Patent Application
20110103978
The present disclosure generally relates to a turbine for a fluid delivery system and more specifically, but not by limitation, to a portable air turbine for a fluid delivery system having improved sound reduction.
One example of a fluid delivery system comprises a spray-coating system having a device configured to spray a fluid material (e.g., paint, ink, varnish, texture, etc.) through the air onto a surface. Such spray-coating systems often include a fluid material source and, depending on the particular configuration or type of system, a motor for providing pressurized fluid material and/or air to an output nozzle or tip that directs the fluid material in a desired spray pattern. For example, some common types of fluid delivery systems employ compressed gas, such as air compressed by an air compressor or propelled by a turbine, to direct and/or atomize fluid material particles onto a surface. Fluid material is provided from the fluid material source using pressure feed, suction feed, and/or gravity feed mechanisms, for example.
Air turbines used in fluid delivery systems are often portable and are positioned within a housing having a handle that allows the apparatus to be carried by a user, for example. However, despite retention of the apparatus within the housing, the emitted noise level can make it difficult for a user of the equipment to talk with others and can be audibly uncomfortable for those who work near the equipment for extended periods of time. Further, portable turbines can include weight considerations or constraints as they are frequently moved (i.e., carried by a user) between job sites, for example. Accordingly, a need exists for a quieter turbine having suitable performance and weight characteristics.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present disclosure generally relates to a turbine for a fluid delivery system and more specifically, but not by limitation, to a portable turbine for a fluid delivery system having improved sound reduction.
In one exemplary embodiment, a portable turbine apparatus is provided and includes a motor and a turbine configured to be driven by the motor for providing pressurized air to an outlet. A first inlet airflow path delivers air to the motor. A first silencer component having sound absorptive material is positioned along the first inlet airflow path and includes at least one orifice formed therethrough for the first inlet airflow path, the at least one orifice having a cross-sectional area of at least 0.01 square inches. A second inlet airflow path delivers air to the turbine. A second silencer component having sound absorptive material is positioned along the second inlet airflow path and includes at least one orifice formed therethrough for the second inlet airflow path, the at least one orifice having a cross-sectional area of at least 0.01 square inches.
In one exemplary embodiment, a portable apparatus is provided and includes a motor and a first inlet airflow path for delivering air to the motor. The apparatus also includes a mechanism driven by the motor for compressing air received from a second inlet airflow path. The compressed air is provided to an outlet of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a first silencer component positioned along the first inlet airflow path. At least a portion of the first inlet airflow path passes through the first silencer component. The first silencer component comprising a first layer that includes sound absorptive material and a second layer that includes acoustic barrier material. The apparatus also includes a second silencer component positioned along the second inlet airflow path. At least a portion of the second inlet airflow path passes through the second silencer component. The second silencer component comprises a first layer that includes sound absorptive material and a second layer that includes acoustic barrier material.
In one exemplary embodiment, a portable turbine apparatus is provided and includes a housing, a motor positioned within the housing, and a turbine positioned within the housing and configured to be driven by the motor for providing compressed air to an outlet. The apparatus also includes a first inlet airflow path from a first side of the housing to the motor and a second inlet airflow path from a second, opposite side of the housing to the turbine. A first silencer component having a sound absorbent material is positioned along the first inlet airflow path and a second silencer component having a sound absorbent material is positioned along the second inlet airflow path.
These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
In the illustrated embodiment, fluid delivery system 100 comprises an air-driven system that employs pressurized air provided from an air source (e.g., air compressed by an air compressor or a turbine) to propel material from output 112. A fluid material source 104 is configured to provide fluid material to spray gun 102. Fluid material is provided from the fluid material source 104 using pressure feed, suction feed, and/or gravity feed mechanisms, for example. Material source 104 can be mounted to spray gun 102 (e.g., an onboard hopper or container) and/or can be remote from (e.g., not mounted to) spray gun 102. One example of a fluid material container that can be utilized with spray gun 102 is illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,714, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Air source 106 is configured to provide air to spray gun 102 that is used to atomize and propel the fluid material provided from fluid material source 104. In the embodiment illustrated in
Turbine assembly 200 includes a first air intake assembly 208 at a first end 210 of turbine housing 204 and a second air intake assembly 212 at a second, opposite end 214 of housing 204. Air intake assembly 208 provides a first inlet airflow path that delivers air to be compressed by the turbine in housing 204. Air intake assembly 212 provides a second inlet airflow path that delivers air for cooling the motor in housing 204.
A first air filter assembly 320 is provided in the first inlet airflow path between end 210 and turbine 310. A second air filter assembly 322 is provided in the second inlet airflow path between end 214 and motor 314.
In accordance with one embodiment, turbine assembly 200 includes a first silencer component 324 positioned along the first inlet airflow path and a second silencer component 326 positioned along the second inlet airflow path. Silencer components 324 and 326 are configured to allow the inlet airflows 308 and 312 while providing sound attenuation qualities. In one embodiment, silencer component 324 is positioned between filter 320 and turbine 310 and silencer component 326 is positioned between air filter 322 and motor 314.
In one example, pre-filter 412 is easily removable for cleaning and/or replacement, as desired. Main filter 408 is retained in a filter frame 410 and comprises a pleated material (such as paper or paper-like materials), for example. Main filter 408 has finer filtration capabilities as compared to pre-filter 412 and operates to keep some or all particles out of the atomizing air provided by the turbine. In one embodiment, filter frame 410 is retained within a portion of intake assembly housing 402 and can comprise a seal (not shown in
Silencer component 324 is positioned between intake assembly housing 402 and turbine housing 204. A first side 404 of silencer component 324 faces air filter assembly 320 and a second side 406 of silencer component 324 faces turbine housing 204.
Silencer component 324 operates to significantly reduce the amount of sound emanating from the turbine side (i.e., side 210) of assembly 200 without an appreciable change in the airflow through intake assembly 208 into the turbine. In one embodiment, at least one layer of silencer component 324 comprises sound absorptive material(s) (also referred to as acoustical insulation) configured to absorb the sound (generally illustrated by arrows 518) emanating from the input of the turbine (generally illustrated by dashed box 514), for example. For instance, layer 504 (which is substantially planar) and/or sidewall 508 can be made of foam or foam-like material, such as, but not limited to, low-density polyester-based open cell urethane foam and the like. In one embodiment, layer 504 and/or sidewall 508 are made of material having a density of approximately two pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft3).
In one embodiment, at least one layer of silencer component 324 comprises an acoustic barrier material. The acoustic barrier material has lower sound absorption qualities (as compared to the sound absorptive material used for layer 504 and/or sidewall 508, for example) and is configured to provide sound barrier and vibration dampening qualities. For example, in one embodiment silencer component 324 comprises a layer 502 (that is substantially planar) that is configured to absorb and/or deflect at least a portion of the sound that passes through layer 504. Layer 502 is also referred to as a backing plate to which layer 504 is adhered. In one embodiment, layer 502 comprises an acoustic barrier material such as, but not limited to, extruded elastomeric materials and the like. For example, the acoustic barrier layer can comprise poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC)/vinyl. In one embodiment, layer 502 is formed of a material having a density of approximately one pound per square foot (lb/ft2).
Silencer component 324 can also include a baffle layer 520 that is attached to layer 504 and allows the airflow 512 to flow through silencer component 324 while operating to absorb sound that would otherwise emanate through inlet 506. Baffle layer 502 can be formed of the same, or substantially similar, material as layer 504.
In one example, orifice 704 is formed by two circular apertures 708 spaces apart at an angle 710. In one embodiment, the circular aperture 708 each have a diameter of approximately 1 inch and angle 710 comprises an angle of approximately 22 degrees. In one embodiment, plate 502 has a thickness 522 (illustrated in
In one embodiment, baffle 520 is formed of material that is removed from panel 504 to form orifice 802. In this embodiment, baffle 520 has a height 908, width 910, and thickness 912 that is substantially similar to height 804, width 806 and thickness 524, respectively, illustrated in
Referring to
In one embodiment, filter 1110 is substantially similar to filter 408, illustrated in
The second silencer component 326 is positioned between the intake assembly housing 1002 and the turbine housing 204. Intake assembly housing 1002 can be attached to turbine housing 204, for example using fasteners such as screws and/or bolts. A first side 1006 of silencer component 326 faces air filter assembly 322 and a second side 1008 of silencer component 326 faces turbine housing 204.
Silencer component 326 includes at least one layer of sound absorptive material. In the illustrated embodiment, layer 1108 comprises a layer of sound absorptive material that is adhered to a backing layer 1106. In one embodiment, layer 1108 is formed of a material that is the same as, or substantially similar to, layer 504 (illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, thickness 1310 of layer 1106 is substantially similar to thickness 522 of layer 502 and thickness 1312 of layer 1108 is substantially similar to thickness 524 of layer 504. Further, in one embodiment sidewall 1110 is substantially similar to sidewall 508.
As mentioned above, in one example turbine assembly 200 is portable (e.g., turbine assembly 200 is carried by a user between job sites). In accordance with one embodiment, silencer components 324 and 326 are designed to be lightweight (e.g., components 324 and 326 do not significantly add to the overall weight of turbine assembly 200, components 324 and 326 comprise a small percentage of the overall weight of assembly 200, etc.), while providing improved sound attention qualities that significantly reduce the overall noise emanating from turbine assembly 200. For example, in one embodiment the combined weight of components 324 and 326 is less than approximately 1.25 pounds (lbs). In one embodiment, the combined weight of components 324 and 326 is approximately 1 pound (lb). In one particular example, components 324 and 326 have a weight of approximately 0.53 and 0.5 lbs., respectively.
In one particular embodiment, turbine assembly 200 comprises a 5-stage turbine having an overall weight of approximately 22 lbs. Silencer components 324 and 326 comprise approximately 1.03 lbs, which is approximately 4.7 percent of the overall weight of turbine assembly 200.
It is noted that these are examples of particular illustrative embodiments of turbine assembly 200 and silencer components 324 and 326, and are not meant to limit the scope of the concepts described herein.
While various embodiments of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the disclosure, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the system or method while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and/or the appended claims.
