US3908869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for dispensing air-curable viscous materials
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-01-22
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for dispensing air-curable materials without allowing them to partially cure and clog portions of the dispensing system. The invention is characterized by the provision of a liquid filled reservoir in combination with a generally conventional dispenser for viscous materials. As is typical, the dispenser includes a dispensing nozzle through which a metered amount of viscous material may be discharged from the dispenser. To prevent the nozzle from being clogged by the formation of bodies of partially or totally cured materials therein, following a dispensing operation of the equipment, the nozzle is partially immersed in the reservoir of liquid so that an air-tight seal is formed around the dispensing end of the nozzle. After such immersion, all air-contacted material in the nozzle is purged from it and a back pressure is applied to the viscous material in the nozzle to withdraw part of it upward into the nozzle and thus cause some of the liquid in the reservoir to be sucked into the nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Ward Arthur Little
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:16
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C31/00; B29C31/04; B05; B05B; B05B15/00; B05B15/50; B05B15/55; B29K; B29K2083/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing nozzle, a conduit operably connected to said nozzle to supply air-curable material to it, pressure means operably connected to force said material through the conduit means and out of the nozzle, in combination with a liquid reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, Said nozzle and reservoir being mounted for relative movement so the nozzle can be immersed in said liquid, whereby the liquid is caused to form an air seal around the dispensing end of said nozzle when the nozzle is immersed in the liquid, and drive means for causing said relative movement following a dispensing operation of the nozzle, thereby to prevent the nozzle from being clogged by air-curing of the material supplied to it through said conduit means, said drive means being operable to move said nozzle in a horizontal plane to form a variety of pre-selected patterns to enable the material dispensed from the nozzle to be deposited on a surface beneath the nozzle in said patterns and to position the nozzle over the reservoir, and said drive means being further operable to move the nozzle in a generally vertical direction to and from a position in which said dispensing end is immersed in said liquid, said pressure means being selectively operable to discharge material from said nozzle after the end thereof is immersed in said liquid thereby to purge from the nozzle all of the material in it that has been exposed to air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing nozzle, a conduit operably connected to said nozzle to supply air-curable material to it, pressure means operably connected to force said material through the conduit means and out of the nozzle, in combination with a liquid reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, Said nozzle and reservoir being mounted for relative movement so the nozzle can be immersed in said liquid, whereby the liquid is caused to form an air seal around the dispensing end of said nozzle when the nozzle is immersed in the liquid, and drive means for causing said relative movement following a dispensing operation of the nozzle, thereby to prevent the nozzle from being clogged by air-curing of the material supplied to it through said conduit means, said drive means being operable to move said nozzle in a horizontal plane to form a variety of pre-selected patterns to enable the material dispensed from the nozzle to be deposited on a surface beneath the nozzle in said patterns and to position the nozzle over the reservoir, and said drive means being further operable to move the nozzle in a generally vertical direction to and from a position in which said dispensing end is immersed in said liquid, said pressure means being selectively operable to discharge material from said nozzle after the end thereof is immersed in said liquid thereby to purge from the nozzle all of the material in it that has been exposed to air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing nozzle, a conduit operably connected to said nozzle to supply air-curable material to it, pressure means operably connected to force said material through the conduit means and out of the nozzle, in combination with a liquid reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, said nozzle and reservoir being mounted for relative movement so the nozzle can be immersed in said liquid, whereby the liquid is caused to form an air seal around the dispensing end of said nozzle when the nozzle is immersed in the liquid, and means for causing said relative movement following a dispensing operation of the nozzle, thereby to prevent the nozzle from being clogged by air-curing of the material supplied to it through said conduit means, said pressure means being selectively operable to discharge material from said nozzle after the end thereof is immersed in said liquid thereby to purge from the nozzle all of the material in it that has been exposed to air, said pressure means being further selectively operable to retract some of said material within the nozzle after the air-contacted material has been purged from the nozzle, whereby liquid is drawn into the discharge end of the nozzle to maintain an air tight seal over the material even after the nozzle is removed from the reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing nozzle, a conduit operably connected to said nozzle to supply air-curable material to it, pressure means operably connected to force said material through the conduit means and out of the nozzle, in combination with a liquid reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, said nozzle and reservoir being mounted for relative movement so the nozzle can be immersed in said liquid, whereby the liquid is caused to form an air seal around the dispensing end of said nozzle when the nozzle is immersed in the liquid, and means for causing said relative movement following a dispensing operation of the nozzle, thereby to prevent the nozzle from being clogged by air-curing of the material supplied to it through said conduit means, said pressure means being selectively operable to discharge material from said nozzle after the end thereof is immersed in said liquid thereby to purge from the nozzle all of the material in it that has been exposed to air, said pressure means being further selectively operable to retract some of said material within the nozzle after the air-contacted material has been purged from the nozzle, whereby liquid is drawn into the discharge end of the nozzle to maintain an air tight seal over the material even after the nozzle is removed from the reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
An invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is oil.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of protecting an apparatus for dispensing air-curable material from being clogged by curing of the material within the apparatus, comprising the steps of: a. providing a dispensing nozzle having a sealed supply of air-curable material connected to it, b. providing pressure means for selectively forcing the material from the nozzle, c. providing a reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, d. providing means for immersing the nozzle in said liquid when the nozzle is not being used to dispense material, e. operating the pressure means to purge some of said material from the nozzle after it is immersed in the liquid thereby to purge air-contacted material from the nozzle, and f. manipulating the nozzle to immerse it in said liquid following use of the nozzle to dispense a portion of said material therefrom.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of protecting an apparatus for dispensing air-curable material from being clogged by curing of the material within the apparatus, comprising the steps of: a. providing a dispensing nozzle having a sealed supply of air-curable material connected to it, b. providing pressure means for selectively forcing the material from the nozzle, c. providing a reservoir at least partially filled with a liquid, d. providing means for immersing the nozzle in said liquid when the nozzle is not being used to dispense material, e. operating the pressure means to purge some of said material from the nozzle after it is immersed in the liquid thereby to purge air-contacted material from the nozzle, and f. manipulating the nozzle to immerse it in said liquid following use of the nozzle to dispense a portion of said material therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as defined in claim 4 including the step of: f. operating the pressure means to withdraw part of the material into said nozzle after the purging step, thereby to cause some of said liquid to be pulled into the nozzle to form an air-tight seal over the material in the nozzle, even after the nozzle is removed from immersion in the liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |