Apparatus and method for applying conductive coatings to insulators

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A CONDUCTIVE COATING TO ONLY THE TOP AND THE INTERNAL SURFACES OF A SKIRTED INSULATOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW ROTATABLE SUPPORT HAVING AN UPSTANDING HOLLOW POST PORTION CONSTRUCTED TO ENGAGE THE OUTER PORTION OF THE INTERNAL BORE OF A SKIRTED INSULATOR AND THEREBY ROTATABLY SUPPORT SAID INSULATOR, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SUPPORT, A BOTTOM SPRAY NOZZLE MOUNTED TO PROJECT A SPRAY UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID HOLLOW POST PORTION, A TOP SPRAY NOZZLE MOUNTED TO PROJECT A SPRAY DOWNWARDLY UPON THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID SKIRTED INSULATOR, AN APERTURED BAFFLE PLATE CONSTRUCTED TO CLOSELY SURROUND THE SKIRTED INSULATOR ABOVE THE SKIRTED PORTION THEREOF, THEREBY PROTECTING SAID SKIRTED PORTION FROM SPRAY FROM SAID TOP SPRAY NOZZLE, AND AN ANNULAR ARRAY OF NOZZLES CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO DIRECT AIR UPWARDLY THROUGH THE ANNULAR OPENING DEFINED BETWEEN SAID BAFFLE PLATE AND THE SKIRTED INSULATOR, THEREBY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF SPRAY DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING.