Patents by Inventor David R. Huff

David R. Huff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6230993
    Abstract: An atomizer for mounting on an output shaft of a motor to be rotated by the motor includes a front surface, a back surface, a coating material cup into which coating material to be atomized by the atomizer is dispensed, and at least one passageway from the cup to the front surface to permit the flow of coating material from the cup to the front surface as the atomizer is rotated. The front surface terminates at a discharge edge from which the coating material is discharged as the atomizer is rotated. The atomizer/shaft comprises an electrically conductive first electrode, an electrically non-conductive portion, and a semiconductive coating provided on the back surface. The semiconductive coating terminates adjacent the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Austin, Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff
  • Patent number: 6076751
    Abstract: An atomizer for mounting on an output shaft of a motor to be rotated by the motor includes a front surface, a back surface, a coating material cup into which coating material to be atomized by the atomizer is dispensed, and at least one passageway from the cup to the front surface to permit the flow of coating material from the cup to the front surface as the atomizer is rotated. The front surface terminates at a discharge edge from which the coating material is discharged as the atomizer is rotated. The atomizer/shaft comprises an electrically conductive first electrode, an electrically non-conductive portion, and a semiconductive coating provided on the back surface. The semiconductive coating terminates adjacent the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Austin, Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff
  • Patent number: 6042030
    Abstract: An electrically non-insulative, typically metal, atomizer bell is housed in a shroud-like housing. A prime mover, such as an air turbine motor, typically also housed in the housing, rotates the bell to atomize coating material delivered to the bell. A second shroud movable relative to the bell has a first, retracted orientation in which the second shroud does not shield the charging portion from the approach of articles to the bell and a second, projected orientation in which the second shroud does shield the bell from the approach of articles to reduce the likelihood of disruptive electrical discharges from the bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff
  • Patent number: 5957395
    Abstract: An atomizing apparatus comprises an electrode, an orifice through which coating material to be atomized is discharged, and a power supply for maintaining across the electrode and an article to be coated by coating material dispensed from the apparatus a potential for transferring electrical charge to the material to be atomized to cause the material to be attracted toward the article. The apparatus has a first surface providing a locus for electrical discharge when the potential is maintained on the electrode. At least one first resistance has first and second terminals adjacent the first surface and the electrode, tending to localize the discharge at the first surface to the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff
  • Patent number: 5662278
    Abstract: A fluent, electrically non-insulative coating composition for an electrically non-conductive rotary atomizer comprises about one-tenth to about one-seventh, by weight, short oil alkyds, about one-fourth to about one-third, by weight, phenolic, and about one-half to about two-thirds, by weight, powdered mixture of oxides of antimony and tin, all in a fluid carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff, Jerry L. McPherson, Jr., James A. Scharfenberger
  • Patent number: 5633306
    Abstract: A fluent, electrically non-insulative coating composition for an electrically non-conductive rotary atomizer comprises about one-tenth to about one-seventh, by weight, short oil alkyds, about one-fourth to about one-third, by weight, phenolic, and about one-half to about two-thirds, by weight, powdered mixture of oxides of antimony and tin, all in a fluid carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff, Jerry L. McPherson, Jr., James A. Scharfenberger
  • Patent number: 5622563
    Abstract: A resistor housing includes passageways to accommodate high potential electrical connectors. Connection is made from one of the connectors through a high voltage cable assembly to one output of a power supply. The cable assembly includes a length of high voltage, high-flex, shielded coaxial high voltage cable. The center conductor of the cable is finished at both ends with a banana plug. The shield of the cable is terminated. A sleeve of, for example, heat-shrinkable semi-rigid, multiple wall polyolefin, is slipped onto the stripped end of the cable over the exposed shield and the end of the cable jacket. A length of heat-shrinkable tetrafluroethylene (TFE) is slipped over the sleeve and the adjacent region of cable jacket, shrunk, and trimmed flush with the end of the polyolefin sleeve. Paint or solvent from a trigger/dump/solvent manifold is supplied through a feed tube. The feed tube is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff, Jerry L. McPherson, Jr., James A. Scharfenberger
  • Patent number: 5433387
    Abstract: A rotary atomizer includes an inside surface onto which a coating material is deposited, an opposite outside surface and a discharge zone adjacent the rotary atomizer's inside and outside surfaces, coating material being discharged from the discharge zone. A housing substantially surrounds and houses the rotary atomizer except for a region of the rotary atomizer adjacent and including the discharge zone. The housing includes an inside surface, an outside surface and an opening adjacent the inside and outside surfaces of the housing. The inside surface of the housing and the outside surface of the rotary atomizer are treated so as to render them electrically non-insulative. An electrostatic potential difference maintained across the electrically non-insulative inside surface of the housing and an article to be coated by material atomized by the rotary atomizer causes charge to be transferred from the electrically non-insulative inside surface of the housing to the outside surface of the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventors: Varce E. Howe, David R. Huff, James A. Scharfenberger, Jeffrey M. Stupar