Multiple charging electrode

1. A device for dispensing coating material, the device including at least two electrodes for coupling to at least one high-magnitude potential supply so that the at least two electrodes are maintained substantially at two different high-magnitude potentials so that an electric field exists between the at least two electrodes, each of the at least two electrodes includes a passageway extending therethrough to provide a flow of compressed gas through the at least two electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a voltage divider coupled to the at least one high-magnitude potential supply, the at least two electrodes being coupled to different points on the voltage divider to maintain the at least two electrodes substantially at two different high-magnitude potentials.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two high-magnitude potential supplies having high-magnitude potential output ports providing said two different high-magnitude potentials, each high-magnitude potential output port coupled to a respective one of the at least two electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two electrodes are coupled to a common source of compressed gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two electrodes are coupled to respective ones of at least two sources of compressed gas.

6. The device of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of pneumatic atomizers, pneumatically-assisted hydraulic atomizers, high-volume, low pressure pneumatic (HVLP) atomizers and hydraulic atomizers.

7. The device of claim 1 for dispensing pulverulent coating material.