GB2334072A

GB2334072A - Dispenser and delivery arrangement of a flowable preparation

Info

Publication number: GB2334072A
Application number: GB9818326A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-03
Filing date: 1998-08-24
Publication date: 1999-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-24
Also published as: AU743944B2; GB9718571D0; WO1999011543A3; CA2304710A1; AU8879398A; WO1999011543A2; GB2334072B; GB9818326D0; ZA986771B

Abstract

A dispenser comprises an elongate hollow cylindrical body 1 open at one end 2 and closed at the other end 3 by a discharge port 4 covered by a frangible membrane. A quantity of a flowable preparation occupies a space 7 within the body 1 between the part 4 and a disc-shaped mass 8 of a thick extrudable material inert to the flowable preparation. The mass 8 is seated on a piston 9 which has a thruster 13 engaging the other side of the piston. A compression spring 15 is housed between the thruster 13 and a closure 11 at the end 2 of the body 1. The force of the spring 15 can be released by removing a wing nut (not shown) from the end of a screw-threaded rod 16 passing loosely through a plain hole 18 in the closure 11 and being screwed at the other end into a screw-threaded hole 17 in the thruster 13. A delivery arrangement for diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry can be close-coupled to the discharge port 4. The delivery arrangement comprises a flexible tubular member 21 inserted and sealed within a hole 40 in a material 41 such as timber or masonry. A Tee-adaptor 22 couples the discharge port 4 with the member 21 and the arms of the adaptor 22 permit a screw-driver to be inserted into the member 21 so as to seal the member 21 in the hole 40. After removal of the screw-driver a closure plug 25 is applied to prevent escape of the flowable preparation. A protective cover 44 is also shown.

Description

DISPENSER AND DELIVERY ARRANGEMENT OF A FLOWABLE PREPARATION DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a dispenser and delivery arrangement particularly for diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a dispenser of a flowable preparation, comprising an elongate hollow body having a discharge port at one end, a quantity of a flowable preparation occupying a space within the body between the discharge port and a mass of material, a piston means slidable within the body for carrying the mass, and biassing means operatively associated with the piston means for pressurising the flowable preparation for discharge through the discharge port, the mass reacting to the pressurisation of the flowable preparation to lubricate the piston means relative to the body and assist in sealing against escape of the flowable preparation past the piston means and also to purge the flowable preparation from the body as the piston reaches the discharge port.

One embodiment of this aspect of the invention has advantages in that it is simple and without modification is capable of dispensing flowable preparations ranging in viscosity from liquid to glutinous, is self-purging, inexpensive to produce, has a long storage life, is simple to activate at its intended point of use and remains viable in use over an extended period.

In this embodiment the body is cylindrical and is open at its other end, the piston means has a seat on its discharge port side carrying the mass, a closure is fixed to the body at its otherwise open end, a thruster engages the piston means on its closure side but only in its central region, the biassing means is in the form of a coiled compression spring housed in the body between the thruster and the closure, and a releasable restraining means is provided for the spring whereby the force therein, when compressed, can be released to act on the piston means, via the thruster, to pressurise the flowable preparation for discharge through the discharge port.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a delivery arrangement for a flowable preparation, the arrangement including an elongate flexible tubular member having one end intended for insertion into a pre-bored hole in a material such as timber or masonry, and having the other end intended for coupling to a discharge port of a dispenser, and at the one end an internally threaded part, a hollow externally threaded member for threaded engagement with the internally threaded part, either the internally threaded part or the externally threaded member having a formation for engagement with a driving tool inserted through said one end of the tubular member, and a resilient annular portion located between portions of the internally threaded part and the externally threaded member, whereby relative rotation of said part and said member produces radial expansion of the resilient annular portion sealingly to engage the wall of the pre-bored hole.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry, comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the material, forming an assembly of a dispenser according to the first apsect of the invention, and a delivery arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, inserting and sealing the flexible tubular member of the said delivery arrangement within the hole in the material, discharging the flowable preparation through the discharge port by means of pressurising the preparation within the body of the dispenser and delivering the preparation through the delivery arrangement and into the material.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of testing the suitability or otherwise of a material for diffusion thereinto of a flowable preparation, comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the material, providing a delivery arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, inserting and sealing the flexible tubular member within the hole in the material, and applying to the delivery arrangement a source of forced fluid flow provided with means for indicating any resistance through the material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a dispenser; Fig. 2 is a cross-section, to an enlarged scale, through a delivery arrangement for use with the dispenser in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a cross-section, to an enlarged scale, through a modified delivery arrangement for use with the dispenser in Fig.1; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 show, to a smaller scale, successive stages in a sequence of the use of the dispenser and delivery arrangement in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 9 is a cross-section, at a less reduced scale, through the combined dispenser and delivery arrangement fitted and in use as in Fig.8 but with an optional protective cover; and Figs. 10 and 11 show successive stages following those shown in Fig.s 4 and 5 and to the same scale, in a sequence of use of the dispenser and delivery arrangement in Figs.

