Abstract: A pan oiler for spraying oil into cavities in pans moving on a conveyor including a stationary center nozzle assembly and spaced outer nozzle assemblies. The outer nozzle assemblies are mounted on opposite ends of a drive screw having right hand threads formed on one end and left hand threads formed on the other end for moving the outside nozzle assemblies in unison relative to the stationary center nozzle assembly. A pair of electrically charged electrodes are positioned adjacent the nozzle assemblies for setting up an electric field across the spray paths of the nozzle assemblies for reducing overspray.

Abstract: A device for atomizing and dispensing a first liquid coating material onto a first group of one or more articles to be coated by the first coating material and then for dispensing a second liquid coating material onto a second group of one or more articles to be coated by the second coating material. The device includes at least one atomizer providing a first flow rate of the first and second coating materials required for high quality atomization of the first and second coating materials, and a second outlet providing a second and substantially greater flow rate of the first and second coating materials and lower quality atomization than the first atomizer, or no atomization. A first conduit couples the second outlet to the first atomizer. A second conduit couples the first atomizer to a source of fluid to be dispensed. A valve controls the flow of liquid to the second outlet.

Abstract: An improved method for row crop spraying whereby a solution is atomized by high speed air, imparted with an electrical charge, slowed with more high speed air, and deposited over crops including a nozzle for practicing such a technique. Such charged droplets are attracted to oppositely charged crops and are, therefore, more likely to adhere to crops than fall to the ground or to be swept away by the wind. Since a larger percentage of solution adheres to the plant, less solution can be applied thereby addressing both environmental and pecuniary concerns.

Abstract: A door includes an apparatus for reducing smoke associated therewith. The door is particularly advantageous in reducing smoke in a fire to thereby allow a firefighter or a victim trapped in a fire to readily indentify an exit. The door includes a nozzle or plurality of nozzles mounted upon the door, with a liquid source connected to the nozzle. Preferably, the door additionally includes a supply of pressurized water therein, with a surface active agent in an amount of 0.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating materials, such as water-based paint, from at least one source to one or more coating dispensers or spray guns for discharge onto a substrate includes two "parallel" flow paths, each having a large reservoir pump, which transmit coating material to a common valve which, in turn, switches flow to the coating dispensers from one flow path to the other. Each parallel flow path provides a voltage block between one or more sources of coating material and the electrostatically charged coating material discharged from the spray guns to ensure that there is never a completed electrical path between the source of conductive coating material and the charged coating material during a coating operation. Additionally, a rapid and efficient color change capability is provided for the entire system which permits different colored coating materials to be dispensed from the apparatus herein with minimum downtime of the coating operation.

Abstract: A twin headed, electrostatic powder coating gun assembly in a lightweight, hollow housing readily mounted on a programmable robot so that the shape of the powder spray pattern can be controlled. The powder coating guns can be mounted in an adjustable housing and/or adjustably mounted in an unadjustable housing. The powder coating guns include an air purge system to clean the nozzles of coating powder.

Abstract: In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided an improved nozzle, an improved nozzle assembly and an improved method in which the improved nozzle comprises a protrusion having an distal end and a collar extending backward from the distal end. The collar is surface free of discontinuities. The outer end has an edge and an adjacent point at which the charge is concentrated. The protrusion has a fluid passage. The fluid passage is sealed from the collar surface. The fluid passage has an outlet adjacent the edge. A conductor is disposed in the protrusion. The conductor extends into the passage and is immersed in the fluid being disposed.

Abstract: An electrostatic spray applicator system of the type utilizing pressurized air from an external source to develop the electrical voltage driving conditions within a spray applicator. The electrical operating conditions are represented by electrical signal generating devices within the applicator, and these electrical signals are converted into optical signals within the applicator for transmission to a remote source. The optical signals are received at the remote source and converted back into electrical signals corresponding to the parameters being measured, and are subsequently converted into decimal display values for visualization by an operator.

Abstract: A paint spray system includes a source of pressurized paint. At least a first and second spray gun are provided. Each spray gun has a gun inlet for receiving paint, a gun spray outlet for spraying paint on an article to be painted, and a gun bypass passage for passing through the gun an unused portion of paint. A feed conduit feeds paint from the source to the spray guns. A paint recycle conduit recycles unused paint from the paint spray guns. Each of the spray guns is separately adjustable for adjusting a rate at which paint is sprayed on an article independent of any adjustment of the other guns. The system is particularly adapted to spraying fast drying mixtures of a base paint and a catalyst.

