Abstract: An electrospray adapted fuel injection valve includes an anode and cathode to inject monopolar electric charge into electrically insulating fuel. On exiting the injector, the charge containing fuel atomizes and disperses to reduce electrostatic energy. Additional electrodes with an appropriate method of biasing extend the range of applicability of the process by adjusting space charge distribution within the injector to compensate for variability in component manufacture and variability in the electrical conductivity of the fuel.

Abstract: An electrostatic liquid applicator; such as an oscillating disk paint gun, for spraying a liquid coating material such as paint or the like onto the surfaces of a wide variety of types of articles. The electrostatic liquid applicator includes a stationary bell, an oscillating drive shaft extending through the stationary bell and which is rotatably driven by an air-controlled drive system. An oscillating disk is fixedly mounted on the drive shaft towards the front side of the stationary bell so as to form a spray slot in a liquid plenum in cooperation with the front side of the stationary bell. The drive system includes a body portion which is located at the rear side of the stationary bell, and includes air supply ports and air exhaust ports and forms a sealed space with the rear side of the stationary bell. A drive member projects radially into this space and is anchored to the drive shaft for pivoting the latter between two end positions which are defined within a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating material comprises a filling station having a first coupling element connected to a source of the coating material and a shuttle carrying a second coupling element which is movable with respect to the filling station between a paint transfer position in which the coupling elements engage and a neutral position physically spaced from the filling station. The shuttle, in turn, is connected to the reservoir of a piston pump which communicates with one or more air operated or air assist spray guns. A high-voltage power supply is connected to the metal body of the piston pump to charge the electrically conductive coating material immediately before it is supplied to the spray gun.

Abstract: A powder coating spray gun includes a high voltage generator with a transformer and voltage multiplier circuitry located within the handle and barrel portions of the gun. The voltage multiplier circuitry includes a number of stages of capacitors and diodes. In the event of failure of the voltage multiplier, backup or secondary circuitry may be selected by the user by removing the barrel of the spray gun from the handle, rotating the barrel to a second position, and re-inserting the barrel into the handle. The secondary circuitry can include a duplicate capacitor for the first stage of the voltage multiplier. A first and second set of connecting pins in the barrel of the spray gun couple the voltage multiplier circuitry with the transformer. The connecting pins are received at active sockets and inactive openings in the handle portion of the spray gun.

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.

Abstract: A system for electrostatic application of conductive coating liquid has a grounded primary supply of conductive coating liquid, an electrostatic spray device and a system for delivering coating liquid from the primary supply to the spray device while maintaining a high voltage at the spray device electrically isolated from the primary supply. The delivery system includes one or more electrical insulation devices, each of which has a cylinder comprising an insulative conduit having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The cylinders of the electrical insulation devices are connected via their inlets and outlets between the primary supply and the spray device to deliver coating liquid from the primary supply to the spray device.

Abstract: A coating system comprises a source of electrically non-insulative coating material, a dispenser for dispensing the coating material toward an article to be coated thereby, an electrostatic high potential for supplying charge to the coating material, means for coupling the high potential supply across the dispenser and the article, a first reservoir, and a first valve. The first valve has a first housing providing first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, and a first component movable within the first housing and having a first passageway selectively to connect the first port to second port to permit the flow of coating material from the first port to the second port. The first port is coupled to the coating material source, the second port to the first reservoir, and the third port to the dispenser. The second port is coupled to the third port to permit the flow of coating material from the first reservoir to the dispenser. A source is provided for an electrically non-conductive fluid.

Abstract: A removal of static electricity from a conductive coating can be used in an electrostatic coating system. A conductive liquid is atomized or formed into droplets and supplied to an electric insulating vessel. A supply port is thereby insulated from a stored liquid surface by making use of electric insulation characteristics of air. The liquid is atomized and ionized while applying a high voltage to the liquid storage system, and sprayed onto a charged article to discharge it.

Abstract: A fixing device for a spraying device for fixing a spraying device (2) to a support (6), especially to an arm of a robot is disclosed. A mechanical quick-fixing device (16, 18, 20, 22, 26) and a pneumatic tensioning device (10, 12, 14) are provided in combination in such a way that the spraying device (2) may be quickly fixed mechanically to the support (6) or removed from it by the quick-fixing device, and that the spraying device (2), as long as it is mechanically fixed to the support (6), is pneumatically tensioned or biased relative to the support (6) by the pneumatic tensioning device.

Abstract: An electrostatic gun for electrostatically charging and injecting sorbent particles into a flue gas stream to contact, and electrostatically charge, pollution particles in that flue gas stream. The electrostatic gun is for inclusion as a component of an apparatus for the remediation of pollution particles from a flue gas stream whereafter the clean gas flow is vented to atmosphere. The electrostatic gun receives laminar flow of a selected sorbent material and charges, either positively or negatively, the surface of each sorbent particle in that flow. To provide electrostatic charging to the individual particles, the flow is directed through a straight barrel of a housing of the electrostatic gun to pass alongside a charging wand that is centered axially in the straight barrel. The charging wand is connected to receive a voltage from a high voltage power supply to produce a corona discharge wherethrough the sorbent materials pass to electrostatically charge each sorbent particle.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying electrically conductive coating material, such as water-based paint, includes a manifold connected to a high voltage electrostatic power supply and to one or more coating dispensers, and, a number of coating transfer units which are movable between a discharge position or station at the manifold and a filling station physically spaced from the manifold. Each of the transfer units includes a combined shuttle and pumping device which initially receives coating material at the filling station, and is then movable to the discharge station where the coating material is transferred from the pumping device, through the manifold, and then to one or more coating dispensers for deposition onto a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating material comprises a filling station having a first coupling element connected to a source of the coating material and a shuttle carrying a second coupling element which is movable with respect to the filling station between a paint transfer position in which the coupling elements engage and a neutral position physically spaced from the filling station. The shuttle, in turn, is connected to the reservoir of a piston pump which communicates with one or more air operated or air assist spray guns. A high-voltage power supply is connected to the metal body of the piston pump to charge the electrically conductive coating material immediately before it is supplied to the spray gun.

Abstract: A voltage isolation device for controlling the flow of conductive liquid between a liquid supply source and a liquid destination source. The isolation device has an inlet connected to the supply source and has a yoke slide valve positionable along a pair of rods; one of the rods engages a slideable tube at the inlet to provide a liquid seal and the yoke slide valve may be positionable to slide the tube away from the rod to thereby provide a flow path for liquid through the tube and out the slide valve. A pair of seal assemblies each having axially spaced apart seals have formed sealing areas containing a non-conductive seal liquid which is capable of dissolving the conductive liquids being utilized. A scheme is provided to route arcs which result when the charged fluid is connected to the grounded fluid so as to locate the arc away from parts which could be damaged by it.

Abstract: An apparatus is operable to sequentially spray powder onto each workpiece of a plurality of workpieces. The powder flows from an improved nozzle assembly as a series of pulses. Accumulation of powder on surfaces in the nozzle assembly is retarded by conducting a flow of fluid (air) from a source of fluid pressure through openings in the surfaces in the nozzle assembly. Thus, a plurality of openings are formed in a side wall of the nozzle assembly to enable fluid to flow through the openings in the side wall into the flow path of air and powder through the nozzle assembly to retard accumulation of powder on an inner side surface of the side wall. An inner deflector has an end surface which faces toward the workpiece and on which powder tends to accumulate. A flow of fluid is conducted through openings in the end surface of the inner deflector to retard the accumulation of powder on the end surface of the inner deflector.

Abstract: A voltage block device for use with electrostatic spraying apparatus for conductive coatings is disclosed. The device maintains an air gap which electrically isolates a grounded paint supply from a charged spray head to prevent the leakage of potential to the grounded paint supply. The device comprises a tube made of non-conductive material and having ends which are closed by upper and lower caps to define a closed space which is pressurized. A valve secured in the upper cap delivers paint into the closed space to raise the level of conductive coating material therein to the level of an external sensor. In a first mode of operation, valve interlock circuitry opens the valve when the spray head is not charged and the sensor detects a low level of coating material. The valve closes if the level of conductive coating material in the closed space reaches the external sensor or the spray head becomes charged, restoring an air gap which electrically isolates the grounded paint supply.

Abstract: The present invention constitutes a portable nebulizer capable of producing a finely divided aerosol having uniformly sized droplets. The nebulizer includes a source of fluid such as a capillary tube coupled to a fluid reservoir to which a high voltage is applied in order to generate the aerosol by electrical atomization. The nebulizer further includes a piezoelectric crystal and a mechanism for deforming the crystal so as to generate the required voltage. The nebulizer further includes a means for mechanical positive displacement fluid control for controlling the amount of fluid atomized. By using electrical atomization to generate the aerosol and by piezoelectrically generating the voltage required for atomization, a nebulizer is provided which may be of small size so as to be suitable for hand-held operations, yet is capable of producing measured amounts of finely divided aerosols which are substantially monodispersed.

Abstract: An electrostatic device for spraying liquids comprises a nozzle in the form of a wick which is contacted with a reservoir containing the liquid to be sprayed, high electrical potential being applied to the liquid in the vicinity of the spraying tip of the nozzle whereby the liquid is drawn out preponderantly under the influence of electrical forces into ligaments which break up to form a spray of electrically charged liquid droplets. The wick is fabricated from sheet of a resiliently deformable polymeric foam material of open celled structure and an edge of the sheet material is profiled to form a plurality of sites at which liquid ligaments can be produced. Typically a toothed profile is employed in which a plurality of teeth form the sites at which ligament formation occurs.

Abstract: A device for the electrostatic spraying of a coating material comprising at least one charge electrode and equipped with an activating trigger connected to the means of supply of the coating material characterized in that it comprises means of adjusting the supply voltage of the said electrode sensitive the to position of the trigger. Thanks to this device, it is possible to control the value of the charge electrode supply voltage during coating as a function of the geometrical configuration of the object.

Abstract: An air amplifying blow-off system incorporating an ionizing apparatus includes a converter driven by the compressed air being directed to an air distributor. The converter provides the power source for the ionizing apparatus. In this way, the air distributor and ionizing apparatus can be an easily contained unit. The system may comprise a turbine which is electrically connected to an ionizing apparatus, such as an ionizing bar. Another system may comprise an oscillatory device connected to a pair of opposing electrodes through a piezoelectric device. The compressed air drives the oscillatory device. The piezoelectric device provides a pulsating supply of voltage to the ionizing device. This invention allows the blow-off/ionizer system to be utilized in potentially explosive environments. Further, the efficiency of the systems is increased since power losses across the relatively long cables incorporated in the prior art systems is eliminated.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray coating device for electrically conductive, non-combustible coating fluid. The coating fluid is accommodated in a pressure container (2) of electrically insulating plastic and connected over a tube (10) of electrically insulating material with a spraying device (8). An electric conduction path (53) heads off high voltage from the coating fluid (6) which is present in the pressure container (2) when the high voltage is switched off. Thereby the electrical capacitance of the device is reduced and simultaneously it is ensured that after the switching-off of the high voltage the coating fluid present in the pressure container (2) in a few seconds is no longer electrically charged. Thereby, immediately after the switching-off of the high voltage, the pressure container (2) can be opened, for example for the replenishing of coating fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for manipulation of very small droplets of liquid, by placing the droplets on wettable positioning electrodes on a non-wettable substrate, applying voltages to the positioning electrodes to electrostatically charge the droplets, and applying voltages of opposite polarity to target electrodes, thereby attracting the droplets from the positioning electrodes toward the target electrodes. The electrodes can be on a manipulation surface or on a separate portable dispensing tool or pickup tool.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting and moving coating dispensers within the interior of a spray booth, and particularly the coating dispensers located above an object moving through the booth. A first embodiment comprises a dispenser housing having an aerodynamically shaped outer surface formed with a leading edge, a trailing edge and opposed generally curved sides. A second embodiment includes a dispenser housing an outer surface with a convexly curved leading edge, flat side walls and a flat bottom wall. A pair of support assemblies isolated from the booth interior mount the dispenser housings within the booth interior such that the leading edge of each dispenser housing faces the top of the spray booth and the trailing edge faces the objects moving through the booth. One or more coating dispensers are mounted at the trailing edge of the dispenser housings in a position to discharge coating material downwardly onto the object.

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.

Abstract: A quick disconnect for a coating material dispensing device includes a passageway through which coating material is supplied from a supply conduit for dispensing. The supply conduit includes a first region along its length provided with a surrounding O-ring. The passageway includes a sidewall providing a second region along its length in which the first region resides when the supply conduit is positioned in a use orientation in the dispensing device. The second region compresses the O-ring into fluid-tight sealing orientation against the passageway sidewall in the second region when the supply conduit is inserted into the passageway into its use orientation.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun comprising a housing (32) for receiving a replaceable collapsible container, a nozzle (39) from which fluid is to be sprayed, squeeze grip mechanism (36, 35, 34) for compressing the container to feed fluid to the nozzle and high voltage contacts (38a, 38b) for applying electrostatic potential to the fluid such that the fluid issues from the nozzle in the form of an electrically charged atomized spray, wherein the nozzle (39) forms or is fed by a resealable delivery valve having inner (11) and outer valve members (12) with fluid fed to a gap between them by the compression of the container, from which gap the fluid emerges to form the spray and the gap being closable, desirably with a wipping, fluid-cleaning action, by relative movement of the members.

Abstract: A tribo-electric powder spray gun includes a diffuser for mixing powder with a conveying gas, a charging portion downstream of the diffuser, and a sprayhead at the outlet of the charging portion for dispensing the charged powder. The charging portion has an inner core removably positioned within a hollow outer cylinder with an annular gap formed between the outer cylinder and inner core providing a charging flowpath for the powder. The inner core and the outer cylinder have undulating or wavy charging surfaces made of an electrically insulating material, so that the annular gap provides a tortuous path for the powder, enhancing powder contact and the charge imparted to the powder. Grounding is provided by surface conduction of the electrically insulating contact material through a ground ring located outside the powder path at the inlet to the charging portion of gun where the greatest amount of charging occurs.

Abstract: In a method of electrostatic painting, the air to be conveyed towards the spraying nozzle (10) of a gun (9) together with the powdered paint, is enriched with at least one additive gaseous fluid consisting of at least one gas supplied from a feeding bottle (136, 137, 138, 139) and/or vapor obtained by submitting the air to bubbling through a working liquid (115). The additive fluid which has a greater electric conductivity than the air, causes an increase in the paint amount coated on the workpiece (11) in relation to the paint amount sprayed from the nozzle (10).

Abstract: A hand-held powder spray gun includes a wand type handle that extends from the top of the handle and away from the rear of the gun, which provides for ergonomic operation of the gun. The wand handle can be converted to a pistol handle by removal of the handle from the gun body. The parts of the wand handle and the pistol handle are interchangeable to facilitate conversion and repair. The wand handle can be used with a diffuser having hose connections extending from the rear of the spray gun to make the gun easier to operate when held from above. A diffuser having hose connections at the bottom is also provided for use with a pistol type handle.

