# US 2013/0240641 A1 · Electrostatic discharge control and isolation system for spraying systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0240641 A1 - Document ID: US20130240641A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/990,715 - Filed: 2012-01-16 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-14 - Assignees: Graco Minnesota Inc. - Inventors: Robert W. Kinne; Steven R. Kuczenski; Bradley H. Hines; Dale C. Pemberton; Jimmy W. Tam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130240641A1 ## CPC - B05B 5/1675: {the supply means comprising a piston, e.g. a piston pump} - B05B 5/1691: {Apparatus to be carried on or by a person or with a container fixed to the discharge device} - B05B 9/0403: {with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence)} - B05B 9/0861: {the motor being electric} - H05F 3/02: by means of earthing connections - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - H05F: STATIC ELECTRICITY; NATURALLY-OCCURRING ELECTRICITY ## Abstract A fluid dispensing device includes an electrostatic discharge protection system. Accumulation and discharge of electrostatic energy created by operation of the device is reduced or prevented by the electrostatic discharge protection system without an earth ground connection. The electrostatic discharge protection system may include a number of features, such as a static wick, non-conductive components that electrically isolate the spray tip of the device, nonconductive isolation barriers, nonconductive fluid reservoir and suction tube components, a nonconductive coating of a control valve component, and a nonconductive spring retainer of the control valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid dispensing device comprising: a fluid delivery device; a spray tip or nozzle for atomizing fluid supplied by the fluid delivery device; and an electrostatic discharge protection system for reducing or preventing accumulation and/or discharge of static energy without an earth ground connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system comprises: an electrically conductive static wick having a first end connected to a electrostatic charge accumulating component of the device and a second end exposed to atmosphere. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the second end of the static wick is positioned to dissipate electrostatic energy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the second end of the static wick is exposed at a rear end of the device, and the spray tip is positioned at a forward end of the device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a valve connected between the pump and the spray tip that is formed of nonconductive material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system further includes a nut of nonconductive material that connects the spray tip to the valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system further includes a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be pressurized and atomized and a suction tube for delivering the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid delivery device, the fluid reservoir and the suction tube being formed of nonconductive material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a plurality of nonconductive barriers positioned to increase electrostatic discharge travel distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the nonconductive barriers include a barrier adjacent the fluid delivery device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the nonconductive barriers include a barrier within a handle portion of the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the nonconductive barriers include a barrier adjacent to a component of the device on which charge can accumulate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a plurality of nonconductive components positioned to electrically isolate the spray tip from the fluid delivery device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a plurality of nonconductive components positioned to reduce capacitance of the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising: a control valve connected to the fluid delivery device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a nonconductive coating on a component of the control valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the control valve includes a nonconductive spring retainer, a valve stem and a valve body, and wherein the nonconductive coating is on the valve stem. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system comprises: an electrically conductive static wick having a first end connected to a component of the device on which charge can accumulate and a second end exposed to atmosphere; and a plurality of nonconductive components positioned to electrically isolate the spray tip from the fluid delivery device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system further includes a plurality of nonconductive barriers positioned to increase electrostatic discharge travel distance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a fluid reservoir for containing fluid to be pressurized and atomized and a suction tube for delivering the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid delivery device, the fluid reservoir and the suction tube being formed of nonconductive material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19 and further comprising: a control valve connected to the fluid delivery device, wherein the electrostatic discharge protection system includes a nonconductive coating on a component of the control valve.