Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C73/00—Repairing of articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state, e.g. of articles shaped or produced by using techniques covered by this subclass or subclass B29D
  • B29C73/16—Auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents
  • B29C73/166—Devices or methods for introducing sealing compositions into articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/06—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using friction, e.g. spin welding
  • B29C65/0672—Spin welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/124—Tongue and groove joints
  • B29C66/1244—Tongue and groove joints characterised by the male part, i.e. the part comprising the tongue
  • B29C66/12443—Tongue and groove joints characterised by the male part, i.e. the part comprising the tongue having the tongue substantially in the middle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/124—Tongue and groove joints
  • B29C66/1246—Tongue and groove joints characterised by the female part, i.e. the part comprising the groove
  • B29C66/12469—Tongue and groove joints characterised by the female part, i.e. the part comprising the groove being asymmetric
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
  • B29C66/131—Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/32—Measures for keeping the burr form under control; Avoiding burr formation; Shaping the burr
  • B29C66/322—Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/54—Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2030/00—Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a disposable sealant liquid canister or container for an inflatable article, e.g. vehicle tyre, repair and inflation kit.
• a sealant liquid canister comprises an air inlet and a sealant liquid and/or air outlet, and defines an inner volume or tank filled with sealant liquid.
• a user-safe canister is needed, designed to also prevent accidental sealant liquid leakage as a result, for example, of tampering.
• EP-A1-2030767 relates to a sealant liquid canister having a tank defined by a bottle, inside which the sealant liquid is retained by means of a sealed film.
• the film is piereced by means of a manually actuated punch.
• the tank is associated by welding to a fluidic element comprising a pressurized air inlet and an outlet for injecting sealant liquid and then pressurized air. The welding is obtained after the sealant liquid has been closed in the tank by applying the film.
• a disposable sealant liquid canister for an inflatable article repair and inflation kit.
• a disposable sealant liquid canister for an inflatable article repair and inflation kit as claimed in Claim 1
• a relative production method as claimed in Claim 19.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view with a longitudinal section of a disposable canister in accordance with the present invention
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view with a longitudinal section of a disposable canister in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention .
• Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a disposable sealant liquid canister having an inlet conduit 2 connectable to a compressed-air source; an outlet conduit 3 connectable to an inflatable article, such as a tyre; and a tank 4 filled with sealant liquid.
• Canister 1 also comprises a closure 5 for retaining the sealant liquid inside tank 4 and preventing it from flowing accidentally, by gravity or otherwise, into inlet conduit 2 and/or outlet conduit 3.
• closure 5 In a ready-for-use position, i.e. in which the sealant liquid is injected when the inlet conduit is pressurized, closure 5 is located below the surface of the sealant liquid, which thus exerts hydrostatic pressure on the stopper.
• Canister 1 preferably also comprises a disposable tube 6 fixed rigidly and irreversibly, e.g. by means of a clamp or metal or plastic collar, to outlet conduit 3.
• Tube 6 may be a hose, and may comprise a releasable connector (not shown), e.g. a ring nut or a press-on, lever-activated connector, for connection to a tyre valve to inject sealant liquid or air.
• Tube 6 is thus also changed with the rest of canister 1 after the sealant liquid is injected and/or exceeds its use-by date.
• Canister 1 preferably forms a disposable part of a kit, which also comprises a stand (not shown) connectable to a pressure source to hold the canister in a sealant-injection position; and/or a portable electric compressor (not shown) for generating airflow along an air line into inlet conduit 2.
• Canister 1 is produced so that inlet and outlet conduits 2 and 3 and tank 4 form a single welded body, more specifically with one weld.
• the sealant liquid is retained inside the tank 4 by means of the sealing in addition to the closure 5.
• canister 1 comprises a first portion 7 defining at least one of inlet and outlet conduits 2 and 3; and a second portion 8, one of first or second portions 7 and 8 being concave to contain all the sealant liquid in a welding position.
• First and second portions 7 and 8 are made, e.g. molded, from the same polymer material.
• the molding is injection molding for making both portions 7, 8.
• the weld is a friction weld, in particular a rotation friction weld.
• the weld interface between first and second portions 7 and 8 is circular .
• the weld is preferably a butt weld and, when made by friction, the thickness S2 of at least one weld area 9 of at least one of first and second portions 7 and 8 is greater than the minimum thickness SI of relative portion 7, 8. More specifically, the weld area 9 defines an interface I along which first and second portions 7 and 8 are contacting prior to welding.
• the weld areas 9 may be male and female respectively, and engaged one inside the other to position the first and second portions correctly for welding.
• the interface I comprises a front portion II (figure 2), which is housed in a female front portion 12.
• the front portion 12 is recessed with respect to the thickness S2 of the second portion 8 and the front portion II is in relief with respect to the thickness of the first portion 7.
• the first portion 7 comprises a
• protuberance P defining either the inlet 2 or the outlet 3 or both, and a flange F extending radially from the protuberance P.
• the weld is arranged between the flange F and the second portion 8 (figure 1) .
• weld area 9 of second portion 8 is located far enough from the top end 10 of second portion 8 to form a concave shape in which to contain all the sealant liquid in the welding position.
• the welding position of second portion 8 is preferably inverted with respect to the position in Figure 1, and the surface of the sealant liquid in the welding position reaches but does not exceed weld area 9 of second portion 8.
• the concavity of second portion 8 in the welding position is large enough to contain by gravity enough sealant liquid for repair purposes, e.g. to repair a flat tyre.
• Line L in Figure 1 indicates an approximate surface level of the sealant liquid when second portion 8 is in the welding position on a horizontal surface.
• First portion 7 preferably comprises inlet conduit 2, outlet conduit 3, and relative weld area 9 in one piece. And, in the Figure 1 embodiment, closure 5, when closed, is connected to first portion 7 to keep the sealant liquid inside tank 4, and to isolate tank 4 from both inlet conduit 2 and outlet conduit 3 until the stopper is released.
• Closure 5 is advantageously irreversible, i.e. can be opened to fluidically connect inlet conduit 2 and outlet conduit 3 via tank 4, but cannot be closed again by the user. This simplifies the design of closure 5 and reduces production cost.
• Closure 5 may be a preassembled unit manufactured separately from the other component parts of canister 1, and comprises a connector 11 for anchoring to first portion 7.
• Closure 5 preferably comprises a shutter 12 for closing tank 4 towards inlet conduit 2 and/or outlet conduit 3.
• Shutter 12 is connected to first portion 7 by connector 11, and is fitted to the latter.
• shutter 12 is housed inside a casing 13, and is movable with respect to a sleeve 14.
• Casing 13 and sleeve 14 are connected rigidly to first portion 7 by connector 11, and shutter 12 slides, guided by casing 13 and/or sleeve 14.
• Seals 15 carried by shutter 12 and sliding along casing 13 and seals 16 between shutter 12 and sleeve 14 are provided.
• Casing 13 has one or more inlets 17 and one or more outlets 18 (Figure 2) .
• Sleeve 14 is hollow to connect inlet conduit 2 to inlets 17 when shutter 12 is in an open position ( Figure 1) . In the open position, outlets
• shutter 12 closes both inlets 17 and outlets 18 with respect to inlet and outlet conduits 2 and 3 by means of seals 15 and 16. More specifically, one seal 15 separates sleeve 14 fluidically from inlets 17, and other seals 15 close outlets 18 and disconnect the latter from movable channels 19.
• shutter 12 In the closed position ( Figure 3), shutter 12 is positioned higher than in the Figure 1 position. To move it into the open position, shutter 12 is pushed downwards by high pressure exerted on the head T of shutter 12 inside casing 13, and which is generated by a pressure source connected to inlet conduit 2.
• a fixed seal 21 is also provided to prevent sealant liquid from leaking, between connector 11 and first portion 7, into outlet conduit 3.
• Connector 11 is fitted to first portion 7 by a shape coupling, which is preferably a combination of a threaded connector 22 and a self-lock stop 23.
• Threaded connector 22 is preferably calibrated to exert pressure on seal 21 as it is torqued.
• Self-lock stop 23 comprises a combination of one or more flexible tabs 24 and asymmetrical stops 25. As the threaded connector is torqued, flexible tabs 24 flex up along sloping surfaces 26 on asymmetrical stops 25 until connector 11 comes to an axial stop with respect to first portion 7. In the unscrew direction indicated by arrow F, stop surfaces on asymmetrical stops 25 intercept and prevent tabs 24 from flexing, thus preventing the threaded connector from being unscrewed.
• Canister 1 is manufactured as follows.
• First and second portions 7 and 8 are each molded, preferably each in one piece.
• Closure 5 is fitted in the closed position to first portion 7.
• Second portion 8 with weld area 9 facing up and top end 10 down, is filled with an amount of sealant liquid sufficient for repair, roughly to the level of line L.
• First portion 7 is fitted to, to close, second portion 8 filled with sealant liquid, and the two are then welded.
• FIG 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a disposable canister 1' is the same as in Figure 1, except that a first portion 7', when closed by closure 5, is concave to contain the repair amount of sealant liquid; and a second portion 8' is substantially in the form of a lid welded to first portion 7' . More specifically, weld area 9 of first portion 7' is located far enough from closure 5 to define a volume large enough to contain the repair amount of sealant liquid.
