DE2361777A1 - HARDABLE MATERIALS AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR THIS - Google Patents

Description

Dr. Hans-Heinrich Willrath d - 62 Wiesbaden

Dr. Dieter Weber ·, ^ * ^ ²⁷

V / B Gustav-Freytag-Strasse SS

Dipl.-Phys. Klaus Seiffert · ^(04121) ™ ^w _iiwm

^{r J} Telegram address: WILLPATENT

Patent attorneys December 11, 1973

Thiokol Chemical Corporation Newportville Road, Bristol, Pennsylvania / USA

Curable materials and dispenser therefor

Priority; T5. ' December 1972 in USA, Serial-No, 315 710

The invention relates to the application or incorporation of curable materials which, after incorporation , will self-harden in situ. More particularly, this invention relates to elastomeric materials converted from multiple component material, preferably in the form of a unitary mass comprising a composition of individual parts which, after the parts are mixed together, are cured in situ in a substrate in industrial applications to seal the same Excellent examples of this type of material are found in the pending United States application dated May 4, 1972, Serial N © o 250 390 to

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William F. Overberger et al are described and generally in pipe, strip, tape, or cable strand-like shape of substantially round cross-section and which in a preferred embodiment an outer shell made of uncured, tough, curable polymer material, such as. B, M.ysulfide polymer

have, with suitable fillers and the like / around the Shell or outer skin to give a viscosity and strength and to enable them to pass through suitable extrusion die which is selected for this purpose and which is known to the person skilled in the art is common. Likewise, an inner shell or inner skin is often made from a similarly structured, uncured one Polymer used, and an inner core with a hardener, usually in a liquid paste or in sludge form is contained in it. This object is obtained in one piece by extrusion, as mentioned above Process known in plastics manufacturing technology and is described, for example, in U.S. Patent 3,440 and also in the magazine "Modern Plastics Encyclopedia "of 1963 at pages 744-748, and also in many other patents and publications. With the help of the appropriately designed mouthpiece system, the extruder can also be double-walled Extrude the cable or the string-like article described above and the inner core of the inner shell with the liquid hardener with the help of suitable

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Fill measuring devices and enclosed injection nozzles. When this article is extruded, it is wound onto a drum and sent to the seal installer, where it is prior to being converted into a curable system in a substrate such as the frame of an automotive windshield, or other structural applications in the aerospace, marine industry and the like can be stored for a long time. Such substrates, such as, for. B "Metal, GIa ₁ S, concrete, wood or the like" Usually when applying it is desirable to have a hardenable substance in order to seal such substrates which harden after application and can still be easily handled. The material shown above in Overberger application and described is the main embodiment, however, "the subject of this invention is the process for converting these storable curable composition _V which, as noted, is made up of individual parts, including polymer and curing agent to a composition comprising is curable in situ after it is broken up into fragments in a shear action and mixed together in a device also described and this device is also the subject of the invention,

The method of converting a curable composition having the described property and the apparatus according to FIG

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of the invention generally begin with the curable product to be transformed, which is, so to speak, from a storage drum received and continuously to an opening or a loading door in a shear, conveyor and Mixing device is performed, which will be described below, and dispensed through a nozzle which has a shape for producing the product in the desired shape and shape. The one to be described The device is advantageously light and therefore transportable, can be operated by hand, drivable by known drive means, e.g. B, by an air motor, an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or the like and can be operated by a single person. Thus, it can be seen that the device is more effective Way is usable in a motor vehicle production line, for example around windshields thereby to seal that one incorporates the curable product produced in the mounting frame of the disc.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and a device with which to seal the substrate a hardenable elastomer compound is built into this,

the composition being that of an elastomeric, multiple component ten-, composite or integrating / composition is obtained from individual parts. Another feature The invention is to provide a substrate sealant by a continuous process in which the The product to be converted is initially divided into fragments

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the fragments are conveyed to a mixing zone for thorough mixing together to form the hardenable mass, and then sprayed through a nozzle onto the substrate to be sealed and hardened in situ.

Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention result from the following Description in conjunction with the drawings. Show it;

1 shows a side view, partially shown in section, showing those executing the method Device as well as the device itself,

FIG. 2 shows, in cross section, the uncured product to be converted in enlarged form along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 _f

Figure 3 _e finished in cross section and also the figure 1 enlarged desedimentation the lines 3- 3 = the or converted into a substrate to be sealed stored or built there product,

FIG. ₉ 4 is an enlarged view of the mixing part of the device shown in FIGS

FIG _o 5, the end view of one of the mixing blades shown in Figure 4 .. ■

The following is a preferred embodiment of the invention In Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the device of the Erfin ™ is partially in section

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Application in the form of a sealant installation or dispensing device, a dispensing device 10 or dispenser is shown. This is essentially a compact, lightweight transportable power tool with a rotatable, longitudinally extending shaft 11, a power screw or blade 12 helical on the circumference, which is attached to the shaft or molded in a different white and is connected to a power source 13 for rotation, which is shown in the illustration of FIG. 1 as a compressed air motor. It is of course understood that other power means may be used also in this part of the invention, such as _o B _8, like an electric motor and a hydraulic motor.

The power device or compressed air motor 13 is connected via a line 14 to a compressed air source, not shown, and its flow through line 14 is controlled by a valve 15, which in turn can be actuated electrically by means of a trigger switch 16, as shown entirely pneumatically and / or by the installation person, which are the uses to be described Prior = direction, actuated Di © triggering device 16 receives its electrical energ-ls "won © iaer schematiseh through the electrical line 17 shown power source ,, the installation person is the Bedieaex over Vorxlelitraig 10 and holds it in a hurry like elß © pistol Eaittels äes pistol grip 18, while the ssd © ^ © HaM © ia @ sw

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Handle 19 grips the device according to the invention to be able to grip more firmly and therefore be able to control the operation; in a conventional manner, the dispensing device 10 - although not shown - e.g. B. by a ver = bundle line or be supported by a cross-connecting line, which is attached to a suitable point above and is attached to the device 10 in a suitable place on this.

The shaft 11 and its power screw 12 is surrounded by a cylinder liner 20 which is a closely fitting tubular sleeve in which the screw 12 and the shaft 11 rotate. A $ € ühröffnung 23 is built into the motor end of the cylinder liner, as shown and _{r is} preferably tangential cut _β proceed to a self-feeding action of the material is to be supplied which, as will be described now * At the opposite or discharge end 25 there is from the feed opening 23 of a nozzle assembly 22 which is attached there by a form fit, bolts, screws or other devices not shown and made so that it provides a desired cross-sectional shape for the sealant which is to be dispensed after mixing ", lifting the inlet of the nozzle assembly 22 and rotatable on the Shaft 11 attached is a group of

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Mixing blades 24, three of which are shown. An enlarged view of the blades 24 is in the figures 4 and 5 shown. The blades 24 can be pressed onto the shaft 11 or in one of the relevant locations Technique known way be wedged.

When operating the dispenser 10 according to the invention, which also represents a device for performing the method according to the invention, to which reference is made later is taken, a material such as. B. a tape, a strand, a cable 32 or the like, which in conventionally can be obtained from a drum, not shown, on which it is wound and which is installed in proximity to be used with the invention into the feed opening or loading opening 23 introduced. In the illustration of Figure 1, a portion of the tape or cable 32 begins straight into the interior of the Enter cylinder liner 2O and is straight through the rotating, helical blade 12-a sheared off, since it approaches the shear edge 26 in the cylinder drum 20 in which - depending on the rotational speed (preferably in the range of 5 to 500 rpm) of the shaft 11 and the feed speed of the elastomer product 32 - a fraction is sheared off as soon as the wing in question 12-a enters the cylinder liner 20 on the Shear edge 26 past in the opening or the loading

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gate 23 is running. The first and each subsequent fragment is after the cable or pipe 32 has been fed conveyed into the interior of the cylinder liner 20 by means of the screw 12 to the right end of the shaft 11, where the fragments enter a mixing zone and. are touched there by rotating mixing blades 24. Through this the cable or pipe 32 is comminuted and mixed to form a homogeneous, elastomeric mass 27, with one another It must be realized that the cable or tube 32 has a curable polymer and a curing agent for it having. The elastomer compound 27 is then pumped through the nozzle arrangement 22 and into a substrate (not shown) released to seal this after the local softening.

