Quick connect modular voltage multiplier

• US 3,870,946 A
• Filed: 12/13/1973
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Sandorf
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Sandorf
• Inventors: Sandorf, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beha, Jr., William H.
• Application Number:
  US05/424,546
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 321/15 174/52PE 317/3,11R 239/15
• US Class Current: 363/60
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/10 Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power in discharge apparatus B05B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/106 With physical arrangement details

Abstract

A multiplier module for stepping up low voltage from an external source for application to a spray gun electrode via a coaxial cable, the module being encapsulated and provided with female connectors to facilitate quick connect/disconnect operation and its components uniquely arranged to minimize high voltage hazards.

Claims

1. A quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly comprising, in combination:

an elongated voltage multiplier with low voltage input terminals disposed at one end thereof and a high voltage output terminal disposed at the opposite end thereof;

at least one elongated female socket with an open end for receiving an elongated plug with a conductive tip, said socket being disposed in substantially parallel relation to said elongated voltage multiplier with said open end being disposed adjacent said input terminals, said socket including a closed end disposed adjacent said high voltage output terminal;

an electrical connection means disposed at said closed end of one said socket for electrically connecting the tip of an elongated plug when inserted into said socket, with said high voltage output terminal, said electrical connection being physically shaped to minimize corona discharge;

an encapsulation having at least first and second differently disposed external faces for completely surrounding and supporting said voltage multiplieR, said socket and said electrical connection means, said encapsulation being shaped so that said open end of each said socket and said input terminals are accessible through said first and second faces, respectively, of said encapsulation so that external plugs can quickly connect or disconnect relative thereto, by movement thereof in different directions corresponding to the directions of said differently disposed first and second external faces.

2. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly of claim 1 wherein said input terminals comprise elongated hollow bodies having a centrally located cylindrical bore, said hollow bodies being disposed to permit access to said cylindrical bore so that male electrical connectors can quickly connect or disconnect to said low voltage input terminals.

3. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage muliplier assembly of claim 2 wherein the axis of each said cylindrical body forming said input terminals is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the axis of each said female socket.

4. The quick connect/diconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly of claim 1 additionally including mounting means embedded in said encapsulation adjacent the open end of said female sockets for securing the assembly to a mounting panel.

5. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier of claim 1 additionally including:

an elongated resistor with two electrical terminals, said resistor being connected between said high voltage output terminal and said electrical connection means, said resistor being in substantial axial alignment with said elongated voltage multiplier, one said resistor electrical terminal being connected to said high voltage output terminal and the other said resistor electrical terminal being connected to said electrical connection means.

6. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier of claim 5 additionally including an electrically conductive mounting bracket connected to said high voltage output terminal, said bracket having at least one hole therethrough, a threaded screw passing through said hole, and at least one said resistor electrical terminal including an interiorly threaded connector engagable with said threaded screw when said screw is passed through said bracket hole.

7. A quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly comprising, in combination:

a solid encapsulation formed of an insulating material having a low shrinkage characteristic and a low water absorption characteristic;

an elongated voltage multiplier disposed completely within said encapsulation, said voltage multiplier including low voltage input terminals at one end thereof and a high voltage output terminal disposed at the other end thereof;

electrically conductive input terminals electrically connected to said low voltage input terminals to said voltage multiplier, said input terminals being elongated and having a centrally disposed cylindrical bore, the axis of said cylindrical bore being arranged perpendicular to the axis of said elongated voltage multiplier, said cylindrical bore being accessible through the surface of said encapsulation;

a pair of elongated cylindrical tubes made of insulating material, said tubes being disposed on either side of said voltage multiplier with the longitudinal axis of each said tube being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said multiplier, one end of each said tube being accessible through the surface of said encapsulation, said accessible end of each tube being disposed adjacent said voltage multiplier input terminals;

electrical connector means disposed at the inner end of each said tube, said electrical connector means being shaped to minimize corona discharge;

a pair of elongated electrical resistors disposed in axial alignment with the axis of said voltage multiplier, one end of each said resistors being electrically connected to said high voltage output terminal;

an electrical connEcting wire for connecting each said connector disposed at the inner end of each said tube with the opposite end of one said resistor, each said wire being shaped to minimize corona discharge.

8. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly of claim 7 wherein said electrical connector disposed at the inner end of each said tube comprises a coiled spring connector, a screw and a threaded ball connector, said coiled spring being disposed within said tube, said spring connector being positioned by said screw in electrical contact therewith and passing through the end of said tube, said screw being engaged by one said wire and also engaged by said threaded ball connector tightened down on said screw to form an electrical contact between said coiled spring and said wire, said ball connector being operative to substantially reduce corona discharge associated with said connector disposed at the inner end of each said tube.

9. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly of claim 7 wherein said encapsulation material is made of a material which has a low moisture absorption characteristic to minimize corona discharge and a low shrinkage characteristic to prevent component destruction.

10. The quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly of claim 7 including means to mount said assembly to a conductive panel, said mounting means being disposed adjacent said accessible end of said tubes so that said electrical connector means is disposed away from said panel to minimize high voltage hazards.

11. A quick connect/disconnect modular voltage multiplier assembly comprising, in combination:

an elongated voltage multiplier with low voltage input terminals disposed at one end thereof and a high voltage output terminal disposed at the opposite end thereof;

at least one elongated socket with an open end for receiving an elongated plug with a conductive tip, said open end being disposed adjacent said input terminals, said socket including a closed end disposed adjacent said high voltage output terminal;

an electrical connection means disposed at said closed end of one said socket for electrically connecting said tip of said elongated plug inserted in said socket with said high voltage output terminal, said electrical connection means including a coiled spring connector disposed at said closed end of each said socket, said coiled spring being positioned at said closed end by a threaded screw electrically connected to said coiled spring connector and passing through said closed end of each socket, the exposed end of said screw passing through said closed end and electrically engaging a wire, said wire being gently bent and connected at its opposite end to said high voltage output terminal, said wire being secured to said screw by an interiorly threaded ball connector which is tightened down onto said screw, said ball connector and said gently bent wire being shaped to reduce corona discharge of said electrical connection means; and

an encapsulation for completely surrounding and supporting said voltage multiplier, said socket and said electrical connection means, said encapsulation being shaped so that said open end of each socket and said input terminals are accessible through the encapsulation so that an external plug can quickly connect or disconnect to each said terminal.