Panel-mounted electrostatic spray nozzle system

Abstract

An electrostatic spray nozzle assembly mounted to a panel made of insulating material. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly includes a nozzle cap having a nozzle outlet, and a liquid tip assembly having a liquid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of coating composition, and a liquid outlet adapted to dispense the coating composition through the nozzle outlet of the nozzle cap. The electrostatic spray nozzle assembly further includes a nozzle body, a first side of the nozzle body adapted to be coupled to the nozzle cap, and a substantially electrically non-conductive panel being positioned between the nozzle body and the nozzle cap. The substantially electrically non-conductive panel is adapted to accumulate an electrostatic charge having a same polarity as that of the coating composition dispensed during a spray operation. Further deposition of spray droplets onto the panel is prevented by electrostatic repulsion forces due to the accumulation of sufficient charge onto the surface of the electrically non-conductive panel from an initial deposit of a small volume of spray.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.