Patent Publication Number: US-2005136733-A1

Title: Remote high voltage splitter block

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to the distribution of high magnitude electrical potential from power supplies to utilization devices. It is disclosed in the context of distribution of high magnitude electrical potential from a power supply to devices for the electrostatically aided atomization and dispensing of coating materials. However, it is believed to be useful in other applications as well.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Various types of power supplies are known. There are, for example, the disclosures of the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,767,359; 3,273,015; 3,627,661; 3,641,971; 3,731,145; 3,764,883; 3,795,839; 3,809,955; 3,851,618; 3,872,370; 3,875,892; 3,893,006; 3,894,272; 3,895,262; 3,970,920; 4,000,443; 4,038,593; 4,073,002; 4,075,677; 4,182,490; 4,187,527; 4,196,465; 4,266,262; 4,287,552; 4,323,947; 4,324,812; 4,343,828; 4,353,970; 4,377,838; 4,385,340; 4,402,030; 4,409,635; 4,472,781; 4,481,557; 4,485,427; 4,508,276; 4,538,231; 4,587,605; 4,630,220; 4,651,264; 4,672,500; 4,674,003; 4,698,517; 4,710,849; 4,737,887; 4,745,520; 4,764,393; 4,797,833; 4,809,127; 4,825,028; 4,841,425; 4,890,190; 4,891,743; 4,912,588; 4,916,571; 4,920,246; 5,012,058; 5,019,996; 5,056,720; 5,063,350; 5,067,434; 5,080,289; 5,093,625; 5,107,438; 5,121,884; 5,124,905; 5,138,513; 5,159,544; 5,222,663; 5,267,138; 5,340,289; 5,351,903; 5,433,387; 5,457,621; 5,566,042; 5,666,279; 5,745,358; 5,818,709; 5,939,993; 5,947,377; 5,978,244; 6,144,570; and, 6,423,142. There are also the disclosures of the following published foreign patents and applications: DE 24 36 142; DE 32 15 644; EP 0 160 179; and, GB 2 077 006. There are also the disclosures of Rans-Pak 1000™ Power Supply, May, 1990; Rans-Pak 1000™ Power Supply, 1991; Rans-Pak 100™ Power Supply, May, 1988; Rans-Pak 300™ Power Supply, Sep., 1990; Ransburg GEMA Series 400 Power Supply Panel Service Manual, April, 1990; and, Kazkaz, Electric Field and Space Charge of Spherical Electrode at High Voltage Concentric with a Spherical Grounded Conductive Target: Proc. at the 1996 Industry Applications Society 31 st Annual Mtg., San Diego, Calif., 1904-1911 (October 1996). The disclosures of the references cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Listing of the references cited herein is not intended to be a representation that a complete search of all relevant art has been made, or that no more pertinent art than that listed exists, or that the listed art is material to patentability. Nor should any such representation be inferred.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      According to an aspect of the invention, a distribution device is provided for distributing high magnitude electrical potential from an input port of the distribution device to a plurality of output ports thereof. The distribution device includes a first portion and a second portion adapted for engagement. At least one of the first and second portions includes cooperating couplers providing electrical continuity between the input port and the plurality of output ports.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the cooperating couplers comprise high voltage contacts. The at least one of the first and second portions includes openings for receiving the high voltage contacts.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the at least one of the first and second portions and the couplers include complementary threaded portions for securing the couplers in engagement with the at least one of the first and second portions.  
      Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a plug including a complementary threaded portion for securing the plug in the at least one of the first and second portions. The plug is adapted to be received in at least one of the openings to replace an unused one of the couplers.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the first and second portions include complementary threaded portions for securing the first and second portions together in assembled configuration.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the first and second portions include complementary surfaces between which at least one of the cooperating couplers is captured to promote electrical continuity among the cooperating couplers through the device.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the complementary surfaces include labyrinthine portions in order that the surface distance from the complementary surfaces to an outer surface of the device may be increased.  
      Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a high magnitude potential supply having an output port at which a high magnitude potential is provided, and a plurality of high magnitude potential utilization devices. The output port of the high magnitude potential supply is coupled to the input port of the distribution device. Respective output ports of the distribution device are coupled to respective utilization devices.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the utilization devices comprise coating material atomizing and dispensing devices.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the coating material atomizing and dispensing devices comprise electrostatically aided coating material atomizing and dispensing devices.  
      Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one coating material source coupled to the coating material atomizing and dispensing devices.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, a high magnitude potential supply system includes a high magnitude potential supply having an output port at which a high magnitude potential is provided. The high magnitude potential supply system further includes a high magnitude potential distribution device having an input port and output ports. The system further includes utilization devices. The output port of the high magnitude potential supply is coupled to the input port of the distribution device. Respective output ports of the distribution device are coupled to respective utilization devices.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the utilization devices comprise coating material atomizing and dispensing devices.  
      Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the coating material atomizing and dispensing devices comprise electrostatically aided coating material atomizing and dispensing devices.  
      Further illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes at least one coating material source coupled to the coating material atomizing and dispensing devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention may best be understood by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings:  
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate partly block and partly schematic diagrams of certain prior art high magnitude potential distribution systems;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a partly block and partly schematic diagram of a high magnitude potential distribution system constructed according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of a detail of the system illustrated in  FIG. 4 , taken generally along section lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view of the detail illustrated in  FIG. 5 , taken generally along section lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and,  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of the detail illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 , taken generally along section lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
      As used herein, terms such as “electrically conductive” and “electrically non-insulative” refer to a broad range of conductivities electrically more conductive than materials described as “electrically non-conductive” and “electrically insulative.” Terms such as “electrically semiconductive” refer to a broad range of conductivities between electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , some prior art high magnitude potential distribution systems  10  include high voltage Tee connectors  12  which can be daisy chained from one to another via lengths  14  of high voltage cable. Such Tee connectors  12  typically must be isolated from reference potentials, such as earth ground, to prevent leakage of high magnitude potential from them to reference potential.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , other prior art high magnitude potential distribution systems  16  include dielectric fluid filled tanks  18 . Such tanks  18  are typically relatively heavy and occupy relatively more space than other prior art systems. Further, in many circumstances, dielectric fluids from such dielectric fluid filled tanks  18  require special handling.  
      In still other distribution systems  20 , a high magnitude potential supply  22  is required for each utilization device  24 . This entirely avoids the problem of distribution from a single high magnitude potential supply  22  to multiple utilization devices  24 , such as, for example, coating material atomizing and dispensing equipment of the general type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,433,387; 5,622,563; 5,632,448; 5,633,306; 5,662,278; 5,853,126; 5,957,395; 6,076,751; 6,230,993; 6,328,224, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, it is typically expensive in that it requires a high magnitude potential supply  22  for each utilization device  24 . Such a system  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      A high magnitude potential supply system  30  constructed according to the invention includes a high magnitude potential supply  32 , such as, for example, one of the general type illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,513; 5,159,544; 5,978,244; 6,144,570; 6,423,142, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The high magnitude potential supply  32  includes an output port  34  at which a high magnitude potential, such as, for example, −100 KV, is provided. The output port  34  is coupled through a length  36  of high voltage cable to an input port  38  of a high magnitude potential distribution device  40 . Distribution device  40  includes a number, illustratively four, of output ports  42 - 1 ,  42 - 2 , . . .  42 - n,  each of which is adapted to be coupled through a respective length  44 - 1 ,  44 - 2 , . . .  44 - n  of high voltage cable  44  to an input port  46 - 1 ,  46 - 2 , . . .  46 - n  of a respective utilization device  48 - 1 ,  48 - 2 , . . .  48 - n,  such as one of the coating material atomizers identified above.  
