Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for electrostatically coating an electrically grounded, elongated object of indefinite length moving along a straight-line path comprising. a substantially closed chamber having an inlet port through which the elongated object enters said chamber, an outlet port through which the elongated object exits said chamber, and means electrically insulating said chamber from ground; a coating supply system; electrostatic coating applicator means to atomize and charge said coating material; mounting means to direct said applicator means at a portion of the elongated object within said chamber; means electrically isolating said applicator means from said chamber to prevent grounding of said chamber; means for providing combustibly inert carrier gas to said chamber; and exhaust means for removing coating-laden carrier gas from said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for electrostatically coating an electrically grounded, elongated object of indefinite length moving along a straight-line path comprising. a substantially closed chamber having an inlet port through which the elongated object enters said chamber, an outlet port through which the elongated object exits said chamber, and means electrically insulating said chamber from ground; a coating supply system; electrostatic coating applicator means to atomize and charge said coating material; mounting means to direct said applicator means at a portion of the elongated object within said chamber; means electrically isolating said applicator means from said chamber to prevent grounding of said chamber; means for providing combustibly inert carrier gas to said chamber; and exhaust means for removing coating-laden carrier gas from said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said applicator means is an electrostatic airless spray gun.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said exhaust means is electrically isolated from said chamber and electrically insulated from ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said applicator means is disposed exterior of said chamber, and said chamber has an opening wherethrough a nozzle of said applicator means is inserted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said chamber includes coating material recovery means to collect overspray coating material and direct the collected coating material from said chamber for reuse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said chamber includes baffle means to prevent overspray coating which collects on interior surfaces of said chamber upward of the object from dripping onto the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said baffle means comprises: an upper panel, disposed above the tube passing through said chamber, which angles downward toward a wall of said chamber so that drops of overspray coating, forming on said panel, flow to said wall and down said wall; and drip shields disposed above said tube to divert coating material running down the walls of said chambers, through which the tube passes, away from the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of tanks containing a plurality of coating materials and solvents for said coating materials; means for selecting a coating material and supplying said selected coating material to said applicator means; and means for purging said apparatus with a solvent appropriate for said selected coating material after a further coating material is selected but before said further coating material is supplied to said applicator means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said applicator means is an electrostatic air-pressurized spray gun.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said applicator means is an electrostatic centrifugal coating unit.