Abstract:
An electrostatic spray apparatus and method for spraying electrically conductive coating materials on a continuous basis from an electrically grounded bulk coating supply. Included is a spray gun from which electrostatically charged coating material is emitted toward an electrically grounded object to be coated; a high voltage source for electrostatically charging the coating material emitted from the gun; an electrically grounded bulk coating storage tank; and an intermediate tank assembly including a) an inner tank for continuously supplying coating to the gun via a hose, which inner tank is automatically and periodically replenished with coating material from the grounded bulk supply tank without establishing an electrically conductive path between the electrically grounded bulk storage tank and the inner tank which contains coating material electrostatically charged via the column of conductive coating material in the gun hose, b) an electrically grounded outer housing or container completely enclosing the inner tank, and c) an insulative support electrically isolating the inner tank from the outer grounded container, which support is subjected to a gaseous stream to prevent build-up thereon of a conductive film of coating material which, if permitted to occur, would shortcircuit the grounded outer container to the electrostatically charged coating material stored in the inner tank and thereby destroy the electrical isolation between the inner tank and the grounded outer container.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates to an improved electrostatic paint spray system adapted for the application of conductive materials while at the same time providing for isolation of the electrically charged spray heads from the source of coating material. Heretofore, electrostatic paint spray procedures have been limited to a large extent to the use of non-conductive coating materials. Where it is appropriate or desirable to utilize conductive coating materials, it has been necessary to provide for the electrical isolation of the entire paint supply system, a circumstance which imposes severe practical limitations. The present invention enables an isolating stage to be provided within the coating material supply system, near the area of discharge, so that the "upstream" portions of the supply system are free of the high voltage electrical charge impressed at the spray guns, notwithstanding the use of electrically conductive coating materials.
Abstract:
A device electrically insulates the supply of paint for an electrostatic paint sprayer from the charged paint near the sprayer. In the electrostatic paint sprayer, the paint that is sprayed from a nozzle is charged to a high potential. Because the paint is electrically conductive, the charged paint will conduct charge toward the supply. The present invention runs the paint supply through a vessel of insulating material. The vessel has baffles with openings that divide the flow into droplets, thus creating a discontinuity in the supply stream. Charge accumulated on the interior wall of the vessel attracts oppositely charged droplets, causing them to accelerate and splatter against the interior wall. The resulting coating of electrically conductive paint on the interior wall can create an electrically conductive bridge that destroys the insulating effect of the device. To prevent charge from accumulating on the interior wall, conductors are placed on the outside of the vessel to bleed charge from the accumulated paint through the insulated vessel wall, thus lowering the potential of the interior wall and lessening the attraction for droplets and the attendant splatter caused by acceleration of droplets toward the wall.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for insulating a spray liquid source from the high tension voltage of an electrostatic spray gun (13) when using an electrically conductive spray liquid. A spray liquid supply line (12) couples the spray liquid source to the spray gun and comprises an insulating device (14) in the form of a closed vessel (16; 26; 36) containing an electrically non-conductive liquid which is not mixable with the spray liquid and which has a density different from that of the spray liquid. A sprinkler nozzle (21; 31; 41) is arranged to disintegrate the spray liquid into separated drops which are transported through the insulating liquid (17; 27; 35) in the closed vessel at least by the influence of the difference in gravity acting on the two liquids. The separated spray liquid drops form a discontinuation of the electrical lead through which the high tension voltage propagates upstream through the supply line. Thereby, the parts of the supply line upstream of the insulating device, which may include a spray liquid feed pump (11) and a spray liquid receptacle (10), are electrically insulated from the high tension voltage. The closed vessel (26; 36) of the insulating device may comprise passages (27, 28; 37, 38) and a pump (30;40) to forcibly circulate the insulating liquid within the passage in the closed vessel such that a movement is superimposed upon the gravity influenced spray liquid transportation movement to increase the spray liquid flow capacity through the insulating device.
Abstract:
An isolator for electrically isolating an electrostatically charged, electrically conductive coating material supply line from a grounded source of conductive coating material while continuously transferring coating material from the source to the supply line. The isolator includes a receptacle for a charged coating material reservoir and an insulative housing surrounding the charged coating material receptacle. The coating material in the receptacle is fed through an outlet to the supply line for an electrostatic coating device, which is electrostatically charged. Due to the conductive nature of the coating material, the electrostatic potential at the coating device is coupled through the coating material, and the reservoir of coating material in the receptacle is likewise electrostatically charged. The coating material from the grounded coating material source is coupled to a grounded nozzle assembly in a housing which is positioned above the charged coating material receptacle. The grounded coating material nozzle assembly includes a nozzle in a bottom portion thereof, and the coating material in the grounded nozzle assembly is mechanically vibrated to produce a pulsed jet droplet flow of electrostatic coating material from the nozzle into the charged coating material receptacle. A grounded metallic shield is mounted in the housing between the two coating material receptacles to substantially electrically shield the grounded nozzle assembly from electrical potentials below the shield, including the electrical potential of the charged coating material reservoir. The shield is apertured to permit the passage of the pulsed jet droplet flow of coating material.
Abstract:
An electrostatic high voltage isolation system with internal charge generation in which conductive coating material to be sprayed is electrostatically charged by charging discrete droplets of coating material transferred from a coating material source to a supply of coating material for a spray gun. The source of coating material includes an electrically grounded reservoir of coating material having a nozzle aperture in a bottom portion thereof, and the coating material in the reservoir is mechanically vibrated to produce a pulsed jet droplet flow of coating material from the nozzle into a supply container for the spray gun. A high voltage electrode at the location of droplet formation induces an electrostatic charge on the droplets in order to electrostatically charge the coating material transferred to the gun supply container for use by the gun for electrostatic coating.
Abstract:
A grounded conductor is positioned around an unconfined column of uncharged conductive liquid entering an electrostatically charged reservoir of the liquid to dissipate the electrical field created by the charged reservoir in the vicinity of the column and thereby prevent the spattering of liquid which would otherwise occur.