Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Terminal member adjustably or shiftably connected to flow...
Patent
1998-04-20
2000-04-25
Kashnikow, Andres
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Terminal member adjustably or shiftably connected to flow...
239551, 239562, 2395872, 239588, B05B 1508
Patent
active
060534346
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for the application of a fluid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A current device for the application of a fluid is in practice implemented as a rotatable spray gun which has a number of spray nozzles and is designed to be mounted on a robotic control device.
Spray guns are used when fluids, such as gases, liquids or plastic material, are to be sprayed or extruded onto a surface. One example of a field of application of such a spray gun is in the automobile industry, when bodies are to be surface treated or joints are to be sealed. Other fields of application are, of course, also possible. When the spray gun is used, it must be positioned carefully in relation to the surface onto which the material is to be applied. Conventional spray guns are usually furnished with a single nozzle having a fixed application direction. Redirection of the nozzle must then be carried out by turning the entire gun, which, however, takes considerable time, and can cause problems with accessibility in confined spaces. Redirection of a spray gun also places high demands on a robot's control instructions in order to achieve correct application with a high precision.
Rotating spray assemblies with several nozzles are known, for example, from PCT application Ser. No. WO 80/02278. This publication, however, shows a spray assembly with simultaneous feed to all of the nozzles, which severely limits the range of use of the assembly.
One object of the present invention is therefore to improve the accessibility, such as during extrusion or spraying, which then can proceed without the necessity for a tool change.
A further object of the present invention is to reduce the adjustment time which is necessary for an adjustment from a first spraying direction to a second spraying direction.
A further object of the present invention is to enable a changeover between different process steps, for example between spraying and extrusion, without an intervening tool change.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects have now been accomplished by the discovery of apparatus for the application of a fluid to a surface and adapted for mounting on a holder, the apparatus being adjustable between a plurality of directions and including at least one nozzle which can be rotated thereby, the apparatus including feed means for supplying the fluid, swivel means including a housing, a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal axis and rotatably mounting the housing, the at least one nozzle being mounted on the rotatable shaft, the feed means connected to the housing, and the housing including a first channel for supplying the fluid from the feed means through the housing, a second channel formed adjacent to the housing for supplying the fluid from the first channel to the rotatable shaft irrespective of the rotatable position of the rotatable shaft, and a third channel arranged at least partially in the rotatable shaft for supplying the fluid from the second channel to the at least one nozzle. Preferably the second channel comprises an annular channel disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the at least one nozzle comprises three nozzles, each of the three nozzles being aimed in a different direction.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes at least one valve for controlling the supply of the fluid from the feed means to the at least one nozzle, the at least one valve being mounted on the housing, and being connected between the second channel and the third channel.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the housing includes an inner circumferential surface and the second channel comprises an annular channel open towards the inner circumferential surface of the housing.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the housing and the rotatab
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patent: 3826431 (1974-07-01), Telge
patent: 3863841 (1975-02-01), Berthoud
patent: 3931930 (1976-01-01), Waldrum
patent: 4576111 (1986-03-01), Slomianny
patent: 4821673 (1989-04-01), Kirigakubo et al.
patent: 5007585 (1991-04-01), Kubacak et al.
AB Volvo
Evans Robin O.
Kashnikow Andres
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