EP0784023B1 - Device and method for mixing separately stored fluid components - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for mixing separately contained liquids comprises: (i) a first, external container (1) to hold the first liquid; (ii) a second container (2), inside the first container, holding a second fluid; and (iii) a puller (3) which is guided through an opening (5) in the outer container and forms a seal with the latter. The puller has an outer surface (7) which inserts into the inner container and is gripped by the mouth (8) of the outer container to ensure movement with the puller as the latter is moved. A stop member inside the outer container between the mouth of the inner container and the opening of the outer container has a stop face (6) which halts movement of the mouth and hence the inner container when the puller is moved out of the outer container and as the puller is further retracted, the mouth and puller surface disengage completely leaving the contents of both containers free to mix. Also claimed is a mixing process using the equipment.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for mixing separately housed fluid components according to the preambles of the independent Claims.

Chemically foamed polymer materials are used in construction engineering are commonly referred to as "assembly foam". Such assembly foams are kept in containers under pressure and by opening a valve carried out and then for example for the production of insulation or for Filling cavities used.

Before the discharged assembly foam is further processed or loaded can, it must harden by polymerization.

Although practically any polymer (epoxy, polyurethane, polystyrene, Polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride) a chemically foamed and curable foam can be produced is polyurethane (PU) due to its favorable material properties particularly preferred in construction engineering. Both   One-component and two-component foams used. A one component Foam hardens automatically after it has been discharged from the pressure vessel off, a two-component foam must be cleaned with a so-called Be moved harder. Because the curing times of one-component foams are too long for the construction industry in general (such a foam is typically tack-free after 15 minutes, can be cut after approx. three hours and fully cured after approx. eight hours), there are increasingly two-component foams used, their curing in a much shorter time is completed.

In these foams, a precursor of the polymer (the so-called "prepolymer"; first component) immediately before use with a low one Amount of a chemical additive added (the so-called "hardener"; second Component), which triggers the hardening process (activation). The amount of the hardener added is about 4 to 10% by volume of the prepolymer.

For mixing prepolymer and hardener, both of which have the property of a fluid have long used two separate containers, each with one Valve were provided. To activate it, the adapter was used Container of the hardener placed on top of that of the prepolymer. By opening both The valve was then the (slightly under pressure in its container) The hardener is transferred to the prepolymer container and activated. Such Adapter systems have the disadvantage of being cumbersome to use.

To eliminate this disadvantage, systems have been developed in which the hardener is integrated into the prepolymer container. These devices are located the hardener container in the closed state inside the container for the prepolymer. Activation takes place via a mechanical device, the through the container wall (usually through the bottom) and with which opened the hardener container and its contents with the prepolymer is mixed.

An example of this prior art is the German published application DE-A1-33 22 811.6. This document discloses a container for holding the Prepolymer and an additional container for receiving the hardener, the Additional container has the shape of a tube, which has one end at the bottom of the Is attached container, which has a sealed opening. The other end of the tube has a cap for the additional container, which with a   O-ring seal is sealed against the pipe of the additional container. At the Activate the container, the cap is lifted off with a plunger, for which purpose the tappet moves from the opening in the axial direction of the tube becomes. The disadvantage of this construction lies in the mentioned O-ring seal. If whose sealing effect is inadequate, premature escape of Harder and thus for early activation of the prepolymer in the container.

The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages described above overcome and provide funds in which the container of the second Component is integrated in the container of the first component and the mixing of the two components with structurally simple means without the There is a risk of the hardener escaping prematurely. One aspect of this The task is to provide a means of control that can be used to identify that the two fluids are mixed.

This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned at the outset the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 or with the A method according to claim 11.

The invention is based on a device for mixing separately housed fluid component, which has an outer container for receiving the first fluid component and one arranged inside the outer container Has inner container for receiving the second fluid component. The inside of the External container is accessible through an opening, which is preferably in the bottom of the External container is attached. The inner container has a mouth over which it can be filled.

