U.S. patent number 3,633,795 [Application Number 04/885,445] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-11 for foam dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Insta-Foam Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to William R. Brooks.
United States Patent |
3,633,795 |
Brooks |
January 11, 1972 |
FOAM DISPENSER
Abstract
Dispenser apparatus for multicomponent products comprises a pair
of dispensing valves and a manually graspable support bracket. A
valve-supporting assembly, mounted on the bracket and substantially
defining the posterior portion of the apparatus, attaches the
valves to the bracket and includes a pair of rearwardly extending
tubular inlet members for connection to a remotely located product
supply container. The apparatus further includes a dispensing
nozzle unit spaced apart from the dispensing valves, and tubing
connecting each of the dispensing valves with the latter unit. A
linkable plate connects a manual trigger to each of the dispensing
valves for actuation of the valves in unison.
Inventors: |
Brooks; William R. (Elmhurst,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Insta-Foam Products, Inc.
(Addison, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25386922 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/885,445 |
Filed: |
December 16, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/134; 222/135;
222/529; 239/414; 239/527; 222/402.22; 239/304; 239/432 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
7/1209 (20130101); B05B 7/0018 (20130101); B05B
9/04 (20130101); B29B 7/7438 (20130101); B05B
7/24 (20130101); B05B 7/0408 (20130101); B65D
83/207 (20130101); B05B 7/2497 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
7/02 (20060101); B05B 7/12 (20060101); B29B
7/74 (20060101); B29B 7/00 (20060101); B05b
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/135,134,529,323,402.21,402.22
;239/414,303,304,432,488,527 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Handren; Frederick R.
Claims
The drawings and the foregoing descriptions are not intended to
represent the only form of the invention in regard to the details
of its construction and manner of operation. Changes in form and in
the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of
equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or
render expedient; and although specific terms have been employed,
they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not
for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being
delineated in the following claims.
1. Dispenser apparatus comprising: manually graspable bracket
means; first and second dispensing valve means, each including a
tiltable valve element; a valve-supporting assembly attaching said
dispensing valve means to said bracket means and including a first
pair of tubular connector means adapted for cooperating in
establishing a fluid pathway between said dispensing valve means
and remote supply container means, said valve-supporting assembly
being mounted on said bracket means in braced, fixed position;
mixing and dispensing nozzle means spaced apart from said
dispensing valve means and including a second pair of tubular
connector means; tubing means cooperating in joining said second
pair of tubular connector means with said dispensing valve means;
manual trigger means; and fixture means rigidly interconnecting
said valve elements for actuation thereof in unison and including
mounting site means for said trigger means whereby retraction of
said trigger means tiltably actuates said dispensing valve
means.
2. Dispenser apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bracket
means includes a generally forwardly extending tongue element, said
tongue element substantially underlying said nozzle means and
supporting said nozzle means when said nozzle means is
substantially vertically displaced from a resting position to a
depressed operating position.
3. Dispenser apparatus according to claim 1 and which further
includes jacket fittings, each of said jacket fittings respectively
telescoped about one of said valve elements.
4. Dispenser apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said
tiltable valve elements has an externally threaded anterior portion
and wherein each of said jacket fittings has an internally threaded
posterior portion, whereby to facilitate engagement of each of said
posterior portions respectively about one of said anterior
portions.
5. Dispenser apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mixing and
dispensing nozzle means includes a tubular housing portion; outlet
cap means located at the anterior terminus of said housing portion;
and a static mixing element located substantially within said
housing portion.
Description
This invention relates generally to apparatus for dispensing
multicomponent products and more particularly to portable, reusable
apparatus for delivering large quantities of such products.
Although portable dispensers for multicomponent products, such as
urethane foams, have been heretofore employed, such devices display
several undesirable characteristics. Chief among these is the
necessity for discarding the device once initial use of it has been
completed notwithstanding the fact that a substantial portion of
the product may yet remain. Even in those devices which are not
subject to this specific limitation, a disadvantage often resides
in the necessity for replacement of substantial portions of the
device, thereby making subsequent use expensive. Furthermore, an
additional disadvantage of many portable apparatus of this type is
their inability to dispense large quantities of the product, an
obvious handicap when large jobs, such as wall or panel insulation,
are contemplated. Additionally, many portable dispensers on the
market today generally require two-handed control for effective
precision guidance of the device whenever it becomes necessary to
dispense the product in a somewhat restricted and confining
area.
Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide
a new and improved portable apparatus for dispensing multicomponent
products.
An important object of the invention is to provide a portable
dispenser apparatus capable of delivering large quantities of a
multicomponent product.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable dispenser
apparatus capable of effectively controlled one-hand operation for
precise distribution of the product into relatively inaccessible
and confining target areas.
Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a
portable dispenser apparatus capable of reutilization.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
portable dispenser apparatus which requires few and relatively
inexpensive replacement parts when reuse is desired.
These and other objects and features of the invention will become
more apparent from a consideration of the following
descriptions.
In order that the principles of the invention may be readily
understood, a single embodiment thereof, applied to the dispensing
and distributing of urethane foam products but to which the
application is not to be restricted, is shown in the accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an actuated portable dispenser
apparatus in accord with the invention, shown connected, by lengths
of tubing, to a product supply container enclosing a pair of
pressurized vessels (illustrated in broken outline) charged with
the respective component reactants of the product, and shown used
in a one-hand operation for insulating a wall;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the portable dispenser
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of a linkage plate,
removed from the dispenser apparatus of FIG. 2, showing the upper
portion of the manual trigger connected therewith;
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, central sectional view taken
substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and showing, in side
elevation, the portable dispenser apparatus, manual control thereof
being exercised as suggested in broken outline;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, sectional view taken substantially along the
line 5--5 of FIG. 2 to show the construction of the dispensing
valve;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view similar to a
portion of FIG. 5 but illustrating a dispensing valve which has
been tiltably actuated; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, central sectional view taken substantially
along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2 to show the construction of the
dispensing nozzle.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 2, a
portable dispenser apparatus constructed in compliance with the
instant invention and designated generally by the reference
character 10 comprises a manually graspable support bracket 12, a
pair of dispensing valves 14, a valve-supporting assembly 16 and a
dispensing nozzle 18. The valve-supporting assembly 16 attaches the
dispensing valves 14 to the bracket 12 and includes a housing
portion 20 and a pair of rearwardly extending threaded tubular
connector inlet members 22 adapted for threaded engagement with
respective lengths of tubing 24. As will be described more fully
hereinafter, one of the lengths of tubing 24 may be connected, as
indicated in FIG. 1, to a pressurized vessel 27 and the other to a
pressurized vessel 29, each vessel containing one of the basic
reactants of the multicomponent product to be discharged through
the aperture 120 of the dispensing nozzle 18 (FIG. 2). The housing
portion 20 further includes a pair of substantially cylindrical
valve-receiving bodies 26 for retaining the dispensing valves 14 in
fixed, spaced relation, the valve-receiving bodies 26 being joined
rearwardly therebetween by a narrow integral web 40 (FIG. 4), the
upper and lower surfaces 46 and 48 thereof having concavity in the
transverse plane. The web 40 terminates downwardly in a vertical
wall 42 (FIG. 4) and upwardly in a vertical wall 44, the vertical
walls 42 and 44, in turn, extending forwardly and laterally to
provide a circumferential collar 30 surrounding the anterior
portions of the valve-receiving bodies 26. The collar 30, the
vertical walls 42 and 44 and the most forward portion of the web 40
cooperate to provide the base portion 32 of a substantially
flattened, forwardly extending, frustoconically tapered projection
34 positioned intermediate the bodies 26.
Turning to a consideration of FIG. 4 and continuing with secondary
reference to FIG. 2, an anterior rod element 36 of the handle
portion 38 of the bracket 12 extends generally upwardly to
perforate the upper and lower surfaces 46 and 48 of the web 40 for
sealed securement therewith. A substantially horizontally disposed
lower rod element 37 connects the rod element 36 and a posterior
rod element 50 extending generally upwardly and behind the
valve-supporting assembly 16, the rod element 50 residing
intermediate the valve-receiving bodies 26. A substantially
horizontally disposed upper rod element 52 perforates the vertical
wall 44 and the upper portion of the projection 34 whereby to
connect the posterior rod element 50 and a generally forwardly
extending tongue element 54 adapted for support of the nozzle 18
when the latter is vertically displaced during tiltable actuation
of the dispensing valves 14 by manual depression of a trigger 56
operably connected with the valves 14.
Turning to a consideration of FIG. 3 and continuing with reference
to FIG. 2, a substantially flat plate 58, secured with respect to
the dispensing valves 14 links the trigger 56 and the valves 14
whereby to ensure actuation of the valves 14 in unison when the
trigger 56 is depressed. The trigger 56 is comprised of a pair of
upwardly extending, parallel rod elements 60 which extend forwardly
at the lowest portion thereof to be joined by a bight portion 62
integral therewith. The forwardly extending portion 64 provides a
cushion for the hand when the fingers are wrapped about the trigger
56 (FIG. 4). The upper portion 66 of each rod element 60 extends
rearwardly and perforates the plate 58, the trigger 56 being
secured with respect to the plate 58 by a tang or flared portion 68
of each rod element 60 engaging the rearwardly facing surface of
the plate 58 (FIG. 3). The plate 58 is provided with two holes 70
adapted for fitted assembly about the gasket or jacket portions 72
of the dispensing valves 14, the centers of the holes 70 being
spaced one from the other a distance equal to the distance between
the valves 14. The gasket portion 72 of each valve 14 is provided
anteriorly with a circumferential flange 74 (FIG. 5) integral
therewith, the flange 74 defining the posterior limit for the
placement of the plate 58 relative to the gasket portions 72. As
will be described more fully hereinafter, the gasket portion 72 of
each of the dispensing valves 16 terminates anteriorly in a stem 78
(FIG. 5). A length of tubing 76 telescopes about each stem 78 and
about a corresponding tubular connector member 80 (FIG. 7)
extending rearwardly from the dispensing nozzle 18 whereby to
connect the dispensing valves 14 and the dispensing nozzle 18.
With reference to FIG. 1, the reactant-containing vessels 27 and 29
are enclosed by a product supply container 33 having a conveniently
disposed handle portion thereon whereby to facilitate
transportation of the unreacted ingredients of the multicomponent
product to be discharged. Two pressure vessels are employed with
respect to the apparatus 10; because the product to be dispensed,
for purposes of the illustrative embodiment, is a reacting urethane
foam which is generally comprised of two basic reactants, to wit:
an isocyanate resin and a polyester or polyether polyol which
serves as a suitable source of reactable hydroxyl sites. The
isocyanate component, for example, may be charged into vessel 27
together with a suitable quantity of a propellant gas. Companion
vessel 29 may be charged with the other component, together with a
suitable catalyst material and with a mixture comprising a
propellant gas and a frothing or foaming agent. To ensure that
stoichiometrically suitable volumes of the reactants will be
released from the two vessels when the dispensing valves 14 are
tiltably actuated, the propellant is charged into each of the
vessels 27 and 29 to a correspondingly suitable vapor pressure.
As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the tubing portions 24 connecting the
pressurized vessels 27 and 29 and the dispensing valves 14 are of
considerably greater length than are the tubing portions 76
connecting the dispensing valves 14 and the dispensing nozzle 18.
Inasmuch as the flexibility of tubing is related to its length,
then, as will be appreciated, the relatively great length of the
tubing portions 24 permits of an enhanced maneuverability of the
dispenser apparatus 10 heretofore not realized in prior portable
dispenser apparatus having its reactant-containing vessels secured
with respect to the dispenser apparatus proper. As will be readily
appreciated, the volume of product to be dispensed will necessarily
vary according to the demands of a particular situation. Because
the reactant-containing vessels are not fixed with respect to the
instant dispenser apparatus 10, vessels, capable of delivering from
10 cubic feet to 50 cubic feet of urethane foam, may be selected
according to the requirements of a particular job. This most
certainly is not the case when a prior portable dispenser
apparatus, of the type discussed hereinabove, is employed. Such
apparatus requires relatively small pressurized vessels mounted
with respect thereto, lest the portability feature otherwise be
destroyed. Additionally, one may prefer to use the instant
dispenser apparatus 10 together with vessels containing large
quantities of the basic reactants for a variety of different
applications. The instant dispenser apparatus 10, having its
reactant-containing vessels positioned apart therefrom, is capable
of delivering as much as 130 times the volume of product
deliverable by the prior portable dispenser apparatus of the
aforementioned type. This, of course, promotes economy of usage
inasmuch as the vessels themselves do not have to be replaced
nearly so often as otherwise would be the case were the prior
apparatus to be employed. Furthermore, the prior apparatus of the
type hereinabove discussed generally has its reactant-containing
vessels closed with a foam-type aerosol valve, tubing of relatively
moderate length being used to connect the valve and the dispensing
nozzle thereof. Thus, in a prior portable dispenser apparatus
having its reactant-containing vessels secured with respect to the
apparatus proper, the valves of the vessels are opened to permit
the basic reactants contained therein to course through the tubing
and into the dispensing nozzle. When a particular dispensing
operation has been completed, subsequent utilization of the
contents remaining in the vessels may be accomplished only upon
replacement of the entire tubing and of the dispenser nozzle. This
is so because of the tendency of the isocyanate component to react
with hydroxyl groups of the moisture from the atmosphere. With
respect to the instant invention, inasmuch as the tubing portions
24 are located rearwardly of the dispensing valves 14, it is clear,
therefore, that the tubing portions 24 and the reactant components
released therethrough are never exposed directly to the atmosphere.
