Generating Foamed Plastic Patents (Class 422/133)
  • Patent number: 6527431
    Abstract: A combined mixing and injecting device includes a housing having a pressure chamber and containing two plungers with one being sleeved around the other. The plungers have top ends formed with pistons which respectively extend into upper and lower chambers of the pressure chamber to be operated by a fluid, and bottom ends with tapering end faces extending into a bottom space below the lower chamber to perform a camming action. A mixer disposed below the housing includes a mixing chamber and valve units having valve stems respectively controlled by actuating elements which in turn are managed by the camming action of the plungers. The valve stems are connected to slide seats slidable along radial directions and spaced apart around the housing. The actuating elements actuate the slide seats so that the valve stems are operated to open or close inlet holes communicated with the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Taiwan Footwear Research Institute
    Inventors: Kelven Chen, Lin-Chih Huang
  • Patent number: 6502978
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of a polyurethane mixture is described. The apparatus comprises a high-pressure mixing device provided with a mixing chamber opening onto a side of a discharge duct. An elongated cleaning member is reciprocable inside the duct and is provided with a longitudinal channel for feeding a fluidized reinforcing material, for example reinforcing fibers or a reinforcing material in powder or granulate form, to be blended with the polyurethane mixture flowing into the discharge duct. The feeding channel for the reinforcing material terminates at the front end of the cleaning member, at a point where the flow of reinforcing material impinges the polyurethane mixture which emerges from the mixing chamber under high turbulence conditions. Blowing nozzles are provided to generate air jets for repeatedly deviating the flow of blended polyurethane mixture and reinforcing material flowing out from the discharge duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Afros S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Bonansea, Carlo Fiorentini
  • Publication number: 20020110499
    Abstract: A cartridge set (1) for dispensing in-situ foam, with polyol being contained in one cartridge (2) and isocyanate being contained in another cartridge (3), and with both cartridges (2, 3) opening into a common, elongated mixing nozzle (9), via which foam (S) produced from the substances as components is dispensed, wherein portions (18) of expandable graphite are contained at least in one of the cartridges (2, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Goslin Van Herpen
  • Patent number: 6353053
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and corresponding device for incorporating expanded graphite in a gentle manner into a polyurethane reactive mixture and, on the other hand, processes and corresponding means for reducing or preventing sedimentation of the expanded graphite in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Friedrichs, Uwe Künzel, Kurt Krippl, Klaus Schulte
  • Patent number: 6280692
    Abstract: A novel apparatus has been discovered which is of value in the production of polyurethane foam. This invention relates to a one-pass, on-demand apparatus for producing a controlled, homogeneous blend of the polyol-blowing agent mixture used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam using either a low-boiling point or high-boiling point blowing agent. An apparatus is provided to control the amount of each material in the mixture, ensure homogeneous blending of the two materials after mixing, a pressure control means to maintain blowing agents in their liquid state (where necessary), and a monitoring means which allows rapid verification of the operating status of the entire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Blentek Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Walker Bartlett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6277333
    Abstract: The production of foam which occurs in many chemical and physical materials conversion processes can be avoided by performing the materials conversion process in an ascending jet reactor, including a baffle-free container with a tapering lower section, preferably a conical lower section, and a device for gas injection, and the contents of the reactor are thoroughly mixed by means of ascending jet circulation caused by gas injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Rüdiger Schütte, Alexander Ruhs, Ivan Pelgrims
  • Publication number: 20010001602
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the production of a polyurethane mixture is described. The apparatus comprises a high-pressure mixing device provided with a mixing chamber opening onto a side of a discharge duct. An elongated cleaning member is reciprocable inside the duct and is provided with a longitudinal channel for feeding a fluidized reinforcing material, for example reinforcing fibers or a reinforcing material in powder or granulate form, to be blended with the polyurethane mixture flowing into the discharge duct. The feeding channel for the reinforcing material terminates at the front end of the cleaning member, at a point where the flow of reinforcing material impinges the polyurethane mixture which emerges from the mixing chamber under high turbulence conditions. Blowing nozzles are provided to generate air jets for repeatedly deviating the flow of blended polyurethane mixture and reinforcing material flowing out from the discharge duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Applicant: ALBERTO BONANSEA
