Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Electrostatic type
Patent
1998-11-06
2000-10-24
Shaver, Kevin
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Electrostatic type
B05B 516
Patent
active
061353698
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to electrostatic spraying.
The invention has particular application to electrostatic spraying devices for use in applications involving for example air freshening, air purification, insecticide spraying, personal care/hygiene products (eg deodorants, cosmetics and perfumes) and medical and quasi-medical products such as nasal and respiratory tract sprays.
Examples of devices suitable for such applications are disclosed in our prior EP-A-120633, 441501, 468735, 468736, 482814, 486198, 501725, 503766 and 607182, PCT-A-WO94/13063 and International Patent Application No. PCT/GB94/01829, PCT/GB95/00915, PCT/GB95/02218, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
Such devices invariably incorporate a high voltage generator for producing a voltage in the kilovolt range for application to the material to be sprayed. The voltage generator is powered by a low voltage power source which, in the prior art, comprises one or more disposable batteries.
The present invention seeks to simplify the low voltage power source with the aim of avoiding the need for battery replacement (which is environmentally undesirable). The invention may also permit a reduction in overall size of the device especially in circumstances where size is of significance.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrostatic spraying device comprising a housing for accommodation of a supply of material suitable for electrostatic spraying, an outlet from which the material is projected and high voltage generating means for applying high voltage to the material, characterised in that the generating means includes a low voltage power source in the form of one or more elements capable of producing electrical current in response to irradiation and a charge storage means for storing electrical charge produced by said element(s).
Preferably the charge storage means comprises one or more capacitors.
Alternatively the charge storage means may comprise one or more batteries of the rechargeable type.
Preferably the device is of the type in which the high voltage is applied to the material to be sprayed prior to issue of the material from the outlet.
Typically the high voltage generating means produces a voltage output of up to 35 kV, e.g. from 3 to 35 kV, more usually in the range 3 to 20 kV, with 5 to 20 kV being preferred.
The low voltage source will typically produce an output voltage which is typically at least two orders of magnitude less than the high voltage output of the generating means, e.g. in the range 1.5 to 24 volts.
Said element(s) will be so located on the device as to be exposed to ambient light. The element(s) will normally be permanently exposed but the arrangement may be such that the element(s) can be selectively masked or otherwise concealed from the ambient light until such time as the device is to be used, although in the latter case it may be necessary to allow the low power source to generate sufficient power by exposure of said element(s) to ambient light before spraying can be initiated.
The device is suitably dimensioned for handheld use when used for application of sprayed material to the person. Where the device is to be used to spray material into a room for air fragrancing, air purification and the like, it is preferably so dimensioned as to be portable using one hand only.
The location of said element(s) is selected with regard to the manner in which the device is to be used. Where for instance the device is to be used for emitting a liquid spray into the atmosphere, for instance for the purposes of fragrancing and/or purifying the air, the device will normally be designed to be placed on a horizontal surface such as a window sill. In this event, the location of the element(s) will be such as to ensure that adequate light falls onto the element(s) irrespective the orientation of the device when stood on a horizontal surface. Where the device is intended to be held in the hand while spraying (eg spraying of personal care/hygiene products), the location of th
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Noakes Timothy James
Prendergast Maurice Joseph
Deal David
Lewis Leonard W.
Reed T. David
Shaver Kevin
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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