Water-based plural component spray painting system

A water-based plural component system comprising:

• a. an electrostatic spray gun having an electrically charged tip for dispensing a homogeneous mixture of an electrically more-conductive component and an electrically less-conductive component;
• b. a means for mixing said electrically more-conductive component and said electrically less-conductive component, said means for mixing connected in fluid-flow relation to a first fluid hose which in turn is connected in fluid-flow relation to said electrostatic spray gun, said means for mixing being positioned proximal to said electrostatic spray gun;
• c. a first conduit connected in fluid-flow relation to said means for mixing, said first conduit confining alternating portions of said electrically more-conductive component and said electrically less-conductive component where said electrically more-conductive component and said electrically less-conductive component comprises alternating more-resistive segments and less-resistive segments acting in series to provide a combined electrical resistance of at least 30 kilovolts, each of said alternating portions of said electrically less-conductive component having a length at least two and one-half times longer than the length of said electrically more-conductive component, said first conduit having a length of at least 20 feet;
• d. a means for alternating portions of said electrically more-conductive component and said electrically less-conductive component connected in fluid-flow relation to said first conduit;
• e. a second conduit connected in fluid-flow relation to said means for alternating, said second conduit confining said electrically less-conductive component;
• f. a third conduit connected in fluid-flow relation to said means for alternating, said third conduit confining said electrically more-conductive component, said third conduit being electrically isolated from said second conduit;
• g. a first means for regulating connected in fluid-flow relation to said second conduit, said first means for regulating having a pro-pulse meter and at least one solenoid valve;
• h. a second means for regulating connected in fluid-flow relation to said third conduit, said second means for regulating having a pro-pulse meter and at least one solenoid valve;
• i. a means for control connected to said first means for regulating and said second means for regulating wherein said means for control regulates said portions of said electrically more-conductive component and said electrically less-conductive component by time or volume measurement;
• j. a first storage facility having an electrical connection to ground holding said electrically less-conductive component, said first storage facility connected in fluid-flow relation to said second conduit;
• k. a second storage facility having an electrical connection to ground holding said electrically more-conductive component, said second storage facility connected in fluid-flow relation to said third conduit;
• and
• l. a color change system connected in fluid-flow relation to said first storage facility.

A method for electrostatically spraying water-based paint comprising:

• a. separating said water-based paint into an electrically less-conductive component and an electrically more-conductive component upstream of an electrostatic spray gun of an electrostatic paint spraying system;
• b. storing said electrically less-conductive component in an electrically-grounded first storage facility connected in fluid-flow relation to a color change system and to a first conduit;
• c. storing said electrically more-conductive component in an electrically-grounded second storage facility connected in fluid-flow relation to a second conduit;
• d. regulating the passage of said electrically less-conductive component in said first conduit by a first means for regulating;
• e. regulating the passage of said electrically more-conductive component in said second conduit by a second means for regulating;
• f. alternating portions of said regulated electrically less-conductive component and said electrically more-conductive component into alternating segments within a third conduit;
• g. mixing said alternating segments of said electrically less-conductive component and said electrically more-conductive component from said third conduit into a homogeneous mixture of water-based paint proximal to said electrostatic spray gun;
• and
• h. electrostatic spraying of said homogeneous mixture of said water-based paint onto an article.