Abstract: Nozzle assemblies (10) for spray guns are disclosed. The nozzle assemblies (10) generally include a fluid outlet (100) extending along a fluid axis (102), the fluid outlet (100) including a fluid aperture (104) and a fluid side wall (164) defining the fluid aperture (104), an atomizing aperture (108) adjacent the fluid side wall (164) and at least partially surrounding the fluid axis (102), an atomizing inlet (110) configured to receive a pressurized gas, and an adjustment member (150) located on the nozzle assembly (10) and movable to: (i) an atomizing position such that the atomizing inlet (110) is in communication with the atomizing aperture (108), and (ii) a non-atomizing position such that the atomizing inlet (110) is not in communication with the atomizing aperture (108). The foregoing nozzle assemblies (810) allow dispensing of fluid coating media in both spray and bead patterns with improved ease of cleaning, superior spray performance, and adaptability with existing spray gun platforms.

Abstract: A low pressure limited overspray handheld aerosol spray gun for spraying a two-component adhesive, a method for spraying a two-component adhesive and a two-component adhesive obtainable by that method. In manufacturing of larger objects, such as matrasses and furniture, adhesives are often applied to fix parts of the large object together. Most adhesives are applied using either air-spray equipment or air-assisted spray equipment.

Abstract: Provided herein are gas and/or temperature assisted electrospinning apparatus, processes, components and polymer nanofibers.

Abstract: A system for dispensing pulverulent coating material comprises a source of pulverulent coating material, a source of compressed gas, a device for movably supporting a nozzle, the nozzle coupled to the source of pulverulent material and providing an opening through which the pulverulent material is dispensed, a deflector supported by the device and spaced from the opening to aid in shaping a cloud of dispensed coating material, and a source of high-magnitude electrostatic potential coupled to impart electrostatic potential to the dispensed pulverulent material. The deflector includes at least one first passageway extending with a radial component of the deflector and communicating with the source of compressed gas to direct gas with a radial component into the cloud of dispensed coating material.

Abstract: An automated spraygun includes a spraygun body mounted on a feed foundation. The spraygun includes tensile locking elements between the spray body and the foundation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a realistic granite or other pattern on a substrate, such as a sink, bath, or piece of furniture. The apparatus and method may use gelcoat to create a regular or irregular pattern. The apparatus may use pressurized air or gear pumps to pump paint from tanks to a spraying device.

Abstract: An exemplary spray apparatus includes a first nozzle assembly and a second nozzle assembly, which are parallel to each other. The first nozzle assembly includes a plurality of feed inlets and a feed outlet in communication with the feed inlets. The first nozzle assembly configured for spraying a liquid coating material on a substrate. The feed inlets are aligned along a first imaginary straight line. The second nozzle assembly includes a plurality of air inlets and an air outlet in communication with the air inlets. The second nozzle assembly is configured for spraying air with uniform air toward the liquid coating material applied on the substrate. The air inlets are aligned along a second imaginary straight line parallel with the first imaginary straight line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a robotic spray coating assembly and method for spraying a coating. The assembly may include a robotic arm having a remote end region and a coating head mounted on the remote end region. The coating head emits a coating material within a defined coating delivery region via at least one first orifice located in the coating delivery region, the at least one first orifice connected to a coating supply. One or more second orifices are positioned in a pattern beyond the periphery of the coating delivery region, and a fluid supply is connected to the one or more second orifices. Fluid emitted from the one or more second orifices forms a fluid curtain that at least partially encircles the coating delivery region, thereby minimizing overspray emerging therefrom. The present invention also discloses a vehicle spray painting system and a method of spray painting a vehicle.

Abstract: An injection device transfers calcium carbonate particles for regeneration into calcium oxide. The device includes an injector body having an inlet end which receives a heated air volume, and a discharge end. At least one transfer tube disposed through a portion of the injector body discharges the calcium carbonate particles at the discharge end. At least one flow nozzle receives the heated air volume and discharges the heated air volume at the discharge end. Each flow nozzle is angularly oriented to directly impinge the plurality of calcium carbonate particles discharged from the transfer tube with the heated air volume. A flow splitter can also be connected to the device to split the calcium carbonate particles into multiple flow streams.

Abstract: An automatic spray gun includes a nozzle (4) for ejecting the product that is to be sprayed, controlled by a needle valve (9), and means (14, 10) for controlling the movement of the needle (9). A tabular elastic sealing means (13) surrounds the needle valve (9) and is mounted trapped between the front (1a) and rear (1b) parts of the body. The interior surface of the tabular means (13) is tailored to the diameters of the needle valve (9) and of a control slide (14) mounted on the needle valve in order to move the needle thereof.

Abstract: A sprayer with an improved spraying structure comprises a body, a nozzle, a knob, and a nozzle sleeve. The body has a passage and a valve. At the end of the passage is an air outlet. A mounting part with an insertion hole is provided around the body. The assembly of the nozzle, the knob, and the nozzle sleeve is inserted in the mounting part. The paint bottle with paint is connected to the knob.

Abstract: A system, nozzle assembly, and method for coating a stent with a solvent and polymer are provided. The polymer can include a therapeutic substance or a drug. The polymer and solvent can be discharged from separate tubes disposed within another tube carrying moving air. The polymer and the solvent mix together when they are discharged and are atomized by the air. The ends of the tubes can be concentric with each other.

Abstract: A nebulizer is provided for use as an ion source for a mass spectrometer. The nebulizer facilitates alignment with a mass spectrometer target, reduces sample and nebulizer gas leakage, is easy to assemble and disassemble, and operates over a wide range of sample flow rates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) a molded polymeric possibly disposable body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun that is manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid; (2) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun, and (3) an air cap portion of the body assembly mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction.

Abstract: An external mix air assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body, and an air cap for a directing pressurized air streams on a discharging liquid stream external to the liquid discharge orifice of the nozzle assembly for atomizing and forming the liquid into the desired spray pattern. The air cap includes an upstream internal air chamber, an external, downstream liquid discharge and mixing chamber, and a central opening coaxial with the liquid discharge orifice communicating between the upstream and downstream chambers. The air cap further includes a plurality of angled pressurized air discharge passages which communicate with an annular plenum of the air chamber disposed in surrounding relation to the central opening for enabling substantially uniform particle breakdown and distribution at lower air pressures than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A new and improved hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly comprises an adapter, a dispensing nozzle mounted within the adapter, a nozzle retainer threadedly engaged with the adapter for securing the dispensing nozzle within the adapter, an air inlet ring rotatably mounted upon the nozzle retainer and having an inlet air fitting fixedly mounted therein, and an end cap which is threadedly mounted upon the nozzle retainer. The end cap has swirl air passages integrally incorporated therein, and the end cap and air inlet ring are both fabricated from a suitable thermoplastic polymer material such that all exposed surfaces of the hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly are plastic and are therefore at substantially lower temperature levels than the metal brass components of the hot melt adhesive applicator nozzle assembly.

Abstract: Air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment having an improved spray nozzle including a caulking gun having a carriage adapted to receive cartridges having a nozzle, rams mounted on the caulking gun for engaging each cartridge to dispense a liquid from the nozzle, a trigger mechanism for advancing the rams into operative engagement with each cartridge; a static mixer having an inlet port for receiving a liquid component from the nozzle of each cartridge and having an optional spray tip for introducing the mixed liquid components into an atomizing zone; a static mixer shroud encasing the static mixer and an optional spray section having inlet ports for receiving pressurized air and outlet ports for introducing air into the atomizing zone. The spray tip passes through an orifice in the spray section such that the mixed liquid components are introduced into the atomizing zone. The equipment is useful for spraying a two-component composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a uniform coating on a large area, planar surface using an array of multiple plasma sources and a common reactant gas injector. The apparatus includes at least one array of a plurality of plasma sources, wherein each of the plurality of plasma sources includes a cathode, an anode, and an inlet for a non-reactive plasma source gas disposed in a plasma chamber, and a common reactant gas injector disposed in a deposition chamber that contains the substrate. The common reactant gas injector provides a uniform flow of at least one reactant gas to each of the multiple plasmas generated the multiple plasma sources through a single delivery system. The at least one reactant gas reacts with the plurality of plasmas to form a uniform coating on a substrate.

