EP4151321A1 - Supporting structure with varying inside diameter for pressure-free extrusion of a multicomponent compound from a coaxial cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for storing and dispensing a flowable multi-component mass, comprising: - a coaxial cartridge (2) with a hollow-cylindrical cartridge inner wall (4), a cartridge outer wall (5) arranged coaxially around it, a cartridge wall radially separated from the cartridge inner wall (4) delimited inner chamber (6) for a first component and an outer chamber (7) lying radially between the cartridge inner wall (4) and the cartridge outer wall (5) for a second component of the mass; and with a cartridge front wall (8) which firmly closes both chambers (6, 7) on one end face of the cartridge (2) and has one discharge opening in each chamber; and- a support structure (3) which is designed to receive and hold the cartridge (2) when the mass is pressed out of it and for this purpose has a side wall (13) in the form of a tubular section;- an inner diameter of the side wall (13) being of such an axial and/or can be varied or adjusted in the radial direction of the support structure (3), so that there is an annular gap (12) between the cartridge outer wall (5) and the side wall (13) when inserting and removing the cartridge (2) or can be adjusted, as well as a narrow one The side wall (13) rests against the cartridge outer wall (5) during the squeezing process or can be adjusted.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for storing and dispensing a flowable multi-component mass. It comprises a coaxial cartridge adapted to receive and store a first and a second component of the mass in separate coaxial chambers, and a suitable support structure into which this cartridge is to be placed for squeezing the mass therefrom. Even if the explanation of the invention here usually only mentions the two coaxial chambers for two components, further (partial) chambers for other components of the multi-component mass can always be provided inside the cartridge.

Various cartridge concepts are known in the state of the art in order to accommodate at least two components of free-flowing masses in separate chambers, which can be dispensed by means of a dispensing device. With regard to the arrangement of the chambers, a distinction is made between coaxial cartridges and cartridges or foil packs with individual cartridges or foil bags arranged next to one another for the various components of a multi-component mass. The multi-component mass can be, for example, a sealing or fastening mass such as mortar, adhesive and much more.

In order to ensure a high, constant mixing quality of the two mass components to be discharged, suitable support structures for the cartridges, into which the cartridges for the squeezing process are inserted, are to be used in most cases. These support structures absorb the pressure of the cartridges during the squeezing process and prevent elastic expansion of the cartridges, which are usually made of plastic and would therefore yield to high pressure during the squeezing process without the support structure.

Thick-walled coaxial cartridges made of plastic usually only show elastic expansion in the outer wall of the cartridge during the squeezing process due to the almost equally high pressure in both chambers and an overpressure compared to the atmospheric pressure prevailing outside the cartridge. This can lead to undesired pumping behavior of the cartridge, which leads to mixing problems and a corresponding lack of hardening behavior of the mass:
When the outer wall of a thick-walled plastic cartridge elastically expands radially during the squeezing process, restoring forces arise therein. When the squeezing process is interrupted, for example when moving to the next borehole, when several boreholes are to be filled in succession with the contents of the cartridge, these can lead to uneven pumping behavior in the cartridge, which is caused by the elastic restoring forces mentioned. The pressure in the outer chamber of the cartridge is relieved after an interrupted squeezing process either by the components contained therein flowing out through the cartridge outlet or by relieving the pressure on the outer piston arranged in this chamber. This creates a piston offset in relation to the inner chamber, which leads to corresponding mixing problems during the subsequent pressing process.

To remedy this, a suitable support structure is to be used, which can prevent elastic deformation of the cartridge outer wall during the squeezing process. This support structure would have to fit as closely as possible to the cartridge in order to limit the possible pumping volume to a minimum: During pumping behavior, the outer piston can only move back according to the volume of any annular gap between the support structure and the outer wall of the cartridge, because the outer wall of the cartridge only moves inside during the squeezing process this annular gap could expand elastically. It is also important to ensure that the support structure is sufficiently rigid in order to avoid pumping due to deformation of the support structure itself.

Identical diameters (i.e. the inner diameter of the support structure is the same as the outer diameter of the cartridge) therefore offer the greatest possible protection against disruptive pumping behavior and the associated mixing disruption of the pressed mass. However, identical diameters prevent easy insertion and removal of the cartridge into/from the support structure. This in turn requires a slightly larger inner diameter of the support structure compared to the outer diameter of the cartridge, i. H. the above-mentioned annular gap between the cartridge and the support structure, which promotes the disruptive pumping behavior. Pumping is a major challenge, especially with large-volume cartridges and containers.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a system consisting of a coaxial cartridge of the type mentioned at the outset and a suitable support structure, into which the cartridge is to be inserted for squeezing out the multi-component mass, with which both easy insertion/removal of the cartridge is possible and that Disturbing, based on elastic restoring forces pumping behavior of the cartridge can be prevented during the squeezing process.

This object is solved by a system according to claim 1. Further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system for storing and dispensing a flowable multi-component mass (hereinafter referred to as mass) is provided. It comprises a coaxial cartridge for storing the multi-component mass and a support structure into which the cartridge is to be inserted for squeezing the mass out of it. The multi-component mass comprises at least a first component and a second component, which are stored separately from one another in the cartridge and are only intended to be mixed with one another when they are dispensed from the cartridge. This can in particular be a sealing or fastening compound such as mortar, adhesive and the like.

