Mixing device and method for a closed resin infusion process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035117-B2
Application number	US-201313849697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2013
Priority date	Mar 26, 2012
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A mixing device is provided for a closed resin infusion process. The mixing device includes a bulk mixing head with a mixing cavity, at least two separate non-return valves for opening and closing a respective channel for providing material to be mixed running into the mixing cavity. A removable flange is provided for closing the mixing cavity comprising a fitting for mounting the mixing device to a static mixer. At least one heating element is provided for curing the hardable material mixture in the mixing cavity if need be.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of a closed resin infusion process, comprising:
providing a mixing device for a closed resin infusion process, comprising:
a bulk mixing head comprising a heating element and a mixing cavity, the mixing cavity delineated by a first section and a second section;
a plurality of recesses formed in the mixing cavity; and
at least two separate non-return valves, each of the non-return valves comprises a closing device arranged in a recess of the mixing cavity, the closing device movable between an open position, effective for opening a respective channel for providing material to be mixed into the mixing cavity, and a closed position, effective for closing the respective channel, the closing device fits into the respective recess and is flush relative to the surface of the mixing cavity during the closed position,
for each non-return valve:
setting the respective valve to the open position and injecting the material into the cavity by way of the channel formed in the respective non-return valve, and
closing the respective valve to the closed position;

the heating element effective for curing the injected material in the mixing cavity to form a cured material, and
the second section being a removable flange configured to be detachable from the first section allowing access to the cured material in at least a portion of the cavity;
removing the removable flange; and
removing the cured material from at least a portion of the mixing cavity.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein respective closing devices of the non-return valves comprise a plate almost completely filling the recess during the closed position.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the valves have a T-shaped cross section and being biased via a spring.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mixing cavity has only positive slip angles.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a resistance heating element.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flange is a plate.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the plate is secured to the first section by screws.

8. The mixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the bulk mixing head comprising a fitting for mounting the mixing device to a static mixer.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the fitting has an elongated channel having a conical shape and converging to a smaller diameter end adjacent to the mixing cavity.

Assignees

• Harboe Niels
• Jensen Casper Houmann
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Harboe Niels
• Jensen Casper Houmann

Classifications

• B29B7/801

  Valves · CPC title

• B29B7/802

  Constructions or methods for cleaning the mixing or kneading device (cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• B29B7/7457 Primary

  Mixing heads without moving stirrer (B29B7/7438, B29B7/76 take precedence) · CPC title

• B01F5/0077

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/026 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic