Electrostatic spraying device and a method of electrostatic spraying
AssigneeQueen Mary & Westfield College
InventorsJohn P. W. Stark, Matthew S. Alexander, Mark D. Paine, Kate L. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrostatic spraying device (1) and method for dispensing a controlled volume of liquid in pulses using an emitter (2) having a spray area (29) from which the liquid can be sprayed, a means for injecting charges into the liquid, whereby, in use, the liquid (3) is delivered to the spray area by electrostatic forces and electrostatic spraying occurs in one or more pulses whilst the charges are injected. The charges may be injected by a time-varying or constant non-zero electric field so that electrospray occurs above a threshold value.
Claims47
An electrostatic spray apparatus for dispensing a controlled volume of substantially non-conductive liquid in pulses,
- the apparatus comprising:
- an emitter having a spray area from which the liquid can be sprayed,
- a means for injecting charges into the liquid, whereby, in use, the liquid is delivered to the spray area by electrostatic forces and electrostatic spraying occurs in one or more pulses whilst the charges are injected.
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12-40. (canceled)
A method of electrostatic spraying comprising:
- providing an emitter for receiving a substantially non-conductive liquid, the emitter having a spray area from which liquid can be sprayed,
- injecting charges into the liquid;
- whereby the substantially non-conductive liquid is delivered to the spray area by electrostatic forces, and
- wherein the electric field strength or charging current, liquid viscosity and electrode geometry and emitter geometry are selected causing electrostatic spraying to occur in pulses whilst the electric field or charging current is applied.
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45-55. (canceled)
An electrospray apparatus comprising:
- an emitter for receiving liquids, the emitter having a spray area from which liquid can be sprayed;
- means for applying to the liquid a time-varying electric field or charging current;
- wherein, when the strength of the time-varying electric field or charging current is greater than a threshold strength, electrospray occurs in pulses whilst the electric field or charging current is applied;
- and
- wherein whilst electrospray occurs liquid is drawn to the spray area by electrostatic forces;
- and
- wherein, in use, the time-varying electric field or charging current strength is non-zero.
59-99. (canceled)
A method of electrospraying comprising:
- providing an emitter for receiving liquids, the emitter having a spray area from which liquid can be sprayed;
- providing liquid to the emitter;
- applying to the liquid a time-varying electric field or charging current;
- wherein the time-varying electric field or charging current strength causes electrospray to occur in pulses whilst the electric field or charging current is greater than a threshold strength;
- and
- wherein whilst electrospray occurs liquid is drawn to the spray area by electrostatic forces;
- and
- wherein, in use, the time-varying electric field or charging current strength is non-zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.