Wear resistant distributor post

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12458994-B2
Application number	US-202217647384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A wear resistant mounting post for a distributor cap in a rotary bell cup atomizer. The mounting post includes a flange separating a thin barbed end from a larger diameter central portion. The flange fits into a countersunk depression in the distributor cap to provide a flange surface which is flush with the distributor cap surface. Paint flowing radially outward across the distributor cap follows the flange surface to the central portion of the post. This design prevents the paint from undercutting the surface of the distributor cap, and ensures that any abrasive wear of the post is limited to the larger diameter central portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mounting post for attaching a distributor cap to a rotary bell cup in a spray painting atomizer system, said mounting post comprising:
a first end configured for being fixedly embedded into an interior of a base portion of the rotary bell cup; a second end opposite the first end and configured for being fixedly embedded into the distributor cap; a cylindrical central portion located between the first end and the second end, the central portion having a minimum outer diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the first end and an outer diameter of the second end, where the central portion is positioned in a stand-off space where coating fluid flows between the distributor cap and the rotary bell cup during operation of the atomizer system; and a disc-shaped flange located between the second end and the central portion, the flange having parallel front and rear faces and an outer diameter which is larger than the minimum outer diameter of the central portion, and when the second end of the mounting post is embedded into the distributor cap, the front face of the flange exposed to flow of the coating fluid is parallel to and flush with or recessed below a surrounding front surface of the distributor cap.

2 . The mounting post according to claim 1 including a fillet at a junction of the central portion and the front face of the flange.

3 . The mounting post according to claim 1 wherein the second end has a barbed shape configured for insertion into a hole in the distributor cap.

4 . The mounting post according to claim 1 wherein the first end has a male screw thread configured for installation into a female threaded hole in the base portion of the rotary bell cup.

5 . The mounting post according to claim 1 wherein the first end has a barbed shape configured for being pressed into a plastic insert located in a hole in the base portion of the rotary bell cup.

6 . The mounting post according to claim 1 wherein the mounting post is constructed of a single piece of titanium or stainless steel.

7 . A distributor cap assembly for use in a bell cup in a spray painting rotary atomizer, said distributor cap assembly comprising:
a plurality of mounting posts, each mounting post including a first end configured for being fixedly embedded into an interior of a base portion of the bell cup, a second end opposite the first end and having a barbed shape, a cylindrical central portion located between the first end and the second end, the central portion having a minimum outer diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the first end and an outer diameter of the second end, and a disc-shaped flange located between the second end and the central portion, the flange having parallel front and rear faces and an outer diameter which is larger than the minimum outer diameter of the central portion; and a distributor cap having a pre-formed hole for receiving the second end of each of the mounting posts, thereby fixing the distributor cap in a position in the interior of the bell cup to deflect a flow of coating fluid radially outward, where the central portion of the mounting posts is positioned in a stand-off space where the coating fluid flows between the distributor cap and the bell cup during operation of the atomizer system, and where the distributor cap further includes a countersunk recess surrounding each of the pre-formed holes, said recess having a size and shape configured to receive the flange such that, when the second end of the mounting post is embedded into the distributor cap, the front face of the flange exposed to flow of the coating fluid is parallel to and flush with or recessed below a surrounding front surface of the distributor cap.

8 . The distributor cap assembly according to claim 7 wherein each of the mounting posts includes a fillet at a junction of the central portion and the front face of the flange.

9 . The distributor cap assembly according to claim 7 wherein the plurality of mounting posts is three mounting posts.

10 . The distributor cap assembly according to claim 7 wherein each of the mounting posts is constructed of a single piece of titanium or stainless steel, and the distributor cap is constructed of a plastic material.

11 . The distributor cap assembly according to claim 7 wherein the distributor cap includes a metallic insert at its center, where the flow of coating fluid impinges on the insert and then spreads radially outward on a front surface of the distributor cap.

12 . The distributor cap assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first end of each of the mounting posts has a male screw thread configured for installation into a female threaded hole in the base portion of the bell cup, or the first end has a barbed shape configured for being pressed into a plastic insert located in a hole in the base portion of the bell cup.

13 . A rotary atomizer for use on a spray painting robot, said rotary atomizer comprising:
a bell cup, said bell cup mounted to a spray atomizer device on an outer arm or wrist of the spray painting robot, said bell cup configured to spin on its mounting about a central axis; a plurality of mounting posts, each mounting post including a first end configured for being fixedly embedded into an interior of a base portion of the bell cup, a second end opposite the first end and having a barbed shape, a cylindrical central portion located between the first end and the second end, the central portion having a minimum outer diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the first end and an outer diameter of the second end, and a disc-shaped flange located between the second end and the central portion, the flange having parallel front and rear faces and an outer diameter which is larger than the minimum outer diameter of the central portion; and a distributor cap having a plurality of pre-formed holes, one hole for receiving the second end of each of the mounting posts, thereby fixing the distributor cap in a position in the interior of the bell cup to deflect a flow of coating fluid radially outward, where the central portion of the mounting posts is positioned in a stand-off space where the coating fluid flows between the distributor cap and the bell cup during operation of the rotary atomizer, and where the distributor cap further includes a countersunk recess surrounding each of the pre-formed holes, said recess having a size and shape configured to receive the flange such that, when the second end of the mounting post is embedded into the distributor cap, the front face of the flange exposed to flow of the coating fluid is parallel to and flush with or recessed below a surrounding front surface of the distributor cap.

14 . The rotary atomizer according to claim 13 wherein each of the mounting posts includes a fillet at a junction of the central portion and the front face of the flange.

15 . The rotary atomizer according to claim 13 wherein each of the mounting posts is constructed of a single piece of titanium or stainless steel, and the distributor cap is constructed of a plastic material.

16 . The rotary atomizer according to claim 13 wherein the distributor cap includes a metallic insert at its center, where the flow of coating fluid impinges on the insert and at least a portion of the flow of coating fluid spreads radially outward on a front surface of the distributor cap.

17 . The rotary atomizer according to claim 13 wherein the first end of each of the mounting posts has a male screw thread configured for installation into a female threaded hole in t

Assignees

• Fanuc America Corp

Inventors

• Woodcox Andrew

Classifications

• B05B15/25

  using moving elements, e.g. rotating blades · CPC title

• B05B3/1014 Primary

  with a spraying edge, e.g. like a cup or a bell · CPC title

• B05B15/18 Primary

  for improving resistance to wear, e.g. inserts or coatings; for indicating wear; for handling or replacing worn parts · CPC title

• B05B3/1007

  characterised by the rotating member (B05B3/105 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B3/10 Primary

  discharging over substantially the whole periphery of the rotating member {(B05B3/082 takes precedence)} · CPC title