APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE COATING OF SELECTED SURFACES OF AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE

Apparatus for masking selected surfaces of an article of manufacture, for instance restricted entrances and beyond of stator cores, while other selected surfaces are being coated with coating material. A member having extensions formed with enlarged free ends disposed beyond the restricted entrances in spaced relationship therewith is detachably mounted in heat exchange relation on a cooling jacket sealed at a number of locations. During the coating of the other selected surfaces, fluid is supplied in the spaces between the member and the selected article surfaces to prevent material buildup on the article. Coolant is circulated through the jacket to maintain temperature of certain regions of the member and jacket below the melting temperature of the coating material. In this way, the selected surfaces of the article are efficiently and effectively masked while at the same time certain components, such as the member having the extensions, may be rapidly disassembled and reassembled without disturbing the sealed nature of the jacket.