Guiding Air Ring with Annular Trough for Rotary Atomizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary atomizers face issues with contamination and cleaning challenges due to design flaws in the interaction between the shaping air ring and the bell cup, including axial overlap and annular gaps, which can lead to dirt accumulation and fluid penetration during cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A directing air ring design featuring an annular trough on the shaping air ring to accommodate the bell cup's rear edge, with coaxially arranged shaping air nozzle rings and alternate nozzle placement to create a unified shaping air flow, reducing contamination risks and enhancing cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shaping air ring surrounds the bell cup with axial overlap, then the bell cup is protected from contamination, but free air is required which complicates the sealing design
Solution Approach 1:
The bell cup is nested within the shaping air ring structure, with the rear edge of the bell cup protruding into the annular trough. This nesting arrangement allows the shaping air ring to surround and protect the bell cup while maintaining a compact, integrated design that reduces the need for separate sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular trough acts as an intermediary structure between the shaping air ring and the bell cup. It provides a dedicated space for the bell cup's rear edge to protrude into, creating a controlled interface that enables contamination protection without requiring complex sealing mechanisms throughout the entire assembly.
2Ease of operation
If an annular gap is left between the shaping air ring and bell cup, then cleaning access is improved, but the bell cup shaft becomes exposed and can become dirty
Solution Approach 1:
The annular trough provides localized protection only where needed - at the rear edge of the bell cup where contamination occurs. The trough's depth and positioning create a protective barrier exactly at the critical interface, while allowing other areas to remain accessible for cleaning operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple shaping air nozzle rings are used, then spray jet shaping flexibility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping air nozzle system is segmented into multiple independent nozzle rings arranged coaxially. Each nozzle ring can be independently controlled and adjusted, allowing flexible manipulation of the spray jet shape. The segmentation enables separate control of individual nozzle rings while maintaining overall system coordination through the coaxial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple shaping air nozzle rings are merged into a single integrated system with coaxial arrangement. The nozzles in different rings work together to create a unified shaping effect, combining the capabilities of individual rings to achieve complex spray patterns while maintaining a compact, organized structure.
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 prevents contamination, facilitates effective cleaning, and allows for flexible spray jet shaping with reduced operational parameters such as lower bell cup speed, air pressure, and coating flow rates, while maintaining optimal droplet size distribution for efficient coating applications.
Implementation Method 1
from which a shaping air flow can be emitted from behind against the spray jet, to shape the spray
Implementation Method 2
rotary atomizers are usually used, which emit a spray jet of a coating agent (e.g. wet paint) onto the components to be coated by means of a rotating bell cup
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a guiding air ring (6) for a rotary atomiser (1) for coating components, especially motor vehicle body parts, said ring comprising a front side facing a bell plate (5) of the rotary atomiser (1) in the operating state, and at least one guiding air nozzle (7) for outputting a guiding air flow for forming a directed spray emitted from the bell plate (5). Said ring also comprises a cavity (12) which is rotationally arranged in the front side of the guiding air ring (6) in an annular manner. The invention also relates to a correspondingly adapted bell plate (5).