초록 ▼

A paint drying booth includes a plurality of walls, a ceiling, and an access door for egress and ingress. A turbine generates heated compressed air which is delivered to the interior of the booth via a duct system. The duct is in fluid communication with an air knife having a slit which delivers a s

A paint drying booth includes a plurality of walls, a ceiling, and an access door for egress and ingress. A turbine generates heated compressed air which is delivered to the interior of the booth via a duct system. The duct is in fluid communication with an air knife having a slit which delivers a stream or sheet of air into the interior of the booth. More than one air knife can be provided, and the orientation of the plurality of air knives are coordinated to provide a flow of heated turbulent air within the booth to accelerate the drying of painted items within the booth. The turbine comprises a multi-stage compressor including a plurality of rotors and stators for compressing air passing therethrough. Optionally a pneumatic spray gun can be provided for painting the items within the booth as well.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A turbine for use in a spray system for coating an article of manufacture, the turbine comprising: (a) an air inlet, an air outlet, a cover, and a compressor, the compressor including: (1) at least four compression stages, a final stage, and a rotatable drive shaft, each compression stage includi

1. A turbine for use in a spray system for coating an article of manufacture, the turbine comprising: (a) an air inlet, an air outlet, a cover, and a compressor, the compressor including: (1) at least four compression stages, a final stage, and a rotatable drive shaft, each compression stage including a rotor and a stator juxtaposed each other, and the final stage including a stationary final stator;(2) each of the rotors, stators, and the final stator are substantially circular and planar and include an upper plate, a lower plate, and a plurality of fins disposed therebetween, each rotor being connected to and rotatably driven by the drive shaft, and each stator being stationary;(3) the drive shaft being rotatably secured in position by an upper and a lower bearing assembly, the upper and lower bearing assemblies being located at respective ends of the drive shaft, the upper bearing assembly including a bronze bearing ring which tightly engages the drive shaft; and(b) the cover being secured atop the turbine and over the air inlet, the cover including a plurality of air intake ports and a filter media positioned over the air intake ports to filter exterior air before the air enters the compressor via the air inlet. 2. The turbine of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a first duct for delivering heated compressed air from the outlet of the turbine to the article of manufacture; and(b) an auxiliary duct and a pneumatic spray gun, the auxiliary duct being in fluid communication with the outlet of the turbine and having an end which is connectable with the spray gun to provide compressed air to the spray gun. 3. An air knife which is connectable to an air supply source, the air knife comprising: (a) an air drying supply source;(b) an elongated plenum housing having a cylindrical surface on a first side and a pair of tapered walls on a second side, the housing having a substantially teardrop-shaped cross-section and an open top end and an open bottom end, the tapered walls extending from the cylindrical surface and converging toward each other, the tapered walls terminating in an open slit for expelling air therefrom;(c) a pair of substantially planar top and bottom plates for attachment to the respective open ends of the housing, the bottom plate including an opening for receiving air from the air supply source, each of the plates including a plurality of aligned holes for receiving a respective elongated fastener which extends therethrough to secure the top plate, housing, and bottom plate together; and(d) wherein the air supply source delivers air into the housing via the opening in the bottom plate, the air being pressurized as it moves from the first side toward the second side along the tapered walls, and the air is then expelled through the slit at an elevated velocity. 4. The air knife of claim 3 wherein the opening in the bottom plate is substantially circular and has a diameter less than that of the plenum.