EP1419354A1

EP1419354A1 - Adjustable frame inside of pre-existent spray boothss and plant, comprising such frame, to dry bodies

Info

Publication number: EP1419354A1
Application number: EP02720329A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Salvatore Morale
Original assignee: Morale Salvatore
Current assignee: MORALE, SALVATORE
Priority date: 2001-03-28
Filing date: 2002-03-27
Publication date: 2004-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-27
Also published as: ATE319971T1; ITTO20010292A0; AU2002251396A1; WO2002084191A1; WO2002084191A9; EP1419354B1; ITTO20010292A1; DE60209701D1

Abstract

It is described a portal frame Fig. 1(10) characterized by a variable configuration that may be installed inside a pre-existing spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 3(12') and includes a supporting structure carried out by means rods Fig. 1(20) or integrated inside the walls of spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 3(12') and a connecting cross group Fig. 1(24) supported by a lateral supporting structure Fig. 1(20), that have at least a cross component Fig. 1(40) that may be positioned at variable height. It is foreseen a mechanism Fig. 1(42) and Fig. 1(44) to get the articulation of the cross component Fig. 1(40) with lateral supporting structure Fig. 1(20), this mechanism is able to assume a plurality of configuration to lift or to low cross component Fig. 1(40) in respect to lateral supporting structure Fig. 1(20) and to modify the total cross extension of cross connecting group Fig. 1(40). It is furthermore described a plant to dry vehicle bodies, that includes a supporting frame Fig. 1(10), a drying equipment configured as arc Fig. 1(30) constituted by radiant panels Fig. 1(32) that may be installed inside a pre-existing spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 3(12'), where the frame Fig. 1(10) has a portal structure with a variable configuration.

Description

DESCRIPTION

ADJUSTABLE FRAME INSIDE OF PRE-EXISTENT SPRAY BOOTHSS AND PLANT, COMPRISING SUCH FRAME, TO DRY BODIES

This invention involves mechanical structure of a portal frame as recalled in the preface under claim n°l, and a drying plant for vehicle bodies according to the preface under claim n° 15. In industrial processing, in several technical fields, one or more processing equipments are supported or borne in different configurations/arrangements requested, by a portal frame that allows to work upon a product in processing, placed through the portal span. When it is necessary to process upon huge equipments it is requested to install fixed and rugged frames.

A typical plant where a frame is like the one recalled above installed, is a traditional plant for painting of vehicle bodies. Plants until today used to dry paints upon vehicle body are generally placed inside a spry booth shaped as tunnel and include a bank of radiant elements, placed in cross section of spry booth, according a general configuration shaped as arch, faced parts of vehicle body to dry. Equipment to dry is supported by the cross member of the portal frame, in order to overcome and to surround at least partially with radiant elements a vehicle placed, through the portal span, in correspondence of its cross section. During dry processing, relative position between drying equipment and vehicle are varied getting a motion of the vehicle in respect to the dry equipment, or getting a translation motion of dry equipment for the entire length of vehicle. In this last case we use a portal sliding frame in which the cross member, to which is connected dry equipment, may translate along a couple of slides/tracks parallel longitudinal supported by correspondent plates placed along the vertical walls of the spry booth.

The installation of a dry plant like thet one above mentioned inside a pre-existe t spry booth, is bound to the dimension of the same spry booth, in particular is bound to its cross dimensions and to its height, and has the inconvenient to request adjustments to the cross member of the frame; such adjustment works are generally onerous, even if, to find the right position it is necessary to adjust only for few rnillimetres.

In this situation we must add that such mechanical works, generally may be made, exclusively, by skilled technicians, or in some cases cannot be done at all; so it will be necessary to design a new frame exactly for the spry booth in which the dry equipment foreseen has to be installed , or vice versa it will be necessary to design a new spry booth. In such cases the only known possible alternative is to install a frame whose cross profile as to be contained within internal section profile of the spry booth and this kind of solution do not allow to exploit the entire volume at disposal of spry booth; in this case it is imperative to renounce to the exploiting of the available maximum width and /or available maximum height of spry booth.

This invention intends to reach the scope to supply a satisfying solution for problems and situations explained before, avoiding the inconveniences of known technique. According to this invention, such aim is reached because a structure of portal frame with the characteristics explained in claim n° 1, is used.

Particular ways to carry out invention are established inside dependent claims.

Aim of this invention is a plant to dry vehicle bodies with the characteristics explained in claim n° 15. In short, this invention is founded upon the principle to carry out an adjustable frame to the internal cross profile of a spry booth and in particular suitable to get a continual regulation of its height and its cross dimension within a prefixed space of values, relating to pre- existent profile of spry booth in which it has to be installed.

It is generally considered , hereafter, a pre-existent spry booth , designed independently from the portal frame dimensions where it is foreseen to install the last one frame portal.

According a preferred form the frame is a sliding frame suitable to translate longitudinally and supported by structures carried out with vertical rods or with support plates placed along walls of the spry booth.

Advantageously, this structure according to this invention allows an industrial production of a frame in which the cross extension and the height may be varied without any mechanical modification of the frame, either upon its cross portion or upon its motion system along structure and/or support plates placed longitudinally, but modifying exclusively articulated configuration of cross portion at the moment installation.

Variation allowed on cross dimension upon the frame according to this invention may be made also for some decimetres.

This solution, extremely simple both under the constructive profile, and under installation profile, allows the adjustability of the frame for a drying plant within spry booths whose width is included within space values from 3.2 metres to 4.5 metres.

Furthermore this solution offers the advantage to adapt the height of the frame at the maximum height of the spry boom; this regulation is impossible to get with the frame built according to technique already known

The adjustability of the frame to the internal profile of spry booth gives a technologic improvement for drying phases during a complete cycle of painting regarding any outline of vehicles.

Conveniently , also the production cost of the frame and of the store come down as spare parts costs.

The support structure may be built with vertical rods placed at the moment of installation or, according to a constructive variant, support structures may be integrated inside the lateral walls of the spry booth, substituting vertical rods with plates "that have a regulation rigging system for longitudinal runway of the frame.

Further pecuharities and advantages of the invention will be more in detail exposed in the description as follows for a type of realization that is given as example, not limitative, with reference to annexed drawings where :

Fig. 1 is a front view of the portal frame according to invention installed within a spry booth; upon the frame a known drying equipment with radiant panels is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a partial lateral view of the portal frame of Fig. 1 according to the direction of "arrow II "; ( view from the inside of the spry booth). Fig. 3 is a frontal view of the portal frame of Fig. 1 in another different operative configuration. Fig. 4 is a partial view from the top frame of Fig. 3; (view from the inside of the spry booth). This frame is described with particular reference its use in spraying and drying plants sector for treatment of the bodies of the cars, but will be clear that the same frame may be advantageously used , in any other sector where there is the problem to adapt a support frame inside spry booth or inside any other pre-existent situation as lay-out no alterable.

With reference to the particular of Fig. 1(10) a frame, is showed, according to the invention, installed within a spry booth Fig. 1(12); such frame is extended along longitudinal direction and has an internal cross section with a profile given by the internal profile of the spry booth, represented in Fig. 1(13). The frame represented in Fig. 1(10) has plurahty of lateral fixed vertical rods Fig. 1(20) placed near lateral walls, inside the spry booth Fig. 1(12).

A couple of longitudinal and parallel runways Fig. 1(22) is supported by vertical rods along the walls of the spry booth. An articulate cross sliding group Fig. 1(24) is assembled on the runways; this group supports a drying equipment Fig. 1(30) that includes a plurahty of radiant panels or other drying equipments Fig. 1(32), conforming generally a continuous radiating arc.

The equipment represented in Fig. 1(30) is assembled on the cross group Fig. 1(24) of the articulated frame, by a shde Fig. 1(34) that slides transversally along a part, until the middle of this group, in such a way as to adapt the cross position of the panels Fig.1(32) to the vehicle placed at the internal of the spry booth. The cross group Fig. 1(24) includes a plurahty of components constrained between them in so that they can be adjustable upon a plan of vertical and cross section and in particular : a couple of parallel cross members Fig. 1(40), two couple of horizontal parallel rods of shde and support Fig. 1(42) - these two couples of cross members can be reduced also to two simple little trunks for support -, and two couple of parallel arms of connection Fig. 1(44) for the articulation of the particular Fig.1(40) to the correspondent couple of cross members of shde and support Fig. 1(42). Only the "front" components of the group Fig. 1(24) are visible inside Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 the word " front" is determinate, according to an observer in front of the plant. The cross members Fig. 1(40) are here represented each one by an only profiled component and both support, in a transversally sliding to variable height, the equipment Fig.1(30) by the shde Figl(34).

Rods of shde and horizontal support Fig. 1(42) are assembled on a longitudinal sliding trolley Fig. 1(46) along the slides/crane ways Fig. 1(22) protrude in direction to inside the spry booth.

Components Fig.1(22) can be reduced also to simple little trunks allowing to the two couples rods to get ready in a tangential position as to the internal profile of the spry booth. The adjustable arms Fig.1(44) are hinged at each lateral end of the couple of the cross member Fig. 1(40) and on the opposite side they are assembled transversally adjustable upon the corresponding rods Fig.1 (42)

A couple of longitudinal higher connection rods Fig.2(50), are assembled upon the couple of the cross members Fig. 1(40) near the end and connect cross members among them; every rod Fig.2(50) is supplied, at its own end, with a respective flange Fig.2(52) or according a second alternative form of realization, an articulated joint carried out by an ended disk/component. A first diskcomponent of articulation Fig. 2( 54) is placed in front of to each articulated flange/component Fig. 2(52) and assembled revolving around its axis Fig. 2(A) of the rod Fig. 2(50); two connecting arms Fig.2(44) of couple of arms are fixed to disks/components of articulation Fig. 2(54 ) pivoted in a same rod Fig. 2(50) at the proximity of their higher part of the end (high part of connecting arm) Fig. 2(44). On the opposite side to the first disks /components of articulation higher Fig. 2(54 ) each arm Fig.2(44) is connected in adjustable way upon a respective second disk /component of articulation Fig.1(56) connected revolving around its longitudinal axis, pointed out at Fig. 2(B) , to a correspondent end flange Fig. 2(58) of a longitudinal rod of lower connection Fig. 2(60), in analogue way as foreseen for the higher rods Fig. 2(50). Each longitadinal lower rod Fig. 2(60), from opposite part as respect to the couple of cross members Fig. 1(40), rests in adjustable way, along transversal axis of the spry booth, to conform with the pre-existing width of the spry booth. Such rods Fig. 2(60) slide during the operation of adjustment upon components Fig. 1(42). Every disk/component of articulation Fig. 2(54), Fig. 1(56) shows the respective locking component to the correspondent end flange of rods pointed out in Fig. 2(50) and Fig. 2(60) to obtain the locking , in stable configuration, of the articulated group. Such locking components include, preferably, a plurahty of bolts disposed through correspondent holes made in the disks and in the flanges , but comprehensibly can be used every different system of locking in site , equivalent of the type removable or fixed system. At moment to install the frame at pre-existent spry booth it is possible to locate vertical rods or plates against to walls of the spry booth and therefore to conform the frame to the real width of the last one , mc !ifying the extension in the transversal direction. This occurs essentially taking advantage of the possibility to approach or to move away between them the longitudinal lower rods Fig. 2(60) allowing them to shde along the shde rods of Fig. 2(42).

