US2800876A

US2800876A - Spud fitting coating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2800876A
Application number: US396648A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin C Ploetz
Original assignee: AO Smith Corp
Current assignee: AO Smith Corp
Priority date: 1953-12-07
Filing date: 1953-12-07
Publication date: 1957-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1974-07-30

Description

July 30, 1957 E. c. PLOETZ SPUD FITTING CATING APPARATUS Filed Dec.

MW Q

EDWIN C. PLOETZ ATTORNEYS.

United States SPUD FITTING COATING APPARATUS Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,643

7 Claims. (Cl. 118-326) This invention relates to an apparatus for coating the peripheral surface of spud littings with a corrosion resistant material.

Steel containers or tanks are frequently coated with vitreous enamel, glass, plastic or other similar coating materials to protect the same from corrosion. The coating material is generally applied to the interior surfaces of the tank by spraying. In the past, when spraying the interior surfaces of tanks, diiculty has been encountered in satisfactorily coating the peripheral surfaces of the spud fittings which are secured within openings in the vessel wall and are adapted to receive plumbing pipes or the like. This difficulty arises because the spuds extend generally perpendicular or normally tothe walls of the tank and therefore extend generally parallel to the direction of spraying. As a consequence, portions of the spud surface are frequently uncoated or thinly coated and concentrated corrosion of these uncoated portions will thereby result.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for coating the peripheral surface or side walls of a spud tting and which does not permit glass to spill to the tank wall adjacent the spud or permit the coating material to drip to the portion of the tank diametrically opposite the spud location.

According to the invention, the spud coating apparatus comprises a hollow cup-shaped casing which serves to contain the coating material and distribute such material onto the spud surfaces and a pilot disposed axially of the casing and insertable within the spud to align the spud coater thereon. The casing surrounds the Spud and the open end of the casing bears against the interior tank wall. The coating material is directed through a series of apertures in the casing perpendicularly against the outer surface or wall of the spud to coat the same. The excess coating material is collected within the closed end of the casing and drained olf.

By this construction the coating material is applied only to the spud surfaces, and the coating material will not spill or drip onto the interior tank surfaces. The present invention produces a uniformly coated spud surface with a minimum use of coating material.

Y The drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out` the invention,

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional view ofthe spud coating apparatus as inserted within a spud in a tank wall;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the pumping system; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the coated spud as secured within an opening in the tank wall.

The drawing illustrates a tank 1 or other container to be lined with a protective coating such as vitreous enamel, glass, plastic or the like.

A spud 2 is secured within a suitable opening in tank 1, by welding, as indicated by the resistance fillet weld 3. The Spud 2 serves as a connection for the plumbing pipes attent` O 2,800,876 Patented July 30, 1,957

rice

or other xtures that are to extend within the vessel or as a drain or the like.

The spud coating apparatus of the invention is ernployed to coat the peripheral surface of the Spud and the weld 3 with a corrosion resistant coating material. The spud coating apparatus comprises in general a hollow, cup-shaped casing 4 and a pilot tube 5 which is disposed axially of casing 4 and is adapted to be inserted within Spud 2 to center the casing about the spud.

The hollow interior of casing 4 is divided into an outer chamber 6 and an inner chamber 7 by tubular member S which is disposed concentrically of the outer wall of casing 4 and spaced approximately equidistant between the outer wall and pilot 5. As shown in the drawing, the one end of tubular member 8 is threaded into casing 4 and the other end bears against the wall of tank 1. The tubular member 8 and the casing may be formed integrally if desired.

The coating material is introduced into the outer annular chamber 6 through a fitting 9 which is suitably Secured within an opening in the outer wall of the casing 4.

`The coating material is directed against the outer periphery of Spud 2 and weld 3 thro-ugh a series of circumferentially spaced openings 10 which provide communication between the chambers 6 and 7. Openings 10 are disposed adjacent the tank abutting end of tubular member S, and the coating material is forced under pressure from chamber 6 through openings 10 against the periphery of spud 2 and weld 3 to coat the same. As the openings 10 are spaced completely around the spud 2 and are disposed generally perpendicularly to the Spud surface the entire spud surface will be uniformly coated with the coating material.

The excess coating material which drips from spud 2 is collected within chamber 7.

