GB2214592A

GB2214592A - Cartridge for securing fixing elements in substrate and method of forming the same

Info

Publication number: GB2214592A
Application number: GB8801344A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Schott; James Mcewan
Original assignee: CHEMFIX Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CHEMFIX Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-25
Filing date: 1988-01-21
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-21
Also published as: GB8801344D0; AU8184287A; GB2214592B; AU576707B2

Abstract

A tubular cartridge is used in securing an element such as a rock bolt in a substrate. The cartridge is formed by a first outer film being sealed at its edges and by a second barrier film extending longitudinally therewithin, the barrier film substantially dividing the formed tubular cartridge into two compartments, one being a resin reactive compartment and the other being a catalyst compartment, in which the second barrier film between the compartments is of a lesser strength than the first outer film to premote mixing. The outer film may be a trilaminate, and the barrier film a bilaminate or a single layer. <IMAGE>

Description

CARTRIDGE FOR USE IN SECURING FIXING ELEMENT IN SUBSTRATE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAkE THIS INVENTION relates to cartridges for securing fixing elements in substrates, such as for example securing anchor bolts in rock bore holes.

It is known to provide cartridges for such uses, and such cartridges are for example known from prior Australian patent specifications Nos 480004, 481651 and 503447. Essentially, such cartridges contain interactive components of a selfsetting mix which are contained within separate compartments of a cartridge. On the cartridge being ruptured, such as on being placed in a bore hole and on a rock bolt being passed into the bore hole, the components will react together, such as to form a bonding agent or resin to assist in holding the rock bolt within the bore hole.

The present invention recognizes the existence of such prior cartridges and methods of forming cartridges. However, many of the known forms of cartridge are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture. Further, not all known cartridges work or act effectively. The present invention sets out to overcome or minimize the problems occasioned up until this time and also sets out to provide the public and industry with a useful alternative choice of product.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a tubular cartridge for use in securing a fixing element in a substrate, formed by a first outer film being sealed about its edges so as to have a generally elongate and cylindrical shape, and an elongate, second barrier film being passed longitudinally therewithin, and which substantially divides said cartridge into two compartments, one being a reactive resin compartment and the other being a catalyst compartment; said barrier film between said compartments being of a lesser strength than said first film.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a method of forming a tubular cartridge for use in securing a fixing element in a substrate, wherein said tubular cartridge is of a generally cylindrical shape, comprising drawing a first film around a reactive resin feed tube and an adjacent but spaced apart catalyst feed tube, by use of a forming member, so as to form a substantially tubular shape about said feed tubes; and thereafter sealing said first film only, to form a sealed tube extending about said feed tubes; substantially contemporaneously feeding a second film of a lesser strength than the first film into and through a space between said feed tubes, so that said second film is located and extends between said feed tubes and extends substantially longitudinally between inner sides of and within, said sealed tube formed by said first film, so as to form a barrier between, and defining, at least two compartments within said cartridge.

This invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an arrangement for use in forming cartridges according to one form of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic end view along lines A-A of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic end view along lines B-B of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end view of a filled cartridge along lines C-C of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

In manufacturing the cartridge according to the present invention, a main or outer first cartridge film is used and for example may be provided in a roll of film material.

Preferably the film material is a trilaminate material such as for example a polymeric linear terephthalate ester coated on both sides with a heat-sealable film. Thus, the first film being the main cartridge film moves from a supply roll (not shown) and passes through and relative to a forming member.

The arrangement also provides for two feed tubes which are substantially elongate in formation and parallel but spaced apart one from the other. The first feed tube is a resinous feed tube and this is of a larger diameter than the second lower and spaced apart tube, which is a catalyst feed tube.

The resin feed tube and catalyst feed tubes lead from and are connected to appropriate supplies of resin and catalyst. As will be appreciated from the accompanying drawings, the feed tubes are marginally spaced apart one from the other, the catalyst feed tube being smaller in diameter than the resin feed tube and being spaced apart from and below the resin feed tube.

The forming member relative to which the main cartridge film passes forms the main cartridge film or first film into a tubular form with overlapping edges or with adjacent edges with an overlap plastic portion. The first or main cartridge film is formed into a tubular shape which extends completely about both the resin feed tube and the catalyst feed tube.

The main cartridge film continues to be fed to the forming member and immediately after being formed into the generally tubular form, the first film is sealed into a tubular form.

Reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings will show that a heat-sealer preferably seals the film at its overlap. As an alternative to an overlap or in addition thereto, an additional strip of film such as plastic film may bridge the film where it meets and assist in the seal. This is not however essential.

Substantially contemporaneously with the forming of the main tubular cartridge using the main or first cartridge film, an additional film is taken from a film supply, and is fed and advanced through the former between the resin feed tube and the catalyst feed tube.

This second film is a barrier or dividing film. This film can be of any particular weight or thickness but is preferred to be of a thickness less than the thickness of the first or main cartridge film. The second or barrier film is preferably a bilaminate material such as for example a non-heat-sealable film with one side coated with a heat-sealable film. Alternatively, the second or barrier film may be a single layer film.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous in having a second or barrier film of less overall strength and thickness than the first or main cartridge film, as such a lesser thickness and strength in the second or barrier film assists with the breaking of the barrier between components, when the cartridge is ruptured in use, this thereby facilitating rapid mixing of the components, which is particularly important for the efficient performance of the cartridge.