Hence, subsequent utilization of the contents remaining in the
pressurized vessels 27 and 29 merely requires replacement of the
relatively short lengths of tubing portions 76 and of the
dispensing nozzle 18.
With reference to FIG. 5, the dispensing valve 14, shown in a
resting position, includes a rigid valve element 81. A recessed
panel 82 integral with the collar 30 is centrally perforated to
receive an elastomeric sealing body 84 having a central bore which
resiliently receives the valve element 81. The valve element 81 is
tubular and is radially apertured posteriorly with dispensing ports
86 which are enveloped by the sealing body 84 and which pass the
contents of the pressurized vessels whenever the valve element 81
is actuated in a manner which will be described more fully
hereinafter with respect to FIG. 6. The valve element is closed
posteriorly with a flat panel element 88 which squarely abuts the
radially outwardly extending flange portion 90 of the sealing body
84 when the valve element 81 is in a resting or nondispensing
position. The valve element 81 has an externally threaded anterior
portion 92 which is received by a corresponding internally threaded
posterior portion of the jacket or gasket portion 72 of the
dispensing valve 14.
The valve-receiving body 26 opens rearwardly and is received by a
fitment 94 comprising, at the posterior portion thereof, the
rearwardly extending threaded tubular connector inlet member 22.
Inlet member 22 extends forwardly for integral junction with hollow
fitment element 96 which is received in threaded engagement by the
posterior portion of the valve-receiving body 26. The anterior tip
of the hollow fitment element 96 extends radially inwardly to form
a shoulder 98 which, when the dispensing valves 14 are actuated,
retains in fixed position a flared lip member 100 radially
outwardly extending from the flange portion 90. The hollow fitment
element 96 includes an internal base portion 102 having upper and
lower lugs 104 extending forwardly therefrom and residing in
spaced-apart relation. The function of the lugs 104 and of the
shoulder 98 will be discussed more fully hereinafter in connection
with FIG. 6.
The stem 78 of the gasket portion 72 has a substantially
smooth-walled external surface and an external annular collar
portion 106 integral with the surface thereof, the annular collar
portion 106 being located substantially adjacent the anterior tip
of the stem 78. A frustoconical tip portion 108 integral with the
annular collar portion 106 and located at the anterior terminus of
the stem 78 serves to releasably telescope into the tubing portion
76, thereby promoting facile disengagement of the dispensing nozzle
18 from the dispensing valves 14 whenever replacement of the
dispensing nozzle 18 and of the tubing portion 76, for subsequent
utilization of the contents of the pressurized vessels, as
discussed hereinabove, is desired. The tubular connector member 80
(FIG. 7), however, has external ribbed portions 110 integral with
the surface thereof for embedded engagement with the tubing portion
76.
Turning to a consideration of FIG. 6, the valve element 81 is shown
in a tilted, operating or dispensing position. When the trigger 56
is manually depressed, the plate 58 surrounding the gasket portion
or jacket 72 forces each valve element 81 downwardly. The flared
lip member 100 radially outwardly extending from the flange portion
90 of the elastomeric sealing body 84 abuts the shoulder 98 of the
fork fitment member 94 whereby to hold the flange portion 90 in a
relatively fixed position during the dispensing operation. That
portion of the valve element 81 within the cavity of the
valve-receiving body 26 arches upwardly to deform the flange
portion 90 whereby to expose the dispensing port 86 for receipt of
the contents of the pressurized vessel. The limit of the arc
described by the valve element 81 in the cavity of the
valve-receiving body 26 is defined at the point of engagement of
the lug 104 by the panel element 88. When a particular insulation
or other task has been completed, operation of the dispensing
apparatus 10 may be ceased by releasing the trigger 56, thereby
closing the ports 86 with respect to the contents of the
pressurized vessels.
