US 4,240,999 A · Method for introducing multi-component foam reactants into mold form involving the use of a foaming spacer

Abstract

A method for introducing reactants into molds and articles produced. The method involves placing a body member into a receptacle located on a turntable; aligning the body member within the receptacle; positioning a foaming spacer on the body member around an aperture in the body member; lowering a liner on a plug fixture into the body member so that the foaming spacer abuts both the body and the spaced apart liner; inserting a foam machine head into the aperture in the body; injecting suitable reactants through the head, through the spacer, into the chamber formed between the liner and the body; maintaining the contact between the head and the body for a few seconds to allow the reactants to activate and set; removing the head from the aperture of the body; and further rotating the turntable to allow the reactants time to cure. The apparatus for facilitating the introduction of reactants is the foaming spacer of the above method. The foaming spacer has a circular base ring and a circular top ring which are connected by a plurality of ribs. An opening is provided between each pair of ribs so that reactants flowing through the circular base ring, flow through the openings between the ribs, and into the chamber formed by the body and liner. Due to the force of the plug fixture and the force of the head, seals are created where the head contacts the spacer and where the spacer contacts the body.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for introducing foam into a mold having an aperture in its bottom and having walls enclosing a space within the mold, the method comprising the steps of

placing the mold on a turntable,
positioning a foaming spacer having a plurality of openings therethrough within the mold so that one opening of the foaming spacer overlies the aperture of the mold and so that the foaming spacer maintains the separation between the walls of the mold,
rotating the turntable so that the mold with the foaming spacer in place is in position to receive a foam head of a foaming machine,
inserting the foam head forcefully through the aperture of the mold and into the foaming spacer, so that the foam head is held in sealing contact with the foaming spacer,
injecting foam through the head and through the openings of the foaming spacer into the space within the mold,
maintaining the head in position in the foaming spacer long enough for the foam to activate and set,
removing the head from the foaming spacer and from the aperture of the mold, and
rotating the turntable and leaving the mold containing the foam on the turntable while it rotates long enough for the foam to cure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for introducing multi-component foam reactants into mold form involving the use of a foaming spacer

Life of this patent

Method for introducing multi-component foam reactants into mold form involving the use of a foaming spacer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5