Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for combining two components to form a coating material formulation in which one of the components is a "high volume" component comprising a resin including supercritical fluid as a diluent, and the other of the components is a "low volume" component, such as a catalyst. The relative ratio of resin to catalyst is controlled by adjusting the catalyst pressure as a function of the pressure at which the resin is supplied to ,one or more coating dispensers and by adjusting the duty cycle of a catalyst valve within the catalyst flow path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining multiple components to form a coating material formulation in which one of the components is a resin, another component is a supercritical fluid employed as a fluid diluent, and, preferably, the third component is a catalyst. Two of the components are transmitted through separate flow paths to a first mixer within which they are combined to form a mixture, and then the third component is added to the mixture in a second mixer to form the coating material formulation for discharge by one or more coating dispensers or spray guns onto a substrate.

Abstract: An atomizing bell or cup for use in a rotary atomizing apparatus includes a generally frusto-conical-shaped wall having an outer surface and an inner flow surface which terminates at an annular atomizing lip. A plurality of radially outwardly extending fins or ribs are formed on the inner flow surface of the cup upstream from the atomizing lip which are circumferentially spaced from one another to provide flow paths therebetween for coating material flowing along the interior surface of the cup such that the coating material is divided into a number of individual streams before reaching the atomizing lip. These streams are emitted from between adjacent ribs a short distance upstream from the atomizing lip which allows centrifugal force to at least partially flatten the streams forming ribbon-shaped streams, which, when flung outwardly from the atomizing lip, form completely atomized coating particles which are substantially free of air bubbles.

Abstract: An air atomizing nozzle assembly for electrostatic spray guns. The nozzle assembly includes a fluid tip through which liquid coating material is emitted, an air cap having openings through which pressurized air passes to atomize the liquid coating material emitted from the nozzle and having a pair of opposed air horns through which pressurized air passes to shape the atomized coating material into a flat fan spray pattern, and a retaining ring for securing the air cap to the gun barrel and fluid tip. An annular diffuser is located within an internal chamber in the nozzle assembly which receives the prezzurized fan-shaping air from a passageway passing through the barrel of the gun, redirects it, and equalizes the flow of the fan-shaping air to the opposed air horns. The present invention is particularly useful in applications having low liquid coating material flow rates on the order of less than about 3 fluid ounces of material per minute.

Abstract: Electrostatic spray guns are connected in series to a pressurized source of liquid spray material. Each gun has an attached pressure regulator for evening the pressure of liquid supplied to the gun and the consequent spray pattern emitted from the gun. Each regulator is so constructed that it minimizes the pressure drop of liquid passing through the regulator to the next series connected regulator. Additionally, each regulator is made primarily from a low capacitance plastic material so that it cannot store and discharge an electrical potential sufficient to create a dangerous condition in a spray environment. Each regulator is so constructed that it may be manually adjusted to vary the pressure of liquid supplied from the regulator to the attached gun or may be easily converted to pneumatic control.

Abstract: An electrostatic, liquid spray, rotary atomizer has an atomizer housing, a power supply within the housing and an atomizer cup at a front end of the housing. The atomizer cup, which is formed of a non-conductive material, has several elongate conductive pathways embedded in the body of the cup. Each conductive pathway has one end exiting an outer surface at a rear end of the cup for receiving the charge from the power supply and another end exiting an inner surface at a front end of the cup for conveying an electrical charge from the power supply to the liquid (paint) particles passing through the atomizer cup. An electrode is provided for maintaining a small voltage at the access hole.