Claims
- 1. A powder charging apparatus comprising:an outer conduit having an inner and outer surface, said conduit providing an enclosed space having open ends; at least one charging electrode positioned along said inner and outer surfaces; at least one plate electrode positioned longitudinally within said conduit and extending completely across said enclosed space; said conduit being divided into at least two charging chambers by said at least one plate electrode, said chambers forming charging zones for charging powder entrained in an air stream; said conduit also having coalescing and mixing zones along its length; and a high voltage power supply connected to said at least one charging electrode whereby said power supply charges said at least one charging electrode which in turn charges said entrained powder.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conduit is rectangular in cross-section.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rectangular cross-section has sides and an air purging mechanism positioned adjacent said sides to keep the sides of the rectangular cross-section clean.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one plate electrode divides a single air stream into multiple air streams which enter said at least two charging chambers.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rapping device is connected to said at least one plate electrode to aid in keeping said at least one plate electrode clean during charging.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conduit is circular in cross-section thereby forming a cylindrical shape.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one plate electrode divides a single air stream into multiple air streams which enter said at least two charging chambers.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a rapping device is connected to said at least one plate electrode to aid in keeping said at least one plate electrode clean during charging.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one plate electrode is a laminated plate, said laminated plate comprising: a conductive main plate having a dielectric material attached to each side.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conduit is hinged along its length to facilitate cleaning.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one plate electrode is a radiused plate electrode.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Provisional Application No. 60/156,680, filed Sep. 29, 1999, entitled “ELECTRICAL CHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD USED TO POLARIZE OR NEUTRALIZE PARTICLES OF POWDER”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
6-165949 |
Jun 1994 |
JP |
668707 |
Jun 1979 |
SU |
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/156680 |
Sep 1999 |
US |