DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of ovens.
BACKGROUND
After painting, a painted body shell of a vehicle is required to be baked to a certain temperature for effective paint adhesion. Conventionally, a paint baking oven is used for baking a pre-painted body shell of a vehicle. The paint baking oven facilitates the baking process with the help of hot air flow. Typically, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used as a fuel in the paint baking oven. The effective metal temperature of the body shell is required to be maintained at 1450 C for 12 minutes. To meet the requirement of effective metal temperature, various heating zones with hot air circulation blowers and additional burners are required in conventional ovens.
Various sound deadeners and sealants are applied on a bottom (floor) portion of the body shell of the vehicle. The body shell, therefore, has more mass on the bottom portion thereof, and requires more heat as compared to the top portion. In conventional paint baking ovens, hot air is directed in a holding zone of the oven from top portion of the oven towards the body shell with air velocity of approximately 4 m/s. In such an arrangement, the hot air tends to move in an operative upward direction as the hot air is less dense. Therefore, less air reaches the bottom portion of the body shell. To achieve effective baking at the bottom portion of the body shell, an additional burner is installed in conventional ovens which results in additional use of fuel and increase in operational cost of the conventional ovens.
Therefore, there is felt a need of an oven for baking a body shell of a vehicle that alleviates the abovementioned drawbacks associated with conventional ovens.

OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an oven that does not require an additional burner.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an oven that optimally uses heat inputs available.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an oven that consumes less fuel.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages an oven for baking a painted body shell of a vehicle. The oven comprises a housing, a blower, at least one first duct and at least one second duct. The housing is defined by a top surface, side walls, and a floor. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is configured at an operative rear end of the housing to receive the body shell. The second opening is configured at an operative front end of the housing to deliver the body shell. Further, the housing has a provision for transferring the body shell from the rear end to the front end. The blower is disposed beneath the floor of the housing and is configured to blow hot air received from a hot air source. The first duct and the second duct are configured on opposite sides of the floor. The first duct and the second duct are in fluid communication with the blower, and are configured to receive flow of hot air from the blower. The first duct and second duct have a plurality of openings configured thereon to direct the flow of hot air towards bottom portion of the body shell.
The oven comprises a first plurality of nozzles and a second plurality of nozzles connected to the openings configured on the first duct and the second duct respectively. The first plurality of nozzles and the second plurality of nozzles are configured to direct the flow of hot air towards bottom portion of the body shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An oven for baking a painted body shell of a vehicle, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a system of a conventional paint baking oven;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a conventional paint baking oven;
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of an interior portion of the conventional paint baking oven;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of an oven, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of interior portion of the oven of figure 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
102 – Primary burner
104 – First heat up zone
106 – Second heat up zone
108 – First holding zone
110 – Second holding zone
112 – Cooling zone
114 – Preheater
150 – Conventional oven
152 – Blower
156 – First duct
158 – First plurality of slits
160 – Second duct
162 – Second plurality of slits
164 – Body shell
200 – Oven of the present disclosure
202 – Housing
204 – Blower
206 – First duct
208 – Second duct
210 – Top surface
212, 214 – Side walls
216 – Floor
218 – Painted body shell
220 – Provision
222 – First plurality of nozzles
224 – Second plurality of nozzles
250, 252 – Blocking elements
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1, figure 2, and figure 3 illustrate different views of a conventional paint baking oven. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a system of a conventional oven. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of a conventional oven 150. Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of interior portion of the conventional oven 150.
A conventional system for baking a painted body shell of a vehicle includes four heating zones, viz., a first heat up zone 104, a second heat up zone 106, a first holding zone 108, and a second holding zone 110. The mass flow rate of hot air is variable in first heat up zone and the remaining zones. Typically, in the first heat up zone 104, the mass flow rate of hot air is 24000 m3/hr, and the mass flow rate of hot air in the remaining zones is 45000 m3/hr. Further, a cooling zone 112 is provided proximal to the second holding zone 110. A primary burner 102 is provided for facilitating the heating of the air. A preheater 114 is configured to raise the temperature of the air before entering the primary burner 102. The conventional oven is installed in the second holding zone 110.
In the oven 150, a blower 152 is disposed near the floor of the interior portion of the oven 150 which blows hot air on a top portion of a body shell 164. The oven includes two ducts, viz., a first duct 156 and a second duct 160 configured sideways with respect to the body shell 164 of a vehicle. The first duct 156 is provided with a first plurality of slits 158 configured at an operative top portion of the first duct 156. The second duct 160 is provided with a second plurality of slits 162 configured at an operative top portion of the second duct 160. The first plurality of slits 158 and the second plurality of slits 162 are configured to facilitate the flow of hot air therethrough. The hot air is introduced from the top portion of the oven 150 (shown by directional arrows 154) and is removed from the bottom portion (floor) of the oven 150. However, in such arrangement, the hot air tends to move in an operative upward direction as the hot air is less dense. As various sound deadeners and sealants are applied on an operative bottom portion of the body shell 164, the car body has more mass on the bottom portion thereof which requires more heat for baking the bottom portion of the car body as compared to the top portion of the same. Therefore, the bottom portion of the body shell 164 gets improperly baked as less air reaches the bottom portion of the body shell 164 which may lead to improper paint adhesion. In the oven 150, the heat input available is insufficient to properly bake the bottom portion of the body shell 164. To meet requirement of the effective metal temperature of the body shell 164, a secondary burner along with additional blower is provided for floor panel heating. However, the oven 150 consumes more fuel due to use of the secondary burner which increases the cost. In an exemplary situation, the amount of required liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) increases upto 120 kg/day due to the use of the secondary burner.
The present disclosure envisages an oven for baking a painted body shell of a vehicle which does not require an additional burner.
The oven, of the present disclosure is now described with reference to figure 4 and figure 5. Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of an oven 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of interior portion of the oven 200.
The oven 200 comprises a housing 202, a blower 204, at least one first duct 206, and at least one second duct 208. The housing 202 is defined by a top surface 210, side walls 212, 214, and a floor 216 which define an interior space within the housing 202. The housing 202 has a first opening (not exclusively labelled in figures) configured to receive a painted body shell 218. The first opening is configured at an operative rear end of the housing 202. The housing 202 has a second opening (not exclusively labelled in figures) configured to deliver the painted body shell 218 once the baking process is completed. The second opening is configured at an operative front end of the housing 202. Further, the housing 202 has a provision 220 configured in the interior space of the housing 202 to facilitate transfer of the body shell 218 from the first opening to the second opening of the housing 202. In an embodiment, the provision 220 includes a rail arrangement on which the body shell 218 can be slidably mounted. In another embodiment, the provision 220 includes a conveyor belt assembly. In yet another embodiment, the provision 220 is configured at an operative middle portion of the floor 216.
The blower 204 is disposed beneath the floor 216 of the housing 202. The blower 204 is in fluid communication with a hot air source and receives hot air therefrom. In an embodiment, the hot air source includes a burner or an incinerator. Although the present disclosure is elaborated with a burner as a heat source, any other heat source is well within the scope and ambit of the present disclosure.
The first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are configured proximal the floor 216. More specifically, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are configured on opposite sides of the floor. The first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are in fluid communication with the blower 204, and receive the hot air therefrom. In an embodiment, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are in fluid communication with the blower 204 via the side walls 212, 214 of the housing 202.
Further, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 have a plurality of openings (not exclusively shown in figures) configured thereon to direct the flow of hot air towards the bottom portion of the body shell. When the body shell 218 passes through the interior space of the oven 200, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 direct the flow of hot air on opposite sides of the body shell 218.
In an embodiment, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are positioned at height of 430 mm from the floor 216. In another embodiment, the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 are welded to the side walls 212, 214 of the housing 202.
In another embodiment, the oven 200 includes a plurality of first ducts 206 arranged in a spaced apart configuration on one side of the body shell 218, and a plurality of second ducts 208 arranged in a spaced apart configuration on the opposite side of the body shell 218.
The oven 200 further comprises a first plurality of nozzles 222 connected to the openings configured on the first duct 206. The first plurality of nozzles 222 directs the flow of hot air towards the bottom portion of the body shell 218. The oven 200 further comprises a second plurality of nozzles 224 connected to the openings configured on the second duct 208. The second plurality of nozzles 224 directs the flow of hot air towards the bottom portion of the body shell 218.
In an embodiment, the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224 are inclined at an angle of 22º with respect to a vertical plane.
In another embodiment, the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224 are welded to the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 respectively. In yet another embodiment, the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224 are hingeably coupled to the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 respectively.