Abstract: A method of atomizing a polar liquid utilizes apparatus comprising a tube having an inlet for liquid and at least one aperture providing an outlet from the tube for the liquid and a field intensifying electrode disposed adjacent the aperture. The method comprises applying a potential difference between the polar liquid and the field intensifying electrode and feeding the liquid along the tube from the inlet to the aperture.In carrying out the method, the tube is supported at a position remote from the aperture and the potential difference, flow rate and tube stiffness are so selected relatively to each other that the tube can be electrostatically maintained in vibration or gyration to cause atomized liquid particles to be thrown from the tube at the aperture.

Abstract: A rotary type electrostatic spray coating device comprising two or more side spray coating units having two or more spray heads separated from each other at a distance larger than a width of the coating pattern of each spray head, and the same negative high voltage is simultaneously applied to all of the spray heads during a spray coating operation; thus enabling a shortening of the length of the spray coating booth, improving a flatness of the paint coating on the work pieces, and completely preventing an undesirable deposition of paint mist on the spray heads.

Abstract: An apparatus for spraying liquids from a vehicle, suitably an aircraft or other airborne vehicle. The apparatus includes at least two sprayheads, each having adjacent thereto an associated electrode or an associated electrically conducting or semiconducting part of the vehicle. A generator applies potentials to the sprayheads and to the electrodes or conducting or semiconducting parts of the vehicle so that an intense electrical field is developed between the liquid which emerges from each sprayhead and the adjacent electrode or part. The intensity of each field is sufficient to atomise the emerging liquid. The polarities of the applied potentials are such that liquid emerging from one sprayhead is charged positively while liquid emerging from the other sprayhead is charged negatively.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for spraying electrostatically charged particles of paint toward a workpiece. Increased paint throughput is achieved over prior art devices by employing enlarged paint discharge passages and two different air streams. One air stream, which is adjustable in flow, serves to atomize the paint into substantially uniform, very tiny droplets and the other air stream, which is also adjustable in flow, directs the atomized paint toward the workpiece. Safety is increased by positioning the paint charging electrode within a paint delivery passage located relatively far upstream from the paint nozzle. A second electrode in the nozzle is "floating" in electrical potential and serves to supply additional electrical charge to the very fine paint particles as they issue from the nozzle. In this manner, the impedance of the paint itself and the "floating" electrode serve to reduce the risk of sparking between the paint spraying apparatus and the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and system for the abatement of fog in a designated air space over an aircraft approach zone and runway, consisting of gapped air jets laden with electrically charged droplets of low mobility, a ground corona guard in the form of a shallow water-and-oil basin, and a charged-collector-drops emitting device on the ground, arranged in such a manner that the low-mobility charged droplets blown aloft by the air jets form a virtual electrode suspended at appropriate height above the ground, toward which the oppositely charged high-mobility collector drops move, thereby collecting the neutral fog drops in their paths. The perforation ratio of the gapped air jet array is chosen such that the wind flux which penetrates the jet array is substantially equal to the entrainment flux at the lee side of the jets, thereby providing for a virtual canopy over the spatial region in which the fog is to be abated.

Abstract: An agricultural chemical sprayer is disclosed using special pre-coded machine-readable chemical containers which, when attached for use, become an integral part of an automatic spray control system. The pre-coded data derived from a given container effectively prevents unauthorized and unsafe container refilling operations and, at the same time, automatically provides optimum control over the spray application rate (pump operation and/or electrostatic voltage), prevents mixing of incompatible spray solutions, prescribes proper spray system flushing procedures, and at all times after filling maintains an irreversible account of the available liquid remaining in the container. Provisions are made for monitoring the condition and/or operation of each spray nozzle and special connectors are provided for effecting optimum liquid and electrical circuit connections in such a system.

Abstract: A liquid such as a hydrocarbon fuel is sprayed electrostatically into a gas tream. Spraying is achieved by supplying the liquid to a porous member having a plurality of termini within an electrostatic field. The electrostatic field strength is enhanced at the termini so that liquid which soaks through the porous member to the termini breaks up under the influence of the locally high electrostatic field into a stream of droplets which are repelled by their charge away from the termini. The droplets become finely dispersed in a passing gas stream.The invention finds particular application as an electrostatic carburettor for dispersing petrol into an air stream for combustion in an internal combustion engine. The invention can also be utilized for re-dispersing fuel droplets deposited on the wall of an air/fuel intake.

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: Frozen or deep-frozen products transferred by a conveyor system within a furnace are subjected to radiation within the high-frequency or microwave range and to surface cooling which is carried out by electrostatic spraying of the products with cryogenic liquid consisting of liquid nitrogen or Freon R12.