Dispensing device for both froth and non-froth coatings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9283578-B2
Application number	US-201113634150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2011
Priority date	Apr 14, 2010
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A dispensing device ( 10 ) capable of dispensing both frothed and non-frothed liquids, the dispensing device having in order a fluid transport medium ( 20 ) defining a flow channel ( 25 ), a trigger controlled liquid flow regulator ( 30 ) defining a flow channel ( 35 ) through which fluid may flow when the trigger ( 37 ) is in one position but not when the trigger is in another position, a flow block ( 50 ) defining a flow channel ( 55 ) in fluid communication with a gas channel ( 65 ) and removably attached to the flow regulator, a flow restriction orifice ( 40 ) between the flow block and the flow regulator ( 30 ), a mixing block ( 70 ) defining a flow channel ( 75 ) containing mixing elements and optionally stabilization ( 80 ) and extension blocks each containing a flow channel ( 85 ) wherein each flow channel is in fluid communication with one another.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispensing device comprising in order the following members that together define a single flow channel through the dispensing device:
(a) a fluid transport medium defining a flow channel through which liquid can be pumped;
(b) a trigger controlled liquid flow regulator defining a flow channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the fluid transport medium, where one end of the flow regulator and its flow channel is attached to the fluid transport medium and through which fluid may flow when the trigger is in one position and liquid cannot flow when the trigger is in another position;
(c) a flow block defining a flow channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the flow regulator and removably attached to the flow regulator, the flow block further defining a gas channel fluidly connecting the flow channel to an inlet defined by a removable additional gas delivery channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the flow block that delivers gas under pressure to the flow channel and through which gas is introduced under pressure and at a pressure greater than the pressure of the fluid in the flow block to a fluid flowing through the flow channel;
(d) a flow restriction orifice either defined in the flow channel of the flow block or held in place as a distinct piece in the flow channel at the end of the flow regulator, at the start of the flow block or between the flow block and flow regulator, the flow restriction orifice having an opening that is smaller in cross sectional area than the flow channel downstream from it in the flow block;
(e) a mixing block defining a flow channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the flow block, the mixing block flow channel containing mixing elements;
(f) a stabilization block defining a flow channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the mixing block where the flow channel in the stabilization block is characterized by an absence of step changes in cross sectional dimensions and by inducing a gradual pressure drop along its length in a fluid being pumped through the flow channel of the dispensing device, wherein the stabilization block defines a flow channel of sufficient dimensions and shape such that foaming of a liquid through the flow channel is completed prior to exiting the stabilization block; and
(g) an extension block defining a flow channel in fluid communication with the flow channel of the stabilization block.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulator is an airless spray gun.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the flow channel of the stabilization block diverges, getting larger in cross sectional area proximate to the extension block.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the extension block is reversibly attachable to the flow regulator or to a spray nozzle attached to the flow regulator so that the flow channel of each of the extension block, flow regulator and, if present, the spray nozzle are in fluid communication with one another.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein each of (a)-(g) are removably attached to one another.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the mixing elements of mixing block (d) are removable from the flow channel of the mixing block.

7. The dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid pump that can pump fluid under pressure through the flow channels of (a)-(e), (f), and (g).

8. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the flow block (c) further comprises a needle valve in the gas channel that regulates gas flow through the gas channel.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulator is an air-assisted spray gun with the gas line attachment point located to the flow block and single trigger that controls both the flow of liquid and gas.

10. A process for dispensing both foamed fluid and non-foamed fluid using the dispensing device of claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
(i) pumping a foamable fluid through the flow channel of each of (a)-(e), (f) and (g), while simultaneously injecting gas into the foamable fluid through the gas channel of the flow block to form a foamable fluid composition;
(ii) dispensing the foamable fluid composition as foam onto a substrate;
(iii) disconnecting the removably attached flow block from the flow regulator;
(iv) optionally removably attaching a spray nozzle to the flow regulator (a); and
(v) pumping a second fluid through the flow regulator and, if present, spray nozzle and dispensing the fluid onto a surface.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the flow regulator is an airless spray gun and no air is introduced into the flow channel prior to the flow block.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the spraying device is further characterized by comprising the extension block and wherein foaming of a liquid through the flow channel is completed prior to exiting the stabilization block.

13. The process of claim 10 , wherein the foam is dispensed into crevices of a surface while the non-foamed coating is applied over at least a portion of the same surface and at least a portion of the foam.

14. The process of claim 10 , wherein the fluid flow rate for both the foamable fluid and the second fluid is 500 grams per minute or greater.

15. The process of claim 10 , wherein the foam has a density of 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter or less and 0.1 gram per cubic centimeter or more.

16. The process of claim 10 , wherein the flow regulator is an air-assisted spray gun with the gas line attachment point located to the flow block and single trigger that controls both the flow of liquid and gas.

Assignees

• Kim Eung Kyu
• Parsons Thomas J
• Dietsche Laura J
• Bowe Michael D
• Szewczyk Janah C
• Dow Global Technologies Llc
• Rohm & Haas

Inventors

• Kim Eung Kyu
• Parsons Thomas J
• Dietsche Laura J
• Bowe Michael D
• Szewczyk Janah C

Classifications

• B05B7/0441

  with one inner conduit of liquid surrounded by an external conduit of gas upstream the mixing chamber · CPC title

• B05B7/0043 Primary

  including a plurality of individual elements, e.g. needles, baffles, rotatable blades · CPC title

• E04B1/625

  Sheets or foils allowing passage of water vapor but impervious to liquid water; house wraps · CPC title

• B01F5/0696

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F3/04446

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic