Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including supply holder for material – Plural holders for diverse materials
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-19
2004-01-27
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3732)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including supply holder for material
Plural holders for diverse materials
C137S560000, C137S884000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06682001
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fluid source changers or fluid type changers for fluid circuits. It is disclosed in the context of a color changer for a coating material dispensing system. However, it is believed to be useful in other applications as well.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As used herein, the term “electrically non-conductive” means electrically more insulative than the term “electrically conductive.” The term “electrically noninsulative” means electrically more conductive than the term “electrically insulative.”
Fluid source changers or fluid type changers, for example, fluid color changers, and related components for various applications are known. There are, for example, the devices and systems illustrated and described in the following U.S. Patents, and references cited in these U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,583,664; 2,806,481; 3,045,691; 3,053,461; 3,150,675; 3,326,228; 3,433,262; 3,828,807; 4,148,932; 4,159,806; 4,311,724; 4,348,425; 4,350,720; 4,356,868; 4,362,124; 4,403,736; 4,592,305; 4,660,597; 4,828,218; 5,058,812; 5,318,065; 5,632,816; 5,725,150; and, Re. 32,151. There are also the devices and systems illustrated and described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/022,494, filed Dec. 17, 2001, titled IMPROVEMENTS IN COLOR CHANGERS and assigned to the same assignee as this application, and the references cited therein; and U.S. Ser. No. 10/021,467, filed Oct. 30, 2001, titled MODULAR FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH BYPASS and assigned to the same assignee as this application, and the references cited therein. The disclosures of all of these references are hereby incorporated herein by reference. No representation is intended by this listing that a complete search of all the relevant prior art has been conducted, or that no better art than that listed is available, or that the listed art is relevant. Nor should any such representation be inferred.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid type changer includes multiple modules. Each module includes a body constructed from an electrically non-conductive material and a plate coupled to the body and constructed from an electrically non-insulative material. Each plate includes at least one of a receptacle for receiving an electrically non-insulative contact and an electrically non-insulative contact oriented to be received in such a receptacle when multiple modules are coupled together in a fluid type changer to couple the plates of the modules of the fluid type changer together electrically.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, at least one of the modules includes a valve for selecting a fluid provided to that module for supply from the changer to equipment coupled to the changer.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each plate includes a surface for orienting adjacent an adjacent surface of an adjacent plate. One of the adjacent surfaces includes at least one of the contacts and the other of the adjacent surfaces includes at least one of the receptacles for receiving the said one of the contacts.
Additionally illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each of the adjacent surfaces includes both at least one of the contacts and at least one of the receptacles.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a source for the selected fluid for coupling in a circuit with the at least one module. The at least one module includes an input port for entry into the at least one module of the selected fluid from the source and a recirculation port for the recirculation of the selected fluid from the at least one module back to the source.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes an electrically non-insulative coupler for coupling the source of the selected fluid to the input port and an electrically non-insulative coupler for coupling the recirculation port to the source of the selected fluid. The couplers are electrically coupled to the plate on the at least one module.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the module includes an output port for the output of the selected fluid from the fluid type changer, selection of the valve permitting the selected fluid to flow from the input port to the output port.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a plurality of sources for respective selected fluids, a plurality of the modules including respective input ports for entry into the respective modules of respective fluids from respective sources and respective recirculation ports for the recirculation of the respective fluids from the respective modules back to the respective sources.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes electrically non-insulative couplers for coupling respective sources to respective input ports and electrically non-insulative couplers for coupling respective recirculation ports to respective sources. The couplers are electrically coupled to the plates on the respective modules, and electrically coupled together through the electrically non-insulative contacts and receptacles on the respective plates.
According to another aspect of the invention, a fluid type changer including a body constructed from an electrically non-conductive material and a plate constructed from an electrically non-insulative material coupled to the body, a source of fluid for coupling in a circuit with the body, the body including an input port for entry of the fluid from the source and a recirculation port for the recirculation of the fluid back to the source, an electrically non-insulative coupler for coupling the source of the fluid to the input port and an electrically non-insulative coupler for coupling the recirculation port to the source of the fluid, the couplers being electrically coupled to the plate.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the body includes a valve for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the changer to equipment coupled to the changer.
Additionally illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the body includes an output port for the output of the fluid from the changer. Operation of the valve permits the fluid to flow from the input port to the output port.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a fluid type changer includes multiple modules. Each module includes a body constructed from an electrically non-conductive material. Each body includes a valve for selecting a fluid provided to that module for supply from the changer to equipment coupled to the changer. Each module further includes a plate constructed from an electrically non-insulative material coupled to its respective body. Each plate includes at least one of a receptacle for receiving an electrically non-insulative contact and an electrically non-insulative contact oriented to be received in such a receptacle when multiple modules are coupled together in a fluid type changer to couple the plates of the modules of the fluid type changer together electrically.
Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each plate includes a surface for orienting adjacent an adjacent surface of an adjacent plate. One of the adjacent surfaces includes at least one of the contacts and the other of the adjacent surfaces includes at least one of the receptacles for receiving the said one of the contacts.
Additionally illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, each of the adjacent surfaces includes both at least one of the contacts and at least one of the receptacles.
Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a source for each type of fluid provided to the changer. Each respective source is coupled in circuit with a respective module. Each respective module includes an input port for entry of a respective fluid from a respective source and a recirculation port for the recirculation of the respective fluid from the respective module back to the respectiv
Breh Donald J.
Croll Mark W.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Ramana Anuradha
Shaver Kevin
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