According to the invention, the device has a tension element, which a Has dual function. On the one hand, the traction element has one inside the outer container lying outer boundary surface on which the mouth of the filled inner container is plugged so that it is closed and be Content does not come into contact with that of the outer container. Besides, that is Traction element passed through the opening of the outer container and sealed therein movable, the inner container with its mouth so on the boundary surface the tension element must be plugged in that it moves when the Tension element is taken away from this boundary surface. Inside the The outer container is also located between the mouth of the inner container and the opening of the outer container, a stop element, which a   Has stop surface. This stop element is arranged so that the Mouth of the inner container during an outward movement of the Pulling element abuts the stop surface of the stop element, so that at further movement of the tension element outwards the boundary surface of the Mouth of the inner container is withdrawn.

After removing the boundary surface from the inner container, it pours out Content (i.e. the second fluid component) in the content of the outer container (i.e. into the first fluid component) and can be mixed with it by shaking, wherein the shaking aids in the leakage of the second fluid component. In In this state, the inner container also takes on the function of a Mixing body, so that the device according to the invention is generally none requires separate mixing body (of course there may be one) be). According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention both the inner container and the outer container made of a metal (e.g. Aluminum or steel). This has the advantage that the inner container after pulling off the pulling element when shaking audibly on the wall of the outer container strikes and thus recognizes by a sound that the Mixing of the two fluids takes place.

In another and less preferred embodiment, the Inner container made of metal and the inner container made of a thermoplastic Plastic. Suitable plastics will be given later.

The invention is not only for mixing the two components of an assembly foam suitable, but more generally in any case where it comes two separately housed fluid components shortly before they are used together to mix. Examples of such applications are pharmacy and Cosmetics.

The concept of the tension element, which takes on the double function, to first separate the first fluid component from the second fluid component, and then mixing after peeling from the mouth of the inner container of the two fluid components, one is for the task constructively simple and inexpensive solution provided. It is surprising that the inner container by simply plugging on the Boundary surface of the tension element can be permanently sealed without special measures such as B. O-ring seals are required.  

In practice, the problem may arise that the second fluid component in the Inner container opposite the first fluid component in the outer container under one is slightly negative pressure, so that the mouth of the outer container after pulling off the boundary surface on the stop surface. To the solution a preferred embodiment of the invention has this problem Device on a device with the inner container removed Pressure equalization between the inner container and the outer container can be. Such a facility are e.g. B. grooves or similar material recesses in the stop surface, which is only when the tension element is withdrawn take effect and thus produce the desired pressure equalization.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pull element has the Shape of a stepped cylindrical piston that has a front end with a larger one Diameter and a rear end formed coaxially to the front end has a smaller diameter. The cylinder peripheral surface of the front end serves as a boundary surface for attaching the mouth of the inner container, the has a circular mouth for this purpose. The diameter of the The mouth is dimensioned so that the inner container on the front part of the Cylinder can be pushed on and sits so tightly that he at one Movement of the cylindrical tension element (also taking into account the due to the viscosity of the first fluid component acting on it) is taken away.

The stop element has the shape of a in this embodiment stepped piston complementary shaped hollow cylinder that with the outer container rigidly (i.e. positively or non-positively) and two Has holes that are dimensioned so that the cylindrical tension element can be inserted into it. The first hole has the larger diameter the front end of the cylindrical piston and is located in the front area of the hollow cylinder. The second hole is coaxial with the first Bore arranged, is located in the rear area of the hollow cylinder and has the smaller diameter of the rear end of the cylindrical piston. By this shape can be the cylindrical piston and complementary to it shaped hollow cylinders can be inserted into each other. The front surface acts in the Area of the first bore of the hollow cylinder as a stop surface for the mouth of the inner container. So the cylindrical piston and the hollow cylinder composed that the front end of the cylindrical piston slightly over the The inner container protrudes from the end face of the hollow cylinder   circular mouth placed on the front end of the cylindrical piston will. Then the rear end of the cylindrical piston in the Hollow cylinder pulled in, then the mouth of the inner container hits the Face, and the boundary surface is the further movement of the cylindrical piston is withdrawn from the mouth and the inner container thrown off. For this to happen, the cylindrical piston must be wide enough be retractable, d. H. its front end must not be longer than the first Bore of the hollow cylinder, which has the larger diameter.