The cartridge comprises a hollow-cylindrical cartridge inner wall and a cartridge outer wall which is arranged coaxially (i.e. with the same cylinder axis) around it and which is also cylindrical at least on the inside. The cartridge thus has an inner chamber delimited radially by the cartridge inner wall for receiving the first component of the multi-component mass and an outer chamber arranged radially between the cartridge inner wall and the cartridge outer wall for receiving the second component of the multi-component mass. Even if the following explanation of the invention and the claims usually only speak of these two chambers for two components, further (partial) chambers for other components of the multi-component mass can always be provided inside the cartridge, which are to be used in the same squeezing process discharged from the cartridge and mixed with the first and second components.

On one of its two (in the axial direction) opposite end faces, the cartridge has a cartridge front wall which firmly closes the inner chamber and the outer chamber in the axial direction and in doing so has a discharge opening for the first component in the area of the inner chamber and has a discharge opening for the second component in the area of the outer chamber.

In particular, the cartridge further comprises an inner piston which closes the inner chamber at the rear (i.e. towards the other end side of the cartridge) and can be moved axially therein, and an outer piston which also closes the outer chamber at the rear and can be moved axially therein. The inner piston is designed for squeezing the first component out of the inner chamber and the outer piston for squeezing the second component out of the outer chamber by simultaneously moving both pistons axially towards the cartridge front wall (this is referred to herein as the squeezing process).

For this squeezing process, the system comprises a support structure which is designed to receive and hold the cartridge when the mass is squeezed out of it and for this purpose has an at least partially tubular section-shaped side wall which is at least partially closed on its first end face by a supporting structure front wall designed to support the cartridge front wall. The inner diameter of this side wall is designed to vary or be adjustable in the axial and/or radial direction of the support structure (i.e. can be varied by applying a suitable force in the system or from the outside) such that there is both an annular gap (i.e. play) between the cartridge outer wall and the side wall when Insertion and removal of the cartridge into/from the support structure consists or is adjustable, as well as a tight fit of the side wall against the cartridge outer wall (ie without the mentioned annular gap in between) for the duration of a squeezing process or is adjustable. This support structure can thus allow both easy insertion/removal of the cartridge and close contact with it in the event of squeezing to avoid the disruptive pumping behavior (ie elastic recovery behavior) of the cartridge described at the outset.

In the following, a few different design options will be shown to make the annular gap between the cartridge and the support structure variable in this way:
According to a first embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is also cylindrical on the outside (cf. 1 ). The side wall of the support structure is designed as a cylindrical tube slotted in the axial direction, in particular made of elastically deformable material (e.g. steel). The support structure also has an externally operable closing and opening mechanism for this slot, such that the tube when the slot is open has an inside diameter that is larger by a predetermined double annular gap width than an outside diameter of the cartridge outer wall, while the tube when the slot is closed is narrow against the outer wall of the cartridge. Thus, the support structure lies completely against the cartridge by closing its closing and opening mechanism, pumping of the cartridge when pressure is applied is prevented and the mass can be pressed out. Said predetermined annular gap width can, for example, be just large enough to enable the cartridge to be inserted into and removed from the support structure without any problems.

In particular, the closing and opening mechanism for the slot can be designed as a wedge system (cf. Figures 2-4 ). This includes an axially slotted inner wedge made of two wedge halves, which are attached to the outside of the tube on both sides of its slot and taper in the axial direction of the tube in the shape of a wedge. Furthermore, the wedge system comprises an outer wedge which encloses the inner wedge on the outside and can be displaced axially thereon and has two opposing wedge-shaped inner flanks facing the inner wedge. The wedge-shaped inner flanks of the outer wedge are designed in such a way that when the outer wedge is axially displaced in one direction, they push the two wedge halves of the inner wedge towards one another in the circumferential direction until the slot in the pipe closes as a result. through the axial By shifting the outer wedge in the other direction, the inner wedge and with it the slot in the pipe can be opened again.

In particular, the support structure in this embodiment can have an integrated cover which can be adjusted between an open state for inserting and removing the cartridge and a closed state for holding the cartridge in the support structure and for performing an ejection process. The closing and opening mechanism for the slot can be mechanically coupled to the cover in that the slot is also open when the cover is open and the slot is also closed when the cover is closed.

According to a second embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is conical on the outside and tapers towards the cartridge front wall with a predetermined cone slope (cf. Figures 5a-5b ). The side wall of the support structure also tapers conically on the inside towards the support structure front wall with the same cone gradient as the cartridge outer wall and has the same inner diameter on the support structure front wall as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall on the cartridge front wall. Due to this geometry, there is an annular gap between the cartridge outer wall and the side wall during the insertion of the cartridge into the support structure and the removal of the cartridge from it, which only closes completely when the cartridge front wall hits the support structure front wall. Here too, the support structure for the squeezing process lies completely against the cartridge, so that the mass can be squeezed out without any disruptive resilience of the cartridge outer wall.

