US2688068A - Paint drying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1954 I v, MARR 2,688,068

PAINT DRYING APPARATUS Filed June 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H IN Jab M M426 A BY fi ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 J. v. MARR PAINT DRYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1952 a/v Z 0 W INVENTOR Joy/v 1 Mnee ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES an" OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates in general. to paint drying apparatus and deals, more particularly, with an improved construction for an oven, or the like, for use in drying and baking the paint on newly painted structures such as automotive vehicles, relatively large cabinets, and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved, highly simplified construction for such a paint drying and baking oven in which the frame of the oven is composed of a series of spaced, inverted substantially U-shaped support ing bows or" generally channel-shaped cross section which are so arranged in the completedv apparatus as to serve the multiple purposes of means for securing the outer casing or covering of the oven, means for mounting the drying lamps of the oven in the interior thereof, and as conduits containing and concealing the elec trical wires leading to said drying lamps of the oven.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a paint drying and baiting oven which is supported on individually mounted wheels that permit ready movement of the oven to various locations in a painting shop, and further, with said individual mountings for the wheels adjustable to different heights for the application and use of the apparatus with structures of various sizes in drying and baking newly painted sur faces thereon.

Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrange ment and general combination of parts of the invention will be readily apparent as the follo ing description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

i is a perspective view of an end and side of a paint dryig and balling oven in accordance with the invention, the other end and side being similar in construction and arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, shows the mounting of the lamp units in the interior oi the apparatus t gether with t e eleetrical wires leading thereto as contained in and concealed in the channel-shaped bows forming the fram of the apparatus, and with said bows also serving as the means for securing the outer casing or covering on the exterior of the appa ratus; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the construction providing for adjustability of the individual mountings of the supportins wheels of the apparatus.

Rere now, more particularly, to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the general construction of the improved paint drying and baking oven of the invention, designated generally A, in which the frame of the oven is provided by a series of inverted generally U-shaped bows H) which extend t :sely of the oven in spaced relation longitudinally thereof. As best seen in Fig. 2,

inverted U-shaped bows Ill have a substantially ehannel-shaped cross section comprising a fiat crown portion 5 5 intermediate a pair of side portions 82 provided with outwardly extending nge portions E3, The inverted U-shaped bows is preferably are provided in continuous onepiece lengths but, if desired, may be made up or" c -annel-shaped sections which are welded, d or otherwise suitably secured together to a substantially similar frame member the form or inverted U-shaped bow ID. A longitudinal rail is provided at each side or" franc and secured to the lower ends of the spac. inverted U-shaped bows 16 by welding, riveting or other suitable securing means. Preferably the rail i5 is provided by an L-shaped angle iron having one flange in abutting relation with the iower ends of the bows IE and the other flange bearing against the inner surfaces of said bows it adjacent the ends thereof and welded or other e secured thereto.

A reiniorcing rod 2i: in the form of a pipe, or the like, is provided. at each end of the frame in association with the outermost inverted U- shaped how it. P rably said rod 20 is provided in a length of pipe having an inverted U- corresponding to that of the associated bow sue that it fits snugly against the side portion 32, g. of said bow and is secured thereto at spaced points along its length by welding 2!, 3, or other suitable securing means. [is ilustrated Fig. l, the rod 29, as thus secured to the side portion 52 of the outermost bow It, extends upwardly along the sides of the oven and across the top the eoi' in a manner to rigidiiy the ends of th frame and provide a firm and rigid support for the roof of the oven.

The reinforcing rods 2%; at each end of the accordingly, define an end section of pipe .Cl corner of the frame which is admirably SiiltECl for mounting a wheel W at each lower corner of the oven. As shown in Fig. 3, the attachment of the wheels W preferably is provided. by individual mountings which are adjustable vertically as necessary to raise or lower the oven for us in drying the paint on newly painted vehicles and other structures of different sizes, in the most eifective manner.

The wheels W are provided with any suitable type of yoke 38, or the like, for supporting a vertical post 32, Fig. 3, which fits snugly in telescoping relation within the end section of pipe 23 at each lower corner of the oven. The vertical post 32, Fig. 3, preferably is provided in a length of pipe for lightness in weight and is formed with a transverse hole 36 for receiving a removable retaining pin such as a bolt 36 which preferably is positively locked in position by a nut 37, cotter pin or other locking means.

The pipe end 23 receiving the vertical post 32 is provided with a series of transverse holes 25 at different levels on said pipe end 23. The transverse hole 343 in the vertical post 32 is readily aligned with any selected one of the holes 25 in the pipe end 23 depending on the height to which the oven is to be adjusted. In the illustration of Fig. 3, it will be understood that the pipe end 23 is supported on the post 32 in the lowermost position of adjustment of the frame of the oven. To raise the oven to a higher position of adjustment, the nut 371 is removed and the bolt 36 Withdrawn whereupon the pipe end 23 may be raised relatively to the vertical post 32 until the hole 34 in said post 32 is aligned with the selected one of the lower holes 25 in said 1 pipe end 23 depending on the height desired. The belt 36 is then pased through the aligned holes 25, M, respectively, to retain the post 32 in such adjusted position in the pipe end 23; the bolt 36 is preferably locked in such applied position by the nut 37! or a cotter pin or other locking device.

With the frame of the oven provided substantially as described, the heating and drying means of the oven are provided by a suitable number of lamp units 40 which are mounted in the interior of the oven in a highly simplified and low cost arrangement utilizing the inner surfaces or crown portions M of the inverted Ushaped bows H3, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The lamp units at are mounted at predetermined spaced points along the sides and tops of the bows Hi, and at each of such points, the intermediate crown portion ll of a bow ill is provided with a suitable aperture ll, Fig. in which a lamp unit 10 is individually mounted.

The lamp units 49, Fig. 2, are of a simple, inexpensive character comprising preferably an infra-red electric lamp i3 and a polished reflector Mi of aluminum, or the like. The lamp 43 and reflector 44 are carried in a conventional manner by an electrical lamp socket housing d5 having a flange it which bears on the forward face of the crown portion ll of the channelshaped bow l8 adjacent the aperture ii. Said housing 45 is secured in such mounted position by a complementary rearward mating member 31 provided with a flange d8 that bears on the rearward face of said crown portion H and has a threaded or other connection with said socket housing d5 through said aperture 41 in said crown portion ll, thereby maintaining the complete lamp unit if? in fixed and rigid mounted position on the bow ID.

The member 47 of the electrical socket is provided with the usual electrical wires ts leading to the lamp 53 carried by the socket housing as and these wires A9 are completely contained in and concealed within the channel-shaped formation of the bows Ill between the sides l2 and the crown portion H thereof. The relatively simple arrangement of the channel-shaped bows l0, otherwise, is such that the wires 59 to all lamp units 40 are readily provided in a simple wiring circuit which is completely shielded within said channel-shaped bows l0.

The bows ii] of the frame also serve to support the cover or casing of the oven in the form of a skin composed of thin sheet metal panels 50 secured to the flange portions is of the channel-shaped bows If as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The cover or casing 5G is most effectively provided by sheets of aluminum which are relatively light inweight and have a high degree of reflection that advantageously confines within the oven the combined heat produced by the lamp units All of the apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 2, the aluminum panels 58 forming the cover or casing of the oven, preferably are secured to the flange portions E3 of the inverted U-shaped bows I!) together with an intermediate layer of insulation 5|. The fastening means may be of any suitable character such as self-tapping screws 53 which are driven through aligned openings in the panel 55] and insulation El and secured in thread openings in the flange portions E3 of said channel-shaped bows Hi. The panels 50, as thus secured to the bows ll], necessarily reinforce and rigidiiy said bows iii in the overall frame structure and provide a completed oven construction which is light in weight, and strong, durable and reliable, and capable of withstanding constant usage and handling over a long period of service.

With the cover or casing 50 thus mounted in the completed oven, it will be appreciated that all electrical Wires 49, Fig. 2, to all lamp units flit are completely concealed in said channel shaped bows it between the crown portion II and side portions I2 of said bows and the layer of insulation 5! backed by the cover or casing 5i? of the oven. Consequently, there are no exposed electrical wires whatsoever in the completed oven construction and this arrangement, of course, protects the electrical wires against damage and provides for maximum safety against accidental fire due to a short circuit, for example.

The paint drying and baking oven of the invention has been found particularly advantageous in that an excellent heat output is assured under all conditions by reason of the highly efiicient arrangement of the lamp units All with the outer casing or covering 50 composed of the highly reflective sheets of aluminum which serve as a large, full size reflecting surface for the heat produced by the lamp units 50.

A further advantage resides in the simplicity of construction of the present invention which makes possible the manufacture of a highly practical type of paint drying and baking oven at relatively low cost, and which, otherwise, is so light in weight as to be readily movable by a single operator to various locations in a paint shop for "use on different structures in the process of being painted. This, of course, is highly important in a small size paint shop where space is limited and the most eficient procedure is to move the oven around the shop to dry the paint on one structure while another is being painted, and similarly, in the application of successive coats of paint to several structures being painted at the same time.

In this regard, the present invention is particularly advantageous in the painting and repainting of automotive vehicles, especially in a small size paint shop, where it is impractical to move the vehicles to the location of a permanently installed paint drying oven due to the fact that movement of the vehicle, particularly by operation of the engine, stirs up dust which impairs and mars the finish of the newly applied paint on the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that a most important advantage resides in the fact that the paint drying and baking oven of the invention is admirably suited for economical quantity production at relatively low cost by reason of the highly simplified, unitary, all-welded frame structure provided by the series of spaced, inverted, substantially U-shaped supporting bows In of generally channel-shaped cross section which serve the multiple purposes of the means for securing the panels 50 defining the exterior casing or covering of the oven, the means mounting the lamp units 40 in the interior of the oven, and, as the conduits safely containing and protecting the electrical wires 49 leading to said lamp units 40 of the oven.

While the invention has been described in detail with a specific example, such example is intended as an illustration only, inasmuch as it will be readily apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts thereof may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by a series of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spaced longitudinally of the structure, said inverted U- shaped bows having a generally channel-shaped formation comprising a crown portion at the interior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardly extending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure, panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing said panels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mounted at spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length of said bows at the interior of said structure, and electrical conductors connected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of said bows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by a series of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spaced longitudinally of the structure, said inverted U- shaped bows having a generally channel-shaped formation comprising a crown portion at the interior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardly extending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure, panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing said panels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mounted at spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length of said bows at the interior of said structure, electrical conductors connected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of said bows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows, and reinforcing means secured to the outermost bows of said frame comprising vertically extending rods at the sides of said structure defining supports for said structure.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by a series of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spaced longitudinally of the structure, said inverted U-shaped bows having a generally channelshaped formation comprising a crown portion at the interior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardly extending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure, panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing said panels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mounted at spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length of said bows at the interior of said structure, electrical conductors connected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of said bows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows, reinforcing means secured to the outermost bows of said frame comprising vertically extending rods at the sides of said structure, posts having their upper ends adjustably connected to the lower ends of said rods, and wheels connected to the lower ends of said posts and supporting said structure for movement on said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,405,631 Attwood Aug. 13, 1946 2,497,676 Lashells Feb. 14, 1950 2,521,232 Lashells Sept. 5, 1950 2,559,249 Hudson July 3, 1951 2,600,294 Henry June 10, 1952 GTHER REFERENCES Conserve for Victory with Near Infra-Red,

The Fostoria Pressed Steel Corp., Fostoria, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1943, 12 pages, page 4 relied upon. (Copy in Div. 60.)

Nalco Dritherm Infra-Red Ray Carbon Lamps, Drying Problems Made Easy With Radiant Energy, North American Electric Lamp 00., 1014 Tyler St., St. Louis, Mo., October 25, 1943, 8 pages, page 8, relied upon. (Copy in Div. 60.)

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