Angled Spray Nozzle for Complex Geometry Masking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing masking apparatuses struggle to effectively coat articles with complex geometries due to their rigid design, which prevents complete coverage of curved surfaces, leading to inadequate protection during high-temperature and high-pressure operations.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable and translatable spray apparatus that can simultaneously rotate and translate to fully mask complex geometries, utilizing a spray head with a specific channel configuration and air channels to ensure comprehensive coverage, and a method involving UV masking followed by heat treatment for coating protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid spray apparatus with fixed geometry is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot effectively coat articles with complex geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The spray apparatus is transformed from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system with rotatable and translatable components. The arm can rotate around the article and translate along its length, allowing the spray head to reach complex geometries that fixed apparatus cannot access.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is divided into multiple independent segments: a rotatable arm, a translatable mechanism, and a spray head. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, providing flexibility to adapt to various complex geometries while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Reliability
If masking material is applied without proper atomization, then the application process is simple, but adhesion to the substrate is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The spray mechanism combines masking material delivery and atomization into a single integrated spray head. This merging ensures that the masking material is properly atomized immediately upon delivery, improving adhesion without requiring separate complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses pneumatic atomization where compressed air is introduced to break up the masking material stream into fine droplets. This pneumatic mechanism provides effective atomization and improves adhesion while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
3Area of stationary object
If the spray apparatus cannot reach curved surfaces, then the device structure is simple, but masking coverage is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The arm mechanism provides dynamic positioning capability, allowing the spray head to rotate around and translate along curved surfaces. This dynamic movement enables complete coverage of complex geometries including curved surfaces that static apparatus cannot reach.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus adds rotational and translational degrees of freedom to the spray head positioning. This dimensional enhancement allows the spray head to access surfaces in multiple spatial dimensions, ensuring complete coverage of complex three-dimensional geometries.
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 solution enables complete masking of complex surfaces, effectively protecting them from harsh coating processes and allowing for efficient removal of masking material without damaging the coating, thus enhancing the durability of components like compressor vanes.
Implementation Method 1
Combining the jet of air with the jet of masking material causes the atomization of the masking material, which improves the adhesion of the masking material to the substrate
Implementation Method 2
masking with an ultraviolet (UV) curable material prior to coating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An apparatus for masking an article (62) with masking material is disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a spray head (46) connected to a primary channel (40) which forms a passage for the masking material. This channel (40) has two sections, the first of which terminates in a junction with the spray head (46) and is angled from the second section. In addition, the apparatus has at least one secondary channel (60) which forms an air passage and is attached to the primary angled channel.