GB2117057A

GB2117057A - Dispensing viscous material from flexible walled tubes

Info

Publication number: GB2117057A
Application number: GB08208154A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Kennett; Alan Victor Mansfield
Original assignee: Polycell Products Ltd
Current assignee: Polycell Products Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-19
Filing date: 1982-03-19
Publication date: 1983-10-05

Abstract

Viscous material in a tube 33 is dispensed by inserting the tube into a rigid walled, longitudinal housing 35 with the nozzle 36 of the tube projecting through an aperture at one end of the housing, and applying pressure to the spade end of the tube longitudinally of the housing to effect axial compression of the tube within the housing thereby dispensing the material from the tube. Apparatus for carrying out the process comprising a housing for the tube to be dispensed and a pressure applying member which may be combined to form a dispensing gun. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing viscous material from flexible walled tubes This invention relates to a process and apparatus for dispensing viscous material from flexible walled tubes.

It is known to provide a dispensing gun for dispensing viscous material from rigid walled cartridges. However, material in a flexible walled tube is normally dispensed by manually squeezing the tube. Alternatively the tube may be wound up at its spade end by an appropriate tool thereby causing the material to be dispensed through the tube nozzle. Each method of dispensing material from a flexible walled tube can be messy and difficult to produce an even flow.

According to the invention there is provided a process for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube comprising inserting the tube into a rigid walled, longitudinal housing with the nozzle of the tube projecting through an aperture at one end of the housing, and applying pressure to the spade end of the tube longitudinally of the housing to effect axial compression of the tube within the housing thereby dispensing the material from the tube.

The invention also provides apparatus for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube comprising a rigid walled, longitudinal housing for the tube, one end of the housing having an aperture through which the nozzle of the tube projects, and a member for applying pressure to the spade end of the tube longitudinally of the housing whereby axial compression of the tube within the housing causes the material to be dispensed therefrom.

Preferably the housing is a cylinder and the pressure member is a piston-like member for reciprocal action therein.

In one embodiment of the invention the pistonlike member is manually operable.

In another embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises a dispensing gun having a barrel portion providing the housing for the tube and a trigger operated piston-like member for insertion through the end of the housing adjacent the spade end of the tube for applying said pressure thereto. In this case the barrel portion of the gun may comprise a fixed frame and a laterally removable tubular housing, the frame combining with the housing to hold the nozzle end of the tube being dispensed stationary within the housing.

The material to be dispensed may be a sealing or filling compound.

By way of example, specific embodiments in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of apparatus for dispensing viscous material from a tube; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with a tube therein partially compressed; Figure 3 is an exploded v7ew of a dispensing gun; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the gun of Figure 3.

Each embodiment is concerned with apparatus for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube. The material may be any material which can be dispensed from a tube, but the invention is especially advantageous for use with tubes containing sealing compounds for filling gaps around window frames, baths, sinks etc.

Alternatively, the tube may contain a filler for cracks or crevices in surfaces, or an adhesive material.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a tube 10 from which viscous material is to be dispensed is inserted into a cylindrical housing 11. One end of the housing is partially closed by a cover 1 2 which is conveniently a tight fit on the housing, as shown, but may be held thereon by a screw thread or adhesive. The end cover 12 has an aperture 13 through which the tube nozzle 1 4 projects. The other end of the housing 11 is open for reception of a piston-like pressure member 1 5 which has a handle 16 for manually pressing the member 1 5 against the spade end of the tube to compress it axially within the housing and thereby dispense the material from the tube when its cap 1 7 is removed.The user will tend to employ one hand to compress the tube, and the other to hold the housing 11 adjacent the end cover 12 and thereby prevent the tube being ejected from the housing in the event of the cover not being positively fixed thereon.

The embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is a dispensing gun having a barrel portion 20, pressure member 21 and trigger mechanism 22 for moving the pressure member forwardly through the barrel portion.

