Abstract: A base compound supply passage and a hardener supply passage supply a base compound and a hardener, respectively, fed under pressure from first and second color changing valve mechanisms to a coating gun. The base compound supply passage and the hardener supply passage have respective first and second gear pumps, and first and second pressure control valves for controlling the base compound and the hardener to be supplied under given pressures to the first and second gear pumps. Two liquids, i.e., the base compound and the hardener, can be supplied reliably at desired rates to the coating gun, and mixed and discharged at a desired mixing ratio.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer for a coating apparatus has a bell shaped body, e.g., a bell cup, having a cavity and a detachable flow control device, e.g., face cover, that substantially closes a portion of the cavity. The two-piece construction eases maintenance, such as cleaning, and the manufacturability since the inside the bell cup is easily accessible from the mouth (wider opening) of the bell cup. After the face cover is detached, it can be reused or discarded for a new one. The bell cup further has cleaning channels that can direct cleaning agent directly onto the outer surface of the bell cup, without any reservoir or the like that can accumulate coating material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying undiluted chemical dispersant to a waterborne oil spill using a gentle uniform rain producing nozzle consisting of a rotating element having teeth to break up the fluid stream in to gentle uniform rain-sized droplets having a minimum diameter for uniform dispersal over a wide area. The novelty of this invention is that it is the only neat spray dispersant apparatus and method specifying dispersal through a moving element configured nozzle having an adjustable flow rate. The apparatus is skid mounted and portable. It comprises a pump to suction dispersant from tanks or other receptacles where it is stored and pressurize the dispersant, a pressure manifold that allows the dispersant to pressurize and a monitor or hose attachment hydraulically connecting the pressure manifold to one or more configured nozzles that distribute the chemical dispersant upon the oil spill. The method comprises pressurizing dispersant and spraying it through a configured nozzle onto the oil spill.

Abstract: An automatic coating apparatus which is arranged to guarantee higher operational reliability, particularly to preclude coating defects as caused by malfunctioning of a cartridge gripper (56) or by the use of an non-replenished or deficiently replenished paint cartridge. A cartridge gripper assembly (55) is constituted by a gripper member (56) with gripper claws for gripping a paint cartridge (25), a grip detector switch (67) which is adapted to detect whether or not the paint cartridge (25) is securely gripped by the gripper. (56), and a replenishment level detector switch (68) which is adapted to detect whether or not the paint cartridge (25) is replenished with paint to a predetermined extent. Therefore, as the paint cartridge (25) is gripped by the cartridge gripper (56), the grip condition on the paint cartridge (25) can be monitor by the grip detector switch (67).

Abstract: A dispensing device for powder coating material includes an outer device portion having a first inner surface and a central passageway for mounting the outer portion on a rotary shaft for rotating the dispensing device. An inner portion of the dispensing device has a second outer surface shaped complementarily to the first surface and a somewhat bell- or cup-shaped third inner surface. Threaded fasteners retain the inner portion in the outer portion with the first and second surfaces in engagement. The outer portion is constructed from a first material having mechanical strength to withstand the stresses attending rotation of the dispensing device. The inner portion is constructed from a second material relatively more inert to the movement of the powder coating material across the third surface.

Abstract: An electrostatic coating system having a rotary atomizing device formed of a non-conductive body member having an opening in an outer end thereof, a semiconductive member is disposed on a side portion of the body member, a first lip devoid of the semiconductive member is disposed about the opening of the body member proximate the outer end thereof, and a second lip is disposed radially outwardly of the first lip, between the first lip and the inner end of the body member.

Abstract: Droplets are formed from a liquid by supplying liquid to a feeding rotor and rotating the feeding rotor about an axis to discharge the liquid generally radially outwardly by centrifugal force. A distributor disposed radially outside of the feeding rotor is rotated relative to the feeding rotor about the axis to receive liquid discharged from the feeding rotor. A slinger disposed radially outside of the distributor is rotated relative to the distributor about the axis to receive liquid discharged from the distributor by centrifugal force. The slinger slings that received liquid is slung outwardly in the form of droplets from cusps distributed circumferentially around an outer periphery of the slinger.