• the welding position of first portion 7' is the one shown in Figure 3.
• flange F' of first portion 7' comprises a cylindrical wall C departing from the part opposite to protuberance P' to define the volume containing the sealant liquid both before and after welding .
• closure 5 must be fitted inside first portion 7', to close inlet and outlet conduits 2 and 3, before first portion 7' is filled with the amount of sealant liquid suitable for repair, so as to retain the sealant liquid inside first portion 7' during the welding operation.
• Figure 3 shows closure 5 in the closed position.
• canister 1' are the same as those of canister 1, as shown also by use of the same reference numbers with no superscripts.
• the disposable canister 1, 1' according to the present invention has the following advantages.
• sealant liquid canister 1 The welding safeguards against any attempt to tamper with, and so enhances the safety of, sealant liquid canister 1.
• Closure 5, in particular, is protected inside the canister once this is welded, and so cannot be tampered with by the user or damaged.
• the sealant liquid is preferably poured into the canister before the latter is welded, so that, once welded, canister 1 is ready for use.
• the sealant liquid can therefore be inspected when it is already inside portion 8 or 7' . In particular, during assembly, the sealant liquid is exposed to the external environment when closure 5 is already fixed in the position of use.
• closure 5 is irreversible, in that canister 1 is filled before being fitted with closure 5, which is therefore only opened for the repair function.
• the welding is carried out in an area such to make the canister particularly compact.
• casing 13 it is possible to house casing 13 so that the sides of the latter are immersed in the sealant liquid and to weld in an area far from closure 5 so as to prevent the heat generated during welding and/or the respective flashings from damaging the closure. This may occur in particular both in case of a moveable shutter, the guide of which may be deformed, and when materials with a low melting temperature are used, such as the material of the sealing rings or that of the sealing films .
• Inlet and outlet conduits 2, 3 may be positioned differently from those shown in the drawings. Normally, at least one of inlet and outlet conduits 2, 3 is located beneath the sealant liquid surface level, where the sealant liquid is injected into the inflatable article for repair.
• Closure 5 may also differ from the one shown.
• closure 5 may comprise a reversible valve, which returns automatically to the closed position when injection of the sealant liquid is completed or interrupted, for example, by the user.
• closure 5 opened by air pressure, i.e. a pneumatic shutter
• other types also exist, both irreversible, such as tear film, and reversible, such as valves.
• closure 5 may also be opened manually by the user, e.g. using release controls or tools.
• First portion 7 is preferably designed to form a male or female element 28 of a releasable shape coupling for connection to a stand for supporting canister 1 in the injection position.
• the male or female element 28 is carried by the protuberance P.
• first portion 7 comprises seals 27, in particular sealing rings, to define both a mechanical connection to a stand, and at the same time a fluidtight connection to the delivery side of the compressor.
• the sealing rings are fitted to inlet conduit 2, and the male or female element is also formed on inlet conduit 2.
• male or female element 28 is configured to be connected to the compressor in two stages, i.e.
• a mechanical connection is executed to a support suitable for bearing the weight of canister 1 and for maintaining the latter in a ready-to-use position, e.g. a vertical position, preferably through a bayonet connection as disclosed in application WO-A1-20050850028; and a second stage where a fluidic connection of the pressure source with inlet conduit 2 is executed, preferably through a hose directly connected to canister 1.
• male or female element 28 is configured to provide both mechanical and fluidic connection with a single movement through a snap connection, the fluidic connection being preferably sealed by seals 27.
• the snap connection is such to connect canister 1 with a support bearing the weight of the canister 1 and such that canister 1 is maintained in a substantially vertical position of use.
• the snap connection defines a fluid tight connection between inlet conduit 2 and a conduit that is fixed with respect to the pressure source and that receives pressurized air.
• Connector 11 may advantageously be formed, e.g. molded, in one piece with casing 13.
• seal 21 and sleeve 14 are fixed rotationally.
• Casing 13 may also be fixed as connector 11 is torqued; or, if both are formed in one piece, casing 13 rotates with respect to sleeve 14 and seal 21 as connector 11 is torqued. Being compressed between sleeve 14 and first portion 7, seal 21 is thus compressed without any undue twisting.
• the seal 27 next to outlet conduit 3 may be omitted .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=51627330

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 2014
  • 2014-08-12 JP JP2016533978A patent/JP6449285B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-08-12 EP EP14777178.6A patent/EP3033220A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-08-12 KR KR1020167005056A patent/KR20160042919A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2014-08-12 WO PCT/IB2014/063866 patent/WO2015022630A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-08-12 CN CN201480055659.5A patent/CN105636770B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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