Spray gun having self-contained low voltage and high voltage power supplies

Claim 2

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus devoid of external electrical power connection thereto comprising means for emitting a spray of atomized coating material, electrode means disposed adjacent the locus of atomization of said coating material for applying an electric charge to said atomized coating material, and a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means, said self-contained electrical potential originating power supply including, means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving air stream derived from a remote source thereof into an alternating voltage, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting said alternating voltage into a high direct current voltage for application to said electrode means.

Claim 3

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said kinetic energy converting means includes an air turbine driven alternator and a transformer for raising the magnitude of said alternating voltage before application thereof to said voltage multiplying means.

Claim 4

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus devoid of external electrical power connection thereto comprising means for emitting a spray of atomized coating material, electrode means disposed adjacent the locus of atomization of said coating material for applying an electrical charge to said atomized coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means, said self-contained electrical potential originating power supply including, means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving stream of air derived from a remote source thereof into an alternating voltage of low magnitude, means for converting said low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage, oscillator means responsive to said substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage for providing a high frequency, high magnitude, alternating voltage output, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting the high frequency, high magnitude output of said oscillator means into a direct current voltage of higher magnitude for application to said electrode means.

Claim 5

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus devoid of external electrical power connection thereto comprising means for emitting a spray of atomized coating material, electrode means disposed adjacent the locus of atomization of said coating material for applying an electrical charge to said atomized coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means, said self-contained electrical potential originating power supply including, means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving stream of air derived from a remote source thereof into an alternating voltage of low magnitude, means for converting said low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage, oscillator means responsive to said substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage for providing a high frequency, high magnitude, alternating voltage output, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting the high frequency, high magnitude output of said oscillator means into a direct current voltage of higher magnitude for application to said electrode means.

Claim 6

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said kinetic energy converting means includes rotatable turbine means drivable by said stream of air from a compressed source thereof and an alternator driven by said turbine means.

Claim 7

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for converting said low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage includes a rectifier and a voltage regulator.

Claim 8

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said voltage multiplying means is a multi-stage series multiplier circuit.

Claim 9

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said turbine means further comprises an impulse-type air motor.

Claim 10

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said alternator driven by said turbine means includes a solid magnet armature directly connected to said turbine means.

Claim 11

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus devoid of external electrical power connection thereto comprising means for emitting a spray of atomized coating material, electrode means disposed adjacent the locus of atomization of said coating material for applying an electrical charge to said atomized coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means, said self-contained potential originating electrical power supply including, air driven turbine-generator means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving stream of air into a low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage, means for converting said low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant direct current voltage of low magnitude, an oscillator responsive to said direct current low magnitude voltage for providing a high frequency alternating voltage output, step-up transformer means associated with said oscillator for delivering a high magnitude alternating voltage at the output frequency of said oscillator, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting the output of said transformer means into a direct current voltage of still higher magnitude for application to said electrode means.

Claim 12

Electrostatic spray coating apparatus devoid of external electrical power connection thereto comprising means for emitting a spray of atomized coating material, electrode means disposed adjacent the locus of atomization of said coating material for applying an electrical charge to said atomized coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means, said self-contained potential originating electrical power supply including, air driven turbine-generator means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving stream of air into a low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage, means for converting said low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant direct current voltage of low magnitude, an oscillator responsive to said direct current low magnitude voltage for providing a high frequency alternating voltage output, step-up transformer means associated with said oscillator for delivering a high magnitude alternating voltage at the output frequency of said oscillator, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting the output of said transformer means into a direct current voltage of still higher magnitude for application to said electrode means.

Claim 13

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said kinetic energy converting means includes an impulse type, rotatable turbine drivable by a stream of air from a compressed source thereof, and an alternator driven by said turbine adapted to provide an output voltage of about 12 volts at a frequency of about 250 hertz.

Claim 14

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for converting said low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage includes a rectifier and a voltage regulator adapted to provide a d.c. output voltage of about 10 volts.

Claim 15

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said oscillator is adapted to provide an alternating output voltage at a frequency in the range of from 10 to 50 kilohertz.

Claim 16

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said transformer means is adapted to provide an alternating output of about plus or minus 2500 volts.

Claim 17

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said voltage multiplying means is a multi-stage series multiplier circuit adapted to provide an output voltage in the range of from 30 to 100 kilovolts.

Claim 18

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said alternator driven by said turbine means includes a solid magnet armature directly connected to said turbine means.

Claim 19

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said alternating voltage converting means and oscillator means are encapsulated to form a first monolithic cartridge subassembly.

Claim 20

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said voltage multiplying means is encapsulated to form a second monolithic cartridge subassembly.

