Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including supplemental gas shaping or shielding jet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2001-07-31
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including supplemental gas shaping or shielding jet
C239S292000, C239S295000, C239S300000, C239S532000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267300
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, and, more particularly, to an applicator for spraying a fluid onto a surface.
BACKGROUND ART
At present, most fluid dispensing applicators are only capable of spraying along a direction longitudinal to the applicator, i.e., in a straight forward direction. However, in practice, an operator is often confronted with the task of coating the backside or “unviewable side” of a structure. The unviewable side is typically inaccessible because it is covered by a panel or other obstacle. In aerospace, this situation arises frequently; for example, the unviewable side of “stringers” in an airplane wing must be coated with a liquid/fluid. This work is presently performed manually using bent brushes. The disadvantage to this form of application is that it is expensive, unreliable, and uncomfortable to perform.
A further disadvantage to the use of bent brushes to apply coatings to an unviewable surface is that some coatings cannot be applied onto a surface in the desired quantity or quality using this form of application. Further, obtaining an even coating using a bent brush is virtually impossible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for coating a fluid onto an unviewable surface. The apparatus includes a fluid feed system having a pressure pot for pressurizing the fluid, a variable fluid control unit for controlling the feed rate of the fluid, and a fluid line for delivering the fluid. The fluid line is bent 30° to 60° to allow the fluid to be distributed to the unviewable surface. A fluid spray tip dispenses the fluid under low pressure. The apparatus also includes an air feed system, having a compressed air source for pressurizing air, and an air line for delivering the air. The air line is parallel to the fluid line and bent 30° to 60° to allow a jet of air to be directed at the unviewable surface. An air spray tip is positioned 90° relative to the fluid spray tip for providing a high pressure jet of air to contact the low pressure fluid on the fluid spray tip and atomize the fluid ejecting onto the unviewable surface in an even manner.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a fluid applicator used to apply an even coat of fluid to a surface which is not accessible along a longitudinal axis to the applicator. The applicator includes a fluid delivery system that delivers the fluid at a low pressure, and has a distal end bent 30° to 60° from the applicator's longitudinal axis. The applicator also includes an air delivery system having a distal end bent at an angle identical to the distal end of the fluid delivery system. The air delivery system delivers a high pressure jet of air 90° relative to the fluid, thereby aspirating the fluid and ejecting it onto the surface.
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Nelson Lawrence W.
Nguyen Dinh Q.
Scherbel David A.
The Boeing Company
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