US2982992A

US2982992A - Applicator device

Info

Publication number: US2982992A
Application number: US785038A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Brown; Arthur J Foley
Original assignee: Thermon Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Thermon Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1959-01-05
Filing date: 1959-01-05
Publication date: 1961-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-09

Description

y 1961 w. E. BROWN EIAL 2,982,992

APPLICATOR DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V\// 0/77 1F. Brown A ffiu/ Fo/ey 1 INVENTORS iew #M y 1961 w. E. BROWN ETAL 2,982,992

APPLICATOR DEVICE.

Filed Jan. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/V////0/77 E. firown flrf/u/r Fo/ey INVENTORJ ATTORNEKJ United States Patent- Office 2,982,992 Patented May 9, 1961 APPLICATOR DEVICE William E. Brown, Houston, Tex., and Arthur J. Foley, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Thermon Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Texas Filed Jan. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 785,038

8 Claims. (Cl. 18-3.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in applicator devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved applicator device which is particularly suitable for rapidly applying a mass of heat transfer material or other putty-like material to cover steam tracer lines, cooling coils, tubular type electrical heater lines, and similar elongate elements without forming air pockets or void spaces in the material as it is applied.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved applicator device for applying a puttylike material in a mass under pressure for covering various types of elements while moving the applicator device rapidly relative to the element being covered.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved applicator device wherein a putty-like material is applied through a surge chamber for evenly distributing such material under pressure so that air spaces or voids in the applied, material are prevented and the external surface of the applied material is smooth and of uniform thickness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for applying a covering of puttylike material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent to a curved or flat surface which is greater in width than said elongate element so that said apparatus is adapted to engage said surface for sliding movement relative thereto without engaging said elongate element.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings. forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation view, partly in section, illustrating the preferred form of the device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of Fig. l and illustrating also adjacent elongate elements which have been covered or are to be covered in accordance with the use of the device of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that it shows a modified construction wherein the forming element is formed with flat sides rather than being cylindrical as in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, but it illustrates a further modification wherein the forming element is formed with two fiat sides which come together at a point; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but it illustrates the device of this invention in use wherein the elongate element being covered is adjacent to a curved or tubular surface.

In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the applicator device or apparatus of this invention which is adapted to apply a. putty-like material M such as a heat transfer material sold under the trademark Thermon to an elongate element E positioned on a surface P. As will be explained in detail, the device or apparatus A of this invention is adapted to apply the material M to the elongate element E to cover same by forcing the material M into a space S (Fig. 2) between the forming element 10 of the apparatus or device A and the elongate element E as the apparatus or device A is moved longitudinally with respect to the elongate element E.

The apparatus or device A of this invention includes a forming element or member 10 which is arched so as to extend around the element E which is being covered with the material M. The forming element 10 may be described as U-shaped in all forms of the invention, although the U may be varied so that it takes the shapes illustrated in Figs. 2-5 of the drawings, as will be more fully explained. In the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the forming element 10 is substantially semi-cylindrical and the lower edges 10a define an opening 10b therebetween which extends for the full length of the forming element 10. The radius of the semi-cylindrical forming element 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 is greater than the diameter of the elongate element which is being covered with the putty-like material M so that the space S between the forming element '10 and the elongate element E is always provided. Stated differently, the height and the width of the forming element 10, as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, are both greater than the height and width of the elongate element being covered with the putty-like material M.

A surge or reservoir chamber 12 is provided on the forming element 10 by welding or otherwise aflixing the chamber 12 to the forming element 10. Of course, it is conceivable also that the forming element 10 could be formed integrally with the chamber 12. The forming element 10 forms the lower part of the chamber 12 so. as to completely close the chamber 12 except for openings 10c which are provided in the portion of the forming element 10 which is the bottom of the chamber 12. In the preferred form of the invention, the openings 10c are positioned on each. side of the uppermost or midpoint of the forming element 10 so that the forming material M is initially directed to the sides and lower areas of the elongate element E to thereby remove any air or voids which may otherwise form in such areas during the application of the material M to the elongate element E, as will be more fully explained.

The chamber 12 has an upper nipple section 12a which has internal threads 12b for threading engagement with a threaded pipe or tube 14 having threads 14a thereon. The threaded pipe or tube 14 is directly connected with a source of the putty-like material M under pressure (not shown). The source of the putty-like material under pressure may be a hand gun or a piston and cylinder arrangement or a tank which is subjected to pneumatic pressure. In any event, the pipe or tube 14 leads into the interior of the chamber 12 for supplying the material M to the interior of the chamber 12 under pressure so that such material M can be discharged through the holes or openings to the space or area S between the forming element 10 and the elongate element E.

It is to be noted that the lower edges 10a of the forming element 10 are in engagement with the surface P so that the material M which is forced under pressure through the openings 16c into the space S is confined by the forming element 10 around the element E to cover the element E insofar as it is out of contact with the surface P. It is also to be noted that since the lower edges 19a of the forming element 10 engage the surface P and slide relative thereto during use, the upper or mid portion of the forming element 10 is spaced well above the upper portion of the element E so that a mass of the putty-like material M is applied to the upper portion and the sides of the element E insofar as the element E is exposed and out of contact with the surface P.

To facilitate the movement of the apparatus or device A of this invention, such device A includes a handle 20 which may be formed of wood or other material and which is secured to a handle shank 21 which is welded at 22 to the forming element 10. The handle 20 is preferably secured to the shank 21 with a nut 23 which is threaded on the threaded end 21a of the shank 21. The alignment of the handleZtl longitudinally with the length of the forming element 19- facilitates the movement of the entire device or apparatus A longitudinally with respect to the elongate element. E.

In the use of the apparatus or device of this invention, the apparatus A is positioned over the elongate element E which is to be covered with the putty-like material M. The lower edges a of the forming element 10 engage the surface P in sliding contact therewith as the apparatus A is moved relative to the elongate element E. Under normal circumstances, the elongate element E is a steam tracer line, a cooling coil, a tubular type electrical heater line or similar tracer element in which it is desired to transfer heat with the fluid flowing in the element E. The material M is also preferably a heat transfer material such as the material sold under the trademark Thermon so that the objective in applying the material M is to completely enclose or cover the element E to improve the heat transfer between the fluid or liquid flowing in the element E and the fluid or liquid which is confined by the tank or pipe, the surface of which is designated by the letter P in the drawings.

Therefore, it is important to apply the material M in a mass around the element E without forming any voids or air pockets in the material M as it is applied. Any voids or air pockets which are formed in the material M as it is applied reduces the heat transfer value of the material.

With the device or apparatus A of this invention, the heat transfer material M or other material in a putty-like form is applied to the element E to cover same very rapidly and without the forming of voids or air pockets in the material M as it is applied to the element E. In Fig. 2, several stages in the use of the apparatus or device A of this invention are illustrated. At the left hand side of Fig. 2, a portion of the element E is illustrated as having the material M already formed thereon. The central figure in Fig. 2 wherein the apparatus A is also illustrated, shows the stage of use wherein the material M is being applied to cover the element E, or the portion thereof which is below the forming element 10 at that particular time. The element E which is shown at the right in Fig. 2 is shown to illustrate the appearance of the element E on the surface P prior to the application of the material M thereto.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the apparatus A of this invention and such modified form is identified in Fig. 3 with the designation A1. All of the parts of the apparatus or device A-l are identical with the parts of the apparatus or device A in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the shape of the forming element lit) is modified as compared to the shape of the forming element 10. The forming element 110 may be said to be U-shaped, but the sides thereof are fiat as distinguished from the curved sides illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Although the flat-sided U-shaped forming element 110 could be utilized with various types of elongate elements E, normally the shape illustrated for the forming element 110 would be utilized with tracer element which are also rectangular or square in shape. The same material M would be applied from the chamber 12 and it would be supplied under pressure through the inlet pipe or tube 14.

In Fig. 4 a further modified form of the invention is shown, but the back sides of the device is illustrated as compared to the front side in Figs. 2 and 3. The position of the handle 20 in Fig. 4 will make the difference in position of the device shown in Fig. 4 as compared to Figs. 2 and 3 evident. The forming element 210 in the device A-Z of Fig. 4 is formed with converging sides which come to a point at the uppermost or mid-portion so as to form an angular member which in the broad sense may still be considered a U-shaped member, although because of the fact that the sides come to a point, it is actually a V-shaped member. In any event, the device or apparatus A2 is used in the same manner as explained in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 for applying a covering or coating of the material M to an elongate element E which is positioned adjacent to a surface P of a tank, pipe or similar structure.

Fig. 5 is identical in all respects with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and only the shape of the surface P has been modified to make it clear that the invention is not limited to the application of the material M to an element E located on a flat surface. In other words, in Fig. 5, the surface P is curved and could be the surface of a pipe, housing or other curved member which would be contacted by the lower edges 10a of the forming element 10 in the same manner as such edges contact the flat surface P illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Therefore, it will be evident that the use of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 would be identical to that explained previously in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator device for applying a covering of putty-like material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent a flat or curved surface, comprising a forming element adapted to be positioned over a portion of said elongate element with a space therebetween, a surge chamber mounted on said forming element, means establishing communication from said surge chamber to said forming element, and means for connecting a source of said putty-like material under pressureto said surge chamber to force said material into said space as said element is moved longitudinally relative to said elongate element, said forming element being arched around said elongate element and spaced therefrom, said forming element having a greater height and width than said elongate element so that a mass of said material is applied over said elongate element to cover the portion thereof which is out of contact with said surface, and said means establishing communication including a hole on each side of said forming element below the mid-point thereof for directing said putty-like material to the sides of said elongate element first whereby the tendency to trap air in pockets is eliminated.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said forming element is substantially semi-cylindrical.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein the midportion of said forming element is pointed to correspond with a V-shape.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said forming element is formed with flat sides so that the forming element is a flat-sided U-shape.

5. An applicator device for applying a covering of putty-like material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent a flat or curved surface, comprising a forming element adapted to be positioned over a portion of said elongate element with a space therebetween, a surge chamber mounted on said forming element, said surge chamber having an inlet thereto, means establishing communication from said surge chamber to said forming element, means for connecting a source of said putty-like material under pressure to said inlet of said surge chamber to force said material into said space as said element is moved longitudinally relative to said elongate element, said means establishing communication including a hole on each side of said forming element below the midpoint thereof for directing said putty-like material to the sides of said elongate element first whereby the tendency to trap air in pockets is eliminated, and each of said holes on said forming element being laterally offset with respect to the axis of said inlet to said surge chamber whereby said material is directed from said inlet into said surge chamber in a direction which is offset from said holes.

6. An applicator device for applying a covering of putty-like material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent a flat or curved surface, comprising a forming element adapted to be positioned over a portion of said elongate element with a space therebetween, said forming element being substantially U-shaped with the edges adjacent the open portion thereof being disposed for engagement with said surface, and said forming element having a greater height and width than said elongate element so that a mass of said material is applied over said elongate element to cover the portion thereof which is out of contact with said surface, a surge chamber mounted on said forming element, a source means for urging said putty-like material into said surge chamber, said surge chamber having an inlet thereto for receiving said putty-like material from said source means, said surge chamber being positioned on an intermediate portion of said forming element above said edges on said forming element, and means establishing communication from said surge chamber to said forming element.

7. An applicator device for applying a covering of putty-like material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent a flat or curved surface, comprising a forming element adapted to be positioned over a portion of said elongate element with a space therebetween, a surge chamber mounted on said forming element, a source means for urging said putty-like material into said surge chamber, said surge chamber having an inlet thereto adapted to receive said putty-like material from said source means, said surge chamber having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said inlet to said surge chamber, and means establishing communication from said surge chamber to said forming element.

8. An applicator device for applying a covering of putty-like material to an elongate element which is positioned adjacent a flat or curved surface, comprising a forming element adapted to be positioned over a portion of said elongate element with a space therebetween, a surge chamber mounted on said forming element, a source means for urging said putty-like material into said surge chamber, said surge chamber having an inlet thereto for receiving said putty-like material from said source means, said surge chamber being positioned on an intermediate portion of said forming element, said surge chamber having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said inlet to said surge chamber, means establishing communication from said surge chamber to said forming element, means for connecting said source means of said putty-like material under pressure to said inlet to said surge chamber to force said material into said space as said element is moved longitudinally relative to said elongate element, said forming element having a greater height and width than said elongate element so that a mass of said material is applied over said elongate element to cover the portion thereof which is out of contact with said surface, said means establishing communication including a hole on each side of said forming element below the mid-point thereof for directing said putty-like material to the sides of said elongate element first whereby the tendency to trap air in pockets is eliminated, and each of said holes on said forming element being laterally offset with respect to the axis of said inlet to said surge chamber whereby said material is directed from said inlet into said surge chamber in a direction which is offset from said holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,701 Boyle Jan. 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 44,751 France Jan. 14, 1935