To facilitate movement of the cylindrical piston, the rear piston is preferred End or the second bore of the hollow cylinder with an external thread or a matching internal thread. This embodiment is preferred also one with the rear end of the cylindrical piston connected rotating device with which the cylindrical piston with a rotary movement withdrawn into the hollow cylinder and the inner container can be discarded can. In addition, the front end of the cylindrical piston can have an annular groove have to accommodate an O-ring seal. This ring groove must be in the rear Area of the front end to be arranged so that the O-ring provided therein can interact with the larger bore of the hollow cylinder. Another An annular groove can be provided in the front area of the front end and one Take up bead-like thickening at the mouth of the inner container. So that will achieved that the inner container sits more firmly and the bead on the stop End face gives the feeling of a pressure point, which the impending throwing of the inner container.

It has already been pointed out that due to a possibly in Inner container prevailing relative vacuum, the mouth of the inner container Vacuum on the stop surface and throw off the inner container can prevent and that to solve this problem preferably a device is provided for pressure equalization, which is effective when the boundary surface (i.e., the leading end in the above embodiment of the cylindrical piston) is withdrawn from the mouth of the inner container. A such device can be obtained by appropriate design of the end face be the groove-like or groove-like material recesses for this purpose can have. Another possibility is to make the hollow cylinder one-sided shorten in the axial direction, so that the hollow cylinder in side view has a step-like shape. The one-sided shortening should be of an extent which ensures that the mouth of the inner container only on part of the   Front face of the hollow cylinder strikes and the inner container thus on the other (i.e. the unsupported) side "tilts".

The front end of the cylindrical piston is opposite the mouth of the Inner container dimensioned so that it has a slightly larger diameter than the mouth, so that the inner container with its mouth under moderate pressure (if necessary with the help of a mechanical press) can be put on and sits firmly and sealingly. The seat may however, not be so firm as to pull off the cylindrical boundary surface too much resistance is opposed.

The material used for the cylindrical piston and the hollow cylinder must be resistant to the chemical environment to which it is exposed, d. H. either against the first as well as against the second fluid component; you use that Device according to the invention for producing two-component PU foam, this environment is surrounded by an organic diisocyanate and a organic diol formed. In addition, the material should have little moisture absorb because the water bound thereby with one of the components (especially with the diisocyanate of the PU foam). Especially that Material of the cylindrical piston must be the pressed-on mouth of the inner container Give a permanent seat so that it does not slip and become itself Content prematurely mixed with the first fluid component. As material for the cylindrical pistons and the hollow cylinder are suitable for thermoplastics, such as B. polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), hard polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PP because of its low moisture absorption is particularly preferred. PA absorbs noticeable amounts of water and is therefore less preferred. These plastics are suitable - in the given preference - also for the inner container.

According to the above disclosure, the invention also relates to a method for Mixing of separately housed fluid components, with the inside of a Outer container an inner container is arranged, the outer container first fluid component and the inner container contains the second fluid component and the inner container by mechanical intervention from outside the Outer container is opened. According to the invention, in the method Pulling element used, which passed through an opening in the outer container and can be moved in a sealed manner. The tension element has one inside of the outer container lying on the outer boundary surface on which the inner container   is attached with a mouth so that the mouth when the Tension element is taken from the boundary surface. To open the Inner container, the pulling element is moved outwards until the mouth at the Stop surface of a stop element abuts, which is inside the Outer container is arranged between the mouth and the opening. By further movement of the tension element outwards becomes the boundary surface of withdrawn from the mouth and detached the inner container so that its contents (second Fluid component) mixed with that of the outer container (first fluid component) can be.

Fig. 1:

eine Prinzipdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, die auch der Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens dient;

Fig. 2a:

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, die eine Einrichtung zum Herstellen eines Druckausgleiches aufweist;

Fig. 2b:

einen Schnitt durch Fig. 2a entlang der Linie A-A;

Fig. 3a, 3b:

eine Modifikation der Ausführungsform der Figuren 2a und 2b.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing; show it:

Fig. 1:

a schematic diagram of the device according to the invention, which also serves to explain the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2a:

a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, which has a device for producing a pressure equalization;

Fig. 2b:

a section through Figure 2a along the line AA.

3a, 3b:

a modification of the embodiment of Figures 2a and 2b.

Fig. 1 shows the principle of the device according to the invention and the inventive Procedure. It is assumed that there is an arrangement in which An inner container 2 is located inside an outer container 1. The outer container 1 contains the first fluid component, the inner container 2 contains the second fluid component. First and second fluid components should be mixed together by opening the inner container 2 from the outside.