The arms of connection Fig. 2(44) are free to revolve around their axis Fig. 2(A) of higher rods Fig. 2(50) in order to allow the articulation of cross members Fig. 1(40) and around axis Fig. 2(B) of lower rods Fig. 2(60).

It is furthermore possible to conform the height of the frame or more exactly to conform the height of cross members Fig. 1(40) that support drying equipment Fig. 1(30), at the height of the spry booth, increasing or decreasing the distance among the cross members Fig. 1(40) and the slide rods Fig. 1(42) by rotation of connecting arms Fig. 1(44) around their axis Fig. 2(A) and Fig. 2(B), or varying also the length of the same connecting arms.

Once determined desired configuration for that specific spry booth, disks of articulation Fig. 3(54) and Fig. 3(56) will be fixed firmly at the angular position reached in respect to the flanges Fig- 2(52) and Fig. 2(58) acting upon the predisposed locking couplers. In Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3 is showed a different obtainable configuration of articulate described frame, in which arms of connection Fig. 1(44) and Fig. 3(44) form a different angle of inclination with shde roods Fig. 1 (42), Fig. 3(42) and precisely a obtuse angle in the configuration Fig.l, and a acute angle in the configuration Fig. 3. In case represented on Fig. 1 the spry booth Fig. 1(12) is larger then spry booth represented on Fig. 3(12'). Naturally, still remaining the principle of invention, the forms and particular of accomplishment will be amply varied in respect to how much has been described and showed at pure title of example no limitative, without, for this, to go out from ambit of protection of the present invention. In particular, in the form of realization described in detail and at present preferred, the transversal group Fig. 1(24) is conveniently carried out under a complex form frame, using a couple of cross members Fig.1(40), two couples of shde and support rods Fig. 1(42) and two couples of connecting arms Fig. 1(44), for load resistance reasons and to keep between front portion and rear portion other devices of the plant. As option, the frame may be carried out, with a transversal group including: a) only one cross member Fig. 1(40); b) only one couple of shde and support lateral rods Fig. 1(42); c) only one couple of connecting arms Fig. 1(44).

Such components may be constrained among them, in adjustable way, on cross vertical section plan, without to go out, for this, from general invective principles above exposed. .

Claims

1) CLAIM 1 - A portal frame structure Fig 1(10), as example, to support equipment for drying vehicle bodies, that may be installed within a pre-existing the spry booth Fig 1(12) and Fig 3(12') extended along a longitudinal direction, in correspondence of a cross section of the spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 3(12'), and including a lateral supporting structure carried out with rods/plates Fig 1(20), a connecting cross group Fig 1(24) supported by rods/plates Fig. 1(20), characterized in that a cross group Fig. 1(24) includes at least a cross component Fig. 1(40) to support some equipment Fig.1(30) at a variable height, and components Fig. 1(42) and Fig. 1(44) according a variable configuration in order to obtain the articulation of this cross component Fig. 1(40) in correspondence of rods/plates Fig. 1(20), at a cross vertical plain, such components Fig. 1(42) and Fig.1(44) are able to assume a plurahty of configurations Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 to lift or to lower such cross component Fig. 1(40) in respect to the position of rods/plates Fig. 1(20), or in respect to the plates, to modify the total cross extension of connecting cross group Fig. 1(40) between rods/plates Fig. 1(20) or between plates connected with longitudinal wall of spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 3(12').

2) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 characterized in that such components Fig. 1(42) and Fig. 1(44) to obtain articulation of the cross component Fig. 1(40) include, by opposite sides in respect to component Fig. 1(40, at least a couple of cross connecting arms Fig. 1(44) between this component Fig. 1(40) and rods/plates Fig. 1(20), articulated in revolving way to the cross component Fig. 1(40) around at a first perpendicular axis Fig. 2(A) in respect to the cross section plain, at correspondence of the first their extremity, and connected to the relative rod/plate Fig. 1(20) in revolving way around at a second perpendicular axis Fig. 2(B) in respect to cross section plain, near a second their extremity. This second axis is mobile along relative arms Fig. 1(44).

3) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 2 characterized in that includes at least a couple of shde and support cross lateral rods Fig. 1(42) supported by rods/plates Fig. 1(20) and characterized in that each connecting arm Fig. 1(44) is assembled sliding upon a shde and support rod Fig. 1(42) near to second own extremity. 4) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 3 characterized in that such shde and support rods Fig. 1(42) are placed according a direction essentially horizontal.

5) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 3 OR 4 characterized in that such support and slide rods Fig.1(42). such slide and support rods Fig. 1(42) are placed projecting in respect to rods/plates Fig. 1(20), toward inside spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 1(12').

6) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN ANY CLAIM BY 3 TO 5 characterized in that such shde and support rods Fig. 1(42) are assembled upon a trolley Fig. 1(46) sliding along its own longitudinal shde Fig. 1(22) supported by a plurahty of lateral rods/plates Fig. 1(20).

7) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN ANY CLAIM BY 3 TO 6 characterized in that cross group includes two cross parallel components Fig. 1(40), two couples of shde and support parallel rods Fig. 2(44) in order to obtain articulation of each cross component Fig. 1(40) with a correspondent couple of shde and support rods Fig. 1(42).

8) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 7 characterized in that such parallel cross components Fig. 1(40) are articulated to relative connecting arms Fig. 1(44) by means of a couple of longitudinal first rods Fig. 2(50) placed along the first axis Fig. 2(A). 9) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 8 characterized in that such the first longitadinal rods Fig. 2(50) are provided, at their extremities, with flanges or disks Fig. 2(52) and are characterized in that respective first disks for articulation Fig. 1(54), that are jointed to correspondent parallel connecting arms Fig. 1(44), are assembled with these flanges or disks. 10) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 9 characterized in that such first disks for articulation Fig. 1(54) have respective locking systems to flanges or disks of extremity Fig. 2(52) of the first longitudinal rods Fig. 2(50) to block frame at stable configuration of the articulated group.

11) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 7 characterized in that respective connecting parallel arms Fig.1(44) are assembled sliding upon correspondent shde and support parallel rods Fig. 1(42) by means of a couple of second longitadinal rods Fig. 2(60) placed along axis Fig. 2(B).

12) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 11 characterized in that these second longitadinal rods Fig. 2(60) are provided, at their respective extremities, with flanges or disks Fig. 2(58) and are characterized in that such flanges or disks are assembled in revolving way, with respective articulation disks of extremity Fig. 2(56) assemble sliding in respect to correspondent parallel connecting arms Fig. 1(44).

13) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 12 characterized in that these second articulation disks Fig. 1(56) have respective locking systems to their flanges or disks of extremity Fig. 2(58) pertaining to the second longitadinal rods Fig. 2(60) to block frame at stable configuration of the articulated group.

14) Portal frame structure Fig. 1(10) AS CLAIMED IN ANY PRECEDING CLAIM characterized in that includes a supporting lateral structure integrated inside the walls of spry booth Fig.1(12) and Fig. 1(12') in place of a supporting structure carried out by rods Fig. 1(20).

15) Plant to dry vehicle's bodies, including at least one dry equipment Fig. 1(30) and one supporting frame Fig. 1(10) for the dry equipment useful made to be installed inside a pre- existing spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 1(12'), in which above recalled equipment Fig. 1(30) includes a plurahty of radiant elements Fig. 1(32) placed at correspondence of a cross section of spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 1(12') according a general configuration as arc and pre- placed. in front of parts of vehicle's bodies that have to be dried, characterized in that the supporting frame Fig. 1(10) has a structure as portal with a variable configuration on a cross section plain of spry booth Fig. 1(12) and Fig. 1(12'), as has been defined in claims by 1 to 14.