Coating Material Conveyor With Integrated Supply-Line Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating systems fail to effectively clean the supply lines and upstream components of the coating material pump, requiring separate manual cleaning, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device with a flushing device that integrates a check valve and a poppet valve to ensure one-way flow, combined with a compressed gas system for flushing, allowing simultaneous cleaning of the supply line and material conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a coating material pump with check valve is used to convey coating material, then the pump can effectively transport coating material from storage container to spray applicator, but the supply line and upstream components cannot be cleaned simultaneously with the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cleaning function with the existing pump system by integrating a flushing device that connects to the pump inlet. The flushing device includes a flushing pump and flushing medium storage container, allowing simultaneous cleaning of the supply line and pump components during the coating material conveyance operation without requiring separate cleaning steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed to serve dual purposes: conveying coating material during normal operation and receiving flushing medium for cleaning operations. The check valve and inlet valve are designed to control flow directions for both coating material conveyance and flushing medium delivery, making the system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate dedicated cleaning equipment.
2Loss of time
If separate manual cleaning of supply line is performed, then the supply line can be cleaned, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning action by flushing the supply line and pump components with flushing medium during or before the coating material conveyance operation. The flushing device is positioned to deliver flushing medium through the supply line and pump inlet, pre-cleaning these components before they are needed for the next coating operation, thereby reducing overall cleaning time and eliminating manual cleaning steps.
3Reliability
If flushing medium is used to clean the pump chamber, then the pump can be cleaned, but the supply line remains contaminated with coating material
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing device acts as an intermediary system that introduces flushing medium through the pump inlet and supply line. The flushing medium serves as a mediator to carry away coating material residues from both the pump chamber and supply line. The check valve ensures that the flushing medium flows in the correct direction through the supply line, effectively cleaning all components without requiring excessive amounts of detergent or flushing medium.
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
Facilitates efficient, automated cleaning of the entire system, reducing detergent usage and disposal costs while minimizing material carryover during color changes.
Implementation Method 1
the inlet valve is designed as a check valve. This ensures that the fluid can flow unhindered in one direction, while backflow (i.e., flow in the opposite direction) is automatically prevented.
Implementation Method 2
a compressed gas system for flushing, allowing simultaneous cleaning of the supply line and material conveyor
Implementation Method 3
the inlet valve is designed as a poppet valve, ball valve, or needle valve. The use of a poppet valve is particularly advantageous because it can be designed for optimal flushing. Furthermore, the poppet valve can handle large flow rates.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveying device with a flushing device comprises a material conveyor (1) for conveying coating material (31). The material conveyor (1), in turn, has an inlet valve (7) comprising a valve inlet (7.1) and a valve outlet (7.9). The material conveyor (1) also has a conveyor inlet (1.1) for coating material (31), which is connected or connectable to the valve inlet (7.1). The conveying device further comprises a flushing agent conveyor (3) for conveying flushing agent (30), which is also connected to the valve inlet (7.1).