Swirl gun for powder particles

• US 20050098659A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Muzzy, Bradford J., Milojevic, Dragoslav K., Koster, Melissa L., Rennie, Christopher M., Ciarelli, Gary J.
• Application Number:
  US10/922,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/525
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3421 with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/032 for spraying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0533 Electrodes specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1486 for spraying particulate material in dry state

Abstract

A powder spraying gun generates a desired pattern of electrostatically charged particles for coating a workpiece without rotating parts or particle deflectors. The powder pattern is generated with a funnel-shaped output in conjunction with air introduced into a replaceable powder charging and swirling chamber of the gun. The replaceable chamber is fashioned from material exhibiting resistance to powder impact fusion and abrasion.

Claims

1. A powder spraying gun for electrostatic powder application comprising:

a gun body having an interior powder receiving chamber defining a surface extending along an axis of the gun body and fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder impact fusion; and

a replaceable output chamber having a powder swirling and charging chamber in fluid communication with the powder receiving chamber and being fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder abrasion and impact fusion.

2. The powder spraying gun of claim 1 wherein material from which the output chamber is fashioned is harder than the material from which the powder receiving chamber is fashioned.

3. The powder spraying gun of claim 1 wherein the replaceable output chamber includes a funnel-shaped gun output.

4. The powder spraying gun of claim 1 further comprising:

a compressed air inlet adapted for coupling to a source of compressed air; and

a plurality of air conduits each tangentially opening at the surface of the replaceable output chamber between pairs of a plurality of interior charging electrodes and in fluid communication with the compressed air inlet for introducing air in a swirling pattern into the charging chamber for imparting a swirling motion to powder particles and for purging powder particles adhering to exposed surfaces of the interior charging electrodes.

5. A powder spraying gun for electrostatic powder coating application comprising:

a gun body having an interior powder receiving chamber defining a surface extending along an axis of the gun body and fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder abrasion and impact fusion;

a replaceable powder charging and swirling chamber in fluid communication with the powder receiving chamber and fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder abrasion and impact fusion; and

a replaceable gun output element terminating in a funnel-shaped output chamber in fluid communication with the powder charging and swirling chamber.

6. The powder spraying gun of claim 5 further comprising:

a compressed air inlet adapted for coupling to a source of compressed air;

a plurality of air conduits each tangentially opening at the surface of the powder charging and swirling chamber between pairs of a plurality of interior charging electrodes and in fluid communication with the compressed air inlet for introducing air in a swirling pattern into the charging and swirling chamber for imparting a swirling motion to powder particles and for purging powder particles adhering to exposed surfaces of the interior charging electrode.

7. A powder spraying gun for electrostatic powder coating application comprising:

a gun body having an interior powder charging chamber defining a surface extending along an axis of the gun body and fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder abrasion and impact fusion; and

an output chamber having a hollow tube in fluid communication with the powder charging chamber and an annular space between the hollow tube and an outer wall of the output chamber.

8. The powder spraying gun of claim 7 wherein the hollow tube comprises a removably replaceable insert fabricated from a material exhibiting resistance to power abrasion and impact fusion.

9. The powder spraying gun of claim 7 further comprising air conduits each tangentially opening at a surface of the outer wall facing the annular space for introducing air in a swirling pattern into the annular space for imparting a swirling motion to powder particles exiting the hollow tube.

10. The powder spraying gun of claim 9 further comprising a funnel-shaped output in fluid communication with the hollow tube and the annular space.

11. The powder spraying gun of claim 7 wherein the powder charging chamber and the hollow tube are integrally fabricated as a single-piece replaceable unit fashioned from a material exhibiting resistance to powder abrasion and impact fusion.