Efc Systems, Inc.

Joseph Cichocki

Gunnar Van Der Steur

Stephen Paul Dumelow

Kevin Dennis Luckey

Lance W Fleming, Jr

A method for testing a rotary atomizer valve using a system having a test device housing, a linear potentiometer including a resistive circuit and a movable shaft, and a controller includes, (a) with the shaft contacting a movable surface of the valve, obtaining a first reference data point representing a first position of the movable surface, (b) commanding an actuator to displace the movable surface in a first direction, (c) obtaining a first current data point representing a second position of the movable surface, (d) determining whether the second position equals the first position, (e) if not, setting the first current data point as the first reference data point and repeating steps (c) and (d), and (f) if so, recording the second position as a first end point of the valve.

Valve tester

An automated drone-based surface treatment material delivery system includes a drone having a body, at least one propeller rotatably supported by the body, at least one propeller motor supported by the body and configured to selectively apply motive power to the at least one propeller, and a controller supported by the body and configured to control a flight path of the drone at least by manipulating a speed of the at least one propeller. The drone also has a rotary atomizer supported by the body for movement therewith. The rotary atomizer includes a rotating dispersion structure configured to disperse a surface treatment material from a material supply.

Automated drone-based paint delivery system

The invention provides apparatus for spray coating of substrates using a rotary bell cup atomizer equipped with an air-driven main turbine and a supply of pressurized primary shaping air conveyed through primary shaping air channels and nozzles for controlling the shape of the atomized spray pattern exiting the bell cup edge, the apparatus further including an auxiliary, independently air-driven turbine equipped with a rotatable vortex generator, and including a separate air supply of secondary shaping air for supplying secondary shaping air through secondary air channels and nozzles to further control the shape of the atomized spray pattern exiting the bell cup, which secondary shaping air, on passing through the vortex generator, produces a curtain of shaping air in a vortex-like pattern, which, in conjunction with and mixing with the primary shaping air from the primary air nozzles, produces improved pattern control, transfer efficiency and quality of coating on the substrate.

Rotary bell cup atomizer with auxiliary turbine and vortex shaping air generator

Rotary bell cup atomizing apparatus driven by a turbine mounted on a rotatable motor shaft supported within an air bearing assembly is provided. The air bearing assembly includes a cylindrical main air bearing supporting the motor shaft, a proximal, annular, disk-shaped thrust bearing and a distal, annular, disk-shaped thrust bearing supporting the turbine, and including vibration-damping 'O'-rings positioned adjacent the bearings. In operation, air supplied to the apparatus drives the turbine and supports the turbine and motor shaft such that all rotating surfaces of the atomizing apparatus are supported in air, and universal, 3-dimensional vibration damping, both axial and radial, of all rotating components is provided.

Rotary coating atomizer having vibration damping air bearings

In rotary coating apparatus for coating a substrate, the apparatus includes a rotatable bell cup coating applicator affixed to the distal end of a rotatable drive shaft driven by a turbine, and including a source of supply of suitable coating material, a source of pressurized air for driving the turbine, a second source of pressurized air for creating and directing a curtain of air circumferentially and externally about the bell cup to shape and control the diameter and pattern of the coating material applied to the substrate. More specifically, the apparatus includes multiple air channels formed therein and through the apparatus through which the drive air and the shaping air are conveyed to and through the turbine to (1) drive the turbine and (2) to control the shape and pattern of the applied coating.

Coating apparatus turbine having internally routed shaping air

The invention relates to rotary bell cup atomizers used in the coating of substrates; more particularly, the invention provides a protective cover for the outer atomizing edge of such devices during idle periods in the coating process, which cover is retractable to expose the atomizing edge and permit unimpeded conventional coating to proceed upon initiation of coating.

Rotary atomizer edge guard

An air bearing assembly supporting a turbine driven rotatable motor shaft is provided. The assembly includes a composite cylindrical air bearing having alternating, bonded segmented porous carbon sections and nonporous carbon sections. The composite bearing has a sleeve installed circumferentially therearound. The sleeve has openings therein, therethrough and therearound such that the openings are adjacent the porous carbon sections and are oriented so as to be in longitudinal and circumferential registry with the porous carbon sections. Air passageways deliver supplied air into and through the sleeve openings, thence into and through the porous sections, thereby providing frictionless support for the rotating shaft. The assembly includes 'O'-rings installed circumferentially therearound, one at each end of the assembly. A specific embodiment, namely a rotary bell cup atomizer driven by a turbine mounted on a rotatable motor shaft supported by the air bearing assembly, is disclosed and claimed.

Composite air bearing assembly

Rotary bell cup atomizing apparatus is provided having a rotatable bell cup driven by a motor shaft dimensioned so as to provide an annular gap between the outer, rear surface of the cup and the shaft extending an effective distance axially adjacent the shaft. Solvent channels extend within the assembly circumventing the gap and discharge into the gap. During cleaning of the atomizer, solvent passes partially through the paint nozzle and partially through the solvent channels impinging directly upon the shaft, then migrating over the outer surface of the cup. The inner and outer surfaces of the bell cup and the motor shaft are simultaneously cleaned. A replaceable sleeve placed inside the cup adjacent the front surface thereof absorbs the force of paint impinging thereon. The cup may have at least one balancing indentation immediately adjacent the sleeve.

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Newark, DE, United States of America

Joseph Cichocki