    Inventors: ALBERTO BONANSEA, CARLO FIORENTINI
  • Patent number: 6159442
    Abstract: Processes for use of a controlled continuous high pressure multiple reactant streams flowing into a chemical mixer/reactor. Individual reactant streams are pressurized to about 8,000 to 50,000 psi and achieve velocities up to about 250 meters/second in the final stage of the chemical mixer/reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: MFIC Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Thumm, Michael A. Lento, Jerome S. Higgins, David Lassen King, David Mark Ginter, Laurent DAny Kieken
  • Patent number: 6079867
    Abstract: A high-pressure self-cleaning mixing apparatus adapted to mix at least first and second reactive polyurethane-forming components and feed the mixed components to a mold is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least a mixing chamber, first and second feed passages, first and second recycle passages, and a cleaning member having at least first and second longitudinally-extending recycle grooves spaced from each other. The cleaning member is movable between an open position in which the first feed passage radially feeds the first polyurethane-forming component to the mixing chamber and a closed position in which the first longitudinally-extending recycle groove communicates the first feed passage with the first recycle passage to recycle the first polyurethane-forming component instead of feeding the first polyurethane-forming component to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Afros S.P.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Fiorentini, Alberto Bonansea
  • Patent number: 6065862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-pressure mixing head for mixing at least two reactive plastic components, containing a mixing chamber, into which there lead two injection nozzles arranged opposite one another for the components, a proportioning piston which is displaceable in the mixing chamber and a settling and outflow chamber with a cleaning slide extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the mixing chamber, characterized in that the settling chamber and the cleaning slide have a substantially rectangular cross-section with an axial ratio from 10 to 100. The axial ratio is defined as the ratio of the width of the settling chamber and the cleaning slide to the thickness of the settling chamber and cleaning slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Florian Thiebes
  • Patent number: 6042649
    Abstract: A polyimide coating device includes a bubble sensor for sensing the supply of a polyimide from a main polyimide storage tank. The coating device also includes an auxiliary storage tank filled with a predetermined amount of polyimide at all the times. A discharge pipe is connected to the auxiliary storage tank such that any gas introduced into a supply pipe between the main storage tank and the auxiliary storage tank is easily discharged prior to the polyimide entering a reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-suu Song, Tae-sin Park, Tae-un Lim, Sung-il Jung
  • Patent number: 6033104
    Abstract: A device for removing plastics residue from a cleaning piston having an end face and a mixer head outlet pipe of a counter-current injection mixer head, wherein the device comprises a stripping plunger having a stripping edge; a mortar for receiving the stripping plunger, the mortar comprising an outlet opening for disposing the plastics residue from the mortar which is disposed at an angle to an impact face of the mortar; a hydraulic device for bringing the mixer head and the stripping plunger towards each other in the cleaning position, in which the stripping edge of the stripping plunger is aligned with the end face of the cleaning piston, wherein the axis of the cleaning piston is situated between the mortar and the stripping plunger; and a hydraulic device for moving the stripping plunger parallel to the end face of the cleaning piston into the mortar and towards the impact face of the mortar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hennecke GmbH
    Inventor: Ferdinand Althausen
  • Patent number: 5992825
    Abstract: An expansion device for doing work comprised of a housing including first and second selectively expandable sections defining an internal chamber which contains a chemical motor. Upon activation of the chemical motor, the first and second chamber are driven apart with sufficient force to allow the device to do work. The chemical motor is generally an irreversible reaction which causes the expansion device to be maintained in an expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Technical Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward E. Vollenweider, II
  • Patent number: 5980836
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preparing low-concentration polyaluminosilicate microgels from a water soluble silicate and a strong acid in which the silicate and acid are mixed at a rate to produce a Reynolds number of at least 4000, the mixture is aged and then diluted to a silica concentration of not more than 1.0 wt. %. The method achieves reduced silica deposition during the preparation of the microgels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert Harvey Moffett, John Derek Rushmere