Abstract: A self-cleaning, anti-fouling, ionizing air gun for static neutralization and particle blow-off comprises a generally tubular barrel having an open forward or nozzle end and a rearward open end for drawing air therethrough from the atmosphere. A pointed ion emitting electrode is positioned intermediate the ends of the barrel and directs ions toward the forward nozzle end while a plurality of circumferentially spaced air jets direct streams of compressed air in a conical pattern toward the apex thereof in front of the ion emitting electrode so as to induce air drawn in from the open rear end over the electrode to effect cleansing thereof thereby expelling a high velocity ionized air stream through the forward nozzle end.

Abstract: A nozzle for a device for machining materials, can be rigidly connected at its end opposite the nozzle tip to a connector head of the device. The connection of the nozzle with the connector head is made by a connecting element (7; 17) made of a brittle material and comprising a break-off region (11; 20). If a collision between the nozzle tip and a workpiece to be machined takes place accidentally, then the connecting element breaks in the break-off region in order to prevent further, even greater damage to the connector head, nozzle or workpiece. The break-off region is crossed by an electrical conductor (14; 27) which breaks in the event of a collision, so that in this way an alarm signal for stopping the device can be generated.

Abstract: A liquid pumping system for transporting conductive liquids to an electrostatic spraying device while maintaining electrical isolation between the spraying device and the liquid source; the system includes sequentially-arranged metering valves and pumps to sequentially transport predetermined and isolated quantities of liquid.

Abstract: A foodstuff flavoring apparatus includes a screw conveyor for transporting flavoring axially thereof. A downwardly directed outlet is located in the region of the outlet end of the screw conveyor. An independently driven rotor unit is located below the outlet of the conveyor and is supported from the housing of the screw conveyor unit by a rotatable transfer conduit through which flavouring, which is discharged from the outlet end of the screw conveyor, is delivered to the interior of the rotor housing and which is dispensed by the rotor toward a foodstuff. The rotor is driven by an independent variable-speed drive motor. An electrostatic charging head is located near the rotor housing in the path of the flavouring being dispensed therefrom for facilitating adhesion of the flavouring to the foodstuff. The orientation of the rotor relative to the screw conveyor is adjustable in a range of 360 degrees by rotation of the transfer conduit and is further rotatably adjustable about the axis of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A hand held electrostatic powdered paint spray gun that has a trigger which allows the user to vary the voltage and the paint density supplied to the gun. The trigger is coupled to a potentiometer that provides an output voltage to circuits that control the flowrate of the paint powder and a voltage supply to the paint powder.

Abstract: A tribo-electric powder spray gun includes a diffuser for mixing powder with a conveying gas, a charging portion downstream of the diffuser, and a sprayhead at the outlet of the charging portion for dispensing the charged powder. The charging portion has an inner core removably positioned within a hollow outer cylinder with an annular gap formed between the outer cylinder and inner core providing a charging flowpath for the powder. The inner core and the outer cylinder have undulating or wavy charging surfaces made of an electrically insulating material, so that the annular gap provides a tortuous path for the powder, enhancing powder contact and the charge imparted to the powder. Grounding is provided by surface conduction of the electrically insulating contact material through a ground ring located outside the powder path at the inlet to the charging portion of gun where the greatest amount of charging occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating material comprises a filling station having a first coupling element connected to a source of the coating material and a shuttle carrying a second coupling element which is movable with respect to the filling station between a paint transfer position in which the coupling elements engage and a neutral position physically spaced from the filling station. The shuttle, in turn, is connected to the reservoir of a piston pump which communicates with one or more air operated or air assist spray guns. A high-voltage power supply is connected to the metal body of the piston pump to charge the electrically conductive coating material immediately before it is supplied to the spray gun.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating materials such as water-based paint from a source to an electrostatically charged dispenser includes first and second shuttle devices and two large reservoir, piston pumps each having structure for preventing contamination of the coating material and pressure build-up at their piston heads. The first shuttle device is movable between a neutral position wherein it is electrically isolated from a filling station connected to the coating material source, and a transfer position wherein coating material is transmitted to one of the piston pumps through a coupling device which connects the filling station and first shuttle.