In particular, the support structure in this embodiment can be opened and closed again along an axial dividing line in its side wall in order to remove the cartridge inserted therein (cf. 6 ). For this purpose, it can have two side wall segments that can be separated from one another in a reversible manner along this axial dividing line, each of which extends only over a partial angle segment extend circumferentially and are rotatably connected to one another, for example by an axial hinge or other rotary joint, along an axial connection line which lies circumferentially away from the parting line. This can also be used to insert the cartridge into the support structure to make it even easier.

According to a third embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is conical on the outside and widens toward the cartridge front wall with a predetermined cone slope (cf. 7 ). The support structure front wall is designed as a reversibly closable cover for opening the support structure for inserting the cartridge via the first end face of the support structure and for closing the support structure for the duration of a squeezing process. The side wall of the support structure is composed of a cylindrical outer tube and an inner tube inserted into it and mounted in an axially displaceable manner. The inner tube widens conically on the inside towards the support structure front wall with the same cone pitch as the cartridge outer wall and has the same inner diameter on the support structure front wall as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall on the cartridge front wall. The support structure has an axial pressure device on its second end face (for example in the form of a spring that loads the inner tube with spring force in the axial direction), which is designed to press the inner tube against the closed cover. Here too, the support structure for the squeezing process lies completely against the cartridge, so that the mass can be squeezed out without any disruptive resilience of the cartridge outer wall.

According to a fourth embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is also designed to be cylindrical on the outside. The side wall of the support structure consists of an outer tube, which tapers conically on the inside towards the front wall of the support structure with a predetermined cone slope, and an inner tube that is mounted in an axially displaceable (and in particular completely removable) manner, which is cylindrical on the inside and is axially slotted several times to change its diameter. (For manufacturing or stability reasons, the outer tube geometry mentioned can be achieved, for example, by a suitable conical tubular inner layer which is permanently fastened in a stable cylindrical outer tube, for example as in 8 .)

The inner tube tapers conically on the outside toward the support structure front wall with the same cone gradient as the outer tube and has completely closed slits when it rests against the support structure front wall and has the same inner diameter as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall. The support structure has on its second end face an axial pressure device (for example in the form of a spring that loads the inner tube with spring force in the axial direction), which is designed to press the inner tube against the support structure front wall. Here too, the support structure for the squeezing process lies completely against the cartridge, so that the mass can be squeezed out without any disruptive resilience of the cartridge outer wall.

In particular, the inner tube in this embodiment can have carrier hooks that project radially inwards on the second end face of the support structure and are arranged axially behind the outer piston of the cartridge inserted in the support structure (cf. 8 ). The carrier hooks project radially behind the outer piston, so that the outer piston, when it is pulled back after the squeezing process to remove the cartridge, takes the inner tube of the support structure with it via the carrier hooks and pulls it out of the outer tube. As a result, the slits of the inner tube open at the same time and an annular gap is formed between the cartridge outer wall and the side wall of the support structure, which facilitates removal.

According to a fifth embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is also designed to be cylindrical on the outside. The side wall of the support structure is made up of a cylindrical outer tube, several outer rings which are mounted in an axially displaceable manner and which are in axial cross-section each tapering inwards in a trapezoidal or triangular shape (i.e. towards the cylinder axis) and with their broad sides lying against an inside of the outer tube, as well as several inner rings arranged alternately with the outer rings in the axial direction, which partially protrude radially between the outer rings and thereby axial cross-section widen inwards in a trapezoidal or triangular shape (cf. 9 ). Each inner ring has a number of radial incisions or indentations distributed over its circumference to change its diameter (cf. 10 ) so that it can be pressed radially inwards by axially pushing together the adjacent outer rings and its inner diameter can thereby be reduced to the same extent as the outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall, so that it is pressed against the outer wall of the cartridge inserted in the support structure. For this purpose, the support structure has an axial pressure device on its second end face (for example in the form of a spring that loads the outer rings with spring force in the axial direction), which is designed for axially pushing the outer rings together towards the support structure front wall.

In particular, the inner rings on their broad inner sides facing the cartridge can be geometrically complementary to the geometry of the cartridge outer wall and geometrically designed for said interaction with the outer rings in such a way that they completely cover the cartridge outer wall when they rest against it and thus support it radially over the entire surface during the squeezing process.

According to a sixth embodiment, the cartridge outer wall is also designed to be cylindrical on the outside. The side wall of the support structure is composed of a cylindrical outer tube and a hydraulic cushion which rests on the outer tube over its entire radial circumference and at least partially also on the inside of the front wall of the support structure and which is filled with a flowable medium (cf. 11 ).

The hydraulic cushion is designed and dimensioned in such a way that, when the cartridge is inserted in the support structure, it encloses the entire outer wall and at least part of the cartridge front wall. Its inner diameter in its unloaded state, which prevails before and during the insertion of the cartridge into the support structure, is greater than an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall by a predetermined double the annular gap width. On the other hand, the cushion in its loaded state, which occurs with the start of a squeezing process and the associated pressing of the cartridge outer wall against the support structure front wall, comes into close contact with the entire cartridge outer wall due to the immediate escape/displacement of the flowable medium from front wall sections into side wall sections of the cushion. Here too, the support structure for the squeezing process lies completely against the cartridge, so that the mass can be squeezed out without any disruptive resilience of the cartridge outer wall. Said predetermined annular gap width can, for example, be large enough to enable the cartridge to be inserted into and removed from the support structure without any problems.

In particular, the flowable medium can be largely incompressible, at least at pressures that can be achieved during a squeezing process in the system, so that when the outer wall of the cartridge is pressed against the support structure front wall, it is displaced from the front wall sections into the side wall sections of the cushion right at the beginning of the squeezing process, until the the annular gap remaining between the cushion and the outer wall of the cartridge closes. A gel or a liquid, for example, can be suitable as a flowable medium for this purpose. In principle, however, certain gases can also be suitable for the described functionality, which are indeed compressible, but with increasing pressure in the front wall sections of the cushion can quickly escape into the side wall sections and thereby also cause them to swell radially.

In the present case, the cartridge inner wall and the cartridge outer wall can each have a circular cross section. However, this is not absolutely necessary for the functional principle presented here, so that in principle other cross-sectional shapes, such as elliptical or rectangular, can also be implemented.

At least the inner wall of the cartridge and/or the outer wall of the cartridge can be made of plastic. In particular, the entire cartridge can be made of plastic, and its individual components can be made of the same or different types of plastic. In principle, however, other materials, such as metal, can also be used. The same can also apply accordingly to the support structure.

In a specific embodiment, the cartridge front wall has a connecting piece on its side facing away from the inner and outer chambers, into which the dispensing openings of the inner and outer chambers open and which is designed for connecting a mixer for mixing the various components of the multi-component mass during the squeezing process .

Figur 1

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer geschlitzten Stützstruktur des Systems der Fig. 1 mit einem Keilverschluss bei geöffnetem Schlitz;

Figur 3

einen halben radialen Querschnitt der Stützstruktur der Fig. 2 mit dem Keilverschluss bei geöffnetem Schlitz;

Figur 4

axiale Seitenansicht der Stützstruktur der Fig. 2 mit Blick auf deren Keilverschluss bei geöffnetem und geschlossenem Schlitz;

Figur 5a-b

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung mit Ringspalt zwischen Kartusche und Stützstruktur beim Einführen der Kartusche (a) und ohne Ringspalt bei der vollständig eingesetzten Kartusche (b);

Figur 6

einen Querschnitt des Systems der Fig. 5a-b bei einer entlang einer axialen Trennlinie geöffneten Seitenwand der Stützstruktur;

Figur 7

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Figur 8

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Figur 9

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer fünften Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Figur 10

einen radialen Querschnitt eines Innenrings der Stützstruktur der Fig. 9; und

Figur 11

einen Längsschnitt eines Systems gemäß einer sechsten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

The above aspects of the invention and their embodiments and specific configurations are explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The drawings are schematic. They can, but do not have to, be to scale. Show it:

figure 1

a longitudinal section of a system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

figure 2

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a slotted support structure of the system of Figs 1 with a wedge closure with the slit open;

figure 3

a half radial cross-section of the support structure of FIG 2 with the wedge lock with the slit open;

figure 4

axial side view of the support structure 2 looking at their wedge lock with the slit open and closed;

Figure 5a-b

a longitudinal section of a system according to a second embodiment of the invention with an annular gap between the cartridge and the support structure when inserting the cartridge (a) and without an annular gap when the cartridge is fully inserted (b);

figure 6

a cross-section of the system of Fig. 5a-b at a side wall of the support structure opened along an axial parting line;

figure 7

a longitudinal section of a system according to a third embodiment of the invention;

figure 8

a longitudinal section of a system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

figure 9

a longitudinal section of a system according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

figure 10

a radial cross-section of an inner ring of the support structure 9 ; and

figure 11

a longitudinal section of a system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

1 shows an example of a system 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention in an axial longitudinal section, in which a coaxial cartridge 2 for pressing out the multi-component mass contained therein is inserted into a support structure 3, the side wall 13 of which is slotted in one piece Tube with an axial slot 14 (which can only be seen in the views of Figures 2 to 4 can be seen) and a wedge lock (wedge system) as a closing and opening mechanism (cf. Figures 2-4 ) is designed for the slot 14.

The cartridge 2 comprises a hollow-cylindrical cartridge inner wall 4 and a hollow-cylindrical cartridge outer wall 5 arranged around it with a common cylinder axis A, whereby an inner chamber 6 delimited radially by the cartridge inner wall 4 and an outer chamber 7 arranged radially between the cartridge inner wall 4 and the cartridge outer wall 5 are formed. A first component of the multi-component mass to be discharged is accommodated in the inner chamber 6 , while a second component of the multi-component mass is accommodated in the outer chamber 7 (not shown).

at the in 1 On the right-hand side of the first end face of the cartridge 2, its cartridge front wall 8 closes the inner chamber 6 and the outer chamber 7, with one dispensing opening being formed in each chamber in the cartridge front wall 8. The two dispensing openings open into a connecting piece 9, which is formed in the cartridge front wall 8 on the side facing away from the inner and outer chambers 6, 7 and for connecting (e.g. by putting on or screwing on) a mixer (not shown) to the Mixing the first and the second component of the multi-component mass is formed during the squeezing process.

