Submersible Wire-Mesh Frame for Uniform Coating of Buoyant Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buoyant objects distort when submerged in coating material, leading to incomplete and non-uniform application of the coating.
Innovation Solution
A frame comprising opposing wire meshes and sidewalls is used to maintain buoyant objects in an undistorted flat state during submersion, with the materials having a density greater than the coating material, ensuring uniform coating application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a buoyant object is submerged in coating material, then the object receives coating material, but the object distorts due to buoyancy resulting in non-uniform coating application
Solution Approach 1:
A frame structure acts as an intermediary device between the buoyant object and the coating material. The frame contains the object during submersion, preventing direct interaction between the buoyant object and coating material that would cause distortion. The frame maintains proper orientation and position, ensuring uniform coating application while the object remains constrained within the frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame's density is specifically designed to be greater than the coating material density, causing the frame to sink while the buoyant object remains contained. This density parameter change allows the frame to counteract the buoyancy of the object, maintaining stable submersion and preventing distortion during the coating process.
2Productivity
If a buoyant object is submerged in coating material, then the coating process can be performed, but the coating application is incomplete and non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The frame serves as a mediator that enables the coating process to proceed efficiently by maintaining proper object orientation and position. This allows complete and uniform coating coverage to be achieved during a single submersion operation, improving productivity while ensuring manufacturing precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the frame material has density greater than coating material, then the frame remains stable during submersion, but the frame sinks in the coating material
Solution Approach 1:
The frame's greater density acts as a counterweight to the buoyant object's lighter density. This creates a balanced system where the frame's downward force counteracts the object's upward buoyant force, maintaining stable submersion position and orientation during the coating process.
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 frame maintains buoyant objects flat and supports even coating distribution, preventing distortion and ensuring complete coverage.
Implementation Method 1
the pair of opposing wire meshes and the pair of opposing sidewalls comprises a material having a density greater than a density of the coating material
Implementation Method 2
attempting to submerge a buoyant object (e.g., an object comprised of Styrofoam® into a liquid will result in the object distorting, due to its buoyancy
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for a frame that contains a buoyant object therein and wherein the frame and buoyant object can be submersed in tank of a liquid coating material to fully and uniformly coat the buoyant object. The frame is formed of a top wire mesh and bottom wire mesh coupled together with sidewalls and having an open front and back. The frame maintains the buoyant object in a flat state without distortion during the entire submersion process to allow the entire surface area of the buoyant object to be coated. The top and bottom wire meshes alternately come into contact with opposite surfaces of the buoyant object during descent and ascent of the frame during the coating process. A lifting lug is secured to a center portion of the top wire mesh to maintain the frame in a level orientation through the coating process.