1 and 3.

In Fig. 1, a dispenser comprises an elongate hollow cylindrical body 1 open at one end 2 and closed at the other end 3 by a discharge port 4 covered by a frangible membrane 5. The port 4 has external screw-threading 6 for connection with an internally screw-threaded cap end of a delivery arrangement to be described later and secured to a material such as timber or masonry. A quantity of a flowable preparation occupies a space 7 within the body 1 between the port 4 and a disc-shaped mass 8 of a thick extrudable material inert to the flowable preparation. A piston means 9 is slidable within the body 1 and has a seat 10 on its discharge port side carrying the mass 8. A closure 11 of similar form to the piston means 9 is fixed at the end 2 by means of staples 12. A thruster 13 engages the piston means 9 on its closure side but only in its central region 14.

A biassing means in the form of a coiled compression spring 15 is housed in the body 1 between the thruster 13 and the closure 11. A releasable restraining means for the spring 15 is provided in the form of a screw-threaded rod 16 one end of which is threadedly received in a screw-threaded hole 17 in the thruster 13. The other end of the rod 16 passes loosely through a plain hole 18 in the closure 11 and is threadedly received in a wing nut 19. A pressure relief hole 20 is provided in the wall of the body 1.

The rod 16 may be screw-threaded only sufficiently for use with the nut 19, and provided with an enlarged head to engage within a suitable recess within the thruster 13.

The nut 19 may be replaced by a circlip received within a circumferential recess in the rod or a ring or split-pin inserted through a hole across the rod.

The body 1 is filled with a predetermined quantity of a flowable preparation while inverted from the attitude shown in Fig. 1. The piston means 9, carrying the mass 8, is then inserted into the open end 2 of the body 1 and pushed down towards the surface of the flowable preparation, air pressure under the mass 8 being freely relieved until the mass 8 passes the hole 20. Thereafter air leakage through the hole 20 is restricted by the piston means 9 until ultimately the piston means 9 and the mass 8 are stopped by the flowable preparation, the residual air trapped above the surface of the flowable preparation becoming compressed. At this point the mass 8 deforms in a radially outward direction and seals against the further escape of compressed air or of the flowable preparation past the piston means 9 from the space 7. Following the introduction into the open end 2 of the piston means 9, carrying the mass 8, and the pressing down of these to a stop, a subassembly is inserted into the open end 2. This sub-assembly consists of the thruster 13, the spring 15 under compression, the rod 16 screwed at one end into the hole 17 in the thruster 13, the closure 11 and the wing nut 19 with the other end ofthe rod 16 passing through the plain hole 18 in the closure 11 and screwed into the wing nut 19. The closure 11 is then fixed in the open end 2 by the staples 12. In this condition, the dispenser may be stored for an extended period for use when required.

Referring to Fig. 2, a delivery arrangement includes a flexible tubular member 21 to be easily inserted into a pre-bored hole (not shown in Fig. 2). At one end of the member 21 there is attached a means for coupling with a dispenser of a flowable preparation such as in Fig. 1. The coupling means is in the form of a Tee-adaptor 22 of which one arm 23 is inserted into and deforms the said one end of the member 21. The other arm 24 of the adaptor 22 may be closed by a closure plug 25. The leg 26 is internally screw-threaded at 27 for threadedly receiving the threading 6 of the port 4 in Fig. 1. The depth of the leg 26 is such that when the port 4 is fully screwed home into the leg 26 the frangible membrane 5 protrudes into the passage between the arms 23 and 24.

The arrangement also comprises a cylindrical nut 28, a hollow screw 29 a washer 30 and a resilient annular portion 31. The screw 29 has a shank 32 for threaded engagement with the nut 28, and an enlarged head 33 having a formation for driving engagement by a screw-driver 42 (not shown in Fig.2). As shown the formation is a cruciform recess 34 opening into the hollow interior of the screw 29. The head 33 forms a shoulder 35 with the shank 32. In forming the arrangement, a sub-assembly consisting of the screw 29, the washer 30 and the portion 31, is pushed into the member 21 until the free end of the shank 32 protrudes from the free end of the member 21 and the free end of the portion 31 is flush with the free end of the member 21. The nut 28 is then screwed onto the free end of the shank 32 and into engagement with the free ends of the member 21 and the portion 31. In this condition, the assembled nut 28, screw 29, washer 30, portion 31 and member 21 may be inserted into a pre-bored hole, e.g. in the timber shown in Fig. 4. A cruciform-tipped screw-driver 42 (not shown in Fig. 2) may be inserted into the member 21 and engaged with the cruciform recess 34 in the head 33 of the screw 29.

On turning the screw 29, relatively to the nut 28 and the member 21, the distance between the screw head 33 and the nut 28 can be shortened. This shortening causes the portion 31 between the washer 30 and the nut 28 to be radially expanded, and locally form a secure and tight seal inside both the hollow bore of the member 21 and the pre-bored hole 40 at 43 (see Fig.7).

The body 1 in Fig. 1 is a commonly available component of a mastic dispenser and in Fig. 3 the adaptor 22 of Fig. 2 is replaced by an adaptor formed of two parts 36 and 37 cut from a nozzle commonly available as another component of a mastic dispenser. The adaptor part 36 has an internally screw-threaded end 38 for threadedly receiving the threading 6 of the port 4 in Fig. 1 The nozzle as supplied with a mastic dispenser, tapers from the end 38 and part 37 is a portion cut from further along the taper. The free end of the member 21, which is longer than in Fig. 2 is flared by the insertion therein of the part 37 and this flared end is fitted into the tapering end of the part 36, via the open end 38, so that a tight seal is provided. The remainder of the delivery means in Fig. 3 is the same as in Fig. 2 and the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same parts.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 there is now described successive stages in a sequence of use of the dispenser and delivery means in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 4 a hole 40 is drilled in timber 41. In Fig. 5 the frangible membrane 5 is cut from the discharge port 4 of the body l having the wing nut 19 visible at the opposite end of the body 1. In Fig. 6 the delivery means in Fig. 2, without the closure plug 25, is screwed onto the discharge port 4 at the leg 26 of the Tee-adaptor 22. In Fig. 7 the member 21 is pushed into the hole 40 in the timber 41 so that the body 1 comes alongside the timber 41. A screw-driver 42 has a cruciform tip inserted through the legs 24 and 23 of the adaptor 22, a passage for this purpose having been cleared by the removal of the frangible membrane 5 in Fig. 5. The screw-driver 42 is pushed further until its tip engages the recess 34 in the head 33 of the screw 29 (Fig. 2) and the screw is turned so as to expand the portion 31 and thereby provide a seal between the portion 31 and the member 21, and a seal between the member 21 and the hole 40 at 43. In Fig. 8, the screw-driver 42 has been removed, the closure plug 25 has been tapped into the arm 24 of the Tee-adaptor 22 and the wing nut 19 has been removed so as to release the spring 15 for diffusing the flowable preparation into the timber 41.

Fig. 9 shows the dispenser and delivery arrangement in Figs. 1 and 2 at the stage reached in Fig. 8 and after having had a protective cover 44 applied. As the released spring 15 applies its force the thruster 13 presses further against the central region 14 of the piston means 9. This causes the mass 8 not only to seal around the piston means 9 but also to act as a lubricant against sticking during the very slow movement of the piston means 9 along the body 1 as the flowable preparation is dispensed through the discharge port 4. Dispensing of the flowable preparation continues until the piston means 9 reaches the end 3 of the body 1 and the mass 8 changes its shape so as to fill and be extruded from the port 4 so as to purge the flowable preparation from the body 1 and the delivery means.

In achieving the installation it is to be noted that there are two safety features used, namely a) the need to remove the frangible membrane 5 and thereby open the port 4 ready for dispensing the flowable preparation before applying the screw-driver 42 to seal the member 21 in the hole 40 in the timber 41; and b) the need to remove the protruding wing nut 19 and thereby release the spring 15 and initiate the dispensing of the flowable preparation before applying the protective cover 44.

These features are useful particularly when the dispenser and delivery arrangement are obscured from view by a protective cover e.g. on the outer surface of a Timber Electricity Distribution Pole.

Instead of blanking off one arm 24 of the Tee-adaptor 22 a longer member 21 may be joined to each of the arms 23 and 24 so that a single dispenser can supply two delivery means.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11 which show successive stages following those shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in a sequence of use of the dispenser and delivery arrangement in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 10 the delivery arrangement in Fig. 3 has the member 21 pushed into the hole 40 in the timber 41. Following this the screw-driver 42 has its cruciform tip inserted through the nozzle part 36 and into the member 21 until its tip engages the recess 34 in the head 33 of the screw 29 (Fig. 3) and the screw is turned so as to seal the member 21 in the hole 40 at 43. In Fig. 11 the screw-driver 42 has been removed and the dispenser in Fig. 1 has been screwed into the nozzle part 36 at the discharge port end of the body 1, the frangible membrane 5 having been removed as shown in Fig. 5.

Thereafter, the wing nut 19 is removed so as to release the spring 15 and initiate the diffusing ofthe flowable preparation into the timber 41.

A Tee-piece like the Tee-adaptor 22 in Fig. 2 may be embodied in the dispenser and used instead of the adaptor 22. Instead of the membrane 5, a frangible membrane may be provided in each of the arms 23 and 24 so as to close the space 7. On inserting the screw-driver tool through the arms 23 and 24 and into the flexible tubular member 21 the two membranes would be broken to allow the flowable preparation occupying the space 7 and the mass 8 to be delivered through the flexible tubular member 21.

