Apparatus and method for controlled application of liquid streams to a substrate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9339834-B2
Application number	US-201414533313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Aug 4, 2010
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

An improved system for application of liquid streams to a substrate. The system incorporates open face flow channels for carrying the liquid away from fully enclosed flow segments prior to discharge along an unconstrained flow path. The present invention further provides an improved, self-aligning modular assembly for delivery of impingement jet to the liquid streams for diverting the direction of the liquid streams. The present invention further provides an improved arrangement for collection of the deflected liquid in response to application of the impingement jet without excess residue build-up.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for intermittently applying a liquid from a pressurized source onto a target substrate in the form of liquid streams, the apparatus comprising:
a manifold module having a manifold chamber for receiving the liquid from the pressurized source;
a channel body having a plurality of grooves in fluid communication with the manifold module, the grooves defining liquid channels whereby liquid from the manifold chamber passes through the liquid channels and is directed towards the target substrate as the liquid streams;
a channel body cover covering a portion of each of the grooves in the channel body,
wherein a first segment of each liquid channel being created by the portion of the grooves in the channel body enclosed by the channel body cover, the first segment being an enclosed tunnel in fluid communication with the manifold chamber in the manifold module;
wherein a second segment of each liquid channel being created by a portion of the grooves in the channel body, the second segment being in direct fluid communication with the first segment, having an open-face flume configuration, and having a liquid discharge end projecting toward the target substrate;
wherein the liquid stream leaves the apparatus in a completely open, unconfined state as it approaches the textile substrate, wherein an impingement stream is directed to the liquid stream at a point when the liquid stream is located in the open, unconfined state after leaving the apparatus;
wherein the length of the second segment is at least four (4) times greater than the largest cross-sectional diameter of the second segment and static pressure dissipation occurs therein;
a plurality of impingement jet directional passages, each impingement jet directional passage being associated with a corresponding liquid channel, each impingement jet directional passage further having:
an impingement jet discharge opening disposed at a location between the liquid discharge end of the associated liquid channel and the target substrate, and
a central axis oriented in an intersecting relation to an axis of the corresponding liquid channel whereby an impingement stream passing through the impingement jet directional passage and impingement jet discharge opening towards the liquid stream will create a diverted flow path in the associated liquid stream; and

a liquid collection module adapted to capture the liquid stream during the diverted flow path.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second segment has a rectangular cross-sectional geometry.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second segment has a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional geometry.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second segment has a substantially “U” shaped cross-sectional geometry.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the channel body cover includes complementary grooves aligned with the grooves in the channel body and facing the grooves in the channel body.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impingement jet discharge opening is positioned on a side of the liquid stream opposite from the channel body cover.

Assignees

• Milliken & Co

Inventors

• Love Iii Franklin S
• Rumler Joseph E
• Hornung Mark A
• Bryant James C
• Koh-Fallet Sharon E

Classifications

• B05B1/28

  with integral means for shielding the discharged liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to limit area of spray; with integral means for catching drips or collecting surplus liquid or other fluent material · CPC title

• B05D1/02 Primary

  performed by spraying · CPC title

• B05B15/0406

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B05B1/205

  characterised by the longitudinal shape of the elongated body · CPC title

• B05B15/0431 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic