Galvanic Isolation Connecting Means for High Voltage Paint Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for galvanic separation of paint outlet openings from paint supply devices in electrostatic painting processes do not ensure sufficient safety and ease of manufacturing, particularly when high voltages are involved, as they fail to maintain reliable isolation during operation.

Innovation Solution

A device with a connecting means that can move between two positions to maintain galvanic separation between paint lines, ensuring the paint supply device is not at high voltage, featuring a paint buffer and paint lines with a connecting mechanism that can be hydraulically or linearly displaced to maintain safe electrical isolation, even at high voltages up to 80kV.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a galvanic separation device is implemented between paint supply device and paint outlet opening, then safety is improved by preventing high voltage from reaching the paint supply device, but device complexity increases due to additional connection means and paint buffer components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paint supply system is divided into two electrically isolated segments: the paint supply device (earth potential) and the paint outlet opening (high voltage). The connecting means acts as a movable barrier that physically and electrically separates these segments, allowing galvanic isolation while maintaining paint flow connectivity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting means serves as an intermediary component that can assume different positions to either connect or isolate the paint supply device from the high voltage zone. When in the retracted position, it acts as a mediator that blocks electrical connection while allowing paint flow through the buffer system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the connecting means is designed to be movable between connected and isolated positions, then ease of operation is improved by allowing continuous painting operation without switching off high voltage, but device complexity increases due to additional movement and positioning mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting means is designed as a dynamic component that can move between at least two positions: a connected position where it electrically connects the paint supply device to the paint outlet opening, and an isolated position where it galvanically separates them. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its electrical configuration during operation without requiring shutdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable connecting means enables continuous painting operation by allowing the system to switch between connected and isolated states without interrupting the painting process. The paint buffer ensures continuous paint supply during position transitions, maintaining uninterrupted operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the connecting means maintains sufficient distance from paint lines for galvanic separation, then reliability is improved by ensuring effective electrical isolation, but device complexity increases due to spatial requirements and positioning precision

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting means utilizes spatial positioning in multiple dimensions to achieve galvanic separation. By moving along the paint line and positioning at specific distances (e.g., at least 60mm from the second paint line), it creates electrical isolation through spatial separation rather than requiring additional insulating components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 ensures continuous operation without needing to switch off high voltage, providing reliable galvanic isolation and safety by maintaining a sufficient distance between the connecting means and paint lines, allowing for efficient and safe painting processes even at high voltages.

Implementation Method 1

The connecting means is designed to galvanically separate the second paint line from the paint buffer in the first position and to galvanically separate the paint buffer from the first paint line in the second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGalvanic separation: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3222361B1Device for electrostatically isolating a dispensing head of a roboter from a paint supply device
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 BM SURFACE SYST
  • EP3222361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3222361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3222361B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (300) for galvanically isolating a paint outlet opening of a painting head from a paint supply device, wherein the device comprises at least one connecting means (301), at least one paint intermediate storage (200), at least one first paint line (303) for supplying the paint from the paint supply device to the connecting means (301) and at least one second paint line (304) for supplying the paint from the connecting means (301) to the paint outlet opening (102), wherein the connecting means (301) is configured to connect the first paint line (303) to the paint intermediate storage (200) in a first position and to connect the paint intermediate storage (200) to the second paint line (304) in a second position, wherein the connecting means (301) is galvanically isolated from the second paint line (304) in the first position and/or galvanically isolated from the first paint line (303) in the second position.