Modular fluid application device for varying fluid coat weight

1. A modular fluid application device comprising:

a module base;

a first fluid passageway extending within the module base;

a second fluid passageway extending within the module base and intersecting the first fluid passageway to form a nozzle fluid supply passageway downstream from the first and second fluid passageways;

a fluid outlet formed on a nozzle mounting surface of the module base and fluidically connected to the nozzle fluid supply passageway;

a base air passageway extending in the module base;

an air outlet formed on the nozzle mounting surface and fluidically connected to the base air passageway;

a first module bank removably mounted on the module base, the first module bank comprising at least one first module having a first valve configured to control a flow of fluid in the first fluid passageway;

a second module bank removably mounted on the module base, the second module bank comprising at least one second module having a second valve configured to control a flow of fluid in the second fluid passageway; and

a filter block removably secured and fluidically connected to the module base, wherein the filter block comprises first and second fluid supply inputs and first and second filters fluidically connected to the first and second fluid supply inputs, respectively, such that the first and second filters are configured to receive the fluid from respective first and second fluid supply inputs,

wherein the first module and the second module are mounted at an angle relative to one another.

2. The modular fluid application device of claim 1 , wherein the first module is fluidically connected to the first filter and is configured to receive the fluid from the first filter, and the second module is fluidically connected to the second filter and is configured to receive the fluid from the second filter.

3. The modular fluid application device of claim 1 , further comprising an air preheater removably secured and fluidically connected to the module base.

4. The modular fluid application device of claim 3 , wherein the air preheater comprises and air supply inlet, one or more heating elements disposed within the air preheater configured to heat air received through the air supply inlet, an air passageway configured to receive the heated air and an air preheater outlet for discharging the air from the air preheater.

5. The modular fluid application device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more heating element is a spiral heater.

6. The modular fluid application device of claim 4 , wherein the base air passageway is fluidically connected to the air preheater and is configured to receive air from air preheater.

7. The modular fluid application device of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle removably mounted and fluidically connected to the module base on the nozzle mounting surface.

8. The modular fluid application device of claim 7 , wherein the nozzle comprises a front plate, a backing plate and a plurality of laminated nozzle plates secured therebetween.

9. The modular fluid application device of claim 8 , wherein the nozzle is configured to receive the air and the fluid from the module base.

10. The modular fluid application device of claim 7 , wherein the first module and the second module are operable to provide:

a first operating state in which the first valve is open and the second valve is closed to provide a first volume of fluid to the nozzle;

a second operating state in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is open to provide a second volume of fluid to the nozzle;

a third operating state in which the first valve is open and the second valve is open to provide a sum of the first volume and the second volume of fluid to the nozzle; and

a fourth operating state in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is closed to prevent the fluid from flowing to the nozzle.