Abstract: A system (2) for dispensing liquid material onto a moving substrate (30) includes a liquid dispenser (16) fluidly connected to a source of liquid material (4) and a source of pressurized air (6). The liquid dispenser (16) includes a plurality of liquid material outlets (76) spaced along a common axis at one end of the dispenser (16) for dispensing a plurality of strands (27a) of liquid material toward the substrate (30). The liquid dispenser (16) further includes a pair of air outlets (84) associated with each of the liquid material outlets (76) for emitting pressurized air (100) that is operable to oscillate the dispense strands in directions predominantly parallel with the common axis of the liquid material outlets (76) during flight toward the substrate (30) to form an overlapping pattern (104) of liquid material on the moving substrate (30). Methods for dispensing liquid material onto a moving substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nozzle for forming nanofibers by using a pressurized gas stream comprises a center tube, a first supply tube that is positioned concentrically around and apart from the center tube, a middle gas tube positioned concentrically around and apart from the first supply tube, and a second supply rube positioned concentrically around and apart from the middle gas tube. The center tube and first supply tube form a first annular column. The middle gas tube and the first supply tube form a second annular column. The middle gas tube and second supply tube form a third annular column. The tubes are positioned so that first and second gas jet spaces are created between the lower ends of the center tube and first supply tube, and the middle gas tube and second supply tube, respectively. A method for forming nanofibers from a single nozzle is also disclosed.

Abstract: Gas-assisted atomizing devices are provided that include liquid orifices, which release liquid, and gas orifices, which release gas to atomize the liquid into droplets. The atomizing devices are formed by at least a first layer and a second layer. The atomizing devices can include a gas supply network and a liquid supply network that supply gas and liquid to the gas and liquid orifices.

Abstract: A method and nozzle for producing fine powder by atomizing molten material with gas are provided. Molten material, in the form of a film, flows out of a molten material nozzle that has an essentially rectangular discharge cross-sectional area. Thereafter, the molten material, together with an atomizing gas, flows through an initially converging and then diverging gas nozzle that is in the form of a linear Laval nozzle, has an essentially rectangular cross-sectional area, and through which flow is laminar. Laminar accelerated gas flow stabilizes and simultaneously stretches the film of molten material in the converging portion of the Laval nozzle until the film of molten material, after passing the narrowest cross-sectional area of the Laval nozzle, is uniformly atomized over its entire length.

Abstract: The spray gun has an air cap that generates a spray mixture of liquid and air. The air cap includes a fluid valve for controlling the delivery of liquid and a separate air valve in the body of the spray gun is provided for controlling delivery of air. A control mechanism assembly for both of the valves is located axially within a central bore extending substantially the length of the spray gun. The control mechanism is actuated by means of a cam and follower arrangement with the cam surface provided on the rear of a manually operable trigger. The fluid valve is fully adjustable separately from the air valve but the control mechanism assembly includes a common control member that is in engagement with the control mechanism and operates both the fluid and air valves.

Abstract: A process for forming nanofibers comprising the steps of feeding a fiber-forming material into an annular column, the column having an exit orifice, directing the fiber-forming material into an gas jet space, thereby forming an annular film of fiber-forming material, the annular film having an inner circumference, simultaneously forcing gas through a gas column, which is concentrically positioned within the annular column, and into the gas jet space, thereby causing the gas to contact the inner circumference of the annular film, and ejects the fiber-forming material from the exit orifice of the annular column in the form of a plurality of strands of fiber-forming material that solidify and form nanofibers having a diameter up to about 3,000 nanometers.

Abstract: A system for dispensing liquid material onto a moving substrate includes a liquid dispenser fluidly connected to a source of liquid material and a source of pressurized air. The liquid dispenser includes a pair of outer liquid material outlets and a plurality of inner liquid material outlets therebetween spaced along a common axis at one end of the dispenser for dispensing a plurality of strands of liquid material toward the substrate. The liquid dispenser further includes a pair of air outlets associated with each of the inner liquid material outlets and a single air outlet associated with each of the outer liquid material outlets for emitting pressurized air that is operable to oscillate the dispensed strands in directions predominantly parallel with the common axis of the liquid material outlets during flight toward the substrate to form an overlapping pattern of liquid material on the moving substrate. Methods for dispensing liquid material onto a moving substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nozzle 10 which receives first and second materials 24, 30 and which has an outlet aperture 18. The first material 24 is received within the outlet aperture 18 and is atomized by the second material 30 within the outlet aperture 18 before it is emitted from the nozzle 10 and applied to a targeted location and/or object 26.

Abstract: A nozzle 10 including a member 12 which selectively receives a first material 18 and a second material 22, and which selectively atomizes the second material 22 by use of the first material 18. The nozzle 10 further includes a diffuser member 50 which receives the atomized second material 22 and which diffuses the received and atomized second material 22 while substantially, concomitantly, and tangentially applying the first material 18 to the diffused second material 22, thereby allowing the atomized second material 22 to be desirably deposited upon a target location 7 and/or object 9.

Abstract: A spray device, especially for agricultural use, includes a centrifugal compressor which sends compressed air to at least one injector (20) placed upstream of the throat (16) of a convergent-divergent, so as to entrain the surrounding air by a venturi effect. The convergent-divergent may itself be of flattened shape, but it is preferred to group several parallel convergents-divergents (14) together along a line parallel to the maximum extension of the section of the air stream to be created. The device includes blowing panels (7), with a box-type structure, which have the convergents-divergents passing through them in leak-tight fashion. The internal volume of the box structure (7) constitutes a compressed air manifold connected, on the one hand, to the compressor and, on the other hand, to the injectors (20) by pipes (21, 22, 23).

Abstract: An air-operated fluid spray gun for mixing multiple fluids together almost simultaneously with depositing the mixture on a surface by directing an atomized stream of one fluid out the end of the gun barrel toward the surface and injecting an atomized stream of another fluid generally radially into the first stream so that the streams mix thoroughly and the mixture is almost simultaneously deposited on the surface.

Abstract: A side injection plural component spray gun having one or more injector assemblies mounted for injecting a catalyst into a main component at the most forward position of the spray gun. In one embodiment, the injecting assembly has an injection jet connected to the air path for injecting a catalyst into the air stream just before it exits a port for shaping the main component into a fan shaped pattern. The injection jet is constructed to minimize adverse effects on the air stream for shaping the spray pattern. In a second embodiment, dual injection assemblies inject catalyst for delivery through both shaping air ports on either side of the fan shaped pattern of the main component or allows injection of a third component. These embodiments minimize the build-up of catalyst on the walls and passageways of the spray gun minimizing the need for maintenance of the gun and preventing clogging and corrosion of passageways.

Abstract: A plural component external mix air-assisted/airless spray gun has an airless tip from which resin is emitted in a fan-shaped spray and an injector nozzle for directing an unatomized stream of catalyst into the resin adjacent to the airless tip. The catalyst injector nozzle is built into an ear of an air cap and the air cap is keyed to the airless tip to guarantee the positional relationship between the injector nozzle and the airless tip. Injecting a stream of unatomized catalyst into the resin stream immediately downstream from the airless tip provides thorough mixing of the catalyst into the resin, increased utilization of the catalyst and decreased emissions of catalyst fumes.

Abstract: A nozzle, for use in a gas-operated spraying apparatus such as an airbrush, is disclosed. The nozzle locates concentrically within an air cap in the gas outlet of a spraying apparatus and cooperates with a tapered needle located in an axial passage thereof to seal the outlet of the nozzle. The needle is retractable in the nozzle to dispense a medium such as paint to be sprayed.

Abstract: A nozzle adapter is removably mounted on the end of a liquid spray gun to provide a variety of spray patterns and to reduce or eliminate the atomization of the spray liquid. The nozzle adapter is formed by a liquid material discharge member which is removably mounted on the spray gun and an outer pressurized air adjustment member which is removably adjustably mounted on the discharge member. A cone-shaped nozzle of the discharge member projects outwardly through an air passageway formed in a front wall of the air adjustment member. A tubular stream of pressurized air is projected outwardly through the air passageway and surrounds a stream of liquid discharged through an opening in the nozzle tip. Adjustment of the tubular air pattern provides for various liquid spray patterns and varying amounts of atomization of the discharged liquid. The discharge member may alternatively be mounted on a spray gun without the air adjustment member mounted thereon.

Abstract: A fiberglass spray nozzle arrangement is described for controlling the spray flow configuration of a resin-catalyst mixture which is atomized exteriorly of the nozzle. Resin nozzle, catalyst nozzle and control air nozzle devices are included in spaced apart relation in this nozzle arrangement. The resin nozzle sprays resin in a spray stream which is intersected by control air jets from the flow control nozzle and catalyst spray from the catalyst nozzle in series. The resulting spray mixture forms a continuous flat fan having no splits or tails at the work.

