Method and apparatus for mixing and applying material
AssigneeOwens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
InventorsRobert J. O'Leary, Christopher Relyea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for mixing and applying a bead of material. For example, the bead of material can be used to seal gaps cracks and seams of a building. The apparatus includes a supply machine and an applicator. The supply machine provides each of the parts of the material to the applicator at a controlled rate. The applicator mixes the parts of the material at a nozzle. The applicator provides a bead (rather than spraying) of the mixed material through the nozzle. The bead of material may be applied in a precise manner to seal gaps, cracks and seams of an existing building and/or the bead may be provided during new construction of a building between components of the building.
Claims16
An apparatus for mixing and applying a bead of material comprising:
- a supply machine that includes:
- a first container;
- a first pump coupled to the first container for metering a first material from the first container to a first line;
- a second container;
- a second pump coupled to the second container for metering a second material from the second container to a second line;
- and
- an applicator that includes:
- a first pneumatically-actuated valve that receives the first material from the first line;
- a second pneumatically-actuated valve that receives the second material from the second line;
- a nozzle that receives the first and second materials from the first and second valves;
- a control in communication with the first pump, the second pump, the first pneumatically-actuated valve, and the second pneumatically-actuated valve, such that activation of the control sends a pump command signal to operate the first pump and the second pump and, simultaneously, sends pressurized control air to open the first pneumatically-actuated valve and the second pneumatically-actuated valve to supply the first and second materials to the nozzle, mix the first and second materials in the nozzle, and dispense a bead of the first and second materials with the nozzle;
- and
- a manifold having a first material inlet, a first material outlet, and a first valve stem receiver, and wherein the first pneumatically-actuated valve includes a first valve stem, and wherein opening the first pneumatically-actuated valve includes retracting the first pneumatically-actuated valve stem from the first valve stem receiver to allow the first material to flow from the first material inlet to the first material outlet.
An apparatus for mixing and applying a bead of material comprising:
- a supply machine that includes:
- a first container;
- a first pump coupled to the first container for metering a first material from the first container to a first line;
- a second container;
- a second pump coupled to the second container for metering a second material from the second container to a second line;
- and
- a purge fluid container;
- an arrangement for delivering the purge fluid to a purge fluid line;
- and
- the applicator further comprises:
- a purge fluid valve that receives the purge fluid from the purge fluid line;
- wherein the nozzle receives the purge fluid from the purge fluid valve.
- an applicator that includes:
- a first pneumatically-actuated valve that receives the first material from the first line;
- a second pneumatically-actuated valve that receives the second material from the second line;
- a nozzle that receives the first and second materials from the first and second valves;
- a control in communication with the first pump, the second pump, the first pneumatically-actuated valve, and the second pneumatically-actuated valve, such that activation of the control sends a pump command signal to operate the first pump and the second pump and, simultaneously, sends pressurized control air to open the first pneumatically-actuated valve and the second pneumatically-actuated valve to supply the first and second materials to the nozzle, mix the first and second materials in the nozzle, and dispense a bead of the first and second materials with the nozzle;
- and
- a manifold that receives first material from the first line, second material from the second line, and purge fluid from the purge line, the manifold including a first material outlet, a second material outlet, and a purge outlet, wherein the manifold is connected to the nozzle and wherein the purge fluid exits the purge outlet where the first material and the second material first mix in the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.