CA1099669A - Painting apparature - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The subject of the invention is an apparatus for conveying liquids of any type and for applying paints, coating agents, impregnating agents, insulating agents, adhesives, lacquers, plastics and other liquid spreadable preparations to a surface, characterised in that the apparatus consists of at least one container which is formed by an assembled and demountable upper container part and a lower container part, the upper container part having an orifice and a connecting line for a pressure medium which acts on a soft and flexible diaphragm located in the container, and the lower container part has at least one orifice for filling in and dispensing the liquid preparation, and a connecting line is provided between the orifice located in the lower container part and the point where the liquid is consumed, and the container is held so that it can be tilted about its horizontal axis and back as well as locked in position.

This means that the application of the preparations can take place more economically and more uniformly and without pro-cessing losses, at a predetermined layer thickness of the coating. Moreever, for reasons of occupational health and environmental pollution it is intended to restrict the evolu-tion of noxious vapours when using preparations which contain organic solvents. Furthermore, the new apparatus should also be suitable for coating large areas both outside and inside, for example in shipping, on tanks and in the rust-prevention sector. According to the invention, the apparatus should, however, also be suitable for conveying liquids of any type, for example the conveying of beer from the storage cellar into the taproom of liquid media on building sites and of fuel oil from a storage room at a lower position to the oil fornace located at a higher level

Description

lV~669 ,.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for con-veying liquids of any type and for applying paints, coating - agents, impregnating agents, insulating agents, adhesives, lacquers, plastics and other li~uid spreadable preparations.
It is the object of the present invention to provide . .
an apparatus ~or the purpose of carrying out the conveying or applying of the abovementioned liquid spreadable preparations i~ a substantially more efficient manner as compared with the methods hitherto customary for this. This means that the application of the preparations can take place more economically and more uniformly and without processing losses, at a pre-determin~d layer thickness of the coating. Moreover, for reasons of occupational health and environmental pollution it is intended to restrict the evolution of noxious vapours when using preparations which contain organic solvents. Further-more, the new apparatus should also be suitable ~or coating large areas both outside and inside, for example in shipping, on tanks and in the rust-prevention sector. In addition, no wearing parts should be present in the apparatus as far as possible. The apparatus should be very reliable in operation, not require any motor, not cause any noise and be simple to operate and to maintain. According to the invention, the apparatus should, however, also be suitable for conveying liquids of any type, for example the conveying of beer from the storage cellar into the taproom of liquid media on building sites and of fuel oil from a storage room at a lower position to the oil furnace located at a higher level.
Thus, the surface treatment of pipes in industrial plants

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1~99669 or other surfaces which are complicated with respect to paint;ng technology, is in general carried out by spreading the paint using a brush. An application method of this type, in which the painter must first dip the brush into the paint container and then spread the paint onto the surface, is not only extremely time-consuming, but it can lead to direct OT long-term bodily injuries - caused by a frequently very awkward working position.
Additionally, pipes and similar complicated objects to be painted are frequently laid at a fairly high level or in localities with difficult access, so that the working procedure is made more difficult by often dangerous climbing and laborious transports of the paint containers.
An application method which is fairly frequently used and is efficient, consists in spraying the paint, but this method is rather unsuitable for painting complicated surfaces. An essential disadvantage is that the paint must frequently be transported over considerable distances and large level dif-ferences so that the paint pumps must have a disproportionate size.
A particular advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that it is possible to apply not only preparations consisting of a single component, but also two-component and multi-component preparations, without having to produce a premix.
Finally, it is also possible to produce and to apply controllable mixtures of preparations in different colour shades.
The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying liquids, comprising a container having demountable upper and lower container parts, the upper container part having a pres-surized fluid inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fluid, a flexible diaphragm located in the ~99669 container so as to provide a gas type expandable chamber in said container, said lower container part having an orifice through which a fluid may be charged into or discharged from said lower container part, a connecting line connecting said orifice with a point at which said fluid is discharged~ and means for mounting said container for rotation about a hori-zontal axis for allowing rotation of said container from a position in which said orifice in said lower container part is at the uppermost part of said container for filling fluid into said lower container part to a position in which said orifice is substantially at the lowermost part of said con-tainer for the discharge of fluid therefrom.
An embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the outer rim of the diaphragm is located between the rims of the upper container part and the lower container part.
An embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the outer rim of the diaphragm between the rims of the upper con-tainer part and the lower container part is held in compression, making a seal, by holder elements fitted to the outside of the upper container part and the lower container part.
Another embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the outer rim of the diaphragm is designed as a groove and tongue and the rims of the upper container part and the lower con-tainer part are designed to engage in the groove and tongue.
An embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the outer rim of the diaphragm contains, as a gasket, a reinforce-ment having a circular cross-section, and the rims of the upper container part and the lower container part contain an annular re~ess which has a semi-circular cross-section and which is to , . .. .. , ~ . -receive the gasket on the rim of the diaphragm.
A further preferred embodiment of the apparatus is characterisèd in that the container, designed as a spherical container, consists of two hemispherical container shells.
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the diaphragm is designed as a hemispherical shell having a gasket ring as the rim.
A special embodiment of the apparatus is characterised .
in that the apparatus comprises 10 (a) at least two containers which are each provided with a dia-phragm, subject to the action of a pressure medium, and are to receive different colours or components, the two con-tainers being arranged upstream of a mixing vessel, and (b) a connecting line for transporting the paint or the liquid preparation from the mixing vessel to the application device.
A special embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that four containers which are each provided with a diaphragm and are to receive red, yellow, green and blue paint or different components, and a fifth container which is provided with the dia-20 phragm and is *o receive the diluent, and four connecting i~nes ..
and a further connecting line for,-respectively, conveying the said paints or components and the diluent bnwards to the mixing ~essel are provided.
A further special embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that, respectively, two connecting lines or five connecting lines are provided for conveying the pressure medium to two diaphragms or five diaphragms. :
A special version of the preceding embodiment is _ 5 _ , 1~9966~

characterised in that, respectively, two connecting lines or ' five connecting lines are provided with two valves or five valves~
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that, respectively, two connecting lines or five connëcting lines are linked to the same pressure'vessel.
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that, respectively, the two connecting lines or fiue connect-ing lines leading to the mixing vessel are provided with t~o 10 valves or five valves.
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised , . . .
ln that,' respectively, the two connecting lines or five connect-ing lines leading to the mixing vessel are provided with two controllable nozzles or five controllable nozzles.
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that a mixing vessel is equipped with a mixer device.
A further embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the equipment is held in a frame which is transportable on at least two wheels.
~ further preferr'ed embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the equipment held in a frame carries a valve arrangement for the pressure medium which is to be intro-duced, in order to deliver the liquid preparation,intended to be applied,to the-application~device or to cause the pressure medium to flow out of the container when the liquid preparation intended to be applied is filled in.
A further pre~erred embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the diameter of the orifice in the lower ~v .~ , .

1~99669 container part is greater than that of the orifice in the upper container part in order to enable even viscous liquid preparations to be filled in rapidly and without bubbles. ~
A further embodiment o~ the apparatus is characterised in 1;hat the inner surface of the lower container part, which surface consists o~ a material which is inert to the charge, is polished or is coated in such a way that, as ~ar as possible, the li~uid preparation intended to be applied does not wet the inner surface,in order to facilitate removal of the liquid preparation for cleaning purposes.
A further preferred embodiment of the apparatus is characterised in that the container and the valve arrangement are located at different levels on a carrier stand in such a way that the product-filling and -discharging ori~ice of the container is located at a lower level than the valve arrangement, when the product-filling and -discharging orifice of the tiltable container points upwards.
A further preferred embodiment of the preceding preferred apparatus is characterised in that the valve arrangement comprises a shut-of~ valve and a charg~n~ valve between the sh~t-off valve and the filling arrangement for the pressure medium.
Further application examples, which may be mentioned, for the apparatus according to the invention are:
The paint container, or the paint-mixing container, can be equipped with a distributor device so that the paint or the lacquer can be applied simultaneously through several application devices by means of, for example, brushes, rollers and/or spray-guns.
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' 1~3996~9 Of course, the apparatus can also be used for applying two-component or multi-component adhesives or for those chemical products which are sensitive to atmospheric influences and/or must be exposed to the latter only for brief periods.
The subject of the invention is described in the follow-ing text - by reference to the figures in the attached drawings -in various illustrative embodiments. However, the scope of thé invention is not in any way intended to be restricted to these examples by these illustrative embodiments.
Figure 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention for applying two-component lacquers. This apparatus is generally marked by the reference number 10. The equipment 10 is provided with a connection 11 for a pressure medium - for examFle ~;r or~ter. The pres ~ emediun is passed ~xm a ~e~re ~sel 12via th~ onn~ting ~s 1~ a and 13 b to the spheroidal paint containers 15 a and 15 b which are equipped with the diaphragms 16 a and 16 b. The inflow of the pressure medium can be controlled with the aid of the valves 14 a and 14 b. The paint con-tainers 15 a and 15 b contain the various lacquer components which`are delivered by the diaphragm pressure from the paint con-tainers through the connecting lines 18 a and 18 b to a mixing ~essel 20, it being possible to control the amount of inflow of the various components via the valves 17 a and 17 b in accordance with instructions. Furthermore, controllable metering nozzles 19 a and 19 b are located at the lower end of the connecting lines so that the injection o~ the various components can be con-trolled. Appropriately, the mixing vessel is pro~ided with a mixer device so that a complete homogenisation of the various .
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lacquer components becomes possible. The homogenised lacquer is then delivered via a connecting line from the mixing vessel 20 t;o the devices for applying the lacquer; this device is, however, not included in the figure. The application device can consist of any desired and known devices, such as, for example, brushes, rollers, spray-guns or a casting device~ If a roller is used, which is provided, around a hollow shaft, with feed orifices for the liquid preparation which is to be applied, the formation of paint mists can be suppressed.
Fig~re 2 shows an apparatus according to the invention, in which blending of colour shades and subsequent application of the mixed paint can be carried out in one working step. The example starts with blending ~our different colours and a diluent, but the number can be varied as desired. The pressure medium is passed from the pressure vessel 12 via the connecting lines 13 a - e and valves 14 a - e to the paint containers 15 a - e. me paint containers in which paints in different colour shades or diluents are present,are ~x~ided with t~e dia~a~s 16 a-e. The paLnts are ~ivered ~om thepaint ontaLners via the con-n~ing lines l3 a-e toth~ ~ g vessel 20, which contains a m1xer device 21,and homogenised. For metering in the correct mixing ratio of the various colour shades, the connecting lines are provided with controllable valves 17 a - e and nozzles 19 a - e.
Finally, the homogenised paint is delivered from the mixing ~essel via the connecting line 22 to the devices for the final ~pplication of the paint.
With the apparatus according to the invention for apply-ing paints, the latter are preserved completely fresh and come _ g _ r '` . I

1~99669 into contact with air only when they are applied to the surface which is to be treated. Ifl~cessary or desired,-the paint can a~o be kept Incontinu~ motion in ~e paint ~ntainer by means ~ aids ~ch in themselves known - for example stirring. It is also possible to keep the temperature of the paint always constant;
this can be effected, for example, by installing a heating ele-ment and a relay controller.
~s already mentioned and also descrlbed by constructional examples the present invention can be used in an outstanding man-10 ner for processing two-component an~ multi-component lacquers by feeding the components via controlled valves in the required quantitative ratios to a mixing vessel and homogenising them in the latter. The pot life can readily be adapted to the requirements, and it can also be controlled by adding diluents.
By equipping the device with several paint containers in which paints in different colour shades are present, a vir-tuaily unlimited number of colour shades can be produced by feeding definite amounts of paints in different colour shades to a mixing vessel by means of controlled metering valves and 20 with the aid o~ the pressure diaphragm system and homogenising them in the mixing vessel to give the desired colour shade.
~ ~ In this case' the addition of metered amounts of diluents is also possible.
Figure 3 shows a side view of an apparatus according to ~ the invention, some parts not being shown for the sake of s clarity and the depicted apparatus having two containers 15a and 15b.
Figure 4 diagrammatically shows the important parts of ":

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1~9~669 the device, the valve arrangement 6 being shown on the left-hand side of Figure 4; viewed from above by reference to ~igure

3, and the t~o containers 15a, 15b being shown as viewed from the side and partially in section, the right-hand container 15b being in the filling position and the left-hand container;15a being in the applicati~n position. The apparatus possesses a stand 1 which has two wheels 2. Two liquid containers l5a, 15b are reversibly suspended between the crossbeams 3 with the aid of the suspending and locking device 4. A valve arrange-ment 6 is fitted on the part 5 of the stand 1, pointing upwards.
The device 4 possesses a horizontal axis 45 of rotation which is rotatably held in a recess 46. me axis 45 of rotation has a through-bore 47 for a holding and locking pin 48 which can be pulled out and inserted.
As can best ~e seen from Figure 3, the valve arrangement 6 comprises a connecting nipple 7 which is provided for connection to a water pipe as a pressure medium. Downstream, the valve arrangement 6 has a dirt filter 8, a reducing valve 9, a mano-meter 23, a non-return valve 24 and a relief valve 25. The relief valve 25 is fixed to a distributor cross-piece 26 and, opposite the non-return valve 24, there is a valve 27 A which is used when cleaning the apparatus. Furthermore, the valve arrangement possesses a shut-off valve 27, by means of which the supply of pressure medium through the valve arrangement 6 can be completely shut off. Downstream of the shut-off valve 27, there is a switch-over valve 28, by means of which the liquid stream ofthe pressure medium can be directed to a branch 29 or to another branch 30 or to both branches 29,30. Each of .