For this purpose, in a wall (in the present example in the bottom 10) Outer container 1 is provided with an opening 5 through which a tension element 3 is led outside. The tension element 3 has an inside of the outer container 1 lying boundary surface 7 on which the filled inner container 2 with a Mouth 8 is attached. Inside the outer container 1 is also a stop element 4 is arranged between the mouth 8 and the opening 5, which has a stop surface 6. In the initial state, the mouth is 6   either slightly spaced from the stop surface 6 or abuts against it. In the illustration shown, the inner container 2 is in a vertical position with mouth 8 pointing downward. This position is preferred but not mandatory required.

The inner container 2 is opened by moving the pulling element 3 in Direction of the arrow shown, whereby the mouth 8 either immediately at the Abuts stop surface 6 or as long as taken from the boundary surface 7 until this is the case. From this position, the tension element 3 continues in Moving in the direction of the arrow, the mouth 8 slips from the boundary surface 7 and releases the inner container 2 so that the second fluid component is in the first fluid component pours and is mixed with it by shaking can. The shaking also completes the outflow of the second fluid component from the inner container 2.

2a shows a practical embodiment of the device according to the invention. The lower region of an outer container 1 is shown, in the bottom 10 of which one Opening 5 is incorporated into the shape for receiving a stop element a hollow cylinder 40 is used. The hollow cylinder 40 has one in the front area first bore 41 and a second coaxially formed in the rear region Bore 42, which has a smaller diameter than the first bore 41 and is provided with an internal thread 44. Furthermore, the hollow cylinder 40 in the rear area on a step-like taper, on which he has an external thread 47 provided and inserted through the opening 5. On the external thread 47, a counter screw 52 is placed, which non-positively connects the hollow cylinder 40 connects to the outer container 1. The front area of the hollow cylinder 40 is delimited by an end face 43 which serves as a stop face.

A complementary shaped tension element is inserted into the hollow cylinder 40 in the form of a stepped cylindrical piston 30, the front end 31 of which has a larger diameter than its rear end 32. The diameter of the front end 31 and the first bore 41 of the hollow cylinder are thus one on the other matched that the front end 31 are moved in the first bore 41 can. The seal between the cylindrical piston and the hollow cylinder takes place through an annular groove 35 machined into the front end 31, which has an O-ring records.

The rear end 32 carries an external thread 33 with which it fits into the internal thread   44 of the hollow cylinder 40 can be screwed. The rear end is further 32 connected to a rotating device 50 via an anti-rotation device 51 the cylindrical piston 30 in the hollow cylinder 40 by turning upwards or can be moved down.

2b shows a section through the hollow cylinder 40 along the line A-A. To The end face 43 of the hollow cylinder 40 serving as the stop face can be seen and two centrally running material recesses 45, 45 ', which are already mentioned means for establishing a pressure balance between the Represent outer container 1 and the inner container 2. These material recesses can have the shape of grooves or flat grooves. As shown in Fig. 2a remove, they begin to take effect when the cylindrical Piston 30 is retracted so far into the hollow cylinder 40 that its front edge stands below the end face 43.

Figures 3a and 3b show an embodiment of the invention Device which corresponds essentially to Figures 2a, 2b. The difference exists once in a differently designed facility for the production of the Pressure equalization. The pressure equalization takes place in Fig. 3a, 3b in that the Hollow cylinder 40 is shortened on one side in the axial direction, whereby a step 46 arises. As can be seen, the pressure equalization then begins effectively when the front edge of the front part 31 of the cylindrical piston 30 is withdrawn so far that the thickened flange edge of the mouth 8 of the Inner container 2 reached.

As a further difference, Fig. 3a shows another annular groove 36, which in the Flanged edge of the mouth 8 engages and when retracting the cylindrical Piston 30 creates a pressure point-like feeling at the moment when the right part of the mouth 8 abuts the end face 43. It must then be brief a higher force is applied to the mouth 8 from the annular groove 36 pry out and throw off the inner container 2.  