As noted above, basically the tape or tube 32, while preferably in the form shown is as an elastomeric curable polymer, such as. B. described in the above-mentioned Overberger US Application, which has an outer skin or housing 28 of a curable polymeric substance, any synthetic Polymer or natural rubber, which are known to self-harden at room temperature when they come into contact be brought with a necessary hardener. Examples of such substances or polymers are Polysulfide polymers, acrylic polymers and mixed polymers, butadiene polymers and mixed polymers, polyester, poly-

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epoxides, silicones, polymers, polyurethanes, ethylene-propylene copolymers and terpolymers, neoprene and natural rubber, as well as others familiar to the art of this invention Offer yourself professional.

In Fig. 2 is a preferred type of object in cross section, namely, a cable, tube or band 32 is shown having an outer housing or a shell 28, an inner housing or shell 29, and in addition to the polymer which forms the polymer base of the housings 28 and 29, Its composition can also include various fillers and special purpose additives used in sealing technology are known, e.g. B, carbon black, calcium carbonate, ultraviolet absorbers, fibers, plasticizers, adhesive additives and like that. Where a liquid polymer, e.g. B. a liquid polysulfide polymer forms the base of the housing, can Enclosures also contain sufficient amounts of fillers or other additives for a specific purpose to make one To produce essentially solid, semi-solid or filler-like mass in such a way that it can be extruded, an extremely frequently used method of forming housings 28 and 29. Referring to FIG. 2, item 32 is a three-component, d. H. Three-part pack in strip or cable form with an inner housing 29, which also consists of the same Materials is formed or similar materials such as housing 28 and in a similar manner, preferably simultaneously is extruded with the outer housing shell 28. as well

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a core 30 hardening agent, usually of a liquid or paste-like consistency, is preferably used at the same time formed by suitable injection means, not shown. The finished article 32 is thus a In-package curable polymer composition of three individual components that can be stored over long periods of time and over large temperature ranges, without being subject to adverse effects, such as B. a demonstrated self-curing, since all the Components or until they are broken up into fragments and finally mixed in, since the invention no hardening or only surface hardening 'will occur according to procedures.

As soon as the cable or pipe 32 is therefore inserted into the opening in the interior of the cylinder liner arrangement 20 of the dispensing device 10 and divided into fragments by the shearing action of the blade blades 12-a and the shear edge 26, these fragments are pumped to the ilish zone and conveyed and there intimately mixed by mixer 24 in continuous operation. A relatively inexpensive, quickly installed, in situ curable polymer sealant is shown and provided for the sealing and adhesive technology. The homogeneous mass 27 is pressed through the nozzle 22 in a mold, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3

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as a rounded, elastic and malleable strip 31 _f which is placed in a substrate, for. B, the channel of a windshield in a motor vehicle and hardened in situ therein in order to seal the same around its entire circumference. Of course, it will be understood that other substrates are equally effectively sealed by the use of this invention, e.g. B. Seals of building windows or other parts known to those skilled in the art.

It should also be understood that the "shape" of the material or object used in the present integral, continuously operated Sther, conveyor and mixed dispensing device 10 lightweight construction for easy transport, a two-component or a multi-component system in which the outer housing 28 is extruded alone and directly supports the hardener core 30, the inner housing 29 is omitted. Certain sealing problems will arise solved very effectively by such a system. Other polymer systems can also be used; z. B. can a single, rigid tape or strip are fed into the feed opening 28, and the ilary agent can therefore be entered there separately at the same time in order to be conveyed to the mixing zone, mixed and similar Manner to be dispensed for arrangement in a substrate for sealing purposes. Furthermore, solid and / or liquid

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Materials suitable modification of the loading opening 23 are used in order to adapt this opening to the reception of such materials; Furthermore, it can also be that even powdery resins and the like - with hardening agents supplied separately or being integct with this - are conveyed and released in the form shown in FIG. 1 as in situ hardenable sealing means 31. If the resin or polymer system is one that requires heating, it will be understood that, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, suitable heating means can readily be added to the dispenser 10 to accommodate such systems, and these are envisaged.