Abstract: This device comprises a rotating spray element, such as a bowl, and drive means, such as a rotor, adapted to drive said element in rotation.

Abstract: A rotary bell cup for atomizing particulate material such as paint includes a generally conical overflow surface having a generally constant flow angle defining a radially inward central axial opening and a radially outward atomizing edge with a bevel. A central flat portion is disposed between the conical overflow surface and the radially inward central axial opening. A deflector having a deflection surface of generally rotational symmetry is disposed in front of the central opening having a rear flat surface generally parallel to the central portion and a rear conical surface generally parallel to the conical overflow surface.

Abstract: A double angle rotospray dispenser including: (a) a rotatable shaft; and (b) a dispensing tip connected to a free end of the rotatable shaft. The dispensing tip includes: (i) a first angled surface extending outwardly from the shaft axis; (ii) a second opposing angled surface connected to the first angled surface and extending inwardly towards the shaft axis; and (iii) a terminal surface located at a bottom end of the dispensing tip, adjacent to the second opposing angled surface.

Abstract: A coating system which is provided with a plural number of feeder units for different paint colors in such a way as to permit color changes within a shortened period of time. Unit waiting devices for different paint colors are located in the vicinity of a coating robot. The unit waiting devices each include a feeder unit loader adapted to load and unload one of feeder units into and out of a rotary atomizing head type coating machine, which is mounted on a fore end portion of the arm of the coating robot, and a hose gripper adapted to hand over or receive one of supply hoses to and from a hose gripper which is provided on the side of the arm. As a consequence, the paint color can be changed by replacing a paint feeder unit on the coating machine by a specified one of feeder units of different colors which are supported on the unit waiting devices.

Abstract: A nozzle removal assembly including an outlet nozzle for centrifuge rotors and cooperating hand tool. The nozzle has an improved structure for facilitating the installation within and removal from a rotor wall. The centrifuge nozzle includes a body portion having inlet and outlet ends wherein the outlet end includes a placement channel. The placement channel defines a radially inwardly facing engagement surface supported externally to the rotor wall for engagement with a hand tool. The hand tool is adapted for engaging the radially inwardly facing engagement surface of the placement channel wherein both rotational and axial forces may be applied to assist in the removal of the nozzle from the rotor wall.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer applies particulate paints with good color matching by reducing paint droplet size deviation and then optimizing the other paint spraying parameters. Paint droplet size parameters are reduced by using a bell cup having reduced flow deviations, including an overflow surface having a generally constant angle between a deflector and an atomizing edge.

Abstract: A coating method by the use of a rotary atomizing head type coating system (21), permitting to make multiple color changes in the course of a coating operation by providing a plural number of paint cartridges (35) of different colors which can be replaceably and removably loaded on the coating system. The coating method for the coating system includes: a paint cartridge loading step of setting a paint cartridge (35) of a specified color in a housing (22); a coating step of supplying paint in the loaded paint cartridge to a rotary atomizing head (30); a paint cartridge unloading step of unloading the paint cartridge (35) from the housing (22) after finishing a predetermined coating operation; and a washing step of feeding a washing fluid from an atomizing head washing device (57) to the front side of the rotary atomizing head (30) to wash away deposited residues of a previous color therefrom.

Abstract: By provision of paint cartridges of different colors which are detachably mounted on a coating system, the paint can be changed from one color to another in a multi-color coating operation without necessitating to discharge residues of a previous color. The paint cartridge of each color is replaceably mounted on a housing. Each cartridge is provided with a paint valve (46) which functions to communicate and shut off a paint supply passage in a feed tube. In addition, a thinner valve which serves to communicate and shut off a thinner passage on the housing is provided either on the side of the housing or on the side of the cartridge. These arrangements make it possible to cope with multiple color changes on one coating system. Since both of the paint valve and thinner valve are opened and closed by spray-on and spray-off command signals, respectively, the paint spray can be turned on and off immediately in response to these command signals.

