Electrically insulated pressure feed paint reservoir

• US 5,335,854 A
• Filed: 12/11/1992
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ransburg Corp. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ransburg Corp. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Elbertson, Michael D., Seitz, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYES, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US07/989,351
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 118/621, 118/602, 118/693, 118/694, 239/690, 239/708, 239/146, 239/147, 361/228
• US Class Current: 239/146
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1608 the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/14 Paint sprayers

Abstract

An electrically isolating pressure feed paint reservoir suitable for holding electrically conductive paint applied with an electrostatic spray gun. A paint container is located in an electrically insulated housing which is mounted on a dolly for portability. The housing also mounts a pneumatically operated paint pump for delivering pressurized paint to the spray gun. When a lid to the housing is removed the high voltage power source is turned off and any high voltage present in the housing is discharged through a resistor.

Claims

1. A pressure feed paint reservoir suitable for holding electrically conductive paint which is charged while applying with an electrostatic spray gun comprising an electrically non conducting housing having an open top, an electrically non-conducting lid, means for removably securing said lid to said housing to close said open top, said housing and said lid defining an electrically insulated closed chamber for receiving paint, a pneumatically operated paint pump mounted in said housing, said pump having a paint inlet and a paint outlet, means for delivering paint from a paint container in said chamber to said pump inlet, means for delivering paint under pressure from said pump outlet to a spray gun, and means for preventing stray current leakage between said lid and said housing comprising an electrically conductive wire embedded in said lid, said wire having a first and second ends, said first wire end projecting through said lid into said chamber, and means for electrically grounding said wire.

2. A pressure feed paint reservoir suitable for holding electrically conductive paint which is charged while applying with an electrostatic spray gun comprising an electrically non conducting housing having an open top, an electrically non-conducting lid, means for removably securing said lid to said housing to close said open top, said housing and said lid defining an electrically insulated closed chamber for receiving paint, a pneumatically operated paint pump mounted in said housing, said pump having a paint inlet and a paint outlet, means for delivering paint from a paint container in said chamber to said pump inlet, means for delivering paint under pressure from said pump outlet to a spray gun, and means for preventing stray current leakage between said lid and said housing comprising an electrically conductive gasket positioned between said lid and said housing, and means for electrically grounding said gasket.

3. A portable pressure feed paint reservoir suitable for holding electrically conductive paint which is charged while applying with an electrostatic spray gun comprising an electrically non conducting housing having an open top, wheel means supporting said housing for mobility, an electrically non-conducting lid, means for removably securing said lid to said housing to close said open top, said housing and said lid defining an electrically insulated closed chamber for receiving a paint container, a pneumatically operated paint pump mounted in said housing, said pump having a paint inlet and a paint outlet, means for delivering paint from a paint container in said chamber to said pump inlet, means for delivering paint under pressure from said pump outlet to a spray gun, valve means mounted in said housing for recirculating paint from said pump outlet to the paint receiving chamber, and wherein said housing has an upper chamber closed by said lid and a closed lower chamber, and wherein said upper chamber receives said paint container and said pump is mounted in said lower chamber, annular tube means mounted in said paint container adjacent a top of said container, and wherein said means for recirculating paint delivers paint to said annular tube means, said annular tube means discharging recirculated paint over an interior wall of said container to maintain such interior wall wetted with paint.

4. A pressure feed paint reservoir suitable for holding electrically conductive paint which is charged while applying with an electrostatic spray gun comprising an electrically non conducting housing having an open top, an electrically non-conducting lid, means for removably securing said lid to said housing to close said open top, said housing and said lid defining an electrically insulated closed chamber for receiving paint, a pneumatically operated paint pump mounted in said housing, said pump having a paint inlet and a paint outlet, means for delivering paint from a paint container in said chamber to said pump inlet, means for delivering paint under pressure from said pump outlet to a spray gun, a paint container in said paint receiving chamber, tube means for delivering paint from said paint container to said pump inlet, said tube means including a support tube extending over an open top of the paint container, a paint feed tube, a quick disconnect fitting attaching said paint feed tube to said support tube, said support tube including swivel joint means to permit said quick disconnect fitting to be rotated to an upwardly directed position and to permit said support tube to be swiveled away from the paint container top.