Claim 21

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said kinetic energy converting means, alternating voltage converting means, oscillator means and transformer means and voltage multiplying means are encapsulated to form a monolithic cartridge element removably insertable in said electrostatic spray coating apparatus.

Claim 22

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said kinetic energy converting means comprises a first monolithic subassembly; said alternating voltage converting means, oscillator means and transformer means comprises a second monolithic subassembly; said voltage multiplying means comprises a third monolithic subassembly and said first, second and third subassemblies comprise a readily assemblable and disassemblable cartridge.

Claim 23

In an electrostatic spray coating apparatus incorporating means for emitting a spray of coating material and electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply devoid of external electrical power connection thereto for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means comprising means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving gas stream derived from a remote source thereof into kinetic energy of a rotating solid, and means for converting the kinetic energy of said rotating solid into electrical energy for application to said electrode means.

Claim 24

In an electrostatic spray coating apparatus incorporating means for emitting a spray of coating material and electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, a self-contained electrical potential originating power supply devoid of external electrical power connection thereto for providing the operating voltage for said electrode means comprising means for converting the kinetic energy of a moving gas stream derived from a remote source thereof into kinetic energy of a rotating solid, and means for converting the kinetic energy of said rotating solid into electrical energy for application to said electrode means.

Claim 25

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said kinetic energy converting means comprises an impulse type air driven turbine.

Claim 26

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said kinetic energy converting means further comprises an alternator driven by said turbine and providing an alternating voltage output therefrom.

Claim 27

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said last mentioned means is an alternator providing a low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage output, and said apparatus further comprises, means for converting said low frequency, low magnitude alternating voltage into a substantially constant magnitude direct current voltage, oscillator means responsive to said direct current voltage for providing a high frequency, high voltage alternating voltage output, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting the output of said oscillator means into a direct current voltage of still higher magnitude for application to said electrode means.

Claim 28

In an electrostatic spray coating gun adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and to emit a spray of coating material including electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, a self-contained electrical power supply for providing the sole source of electrical potential to said electrode means, said self-contained electrical power supply comprising means for converting a portion of the energy of a fluid under pressure to an alternating voltage, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting said alternating voltage into a high direct current potential, sufficient for use in electrostatic spraying, for application to said electrode means.

Claim 29

In an electrostatic spray coating gun adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and to emit a spray of coating material including electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, a self-contained electrical power supply for providing the sole source of electrical potential to said electrode means, said self-contained electrical power supply comprising means for converting a portion of the energy of a fluid under pressure to an alternating voltage, and long chain voltage multiplying means for converting said alternating voltage into a high direct current potential, sufficient for use in electrostatic spraying, for application to said electrode means.

Claim 30

In a hand manipulable electrostatic spray coating gun adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and to emit a spray of coating material including electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, self-contained electrical power supply for providing the sole source of electrical power to said electrode means, said self-contained electrical power supply comprising a first monolithic subassembly for converting a portion of the energy of a fluid under pressure to an alternating voltage, and a second monolithic subassembly for converting said alternating voltage into a high direct current potential, sufficient for use in electrostatic spraying, for application to said electrode means, said first and second subassemblies each being removably insertable in said electrostatic spray coating gun.

Claim 31

In a hand manipulable electrostatic spray coating gun adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure and to emit a spray of coating material including electrode means for applying an electric charge to the emitted coating material, self-contained electrical power supply for providing the sole source of electrical power to said electrode means, said self-contained electrical power supply comprising a first monolithic subassembly for converting a portion of the energy of a fluid under pressure to an alternating voltage, and a second monolithic subassembly for converting said alternating voltage into a high direct current potential, sufficient for use in electrostatic spraying, for application to said electrode means, said first and second subassemblies each being removably insertable in said electrostatic spray coating gun.

Claim 32

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 3, 9, 23 or 24, wherein said long chain voltage multiplying means is a multi-stage series multiplier circuit including at least 20 stages.

Claim 33

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 3, 9 or 20, wherein said means for emitting a spray, electrode means, and self-contained electrical potential originating power supply are carried by a common framework with said electrostatic spray apparatus.

Claim 34

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said self-contained electrical potential originating power supply comprises a plurality of assemblable cartridges.

Claim 35

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said self-contained electrical potential originating power supply has a total weight of about 1/2 pound.

Claim 36

Electrostatic spray apparatus as set forth in claim 1, 3 or 20, wherein said kinetic energy converting means includes turbine means operably arranged to drive alternator means, said turbine means being adapted to be driven by said moving air stream and to accelerate said alternator means from rest to an operating speed of about 15,000 rpm in about 1/4 second.