WO1988000498A1

WO1988000498A1 - Improvements in or relating to a dispensing arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1988000498A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000481
Authority: WO
Inventors: Quentin Sholto Grant
Original assignee: Advanced Adhesives Limited
Priority date: 1986-07-11
Filing date: 1987-07-08
Publication date: 1988-01-28
Also published as: AU7646887A

Abstract

A dispensing nozzle for use in dispensing flowable components of a reactive system defines a separate respective dispensing passage for each component of the system, each passage having an opening adjacent a tip of the nozzle, the nozzle being configured such that at least one said opening is spaced axially from a point at which components being dispensed through the passages come into contact with each other. This off-set arrangement of at least one opening from the point at which components come into contact with each other ensures that when the flow of the component ceases there is a separation between the components so that no further reaction takes place. This prevents the end of the nozzle from becoming clogged by an excess of the components which has set hard at the end of the nozzle.

Description

Description of Invention

"Improvements in or relating to a dispensing arrangement"

THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to a dispensi arrangement for the simultaneous dispensing of flowable substances, such the two components of a two-part chemically reactive system.

Various products, such as some adhesives, are supplied to the user the form of two flowable substances which are mixed together at the poi of use, so as to react and form the desired end product, such as a settab adhesive. In the present document such an arrangement will be referred as a reactive system.

It is known to supply the two components of such a reactive system separate containers and to extrude quantities of the two components fro their respective containers onto a mixing surface before mixing togeth and subsequent use of the mixture. This is, however, a clumsy process and is difficult always to dispense the substances in the required proportions.

It is also known to provide the two components in a single contain in separated compartments and to extrude the components together fro the single container through a common dispensing nozzle in which the tw components mix and from which the two components are extruded as mixture. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the components reac in the nozzle to form the end product, so that the nozzle is not re-usabl The reaction between the components also continues back into th respective compartments of the container and thereby renders th remaining supply of the components useless since they will have set har within the container.

It has also been proposed to use a single container for the tw components, but to use a dispensing nozzle having two separated passage -2-

through which the two components pass in isolation, so that they are dispensed from the nozzle in side by side relationship. This arrangement is quite convenient but suffers from some of the drawbacks of the separate containers approach.

AH of the known dispensing arrangements described above have drawbacks and it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing arrangement for such two component reactive systems. In particular the invention seeks to provide a dispensing arrangement which may be used on an infrequent or random basis without the problem of the arrangement becoming clogged due to the setting of the components within the dispenser.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a dispensing nozzle for use in dispensing flowable components of a reactive system, said nozzle defining a separate, respective dispensing passage for each component, each passage having an opening adjacent a tip of the nozzle, the nozzle being configured such that at least one said opening is spaced axial ly from a point at which components being dispensed through said passages come into contact with each other.

Preferably said dispensing passages are arranged parallel to each other and extend axial ly within the nozzle.

Conveniently said nozzle additionally comprising coupling means for connecting the nozzle to a container containing the components of the reactive system.

Advantageously said coupling means comprise a threaded collar received upon the nozzle, said collar being engageable with a correspondingly threaded portion of said container.

The invention relates to a dispensing nozzle as described above for use with a container having two separated compartments for containing respective flowable components of a reactive system and an outlet defining respective separate outlet passages for the two components, which dispensing nozzle comprises an inner conduit disposed within an outer conduit to define two separate co-axial dispensing passages.

Preferably said coupling means connect the nozzle to the contain outlet so as to connect the inner and outer dispensing passσges to respecti ones of the outlet passages of the container.

Conveniently the inner conduit has a rear end formed with a isolating plug comprising a flange adapted to close the outlet of th container and a wedge member projecting from the flange for engageme

10 in one of the outlet passages, the wedge member having a passag therethrough communicating with the inner dispensing chamber and th flange having apertures arranged to place the other outlet passage i communication with the outer dispensing chamber.-

15 In an alternative embodiment two said dispensing passages ar defined by the nozzle, the opening of each said passage being spaced axiall from the point at which components being dispensed through said passage come into contact with each other, there being provided a partition betwee said openings which extends from the opening to the point at which sai

20 components come into contact with each other, the arrangement being suc that respective components discharged through the openings of said passage will pass along separate surfaces of said partition and come into contac with each other at the free end of the partition at the tip of the nozzle.

25 Preferably said openings are located at adjacent positions axiall along the nozzle.

Conveniently said passages are provided in a side by side arrangemen within the nozzle.

30

Advantageously said partition is of wedge-like configuration and is formed integrally upon one end of the nozzle, the partition tapering in a direction extending away from said openings, said components coming into contact with each other at the thin end of the wedge, said thin ends, o r constituting the tip of the nozzle.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a dispensing nozzle for use with α container having two separated compartments for containing respective flowable components of a reactive system and an outlet defining respective separate outlet passages for the two components, which dispensing nozzle comprises an inner conduit 5 disposed within an outer conduit to define separate coaxial dispensing passages, and coupling means for connecting the nozzle to the container outlet, so as to connect the inner and outer dispensing passages to respective ones of the outlet passages of the container.

' " Preferably the inner conduit has a rear end formed with an isolating plug comprising a flange adapted to close the outlet of the container and a wedge member projecting from the flange for engagement fn one of the

— outlet passages, the wedge member having a passage therethrough communicating with the inner dispensing chamber and the flange having

'5 apertures arranged to place the other outlet passage in communication with the outer dispensing chamber.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the 0 accompanying drawings,ϊn which:

Figure I is an axial cross-section through an end portion of a container with which a nozzle embodying the invention is to be used;

^•* Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of Figure I ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first type of dispensing nozzle embodying the invention;

" Figure 4 is an underneath view of the dispensing nozzle in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the dispensing nozzle of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing nozzle taken on 5 the fine V-V of Figure

Figure 7 is a front view of the dispensing nozzle of Figure 3; Figure 8 is α rear view of the dispensing nozzle of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second type of dispensing nozzl embodying the invention;

Figure 10 is an end view looking on the left hand end of the nozzle o

Figure 9;

Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line XI-XI of Figure

10;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line XII-XII of Figure

10;

Figure 13 corresponds to Figure 10 and shows an end view of a slightly modified version of the second type of nozzle shown in Figure 9;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line XIV-XIV of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line XV -XV of Figure 13.

Referring firstly to Figures I and 2, a container for two flowable susbtances constituting the components of a reactive chemical system is moulded from suitable plastics material and comprises a circular end wall 2 from which extend a pair of co-axial cylindrical walls 3 and 4 to define an inner cylindrical chamber 5 and an outer annular chamber 6 each for receiving a respective one of the reactive components.

The end wall 2 is integrally formed with an outlet spigot 7 which comprises a lower cylindrical housing 8 having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the container and an externally threaded cylindrical discharge socket

9 having its axis parallel to the axis of the container. A substantially cylindrical valve body 10 is received in a transverse cylindrical bore extending through the portion 8 of the spigot 7 and is formed with a pair of valve passages I I and 12 and with a slot 13 by which the valve body may be -6-

rotαted. In α first position of the valve body shown in Figure I , the valv passages 1 1 and 12 connect respective outlet openings 1 and 15 of th chambers 5 and 6 with respective discharge openings 16 and 17 formed i the floor of the socket 9 which is longitudinally divided into two half socket of substantially semi-circular cross-section by a central partition 18. Th valve body 10 can be rotated through 90° from the position shown in Figur I in order to disconnect the outlets 14 and 15 from the openings 16 and 17.

