# US 2021/0243916 A1 · Cooling system for a material surface treatment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243916 A1 - Document ID: US20210243916A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/778,737 - Filed: 2020-01-31 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Robert Kleinschmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243916A1 ## CPC - H05H 1/473: {Cylindrical electrodes, e.g. rotary drums} - H05K 7/20272: {Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds} - B05B 5/057: Arrangements for discharging liquids or other fluent material without using a gun or nozzle - B05B 5/1608: {the liquid or other fluent material being electrically conductive} - B41F 23/0476: {Cooling (B41F23/0483 takes precedence)} - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - 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) - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) ## Abstract The present disclosure describes systems and methods to provide electrode cooling for material surface treatment systems. A cooling fluid is employed to cool electrodes with a high voltage applied. For example, a conduit conveys a cooling fluid through the electrode, as the conduit also provides electrification for the electrode by being connected to an electrical power source. Further, cooling is implemented by use of a voltage isolator disposed between the conduit and a reservoir, with the voltage isolator providing a pathway to a reference voltage for residual electric charge from the cooling fluid passing through the voltage isolator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooling system for a material surface treatment system, the cooling system comprising: a conduit to convey a cooling fluid through an electrode, the conduit being connected to an electrical power source; and a voltage isolator disposed between the conduit and a reservoir, the voltage isolator configured to provide a pathway to a reference voltage for residual electric charge from the cooling fluid passing through the voltage isolator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the voltage isolator comprises two or more tubes to convey the cooling fluid between the conduit and the reservoir, the cooling system further comprising: a first port for introducing the cooling fluid into the two or more tubes; and a second port for withdrawing the cooling fluid from the two or more tubes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the two or more tubes are non-conductive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, further comprising one or more conductive contacts connecting the first or second ports to the reference voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, further comprising one or more couplers to connect a tube of the two or more tubes to the conduit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the two or more tubes comprises a first tube and a second tube, the first tube connected to the first port and the second tube being connected to the second port, wherein the cooling fluid flows into the first tube in a first direction via the first port and flows out of the second tube in a second direction via the second port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the first port is disposed in a first end of the conduit and the second port is disposed in a second end of the conduit, the cooling fluid to be conveyed through the length of the electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the conduit comprises a plurality of conduits, each conduit being connected to another conduit at one or more ends, wherein each conduit spans the length of a respective electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the first port is disposed in a first end of a first tube of the plurality of tubes and the second port is disposed in a second end of a second tube such that the cooling fluid is conveyed through both the first and second tubes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir connected to the conductive manifold via the voltage isolator; and a pump operatively connected to the reservoir for circulating the cooling fluid through the cooling system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cooling system of claim 10, wherein the voltage isolator comprises a conductive contact operatively connected to the first or second port to remove any residual charge from the heated and charged cooling fluid as it flows past the conductive contact, wherein the conductive contact electrically connected to a reference voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the conduit is connected to a conductive manifold via a first connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the cooling fluid flows through the conduit from the first connector at a first end of the conduit to a second connector at a second end of the conduit, the second connector being connected to a second conduit to convey the cooling fluid back to the conductive manifold, such that a single conductive manifold provides inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid through the electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cooling system of claim 13, wherein the cooling fluid flows through the conduit from the first connector at a first end of the conduit to a second connector at a second end of the conduit, wherein the second connector is connected to a second manifold such that the conductive manifold provides inflow and the second manifold provide outflow of the cooling fluid through the electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises one of a plasma electrode comprising a non-conductive ceramic material or a corona electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling system is operatively coupled to an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 18 A material surface treatment system comprising: an electrode to generate an electric discharge to treat a material near the electrode; and a cooling system comprising: a conduit to convey a cooling fluid through the electrode; and a voltage isolator disposed between the conduit and a reservoir, the voltage isolator configured to provide a pathway to a reference voltage for residual electric charge from the cooling fluid passing through the voltage isolator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The material surface treatment system of claim 18, further comprises a grounding roll configured to engage with a web of material, the material to be subjected to plasma discharged from the electrode to alter a property of the material for additional processing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The material surface treatment system of claim 18, wherein the conduit is connected to an electrical power source via a conductive manifold to provide current through the conduit to activate the electrode.