US3774809A

US3774809A - Containers for extrudable materials

Info

Publication number: US3774809A
Application number: US00161502A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Bratton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-12
Filing date: 1971-07-12
Publication date: 1973-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-27

Abstract

Cartridge containers for extrudable viscous materials which may be operated to extrude their contents by tensile force on a filament attached to a movable piston are provided. The cartridge system is compatible with the conventional type caulking guns but may be used as well with small manually or mechanically driven windup systems contained within, or closely associated to, the packages.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Bratton Nov. 27, 1973 [22] Filed:

[ CONTAINERS FOR EXTRUDABLE MATERIALS July 12, 1971 21 Appl. N0.Z 161,502

1,656,478 1/1928 Geahe.. 222/392 3,231,139 10/1966 Boueti 222/392 X 3,31 1,265 3/1967 Creighton et al 222/327 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 201,523 1/1908 Germany 222/392 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerLarry Martin Attorney-Francis H. Bratton [52] US. Cl. 222/137, 222/392 [51] Int. Cl B67d 5/52 [57] ABSTRACT 58 Field of Search 222/392, 327, 333; Cartr'dge Comma for extm-dable materlals 272/137 which may be operated to extrude their contents by tensile force on a filament attached to a movable pis- [56] References Cited' ton are provided. The cartridge system is compatible with the conventional type caulking guns but may be UNITED STATES PATENTS used as well with small manually or mechanically l games 3 driven 'windup systems contained within, or closely asraven... 1,207,870 12/1916 Craven 222 392 Soclated the packages 1,468,152 9/1923 Hemstreet 222/392 X 11 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures A 2 5 Z A 3 O P'ATENTEDRU'TPQYI973 3,774,809

- sum in; 3

INVENTOR FRANCIS H. BRATTON PAIENTEnm'vmms' 3.774.808

SHEET-EOFB' FIG. 6 I

I INVENTOR FRANCIS H; BRATTON BY 2wegm WWW 1915 3774.809

SHLU 30F ,3

FIG. n

FIG.I3

INVENTOR FRANCIS H. BRATTON CONTAINERS FOR EXTRUDABLE MATERIALS REFERENCES The subject matter contained in this application is related to that in my applications entitled:

EXTRUSION PACKAGES FOR VISCOUS MATE- RIALS CAULKING GUNS OF IMPROVED DESIGN FLOW CONTROL VALVE AND PRESSURE INDI- CATOR FOR VISCOUS MATERIAL SYSTEMS and which are filed on even date with this application.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE New containers for caulking and similar extrudable materials which may be operated by the application of tensile'force in the direction of extrusion are provided. The tensile element is sealed with a close fitting plastic or metal seal, a plastic coating on the element, or by a close fitting plastic or metal tube. Provision for the application of force for extrusion in different directions is made possible by formed portions of the containers and simple units operating axially or transversely are described. A cap system. to convert the cartridges to extrusion units and use of the cartridges in conventional caulking gun equipment is also described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present system and similar and improved devices proposed under copending applications provide for the smooth extrusion of caulking and other viscous bead material with easily guided and controlled equipment. The present units have self contained mechanisms which may be operated manually or with a power source. The present system is designed for the precise deposition of uniform amounts of viscousmaterials for use as adhesives or as caulking material'and is directed to provide a system which is operable with one hand.

In the present caulking practice both manual and power operatedcaulking units are providedwith'handles which are frequentlyvery remotely related vto the point of application'and whichthereforenecessitate the use of two hands for the guiding of. the deposition of the bead. The present cartridge is arranged in part to provide a package which can be used with caulking guns which are designed for better balance and which will allow one hand operation from such places as the ends of ladders. They also provide units which can be used to extrude material in cramped quarters without the interference of a large handle or of a large caulking gun. In present practices much caulking material is supplied in cartridges about 2 inches in diameter and "8% inches long which contain about" 10% fluid ounces of material. It is generally extruded with a pressure gun which has a push rod which is advanced a step or a notch at a time by squeezing a lever associated with the handle. In other situations material is supplied in bulk or in metal or plastic tubes which also present some similar problems in use.

