Patent ID: 7717358

Claim:
A nozzle assembly for use with a thermal spray apparatus for applying a coating to a workpiece, the nozzle assembly comprising: a housing defining a nozzle opening through a length thereof and centered about an axis defined by the housing, a nozzle disposed in the nozzle opening and extending substantially through the length of the housing, the nozzle defining a gas conduit extending through a length thereof and having an inlet and an outlet at opposing ends thereof, the inlet for receiving a carrier medium from a thermal spray apparatus, a material feed opening in communication with the gas conduit proximate the outlet end thereof, the housing and the nozzle cooperating to define the material feed opening such that the material feed opening extends through a sidewall of each of the housing and the nozzle, the material feed opening being angularly disposed relative to the gas conduit, the outlet end of the nozzle being proximate a juncture of the gas conduit and the material feed opening such that coating material injected into the gas conduit through the material feed opening is heat-softened and propelled towards a workpiece to be coated by the carrier medium flowing outwardly from the nozzle, wherein the housing further defines at least two air passages aligned substantially parallel to the gas conduit and spaced apart from and on opposing sides thereof, the air passages each including an inlet attachable to a source of pressurized air, and an outlet extending through the housing on opposing sides of the outlet of the nozzle.