Spray coating apparatus and fixtures
View Patent ↗A system for applying a sprayed coating includes a spray mechanism operative to spray a liquefied coating material; a target system including a rotatable spray target wheel; and one or more device-holding fixtures configured to be mounted onto the spray target wheel without requiring either an unattached threaded fastener or a locking pin. Preferred embodiments of the system are configured for thermal spray application of Tamper Resistant Coatings (TRCs).
1. A system for applying a sprayed coating comprising:
a spray mechanism operative to spray a liquefied coating material;
a target system including a rotatable spray target wheel;
one or more device-holding fixtures configured to be mounted onto the spray target wheel without requiring either an unattached threaded fastener or a locking pin;
wherein the one or more device-holding fixtures comprises a mask plate and a receptacle plate, wherein the mask plate and receptacle plate are configured to be coupled together to hold a device there between.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer system communicatively coupled to the spray mechanism and target system and operative to control one or more features of the spray mechanism and target system.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wheel includes a clamping assembly operative to clamp the one or more device-holding fixtures to said wheel without the unattached threaded fastener or locking pin.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the spray mechanism comprises a thermal spray gun and a gun mounting system.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the system further comprises a primer coating machine and one or more primer pallets configured to accommodate the one or more device-holding fixtures.
6. The system of claim 3 wherein the wheel comprises:
a wheel portion having a plurality of radial arms and a plurality of open spaces, wherein the plurality of radial arms each includes the clamping assembly.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the wheel portion comprises eight radial arms emanating from a center point and a peripheral ring defining the plurality of open spaces.
8. The system of claim 3 wherein the wheel comprises
a plurality of alternating radial arms and open spaces,
one or more device-holding fixture mounting guides; and
a plurality of mass-reducing voids other than the plurality of open spaces.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the mask plate and receptacle plate are configured to be coupled together without the use of threaded fasters.
10. The system of claim 5 wherein the mask plate and receptacle plate are configured to be couple together using one or more spring clips.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more device-holding fixtures comprises one or more inserts for securing a device having a seal ring.
12. A device-holding fixture for use in a thermal spray process, the device-holding fixture comprising:
a mask plate;
a receptacle plate; and
one or more non-threaded fasteners operative to compress the mask plate and receptacle plate together thereby holding a provided device for coating therebetween;
wherein the mask plate comprises an inside portion including a plurality of windows each having a top bevel and an undercut bottom.
13. The device-holding fixture of claim 12 wherein the mask plate and receptacle plate include one or more alignment components not including the one or more fasteners.
14. The device-holding fixture of claim 12 wherein the mask plate and receptacle plate are configured to accommodate one or more device handling strips.
15. The device-holding fixture of claim 12 wherein the one or more non-threaded fasteners comprises one or more spring clips.
16. The device-holding fixture of claim 12 wherein the receptacle plate includes a recessed portion for accommodating a device to be sprayed.
17. The device-holding fixture of claim 16 wherein the receptacle plate further includes a compliant material disposed in the recessed portion for forming a seal between the receptacle plate and the device to be sprayed.
18. The device-holding fixture of claim 17 wherein the compliant material comprises a closed-cell pliable material that is resistant to solvents.
19. The device-holding fixture of claim 12 further comprising one or more inserts operative to accommodate various sized parts between the mask plate and the receptacle plate.
20. The device-holding fixture of claim 19 wherein the one or more inserts comprise a sleeve having a lip and compliant material applied to edges of the insert that touch the mask plate and receptacle plate when they are in a closed position.
21. A target wheel for a spray coating apparatus the target wheel comprising:
a wheel portion having a plurality of radial arms and spaces therebetween; and
one or more clamping assemblies attached to the wheel portion, the one or more clamping assemblies operative to clamp a provided device-holding fixture to the wheel portion;
wherein the wheel portion further includes a spray gun centering mechanism for alignment of a spray mechanism to the target wheel; and
wherein the wheel portion includes a circumferential surface at an outer periphery of the plurality of radial arms, the circumferential surface configured for monitoring surface temperature of parts subject to spray coating.
22. The target wheel of claim 21 wherein the wheel portion includes a plurality of mass-reducing voids.
23. The target wheel of claim 21 wherein surfaces of the wheel portion and one or more clamping surfaces are hard anodized for increasing durability of such surfaces.
24. The target wheel of claim 21 further comprising one or more device-holding fixture mounting guides.
25. The target wheel of claim 24 wherein both of the one or more clamping assemblies and the one or more device-holding fixture mounting guides are separate structures removably attached to the wheel portion.
26. A system for applying a sprayed coating comprising:
a spray mechanism operative to spray a liquefied coating material;
a target system including a rotatable spray target wheel; and
one or more device-holding fixtures configured to be mounted onto the spray target wheel without requiring either an unattached threaded fastener or a locking pin;
wherein the wheel includes a clamping assembly operative to clamp the one or more device-holding fixtures to said wheel without the unattached threaded fastener or locking pin; and
wherein the wheel comprises:
a plurality of alternating radial arms and open spaces,
one or more device-holding fixture mounting guides; and
a plurality of mass-reducing voids other than the plurality of open spaces.
27. A system for applying a sprayed coating comprising:
a spray mechanism operative to spray a liquefied coating material;
a target system including a rotatable spray target wheel; and
one or more device-holding fixtures configured to be mounted onto the spray target wheel without requiring either an unattached threaded fastener or a locking pin;
wherein the wheel includes a clamping assembly operative to clamp the one or more device-holding fixtures to said wheel without the unattached threaded fastener or locking pin;
wherein the wheel comprises a wheel portion having a plurality of radial arms and a plurality of open spaces, wherein the plurality of radial arms each includes the clamping assembly; and
wherein the wheel portion comprises eight radial arms emanating from a center point and a peripheral ring defining the plurality of open spaces.
28. A device-holding fixture for use in a thermal spray process, the device-holding fixture comprising:
a mask plate;
a receptacle plate; and
one or more non-threaded fasteners operative to compress the mask plate and receptacle plate together thereby holding a provided device for coating therebetween;
wherein the receptacle plate includes a recessed portion for accommodating a device to be sprayed; and
wherein the receptacle plate further includes a compliant material disposed in the recessed portion for forming a seal between the receptacle plate and the device to be sprayed.
29. The device-holding fixture of claim 28 wherein the compliant material comprises a closed-cell pliable material that is resistant to solvents.
30. A device-holding fixture for use in a thermal spray process, the device-holding fixture comprising:
a mask plate;
a receptacle plate;
one or more non-threaded fasteners operative to compress the mask plate and receptacle plate together thereby holding a provided device for coating therebetween; and
one or more inserts operative to accommodate various sized parts between the mask plate and the receptacle plate.
31. The device-holding fixture of claim 30 wherein the one or more inserts comprise a sleeve having a lip and compliant material applied to edges of the insert that touch the mask plate and receptacle when they are in a closed position.
32. A target wheel for a spray coating apparatus the target wheel comprising:
a wheel portion having a plurality of radial arms and spaces therebetween;
one or more clamping assemblies attached to the wheel portion, the one or more clamping assemblies operative to clamp a provided device-holding fixture to the wheel portion; and
one or more device-holding guides;
wherein both of the one or more clamping assemblies and the one or more device-holding fixture mounting guides are separate structures removably attached to the wheel portion.