  • Patent number: 5948367
    Abstract: The device serves to meter at least two free-flowing components and to convey metered quantities of the components into a mixer in which a reactive compound is formed from the metered quantities. For each component the device contains, as metering and conveying means, in each case at least one pump, a flow meter and a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is subdivided by a flexible diaphragm into a first part-volume, which in each case receives one of the components, and a second part-volume which can be acted upon by incompressible fluid. When a starting component containing abrasive substances is used, to avoid sedimentation of the abrasive substances during metering and conveying, the pressure vessel which receives the abrasive component is designed and arranged in such a way that the abrasive component fed into its first part-volume rests on the flexible diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Micafil Vakuumtechnk AG
    Inventors: Paul Gmeiner, Rolf Altemeier
  • Patent number: 5935277
    Abstract: In a reforming reactor suitable particularly for the water vapor reforming of methanol in mobile applications such as vehicles, a reaction space is filled with a catalyst pellet fill and has a movable reaction space wall which exerts a position-fixing pressure onto the catalyst pellet fill. According to the invention, a filling device is provided through which catalyst material can be filled from the outside into the reaction space through a passage opening formed in one of the reaction space walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Dietmar Heil, Wolfgang Weger, Uwe Benz
  • Patent number: 5860894
    Abstract: An aerobic and anaerobic treadmill exercise system including a treadmill apparatus, independent upper body exercise apparatus and independent lower body exercise apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Dalebout, Scott R. Watterson
  • Patent number: 5833930
    Abstract: For the expansion of a liquid containing gas under pressure in dissolved form, it is proposed that the liquid be passed with expansion through an extended flow channel with a small cross-sectional measurement with generation of high rates of shear. The velocity of the liquid is then reduced prior to the foaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignees: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Herbert Steilen, Reiner Raffel, Robert Eiben, Wilfried Ebeling
  • Patent number: 5820829
    Abstract: A hand-operated polymerizer for the polymerization of synthetic materials, such as dental plastics. The polymerizer has a housing in which a light source and a fan are disposed, and which includes a light-emitting opening for emitting the light generated by the light source. The housing contains openings for permitting cooling air to enter the housing and for allowing heated air to exit the housing. In order to prevent the operator of the polymerizer from being impaired by heated air when operating the polymerizer, at least one air-conducting member is provided, wherein the position of the air-conducting member is changeable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Heraeus Kulzer GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Schodel, Steffen Oppawsky
  • Patent number: 5788932
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing flowable reaction mixtures from at least two flowable reactants in which the components are injected into a mixing chamber by means of injection nozzles, the force of the reactant acting upon the nozzle needle is at least substantially compensated to avoid impairing the mixing ratio during a change-over of the nozzle needle. The rear end of the nozzle needle is provided with a chamber communicating with the component supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5785422
    Abstract: A device for mixing at least two chemically reactive plastic components, includes a cylindrical mixing chamber into which plastic components are injected, wherein a reversible piston is disposed inside the mixing chamber, and a cylindrical stabilizing chamber adjoining the mixing chamber and positioned at an angle of preferably 90.degree., with a reversible cleaning piston disposed inside the stabilizing chamber for removing the reactive plastic mixture from the stabilizing chamber. In order to reduce the forces exerted on the cleaning piston by the plastic mixture and to reduce the tear-off forces on a stuck piston to a minimum, it is proposed to form on the cylindrical surface area of the cleaning piston indentations which are filled with spacer material and arranged in a manner that the cleaning piston executes a rotational motion when it moves axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei AG
    Inventor: Siegfried Eidenmuller
  • Patent number: 5643970
    Abstract: For the expansion of a liquid containing gas under pressure in dissolved form, it is proposed that the liquid be passed with expansion through an extended flow channel with a small cross-sectional measurement with generation of high rates of shear. The velocity of the liquid is then reduced prior to the foaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignees: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Herbert Steilen, Reiner Raffel, Robert Eiben, Wilfried Ebeling
  • Patent number: 5637277
    Abstract: A process and device for foaming casings, particularly refrigerator casings, with a blowing agent which can form an explosive mixture with atmospheric oxygen during evaporation which reduce the risk of explosion by introducing inert gas into the space in which the foam is to be formed by means of a servo-controlled inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Althausen, Helmut Duschanek, Bodo Buchel, Kurt Pieper, Werner Kraft
  • Patent number: 5615949
    Abstract: A process and system for mixing at least two independent streams in a mixing device having independent inputs for each of the at least two independent streams, comprising structure and steps for: (i) feeding a first stream, provided as a free-flowing solids stream, to a pressure chamber; (ii) compressing the first stream in the pressure chamber; (iii) feeding the first stream to a first input in the mixing device; (iv) feeding a second stream to a second input in the mixing device; (v) impinging the first stream and the second stream on one another in a mixing device to produce a mixture; and (vi) dispensing the mixture from the mixing device; wherein the compressing in Step (ii) is conducted to achieve a substantially linear relationship between a weight of the first stream and a period of impingement of the weight in Step (v). Preferably, the process and system are adapted to produce a filled foamed isocyanate-based polymer (e.g. filled polyurethane foam).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Woodbridge Foam Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Morano, Wilfred W. T. Cheng, Mohammad Allohverdi, Anthony G. Di Marco
  • Patent number: 5591410
    Abstract: (I) The (co)polymerisation of ethylene is carried out in at least one reaction zone (R) under high pressure, at 150.degree.-320.degree. C.; (II) the reaction product is routed into a zone (S), under an intermediate pressure P, for separation of the (co)polymer, in the molten state, from the unreacted (co)monomer(s), or the reaction product is routed into a first separation zone (S1), under an intermediate pressure (P1); the (co)polymer issuing from (S1) is then routed into a second separation zone (S2), under a pressure P2<P1; (III) the (co)polymer is routed into a zone (SF), under low pressure, for final separation of the (co)polymer from the residual gases. Let-down zones (D), (D1) and (D2) are provided along the path of the (co)polymer between the zones (S) and (SF), (S1) and (S2), and (S2) and (SF) respectively, the grafting monomer or monomers being introduced on-line, in the path of the (co)polymer, at at least one point located at the level of the zone (D) or at at least one zone (D1, D2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: ECP-Enichem Polymeres France S.A.
    Inventors: Joel Audureau, Hacene Mehalla, Thierry Pellerin
  • Patent number: 5587182
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for the production of polyurethane moldings endless in one dimension using at least two alternately operated mixheads for the reactive polyurethane components. Material which has been correctly conditioned by circulation of the reactive components through the mixhead not in operation arrives at that mixhead at least before it is put into operation and the components are delivered by units which are common to the mixheads, but independent of one another in regard to "mixing" and "conditioning".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Lothar R ohrig
  • Patent number: 5565174
    Abstract: In withdrawing a reaction slurry from a polymerization reactor wherein solid particles in the slurry must be maintained in solution to prevent solidification, a redundant effluent line is provided to remove the slurry in the event the primary line becomes plugged. In use the primary and redundant lines are controlled in different manners such that a v-notch ball valve in the primary line is manipulated continuously to remove effluent while maintaining stable reactor conditions, and a control valve in the redundant line is manipulated intermittently as a backup for the primary control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: David H. Burns, William E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5562883
    Abstract: A solvent flush reaction injection molding mixhead has a mixing chamber with a solvent inlet port in one end and a chemical outlet port in an opposite end. A pair of hydraulically operated chemical injectors are connected to the mixing chamber between the solvent inlet port and chemical outlet port to inject liquid reaction molding chemicals at high pressure through injector ports into the mixing chamber. The mixed chemicals are delivered through the chemical outlet port to a spray wand on the mixhead for application to a mold surface or an object requiring a foam coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Salisbury, James R. Pritchard, William M. Humphrey, Michael J. Provencher
  • Patent number: 5540497
    Abstract: An apparatus for injection molding of non-precatalyzed resins. Catalyst and resin flows are injected into a mixing chamber through a pair of catalyst injection nozzles and a pair of resin injection nozzles, each angled toward the ejectment end of the mixing chamber. The resin injection nozzles are located closer to the ejectment end of the mixing chamber than the catalyst injection nozzles. The injection nozzles are arranged substantially 90.degree. from one another with the resin injection nozzles opposed from each other and the catalyst injection nozzles opposed from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Centro Sviluppo Settori Impiego S.R.L.
    Inventors: Antonio Addeo, Francesco D'Oria, Roberto Bonari
  • Patent number: 5523063
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for the turbulent mixing of gases. The invention has particular application when it is desired to produce a gas mixture including a very small quantity (ppm or less) of at least one component gas and/or wherein there is a substantial density difference between the component gases to be used to make up the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5521224
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing polyurethane foam with a controlled number of cells, in which a gas is dispersed in one of the components, i.e. the polyol or the isocyanate, in a dispersing device arranged between the mixing head and the metering pump for the respective component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Reiner Raffel, Herbert Steilen
  • Patent number: 5476638
    Abstract: The maintenance of the exact metering ratio during the production of plastics, particularly foams, from free-flowing reactants loaded with pulverulent to fine-grained or fibrous additives can be improved by mixing the additive in compacted form in a preliminary mixer with at least one of the reactants. The pressure in the preliminary mixer is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke
    Inventor: Hans-Michael Sulzbach
  • Patent number: 5472990
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing foam polyurethane incorporates an apparatus for mixing a nucleating gas into the polyol (part B) fraction and finally dispersing the nucleating gas prior to mixing the polyol (part B) fraction with the isocyanate (part A) fraction. The apparatus and method produce a very fine and uniform microcellular structure in the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Dennis Chemical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Craig, Stephen G. Weissler, Dennis R. Oliver
  • Patent number: 5453250
    Abstract: Leakage problems can be avoided in an apparatus for the preparation of a solid or cellular plastic-forming, flowable reaction mixture of at least two flowable reaction components and at least one additional component, by providing in the feed pipe of one of the reaction components a mechanical pre-mixer having a stirrer shaft. Upstream of the pre-mixer, a hydraulic motor comprising two meshing toothed wheels which is driven by the components themselves, is disposed in a manner such that one of the toothed wheels is disposed on an extension of the stirrer shaft, and wherein the bearings of the toothed wheels and the stirrer shaft are outwardly enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Dieter Kreuer, Klaus Schulte
  • Patent number: 5453249
    Abstract: In the production of a flowable reaction mixture of at least two flowable, also not readily miscible, reaction components which react completely with each other to form solid substance or foam material, a rapid abatement of the mixture flow is achieved with a compact type of construction after causing throttling at the discharge of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Helmuth Duschanek, Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5451104
    Abstract: A mixing chamber (3) and a gas inlet chamber (5) are concentrically arranged in a closed housing (1) and divided from one another by a tubular partition wall (7) provided with micropores. A flow of a liquid, foamable medium is introduced by a pump (21) axially into the mixing chamber (3). At the same time, air produced by a compressor (23) is introduced via a housing inlet (17) into the gas inlet chamber (5) under such a pressure that the air can penetrate through the micropores in the tubular partition wall (7) into the mixing chamber (3). The partition wall (7) surrounding the mixing chamber and the peripheral wall (9) are replaceably mounted between two flanges (11 and 12). The cross-sectional profile of the axial inlet and outlet (15 and 16) is matched to the cylindrical cross-section of the mixing chamber (3) so that in operation a laminar flow of the foam mixture substantially parallel to the axis occurs through the mixing chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: CRC-Chemical Research Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Eugen Kleen, Claus-Michael Muller
  • Patent number: 5451376
    Abstract: In a fine comminution apparatus arranged downstream of a coarse comminution apparatus, polyurethane foam wastes can be comminuted to the desired particle size for recycling as an additive in the production of polyurethane, in a low-dust and energy-saving manner, by carrying out the fine comminution preferably by repeatedly forcing a mixture of the coarsely comminuted material and one of the reaction components through a nozzle or through a plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5443797
