Patent ID: 9364839
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: B05B,B33Y,H01B

Claim Text:
1. An applicator for spraying a silicone elastomeric material onto an electrical insulator that is for use on high-voltage power transmission lines, the applicator comprising: (a) an applicator body having a front end, a rear end, an internal bore, and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the silicone elastomeric material; (b) a nozzle coupled to the front end of the applicator body, the nozzle having a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway, the spray outlet being shaped to spray the silicone elastomeric material along a spray axis; (c) a needle valve slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement along a longitudinal axis between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the silicone elastomeric material; and (d) an air cap coupled to the front end of the applicator body adjacent the nozzle, the air cap being configured to receive a supply of air from at least one airflow inlet and having a plurality of airflow outlets for providing: (e) wherein the needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position; and (f) wherein the plurality of airflow outlets for providing the fan control airflow are located on a set of horns on the air cap, and wherein the plurality of airflow outlets include: