Mixing block for mixing multi-component reactive material coating systems and an apparatus using same

A mixing block for mixing components of a multi-component system as the components flow through the mixing block comprising:

• a block;
• at least one mixing chamber within the block;
• at least two component inlets, formed in the block, wherein each component inlet receives a respective component or components of the multi-component system at an upstream end of the mixing block;
• a solvent inlet upstream of the at least one mixing chamber, wherein the solvent inlet receives, at the upstream end of the mixing block, solvent for use in cleaning the mixing block;
• a mixed material reservoir adjacent a downstream end of the mixing block;
• at least two flow channels, wherein an upstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to at least one of the component inlets and a downstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to the mixed material reservoir, the flow channels intersecting each other at an angle of between about 25.degree. and 90.degree.;
• and
• the mixed material reservoir being connected to an outlet;
• wherein the number of component inlets and the number of intersecting flow channels is equal to or greater than the number of components in the multi-component system.

An apparatus for applying a multi-component coating system comprising:

• (A) a block;
• at least one mixing chamber within the block;
• at least two coating component inlets, formed in the block, wherein each coating component inlet receives a respective coating component or components of the multi-component system at an upstream end of the mixing block;
• a solvent inlet upstream of the at least one mixing chamber, wherein the solvent inlet receives, at the upstream end of the mixing block, solvent for use in cleaning the mixing block;
• a mixed material reservoir adjacent a downstream end of the mixing block, wherein the mixed material reservoir is connected to an outlet;
• at least two flow channels, wherein an upstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to at least one of the coating component inlets and a downstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to one mixed material reservoir, the flow channels intersecting each other at an angle of between about 25.degree. and 90.degree.;
• and
• a through passage having a first end and a second end;
• a passage;
• wherein the solvent inlet is connected to the first end of through passage, wherein the second end of the through passage is connected to the passage, wherein the passage is connected to both the first coating component inlet and the second coating component inlet;
• (B) a solvent storage reservoir;
• (C) a solvent pump;
• (D) a first solvent conduit connecting the solvent storage reservoir to the solvent pump;
• (E) a control device and second and third solvent conduits, wherein the second and third conduits connect the solvent pump to the control device, wherein the control device selectively enables the flow of either solvent or coating components;
• (F) a fourth solvent conduit device which connects the control device to the mixing block;
• (G) at least two coating component reservoirs;
• (H) a coating component pump;
• (I) a first set of at least two coating component conduits which connect the at least two coating component reservoirs to the coating components pump;
• (J) a second set of at least two coating component conduits which connect the coating component pump to the control device, wherein the control the control device selectively enables the flow of either solvent or coating components;
• (K) a third set of at least two coating component conduits, wherein each of the at least two coating component conduits connect the control device the mixing block;
• (L) a conduit which connects the mixing block to an air driven sprayer head;
• and
• (M) at least one source of compressed air and at least one air conduit which connects the at least one source of compressed air to the air driven sprayer head;
• wherein the mixing block for mixing the at least two coating components of the multi-component coating system contains at least three inlets with at least one inlet dedicated to the input of solvent and the remaining inlets are dedicated to the input of the coating components, wherein the mixing block for mixing the at least two coating components of the multi-component coating system contains at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber, wherein the at least two coating components each enter at least one leg of the at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber separately and mix at the each intersection of the at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber.

An apparatus for applying a multi-component coating system comprising:

• a block;
• at least one mixing chamber within the block;
• at least two coating component inlets, formed in the block, wherein each coating component inlet receives a respective coating component or components of the multi-component coating system at an upstream end of the mixing block;
• a mixed material reservoir adjacent a downstream end of the mixing block;
• at least two flow channels through the block, wherein an upstream end of each the flow channels is connected to at least one of the coating component inlets and a downstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to one mixed material reservoir and wherein between the upstream end and the downstream end each of the at least two flow channels is connected to the mixing chamber;
• the mixed material reservoir being connected to an outlet;
• and
• at least one of each of a storage device, a pump, a conduit and an application device which store, pump, supply and apply, respectively, the coating components of the multi-component coating system.

An apparatus for applying a multi-component system comprising:

• (A) a block;
• at least one mixing chamber within the block;
• at least two component inlets, formed in the block, wherein each component inlet receives a respective component or components of the multi-component system at an upstream end of the mixing block;
• a solvent inlet upstream of the at least one mixing chamber, wherein the solvent inlet receives, at the upstream end of the mixing block, solvent for use in cleaning the mixing block;
• a mixed material reservoir adjacent a downstream end of the mixing block;
• at least two flow channels, wherein an upstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to at least one of the component inlets and a downstream end of each of the flow channels is connected to one mixed material reservoir, the flow channels intersecting each other at an angle of between about 25.degree. and 90.degree.;
• a solvent chamber, wherein the solvent chamber is connected to both the solvent inlet and the upstream ends of the intersecting flow channels;
• the mixed material reservoir being connected to an outlet;
• (B) a solvent storage reservoir;
• (C) a solvent pump;
• (D) a first solvent conduit which connects the solvent storage reservoir to the solvent pump;
• (E) a control device and second and third conduits, wherein the second and third conduits connect the solvent pump to the control device, wherein the control device selectively enables the flow of either solvent or components;
• (F) a fourth solvent conduit device which connects the control device to the mixing block;
• (G) at least two component reservoirs;
• (H) a component pump;
• (I) a first set of at least two component conduits which connect the at least two component reservoirs to the component pump;
• (J) a second set of at least two component conduits which connect the component pump to the control device, wherein the control device selectively enables the flow of either solvent or components;
• (K) a third set of at least two component conduits, wherein each of the at least two component conduits connect the control device to the mixing block;
• (L) a conduit which connects the mixing block to an air driven sprayer head;
• and
• (M) at least one source of compressed air and at least one air conduit which connects the at least one source of compressed air to the air driven sprayer head;
• wherein the mixing block for mixing the at least two components of the multi-component system contains at least three inlets with at least one inlet dedicated to the input of solvent and the remaining inlets are dedicated to the input of the components, wherein the mixing block for mixing the at least two components of the multi-component system contains at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber, wherein the at least two components each enter at least one leg of the at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber separately and mix at each intersection of the at least one substantially X-shaped mixing chamber.