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for the production of a flowable reaction mixture from at least two flowable reactive components which may be difficult to mix, which components react with one another to form a solid or a foam material. The components are injected into a mixing zone where the components are mixed in a continuous flow. The mixture flowing from the throttling zone is divided into two sub-streams which flow around a piston and which recombine opposite the division point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Helmut Duschanek, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5372789
    Abstract: In devices for the production of a reaction mixture, which forms a foamed plastic, from at least two reaction components and a foaming agent, it is possible to determine the content of foaming agent in a reaction component mixed therewith in that an intermediate container is provided for this mixture. The intermediate container is provided with a circulating line in which are arranged a circulating pump and a temperature-compensating viscometer. Optionally, the foaming agent content can be automatically adjusted to the theoretical value via a computer and pulse lines by influencing the drive means of the dosing pumps for the respective reaction component and the foaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lamberts, James Thompson-Colon, Wilfried Ebeling, Klaus Schulte
  • Patent number: 5348458
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a molded article of a foamed thermoplastic resin and articles produced thereby. A molten mass of an expandable thermoplastic resin is accumulated in an accumulator while it is prevented from foaming. A quantity of the accumulated formable melt is extruded through a die orifice having a shape adapted to reflect the shape of the desire finished product. The extruded foamable melt commences foaming as it comes in contact with the atmosphere. As the extruded thermoplastic resin foams, it is pulled vertically downward from the die orifice by gravity. The downward-hanging, foamed, thermoplastic material is captured between the halves of a vertically-oriented mold before the foaming expansion of the foamable melt has been completed. The foamed thermoplastic material is compressed by the vertically-oriented mold into the desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Astro-Valcour, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Pontiff
  • Patent number: 5346673
    Abstract: In the production of a reaction mixture which forms plastic material, in particular foamed plastic material, from at least two flowable reaction components, the inlet members or other switch-over members which must be switched over in a precise fashion, and controlled by a sliding valve comprising a slide which is assigned a restoring spring which operates in opposition to a moving electromagnet, and a holding electromagnet. First, the holding electromagnet is fully activated whereupon the moving electromagnet is activated. Following the build-up of force of the moving electromagnet, the holding electromagnet is switched off so that the inlet member or other switch-over member opens abruptly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5334356
    Abstract: A supermicrocellular foamed material and a method for producing such material, the material to be foamed such as a polymerplastic material, having a supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide in its supercritical state, introduced into the material to form a foamed fluid/material system having a plurality of cells distributed substantially throughout the material. Cell densities lying in a range from about 10.sup.9 to about 10.sup.15 per cubic centimeter of the material can be achieved with the average cell sizes being at least less than 2.0 microns and preferably in a range from about 0.1 micron to about 1.0 micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel F. Baldwin, Nam P. Suh, Chul B. Park, Sung W. Cha
  • Patent number: 5330724
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing foams exhibiting a uniformly small cell size, a minimum number of ruptured cell walls and a smooth surface from foamable curable compositions comprises means to transport the ingredients of a foamable, curable composition to the input of a static mixer in which the ingredients of the composition are blended to homogeneity prior to being extruded into an exit zone and through an exit orifice. The length to diameter ratio of the mixing zone and the diameter of the exit orifice are within specified ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Therese M. Bauman, Todd S. Klenk
  • Patent number: 5312596