      Referring now particularly to  FIGS. 5-7 , distribution device  40  includes a first portion  50 . Portion  50  includes a central passageway  52  for receiving a second portion  54 . Portions  50 ,  54  are constructed from suitable electrically non-conductive materials, such as certain polytetrafluoroethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, acetal resins, and the like. Mating regions of portions  50 ,  54  are provided with complementary surfaces  56 ,  58 , respectively, including labyrinthine portions in order that the surface distance from the centers of surfaces  56 ,  58  to the outer surface  60  of device  40  may be made greater. Input port  38  and output ports  42 - 1 ,  42 - 2 ,  42 - 3 ,  42 - 4  are provided by fittings  62 - 0 ,  62 - 1 ,  62 - 2 ,  62 - 3 ,  62 - 4 , respectively. High voltage jacks  64 - 0 ,  64 - 1 ,  64 - 2 ,  64 - 3 ,  64 - 4  are press fitted into cavities  66 - 0 ,  66 - 1 ,  66 - 2 ,  66 - 3 ,  66 - 4 , respectively, provided therefor at the ends of passageways  68 - 0 ,  68 - 1 ,  68 - 2 ,  68 - 3 ,  68 - 4 , respectively, provided in portions  50  and  54  for fittings  62 - 0 ,  62 - 1 ,  62 - 2 ,  62 - 3 ,  62 - 4 . Fittings  62 - 0 ,  62 - 1 ,  62 - 2 ,  62 - 3 ,  62 - 4  are threaded into respective ones of these jacks  64 - 0 ,  64 - 1 ,  64 - 2 ,  64 - 3 ,  64 - 4 . Portions  50 ,  54  also include complementary threaded portions  70 ,  72  so that surfaces  56 ,  58  can be brought into contact. Typically, a suitable dielectric grease will be placed on one or both of surfaces  56 ,  58  to reduce the likelihood of discharge from fittings or jacks to atmosphere between portions  50 ,  54 .  
      A conductive disk  75  is placed at the end of passageway  52  and captured there between portions  50 ,  54  in the assembled device. One end of each conductor  76 - 1 ,  76 - 2 ,  76 - 3 ,  76 - 4  is inserted through a respective passageway provided therefor in portion  50  from passageway  52  to a respective cavity  66 - 1 ,  66 - 2 ,  66 - 3 ,  66 - 4 . Installation of jacks  64 - 1 ,  64 - 2 ,  64 - 3 ,  64 - 4  into cavities  66 - 0 ,  66 - 1 ,  66 - 2 ,  66 - 3 ,  66 - 4 , respectively, causes contact to be established between conductors  76 - 1 ,  76 - 2 ,  76 - 3 ,  76 - 4  and jacks  64 - 1 ,  64 - 2 ,  64 - 3 ,  64 - 4 , respectively. The remaining end of each conductor  76 - 1 ,  76 - 2 ,  76 - 3 ,  76 - 4  is pressed into electrically conductive contact with disk  75  in the assembled device  40  to promote electrical continuity between disk  75  and conductors  76 - 1 ,  76 - 2 ,  76 - 3 ,  76 - 4 .  
      The high magnitude potential distribution device  40  permits distribution of high magnitude potential for a number, illustratively, four, of utilization devices  48 - 1 ,  48 - 2 , . . .  48 - n,  for example, electrostatically aided coating material atomizers, from a single high magnitude potential source  32  output port  34 . The distribution device  40  can be located remotely from the high magnitude potential source  32 . Coupling of the high magnitude potential source  32  to the distribution device  40  can be made via high voltage cable  36 . The distribution device  40  can be of relatively small, lightweight construction. The distribution device  40  can be mounted in locations close to much lower magnitude potentials, for example, ground, owing to its insulating properties. Any unused output port(s)  42 - 1 ,  42 - 2 , . . .  42 - n  of the distribution device  40  which is (are) not needed can be plugged by (a) plug(s) having the same shape as the fittings  62 - 1 ,  62 - 2 ,  62 - 3 ,  62 - 4 , but including no conductive portions, permitting the distribution device  40  to distribute high magnitude potential to fewer than n utilization devices  48 . Again, typically, a suitable dielectric grease will be placed on the outer surface(s) of such (a) plug(s) before the plug(s) is (are) threaded into portion  50  to reduce the likelihood of discharge to atmosphere between portion  50  and the plug(s). Illustratively, the output ports  42 - 1 ,  42 - 2 , . . .  42 - n  of the distribution device  40  accept, for example, a banana type connector.