Abstract: A nozzle and a method for applying adhesive to join two surfaces. The nozzle has a body member and a conical tip extending from an outlet face of the body member. A first pair of gas passageways is disposed on a side of the conical tip opposite a second pair of gas passageways. Each of the four gas passageways has a dispensing orifice at the outlet face of the nozzle body. The pairs of passageways are inwardly directed to project streams of gas, preferably air, parallel opposed sides of the conical tip. Thus, the streams of air converge at a distance from the outlet face beyond the apex of the conical tip. These streams of air cradle a stream of material issuing from the apex of the conical tip and cause an oscillatory zig-zag deposition of material. The deposition on a first surface has a resonant frequency and has smooth, controlled radius turns at its edges. A second surface is then brought into contact with the first surface while the adhesive is still in a fluid state.

Abstract: An external mix, air-assisted, airless atomization, plural component spraying system and method includes a first source of a first component, e.g., a resin; a second source of a second component, e.g., catalyst for the resin; spraying means to mix the resin and catalyst and direct the mixture to a substrate; a source of compressed air; and means for injecting the catalyst into the compressed air. The spraying means includes a nozzle assembly which comprises a liquid nozzle for forming the resin into a fan-like film with expanding edges extending from a liquid orifice, and a nozzle assembly for directing a flow of compressed air and catalyst at the fan-like film colsely adjacent the liquid orifice. In a preferred embodiment, compressed air is directed to impinge upon the expanding edges of the fan-like resin stream downstream of the impingement of the flow of compressed air and catalyst particles to capture from catalyst particles in small, uniform spray pattern.

Abstract: An ultrasonic atomizing apparatus including an ultrasonic vibration generator and an ultrasonic vibrator horn having a cylindrical section connected at one end to the ultrasonic vibration generator and having a flared portion connected to the other end of the cylindrical section. The flared portion is flared and enlarged in diameter towards the tip end of the horn and is adapted to atomize liquid material on the flared portion as the liquid material is supplied from a liquid material supply nozzle to the flared portion. A hollow recess is formed in the flared portion opening toward the tip end of the horn. The geometry of the hollow recess is such that the cross-sectional area of the flared portion of the horn in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horn is the same as the cross-sectional area of the flared portion in all other planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horn.

Abstract: An internal mix, air-assisted, airless atomization, plural component spraying system includes a source of resin; a source of catalyst for the resin; a spray gun to mix the resin and catalyst and direct the mixture as a spray to a substrate; and a source of compressed air to assist in atomization of the mixed resin and catalyst. The spray gun includes a mixing apparatus and an atomizer including a liquid nozzle for forming the mixed resin and catalyst into a fan-like film with expanding edges extending from a liquid orifice, and an air nozzle for forcing a flow of compressed air to converge at an elongated air orifice and expand in a fan-like flow.

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus for making artificial snow. The snow making machine disclosed for practicing the invention includes a ducted fan within a housing for generating a substantially unidirectional, high volume air current over the area to be deposited with snow. High velocity water sprays are injected into the air current from above and below the air current via a plurality of nozzles connected to an annular water manifold circumferentially disposed around the discharge end of the housing. Nucleated ice crystals are also injected into the air current by a high velocity vapor spray emitted from a pair of seeder nozzles disposed at the center of the housing. The vapor spray is comprised of a mixture of water and compressed air which is vaporized in a venturi-type expansion chamber prior to emission through the seeder nozzles.

Abstract: A spray coating process for application of water-dilutable paint systems which includes spraying a water-dilutable paint through a main nozzle which atomizes the paint and simultaneously therewith spraying at least one additional material from at least one lateral ancillary nozzle into and/or around the paint stream from the main nozzle. The additional material can be water to control the water content of the paint film, or it can be an additive such as a leveling aid for the paint. The spraying of the additional material into and around the paint stream while it is being projected to the surface to be painted causes the material to locate primarily at the surface of the atomized paint droplets.

Abstract: In plasma/water cutting, in order to reduce the space required, it is suggested to construct the thermal cutting jet device so that water, required particularly to constrict the plasma jet, is removed by means of an annular suction nozzle or a ring of annular suction bores arranged around the thermal cutting jet device. In order to reduce the resulting noise, a spraying device can be arranged around the annular suction nozzle whose water is fed back to a tank either by a suction device for the cutting jet device, or by an additional suction device.