To seal olf chamber 6 and prevent the Spud coating material from coating the tank wall, an annular resilient seal 11 is secured across the outer end of casing 4 and tubular member 8. Seal 11 bears against the tank wall and is compressed to prevent the coating material from leaking from the casing 4. The outer end of tubular member 8 projects outwardly beyond the o-uter end of casing 4, and the seal is provided with a generally wedge-shaped cross section with the thicker edge thereof being supported by the casing 4. This construction provides a firm and uniform sealing engagement between the casing and tubular member and the tank wall.

The pilot 5 has a generally cylindrical shape and is tapered at the outer end to a generally blunt conical tip 12 to facilitate insertion of the pilot within the Spud 2. The diameter of pilot 5 is slightly less than the opening in spud 2 so that the pilot may be readily inserted therein and yet maintain an accurate alignment of the casing about the spud.

Pilot 5 is provided with an axial bore 13, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports 14 provide communication between axial bore 13 and inner chamber 7 of the Spud coater casing 4. The excess coating material is discharged from the chamber 7 through an outlet fitting 15 which is secured to the casing 4 and communicates with bore 13 in pilot 5.

Any conventional pumping system can be employed to supply the coating material to the spud coating apparatus. As shown in Fig. 2, the pumping system comprises a pressure tank 16 wherein the coating material is stored in liquid form such as enamel slip. Air, under pressure, is introduced into the upper portion of tank -16 through line 17.

The coating material under pressure of the air in line 17 passes through line 18 to inlet fitting 9. The entry of the material to the spud coating apparatus is regulated by a valve 19 which is disposed in line 18. The valve 19 is controlled by the operator to permit passage of the coating material to the inlet 9 when desired.

The excess coating material discharged from the apparatus through: outlet is drawn through line 20 by vacuum pump 21 and is returned from the pumpto the pressure tank 16.

The spud coater of the invention is adapted to be used to coat the peripheral surfaces of a spud prior to the coating of the wall of the vessel or tank. To operate the apparatusthe pilot 5 is initially inserted within spud 2 so that seal 11 bears firmly against the tank 1. Valve 19 is then actuated by the operator to admit the coating material through inlet 9 to chamber 6. The coacting material passes through the circumferential openings 1t) and is directed against .the outersurface of the spud to coat the same. The'excess coating; material not adhering to spud Z is collected within chamber 7 and passes through ports 14, bore 13, fitting 15, line" 20 to pump 21, and then to pressure tank 1`6.

The *present invention provides an apparatus which will effectively and uniformly coat the outer surface of spud fittings with a minimum use of coating material. The coating material is directed or sprayed solely on the spudsurface and the fillet weld joining the spud to the tank wall. No coating material can spill or drip onto the tankwall during the coating of the spuds.

This latter factor serves to produce a more uniform coated tank because of the absence of drippings which ordinarily occur when coating spuds by a conventional method.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claim the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

, l. An apparatus for applying a coating of a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of a spud secured within an opening in a vessel wall with the body portion of the spud projecting from the opening, comprising aV generally tubular member having an open end adapted to bear against the surface of the wall of the vessel surrounding the projecting portion of the spud and having a closed bottom end, a sealing member disposed 0n the open end of the tubular member and adapted for sealing'engagement with the surface of the wall of the vessel surrounding the projecting portion of the spud, a'rpilot secured axially of said member and projecting `from the open end thereof, said pilot being adapted to be insertedV within the spud to properly index the apparatus relative to the spud, means for introducing the coating material under pressure to said member and directing` the coating material generally perpendicularly against the peripheral surface of the spud adjacent the junction of the spud and the vessel wall to coat said surface, and means for discharging the excess coating material from the member.

2. An apparatus for applying a coating of a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of a spud secured within an opening in a vessel wall with the body portion of the spud projecting from the opening, com prising a generally tubular member having-an open outer end and having a closed bottom end, said'member being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in the wall adjacent the open end thereof, a sealing member disposed on the outer end of the tubular member and adapted for sealing engagement with the wall of the`vessel surrounding therprojecting portion of .the spud, pilot means associated with-the memberfor properly indexing the apparatus relativev to the spud, means for passing the coating material through'said openings and directing the same against the peripheral surface of the spud to coat the same, and means for discharging the excess coatingmaterial from the member.