Abstract: An electrostatic spraying device comprises a housing (10) incorporating a cartridge (16) containing liquid, such as a fragrance-producing oil, which is to be sprayed via a vertically disposed capillary structure (22), electrical potential being applied to the liquid so that the liquid is drawn across the end face of the capillary structure and is sprayed as a plurality of ligaments which break up into droplets.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray nozzle that is positioned at an angle above horizontal and less than vertical having a body with an upper fluid emitting end and a lower bottom end. The body having an interior cavity therein. Within the cavity is a shim capable of conducting electricity that defines an opening at the fluid emitting end and a channel that joins the fluid emitting end opening to a supply of flowable material. The body has an enclosed electrode external adjacent to and below the emitting end. Both the shim and the electrode are electrically connected to a voltage source. The nozzle, in operation, bends the field adjacent the emitting end upwardly in accordance with the method of the invention.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray apparatus, including a spray hood having an electrode. The hood defines a top region with a depending skirt and comprises first and second hood elements, either or both of which may comprise molded shells, with an electrode sandwiched therebetween. The electrode extends over the top region and down the skirt and terminates short of the lower regions of the skirt. The hood is constructed such that, other than at the lowermost regions of the skirt, the hood does not have any junction of its planar surfaces having a radius less than one hundred and fifty millimeters. The hood has an opening in its top region, through which an electrostatic spray head is placed into the hood. The electrode presents a connection for an electrical supply, and the potential applied to the spray head is substantially the same as that applied to the electrode.

Abstract: The invention includes an electrically isolated electrically less-conductive component fluid-flow course and an electrically-grounded electrically more-conductive component fluid-flow course. The electrically more-conductive component fluid-flow course may be additionally electrically isolated at the preference of an operator. The invention includes an electrostatic spray gun a mixer positioned proximal to the electrostatic spray gun, and a first conduit which holds alternating segments of electrically more-conductive component and electrically less-conductive component. The alternating segments function in series to additively provide a combined resistance which electrically blocks the high-voltage potential generated at the electrostatic spray gun.

Abstract: An electrostatic device for spraying electrically conductive liquid coating product comprises a storage tank for the product in which the product is at a high voltage. The tank is defined in a substantially cylindrical cavity formed in an insulative material body and inside in which is a piston forming in the cavity a mobile wall separating a coating product chamber from an actuation chamber filled with an electrically insulative actuation fluid. The body is fixed to a conductive material socket which is grounded and to which is connected an actuation fluid supply circuit extending between the socket and the actuation chamber and discharging into the actuation chamber near a back wall of the cavity which is not in contact with the coating product. A section of the supply circuit runs substantially parallel to the cavity in the direction away from the socket starting from the back wall.

