Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun apparatus includes a spray gun housing and a nozzle attached to a spray end of the housing, and a powder path that extends in a substantially straight line along an axis of the housing from the powder inlet to the powder outlet. The powder path is in the form of an enclosed smooth powder passage that is substantially continuous and uninterrupted from the powder inlet to the powder outlet to eliminate substantially all recesses or gaps that could capture or trap powder. The powder passage is formed by a plurality of tubular segments that are aligned along the housing axis and abut end to end, that when assembled in the housing axially compress the segments together to substantially eliminate dead spots or recesses to form the continuous smooth powder path. A gun purge function is provided that allows a purge line to be installed on the gun assembly. A cartridge valve and conductor assembly is provided between the gun electrode in the nozzle and the output of the voltage multiplier.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun apparatus includes a spray gun housing and a nozzle attached to a spray end of the housing, and a powder path that extends in a substantially straight line along an axis of the housing from the powder inlet to the powder outlet. The powder path is in the form of an enclosed smooth powder passage that is substantially continuous and uninterrupted from the powder inlet to the powder outlet to eliminate substantially all recesses or gaps that could capture or trap powder. The powder passage is formed by a plurality of tubular segments that are aligned along the housing axis and abut end to end. that when assembled in the housing axially compress the segments together to substantially eliminate dead spots or recesses to form the continuous smooth powder path. A gun purge function is provided that allows a purge line to be installed on the gun assembly. A cartridge valve and conductor assembly is provided between the gun electrode in the nozzle and the output of the voltage multiplier.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for applying coating material includes a spray head having a housing which encloses a deflector. The deflector and housing cooperate to form a plurality of coating material flow channels which diverge in a direction of flow of coating material through the spray head. The deflector and housing cooperate to define a long thin outlet with relatively wide channel outlet sections at opposite ends of the outlet. An electrode assembly includes an electrode element having a long thin surface area which extends between opposite end portions of the long thin outlet and is exposed to the flow of coating material through the outlet. A wear tube encloses a portion of the electrode assembly and connects the deflector with the housing. The electrode element may be a plate which is molded into the deflector with a minor edge portion of the plate exposed to the flow of coating material.

Abstract: A bulk unloader for emptying powder from an original box-shaped shipping container has a support platform with a cradle angularly mounted thereto for holding the container in a tilted position so that one of its corners is lower than the others. A vibrator, attached to the cradle, loosens the powder to facilitate movement of the powder towards the container's lowest corner. A pump connected to the outlet end of a hollow pick-up tube, having an inlet end positioned adjacent the container's lowest corner, draws powder from the container, into the inlet end of the pick-up tube, and then transfers the powder to a powder spray gun. The lower end of the pick-up tube is designed to prevent the plastic bag lining the shipping container from blocking the inlet end of the pick-up tube. A vibration dampening is provided between the cradle and the support platform to prevent vibrations from being transferred from the cradle to the support platform.

Abstract: A bulk unloader for emptying powder from an original box-shaped shipping container has a support platform with a cradle angularly mounted thereto for holding the containers in a tilted position so that one of its corners is lower than the others. A vibrator, attached to the cradle, loosens the powder to facilitate movement of the powder towards the container's lowest corner. A pump connected to the outlet end of a hollow pick-up tube, having an inlet end positioned adjacent the container's lowest corner, draws powder from the container, into the inlet end of the pick-up tube, and then transfers the powder to a powder spray gun. The lower end of the pick-up tube is designed to prevent the plastic bag lining the shipping container from blocking the inlet end of the pick-up tube. A vibration dampening isolation mount is provided between the cradle and the support platform to prevent vibrations from being transferred from the cradle to the support platform.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray gun is provided that alternatively houses an end section of a high voltage cable remotely supplied by a high voltage source or an internal voltage multiplier so the electrode of the gun may be alternatively powered by the high voltage output of the end section of the high voltage cable or the internal voltage multiplier. The gun has an internal chamber into which the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable may be alternatively placed. A resistor/electrode assembly is mounted onto the high voltage output of the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable. A retainer secures the internal voltage multiplier or end section of the high voltage cable within the internal chamber and also maintains the electrical contact between the resistor/electrode assembly and the high voltage output housed within the internal chamber.

Abstract: A flat spray nozzle for a powder spray gun comprises a nozzle body formed with an axial powder flow passageway, a pair of spaced powder discharge slots intersecting the powder flow passageway and a bore located between the powder discharge slots. The bore in the nozzle body receives an electrode which extends forwardly of the spray nozzle, between the powder discharge slots for electrostatically charging particulate powder material emitted from the powder discharge slots without disrupting the spray pattern of particulate powder material.

Abstract: A powder spray gun for use in spraying particulate powder material of different colors is constructed of a number of individual parts which are quickly and easily disassembled from one another so that each part which comes into contact with particulate powder material can be individually cleaned in changing over from one powder to another. The powder spray gun comprises a mounting block which carries a rearward barrel member and a powder inlet tube, a forward barrel member connected to the rearward barrel member, a nozzle and pattern adjustment sleeve both carried on the forward barrel member and an electrostatic cable assembly received within a barrel liner which extend axially along the length of the spray gun. All but one of the connections between these parts are made by O-rings which frictionally engage facing surfaces of the parts so that they are easily pulled apart, cleaned by a jet of air or the like and then reassembled in preparation for spraying another color of particulate powder material.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray device and cable assembly for charging coating material applied to an article in industrial finishing operations includes a gun body having a powder flow passageway and a dielectric sleeve contained within the passageway such that the discharge opening of the spray device surrounds the sleeve. The cable assembly comprises a dielectric tube having a hollow interior and a high voltage electrostatic cable mounted within the tube and connected at one end to a supply of electrostatic voltage. A particle deflector having an electrode in the form of a resistive sheet is mounted by the tube in charging relationship to a coating particle discharge opening in the spray gun, and the opposed end of the cable is electrically connected to the electrode. An adjustment device acts on the tube and cable to move them as a unit within the passageway in the spray gun to adjust the axial position of the deflector and electrode relative to the particle discharge opening in the spray device.

Abstract: A spray gun for airless atomization for electrostatic deposition of a coating material upon a substrate includes a novel dual electrode element having a spring loop portion. The two electrodes are the respective end portions of a single electrode wire, which has its major portion between the electrodes formed into a spiral spring. A tip resistor is provided with a conductive fitting that presents a broad and sturdy bearing surface which abuts the electrode spring portion to thereby directly connect the electrode with a high voltage charging circuit. The electrode spring accommodates spacing variations between the electrode and tip resistor, and provides a continuous electrical connection regardless of the rotational position of the electrode relative to the tip resistor. The dual electrode spring further serves to secure a number of otherwise loose parts of the gun nozzle assembly together, and prevents the parts from falling out and getting lost when the nozzle assembly is removed from the spray gun.