Pulsing electrostatic atomizer
AssigneeCharged Injection Corporation
InventorArnold J. Kelly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrostatic atomizer has a power source powering a charge injection device. The power source is arranged to vary the net charge injected by the charge injection device cyclically in accordance with a pattern of variation so that the net charge repeatedly increases to a higher value at or above a long-term breakdown value. The net charge injected is reduced by the power source to a lower value below the long-term breakdown value so that corona-induced breakdown is reduced. A method for electrostatically atomizing a fluent material is provided. The method includes the step of cyclically varying the net charge injected to reduce the occurrence of corona-induced breakdown.
Claims37
An electrostatic atomizer comprising:
- a charge injection device for injecting a net charge into a fluent material to thereby atomize the fluent material;
- and
- a power source powering said charge injection device, said power source being arranged to vary the net charge injected by said charge injection device cyclically in accordance with a pattern of variation so that the net charge repeatedly increases to a higher value at or above a long-term breakdown value and repeatedly decreases to a lower value below the long-term breakdown value whereby corona-induced breakdown of the atomizer is reduced.
A method for electrostatically atomizing a liquid, comprising:
- a. providing a fluent material to be atomized;
- b. injecting a net charge into the fluent material;
- c. varying the net charge cyclically in accordance with a pattern of variation, including the steps of repeatedly increasing the net charge to a higher value at or above a long-term breakdown value and repeatedly decreasing the net charge to a lower value below the higher value so that the corona discharge breakdown of the atomizer is reduced.
A charge injection device for injecting a net charge into a fluent material, including a power source powering said charge injection device, said power source being arranged to vary the net charge injected by said charge injection device cyclically in accordance with a pattern of variation so that the net charge repeatedly increases to a higher value at or above a long-term breakdown value and repeatedly decreases to a lower value below the long-term breakdown value whereby corona-induced breakdown of the atomizer is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.