Abstract: Relatively low resistivity liquids are formed into sprays under the influence of an applied electric field acting between a nozzle and the nozzle surroundings which may be at earth potential. The liquid issues from the nozzle as a ligament which undergoes necking to a diameter smaller than that of the nozzle orifice, thereby producing droplets with a volume median diameter less than the orifice diameter.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun for the application of paints and other coatings has a high voltage power supply having a contact at the front end thereof. A flange on the end of the power supply surrounds the contact and a rubber boot seal snaps over the flange. Located within the rubber boot is a conductive rubber pin which contacts with a conductor located in the barrel of the gun. Utilization of this design minimizes capacitance in the front end of the gun and also virtually eliminates air volume in the area which in turn limits the production of harmful ozone.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrostatically spray-coating a workpiece with conductive paint which includes a color changeover valve mechanism for selectively supplying conductive paint, cleaning liquid and air. A flush valve mechanism is provided for selectively supplying the cleaning liquid and the air. A first directional control valve includes an outlet and inlets. The inlets are connected to feed lines extending from the color changeover valve mechanism and the flush valve mechanism, respectively. A block line is made of an insulating material and has a first end connected to the outlet of the first directional control valve. The block line includes a second end in communication with the first end. A second directional control valve is provided having outlets and an inlet. The inlet is connected to the second end of the block line. An intermediate reservoir is connected via a feed line to one of outlets of the second directional control valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and moving coating dispensers within the interior of a spray booth, and particularly the coating dispensers located above an object moving through the booth, comprises a dispenser housing having an aerodynamically shaped outer surface formed with a leading edge, a trailing edge and opposed generally curved sides. A pair of support assemblies isolated from the booth interior mount the dispenser housing in the path of a downward flow of air within the booth interior within which oversprayed coating material is entrained for collection such that the leading edge of the dispenser housing faces the top or ceiling of the spray booth and its trailing edge faces the objects moving through the booth. One or more coating dispensers are mounted at the trailing edge of the dispenser housing in a position to discharge powder coating material downwardly onto the object, such as the hood, roof and trunk of a vehicle body.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers for discharge onto a substrate. One voltage block is provided to avoid the creation of an electrical path between one or more sources of coating material and the coating material which is electrostatically charged during a coating operation, and a secondary voltage block is provided between each of a number of individual spray guns and the charged coating material so that each spray gun can be electrically isolated from the charged coating material when not in use. The apparatus is optionally provided with a color changer, and/or a heater which is electrically isolated from the charged coating material and is effective to elevate the temperature of the coating material prior to discharge from the spray guns.

Abstract: A spray nozzle for a magnetohydrodynamic atomization apparatus has a feed passage for molten metal and a pair of spray electrodes mounted in the feed passage. The electrodes, diverging surfaces which define a nozzle throat and diverge at an acute angle from the throat. Current passes through molten metal when fed through the throat which creates the Lorentz force necessary to provide atomization of the molten metal.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray painting apparatus includes an electrically-insulated intermediate reservoir for storing therein conductive paint to which a high voltage is directly applied. In addition, the intermediate reservoir includes a cylinder, a piston reciprocatively and slidably disposed within the cylinder, and a fluid-flow straightening member protrudently formed in a part of a cylinder chamber used to be charged with the paint. The cylinder chamber is defined by the cylinder and the piston. An injection hole is defined near an outer peripheral edge of a cylinder wall so as to be connected to a paint and cleaning fluid feed source. A discharge hole is centrally defined in the cylinder wall so as to be connected to a spray gun, the discharge hole being used to discharge the paint and the cleaning liquid.

Abstract: An electrostatic spraying installation for conductive liquid coating product comprises a circuit for distributing fluids including the conductive coating product. At least one coating product sprayer is fed by this circuit and is connected to a variable or interruptible high voltage supply. At least one insulated auxiliary coating product storage tank is adapted to be raised to the high voltage. The installation includes at least one rinsing product supply and at least one compressed air supply. The circuit comprises at least one mobile member isolator connected between two parts of the distribution circuit to isolate the upstream circuit part from the high voltage. The installation comprises an arrangement of valves on the upstream and downstream sides of the isolator connected to the rinsing product supply and to the compressed air supply for cleaning and purging the isolator before it is opened each time.

Abstract: A fluidized type paint powder tank has a fluidizing chamber for fluidizing paint powder and a storage chamber into which the paint powder in the fluidizing chamber is fed to keep it still. There is also provided a paint supply device for an electrostatic powder painting apparatus that includes a paint tank for containing paint powder and a painting gun coupled to the paint tank through an injector and a hose. The device includes a discharge member for discharging the paint powder from the paint tank and a hopper for receiving the paint powder discharged by the discharge member. A screw feeder is provided under the hopper. With this arrangement, the paint powder supplied at a uniform rate by the screw feeder is fed into the injector.