Abstract: A powder spray gun includes a rotary distributor which is capable of operating at slower speeds than liquid spray gun to reduce the problem of powder fusing, increases bearing life, reduce wear on moving parts while generating larger fan patterns and optimized charge transfer capabilities. The powder spray gun has a powder flow path which extends through a gun body to a powder outlet. The rotatable powder distributor is located at the powder outlet. A drive mechanism in the form of a motor is located within the housing and connected to the distributor the rotate the distributor. A spindle, which is mounted for rotation within the body, has a passageway therethrough which forms a part of the powder flow path. The distributor communicates with the passageway and is attached for rotation with the spindle. The powder thus enters the passageway in the rotating spindle before it passes into the rotating distributor.

Abstract: A slurry dispenser dispensing slurry by a pair of counter-rotating wheels is provided in a chemical mechanical polishing process used in manufacturing integrated circuits. The slurry dispenser is driven by variable speed motors at a predetermined speed empirically determined to dispense a desired amount of slurry. The shape of the rotating wheels controls the vertical distribution of the spray. Openings in the housing of the slurry dispenser and the speed of rotation of the wheels controls the horizontal distribution of the spray. The slurry dispenser can be constructed out of materials chemically inert with respect to the slurry.

Abstract: The liquid to be atomized is uniformly sprayed on the inner surface of a hollow rotating cylinder, for example by means of one- or two-fluid-nozzles and is thus distributed on bores provided in the cylinder wall. The rotation of the cylinder causes the liquid to flow outwards through the bores. Droplets are generated when the liquid flows out of the bores by laminary decomposition of the jet. The flow rate in each bore lies in the range 1.0<V.sub.B (a.sup.3 .rho..sup.5 /.sigma..sup.5).sup.0.25 <16 to prevent the droplets from becoming too large and to satisfy the condition of an adequate flow laminarity, i.e. for the value of the Reynolds number for the continuous liquid flow in the boress not to exceed Re.sub..delta. 400. V.sub.B represents the flow rate of the liquid in each bore, a represents the centrifugal acceleration at the outer surface of the cylinder, .rho. represents the density of the liquid and .delta. indicates the surface tension of the liquid.

Abstract: A method for the controlled break-up of liquid jets for production of substantially monodispersed drops stands out for the fact that it comprises the steps of feeding a plurality of first liquid jets having steady motion to a plurality of mutually independent sectors and defined in a perforated surface, forming a head of liquid in the sectors near the perforated surface, causing the liquid to flow across the perforated surface to form a plurality of second liquid jets, periodically changing with a predetermined frequency the momentum of the liquid fed to a predetermined sector so as to impart to the liquid present in said sector a disturbance of predetermined magnitude consisting of a periodic change in the pressure near the perforated surface which is transmitted to the second liquid jets causing their controlled break-up in a plurality of substantially monodispersed drops.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer has shaping members to generate shaping air without the need for independent sources of shaping air. The distribution and shape of the shaping members and the selection of rotating speed allows for the selection of virtually any pattern of distribution of atomized material. The shaping members are positioned to produce an outward flow of air from the rotary atomizer thereby eliminating the need for external sources of shaping air.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head type coating machine which is capable of washing deposited paint from fore end portions of outer peripheral surface of a bell cup. Thinner passages are provided on the bell cup to communicate a paint reservoir with the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup. Thinner which flows out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup through the thinner passages is guided toward the marginal releasing edge of the bell cup. To this end, assist air is spurted out through assist air outlet holes which are provided in the fore end face of a shaping air ring at positions radially on the inner side of shaping air outlet holes. Accordingly, at the time of a washing operation, the thinner which has come out onto the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup is forcibly pushed on the outer peripheral surface by the actions of assist air and shaping air as the thinner is guided toward the fore end of the bell cup to wash away deposited paint therefrom.

