Foam mixing system
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorsLaurence B Saidman, Warren N. Strong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mixing system mixes liquid adhesive and gas to create a solution. The mixing system it a manifold defining an adhesive input that receives the liquid adhesive, a gas input that receives the gas, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the adhesive and gas inputs, an output that outputs the solution, and an output passage extending from the mixing chamber to the output. The mixing system also includes a rotor that rotates within the mixing chamber about a longitudinal axis so as to mix the solution, a motor that rotates the rotor, and a static mixer positioned within the output passage that statically mixes the solution flowing through the output passage.
Claims20
A mixing system configured to mix a solution comprising a liquid adhesive and a gas, the mixing system comprising:
- a manifold configured to receive the solution, a mixing chamber in fluid communication disposed in the manifold, and an output in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and configured to output the solution;
- a rotor configured to rotate within the mixing chamber so as to mix the solution, wherein the rotor and the manifold are configured such that a shear rate between the rotor and the manifold is greater than 100 reciprocal seconds when the rotor rotates at less than 100 revolutions per minute (RPM);
- and
- a motor configured to rotate the rotor at less than 100 RPM such that the rotor mixes the solution at the shear rate of greater than 100 reciprocal seconds.
A method of mixing a solution comprising a liquid adhesive and a gas in a mixing system, the method comprising:
- receiving the solution in a mixing chamber of the mixing system;
- and
- rotating a rotor of the mixing system within the mixing chamber at less than 100 revolutions per minute (RPM) such that the rotor mixes the solution at a shear rate of greater than 100 reciprocal seconds.
A mixing system configured to mix liquid adhesive and gas to create a solution, the mixing system comprising:
- a manifold defining an adhesive input configured to receive the liquid adhesive, a gas input configured to receive the gas, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the liquid adhesive and gas inputs, an output configured to output the solution, and an output passage extending from the mixing chamber to the output;
- a rotor having an outer surface that is curved about a longitudinal axis that extends in a longitudinal direction, the rotor having a plurality of teeth extending out from the outer curved surface;
- a motor configured to rotate the rotor within the mixing chamber about the longitudinal axis so as to mix the solution;
- a plate rotationally fixed to an end of the rotor, the plate defining a plurality of teeth that extend therefrom along a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a stator positioned within the mixing chamber and defining a plurality of teeth extending therefrom along the longitudinal direction towards the plate such that at least some of the teeth of the plate and stator are disposed between one another;
- wherein each tooth of the rotor extends from a base to a tip and defines a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface along a longitudinal direction, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface along a circumferential direction;
- wherein the front surface has a surface area;
- wherein a gap is defined between adjacent ones of the teeth of the rotor along the circumferential direction, the gap having a cross-sectional area;
- and
- wherein a ratio of the surface area of the front surface to the cross-sectional area of the gap is less than 0.5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.