Method and apparatus for the production of polymeric foam
AssigneeUnifoam AG
InventorNicholas C. Vreenegoor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In the production of polymeric foam in particular polyurethane foam slabstock, a mixture of foam reactants is allowed to expand in a closed mould while substantially atmospheric pressure is maintained above the upper surface of the foam. After expansion is completed, air is supplied to the foam upper surface and noxious gases in the foam are removed through one or more apertures in the lower region of the mould. Preferably, the air supplied is dry. Removed gases may be collected for re-cycling. Air may be supplied during foam expansion. Various mould aperture arrangements and means for progressively covering the mould are described.
Claims30
A method of manufacturing polymeric foam, comprising depositing a mixture of foam reactants in a mould, closing the mould and allowing the reactants to react and expand therein;
- maintaining at substantially atmospheric pressure the space within the mould above the upper surface of the reacting and expanded foam whilst preventing escape to the atmosphere of substantially all gases emanating from the foam, supplying air to the upper surface of the expanded foam following full expansion thereof, drawing at least some of said supplied air downwardly through the foam to entrain gases present therein, extracting the air and entrained gases from the mould through an outlet located in the lower region thereof, and collecting said entrained gases.
Apparatus for manufacturing polymeric foam, comprising a mould (1,2 or 40), means (21) for depositing a mixture of foam reactants in said mould and a closure (3,44) for said mould, said closure (3,44) permitting the interior of the mould to be maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure, means (6) for supplying air to the mould below and adjacent said closure, an air outlet (5a,86) located in the lower region of said mould, air extraction means (10,68) connected to said outlet for drawing supplied air from adjacent said closure means downwardly through said mould and through said outlet, and means (12,15,18;
- 70-73) connected to the output of said air extraction means for collecting gases such as emanate from polymeric foam during manufacture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.