Generally metal squeeze tubes can be used to extrude the material quite effectively. However, they are subject to occasional tearing or pin-holing and become somewhat damaged on dealers shelves and in transportation. They therefore present a cosmetic problem in handling and shipping. The plastic squeeze tubes provide extremely attractive packages but suffer in that the case of extrusion of the material changes markedly with the use of the contents. of the tube. As more materialis removed the pressure required to obtain a smoothuniform bead becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. These containers require continual application of pressure from tightly clenched fingers, folding of the slippery, resilient tube, and frequently require this in very awkward positions. It is proposed in these situations to provide a container with a built-in takeup device which may be readily operated with one hand to permit smooth extrusion of the contents.

Effective, and where required quantitative, extrusion of material such as toothpaste, adhesives, oil paints and pigments, food and seasonings may also be realized.

The present type cartridge containers may be handled in such a way that the size of the container may be reduced as the contents are used up. Flexibility is provided by these new containers as different sized cartridges are compatible with a single pull type dispenser.

In addition by specific design it is possible toprovide cartridges which allow for the simultaneous discharge of two or more viscous materials in a predetermined ratio. The handling of resin systems which require activation or catalysis for preparation for use and where the the components are incompatible when stored for long periods of time require this mode of dispensing.

The present device also provides for simple changes in the amount of force or the speed with which extrusion occurs by changing the effective diameter of the windup shaft or drum with respect to the drive mechanism. Other considerations in the design of the extruder mechanism are considered and improvements are described in detail in my co-pending applications.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for viscous material which may be used with rigid containers of varying diameters which may be used for extruding materials of a range'of viscosities.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system which includes a guide for a tension filament in a pull-type extrusion cartridge which guides the filament and minimizes its movement with respect to the sealing area at the end of the cartridge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for extrudable viscous materials which may be smoothly operated manually or which may be driven by power tools.

It is'the further object of the invention to provide a pull-type container which has extra filament available for easy attachment to several different types of extrusion devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide storage systems for extrudable materials in which long shelf life can be realized and in which corrosion is held to a minimum.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge system which within a single cylinder may provide for the extrusion of two or more viscous materials in controlled ratio by very simple mechanisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows an extrusion container designed for use in a conventional caulking gun or with very simple tension equipment.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show one form of such tension equipment and its method of use.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show containers towhich tension may be applied in a reverse direction to that of extrusion.

The unit in FIG. 6 also may have tension applied from the reverse direction and provides for storage of extra filament.

FIG. 7 shows a simple extrusion arrangement with container of FIG. 6 and provision for use of a power source.

FIG. 8 shows a detachable tension producing device.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a means for simultaneous extrusion of two materials.

FIG. 11 shows a thumb operated attachment for extrusion.

FIG. 12 shows how the contents of one of the subject containers maybe extruded with the use of a power drill.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another simple extrusion attachment for these containers in side and rear views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A number of specific examples of ways in which the present invention may be practiced are described below and are presented to illustrate its embodiment but not to limit its application.

EXAMPLE! The arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the simplest principle of the pull-type cartridge. It consists of a rigid cartridge (1) substantially round in cross section which confines viscous extrudable material between a movable piston (2) and a rigid bulkhead (3). Contents of the cartridge may be caused to extrude through the spout (4) by the application of pressure to the piston in the usual manner by exerting a pushing force behind it. The cartridge however is also equipped with a filament of metal or plastic (5) which passes through a small hole (6) in the rigid bulkhead so that the contents of the cartridge may be caused to extrude by the application of tensile force on the filament by any suitable method. Optional seals to prevent leakage or spoilage may be provided as desired on either end of the spout but are not shown.

