Panel-mounted electrostatic spray nozzle system

• US 20060124779A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mystic Tan Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mystic Tan Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Steven C.
• Application Number:
  US11/271,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/690
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/12 with spray booms or the like rotating around an axis by means independent of the liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/03 characterised by the use of gas , e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/032 for spraying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/14 specially adapted for coating continuously moving elongated bodies, e.g. wires, strips, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 11/32 by electrostatic means

Abstract

An electrostatic spray nozzle assembly mounted to a panel made of insulating material. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly includes a nozzle cap having a nozzle outlet, and a liquid tip assembly having a liquid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of coating composition, and a liquid outlet adapted to dispense the coating composition through the nozzle outlet of the nozzle cap. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly further includes a nozzle body, a first side of the nozzle body adapted to be coupled to the nozzle cap, and a substantially electrically non-conductive panel being positioned between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The substantially electrically non-conductive panel is adapted to accumulate an electrostatic charge having a same polarity as that of the coating composition dispensed during a spray operation. Further deposition of spray droplets onto the panel is prevented by electrostatic repulsion forces due to the accumulation of sufficient charge onto the surface of the electrically non-conductive panel from an initial deposit of a small volume of spray.

Claims

1. An electrostatic spray nozzle assembly comprising:

a nozzle cap having a nozzle outlet;

an electrode;

a liquid tip assembly having a liquid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of coating composition, and a liquid outlet adapted to dispense the coating composition through the nozzle outlet of the nozzle cap;

a nozzle body, a first side of the nozzle body adapted to be coupled to the nozzle cap;

an electrically insulating panel being positioned between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap; and

at least one sealing surface to inhibit current flow between the electrode of the electrostatic spray nozzle assembly and a pathway to a potential difference.

2. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel comprises a substantially electrically non-conductive panel.

3. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted to accumulate an electrostatic charge having a same polarity as that of the coating composition dispensed during a spray operation.

4. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle further comprises:

an air cap having an air cap outlet, the air cap being positioned between the nozzle cap and the first side of the nozzle body.

5. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 4, wherein the air cap comprises an electrode adapted to induce a charge to the coating composition.

6. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 4, wherein the air cap is adapted to be removable from the spray nozzle assembly.

7. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid tip assembly is adapted to be removable from the spray nozzle assembly.

8. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid tip assembly is adapted to be positioned into and held concentric with a central air channel bore of the nozzle body.

9. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid tip assembly further includes at least one air channel cut along a length of the liquid tip assembly, the at least one air channel cut adapted to allow air to flow around the liquid outlet.

10. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 9, wherein the nozzle body includes an air inlet being adapted to provide the air to the at least one air channel.

11. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing surface is positioned between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

12. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing surface is fixedly mounted to the insulating panel and is adapted to provide a liquid seal between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

13. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide electrical isolation between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

14. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing surface is positioned between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

15. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide a liquid seal between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

16. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide electrical isolation between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

17. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel comprises a nozzle mounting surface of a nozzle drum.

18. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 17, wherein the nozzle drum is adapted for oscillatory movement about a pivot axis.

19. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 17, wherein the nozzle drum is formed of an electrically insulating material.

20. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is pivotally mounted within a socket of the electrically insulating panel.

21. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is formed of a substantially electrically non-conductive material.

22. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel includes a void adapted to allow a portion of the nozzle body to be mounted therethrough.

23. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted for fixed attachment to the nozzle body.

24. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted for fixed attachment to the nozzle cap.

25. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted for mounting the nozzle body at a particular orientation.

26. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 1, wherein the potential difference comprises a ground.

27. An electrostatic spray nozzle assembly comprising:

a nozzle cap having a nozzle outlet;

an electrode;

a liquid tip assembly having a liquid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of coating composition, and a liquid outlet adapted to dispense the coating composition through the nozzle outlet of the nozzle cap;

a nozzle body, a first side of the nozzle body adapted to be coupled to the nozzle cap;

an electrically insulating panel positioned between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap, the nozzle body being pivotally mounted to the electrically insulating panel; and

at least one sealing surface to inhibit current flow between the electrode of the electrostatic spray nozzle assembly and a pathway to a potential difference.

28. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the electrically insulating panel comprises a substantially electrically non-conductive panel.

29. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted to accumulate an electrostatic charge having a same polarity as that of the coating composition dispensed during a spray operation.

30. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the spray nozzle further comprises:

an air cap having an air cap outlet, the air cap being positioned between the nozzle cap and the first side of the nozzle body.

31. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 30, wherein the air cap comprises an electrode adapted to induce a charge to the coating composition.

32. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 30, wherein the air cap is adapted to be removable from the spray nozzle assembly.

33. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the liquid tip assembly is adapted to be removable from the spray nozzle assembly.

34. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the liquid tip assembly is adapted to be positioned into and held concentric with a central air channel bore of the nozzle body.

35. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is positioned between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

36. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is fixedly mounted to the insulating panel and is adapted to provide a liquid seal between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

37. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide electrical isolation between the nozzle body and the electrically insulating panel.

38. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is positioned between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

39. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide a liquid seal between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

40. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the at least one sealing surface is adapted to provide electrical isolation between the nozzle cap and the electrically insulating panel.

41. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the nozzle body is pivotally mounted within a socket of the electrically insulating panel.

42. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly of claim 27, wherein the nozzle body is formed of a substantially electrically non-conductive material.

43. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 27, wherein the electrically insulating panel is adapted for mounting the nozzle body at a particular orientation.

44. The electrostatic spray nozzle of claim 27, wherein the potential difference comprises a ground.