Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-02-20
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
C029S280000, C029S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189192
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention relates to rotary powder coating electrostatic spray applicators. In particular, the present invention relates to a tool for a rotary powder coating electrostatic spray applicator for installing and removing a turbine body and connected bell cup assembly from a turbine body housing.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR DEVELOPMENTS
Automotive vehicles are typically covered with several different coating layers prior to being painted. One such coating is applied as a fine powder spray which is subsequently baked in a vehicle paint oven to form a strong substrate which resists chipping. The powder coating is applied under air pressure with a rotary sprayer known as a “bell.” As a series of unpainted vehicle bodies pass through an enclosed room, electrically charged powder particles are discharged from a group of such bells in a mist or cloud. The vehicle body is also given an electrical charge. The electrical charge on the vehicle body attracts the electrical charged powder particles so that there is an even coating on the vehicle body.
The spray applicators have a turbine body housing which is connected with a pneumatic line and a powder coating delivery line. Within the turbine body housing is a member commonly referred to as a turbine body. The turbine body rotatively mounts an enclosed turbine. The turbine at a front end of the turbine body has a narrow section.
Connected to the narrow section of the turbine is a bell cup shaped as a truncated frustoconical member with its smaller diameter end being oriented toward the turbine body housing. The bell cup has its open end pointing toward the passing vehicles. Fluid and powder are delivered to the bell cup. Spaced from the bell cup is a cover.
The bell and bell cover are commonly referred to as the bell cup assembly. The cover essentially covers the opened end of the bell cup but is spaced away from the bell cup approximately 5-6 millimeters. The delivered powder coating proceeds through this spacing and into a truncated frustoconical air ring which directs it toward the vehicle.
Because of turbine failures, the turbine body and bell cup are removed for maintenance. In removing the turbine body and its connected bell cup, the turbine body and bell cup must be pulled axially outward from the turbine body housing. In an attempt to pull the turbine body out from the turbine body housing, a maintenance operator can inadvertently disturb the alignment of the bell cup upon the turbine body or affect the critical clearance between the bell cup cover and the bell cup. Damage to the critical clearance between the bell cup cover and the bell cup can cause the applicator to apply an uneven or marred coating upon the vehicle body.
The marred coating is typically not discovered until the vehicle leaves the paint oven or is observed down the assembly line. By the time the first improperly coated vehicle is discovered, approximately 40-60 vehicles will have similar defects. This will cause extensive repair effort to fix the vehicles. What is needed is a tool which can allow for the installation and removal of the turbine body, turbine and its connected bell cup assembly from and into the turbine body housing of the electrostatic powder coating applicator without damaging the alignment between the bell cup and the turbine body or disrupting the critical clearance between the bell cup and the bell cup cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to fulfill the need noted above. In the preferred embodiment the present invention provides a tool for installing and removing a turbine, turbine body and connected bell cup assembly of a rotary powder spray applicator into and out of a turbine body housing. The tool has a first plate with an elongated aperture or slot with a blind end. The first plate has a first surface for axial engagement with a radial surface of the turbine. A second plate is connected with the first plate. The second plate has an elongated aperture or slot with a blind end generally aligned with the elongated aperture of the first plate. The second plate has a first surface for axial engagement with the turbine body and a second surface opposite the first surface for isolating the bell cup from the turbine body. A handle is connected with the second plate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for installing and removing a turbine body and connected bell cup assembly from a rotary powder spray applicator turbine body housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which can install a turbine body and connected bell cup assembly without contacting the cover of the bell cup assembly. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a tool for installing and removing a turbine body and connected bell cup assembly from a rotary spray powder applicator turbine body housing without damaging the alignment of the bell cup with respect to the turbine body or the alignment and spacing of the bell cup cover with respect to the bell cup.
The above-noted objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the invention is further explained in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3626575 (1971-12-01), Greenspan
patent: 3759559 (1973-09-01), Yuska
patent: 3867753 (1975-02-01), Urban, II et al.
patent: 4096618 (1978-06-01), Perline et al.
patent: 4202088 (1980-05-01), Hansen
patent: 4468858 (1984-09-01), Gulberg et al.
patent: 5097581 (1992-03-01), Williams et al.
Baioff Danny
Boucher Gil
Tiessen David A.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Shurupoff Lawrence J.
Watson Robert C.
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