Abstract:
Particles of spray solution are given with an electrostatic charge by applying voltage of 300 to 800 V thereon as the solution passes through the tip of the spray nozzle of an electrostatic spray dispenser. The tip of the spray nozzle is separate and adjustable with respect to the nozzle and has on its inner surface the electrode
Abstract:
A spray arrangement including means to form and direct a spray of liquid droplets and means to apply an electrostatic charge to droplets in said spray, said charge applying means including an insulating body to support a spray-charging electrode in association with the spray-forming means, the spray-forming means [10] forming the spray hydraulically, the body [20] having a smoothly-constricted bore [26, 27, 28] for the free passage of spray with the electrode [23] housed to expose only inward-facing electrode surface [28] as the constriction to passing spray [40] for the acquisition of charge therefrom, the bore surface turning back upon itself [29] as it expands beyond the constriction to form an end of the body, the end of the body where the surface turns back upon itself [29] and the part of the bore remote from said end being formed to assist the shedding of liquid [22, 51, 52]. The arrangement is suitable as a dairy sprayer to direct charged spray upwardly from said turned-back end on to the teats and udder of a dairy animal such as a cow, ewe or goat.
Abstract:
A device for electrostatically charging and dispensing a high resistivity cutting lubricant to a workpiece includes a source of high resistivity cutting lubricant and a capillary tube having an entrant end in fluid communication with the high resistivity cutting lubricant and a tapered discharge end forming a sharp point. A high voltage power supply is used for generating a high voltage of less than 5,000 volts d.c. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A high voltage electrode has its one end connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and has its other end operatively coupled to the discharge end of the capillary tube. A nearby grounded electrode is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship from the discharge end of the capillary tube so as to create a high electric field therebetween for electrostatically charging the lubricant. The lubricant is atomized and projected in the form of a steady and controlled stream of charged particles away from the discharge end of the capillary tube to within the vicinity of or all the way to the workpiece before the stream of charged particles bursts into an aerosol cloud of charged droplets for dispensing them onto the workpiece.
Abstract:
An adapter for converting spray guns to electrostatic or induction charging includes a housing mountable on a spray gun. A high voltage power source is contained in the housing and is connected to an electrode assembly mounted on the front of the housing. The electrode assembly includes four electrodes which extend in front of the spray gun nozzle and air cap and are spaced symmetrically around the spray axis. The nozzle is electrically grounded, while the electrodes carry a voltage in the range of 3-15 kV, to produce in the spray path from the nozzle an electrostatic field which produces electrical charges on the sprayed particles. When conductive liquids are sprayed, the particles are charged by induction at relatively low electrostatic field gradients, while nonconductive liquids require high electrostatic field gradients which produce corona effects. These corona effects are enhanced by the provision of a corona needle mounted on the nozzle at the spray axis.
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. Connections to the generator are such that electrical current flows from a target to the generator via spraying liquid and one of the sprayheads and then back to the target via the generator, the other sprayhead and liquid emerging from that other sprayhead.
Abstract:
Electrically charging liquid droplets by causing a liquid sheet to expand in area and to break up into droplets in a region adjacent to an electrode.
Abstract:
A nozzle for spraying apparatus to distribute crop treatment liquid. The nozzle is of general ogee shape with a base and an upper wall spaced from the base and connected to it by side walls. The upper wall extends from the apex of the base partially along the base to terminate in a trailing edge. The nozzle is placed in a high velocity air stream and liquid introduced between the base and upper wall. The high velocity airstream atomizes the liquid and distributes it in the surrounding environment. The nozzle is particularly useful in electrostatic spraying apparatus and may be made of plastics material to inhibit induction of electrostatic charge on the nozzle.
Abstract:
An electrostatic spray coating apparatus is disclosed which comprises a spray nozzle containing both air and liquid discharge ports, an inductive charging device or charging electrode located exteriorly of the discharge ports and attached to the spray nozzle, and electrical connections for applying an electric potential to the inductive charging device. The inductive charging device or charging electrode creates a charging zone, and is preferably positioned so that ambient air is mixed with air and fluid exiting from the discharge ports within the charging zone.
Abstract:
A spray head for use with conventional air-atomizing spray equipment is disclosed which has spray-forming means that includes a secondary atomization annulus which provides improved atomization of liquid materials and which is especially suitable for spray devices having electrostatic induction charging means. The secondry annulus minimizes deposition on the spray head of particles electrically charged with a polarity opposite that of components of the spray head and provides re-atomization of sprayable material which collects on the walls of the nozzle.
Abstract:
A light-weight, portable power pack for supplying a high voltage output to an electrostatic spray gun from a low voltage input is disclosed. The power pack is cylindrical in shape with an axial opening adapted to receive the discharge channels of the spray gun so that it may be mounted on and may form a part of the spray gun and is detachable therefrom for replacement purposes. The power pack comprises a power supply circuit including a square wave oscillator connected through a square-loop, tape-wound core transformer to a voltage multiplier network for converting a low voltage DC to a high voltage DC for induction charging of material discharged from the spray gun, the circuit being encapsulated in an epoxy resin material to provide a suitable mounting case therefor. The case is molded into a suitable shape and is attached to the front of the gun by means of screws, bolts, a bayonet type connection or other suitable fastening means, the power pack being provided with external contacts which serve to engage corresponding contacts on the spray gun to provide an electrical connection through the gun to the power source, which may be a battery pack carried by the operator, and to engage coresponding contacts on the inductive charging device for the spray gun. The power pack can form the forward barrel portion of the spray gun with the discharge channels extending through the center of the case, or can be incorporated into detachable accessories such as a gas shroud forming chamber mountable on the forward barrel portion.