With reference to FIG. 7, the dispensing nozzle 18 comprises a
tubular housing portion 112, a dispensing or outlet cap portion 114
located at the anterior terminus of the housing portion 112, a
receiving or inlet cap 116 located at the posterior terminus of the
housing portion 112, and a static mixing element 118 located
substantially within the housing portion 112. Inasmuch as it is
contemplated that the dispensing nozzle be discarded once a
particular use of the apparatus has been completed, it is
desirable, therefore, to fabricate the housing portion 112 as an
inexpensive resinous plastic part. The outlet cap portion 114
includes a cap element 119 integral with the housing portion 112,
the cap element 119 having a centrally located, diametrically
extending discharge aperture 120 therethrough for purposes of
dispensing the foaming product.
Instead of the diametrically extending aperture 120, the cap may be
preferably perforated with one or more substantially round
discharge apertures where streams of urethane foam, rather than a
fan discharge, are desirable.
The static mixing element 118 is fabricated from a chemically inert
resin such as polypropylene or a polyethylene and structurally
comprises a solid central stem portion 122 and a spiraled fin 124
cooperating with the stem 122 to define a radially outwardly
opening, spiral mixing groove 126. The posterior portion of the
static mixing element 118 is provided with a base 126 having a
conical premix chamber 128 contained therein. A port 130 opens from
the premix chamber 128 into the spiral mixing groove 126. The
static mixing element 118 includes a radially outwardly extending
flange 132 at the posterior terminus thereof, the flange 132
abutting the edge of one end of the housing portion 112 whereby to
fix the position of the static mixing element 118 relative to the
housing portion 112. Inasmuch as the static mixing element 118 is
shorter in length than is the housing portion 112, the location of
the static mixing element 118 with respect to the housing portion
112 creates an expansion chamber 134 between the end of the central
stem portion 122 and the outlet cap 114. The expansion chamber 134
promotes foaming of the urethane product formed when the isocyanate
component and the polyol component are mixed in the premix chamber
128.
The receiving or inlet cap 116 includes a cup portion 136 which
telescopes about the posterior portion of the housing portion 112
and about the rearwardly extending portion of the static mixing
element 118 residing in abutting relation with the housing portion
112. The cup portion 136 includes a back plate element 138 having
apertures therein, the apertures opening rearwardly into the
tubular connector members 80 and opening anteriorly into the premix
chamber 128.
Thus, manual depression of the trigger 56 tilts the valve elements
81 of the dispensing valves 14, thereby opening the dispensing
ports 86 to permit passage of material from the pressurized vessels
27 and 29 through the tubing portions 24 and into the ports 86, the
material thence coursing through the tubing portions 76 and into
the premix chamber 128 of the dispensing nozzle 18. The isocyanate
component and the polyol component begin to react in the premix
chamber 128 whereupon to pass through the port 130 and into the
static mixing element 118. The resultant urethane product is then
caused to foam in the expansion chamber 134 and is subsequently
passed through the aperture 120 of the outlet cap 114. As
illustrated in broken outline in FIG. 4, manual depression of the
trigger 56 not only tiltably actuates the valve elements 81 but
also causes the dispensing nozzle 18 connected therewith to be
vertically displaced from a resting or nondispensing position to an
operating or dispensing position. The tongue element 54, underlying
the dispensing nozzle 18 and positioned intermediate the tubing
portions 76, serves to support the nozzle 18 when it is downwardly
vertically displaced whereby to define the limit of its downward
displacement and further to maintain the nozzle 18 in substantially
longitudinal alignment with respect to the remainder of the
dispenser apparatus 10 for effectively controlled one-hand
operation thereof.
When it is desired to cease operation of the dispenser apparatus
10, one merely has to release the manual trigger 56. The resiliency
of the flange portions 90 of the sealing bodies 84 enclose about
the dispensing ports 86 and urge the valve elements 81 into their
normal nondispensing position, thereby terminating flow. When it is
desired to restart the apparatus, only the relatively short tubing
portions 76 and the dispensing nozzle 18 need be replaced, a
considerably less expensive venture than that encountered when it
is desired to restart prior portable dispenser apparatus having its
reactant-containing vessels secured with respect to the dispenser
apparatus proper, the expense incurred for continual replacement of
substantially longer tubing portions and of the dispensing nozzle
thereof being more pronounced.
* * * * *