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.

Abstract: A paint spraying apparatus on which a number of paint applicator units of different types can be selectively and replaceably mounted depending upon conditions of a paint coating operation required. A color changing valve assembly is provided in a valve casing which serves as a common base assembly for a number of paint applicator units to be chosen from, including rotary atomizing head type electrostatic paint applicator units and spray gun type electrostatic paint applicator units. Accordingly, depending upon conditions of coating operation, such as shape of a coating surface, nature of paint, properties of solvent etc., a suitable paint applicator unit, selected from the paint applicator units, can be easily and replaceably mounted in position on the valve casing. The color changing valve assembly which is provided within the valve casing can be shared as a common mount base by a plural number of paint applicator units of different types.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing undesirable powder accumulation on an electrostatic powder coating device is provided. The apparatus includes a pneumatic source for generating a pneumatic supply. The pneumatic supply is received and distributed by a pneumatic distribution device which provides the pneumatic supply to a pneumatic diffuser. The pneumatic diffuser directs a pneumatic stream at the electrostatic coating device such that undesirable powder accumulation on the electrostatic powder coating device is reduced.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing cup has an internal concave opening and a distributor member disposed in said opening for passing particles through the distributor member to an atomizing ring as the cup is being rotated. The distributor member is formed of a polymer material, the cup body of aluminum and the atomizing ring of stainless steel.

Abstract: A slurry dispenser dispensing slurry by a rotating wheel is provided in a chemical-mechanical polishing process used in manufacturing integrated circuits. The slurry dispenser is driven by a variable speed motor at a predetermined speed empirically determined to dispense a desired amount of slurry. A groove is provided along the circumfrence of the rotating wheel to control the width of the spray. At the same time, walls in the housing of the slurry dispenser restrict the angle of the spray. The slurry dispenser can be constructed out of material chemically inert with respect to the slurry.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes a plurality of shaping air nozzles disposed on a first circle having its circle center on an axis of rotation of an atomizing head, a plurality of pattern control air nozzles disposed on a second circle having a larger diameter than the first circle. The pattern control air nozzles are located at 3-100 mm on a rear side of the shaping air nozzles and inside a circle having a diameter three times a diameter of the atomizing head. An air passable opening may be formed radially between the shaping air nozzles and the pattern control air nozzles.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing type of painting apparatus is made up of a rotary atomizing head and a shaping air ring disposed to enclose a base portion of the rotary atomizing head such that shaping air is blown out of a jet nozzle formed in the shaping air ring toward a front end outer periphery of the rotary atomizing head. The shaping air ring is provided with a cylindrical member which partitions an air-flowing space in which the shaping air blown out of the jet nozzle flows and an outer space which is outside in the centrifugal direction of the rotary atomizing head relative to the air-flowing space.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head assembly employing a main body and a hub member which can be easily disassembled and reassembled whenever necessary. A ring engaging surface is provided on the inner peripheral side of a recessed hub socket on the main body, while a ring fitting groove is provided on the outer peripheral side of a cylindrical body portion of the hub member. With an O-ring set in the ring fitting groove, the cylindrical body portion of the hub member is fitted into the recessed hub socket, whereupon the hub member is resiliently retained on the main body of the rotary atomizing head by resilient retaining force of the O-ring. In this instance, the O-ring is pressed against the ring engaging surface to prevent dislocation of the hub member. On the other hand, the hub member can be disassembled from the main body by pulling the hub member in the axial direction to such a degree as to cause elastic deformation to the O-ring.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing head assembly of the present invention is capable of washing off paint deposits from outer peripheral surface of a bell cup in a reliable manner. A paint reservoir (15) which is provided on a bell cup (11) is communicated with the outer peripheral surface of the bell cup (11) through solvent passages (16), and an annular guide (17) is provided around the outer peripheral side of the bell cup (11). Therefore, at the time washing the rotary atomizing head assembly (10), a thinner which is spouted out from a nozzle (6) is introduced into a solvent diffusing chamber (18) which is formed between the bell cup (11) and a enlarged front portion (17B) of the annular guide (17), through the paint reservoir (15) and solvent passages (16).

