Adjustable Spray Device for Motor Vehicle Paint Application

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray devices for applying paint to motor vehicle components have limited application efficiency, with rotary atomizers achieving only 60-70% efficiency and requiring complex control systems to optimize shaping air flows, while also being structurally cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A spray device with a base body, cover element, and multiple adjustable spray nozzles that can be individually controlled to customize the application area, allowing for 90-100% efficiency without relying on additional air flows, featuring a flexible cover element that can be curved to adjust the spray jet width and a control system for precise paint and air regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotary atomizer is used to improve paint application efficiency, then application efficiency increases to 60-70%, but device complexity increases due to the need for shaping air nozzle arrangements and control devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray device divides the paint application function into multiple independent spray nozzles (at least three) arranged on a cover element, each capable of being individually controlled. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high application efficiency through multiple targeted spray jets while simplifying the overall structure by eliminating the complex rotating bell cup mechanism and shaping air nozzle arrangements required by rotary atomizers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover element is designed to be adjustable and deformable, allowing the spray nozzles to be repositioned or reoriented to change the spray jet width and application area. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to different component sizes and shapes, maintaining high application efficiency (90-100%) without requiring complex control devices to manipulate air flows as in rotary atomizers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If shaping air flows are used to control spray jet width in rotary atomizers, then spray pattern control is improved, but device complexity and control effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray jet width controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the pneumatic control system (shaping air nozzles and control devices) with a direct mechanical adjustment system. The cover element can be manually or automatically adjusted to change the relative positions and orientations of the spray nozzles, thereby controlling the spray jet width and application area through mechanical means rather than complex air flow manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the application area is fixed in conventional spray devices, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different component sizes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication area adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover element is designed as a dynamic component that can be adjusted to deform or reposition, allowing the spray nozzles to change their arrangement and orientation. This enables the system to adapt the spray jet width and application area to match different component sizes and shapes, achieving high adaptability with a relatively simple adjustment mechanism compared to the control systems required by rotary atomizers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device achieves significantly improved application efficiency by allowing for customizable spray jet widths and precise control of paint and air flow, simplifying the design and operation while ensuring efficient paint application on various component sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a large number of spray nozzles (14) that are arranged on the cover element (13) and that are each connected to a paint line (15) and a compressed air line (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization: Aerosol

Implementation Method 2

The cover element (13) is designed in the manner of a membrane made of a flexible material in order to be able to achieve good mobility of the cover element (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3120933B1Spray device for application of a colour medium on a component of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3120933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3120933B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3120933B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a spray device (100) for applying a paint medium (32) to a component (30) of a motor vehicle, comprising a base body (10), a cover element (13) covering the base body (10) in the spray direction (11), and a plurality of spray nozzles (14) arranged on the cover element (13), each of which is connected to a paint line (15) and a compressed air line (16), wherein the cover element (13) and/or the spray nozzles (14) are adjustable in such a way that the size of an application area (31) of the paint medium (32) on the component (30) can be adapted.