The plug assembly in Fig. 2 or 3 may also be used to test a particular pre-bored hole where it is intended to use such a hole for the diffusion of a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry over an extended period. This may be done by applying to the tubular member 21 installed in the hole, a hand- or foot-operated pump or pressurised cylinder for the forced delivery of, e.g. air, water or smoke, with an audible or visual means for indicating any resistance to fluid flow through the material. If there was insufficient build up of pressure in the pre-bored hole this would indicate the existence of fissures or voids connected to the hole. This would indicate that the hole was in most instances unsuitable for the diffilsion of a flowable preparation over an extended period.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A dispenser of a flowable preparation, comprising an elongate hollow body having a discharge port at one end, a quantity of a flowable preparation occupying a space within the body between the discharge port and a mass of material, a piston means slidable within the body for carrying the mass, and biassing means operatively associated with the piston means for pressurising the flowable preparation for discharge through the discharge port, the mass reacting to the pressurisation of the flowable preparation to lubricate the piston means relative to the body and assist in sealing against escape of the flowable preparation past the piston means and also to purge the flowable preparation from the body as the piston reaches the discharge port.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical and is open at its other end, the piston means has a seat on its discharge port side carrying the mass, a closure is fixed to the body at its otherwise open end, a thruster engages the piston means on its closure side but only in its central region, the biassing means is in the form of a coiled compression spring housed in the body between the thruster and the closure, and a releasable restraining means is provided for the spring whereby the force therein, when compressed, can be released to act on the piston means, via the thruster, to pressurise the flowable preparation for discharge through the discharge port.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the closure, the thruster, the coiled compression spring and the releasable restraining means together form a sub-assembly which can be inserted into the open end of the body following the introduction into the body of the flowable preparation and the subsequently inserted piston means carrying the mass.
4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the releasable restraining means comprises a screw-threaded rod, one end of which is threadedly received in a screw-threaded hole in the thruster, the other end of the rod passing loosely through a plain hole in the closure and being threadedly received in a nut releasable from the rod.
5. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the discharge port has external screw-threading and is covered by a frangible membrane.
6. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the discharge port is formed in a Tee-piece of which the leg communicates with the space in the body and each of the two arms has a frangible membrane therein and is capable of being blocked off by a separate closure or connected to another flexible tubular member.
7. A dispenser of a flowable preparation, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A delivery arrangement for a flowable preparation, the arrangement including an elongate flexible tubular member having one end intended for insertion into a pre-bored hole in a material such as timber or masonry, and the other end intended for coupling to a discharge port of a dispenser, and at the one end an internally threaded part, a hollow externally threaded member for threaded engagement with the internally threaded part, either the intemally threaded part or the externally threaded member having a formation for engagement with a driving tool inserted through said one end of the tubular member, and a resilient annular portion located between portions of the internally threaded part and the externally threaded member, whereby relative rotation of said part and said member produces radial expansion of the resilient annular portion sealingly to engage the wall of the pre-bored hole.
9. A delivery arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the internally threaded part is a nut and the externally threaded part is a hollow screw having a shank for threaded engagement with the nut and an enlarged head having the said formation and forming a shoulder with the shank, and the resilient annular portion being disposed between the shoulder and the nut and surrounding the shank.
10. A delivery arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, also including a Tee-adaptor of which one arm is inserted into and deforms the said end of the flexible tubular member, the other arm is capable of being blocked-off by a separate closure or connected to another flexible tubular member and permits insertiOn of the driving tool into the tubular member, and the leg can be screwed into the discharge port of the dispenser.
11. A delivery arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, also including an adaptor formed from a tapered nozzle which has a tight seal with the said one end of the flexible tubular member and which can be screwed onto the discharge port of the dispenser.
12. A delivery arrangement for a flowable preparation, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A delivery arrangement for a flowable preparation, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
14. An assembly of a dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a delivery arrangement according to claims 8 or 9.
15. An assembly of a dispenser according to claim 5, and a delivery arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the frangible membrane requires to be removed from the discharge port of the dispenser before the driving tool can be inserted through the arms of the Tee-adaptor and into the flexible tubular member of the delivery arrangement.
16. An assembly of a dispenser according to claim 6, and a delivery arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the frangible membranes in the arms of the Tee-piece of the dispenser can be broken by the insertion of the driving tool through the arms of the Tee-piece and into the flexible tubular member of the delivery arrangement.
17. An assembly of a dispenser of a flowable preparation and a delivery arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8,and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
18. An assembly of a dispenser of a flowable preparation, and a delivery arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figs. 1, 3, 5, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
19. A method of diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry, comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the material, forming an assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 18, and inserting and sealing the flexible tubular member within the hole in the material, discharging the flowable preparation through the discharge port by means of pressurising the preparation within the body of the dispenser and delivering the preparation through the delivery arrangement and into the material.
20. A method of diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of diffusing a flowable preparation into a material such as timber or masonry, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of testing the suitability or otherwise of a material for diffusion thereinto of a flowable preparation, comprising the steps of drilling a hole in a material, providing a delivery arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, inserting and sealing the flexible tubular member within the hole in the material, and applying to the delivery arrangement a source of forced fluid flow provided with means for indicating any resistance through the material.