    Abstract: In order not to have to rinse, during breaks in production, oscillating mixheads such as are used for the manufacture of free-flowing, plastic-forming reaction mixtures, an exchangeable insert part held in position by means of a clip and preferably consisting of plastic material is provided in the mixhead. The insert has a mixing chamber and an outlet channel. This insert part can be disposable or reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen
  • Patent number: 5312595
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing low-concentration polysilicate microgels from a water soluble silicate and a strong acid in which the silicate and acid are mixed at a rate to produce a Reynolds number of at least 4000, the mixture is aged and then diluted to a silica concentration of not more than 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Moffett, John D. Rushmere
  • Patent number: 5306641
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for accurately determining the gel time of oxygen inhibited polymerizable compositions is provided. Gel times in these compositions are related to dissolved oxygen concentration. The inventive method and apparatus use a small diameter capillary tube filled with the composition and sealed thereafter at one end to include an air space between the end of the liquid column and the sealed end of the tube. A pulsed force of air is applied to the unsealed end of the tube which causes the column of liquid and air/liquid interface to move in accordance with the amplitude of the pulsed air force. A motion detector sensor is located at the air/liquid interface. A light source is then applied to the polymerizable column within the tube causing it to gel. Recording equipment appropriately connected to the motion detector sensor visually describes the motion of the air/liquid interface which becomes zero at the gel point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Edward J. Saccocio
  • Patent number: 5302660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of low-gel spinning solutions-surprisingly stable in their solution viscosity-of segmented polyurethane urea elastomers in highly polar solvents, such as dimethyl formamide or dimethyl acetamide, characterized by the use of multistage jet reactor, and to a multistage jet reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Klinksiek, Rolf-Volker Meyer, Beatrix Frauendorf, Klaus Rall, Wolfgang 35e,uml/a/ cker, Hans-Joachim Wollweber, Helmut Ohse, Wolfram Wagner
  • Patent number: 5283040
    Abstract: In the production of a reaction mixture which forms plastic material, in particular foamed plastic material, from at least two flowable reaction components, the inlet members or other switch-over members which must be switched over in a precise fashion, are controlled by a sliding valve comprising a slide which is assigned a restoring spring which operates in opposition to a moving electromagnet, and a holding electromagnet. First, the holding electromagnet is fully activated whereupon the moving electromagnet is activated. Following the build-up of force of the moving electromagnet, the holding electromagnet is switched off so that the inlet member or other switch-over member opens abruptly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ferdinand Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5270014
    Abstract: Through three separate passages opening in a common plane at right angles to one another into a mixing chamber, three components of a reactant polyurethane or polyurea elastomer composition to form in a mold cavity are introduced. One of the components is an aliphatic polyether amine having primary amino function and substantially free from free hydroxyl groups, catalysts with tertiary amino groups, carbon dioxide as a carbamate reactive with the polyether amine and optionally other inert gases and conventional polyurea additives. The second component is a polyisocyanate or prepolymer thereof and the third component C is water. The reacting mixture is formed through a throttle gap into the mold to form low-density foamed products under low fuming conditions and has no unreacted diisocyanates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei AG
    Inventors: Adolf Bauer, Franz Urban, Josaf Renkl
  • Patent number: RE37932
    Abstract: A supermicrocellular foamed material and a method for producing such material, the material to be foamed such as a polymerplastic material, having a supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide in its supercritical state, introduced into the material to form a foamed fluid/material system having a plurality of cells distributed substantially throughout the material. Cell densities lying in a range from about 109 to about 1015 per cubic centimeter of the material can be achieved with the average cell sizes being at least less than 2.0 microns and preferably in a range from about 0.1 micron to about 1.0 micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel F. Baldwin, Nam P. Suh, Chul B. Park, Sung W. Cha