US 5,340,289 A · Apparatus for electrostatically isolating and pumping conductive coating materials

Abstract

An apparatus for transferring electrically conductive coating materials such as water-based paint from a source to an electrostatically charged dispenser includes first and second shuttle devices and two large reservoir, piston pumps each having structure for preventing contamination of the coating material and pressure build-up at their piston heads. The first shuttle device is movable between a neutral position wherein it is electrically isolated from a filling station connected to the coating material source, and a transfer position wherein coating material is transmitted to one of the piston pumps through a coupling device which connects the filling station and first shuttle. The second shuttle device is movable with respect to a discharge station between a neutral position wherein the second shuttle is spaced from the discharge station, and a transfer position wherein coating material is transmitted from the filled piston pump, through another coupling device which connects the second shuttle and discharge station and then to the second piston pump for transmission to one or more electrostatic coating dispensers. Movement of the shuttle is controlled to maintain one of the shuttles in the neutral position while the other is at the transfer position.

Claims7

Dependent claims

Apparatus for transferring coating material from an electrically grounded source to at least one electrostatic dispensing device, comprising:

a filling station which receives coating material from the source;
transfer means for transferring coating material to the at least one dispensing device, said transfer means including:
(i) first means for receiving coating material from said filling station, said first means being movable between a transfer position coupled to said filling station and a neutral position uncoupled from said filling station;
(ii) second means, communicating with said first means, for transmitting coating material to the at least one dispensing device;
a coupling device including a first coupling member having a first one-way valve and a second coupling member formed with a suction chamber and having a second one-way valve, one of said first and second coupling members being carried by said filling station and the other of said first and second coupling members being carried by said first means of said transfer means, said first and second coupling members engaging one another upon movement of said first means to said transfer position and disengaging one another upon movement of said first means to said neutral position, one of said first and second coupling members having an actuator means which engages said one-way valve of the other of said first and second coupling members at said transfer position to permit the transfer of coating material from said filling station to said transfer means, a suction being created within the suction chamber in the course of movement of said first and second coupling members to said neutral position which substantially prevents drippage of coating material from said first and second coupling members.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for electrostatically isolating and pumping conductive coating materials

Life of this patent

Apparatus for electrostatically isolating and pumping conductive coating materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7