Abstract: A device for generating a spray of mist or fine droplets includes a spinning rotor within a mist chamber. The rotor has inner walls which taper conically outwardly from the open bottom of the rotor to a hole near the top of the rotor. Liquid is pumped by a finger actuated pump from a cartridge module into a bowl surrounding the bottom end of the rotor. A spray is created as the liquid is formed into droplets as it passes through the hole in the rotor under centrifugal force. A directional light source is used for aiming the spray.

Abstract: A magnetofluidic suspension turbine combines a fluidic bearing and a magnetic circuit comprising a magnet in the stator and an airgap defined between polepieces of a ferromagnetic circuit between the rotor and the stator. This ferromagnetic circuit includes facing centering members on opposite sides of the airgap.

Abstract: A coating dispensing head includes a rotary dispensing device, a rotator for rotating the rotary dispensing device and a tachometer for generating a light signal in response to rotation of the rotator. The head includes a first connection for supplying the coating to the dispensing device, a second connection for supplying motive power to the rotator and a first optical fiber having a first end for receiving the light signal and a second end. At least one of the first and second connections includes first and second passageways terminating at respective first and second generally flat surfaces and connectors for holding the first and second surfaces against each other with the first and second passageways aligned so that the one of coating and motive power supplied to one of the first and second passageways flows into the other of the first and second passageways and thence to the one of the dispensing device and rotator.

Abstract: A powder spray gun includes a rotary distributor which is capable of operating at slower speeds than liquid spray gun to reduce the problem of powder fusing, increases bearing life, reduce wear on moving parts. The powder spray gun has a powder flow path which extends through a gun body to a powder outlet. The rotatable powder distributor is located at the powder outlet. A drive mechanism in the form of a pneumatic motor is located within the housing and connected to the distributor the rotate the distributor. A spindle, which is mounted for rotation within the body, has a passageway therethrough which forms a part of the powder flow path. The distributor communicates with the passageway and is attached for rotation with the spindle. The powder thus enters the passageway in the rotating spindle before it passes into the rotating distributor. A chamber is formed within the body around the spindle, and the chamber is connected to an air supply to pressurize the chamber.

Abstract: A multi-color rotary spraygun has a bell-shaped head which is supported for rotation on a front end of a casing. The front end portion of the bell-shaped head is covered with a partition wall having coating material spraying ports. A plurality of coating material lines open into the bell-shaped head at their front ends and are respectively connected to separate coating material sources at their base ends. A coating material supplied to the bell-shaped head from one of the coating material sources through one of the coating material lines is atomized and sprayed on an object through the spraying ports by rotation of the bell-shaped head. The front end portion of a cleaner line which is connected to a cleaner source at its base end is disposed in the bell-shaped head and the front end portion of the coating material lines are disposed around the front end portion of the cleaner line.

Abstract: An improved hand held rotary atomizer spray gun is disclosed. The spray gun includes a housing with a depending handle. A paint tube within the housing delivers paint to a rotatable bell atomizer which is mounted adjacent the front of the gun. A turbine assembly includes a turbine rotor which drives a turbine shaft which mounts the bell atomizer. The turbine shaft is supported by a bearing air chamber. A turbine air passageway and a bearing air passageway supply turbine air to the turbine rotor and bearing air to the bearing air chamber. When a trigger is squeezed paint is supplied to the atomizer bell while turbine air rotates the turbine shaft and the bell atomizer. An air shuttle assembly prevents air flow to the turbine unless sufficient bearing air is flowing to the bearing air chamber. In a preferred embodiment shaping air is supplied to shaping air openings in a housing air cap and the atomizer bell includes serrations on its inner edge.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes air feed passages connected to an air bearing, a turbine, and a shaping air cap, respectively. In any one of air feed passages, a divergence portion for causing a portion of air flowing in the one air feed passage to diverge from the one air feed passage is formed so that a diverging air flows into an interior of the drive shaft. As a result, it is not necessary to provide an additional, air feed passage and an air source therefor for preventing paint from entering a bearing clearance between the drive shaft and the air motor. As a result, a size of the apparatus will not be large and a cost of the apparatus will not substantially increase.