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1~99669 the branches 29,30 has a connecting nipple 31 and a drain valve 32 which is connected between the switch-over valve 28 and the nipple 31. The pressurised water lines 13a and 13b, which are shown diagrammatically, extend ~rom the nipples 31 up to an inlet 33 for each container 15a and 15b respectively. ;
As can best be seen from Figure 4, the inne~ closed space of the liquid container 15b or 15a is sub-divided into two mutually separate part spaces 34 and 35 which are separated by a so~t and flexible partition as the diaphragm 16a. The soft partition 16a is of such a sizé and flexibility that the mutual size ratio between the two part spaces 34 and 35 is ~ariable between the t~o extremes in such a way that one part space (for example 34) almost fills the entire container space, whilst the other part space (for example 35) is almost zero so that the converse ratio can also occur. One part space 34 is provided for the product liquid which can consist of painter's colour or adhesive or a component ~or a painter's colour or an adhesive or of another liquid to be delivered, for example beer or fuel oil. The part space 34 has a product-filling and -discharging orifice 36 which is covered by a screen 37. The product-filling and -discharging orifice possesses a short pipe extension 40 with a connecting nipple 44 to which a product-discharging line which is not shown can be connected~ This line can be connected to any paint-applying device, an adhesive appli-cator, a discharge nozzle or another device. The outer part of the pipe extension 40 can be shut off by means of a closure 38 when the apparatus is filled with product liquid. When filling with product liquid, a filling funnel 39 can be placed or inserted !

1~99~69 through the extension 40, and this is shown o~ the right in ~igure 4. The screen 37 also has a further lmportant purpose, in that the screen ~7 is intended to prevent the diaphragm 16a from being pressed by the pressure medium into the discharging orifice 36 when the product liquid has been almost completely expelled.
According to the invention, the liquld container 15a or 15b and the valve arrangement 6 are located in the carrier stand i at such a relative height that the level line 42 connects the - 1o upper edge 40b of the pipe extension 40 to the upper connecting nipple 31 so that the lower edge 40a of the pipe extension 40 is below the level line 42, when the product-discharging orifice 36 o~
the reversible liquid container 15b points upwards, This arrange-ment is indicated at the top of Figure 4 with the aid o~ the dotted line 42 between the upper connecting nipples 31 and the filling funnel 39. The result of this arrangement is that access of air to the part space 34 is prevented.
When using the apparatus according to the invention, the filled liquid container 15a or 15b is locked in position in 20 the stand 1, the product-discharging orifice 36 pointing do~n-wards. After unblocking the water pressure as the pressure - medium and setting the switch-over valve 28 into the desired position, the product liquid can be passed through the discharging nipple 44 to an applicator device for paint or adhesives or to :: a consuming point. When the product liquid is consumed, the liquid container is brought, by rotating it through 180, into the position which is shown on the right-hand side of Figure 4, a~ter the liquid feed was shut off by the shut-off Yalve 27 or .
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9'~66~3 the switch-over valve 28 has been set so that the water feed .. . . . . . . .
to the liquid container concerned was interrupted. The dis-charging valve 32 is then opened and filling with new product liquid starts. While the product liquid is filled in, the water in the part space 35 is gradually displaced. This water flows through the nipple 33, the hose 13b, the nipple 31 and the discharging valve 32 to a collection vessel which is not ~hown or directly to a drain. Since the valve arrangement 6 and in particular the parts 31 and 32 of this arrangement are located 10 at a higher level than the outflow orifice 40 of the product space 34, a back-pressure against the filling with product liquid will always be obtained so that air bubbles in the pro-duct space 34 can be avoided in this way. After the product space 34 has been completely filled with the liquid provided, the funnel 39 is taken o~f and the closure 38 is scre~red on again, whereupon the container is reversed again into its application position by rotating through 180. The arrange-ment in which the outlet of the product space 34 is at a some-wh~t iower level than the discharging valve 32 during the dis-20 charge of n~ product liquid, ensures that the displaced amountof water is equal to the amount of product liquid filled in.
This also means that the surface of the product liquid is always at the level o~ the outlet of the discharging orifice so that it .is ensured, independently o~.the amount of liquid which has been ~illed into the product space 34,that no airbubbles areincluded in the liquid system. This construction thus makes it possible to fill in a desired amount o~ liquid, that is to say it is not : necessary always to ~ill the product space 34 completely with - i4 _ , - i . . .

1~996~
, liquid.
~ s already mentioned earlier, the product-discharging nipples 41 can be connected to an application device which, if painter's colour is used, can be a painter's roller of a particular type. In this type, the bracket consists ~f a tube which, in the part which is hidden in the shell of the painter's roller, is provided with holes through which the paint is pressed out so that it can then flow out:through these orifices in the painter's roller br,ush. In the handle o~
the painter's roller, there can be a valve in order to control the feed of liquid to the application device. The apparatus shown ca'n also be used for two-component lacquers, or it is also possible to work with two different colour shades. The apparatus results in an important saving of time, partly because the roller does not have to be dipped into the paint and partly because the required protective cover can be omitted.
An improvement in quality is made possible since the amount of paint in the roller can readily be kept almost constant, partly because the worklng pressure is set with the aid of the ~ed'uci~g valve and partly by means o'f the c'ontrol valve in the hand~'e of the roller.
Another advantage is that the paint does not come into contact with air before the paint reaches the roller. This reduces the need for cleaning work since the bracket and the rolqer brush have to be cleaned only at the end of a day's work.
Trials have shown that paint which was stored for two months in the container, could be further used directly if a new rQller was mounted and the apparatus was connected up. The _ 15- .
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result of this is that the paint consumption can be radically reduced.
~ hen products which contain solventsor noxious products are used, the apparatus has obvious advantages since the liquid products are in a closed system unti~ they are applied. ;
When the apparatus is used for work with two-component products, the components are filled, each by itself, into their corresponding container.. Since the working pressure in the two containers is equal at all times, the feed flow is affected only by the viscosity of the components as long as the dimensions of the liquid hoses are equal. A possible difference in viscosity can here be compensated in a simple manner by varying the through flow ~uantities by means of a throttle valve in the liquid lines. In the same manner, different mixing ratios can also be set. The t~Yo components are passed in separate hoses to the point of application where the two components advantageously are homogenised by means of a static mixer.
The mixer isc~led in immediately before,the application device.
Work trials have shown that very narrow long hoses can be used. The apparatus ~s thus part'icularly advant'ageous for painting work in confined spaces and for places with di~fi-cuIt access, such as, for example, when painting tank farms or ship's hulls.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention, which is in a state ready for use and is ~ounted in a standl which can be moved on two wheels; this relates to the simplest embodiment having a spherical container 15a. The spherical container 15a is arranged so that it , - 16 -. . . . ....................... v . ' ''I
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' can be rotated about the horizontally disposed axis 45 of , . .
rotation and can be locked in position~ by means of the holder for the suspension device 4, the tilting axis 45 and the holding and locking pins 48 which can be pulled out and inserted and the recesses 46 as bushes. The upper container part and the lower contai~er part are held together in compression by bayonet olosures 49 together with the rim, placed in between, of the so~t flexi~le diaphragm 16a which~preferably consists of ~ soft flexible synthetic rubber which is obtained by polymerisation Of chloroprene. The lowest part of the lower container part is connected by the line 18a, consisting of plastic hose, via the control and shut-off valve 50 to the application device 51 designed as a roller. The frame 1 possesses two wheels 2.
The upper container part which, at its uppermost point, has the orifice which is connected via a hose adaptor 3~ to the hose 13a which supplies the pressure medium, the hose being connected to the valve arrangement 6 which is located at a somewhat higher level and carries the manometer 2~, can be seen clearly. A
connec~ng nipple 7 is located to the left of the manometer 23, fO~ making ~he connection to the water mains via a f~rther hose.
The hose lines of- the pressure medium - preferably tap water -can consist of plastic or metal. A transparent plastic hose is preferred. The connecting line ~rom the lower container par~ to the application device consistsof an inert hose material based on plastic or metal; for this purpose, however, a trans-parent plastic hose is preferred. The container 15a with the upper container part and the lower container part consists of a suitable inert material, such as plastic, metal or enamelled metal; however, stainless steel is preferred.
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Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1, Apparatus for conveying liquids, comprising a container having demountable upper and lower container parts, the upper container part having a pressurized fluid inlet means adapted to be connected to a source of pressur-ized fluid, a flexible diaphragm located in the container so as to provide a gas type expandable chamber in said container, said lower container part having an orifice through which a fluid may be charged into or discharged from said lower container part, a connecting line connecting said orifice with a point at which said fluid is discharged, and means for mounting said container for rotation about a horizontal axis for allowing rotation of said container from a position in which said orifice in said lower container part is at the uppermost part of said container for filling fluid into said lower container part to a position in which said orifice is substantially at the lowermost part of said container for the discharge of fluid therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said demountable upper and lower container parts are releasably interconnected by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced snap-on bayonet type holding means.

3. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said orifice in said lower container part is of a larger diameter than said pressure fluid inlet means in said upper container part.