Electrostatic fluid delivery system

Abstract

An electrostatic fluid delivery system is configured to deliver fluid, such as a disinfectant fluid, onto a surface by electrically charging the fluid and forming the fluid into a mist, fog, plume, or spray that can be directed onto a surface, such as a surface to be cleaned. The system atomizes the fluid using a high-pressure fluid stream and passes the fluid through an electrode of a nozzle assembly to charge droplets of the atomized fluid.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An electrostatic fluid delivery device comprising:
 a unit housing;   a reservoir configured to have a fluid disposed therein;   a nozzle assembly disposed at a first end of the unit housing, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle assembly inlet, a nozzle tip, and an annular housing having a central opening, wherein the nozzle assembly inlet is concentrically aligned with the central opening and is configured to be fluidly coupled with the reservoir, wherein the nozzle tip is mechanically coupled to an actuation assembly comprising a rotatable element, and wherein the actuation assembly is configured to enable movement of the nozzle tip relative to the annular housing;   a pump disposed within the unit housing, wherein the pump is configured to be electrically connected to a power source and configured to pull at least a portion of the fluid from the reservoir and push the portion of the fluid to the nozzle assembly;   a conductive ring disposed adjacent to the nozzle tip, wherein the conductive ring is concentrically aligned with the central opening and configured for an atomized form of the portion of the fluid to be passed therethrough when the pump is electrically connected to the power source, and wherein the conductive ring is configured to receive a charge; and   a control configured to regulate an electrical connection between the pump and the power source.   
     
     
         20 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the annular housing further comprises a conically-shaped surface concentrically aligned with the central opening. 
     
     
         21 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 20 , wherein the conically-shaped surface encompasses the central opening. 
     
     
         22 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , further comprising the power source, wherein the power source is a lithium-ion battery. 
     
     
         23 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the unit housing comprises a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment extending from the main compartment, and wherein the pump is disposed within the main compartment and the control is disposed in the auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         24 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 23 , wherein the unit housing comprises a first clam shell section and a second clam shell section, the first clam shell section configured to be attached to the second clam shell section via a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         25 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 23 , wherein the unit housing comprises a first clam shell section and a second clam shell section, the first clam shell section and the second clam shell section having a unitary construction. 
     
     
         26 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 23 , wherein the reservoir is further configured to provide the portion of the fluid to the nozzle assembly via a port disposed in the main compartment of the unit housing. 
     
     
         27 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the unit housing comprises a first clam shell section and a second clam shell section, the first clam shell section configured to be attached to the second claim shell section via a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the first clam shell section comprises a first annular groove and the second clam shell section comprises a second annular groove, at least a portion of the annular housing configured to be retained within the first annular groove and the second annular groove. 
     
     
         28 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the unit housing comprises an annular groove and a protrusion disposed within the annular groove, and wherein the annular housing comprises a slot on an annular surface, and wherein a portion of the annular housing is configured to be inserted within the annular groove and the protrusion is configured to be inserted into the slot. 
     
     
         29 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the nozzle tip comprises a plurality of openings each configured to expel fluid therethrough, and wherein the actuator assembly is configured to move the nozzle tip for movement of the plurality of openings relative to the annular housing, each of the plurality of openings equidistant from a center point of the nozzle tip. 
     
     
         30 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 29 , wherein the movement of the plurality of openings relative to the annular housing is configured to enable control of a plume profile of the atomized form of the portion of the fluid. 
     
     
         31 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the reservoir tank is configured to be removably attached to a backpack frame, the backpack frame comprising a harness configured to mount the backpack frame to the back of a user. 
     
     
         32 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 31 , further comprising a hose configured to fluidly couple the reservoir tank to the unit housing and the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 31 , wherein the unit housing comprises a handle portion extending from a top surface thereof; and
 further comprising a trigger disposed within an opening in the handle portion of the unit housing and mechanically coupled to the control.   
     