Abstract: A bell head of a rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes a bell head body made from high electric resistance material, a semi-conductive layer formed on an outside surface of the bell head body, and a high electric resistance layer formed on an outside surface of the semi-conductive layer. The high electric resistance layer is also of a chemical-proof and of a thinner-proof type.

Abstract: A rotating fluid wide band applicator head which permits application of a relatively wide band of fluid without the necessity for translational motion of the head with respect to the object being coated. The applicator head includes a rotatable body having an axis of rotation and having a fluid delivery chamber disposed within the body. A plurality of bounded channels having open inner ends and open outer ends are provided. The open inner ends of the channels are in fluid communication with the fluid delivery chamber, to receive fluid therefrom and transport the fluid. The open outer ends of the channels are arranged to discharge the fluid in a desired pattern, resulting in deposition of a band of fluid having a desired width.

Abstract: The rotary atomizer described has a multiple-piece channel body, which is arranged coaxial to the rotational axis, for supplying coating material and flushing fluid to the bell plate and has three axial holes uniformly distributed eccentrically about the rotational axis. The first hole leads to a central nozzle and is connected to the second hole in the channel body, while the third hole is part of a channel that leads to an eccentric outlet flowing in the vicinity of the nozzle opening. A separate control valve is provided for each of the three channels.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer with a bell element (1) mountable on the rotating shaft of a drive motor comprises an outer overflow surface (2), a spray edge (3) at a front side of the bell element (1), a lateral outer surface (5) at the perimeter of the bell element extending from the spray edge (3), and a hose line (9) in fluid communication with a source of cleaning fluid. Rinsing the outer surface (5) at the perimeter of the bell element (1) of a rotary atomizer is facilitated. The rinsing agent is directed without spattering, through centrifugal force, from the interior to the outer surface (5) and is distributed uniformly across the perimeter. The rinsing agent can branch off centrally from a fast-rinsing valve and move to a collection space (29, 15) located radially within the outer surface (5), from where it flows via the rear, preferably rounded bell dome edge (6). Alternatively, the rinsing agent can be supplied separately via a separate valve.

Abstract: For a rapid and simple assembly, the rotary atomizer of the coating arrangement described has a fastening pin (34) arranged on a valve unit (12). The fastening pin is inserted into a matching opening of a mounting flange (70) and is retained therein by a clamping device that exerts a force pressing the valve unit (12) against the flange (70). The atomizer is composed of individual modules (2,4,6,10,12) connected by screw connections and additionally comprises a rigid light guide rod for the transmission of optical rpm measuring signals, which remains in the valve unit (12) during disassembly of the atomizer.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the velocity of shaping air in a rotary bell atomizer for a paint sprayer, including a funnel that collects substantially all of the shaping air, a means for straightening the collected shaping air and a means for measuring the velocity of the straightened shaping air. These techniques enable the average velocity of the shaping air to be calibrated from a single velocity sample.

Abstract: A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus includes a plurality of paint nozzles and a solvent nozzle. Each paint nozzle communicates uniquely with a respective paint source separate by respective paint passages which are pathwise separate from each other. In each paint passage, a respective paint valve is installed. When changing a painting color according to the present invention, the paint filling the operating paint nozzle and the paint passage connected thereto is not washed out by a washing solvent, so that the amount of paint wasted when changing the painting color is decreased to substantially zero and the working time period for changing the painting color is also shortened. A corresponding method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed which reduces the amount of paint wasted and the amount of solvent used during a step of switching from a first paint to a second paint.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprising a body portion having a nozzle at one end and a cap assembly supported thereon at an opposite end, the cap assembly supporting a spray plate located downstream of the nozzle, the spray plate having a plurality of stream distributing grooves formed on one side thereof configured to cause the spray plate to rotate when struck by a stream emitted from the nozzle; and wherein the spray plate includes a mounting shaft extending from the spray plate and having a part spherical head received within a bearing cage in the cap assembly, the bearing cage including a bearing separator holding a plurality of ball bearings in a substantially horizontal array arranged about a longitudinal center axis of the sprinkler, the part spherical head located centrally above and in engagement with the plurality of ball bearings, thereby permitting the spray plate to wobble as it rotates.