The chambers 5 and 6 are closed at the other end of the container, i known fashion, by movable closure means which are displaced towards th end wall 2 in order to dispense the substances from the container.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 8, a first type of dispensing nozzle fo use with the container of Figures I and 2 comprises an outer, tube 20 havin a tapered front end portion 21 and a flared rear end portion 22 on which i received a coupling collar 25 having a flared portion 26 conforming to th shape of the flared end of the tube 20 and an internally threaded cylindrica portion 27 provided with ribs 28 to provide grip. The collar is retained o the flared end portion of the outer tube 20 by retaining pips 29 formed o the tube 20. The cylindrical portion 27 of the coupling sleeve 25 is adapte to be threadediy received on the discharge socket 9 of the container I, so a to couple the nozzle and the container together.

Received coaxially within the outer tube 20 is an inner tube 30 havin a tapered front end 31 and formed at its rear end with a flow isolating plu comprising a frusto-conical flange 32 from which projects a tapered wedg member 33 adapted to be received in one of the two half sockets of th discharge socket 9, so as to close such subsidiary socket. The member 3 has a bore 34 which is aligned with the discharge opening in the floor of th subsidiary socket when the member 33 is inserted into such socket, an which communicates with the inside of the tube 30 so as to conduct th component discharged from the respective chamber of the container int the inner tube 30.

The f rusto-conϊcal flange 32 is formed with two notches 35 which ar adapted to communicate with the other half socket of the container,so as t conduct the component from the other chamber of the container into th αnnulαr passage defined between the inner tube 30 and the outer tube 20.

In use of the described nozzle, to dispense the two components fr the container I, the two components pass separately through the inner outer discharge passages of the nozzle and emerge as a single extruded b composed of a cylindrical core of one component and an annular sheath the other component. This has the advantage of facilitating subsequ mixing of the two components, whilst maintaining the two components isolated relationship until the moment when the components emerge fr the tip of the nozzle.

Figures 9 to 12 il lustrate a second type of dispensing noz comprising a flared main body 36 of f rusto-conical -configuration provided its narrower end with an integrally formed circular-section boss 37. Form integrally with the main body 36 and the boss 37 is a wedge-like partition which projects from the free end of the boss 37. The wedge-like partiti 38 extends diametral ly across the free end of the boss 37 and tapers to thin end 39 which is disposed remote from the free end of the boss 37.

Internally the main body 36 and the boss 37 define two passages 4

41 through which the components of a reactive system may be dispense Each passage, 40, 41 has an opening 42, 43 adjacent the tip of the nozzl the openings being disposed at the free end of the boss 37 on opposite sid of the wedge-like partition 38, adjacent the base of the partition. T passages 40, 41 extend axially within the nozzle and are positioned in a si by side arrangement.

The end of the nozzle which is not illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 m be substantially the same as that of the nozzle illustrated in Figures 3 to Thus this other end of the nozzle may be provided with coupling means f connecting the nozzle to a container which contains the components of reactive system such as a reactive system for producing an adhesive.

When the nozzle is connected to the container, the first passage 4 within the nozzle wil l be connected to a supply of a first component of th system, whilst the second passage 41 wil l be connected to a supply of second component of the system. The container for the two component -8-

αy be substantially the same as is illustrated in Figures I and 2. In use the nozzle is connected to the container and the components may be forced from the container along the passages 40, 41 until they reach the openings 42, 43. Continued forcing of the components along the passages 40, 41 will cause the components to emerge from the openings and to pass along opposed surfaces 44, 45 of the partition 38, due to the coanda effect, until they meet at the thin end 39. The thin end 39 of the partition 38 will be positioned at the point where it is desired to apply the product formed by the mixture of the two components. In cases where a high degree of accuracy is required in the application of the end mixture a supplementary tip or nozzle may be fitted over the end of the nozzle. This supplementary nozzle would be in the form of a disposable nozzle. When the flow of components along the passages 40, 4J ceases the components will be withdrawn slightly back into their respective passages. Any excess material may be wiped off the partition 38. There is now a physical barrier between the two components in the form of the partition 38 and the extension thereof back into the nozzle. This barrier between the two components prevents further reaction between the components and therefore renders it possible to use the nozzle on an infrequent or random basis since there is no possibility of excess of the components setting hard at the end of the nozzle.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 correspond to Figures 10, I I and 12 and illustrate a slightly modified version of the second type of nozzle. The basic components of this modified version are the same as those of the version illustrated in Figures 10, I I and 12 and are therefore denoted with like reference numerals.

In this modified version of the second type of nozzle the free end of the boss 37 formed on the main body 36 is provided with a chamfer 46, the chamfer 46 forming a single planar face with the faces giving the partition 38 its wedge-like configuration only at its free end. Thus the openings of the passages 40, 41 may be considered to be not at the base of the wedge- like part of the partition, but instead, in the faces of the wedge-like part of the partition. The passages 40, 41 in this modified version are of different configuration to those of Figures 10 to 12, but it will be appreciated that these passages may be of any convenient configuration. The modified version shown in Figures 13 to 15 is used and oper in precisely the same manner as described above in relation to Figures 1 12.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be mad the specific designs described above without departing from the scope of present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A dispensing nozzle for use in dispensing flowable components of a reactive system, said nozzle defining a separate, respective dispensing passage for each component, each passage having an opening adjacent a tip of the nozzle, the nozzle being configured such that at least one said opening is spaced axially from a point at which components being dispensed through said passages come into contact with each other.

2. A dispensing nozzle according to claim I , wherein said dispensing passages are arranged parallel to each other and extend axially within the nozzle.

3. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 1 or claim 2, said nozzle additionally comprising coupling means for connecting the nozzle to a container containing the components of the reactive system.

4. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprise a threaded collar received upon the nozzle, said collar being, engageable with a correspondingly threaded portion of said container.

5. A dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for use with a container having two separated compartments for containing respective flowable components of a reactive system and an outlet defining respective separate outlet passages for the two components, which dispensing nozzle comprises an inner conduit disposed within an outer conduit to define two separate co-axial dispensing passages.

6. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 5 as dependent upon claim 3, wherein said coupling means connect the nozzle to the container outlet so as to connect the inner and outer dispensing passages to respective ones of the outlet passages of the container.

7. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the inner conduit has a rear end formed with an isolating plug comprising a flange adapted to close the outlet of the container and a wedge member projecting from the flange for engagement in one of the outlet passages, the wedge memb having a passage therethrough communicating with the inner dispensi chamber and the flange having apertures arranged to place the other outl passage in communication with the outer dispensing chamber.

8. A dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims I to 4, wherei two said dispensing passages are defined by the nozzle, the opening of eac said passage being spaced axially from the point at which components bein dispensed through said passages come into contact with each other, ther being provided a partition between said openings which extends from th opening to the point at which said components come into contact with eac other, the arrangement being such that respective components discharge through the openings of said passages will pass along separate surfaces o said partition and come into contact with each other at the free end of th partition at the tip of the nozzle.

9. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 8, wherein said openings ar located at adjacent positions axially along the nozzle.

10. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein sai passages are provided in a side by side arrangement within the nozzle.

1 1. A dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said partition is of wedge-like configuration and is formed integrally upon one end of the nozzle, the partition tapering in a direction extending away from said openings, said components coming into contact with each other at the thin end of the wedge, said thin ends, constituting the tip of the nozzle.

12. A dispensing nozzle for use with a container having two separated compartments for containing respective flowable components of a reactive system and an outlet defining respective separate outlet passages for the two components, which dispensing nozzle comprises an inner conduit disposed within an outer conduit to define separate coaxial dispensing passages, and coupling means for connecting the nozzle to the container outlet, so as to connect the inner and outer dispensing passages to respective ones of the outlet passages of the container.

13. A dispensing nozzle according to claim 12, in which the inner conduit has a rear end formed with an isolating plug comprising a flange adapted to close the outlet of the container and a wedge member projecting from the flange for engagement in one of the outlet passages, the wedge member having a passage therethrough communicating with the inner dispensing chamber and the flange having apertures arranged to place the other outlet passage In communication with the outer dispensing chamber.

14. A dispensing nozzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. The combination of a two compartment container and a dispensing nozzle according to any preceding claim.