Patent ID: 6203857
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B05B,B05C,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of using a closed loop controllable fluid application system for applying fluid from an application fluid source to a work piece having a plurality of planar surfaces, the fluid application system comprising:a substantially enclosed housing having substantially vertical front, back and side walls, and a bottom horizontal wall;an inlet opening in one of the front and the back walls, the inlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and into the housing;an outlet opening in the other of the front and the back walls, the outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of the work piece therethrough and out of the housing;at least one atomizing spray device mounted to, and positioned within the housing so as to direct spraying of application fluid onto at least one of the work piece planar surfaces within the housing;a sump drain in the housing bottom wall, for collecting any fluid run-off from the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;a mist collector fluidly connected to the housing via at least a mist outlet opening in one of the walls, the mist outlet opening of sufficient dimensions to allow passage of mist therethrough;means for evacuating air from the housing;means for maintaining an air pressure level inside the housing below atmospheric air pressure level;means, operatively connected to the mist collector, for recycling any misted application fluid; andat least one circulation conduit for supplying application fluid to the at least one spray device, for transferring any collected fluid from the sump drain to the application fluid source, and for transferring any recycled misted application fluid from the recycling means to the application fluid source;said method comprising the steps of:pumping application fluid through the circulation conduit to the at least one spray device;atomizing application fluid at the at least one spray device;spraying atomized application fluid onto the at least one of the work piece planar surfaces;controlling the spray of application fluid within a predetermined set of variable, interdependent parameters; andrecycling excess application fluid, the recycling step comprising the steps of:recovering fluid overflow through the sump drain;evacuating air from the housing into the mist collector; andseparating application fluid from evacuated air in the mist collector, wherein separating of application fluid from evacuated air is accomplished through use of centrifugal force.