Device for applying electrostatically charged lubricant

Abstract

A device for electrostatically charging and dispensing a high resistivity cutting lubricant to a workpiece includes a source of high resistivity cutting lubricant and a capillary tube having an entrant end in fluid communication with the high resistivity cutting lubricant and a tapered discharge end forming a sharp point. A high voltage power supply is used for generating a high voltage of less than 5,000 volts d.c. The power supply has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A high voltage electrode has its one end connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and has its other end operatively coupled to the discharge end of the capillary tube. A nearby grounded electrode is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship from the discharge end of the capillary tube so as to create a high electric field therebetween for electrostatically charging the lubricant. The lubricant is atomized and projected in the form of a steady and controlled stream of charged particles away from the discharge end of the capillary tube to within the vicinity of or all the way to the workpiece before the stream of charged particles bursts into an aerosol cloud of charged droplets for dispensing them onto the workpiece.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.