Two component mixing module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420220-B2
Application number	US-201916416971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2019
Priority date	Feb 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A mixing module includes two inlets, an integrator, and a valve member. The integrator has two chambers each having a near end and a far end, and the valve member is movable between two positions. One of the inlets is connected to the near end of one of the chambers and the other inlet is connected to the near end of the other chamber when the valve is in one position. When the valve is in the other position, one of the inlets is disconnected from the chambers and the near ends of the chambers are connected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mixing module comprising:
a first inlet;
a second inlet;
a first plug member downstream of the first inlet and comprising a first seat portion;
a second plug member downstream of the second inlet and comprising a second seat portion;
an integrator downstream of the first and second plug members, the integrator comprising:
a first chamber with a first proximal end and a first distal end; and
a second chamber with a second proximal end and a second distal end; and

a valve member downstream of the first and second plug members that is movable between a first position and a second position;
wherein the valve member has a first side complementary to a shape of the first seat portion of the first plug member and a second side complementary to a shape of the second seat portion of the second plug member.

2. The mixing module of claim 1 , wherein the first inlet is fluidly connected to the first proximal end of the first chamber and the second inlet is fluidly connected to the second proximal end of the second chamber when the valve member is in the first position, and wherein the second inlet is fluidly disconnected from the first and second chambers and the first proximal end of the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second proximal end of the second chamber when the valve member is in the second position.

3. The mixing module of claim 2 , and further comprising:
a handle connected to the valve member;
wherein turning the handle no more than 90° moves the valve member between the first position and the second position.

4. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is fluidly disconnected from the first and second chambers when the valve member is in the second position.

5. The mixing module of claim 2 , and further comprising:
a third inlet;
wherein the third inlet is fluidly connected to the first proximal end of the first chamber and to the second proximal end of the second chamber when the valve member is in the second position.

6. The mixing module of claim 5 , wherein the valve member is also movable to a third position, the first, second, and third inlets being fluidly disconnected from the first and second chambers, and the first proximal end of the first chamber being fluidly connected to the second proximal end of the second chamber, when the valve member is in the third position.

7. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the valve member comprises a substantially spherical portion.

8. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the integrator is connected to the valve member.

9. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the valve member is translated between the first position and the second position.

10. The mixing module of claim 7 , and further comprising:
a knob connected to the valve member;
wherein twisting the knob at least 360° moves the valve member between the first position and the second position.

11. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is fluidly connected to the first proximal end of the first chamber and to the second proximal end of the second chamber when the valve member is in the second position.

12. The mixing module of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is a resin inlet and the second inlet is a catalyst inlet.

13. A method of operating a mixing module, the method comprising:
positioning a valve member in a mix position;
flowing resin through a resin inlet into a resin chamber of an integrator, the resin flowing from the resin inlet, through a first flow path in a first plug member downstream of the resin inlet, and into the integrator downstream of the first plug member;
flowing catalyst through a catalyst inlet into a catalyst chamber of the integrator, the catalyst flowing from the catalyst inlet, through a second flow path in a second plug member downstream of the catalyst inlet, and into the integrator downstream of the second plug member; and
mixing the resin and the catalyst;
wherein the valve member has a first side complementary to a shape of a first seat portion of the first plug member and a second side complementary to a shape of a second seat portion of the second plug member.

14. The method of claim 13 , and further comprising:
moving the valve member to a flush position to fluidly connect the resin chamber and the catalyst chamber to a single inlet and to block flow of the resin and/or the catalyst; and
flowing solvent from the single inlet through the resin chamber and the catalyst chamber.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the valve member to the flush position comprises turning a handle that is connected to the valve member no more than 180°.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the valve member to the flush position blocks flow of the resin and the catalyst.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the single inlet is the solvent inlet.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the valve member to the flush position comprises twisting a knob that is connected to the valve member at least 360°.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the single inlet is the resin inlet.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein prior to flowing solvent the method further comprises:
disconnecting a resin source from the resin inlet; and
connecting a solvent source to the resin inlet.

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Ingebrand John R
• Karwoski Stanley G

Classifications

• B29B7/7647

  Construction of the mixing conduit module or chamber part · CPC title

• B29B7/805

  Cleaning of the mixing conduit, module or chamber part · CPC title

• B29B7/761

  of gun-type, i.e. hand-held units having dispensing means (B29B7/7678 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B1/3013

  Lift valves (B05B1/3033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B1/3026

  Gate valves; Sliding valves; Cocks (B05B1/326 takes precedence) · CPC title