Reference list

1

Outer container

2nd

Inner container

3rd

Tension element

4th

Stop element

5

opening

6

Abutment surface

7

Boundary surface

8th

muzzle

9

wall

10th

ground

30th

cylindrical piston

31

front end

32

rear end

33

External thread

34

O-ring

35

Ring groove

36

Ring groove

40

Hollow cylinder

41

first hole

42

second hole

43

Face

44

inner thread

45, 45 '

Material recess

46

step

47

External thread

50

Rotating device

51

Prevention of rotation

52

Lock screw

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for mixing fluid components which are disposed separately, comprising

   an outer container (1) having an opening (5), for receiving the first fluid component, and an inner container (2) for receiving the second fluid component, which is arranged in the interior of the outer container (1) and which has a mouth opening (8),
      characterised by

   a pulling element (3) which is guided through the opening (5) of the outer container (1) and which is movable in sealing relationship therein and which has an outer boundary surface (7) which is disposed in the interior of the outer container (1) and on to which the mouth opening (8) of the inner container (2) is fitted in such a way that it is entrained in a movement of the pulling element (3) by the boundary surface (7); and

   an abutment element (4) which is arranged in the interior of the outer container (1) between the mouth opening (8) of the inner container (2) and the opening (5) of the outer container (1) and which has an abutment surface (6) against which the mouth opening (8) bears in a downwardly directed movement of the pulling element (3) so that upon further movement of the pulling element (3) the boundary surface (7) can be withdrawn from the mouth opening (8).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that both the outer container (1) and also the inner container (2) is made from metal, preferably aluminium or steel.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the outer container (1) is made from metal, preferably aluminium or steel, and the inner container (2) is made from a thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene.
4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised by a device for producing pressure equalisation between the outer container (1) and the inner container (2) when the inner container (2) is withdrawn.
5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that

   the pulling element (3) is in the form of a stepped cylindrical piston (30) which has a front end (31) of larger diameter and a rear end (32) of smaller diameter which is coaxial with respect to the front end (31), wherein the front end (31) serves as a boundary surface (7) for fitting on the mouth opening (8) of the inner container (2); and

   the abutment element (4) is in the form of a hollow cylinder (40) which is complementary in shape to the stepped piston (30) and which is force-lockingly or positively lockingly connected to the outer container (1) and which has in the front region a first bore (41) of the larger diameter and in the rear region a second bore (42) of the smaller diameter, which is coaxial with the first bore (41), and in the region of the first bore (41) is delimited in the axial direction by an end face (43) which serves as the abutment surface (6),
      wherein the rear end (32) is introduced into and is movable in sealing relationship in the second bore (42) and the front end (31) is introduced into and is movable in sealing relationship in the first bore (41).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 characterised in that the rear end (32) of the cylindrical piston (30) has an external screwthread (33) and the second bore (42) of the hollow cylinder (40) has an internal screwthread (44) which fits thereto.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 and claim 4 or claim 6 and claim 4 characterised in that the device for pressure equalisation has a radially extending, channel-like or groove-like material recess (45) in the end face (43) of the hollow cylinder (40) or a step-like reduction in length (46) of the hollow cylinder (40) at one side thereof, in the axial direction thereof.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised by a turning means (50) connected to the rear end (32) of the cylindrical piston (30).
9. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 8 characterised by an annular groove (36) disposed in the front region of the front end (31).
10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the pulling element (3) and/or the abutment element (4) is made from a thermoplastic synthetic material, preferably polypropylene.
11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the opening (5) is arranged in the bottom of the outer container (1).
12. A method of mixing separately disposed fluid components in which disposed in the interior of an outer container (1) containing the first fluid component is a closed inner container (2) containing the second fluid component and the inner container (2) is opened from the outside,
       characterised in that

    a pulling element (3) is used, which is guided through an opening (5) of the outer container (1) and is movable in sealing relationship therein and which has an outer boundary surface (7) which is disposed in the interior of the outer container (1) and on to which the inner container (2) is fitted with a mouth opening (8) in such a way that the mouth opening (8) is entrained in a movement of the pulling element (3) by the boundary surface (7); and

    the pulling element (3) is moved outwardly until the mouth opening (8) bears against the abutment surface (6) of an abutment element (4) arranged in the interior of the outer container (1) between the mouth opening (8) and the opening (5) and the boundary surface (7) is withdrawn from the mouth opening (8) by further movement of the pulling element (3).