Apparatus and method for insulating a conductive paint during electrostatic painting

A method for preventing electrical continuity in a stream of conductive fluid, comprising:

• separating said stream of conductive fluid into a plurality of spaced radial substreams at an inlet of an insulating chamber;
• separating said substreams vertically into droplets inside said chamber;
• dropping said droplets from a top of said insulating chamber to a bottom of said insulating chamber;
• constructing said insulating chamber of an electrically insulating material;
• attaching at least one grounding electrode to an exterior of said insulating chamber;
• and
• connecting said grounding electrode to a ground, wherein a charge on an inner wall of said insulating chamber flows through said inner wall, through said at least one grounding electrode, and to said ground.

An apparatus for insulating an electrically conductive paint supply comprising:

• an insulating chamber;
• said insulating chamber including an upper insulating container and a lower insulating container;
• a paint inlet in an upper portion of said upper insulating container, whereby a paint enters said upper insulating container and drips downward;
• an opening in a lower portion of said upper insulating container, whereby said paint exits said upper insulating container through said opening and enters said lower insulating container;
• a plurality of grounding electrodes for connecting said upper insulating container to a ground;
• said plurality of grounding electrodes mounted on an exterior surface of said upper insulating container;
• an inner electrode covering an inner surface of said upper insulating container;
• said lower insulating container connected to said upper insulating container;
• a paint outlet in a lower portion of said lower insulating container;
• a plurality of inner electrodes mounted on an inner surface of said lower insulating container;
• and
• a plurality of outer electrodes for connecting said lower insulating container to said ground;
• said plurality of outer electrodes being mounted on an outer surface of said lower insulating container, located opposite said plurality of inner electrodes of said lower insulating container.

An apparatus for insulating an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:

• an insulating chamber having an inlet through a top portion and an outlet through a bottom portion;
• means within said insulating chamber for separating said conductive fluid into a plurality of spaced radial substreams;
• means within said insulating chamber for vertically separating said substreams into drops;
• and
• at least one electrode attached to an exterior of said insulating chamber;
• said at least one electrode being connected to a resistor, wherein said at least one electrode allows a leakage current to bleed off an excess charge from a portion of said conductive fluid adhering to an inner wall of said insulating chamber, to said at least one electrode, and to said resistor.

A method for preventing electrical continuity in a stream of conductive fluid, comprising:

• separating said stream of conductive fluid into a plurality of spaced radial substreams at an inlet of an insulating chamber;
• separating said substreams vertically into droplets inside said chamber;
• dropping said droplets from a top of said insulating chamber to a bottom of said insulating chamber;
• constructing said insulating chamber of an electrically insulating material;
• attaching at least one electrode to an exterior of said insulating chamber;
• and
• connecting said electrode to a resistor, whereby a charge on an inner wall of said insulating chamber flows through said inner wall, through said at least one electrode, and to said resistor.

An apparatus for insulating an electrically conductive fluid, comprising:

• an insulating chamber having an inlet through a top portion and an outlet through a bottom portion;
• means within said insulating chamber for separating said conductive fluid into a plurality of spaced radial substreams;
• means within said insulating chamber for vertically separating said substreams into drops;
• and
• at least one electrode attached to an exterior of said insulating chamber;
• said at least one electrode being connected to a condenser, wherein said at least one electrode allows a leakage current to bleed off an excess charge from a portion of said conductive fluid adhering to an inner wall of said insulating chamber, to said at least one electrode, and to said condenser.

A method for preventing electrical continuity in a stream of conductive fluid, comprising:

• separating said stream of conductive fluid into a plurality of spaced radial substreams at an inlet of an insulating chamber;
• separating said substreams vertically into droplets inside said chamber;
• dropping said droplets from a top of said insulating chamber to a bottom of said insulating chamber;
• constructing said insulating chamber of an electrically insulating material;
• attaching at least one electrode to an exterior of said insulating chamber;
• and
• connecting said electrode to a condenser, wherein a charge on an inner wall of said insulating chamber flows through said inner wall, through said at least one electrode, and to said condenser.