ceiling to the floor of the booth, the prep station or the mix room. In conventional prior art, in order to exhaust the air, a pit is incorporated into the floor, or plenums are incorporated into the walls. Such pits and plenums can be very expensive and require a significant amount of space. Conventional prior art also often requires separate modules containing heaters, fans, filters to be positioned next to the main spray booth, prep station or mix room area. These too can be very expensive and require a significant amount of space.
The present invention provides a system that works as prep station, mix room and spray booth; it allows a world class finish of the object and provides a clean environment for the operator; it is simple to operate, cost effective, space effective and energy efficient.
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This is a complete system that works as prep station, paint booth, and mix room, granting optimal working conditions for sanding, painting and fast drying of fully or partially assembled items including wood, plastic, marble, granite, sandstone, stone and metal parts.
The system is comprised of three main parts: a compact airflow generator, which is connected to an air filtering hollow floor and to an air and light filtering hollow roof. The working area is the space between the floor and the roof.
The airflow generator is comprised of: three compartments for the air flow; a burner; a motor that powers two fans; a gear motor that powers two airlocks; and a free airlock.
The air filtering hollow floor is comprised of a plurality of elongated hollow tubular pieces that are positioned beside each other, perpendicularly to the air flow generator.
The plenum roof is connected to and supported by the airflow generator and has the dual purpose of simultaneously filtering the air and the light.
a shows a front view of the prep paint post with curtains.
b shows a side view of the prep pain post with airflow direction.
a shows a perspective inside view of one elongated hollow tubular piece.
b shows a perspective inside view of one elongated hollow tubular piece.
c shows a top view of the elongated hollow tubular piece chambers.
d shows a sectional view of one elongated hollow tubular piece.
a shows details of the connection of the plenum to the compact airflow generator.
The present invention relates to a system of utility in the field of prep stations, spray booths, mix rooms, and all those functions where air circulation is suggested or required.
The present invention provides a system which is easier to use for the intended purpose.
The present invention also reduces the number of parts needed in order to lower costs and reduce the total volume of a paint booth or prep station, thus allowing the realization of an inexpensive, high-performing unit.
The present invention also provides a simpler, more efficient combination of parts which allows the realization of a compact airflow generator and a thin floor that accepts and filters exhaust air without requiring the construction of a pit.
The present invention also allows for a better, more controlled air circulation that maintains an even velocity, increases work area safety and improves product finishing quality.
The present invention also provides a superior, more uniform light.
The present invention further provides a machine which can be easily installed.
All these improvements, and others, of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art, after carefully studying the following detailed description along with the annexed drawings where the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown only for purposes of illustration.
a shows a front view of the prep paint post, wherein curtains 21 are installed on the sides and on the front of plenum roof 20 in order to allow privacy during working and to avoid heat exchange.
b shows a side view of the prep paint post with airflow direction. The air is blown from the airflow generator 17 into the plenum roof 20, diffused through the working area and further sucked back into the airflow generator 17 though the elongated tubular pieces 12.
a shows a perspective inside view of one elongated hollow tubular piece 12 containing chamber 23 and chamber 24 of equal dimensions, and having a grate 13 as its upper surface.
b shows a perspective inside view of one elongated hollow tubular piece 12, wherein inside chambers 22 and 23 have alternate perforation on their upper surface. In particular, chamber 22 is perforated along most of its upper surface and has a whole upper surface along the rest of its length, while chamber 23 has a whole upper surface along most of its length and is perforated along the rest of its upper surface. This double channel with alternate perforation design inside the elongated tubular pieces 12 allows for more uniform air suction and eliminates air load loss.
c shows a top view of the elongated hollow tubular chambers 22 and 23, illustrating the alternate perforation design of their upper surface.
d shows a sectional view of one elongated hollow tubular piece 12 that contains two chambers, 22 and 23, and the upper surface of which is a grate 13. An air filter 14 is positioned in between the top side of the two chambers 22 and 23 and the grate 13.
a shows a side view of the plenum roof 20 with the lights 16 positioned in its interior part. It also illustrates how the plenum roof 20 is connected to the airflow generator 17 by means of bar 24 hooked to holding bars 18.
It should now be clear to those skilled in the art that using only one motor to power two fans will reduce the consumption of power, the number of parts needed and it will reduce the total volume of an airflow generator allowing for a more compact design and a better, more controlled air circulation.
Moreover, a compact airflow generator allows the operators to switch from the air exhaustion to the air recirculation mode without turning off the motor.
Additionally, having one single motor that powers the suction and the blowing fan, will maintain an even velocity or the air circulation in the system.
Furthermore, using elongated tubular pieces to build the floor will increase the velocity of the air reducing the amount of space needed for air circulation, thus allowing for a very low structure and eliminating the need for the construction of a pit in the floor or plenums in the walls will consistently reduce the space needed and the cost of installation.
In addition, using a fewer number of parts will reduce the chances of breakage and the installation time.
Also, having a superior, filtered, uniform light gives the operator the best working conditions.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely to provide illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional application No. 60/525,974 filed on Dec. 1, 2003.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60525974 | Dec 2003 | US |
