Transfer of electrostatic charge through a turbine drive shaft to a rotary atomizer head

A rotary atomizer, comprising:

• a housing formed of a non-electrically conductive material having a forward end and a rearward end and defining an interior chamber therebetween;
• rotary drive means disposed within said interior chamber and having a cup-shaped, atomizing head mounted thereto outside of said forward end of said housing for rotating said cup-shaped atomizing head about an axis of rotation extending longitudinally through said housing;
• means for supplying coating material to said cup-shaped, atomizing head;
• means for conducting high voltage electrostatic energy through said rotary drive means within said housing and into said cup-shaped, atomizing head without conducting said high voltage electrostatic energy through said non-electrically conductive material forming said housing;
• and
• said cup-shaped atomizing head being constructed of a composite material including a low capacitance insulating material and electrically conducting material whereby said high voltage electrostatic energy is transmitted from said rotary drive means through said cup-shaped, atomizing head to charge said coating material with said high voltage electrostatic energy by contact with at least a part of said electrically conducting material in said atomizing head.