Dip tank used in coating fabric

Claim 2

In combination: a. a tank for holding liquid, the tank having a bottom in spaced relation below an opening in the tank; b. an inflatable bag disposed along the bottom of the tank and maintaining any liquid in the tank in spaced relation from the bottom of the tank; c. means mounted in the tank for directing liquid coatable material into dipping relation with liquid in the tank when the bag is inflated, said means including a roller mounted in the tank for rotation about an axis which is in fixed relation to the tank, the roller journalled for rotation in bearings disposed outside the tank; d. means for inflating the bag with gas, under pressure, in the direction of the roller to displace and vary the level of liquid in the tank; e. means for sealing the bearings from liquid in the tank, and f. means centrally disposed of the bag for restraining the degree of ballooning of the bag in the direction of the roller.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein the level of liquid in the tank is raised by inflating the bag.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1, which includes: g. means for deflating the bag, when inflated, to lower the level of liquid in the tank.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1, wherein the means for directing material into dipping relation with the liquid, includes a roller rotatable about an axis normal to the direction in which the material moves to and from the roller.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1, wherein the bag is composed of elastomeric material.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric material is rubber.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1, which includes means for filling and draining liquid from the tank.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises a fluid impervious compartment including a flexible diaphragm movable by gas, under pressure.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 8, wherein the diaphragm is composed of rubber.

Claim 11

In combination: a. a liquid impervious tank for holding liquid, the tank having a bottom in spaced relation below an opening in the tank; b. a gas impervious compartment disposed along the bottom of the tank for holding gas under pressure, the compartment including a flexible diaphragm sealing the compartment and maintaining any liquid in the tank in spaced relation from the bottom of the tank, the diaphragm movable by gas, under pressure, in a direction away from the compartment; c. means mounted in the tank for directing liquid coatable material into dipping relation with liquid in the tank when the bag is inflated, said means including a roller mounted in the tank for rotation about an axis which is in fixed relation to the tank, the roller journalled for rotation in bearings disposed outside the tank; d. means for forcing gas, under pressure, into the compartment to move the flexible diaphragm and expand the compartment in the direction of the roller only to displace liquid in the tank and, consequently, vary the level of liquid in the tank relative to the opening in the tank; e. means for sealing the bearings from liquid in the tank; and f. means centrally disposed of the diaphragm for restraining the degree of ballooning of the diaphragm in the direction of the roller.

Claim 12

In combination: a. a liquid impervious tank for holding liquid, the tank having a bottom in spaced relation below an opening in the tank; b. a gas impervious compartment disposed along the bottom of the tank for holding gas under pressure, the compartment including a flexible diaphragm sealing the compartment and maintaining any liquid in the tank in spaced relation from the bottom of the tank, the diaphragm movable by gas, under pressure, in a direction away from the compartment; c. means mounted in the tank for directing liquid coatable material into dipping relation with liquid in the tank when the bag is inflated, said means including a roller mounted in the tank for rotation about an axis which is in fixed relation to the tank, the roller journalled for rotation in bearings disposed outside the tank; d. means for forcing gas, under pressure, into the compartment to move the flexible diaphragm and expand the compartment in the direction of the roller only to displace liquid in the tank and, consequently, vary the level of liquid in the tank relative to the opening in the tank; e. means for sealing the bearings from liquid in the tank; and f. means centrally disposed of the diaphragm for restraining the degree of ballooning of the diaphragm in the direction of the roller.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10, wherein means (f) includes: g. a plurality of inextensible staying members fastened between the diaphragm and opposing side of the compartment for maintaining the diaphragm in farther spaced relation from the opening in the tank than the roller, when gas, under pressure, is within the compartment.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10, wherein the diaphragm is composed of elastomeric material.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12, wherein Sides of the compartment other than the diaphragm, are rigid.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12, wherein the compartment is formed by gas impervious, flexible material.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12, wherein the elastomeric material is rubber.

Claim 18

A dip tank in which fabric with tire cords for reinforcing pneumatic tires is coated with a liquid adhesive for increasing the bond between the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires, comprising: a. a partially enclosed liquid impervious chamber for holding liquid adhesive the chamber having a bottom in spaced relation below an opening in the chamber; b. an enclosed gas impervious compartment disposed along the bottom of the liquid chamber and including a flexible diaphragm sealing the compartment and maintaining any liquid in the chamber in spaced relation from the bottom of the chamber, the diaphragm movable by gas, under pressure; c. means for forcing gas, under pressure, into the gas compartment to move the diaphragm and expand said compartment in a direction away from the bottom only to displace and raise the level of adhesive in the liquid chamber; d. means for exhausting gas from the gas compartment when expanded, to contract the gas compartment and lower the level of adhesive in the liquid chamber; e. a shaft disposed in, and extending through opposing sides of the liquid chamber intermediate the gas compartment and opening in the liquid chamber, the shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis which is in fixed relation to the liquid chamber and normal to the direction which the fabric moves to and from the shaft; f. a pair of bearings disposed outside the liquid chamber for rotatably receiving opposing ends of the shaft; g. means for the sealing the bearings from liquid in the chamber; h. a roller mounted on the shaft for unitary rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the roller designed to direct moving fabric into dipping coating relation with adhesive in the liquid chamber when the gas compartment is expanded; i. means for draining adhesive from the liquid chamber; and j. means centrally disposed of the diaphragm for restraining the degree of ballooning of the diaphragm in the direction of the roller.

Claim 19

A dip tank in which fabric with tire cords for reinforcing pneumatic tires is coated with a liquid adhesive for increasing the bond between the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires, comprising: a. a partially enclosed liquid impervious chamber for holding liquid adhesive the chamber having a bottom in spaced relation below an opening in the chamber; b. an enclosed gas impervious compartment disposed along the bottom of the liquid chamber and including a flexible diaphragm sealing the compartment and maintaining any liquid in the chamber in spaced relation from the bottom of the chamber, the diaphragm movable by gas, under pressure; c. means for forcing gas, under pressure, into the gas compartment to move the diaphragm and expand said compartment in a direction away from the bottom only to displace and raise the level of adhesive in the liquid chamber; d. means for exhausting gas from the gas compartment when expanded, to contract the gas compartment and lower the level of adhesive in the liquid chamber; e. a shaft disposed in, and extending through opposing sides of the liquid chamber intermediate the gas compartment and opening in the liquid chamber, the shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis which is in fixed relation to the liquid chamber and normal to the direction which the fabric moves to and from the shaft; f. a pair of bearings disposed outside the liquid chamber for rotatably receiving opposing ends of the shaft; g. means for the sealing the bearings from liquid in the chamber; h. a roller mounted on the shaft for unitary rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the roller designed to direct moving fabric into dipping coating relation with adhesive in the liquid chamber when the gas compartment is expanded; i. means for draining adhesive from the liquid chamber; and j. means centrally disposed of the diaphragm for restraining the degree of ballooning of the diaphragm in the direction of the roller.

Claim 20

The dip tank of claim 16, wherein the flexible diaphragm is composed of elastomeric material.

Claim 21

The dip tank of claim 17, wherein the elastomeric material is rubber.

Claim 22

The dip tank of claim 16, wherein the gas impervious compartment is an inflatable rubber bag.

Claim 23

The dip tank of claim 16, wherein the means (j) includes a plurality of inextensible staying members fastened between the diaphragm and opposing side of the compartment.