Abstract: A spray painting nozzle designed as a spindle supporting a gas bearing and incorporating a stationary part and a part rotatably supported in relation thereto, which latter carries a rotatable spray painting cup and being adapted to be driven by a drive unit, whereby the spray painting cup is equipped with a supporting system comprising mutually plane-parallel bearing surfaces formed in the stationary and in the rotatable parts, and with a supply of a gaseous medium for causing a slot generated as an axial gas bearing therebetween, the rotatable part being radially guided by a magnetic force for centering the rotatable part in relation to the stationary part, the supporting system further being equipped with symmetrically provided holder magnets for limitation of the size of the slot, and where for supply of spray medium to the spray painting cup, there is provided a supply path extending through the plane of the gas bearing.

Abstract: An outer tube 5 is integrally rotated with a rotating disk 17. A powder supply passage 16 for supply of powder particles is formed between an inner tube 15 and the outer tube 5. A lower end of the inner tube 15 is secured to a sub-disk 23, and a distributing passage 25 is formed as a space between the sub-disk 23 and the rotating disk 17. Air including powder particles introduced into a separation passage 41 is separated into air and powder in the separation passage 41, and the particles are fed to the distributing passage 25 through the powder supply passage 16. The powder particles falling in the powder supply passage 16 undergo a swirling motion in accordance with the rotation of the outer tube 5, and owing to the swirling motion, the powder particles in the powder supply passage 16 are distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A rotary atomizer having a low capacitance, cup-shaped, atomizing head mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation has a coating material flow surface forming a forward cavity. A rotary drive coupled to the atomizing head rotates the atomizing head about the axis of rotation. High voltage electrostatic energy is conducted through the rotary drive directly into the atomizing head whereby changed coating material flows outwardly across the flow surface. In another embodiment, a semi-conductive ring is mounted on the front end of the atomizer to transfer the high voltage electrostatic energy into the atomizing head and/or to dissipate the electrostatic energy in the rotary drive or in the atomizing head.

Abstract: An OFF/OFF valve including a fluid passage formed in the valve body, and having a valve seat, a smaller diameter portion extending from the valve seat on a downstream side of the valve seat, and a larger diameter portion extending from the smaller diameter portion on a downstream side of the smaller diameter portion. A valve element is disposed so as to be movable between a position adjacent the valve seat and a position within the larger diameter portion. The valve element is driven by a valve element driving assembly. When the valve is closed, the valve element moves toward the valve seat. When the valve element moves within the smaller diameter portion, the fluid which has passed through the valve element is drawn back due to the pumping effect of the valve element before the valve element finally reaches the valve seat and the valve is completely closed.

Abstract: An atomizer wheel comprising a central hub for securing the wheel on a rotatable shaft in a centrifugal atomizer associated with an atomizer drying system, a ring-shaped acceleration chamber arranged around the hub and having an upper ring opening through which the liquid to be atomized may be added to the acceleration chamber, at least one throw-out face for passing the liquid outwardly in the atomizer wheel in a direction toward its periphery, and a plurality of throw-out channels which, distributed with a mutual angular distance along the periphery of the acceleration chamber, extend transversely out through the outer wall of the chamber and serve to throw the liquid out of the acceleration chamber during the rotation of the atomizer wheel. At least one throw-out face is provided on a separate wear ring which is provided on the atomizer wheel and comprises a hard and wear resistant material.