The second or barrier film continues to be advanced and fed into the tubular cartridge as it is also formed and advanced, such that sides of the barrier or second film come into juxtaposition with or abut against inner surfaces of the main cartridge film. The barrier or second film tends to be held in this position as the films pass and advance down the former and over and around the feed tubes. This passage is by way of appropriate feed means such as for example four-wheel drive units and the like. Any appropriate feed means or passage means can however be provided. It is preferred that the method take place substantially horizontally and longitudinally, as this has been found to be far more commercially acceptable and efficient from, for example, vertical methods and means of forming.

The barrier or second film is held in position between the resin feed tube and catalyst feed tube after the sealing of the outer or first film. In some cases, the barrier or second film will itself, frictionally, hold against the inner surfaces of the main or first film.

Following this formation, and on actuation of automatic mechanisms or on actuation of manual mechanisms, resinous matter is caused to issue from the resin feed tube, the resin passing into the larger or upper compartment formed by the dividing barrier or second film.

Contemporaneously with, during or following the issuance of the resinous matter from the resin feed tube, the catalyst feed tube is activated and catalyst will issue from the feed tube. Thus, as the films advance in general direction of arrow F, and move away from the feed tubes, the resultant tubular cartridge will have two compartments, one (generally the upper and larger compartment) having resinous matter therein, while the smaller (and generally lower) compartment has catalyst therein.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, in one form of the invention, during or after the entry of resin and catalyst, heat-sealing may be applied to the cartridge so as to heat-seal portions of the second or barrier film to the internal surface of sides of the first or main film.

However, any such sealing is always after and completely separate from the sealing of the first or main cartridge film as referred to with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, this shows an end crosssectional view of a tubular cartridge when filled with both resinous matter and catalyst, and when the second or barrier film has been sealed in position to sealably separate the resin and catalyst.

It should be appreciated however, in particular from the above description with particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, that such sealing is not essential, and that the barrier or second film can serve to adequately separate the resin and catalyst one from the other, without sealing, in that the barrier or second film may hold itself against the inner surfaces of the first film.

Referring further to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, when the barrier film or second film is not sealed, the weight and amount of resinous matter issuing therefrom, especially having regard to the larger diameter of the resin feed tube (relative to the diameter of the catalyst feed tube) may cause the barrier or second film to move downwardly and form against and over the catalyst feed tube, so as to in effect form a substantially inverted "U" form in which will be found the resinous matter, the remainder of the barrier or second film being pressed against the inner surface of the main or first film, and thus securely holding the catalyst in position, separately from the resinous matter, until the cartridge is ruptured during use.

It has been found that by having the second or barrier film of a lesser thickness and strength than the first film, there are substantial advantages in use, given that the film will break more easily and allow for the better mixing of components, during use.

It should be appreciated that this invention has been described by way of example only and that improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tubular cartridge for use in securing a fixing element in a substrate, formed by a first outer film being sealed about its edges so as to have a generally elongate and cylindrical shape, and an elongate, second barrier film being passed longitudinally therewithin, and which substantially divides said cartridge into two compartments, one being a reactive resin compartment and the other being a catalyst compartment; said barrier film between said compartments being of a lesser strength than said first film.

2. A tubular cartridge as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said barrier film is sealed within and to said first film, independently of, and separately from, the seal of said first film.

3. A tubular cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first outer film is a trilaminate and the second barrier film is a bilaminate.

4. A tubular cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said second barrier film is a single layer and said first outer, film is a trilaminate.

5. A tubular cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein ends of said cartridge are constricted and sealed.

6. A method of forming a tubular cartridge for use in securing a fixing element in a substrate, wherein said tubular cartridge is of a generally cylindrical shape, comprising drawing a first film around a reactive resin feed tube and an adjacent but spaced apart catalyst feed tube, by use of a forming member, so as to form a substantially tubular shape about said feed tubes; and thereafter sealing said first film only, to form an outer sealed tube extending about said feed tubes; substantially contemporaneously feeding a second film of a lesser strength than the first film into and through a space between said feed tubes, so that said second film is located and extends between said feed tubes and extends substantially longitudinally between inner sides of, and within, said outer sealed tube formed by said first film, so as to form a barrier between, and defining, at least two compartments within said cartridge.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein reactive resin from said reactive resin feed tube is released into a first compartment, and wherein after or during said reactive resin release, catalyst is released from said catalyst feed tube into a second compartment, said tubular cartridge being thereafter advanced, constricted and sealed.

8. A method as claimed in either of Claims 6 or 7, wherein the second film which forms the barrier to divide the cartridge into separate compartments, is sealed to inner sides of said first film after and separately from, the sealing of said first film.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein the tubular cartridge is formed and advanced, substantially horizontally and longitudinally.

10. A tubular cartridge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of forming a tubular cartridge, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.