     
         34 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , further comprising a trigger disposed within an opening in the unit housing and mechanically coupled to the control, wherein the unit housing comprises a base and a handle, the handle disposed between the trigger and the base, and a bottom surface of the base configured to removably couple with the reservoir. 
     
     
         35 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the conductive ring is disposed on an opposing side of the nozzle tip relative to the nozzle assembly inlet. 
     
     
         36 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein the control is further configured to regulate electrostatic charging of the portion of the fluid as it passes through the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 36 , wherein the control comprises one or more actuators. 
     
     
         38 . An electrostatic fluid delivery device comprising:
 a unit housing;   a backpack reservoir tank configured to have a fluid disposed therein;   a nozzle assembly disposed at a first end of the unit housing, the nozzle assembly comprising a tube with an internal lumen, a nozzle tip, and an annular housing having a central opening, configured to be fluidly coupled with the reservoir tank, wherein the internal lumen of the tube is concentrically aligned with the central opening, wherein the nozzle tip is mechanically coupled to an actuation assembly comprising a rotatable element, and wherein the actuation assembly is configured to enable movement of the nozzle tip relative to the annular housing;   a pump disposed within the unit housing, the pump configured to be electrically connected to a power source and configured to pull the at least a portion of the fluid from the backpack reservoir tank and push the portion of the fluid to the nozzle assembly;   a hose configured to fluidly couple the backpack reservoir tank to the pump, at least a portion the hose disposed external of the unit housing and the backpack reservoir tank when the hose is coupled to the backpack reservoir tank and the unit housing;   a conductive ring disposed adjacent to the nozzle tip, the conductive ring concentrically aligned with the central opening and configured for an atomized form of the portion of the fluid to be passed therethrough when the pump is electrically connected to the power source, wherein the conductive ring is configured to receive a charge; and   a control configured to regulate an electrical connection between the pump and the power source.   
     
     
         39 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the annular housing further comprises a conically-shaped surface concentrically aligned with the central opening, and wherein the conically-shaped surface encompasses the central opening. 
     
     
         40 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the unit housing comprises a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment extending from the main compartment, wherein the pump is disposed within the main compartment and the control is disposed in the auxiliary compartment; and
 further comprising a trigger disposed within an opening of the auxiliary compartment of the unit housing, wherein the trigger is mechanically coupled to the control.   
     
     
         41 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 40 , wherein the unit housing comprises a first clam shell section and a second clam shell section, the first clam shell section configured to be attached to the second clam shell section via a plurality of fasteners, wherein the main compartment of the unit housing is defined by a first portion of the first clam shell section and a first portion of the second clam shell section, and wherein the auxiliary compartment of the unit housing is defined by second portion of the first clam shell section and a second portion of the second clam shell section. 
     
     
         42 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the nozzle tip comprises a plurality of openings each configured to expel fluid therethrough, and wherein the actuator assembly is configured to move the nozzle tip for movement of the plurality of openings relative to the annular housing, each of the plurality of openings equidistant from a center point of the nozzle tip. 
     
     
         43 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 42 , wherein the movement of the plurality of openings relative to the annular housing is configured to enable control of a plume profile of the atomized form of the portion of the fluid. 
     
     
         44 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the conductive ring is disposed on an opposing side of the nozzle tip relative to the tube. 
     
     
         45 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the control is further configured to regulate electrostatic charging of the portion of the fluid as it passes through the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         46 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 45 , wherein the control comprises one or more actuators. 
     
     
         47 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 38 , wherein the backpack reservoir tank comprises a backpack frame and a reservoir configured to be removably attached to the backpack frame, the backpack frame comprising a harness configured to mount the backpack frame to the back of a user. 
     
     
         48 . The electrostatic fluid delivery device of  claim 47 , wherein the reservoir comprises a first opening at a top region thereof and a second opening in a bottom region thereof, the first opening configured to enable filling of the reservoir, the second opening configured to fluidly couple the reservoir to the hose.