The dimensions of the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224 are selected so as to increase the hot air velocity while keeping the constant flow therethrough and to effectively increase the flow of heat towards the bottom portion of the body shell 218. In yet another embodiment, diameter of each of the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224 is 110 mm.
The first duct 206 and the second duct 208 can also be retrofitted with the conventional oven 150. In such a scenario, the hot air flow through the ducts 156 and 160 (as shown in figure 4) is restricted using blocking elements 250, 252 so that the hot air can flow through the first duct 206 and the second duct 208. Further, the slits 158, 162 are closed permanently to restrict any air flow therethrough.
In an embodiment, alternate nozzles are installed on the first duct 206 and the second duct 208 in extended manner to ensure the uniform heating of the vertical portion and the bottom portion of the body shell 218.
In an operative configuration, the hot air is supplied from the bottom portion (floor) of the oven 200. The flow of hot air (shown by directional arrows 230) is directed from the floor 216 of the oven 200 towards the bottom portion of the body shell 218. More specifically, the hot air is introduced in the interior portion of the oven 200 via the first plurality of nozzles 222 and the second plurality of nozzles 224. As the hot air is introduced from the bottom portion of the oven 200, the hot air tends to move in an upward direction due to its natural tendency.
The upward movement of the hot air facilitates more heat exposure to the bottom portion of the body shell 218, thereby reducing significant amount of time required for the baking of the body shell 218. Further, the oven 200 eliminates the need of an additional burner and saves fuel required for additional burner, which reduces the overall operational cost of the oven 200. In an exemplary situation, there is 8% reduction in consumption of LPG fuel by the oven 200 as compared to the conventional paint baking ovens.
As the hot air moves upward, the hot air will not affect the baking of the body shell 218 in vertical portions.
The oven 200, of the present disclosure, optimally uses the heat available in the stream of hot air. Further, the oven 200 requires lesser electrical energy as compared to the conventional paint baking ovens. It was observed that 134588 units/day of electrical energy was saved using the oven 200 as compared to the conventional paint baking ovens.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an oven for baking a body shell of a vehicle that:
• does not require an additional burner along with additional blower;
• optimally uses heat input available; and
• consumes less fuel and electrical power.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM
1. An oven (200) for baking a painted body shell (218) of a vehicle, said oven (200) comprising:
a housing (202) defined by a top surface (210), side walls (212, 214), and a floor (216), said housing (202) having a first opening at an operative rear end thereof to receive said body shell (218) and a second opening at an operative front end thereof to deliver said body shell (218), said housing (202) having a provision (220) for transferring said body shell (218) from said rear end to said front end;
a blower (204) disposed beneath said floor (216) of said housing (202) and configured to blow hot air received from a hot air source; and
at least one first duct (206) and at least one second duct (208) configured on opposite sides of said floor (216), said first duct (206) and second duct (208) in fluid communication with said blower (204), and configured to receive flow of hot air from said blower (204), said first duct (206) and second duct (208) having a plurality of openings configured thereon to direct said flow of hot air towards the bottom portion of said body shell (218).
2. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 1, which comprises:
a first plurality of nozzles (222) connected to said openings configured on said first duct (206) to direct said flow of hot air towards bottom portion of said body shell (218); and
a second plurality of nozzles (224) connected to said openings configured on said second duct (208) to direct said flow of hot air towards bottom portion of said body shell (218).

3. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first plurality of nozzles (222) and said second plurality of nozzles (224) is inclined at an angle of 22º with respect to a vertical plane.
4. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first plurality of nozzles (222) and said second plurality of nozzles (224) are welded to said first duct (206) and said second duct (208) respectively.
5. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first plurality of nozzles (222) and said second plurality of nozzles (224) are hingeably coupled to said first duct (206) and said second duct (208) respectively.
6. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein diameter of each of said first plurality of nozzles (222) and said second plurality of nozzles (224) is 110 mm.
7. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first duct (206) and said second duct (208) are positioned at height of 430 mm from said floor (216).
8. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first duct (206) and said second duct (208) are welded to said side walls (212, 214) of said housing (202).
9. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a plurality of first ducts (206) arranged in a spaced apart configuration on one side of said body shell (218), and a plurality of second ducts (208) arranged in a spaced apart configuration on opposite side of said body shell (218).

10. The oven (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hot air source is a burner.
Dated this 26th day of October, 2017