Sealant applying apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for delivering a ribbon of sealant material onto a workpiece, comprising: a closed-ended reservoir cylinder mounted for forward and rearward axial movement; a coaxial pistoncylinder located within said reservoir cylinder dividing it into a fluid containing piston chamber and a fluid reserve chamber; a fixed hollow piston rod within said piston chamber having openings near its one end and said rod extending outwardly of the forward end of said reservoir cylinder; said chambers communicating with one another through a one-way valve means on said cylinder; a sealant-containing feed cylinder means interconnected with a pressurized sealant supply means; a first hydraulic actuator connected by means of its plunger to that of said feed cylinder means, said first actuator and said feed cylinder means having approximately the same volumetric capacity, and conduit means interconnecting said actuator with said fluid reserve chamber; whereby rearward movement of said reservoir cylinder pumps the fluid from said piston-cylinder and into said hydraulic actuator which causes the sealant to be discharged from the feed cylinder means, said sealant supply means refilling said feed cylinder means when needed and causing said fluid actuator to pump fluid into said reservoir, and whereby forward movement of said reservoir cylinder draws the fluid from said fluid reserve chamber and back into said piston-cylinder through said valve mEans.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a second hydraulic actuator is provided for moving said reservoir cylinder rearwardly and forwardly, the piston rod of said second actuator being connected to said reservoir cylinder.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a workpiece support connected to said reservoir cylinder for forward and rearward movement therewith.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a bedplate is provided having guide rods on which said reservoir cylinder is mounted for sliding movement in a forward and rearward direction, said second actuator being mounted on said bedplate, contact elements and switch means being provided on said bedplate and on said support for actuation of said switch means between an on and off position upon contact with said elements during sliding movement of said reservoir cylinder and said workpiece support, said switch means forming a part of an electric control circuit for said second actuator so that, upon actuation of said switch means, said reservoir cylinder is moved in a forward and reverse direction by said second actuator piston rod.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said reservoir cylinder are closed by forward and rearward end walls secured thereto, said forward end wall having an opening greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said piston rod, plate means mounted on said forward end wall and having a cavity communicating with said valve means and with said end wall opening, the fluid being drawn back into said piston-cylinder from both said fluid reserve chamber and said cavity through said end wall opening when said reservoir cylinder moves in a forward direction.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a bedplate is provided having guide rods on which said reservoir cylinder is mounted for sliding movement in a forward and rearward direction, a support block on said bedplate to which said hollow piston rod is fixed, and said hollow piston rod extending through said plate means in sliding engagement therewith.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein contact switch means are provided for said first hydraulic actuator and said feed cylinder located in the path of movement of the connection between said plungers of first actuator means and said feed cylinder, solenoid valve means provided in both said conduit means and in said sealant supply means, said switch means and said solenoid valve means forming a part of an electric control circuit for opening and closing said solenoid valves to thereby switch the hydraulic fluid flow into said reservoir and to switch the sealant flow into said feed cylinder after said feed cylinder has delivered one discharge of sealant material, and to thereby switch the hydraulic fluid flow into said first hydraulic actuator and the sealant out of said feed cylinder and onto the workpiece after said feed cylinder is full.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a manually adjustable needle valve extending into engagement with a valve opening provided in said piston-cylinder, the size of said valve opening thereby being adjusted to control the flow of fluid from said piston-chamber into said fluid reserve chamber, whereby the volume of fluid through said hollow piston rod is controlled as well as the volume of sealant delivered to the workpiece by reason of the same volumetric capacity of said first actuator and said feed cylinder.

Claim 10

Apparatus for delivering a ribbon of sealant onto a workpiece, comprising: a reservoir cylinder having closed end walls and being mounted for movement in a forward and rearward direction; a piston-cylinder pump extending between said end walls, the space between said piston-cylinder and said reservoir cylinder defining a reservoir; a fixed hollow piston rod located within said piston-cylinder, one end of said piston rod extending outwardly of said reservoir cylinder through an oversized opening in one of said end walls, a piston head closing the other end of said piston-cylinder, and openings being provided in the wall of said piston rod near said other end; means mounted on the outer surface of said one wall defining a chamber therewith; a one-way check valve on said one wall interconnecting said reservoir with said chamber and normally permitting fluid flow toward said chamber; a hydraulic power cylinder; a sealant containing feed cylinder having an outlet thereon; plungers provided for each said power cylinder and said feed cylinder and being interconnected for movement together as a unit; a hydraulic fluid line interconnecting said one end of said hollow piston rod with said power cylinder and further communicating with said reservoir; and means for moving said reservoir cylinder relative to said hollow piston rod whereby, upon movement of said reservoir cylinder away from said one end of said hollow rod, the fluid within said piston-cylinder is forced through said hollow piston rod and said line to said power cylinder to thereby expel the sealant from said feed cylinder through its outlet; means for introducing sealant under pressure into said feed cylinder so that, when said feed cylinder has discharged sealant for one cycle of operation, the sealant introduced into said feed cylinder causes the hydraulic fluid to be forced back into said reservoir through said hydraulic line; and movement of said reservoir cylinder toward said one end of said hollow piston rod causes the fluid to re-enter said piston-cylinder from said reservoir and through said check valve, said chamber and said opening.

Claim 11

Apparatus for delivering a ribbon of sealant onto a workpiece, comprising: a reservoir cylinder having closed end walls and being mounted for movement in a forward and rearward direction; a piston-cylinder pump extending between said end walls, the space between said piston-cylinder and said reservoir cylinder defining a reservoir; a fixed hollow piston rod located within said piston-cylinder, one end of said piston rod extending outwardly of said reservoir cylinder through an oversized opening in one of said end walls, a piston head closing the other end of said piston-cylinder, and openings being provided in the wall of said piston rod near said other end; means mounted on the outer surface of said one wall defining a chamber therewith; a one-way check valve on said one wall interconnecting said reservoir with said chamber and normally permitting fluid flow toward said chamber; a hydraulic power cylinder; a sealant containing feed cylinder having an outlet thereon; plungers provided for each said power cylinder and said feed cylinder and being interconnected for movement together as a unit; a hydraulic fluid line interconnecting said one end of said hollow piston rod with said power cylinder and further communicating with said reservoir; and means for moving said reservoir cylinder relative to said hollow piston rod whereby, upon movement of said reservoir cylinder away from said one end of said hollow rod, the fluid within said piston-cylinder is forced through said hollow piston rod and said line to said power cylinder to thereby expel the sealant from said feed cylinder through its outlet; means for introducing sealant under pressure into said feed cylinder so that, when said feed cylinder has discharged sealant for one cycle of operation, the sealant introduced into said feed cylinder causes the hydraulic fluid to be forced back into said reservoir through said hydraulic line; and movement of said reservoir cylinder toward said one end of said hollow piston rod causes the fluid to re-enter said piston-cylinder from said reservoir and through said check valve, said chamber and said opening.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a hydraulic actuator having a plunger operatively interconnected with said reservoir cylinder for forward and rearward movement thereof.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said hydraulic actuator is mounted on said bedplate, an electric control circuit provided for said hydraulic actuator including solenoid valve means for effecting movement of said actuator plunger in a forward and rearward direction, said circuit also including a pressure switch connected to said power cylinder for being opened and closed respectively during the rearward and forward directions of movement.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 10 further including contact elements fixed on a shaft mounted for shifting movement parallel to said actuator plunger, spaced shift plates being fixed to said shaft at opposite ends of the travel of said actuator plunger, and a shift plate also being fixed on said actuator plunger for effecting shifting movement of said shaft as it contacts said respective shaft plates to effect automatic movement of said metering cylinder.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein guide means are provided for permitting sliding movement of said reservoir cylinder in a forward and rearward direction, said guide means including a bedplate and guide rails.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a workpiece support is interconnected with said reservoir cylinder for sliding movement therewith.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 9 further including an opening in said piston cylinder, and a needle valve provided for controlling the size of said opening to regulate flow of hydraulic fluid into said reservoir during rearward movement of said reservoir cylinder, thereby controlling the amount of sealant expelled from said feed cylinder.