The pressure member 21 comprises a disc 23 on the end of a bar 24 which is moved forward in steps by a lever 25 mounted for pivotal movement into frictional engagement with the bar against the action of a spring 26. The bar 24 passes through the aperture in the lever 25 and the lever is biassed by the spring 26 into a position normal to the bar which allows the bar to slide longitudinally relative to the bar. However, operation of the trigger 27 will cause a transverse member 28 attached to the trigger to pivot the lever 25 to a position at an angle to the bar and then forwardly, carrying the pressure member therewith. Release of the trigger 27 allows the spring 26 to return the lever 25 relative to the pressure member.

Withdrawal of the pressure member 21 is controlled by a catch 29 and spring 30 which is operable in a similar manner to the lever 25, the catch 29 being movable between an angled, holding position (as shown) and a position normal to the bar 24 when the bar is released.

The barrel portion 20 comprises an open frame 31 having an apertured end wall 32 which precludes longitudinal movement of a flexible walled tube 33 when fitted into the gun but allows the nozzle 34 of the tube to project from the barrel portion. Within the frame 31 is mounted a housing 35 for holding the tube 33. In this embodiment the housing 35 is a length of rigid walled tube which is open at both ends. The leading end of the tubular housing rests against the end wall 32 of the frame 31 and the other end is held in position by engagement of the disc 23 of the pressure member therein. When the pressure member is fully withdrawn, the disc 23 is clear of the housing and the housing can be inserted or removed from the frame laterally of the gun.

In operation, the housing 35 fitted with a full tube 33 is inserted laterally into the frame 31, and the trigger 27 operated to move the disc 23 of the pressure member 21 into the adjacent end of the housing to engage the spade end of the tube. The tube 33 is thereby held firmly within the barrel portion 20 of the gun. The cap 36 on the nozzle 34 is then removed and the trigger operated in steps to discharge material from the tube 33, the tube being progressively compressed towards the leading end of the barrel portion. When the tube 33 is empty, the catch 29 is released and the pressure member withdrawn. The enclosure 35 is then removed and fitted with a new full tube.

The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiments described above. For example, the housing need not be circular in cross-section although this is preferred.

It is also advantageous, but not essential, that the initial diameter of the tube is only slightly smaller than the internal diameter, or an appropriate internal dimension, of the housing.

Thereby, during the process of emptying the tube, the tube will tend to expand into frictional engagement with the internal surface of the housing and at least assist to hold the tube substantially rigid in relation to the housing.

Moreover, in the case of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the frictional engagement will act at least to assist the retention of the tube within the housing. This means that the interrelationship between the external and internal dimensions of the tube 10 and the housing 11 respectively may be selected to allow the end cover 12 to be omitted, the tube being retained in the housing, at least initially, by the user. In these circumstances the housing 11 may be a simple length of rigid walled tube fully open at both ends, which is the same as the housing 35 in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4.

Claims

1. A process for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube comprising inserting the tube into a rigid walled, longitudinal housing with the nozzle of the tube projecting through an aperture at one end of the housing, and applying pressure to the spade end.of the tube longitudinally of the housing to effect axial compression of the tube within the housing thereby dispensing the material from the tube.

2. Apparatus for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube comprising a rigid walled, longitudinal housing for the tube, one end of the housing having an aperture through which the nozzle of the tube projects, and a member for applying pressure to the spade end of the tube longitudinally of the housing whereby axial compression of the tube within the housing causes the material to be dispensed therefrom.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the housing is a cylinder and the pressure member is a piston-like member for reciprocal action therein.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the piston-like member is manually operable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, comprising a dispensing gun having a barrel portion providing the housing for the tube and a trigger operated piston-like member for insertion through the end of the housing adjacent the spade end of the tube for applying said pressure thereto.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the barrel portion of the gun comprises a fixed frame and a laterally removable tubular housing, the frame combining with the housing to hold the nozzle end of the tube being dispensed stationary within the housing.

7. A process as claimed in Claim 1, for dispensing a sealing of filling compound from a flexible walled tube.

8. A proess for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. Apparatus for dispensing viscous material from a flexible walled tube substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.