Furthermore, the cartridge 2 comprises an inner piston 10 that closes the rear of the inner chamber 6 and can be moved axially therein, and an outer piston 11 that closes the rear of the outer chamber 7 and can be moved axially therein 1 to the right, the multi-component mass can be squeezed out of the cartridge 2 through the dispensing openings of the cartridge front wall 8 (squeezing process). The support structure 3 is at its in 1 The first end face on the right is closed by a supporting structure front wall 15, which is formed in one piece with the side wall 13 in this example (with the exception of an opening through which the connecting piece 9 of the cartridge 2 protrudes outwards). The support structure front wall 15 serves to support the cartridge front wall 8 during the squeezing process.

As in 1 As shown, an inside diameter of the support structure 3 with the slot 14 open (in Figures 2-4 shown) by a predetermined twice the annular gap width larger than an outer diameter of the cartridge 2, so that a cylindrical annular gap 12 remains between the cartridge outer wall 5 and the side wall 13 of the support structure 3, which facilitates the insertion of the cartridge 5 into the support structure 3.

In order to make the annular gap 12 variable, the side wall 13 of the support structure 3 is 1 as a slotted cylindrical tube, preferably made of an elastically deformable material (e.g. steel). According to the spring-loaded state 1 open axial slot 14 is in the longitudinal section of 1 cannot be seen and is explained below using Figures 2-4 explained:
Figures 2 to 4 14 show the slot 14 and its closing and opening mechanism, which is designed as a wedge system purely by way of example, in three different views. For this shows 2 the support structure 3 of 1 in a perspective view, 3 in a half radial cross-section and 4 in a side view looking at the slot 14 and the wedge system.

The slot 14 extends in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The width of the slot 14 is, for example, approximately 5 mm, sufficient for a tube diameter of approximately 113 mm. The slot width should be selected according to the pipe diameter in order to ensure a sufficient annular gap 12 for inserting/removing the cartridge 2 and a sufficient path for tensioning the support structure 3 and to allow the support structure 3 to fit snugly against the cartridge 2 for the squeezing process.

The closing and opening of the slit 14 by clamping the one-piece, slit tube can be done by means of a wedge system consisting of a slotted inner wedge 16 which is attached to the tube and two wedge halves 16a and 16b extending axially on both sides of the slit 14 , and an outer wedge 17 with wedge-shaped inner flanks 17a and 17b, which can be moved axially on the inner wedge 16 and encloses the two wedge halves 16a and 16b.

If the outer wedge 17 is pushed back in the axial direction, the slotted tube opens due to the spring action of its material. The annular gap 12 ( 1 ) is thus guaranteed. If the enclosing outer wedge 17 is pushed onto the two underlying wedge halves 16a and 16b of the inner wedge 16, the gap 14 in the side wall 13 closes, and the annular gap 12 of the 1 will be eliminated. A firm enclosing of the support structure 3 around the cartridge 2 can thus be made possible. The described open and closed positions of all elements involved are in 4 each indicated by dashed lines.

According to a particularly favorable specific configuration of the system 1, the movement of the enclosing outer wedge 17 is coupled with the closing of a cover (not shown separately) on the dispensing device (i.e. support structure 3), which is provided for reversibly opening the support structure for inserting and removing the cartridge 2 . If this cover is open, an annular gap 12 has formed between the cartridge 2 and the support structure 3 and the cartridge 2 can be pushed in. If the lid is closed, the enclosing outer wedge 17 pulls over the support structure 3 and the annular gap 12 closes as a result. The support structure 3 thus lies completely against the cartridge 2, pumping of the cartridge 2 when pressure is applied is prevented and the mass can be pressed out.

In the following description of further examples of the system 1 of the type set out herein with reference to the Figures 5a-11 will only refer to the differences from the in Figures 1-4 described first embodiment received. In the Otherwise the same can apply analogously to the cartridge 2 and to the support structure 3 as above with reference to FIG 1 described.

Figure 5a-5b each show a longitudinal section of a system 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention with an annular gap 12 between cartridge 2 and support structure 3 when inserting or removing the cartridge 2 ( Figure 5a ) and without annular gap 12 with the completely inserted cartridge 2 ( Figure 5b ). Handy insertion and removal of the cartridge 2 with simultaneous elimination of the annular gap 12 when the cartridge 2 is inserted can be achieved here by conical design of the cartridge 2 on the outside and conical design of the support structure 3 on the inside with as exactly the same cone gradient as possible.

The cartridge 2 tapers towards the front through a conical outer wall (ie toward the cartridge front wall 8). The support structure 3 also has the same geometric configuration, which also tapers towards the front (ie towards the support structure front wall 15). The angles of the cartridge outer wall 5 and the side wall 13 of the support structure 3 are identical. The cartridge inner wall 4 can remain cylindrical and does not require any conical configuration. However, it is not possible to load the squeezing device (support structure 3) from the front. Instead, the cartridge 2 can be inserted axially from the rear or from the side in an in 6 Sketched two-part support structure 3 done. Dividing the conical side wall 13 into two offers the advantage that the cartridge 2 can be removed more easily after it has been pressurized (ie after the squeezing process).

