Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Electrostatic type – Induction charging
Patent
1997-04-07
1999-11-30
Kashnikow, Andres
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Electrostatic type
Induction charging
361227, 361228, 361235, 136255, 363 61, B05B 500
Patent
active
059927712
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the generation of high voltages for use in applications where current demand is small. One such application is electrostatic spraying of material where the voltage requirement may be in excess of 1 kV whilst the current requirement may be of the order of microamps or even nanoamps.
In our prior European Patent Applications relating to electrostatic spraying of materials (eg EP-A-120633, 441501, 468735, 468736, 482814, 486198, 503766 and 607182 and PCT-A-WO94/13063), various devices are described all of which employ a high voltage generator powered by a battery supply. One form of voltage generator suitable for use in such devices is described in EP-A-163390. Voltage generators of this form are expensive to manufacture and are relatively bulky especially for use in electrostatic spraying devices required to be compact in size, eg sprayers for cosmetics and perfumes. Moreover, the battery pack required for power supply must be accommodated within the housing of the sprayer and frequent battery replacement or recharging is necessary.
The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of high voltage generator.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for producing a spray or stream of electrically charged particles comprising means defining a location from which said spray or stream is generated and a voltage generator for producing high voltage between said location and the surroundings, the generator comprising a large array of discrete voltage producing elements interconnected to produce a high voltage.
Preferably the generator is a solid state device comprising hundreds or even thousands of individual voltage producing elements which may be serially connected so that collectively they produce a high voltage output.
One form of the invention comprises an electrostatic spraying device comprising an outlet from which material to be electrostatically sprayed can be discharged, the outlet being associated with said location and the array of elements being interconnected to produce a high voltage sufficient to effect electrostatic spraying of material from the device.
Typically the current output of the generator will be such that the power rating of the generator is 100 mW or less, more usually 50 mW or less. For example, for a paint spraying device, the voltage may be in excess of 25 kV and the current of the order of 1 microamp (power rating of 30 mW) whilst for a room fragrance sprayer the voltage may be of the order of 0.5 to 2.0 mW, typically 1.2 mW (eg 100 nA current and 12 kV voltage).
The high voltage generator conveniently comprises an array of photosensitive elements so arranged as to produce a voltage output of at least 1 kV when irradiated.
Preferably the array of photosensitive elements is so arranged as to produce a voltage output of at least 4 kV, typically at least 5 kV and more preferably upwards of 8 kV.
The generator is conveniently in the form of an electronic solid state device comprising a large array of photosensitive elements. For instance, the solid state device may comprise a photovoltaic material (eg suitably doped polycrystalline silicon such as that used in the production of solar cells and solar panels) appropriately divided into discrete sections, eg by etching and/or laser scribing techniques commonly used in the production of semiconductor devices, to form a large array of photovoltaic elements interconnected in such a way as to produce, collectively, a high voltage output of the order referred to above when irradiated.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a high voltage generator in the form of an integrated solid state device comprising a large array of interconnected radiation responsive elements, such as photovoltaic elements, operable to produce a voltage output of at least 1 kV when irradiated.
A cell of photovoltaic material, such as silicon doped with boron to produce a pure lattice of p-type material, can produce a relatively low voltage output (typically of the order of 0.45 V) wh
REFERENCES:
patent: 3599038 (1971-08-01), Skidmore
patent: 3608823 (1971-09-01), Buschor
patent: 3902108 (1975-08-01), Sion
patent: 5009720 (1991-04-01), Hokuyo et al.
patent: 5063350 (1991-11-01), Hemming et al.
patent: 5218305 (1993-06-01), Lunzer
Green Michale Leslie
Jefferies Andrew
Noakes Timothy James
Prendergast Maurice Joseph
Andes William Scott
Ganey Steven J.
Kashnikow Andres
The Procter & Gamble & Company
LandOfFree
High voltage generator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with High voltage generator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High voltage generator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1662027