According to the invention, it is a method for installing a curable object or sealant in situ, which before installation is a polymeric system of at least one single, uncured polymer composition and an additional single component of hardening agent for this, these components opening 23 are fed to the dispensing device 10 in any manner known to those skilled in the art, are broken up there into fragments, preferably near the entrance, and the fragments or fragments are fed to a mixing zone and then quite a bit

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mixed and ultimately dispensed into a substrate for sealing therein. It will thus be seen that the process features of the invention are the use of a novel combination of a seal dispenser, with the steps of feeding such elastomer or polymer systems as described above to a shearing device, shearing the same to break them into fragments which are later closed a group of blades in a mixing zone, this polymer system then being converted into a curable sealant to be placed in a substrate and cured in situ to seal the substrate.

A unique contribution and improvement of the sealing technology and the dispensing of sealants by an apparatus and a method for applying or installing a one-pack, uncured, single or multi-component polymer composition of curable polymers and at least one curing agent for converting the same to one has thus been described as the invention hardened or hardenable sealant and dispensing the same into a substrate for sealing purposes, after which the hardenable mass, which is thus obtained by the conversion process described, seals and hardens in situ.

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Claims (4)

Claims A method of installing an in situ curable article which is elongated prior to installation and has at least one skin or housing of an uncured polymer composition and containing a core of hardening agent, characterized by continuously feeding the elongated article to a shear conveyor and mixing device, shearing the object into fractions, conveying the sheared object to a mixing zone, intimately mixing the sheared object into a hardenable, homogeneous mass, dispensing the mass onto a substrate in a form suitable for sealing the substrate, and enabling of the hardening of the mass in it " 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has a rotating shaft, a circumferential, longitudinally extending screw blade on v / eist, which is fixedly arranged on the shaft for ¹ shearing of the pipe in fractions and for conveying the fractions to the Mixing zone, and that at least one axially aligned mixing blade is provided for mixing the curable polymer and the curing agent. 409825/0874 3. A method of converting a curable, elongated, multicomponent elastomeric article having at least one single component of an uncured polymer composition and at least one single additional component of a curing agent therefor to an in situ cured article and incorporating the article into a substrate for sealing the same, characterized by the Loading of the object in one end of a shearing, conveying and mixing device, shearing the object into fractions, conveying the fractions of the object to a mixing zone / aer device, intimate mixing of the fractions to form a hardenable homogeneous mass, dispensing of the mass onto a substrate in a mold suitable for sealing the substrate and allowing the composition to cure in the substrate. 4. Dispensing device for the installation of an in situ curable, elastomer composition for the sealing of substrates in industrial applications, the composition comprising, prior to installation, at least one single, uncured polymeric composition and at least one single hardening element therefor, characterized by an elongated housing (20) having an input port (23) in one end for receiving the curable elastomeric composition and a dispensing end (22) / which 409825 / 087A is arranged opposite, an elongated shaft (11) in the housing (20), which is arranged and designed for rotation therein, a circumferentially and longitudinally on the shaft (11) extending screw (12), which for rotation with the Shaft is suitable, with one end of the screw (12a) in communication with the input opening (23) in the housing (20) and for receiving the curable composition, breaking it into fragments and conveying the fragments to the discharge end 122) of the housing 120) is suitable, at least one mixing blade (24) on the shaft (1Dj- which is suitable for rotation with this and is arranged in alignment with the end of the screw (11) and next to this opposite the input opening (23) for mixing the broken composition , a dispensing nozzle (31) on the housing (20) at the dispensing end (22) of the housing suitable for receiving the mixed composition and dispensing it onto a substrate, curing in situ and sealing d it substrate, and means for rotating the shaft U1). 409825/0 87 4 Leeffeite