Paint Booth Coating Line Grounding Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional paint shops require complex and cumbersome grounding interfaces for electrostatic coating agent lines, which complicate assembly, increase the risk of fire, and necessitate additional fire protection equipment, especially due to the high-voltage potential within the paint booth.

Innovation Solution

A paint booth design featuring a coating agent line with an equipotential bonding element that extends through the booth wall, allowing for internal grounding of the coating agent line, thus eliminating the need for external fire protection devices and simplifying the grounding interface by using a lance-shaped grounding element that remains within the booth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional grounding interfaces with multiple screwed hose connections are used, then electrical grounding of the coating agent line is achieved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical groundingVSAvoidgrounding interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple grounding connections and attachment components into a single integrated grounding interface unit. This unit includes a grounding bulkhead with multiple grounding points, strain relief, and connection interfaces all merged into one assembly that can be installed as a single component, eliminating the need for separate screwed hose connections and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliable electrical grounding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding interface is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different mounting positions and robot configurations within the paint booth. The interface includes multiple grounding points and flexible connection options that work with various coating agent line configurations, making it adaptable to different applications without requiring custom adaptation structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If additional components like angle plates, bulkhead plates, and strain relief are used for mechanical attachment, then the grounding interface becomes more robust, but the device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical attachment robustnessVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates angle plates, bulkhead plates, strain relief, and other mechanical attachment components into a single pre-assembled grounding interface unit. All mechanical strengthening elements are incorporated into the bulkhead assembly during manufacturing, so the installer only needs to mount one component rather than assembling multiple separate parts, reducing complexity while maintaining robust mechanical attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If grounding interfaces are customized for different painting robot mounting options, then adaptability to various positions is improved, but standardization becomes difficult and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting position adaptabilityVSAvoidstandardization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding interface is designed as a universal standard component with multiple grounding points and flexible connection geometry that can serve all mounting positions (above, below, on booth wall, or at distance from wall). The interface includes adjustable elements and multiple connection points that accommodate different robot configurations without requiring custom adaptation structures, maintaining both standardization and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If fire protection equipment is installed inside the paint booth, then safety in case of high-voltage incidents is improved, but the risk of fire and potential damage increases due to high-voltage potential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against high-voltage incidentsVSAvoidfire risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the high-voltage potential hazard from the paint booth interior by grounding the coating agent line at the booth wall interface. The grounding interface ensures that the coating agent line is electrically grounded on the booth interior side, preventing high-voltage potential from accumulating. This extraction of the hazard source eliminates the need for fire protection equipment inside the booth while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This design ensures safe and efficient electrical grounding of the coating agent line within the paint booth, reducing the risk of fire and simplifying the assembly process by eliminating the need for extensive external fire protection and complex hose connections.

Implementation Method 1

an electrically conductive potential equalization element in order to electrically connect the coating medium (e.g. paint) located in the hollow line interior of the coating medium line to a reference potential (e.g. earth or ground potential)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

Modern paint shops for painting motor vehicle body components generally have an electrostatic coating agent charge that electrostatically charges the paint to be applied so that the paint adheres better to the motor vehicle body component to be painted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic deposition: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP2806978B1Painting booth with a coating agent line and corresponding manufacturing method for said coating agent line
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 DUERR SYST AG
  • EP2806978B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2806978B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a painting booth for coating components, particularly for painting motor vehicle body components, with a booth wall (10) and a coating agent line (1), which runs from the exterior of the booth through the booth wall (10) into the interior of the booth. The invention proposes that the coating agent line (1) has an electrically conductive and axially running potential-compensating element (15) inside the line for electrically connecting the coating agent inside the line to an electrical reference potential, said potential-compensating element (15) extending from the exterior of the booth through the booth wall (10), so that the free end of the potential-compensating element (15) is inside the booth.