Atomizer with a lattice mixer

Abstract

An atomizer comprises a static mixer configured to mix components of a coating agent with one another. The mixer has a plurality of fixed mixing elements and is constructionally integrated into the atomizer, and the mixer is a lattice mixer having mixing elements that are arranged intertwined in a lattice-like manner.

Claims

1. An atomizer including a first and second controllable main needle valves, the position of the needle valve determinative of whether a coating agent is applied, the atomizer further comprising: a first and second lattice mixer, positioned in a first and second coating lines respectively, upstream of the first and second needle valves and configured to mix components of a coating agent with one another in the respective coating lines, with the first lattice mixer positioned adjacent to the first needle valve; wherein the first and second mixers each having mixing elements that are arranged intertwined in a lattice-like manner; each mixer has a plurality of sections linearly connected one behind the other in a direction of flow and through which the flow successively passes, each of the mixer sections including a plurality of the mixing elements; and the mixing elements in adjacent sections of the mixer in the direction of flow are aligned differently from one another.

2. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixing elements each have an essentially rectangular cross section and are elongated.

3. The atomizer of claim 2, wherein the individual mixing elements are each straight, sharp-edged, rod-shaped, and plastic.

4. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the individual mixing elements have a pitch angle relative to the direction of flow.

5. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the pitch angles for all mixing elements are essentially equal to one another.

6. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixer includes more than five sections.

7. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixer is elongated in the direction of flow, essentially cylindrical, and has an overall length of less than 10 centimeters.

8. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixer is arranged completely within the atomizer.

9. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixer is arranged completely in the paint tube, the mixing elements are arranged without an additional mixing tube in the paint tube, and a diameter of the mixer essentially corresponds to a diameter of the paint tube, so that the mixer fills the cross section of the paint tube substantially completely.

10. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is suitable for application of at least two different paint systems, wherein each of the two paint systems has a plurality of components, and the atomizer for each of the different paint systems has a mixer, wherein the mixers are constructionally integrated into the atomizer.

11. The atomizer of claim 10, wherein the mixers for the different paint systems are arranged together in the paint tube, are arranged adjacently with respect to the direction of flow, fill only part of the cross section of the paint tube, have a mixing tube in which the mixing elements are arranged, wherein the mixing tubes separate the mixers from one another, and have different mixing properties, the mixing properties being adapted to the properties of a respective one of the different paint systems.

12. The atomizer of claim 10, wherein the mixer for one of the different paint systems is arranged in the paint tube, while the mixer for another of the different paint systems is located outside of the paint tube.

13. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein a plurality of mixers are arranged in the atomizer.

14. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the mixing elements have a pitch angle and the pitch angle of the mixing elements is greater than 20 degrees and smaller than 70 degrees.

15. The atomizer of claim 14, wherein the length of the coating line that lies between the end of each mixer closest to its respective main needle valve is shorter than 10 centimeters.

Description

(1) Other advantageous further developments of the disclosed lattice mixer are identified in the dependent claims or are explained in greater detail below with reference to the figures together with the description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures show as follows:

(2) FIG. 1: a schematic cross section drawing of a rotary atomizer with an integrated lattice mixer,

(3) FIG. 2: a perspective view of the lattice mixer from the rotary atomizer according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3: a simplified diagram for clarifying the structure of a rotary atomizer for the application of two different paint systems, wherein two mixers are integrated into the paint tube of the rotary atomizer,

(5) FIG. 4: a modification of FIG. 3, wherein the one mixer is arranged in the paint tube whilst the other mixer is located in the valve block.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a rotary atomizer 1 that can be used for example for the painting of motor vehicle body components, wherein the rotary atomizer 1 is structured substantially conventionally, so that it is possible to dispense with a detailed description of the structure and the functioning of the rotary atomizer 1. For the present disclosure, it is merely important that the rotary atomizer 1 has a paint tube 2 which is fixed on a connection block 3, wherein the paint tube 2 is aligned coaxially to the axis of rotation of a bell cup shaft 4, in order to supply the coating agent to be applied.

(7) A lattice mixer 5 may be arranged in the paint tube 2, in order to mix the various components (e.g. base paint and hardener) of the coating agent with one another.

(8) The lattice mixer 5 has numerous elongated, rod-shaped, sharp-edged mixing elements 6 which are arranged intertwined in a lattice-like manner, wherein the mixing elements 6 generate turbulences in the paint tube 2, which leads to good mixing.

(9) The lattice mixer shown here consists of a total of twelve sections 7, 8, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow and through which the flow successively passes. The various sections 7, 8 of the lattice mixer 5 differ here by means of the orientation of the individual mixing elements 6, as can be seen from the perspective illustration in FIG. 2.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram for clarifying the structure of a rotary atomizer 9 that is suitable for the application of two different paint systems, wherein the first paint system consists of a first base paint SL1 and a first hardener H1, whilst the second paint system consists of a second base paint SL2 and a second hardener H2.

(11) For the application of the various paint systems, the rotary atomizer has two main needle valves 10, 11, and also a lattice mixer 12, 13 in each case, wherein the two lattice mixers 12, 13 are arranged together adjacently in a paint tube 14 of the rotary atomizer 9. The lattice mixer 12 here mixes the first base paint SL1 with the first hardener H1, whilst the other lattice mixer 13 mixes the second base paint SL2 with the second hardener H2.

(12) The two lattice mixers 12, 13 here correspond in terms of structure and function to the lattice mixer 5 according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(13) Furthermore, the rotary atomizer 9 also has a connection block 15 with integrated valves in this exemplary embodiment.

(14) It can furthermore be seen from the drawing that the two lattice mixers 12, 13 are arranged at a very short spacing 1-5 cm upstream of the associated main needle valves 10, 11. This is advantageous, because the line section to be rinsed between the lattice mixers 12, 13 and the associated main needle valves 10, 11 has a small volume as a result, so that the rinsing agent losses or the paint losses are also correspondingly small.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a modification to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, so that reference is made to the above description to avoid repetition, wherein the same reference numerals are used for corresponding details.

(16) A particular feature of this exemplary embodiment consists in the arrangement of the two lattice mixers 12, 13. Thus, the lattice mixer 12 is in this exemplary embodiment likewise located inside the paint tube 14, whereas the other lattice mixer 13 is integrated into the connection block 15.

(17) The invention is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above. Instead, a plurality of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the concept of the invention and thus fall within the scope of protection. Furthermore, it is to be mentioned that the invention also claims protection for the subject of the dependent claims independently of the features of the preceding claims.