3. An apparatus for applying a ycoating of a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of a spud secured within an opening in a vessel wall with the body portion of the spud projecting from the opening, comprising a hollow generally cup-shaped casing having an open end opening against the wall of the vessel surrounding the projecting portion of the spud, said casing being formed with an outer annular chamber and a central inner chamber and having a plurality of circularly spaced apertures connecting said outer and inner chamber adjacent the open end of said casing, a pilot secured axially within said inner chamber and projecting outwardly of the open end of said casing, said pilot being adapted to be positioned within the spud so that the spud is disposed within the inner chamber and said pilot having a central bore and a plurality of ports in the wall thereof establishing communication between the bore and the inner chamber, means to introduce a coating material under pressure into said outer chamber, said coating material passing through said apertures and being directed .against the peripheral surface of the spud to coat the same with the excess coating material being collected in said inner chamber, and means connected to the bore in said pilot for discharging the excess coating material from the inner chamber.

4. An apparatus for applying a coating of. a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of `a spud secured within an opening in a tank wall, comprising a generally tubular member having an open end adapted to bear against the inner-surface of the wall of the tank surrounding the spud and having a closed bottom cnd, a pilot secured axially within said member and projecting outwardly of the open end thereof for insertion within the spud to properly index the apparatus relative to the spud, an outer casing spaced outwardly of the member to provide an annular inlet chamber therebetween, said member being provided with a plurality of apertures adjacent the open end thereof to provide communication between the inlet chamber and the interior of said member, means to introduce the coating material under pressure into said inlet chamber with said coating material passing through sa-id apertures and being directed against the peripheral surface of the spud to coat the same with the excess coating material being collected in said member,v and means for discharging the excess coating material from the member without contact by the material with the wall of the tank.

5. An apparatus for applying a coating of a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of a spud secured within an opening in a tank wall, comprising a generally tubular member having an open end adapted to bear against the under-surface of the wall of the tank surrounding the spud and having a closed lower end, a pilot secured axially withinsaid member and projecting outwardly of the open end thereofv for insertion within the spud to properly index the apparatus relative to the spud, an outer casing radially spaced from the member to provide an inlet chamber therebetween which is closed at one end and open at the other with said member projecting `a slight distance outwardly of the open end of said casing and having a plurality of openings adjacent the open end thereof to provide communication between the inlet chamber and the interior of said member, an annular resilient seal disposed across the open end of the chamber between the casing and member with said seal having a generally wedge-shaped cross section to provide the outer portion of the seal with the greatest thickness, means to introduce the coating material under pressure into said inlet chamber-with said coating material passing through said apertures and being directed against the peripheral surface or"Y the spud to coat the same with-the excess coating material being collected in said member, and means for discharging the excess coating material from the member without contact by the material with the wall ofthe tank.

6. An apparatus for applying a coating of a corrosionresistant material to the peripheral surface of a spud secured within an opening in a vessel wall, comprising a generally tubular member having an open end` adapted to bear against the under-surface of the wall of the vessel surrounding the spud and having a closed end, a pilot secured axially within said member and projecting outwardly of the open end thereof for insertion within the spud to position the apparatus so that the spud is disposed radially inwardly of the member, a pressure tank to contain the coating under a substantial pressure, a conduit extending between said tank and the interior of said member for conducting the coating material to said member, a valve disposed in said conduit to control the entry of coating material to said member, a discharge conduit extending between the interior of s'aid member and said tank for conveying the excess coating material from the member, and vacuum means in the discharge conduit for withdrawing excess coating material from the member.

7. A spud coater for applying a liquid coating of corrosion-resistant material to a Spud having a llange disposed against the wall of a tank and a tubular body portion extending through an opening in the tank and presenting the peripheral and end surfaces thereof for coating, said spud coater comprising a cup shaped housing of generally circular shape and closed at one end and open at the other, a circular partition extending from the closed end of said housing to the open end thereof and abutting the wall of the tank around the spud and circumferentially spaced therefrom, said partition providing an inner and outer chamber in the housing, a resilient seal interposed between the tank wall and the ends of the housing and partition to seal olf the outer chamber, a pilot member extending through the spud coater housing for extending into the tubular body of the spud to properly index the spud coater relative to the Spud with said pilot member having a central bore, a plurality of passages between the inner and outer chambers adjacent the spud area to be coated, a second series of passages between the inner chamber and pilot bore, means to force coating material under pressure into the outer chamber and thence to the inner chamber through the rst named series of passages and against the spud with excess material passing to the pilot bore through the second series of passages, and means to discharge excess material therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,071 Winter Mar.5, 1918 2,084,094 Kronquest Iune 15, 1937 2,159,091 Kopitke Mar. 23, 1939 2,410,626 Boudreau Nov. 5, 1946 2,600,161 Fouse June 10, 1952