Patent ID: 8460433

Claim:
A gas ionization apparatus for delivering a clean ionized gas stream to a charge neutralization target, the apparatus receiving at least one non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and an ionizing electrical potential sufficient to induce corona discharge, the apparatus comprising: a said target; at least one through-channel for receiving the non-ionized gas stream and an outlet nozzle positioned at a downstream end of the through-channel for delivering the clean ionized gas stream at the target; and at least one shell assembly comprising: a shell having an orifice in gas communication with the through-channel such that a portion of the non-ionized gas stream may enter the shell; at least one evacuation port that presents a gas pressure within the shell and in the vicinity of the orifice that is lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream outside the shell and in the vicinity of the orifice; and at least one ionizing electrode for producing ions and byproducts in response to application of the ionizing electrical potential, the ionizing electrode being disposed within the shell such that at least a substantial portion of the produced ions may migrate into the non-ionized gas stream to thereby form the clean ionized gas stream and such that the evacuation port gas pressure induces a portion of the non-ionized gas stream to flow into the shell orifice to thereby sweep at least a substantial portion of the byproducts into the evacuation port.