The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2002
Larry R. Fenik, Avon Lake, OH (US);
Nordson Corporation, Westlake, OH (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for cleaning a powder transfer duct uses a pressurized volume of air directed at an interior surface of the duct to dislodge powder particles adhering to the interior surfaces or that are entrapped within a volume or region of the duct interior. In one embodiment of the invention, the duct is a passageway for powder that is entrained in an air stream from a powder spray booth to a powder collection device such as, for example, a cyclone separator. Pressurized air is provided by a device that can be selectively activated to direct a blast of high pressure air into the duct interior in a direction that is generally transverse a primary air flow through the duct. The device may be realized in the form of a pulse valve that has an outlet that opens to the duct interior and directs a pulse of pressurized air at a surface or region within the duct where powder tends to accumulate, either from eddy current characteristics or from impacting the interior surface. The pulse valve may be mounted to a wall of the duct. Pressurized air is supplied to the pulse valve from an accumulator connected thereto. The pulse valve may be manually actuated or actuated by other suitable control mechanisms. In accordance with another aspect of the invention the device is activated while air is flowing through the duct, such as when the separator is operating.