6 shows a cross section of the system 1 of FIG Fig. 5a-b in the case of a side wall 13 of the support structure 3 that is open along an axial dividing line 18. For this purpose, the side wall 13 has two side wall segments 13a and 13b that can be separated from one another in a reversible manner along the axial dividing line 18 circumferentially off the parting line 18 are rotatably connected to each other.

7 shows a longitudinal section of a system 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In order to ensure that the cartridge 2 is inserted from the front, the cartridge 2 tapers here in contrast to FIG Figures 5a-5b backwards and not forwards. For this purpose, the side wall 13 of the support structure 3 has a movable conical element in the form of a conical inner tube 20 which is inserted into a cylindrical outer tube 21 . The inner tube 20 is loaded in the form of springs by means of an axial pressure device 30 arranged on the second end face of the support structure 3 and is mounted in the outer tube 21 in an axially displaceable manner.

If contact occurs between the cartridge 2 and the conical inner tube 20, the entire structure is pushed further into the enclosing support structure 3 until the cartridge front wall 8 is flush with the side wall 13 of the support structure 3 and the support structure front wall 15 can be closed in the form of a lid. With this embodiment, the influence of any diameter tolerances in the cartridge 2 or the support structure 3 can be reduced or eliminated. The removal of the empty cartridge 2 can be supported by the pistons 10/11 of the cartridge 2 or the squeezing device by pushing the empty cartridge 2 forward out of the enclosing cone of the inner tube 20 with the support structure front wall 15 (cover) open.

8 shows a longitudinal section of a system 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. In order to be able to do without a conical design of the cartridge 2, two conical elements are provided in the side wall 13 of the support structure 3: a conical outer tube 22 and a conical inner tube 23. In this example, the conical outer tube 22 consists of a cylindrical outer tube 22a and an integrally connected forwardly tapering tubular inner layer 22b, whose movement axially or radially with respect to the cylindrical outer tube 22a is not possible.

The movable conical inner tube 23, which encloses the cartridge 2, has multiple axial slits (not shown) in order to allow its diameter to change so that it fits tightly against the cartridge 2 for the squeezing process. It is also mounted on the inside of the conical outer tube 22 so that it can move axially and is equipped with an axial pressure device 30 (similar to that in Figure 7 ) spring-loaded to fully support the inserted cartridge 2. In order to be able to insert and remove the cartridge 2, the pistons 10/11 of the cartridge 2 or of the dispensing device can pull back the conical inner tube 23 using its carrier hooks 24 gripping radially and axially behind the piston 11 when the pistons 10/11 return thus an annular gap 12 similar to that 1 form. When the pistons 10/11 advance, they release the axial movement of the conical inner tube 23 again and the springs of the axial pressure device 30 press the inner tube 23 into the cone of the outer tube 22. The diameter of the multi-slotted inner tube 23 narrows, causing it to narrow the cartridge 2 is applied and the annular gap 12 is eliminated, as in 8 shown.

9 shows a longitudinal section of a system 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. It shows a further possibility of a conical design of the side wall 13 of the support structure 3 in a cylindrical cartridge 2 by using many conical inner rings 25, which can be separated in a suitable manner in the radial direction (e.g. by means of radial incisions 33 as in 10 ) are variable in diameter. An axial force F, which is generated, for example, by springs in an axial pressure device 30 as in 7 or 8th can be effected, presses the conical inner rings 25 with their surfaces 26 conical on both sides in the axial direction against adjacent outer rings 27, which also have conical surfaces 28 on both sides in the axial direction and thereby with their widths Pages 29 abut against a cylindrical outer tube 31 of the support structure 3, on which they are mounted axially displaceable.

The axial force F pushes the outer races 27 together axially, forcing the respective inner races 25 therebetween inwardly (as illustrated by radial arrows) through the interaction of the conical surfaces 26 and 28 . At the same time, this requires a reversible diameter reduction of the inner rings 25 through the elastic sealing of their radial incisions 33 ( 10 ). As a result, the inner rings 25 rest against the cartridge 2 with their wide inner sides 32 and eliminate the annular gap 12 ( 1 ). When the axial force F is removed, the diameter of the inner rings 25 increases due to the spring action of the radial incisions 33, and an annular gap 12 is created again between the support structure 3 and the cartridge outer wall 5 (cf. 1 ). Thus, the handy insertion or removal of the cartridge 2 is possible.

10 shows a radial cross section of an inner ring 25 of the support structure 3 of FIG 9 . Shown in an exemplary uniform distribution of radial incisions 33, which allow an elastic change in diameter of the inner ring 25. For this purpose, in this example, many radial incisions 33 are provided alternately on the outside and inside in the inner ring 25, which separate the inner ring 25 only up to about half its radial thickness or only partially beyond it.

11 shows a longitudinal section of a system 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, which illustrates a further embodiment of a support structure 3 with a variable inner diameter with a cylindrically designed cartridge outer wall 5 . Here the inner diameter of the side wall 13 of the support structure varies by hydraulic action. For this purpose, the side wall 13 comprises a cylindrical outer tube 31, inside which a hydraulic cushion 34 is inserted, which encloses the cartridge 2 both on the circumference and on the front contact surface (ie on the cartridge front wall 8). Will pressure from behind on the in the When the piston 10/11 located on the cartridge 2 is applied, the cartridge 2 presses on the end-side front wall section 35 of the hydraulic cushion with a pressing force F1 equal to the squeezing force provided by the squeezing device. The flowable medium in the pad 34 is displaced into the rear side wall section 36 of the pad 34, i.e. the side wall section encompassing the cartridge outer wall 5, whereby its thickness increases radially inwards and the inner diameter becomes correspondingly smaller, so that the pad 34 fully rests against the Cartridge 2 comes, exerting a radial pressure indicated by arrows on it. Thus, the annular gap 12 that prevails in the unloaded state of the system 1 closes (cf. 1 ), so that the cartridge 2 is prevented from expanding under pressure.

Claims (14)

System (1) for storing and applying a flowable multi-component mass, comprising: - a coaxial cartridge (2) with a hollow-cylindrical cartridge inner wall (4) and an at least internally cylindrical cartridge outer wall (5) arranged coaxially around it, with an inner chamber (6) delimited radially by the cartridge inner wall (4) for a first component and a radially intermediate one the cartridge inner wall (4) and the cartridge outer wall (5) lying outer chamber (7) for a second component of the mass; and with a cartridge front wall (8) which firmly closes both chambers (6, 7) on a first end face of the cartridge (2) and has one discharge opening in each chamber; and - a support structure (3) which is designed to receive and hold the cartridge (2) when the mass is pressed out of it and for this purpose has an at least partially tubular section-shaped side wall (13) which is at least partially closed on its first end face by a for supporting the cartridge front wall (8) formed support structure front wall (15); - An inner diameter of the side wall (13) being varied or adjustable in the axial and/or radial direction of the support structure (3) in such a way that an annular gap (12) is created between the cartridge outer wall (5) and the side wall (13) during insertion and Removal of the cartridge (2) in / from the support structure (3) consists or is adjustable, as well as a narrow The side wall (13) rests against the cartridge outer wall (5) for the duration of a squeezing process or can be adjusted. The system (1) of claim 1, wherein - the cartridge (2) further has an inner chamber (6) closing the rear and axially movable therein inner piston (10) and the outer chamber (7) closing the rear and axially movable therein outer piston (11); and - the inner piston (10) for squeezing the first component out of the inner chamber (6) and the outer piston (11) for squeezing the second component out of the outer chamber (7) by simultaneous axial movement of both pistons (10, 11) towards the cartridge front wall (8 ) are formed out in the support structure (3). System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is also cylindrical on the outside; - the side wall (13) of the supporting structure (3) is designed as a cylindrical tube slotted in the axial direction; and - the support structure (3) has a closing and opening mechanism for this slot (14) that can be actuated from the outside, such that when the slot (14) is open, the tube has an inside diameter that is a predetermined twice the annular gap width larger than an outside diameter of the cartridge outer wall (5 ) while the tube is tight against the cartridge outer wall (5) when the slit (14) is closed. The system (1) of claim 3, wherein - the closing and opening mechanism for the slot (14) is designed as a wedge system, comprising: - An axially slotted inner wedge (16) consisting of two wedge halves (16a, 16b) which are attached to the outside of the tube on either side of its slot (14) and taper in the axial direction of the tube in the shape of a wedge; as well as - an outer wedge (17) which encloses the inner wedge (16) on the outside and can be displaced axially thereon, with two opposing wedge-shaped inner flanks (17a, 17b) facing the inner wedge (16) which, when the outer wedge (17) is axially displaced in one direction, Push the wedge halves (16a, 16b) of the inner wedge (16) towards one another in the circumferential direction until the slot (14) in the tube is thereby closed; while the axial displacement of the outer wedge (17) in the other direction allows the inner wedge (16) and with it the slot (14) in the tube to open again. System (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein - The support structure (3) has an integrated lid, which is designed between an open state for inserting the cartridge (2) into the support structure (3) and for removing the cartridge (2) from the support structure (3), and a closed state, which is designed to hold the cartridge (2) in the support structure (3) and to carry out a squeezing process; and - The closing and opening mechanism for the slot (14) is mechanically coupled to the cover such that when the cover is open the slot (14) is also open and when the cover is closed the slot (14) is also closed. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is conical on the outside and tapers towards the cartridge front wall (8) with a predetermined cone pitch; and - The side wall (13) of the support structure (3) tapers conically on the inside towards the support structure front wall (15) with the same cone gradient as the cartridge outer wall (5) and on the support structure front wall (15) has the same inner diameter as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall (5) on the cartridge front wall (8); - so that during the insertion of the cartridge (2) into the support structure (3), there is an annular gap (12) between the cartridge outer wall (5) and the side wall (13), which only opens when the cartridge front wall (8) strikes the support structure front wall (15 ) closes completely. The system (1) of claim 6, wherein - The support structure (3) can be opened and closed again along an axial dividing line (18) in its side wall (13) to remove the cartridge (2) inserted therein, by forming two reversibly separable ones along this axial dividing line (18). side wall segments (13a, 13b) rotatably connected to one another along an axial connection line (19) which is circumferentially remote from the parting line (18). System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is conical on the outside and widens toward the cartridge front wall (8) with a predetermined cone pitch; - The support structure front wall (15) is designed as a reversibly closable cover for opening the support structure (3) for inserting the cartridge (2) via the first end face of the support structure (3) and for closing the support structure (3) for the duration of a squeezing process; - The side wall (13) of the support structure (3) is composed of a cylindrical outer tube (21) and one in this inserted and axially displaceably mounted inner tube (20); - The inner tube (20) widens conically on the inside towards the support structure front wall (15) with the same cone slope as the cartridge outer wall (5) and has the same inner diameter on the support structure front wall (15) as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall (5) on the cartridge front wall (8). ; and - The support structure (3) has an axial pressure device (30) on its second end face, which is designed to press the inner tube (20) against the closed cover. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is also cylindrical on the outside; - The side wall (13) of the support structure (3) is composed of an outer tube (22), which tapers conically on the inside towards the support structure front wall (15) with a predetermined cone pitch, and an inner tube (23) mounted in it so that it can be displaced axially and which is cylindrical on the inside and is axially slotted multiple times to vary its diameter; - The inner tube tapers conically on the outside towards the support structure front wall (15) with the same cone gradient as the outer tube (22) and when it rests against the support structure front wall (15) it has completely closed slots and the same inner diameter as an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall (5); and - The support structure (3) has an axial pressure device (30) on its second end face, which is designed to press the inner tube (23) against the support structure front wall (15). The system (1) of claim 9 when appendant to claim 2, wherein - The inner tube (23) on the second end face of the support structure (3) has carrier hooks (24) which project radially inwards and which are arranged axially behind the outer piston (11) of the cartridge (2) inserted in the support structure (3); - in such a way that the outer piston (11), when it is pulled back after the squeezing process to remove the cartridge (2), takes the inner tube (23) of the support structure (3) with it via its driving hooks (24) and pulls it out of the outer tube (22), whereby at the same time the slits of the inner tube (23) open and an annular gap (12) forms between the cartridge outer wall (5) and the side wall (13) of the support structure (3). System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is also cylindrical on the outside; - the side wall (13) of the support structure (3) is composed of a cylindrical outer tube (31), several outer rings (27) mounted in it so that they can be moved axially and which taper in a trapezoidal or triangular shape in axial cross-section towards the cylinder axis (A) and with whose broad sides (29) rest on an inside of the outer tube (31), as well as several inner rings (25) arranged alternately with the outer rings (27) in the axial direction, which partially protrude radially between the outer rings (27) and thereby in the axial direction Expand the cross-section in each case in a trapezoidal or triangular shape towards the cylinder axis (A); - Each inner ring (25) has a plurality of radial incisions (33) distributed over its circumference for changing its diameter, such that it can be pressed radially inwards by axially pushing together the adjacent outer rings (27) and its inner diameter can thereby be equal to the outer diameter the cartridge outer wall (5) can be reduced so that it against the Outer wall (5) of the cartridge (2) inserted in the support structure (3) is pressed; and - The support structure (3) has an axial pressure device (30) on its second end face, which is designed for axially pushing the outer rings (27) together towards the support structure front wall (15). The system (1) of claim 11, wherein - the inner rings (25) on their broad inner sides (32) facing the cartridge (2) coincide geometrically with the geometry of the cartridge outer wall (5) and are geometrically designed for said interaction with the outer rings (27) in such a way that when they abut the cartridge outer wall (5) completely cover it and thereby support it radially over the entire surface during the squeezing process. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - The cartridge outer wall (5) is also cylindrical on the outside; - the side wall (13) of the support structure (3) is composed of a cylindrical outer tube (31) and a hydraulic cushion (34) lying on the inside of the outer tube (31) over its entire radial circumference and at least partially also on the front wall (15) of the support structure, which is filled with a flowable medium; - the hydraulic cushion (34) is designed and dimensioned in such a way that, when the cartridge (2) is inserted in the support structure (3), it encloses the entire outer wall (5) and at least part of the cartridge front wall (8), with its inner diameter in its unloaded state, which prevails before and during the insertion of the cartridge (2) into the support structure (3), by a predetermined double annular gap width greater than an outer diameter of the cartridge outer wall (5), whereas in its loaded state, which occurs with the start of a squeezing process and the associated pressing of the cartridge outer wall (5) against the supporting structure front wall (15), the cushion (34) is released by the immediate escape of the flowable medium from its front wall section (35) into its side wall section (36 ) comes into close contact with the entire outer wall of the cartridge (5). The system (1) of claim 13, wherein - The flowable medium is incompressible at least at pressures that can be reached during a squeezing process in the system (1).

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