The use of the cartridge is readily visualized in a conventional caulking gun and is not shown. It entails the familiar operation of applying pressure to the piston while holding the front bulkhead fixed.

The container unit in FIG. 1 is shown positioned for extrusion by a very simple windup device in FIGS. 2 and 3. This unit is made with the flange (7) designed to fit with the enlarged edge of the front bulkhead in the groove 8) and is held by the nut and bolt (9). Tensile force is applied to the filament (5) by rotation of the handle 12) of the windup rod (10) which is in turn held by the support (11). This action causes the piston to extrude the major portion of the cartridge contents.

EXAMPLE II A cartridge arrangement similar to that in Example I is shown in FIG. 4. The filament (5) is connected to the piston and passes through a hole (14) which has been punched in a combination barrier of metal and plastic by an acicular instrument in a direction opposite to that in which pressure is exerted to cause extrusion of the contents. The hole (14) is located in the center of the barrier (3) to allow substantially complete extrusion of the cartridge contents. A pulley (13) is provided so that the filament may be pulled in a direction perpendicular to or opposite to the direction of extrusion.

EXAMPLE Ill The cartridge arrangement shown in FIG. 5 as in the case of Example Il may require minor revision or minor modification of the thrust barriers of some conventional caulking guns. In this example an extra (15) length of filament has been provided for convenience. The filament has been coated in this case with soft plastic material (16) whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the hole (6) in the rigid bulkhead to provide an effective seal during the extrusion of the contents. The soft coating (16) also acts as a lubricant in the passage of the filament (5) over the formed hump (17) de signed as a formed projection over which the filament may be pulled. This is provided to permit the applicav tion of tensile force in a direction different from that in which the contents are being extruded. It has also been found that with many metals that the frictional forces do not greatly impede extrusion. Brass, copper and steel alloys pass freely over tin plated steel.

EXAMPLE 1v EXAMPLE V This example shown in FIG. 7 follows the basic similarity of the earlier examples. The piston (2) is attached to a filament (5) which is sealed by a plastic bushing (21) and which passes over the hump (19). It may be put into tension by rotating the external axial windup rod (22) which is driven by a knurled knob (25) and which optionally may be supplied with external power from a device such as an electric drill or gear motor by the power shank (26). It will be appreciated that the rod may be attached to the container by clamps or supports (24) or may be inside a tube or housing. It may be supplied as a separate removable and reusable unit or may be built as a feature of a disposable caulking container or dispenser. The rod may contain a section with an increased (or decreased) diameter rod such as is shown in the increased diameter (23) in FIG. 7 and which alters the mechanical advantage associated with the windup mechanism. The windup mechanism may be provided with a ratchet or other device to prevent backlash.

EXAMPLE VI FIG. 8 illustrates a simple clamp-on extrusion device consisting of a windup rod (22) inside a guard tube (27) which serves as a bearing and to which are attached the clamps (28) for affixing it to the cartridge.

The filament (5) is wound by turning the knurled knob with the fingers, with the folding crank (29), or with the application of power to the shank (26).

EXAMPLE vn Example VII shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrates a multicompartment pull-type extrusion container in which an opening (30) is provided through which a windup rod (22) passes through the cartridge or assembly, By turning 22) the filaments (5) and (5A) are put in tension and the semicircular pistons (2) and (2A) are moved forward to cause simultaneous extrusion of equal quantities or a predetermined ratio of the components in the compartments. The present example, shown frontally in FIG. 10, illustrates the flow from two separate spouts (4) and (4A) which might also be provided with a mixing chamber as they are discharged. The spouts may be replaced with small holes located in close proximity to each other. In the present example the semi-cylindrical units are provided with separate flat walls (31) and (31A but may be provided with a common septum. The filaments pass over the formed humps (l9) and (19A) to be wound in the rod (22).

EXAMPLE vm A. simple extruder attachment is shown in FIG. 1 1 and shows the use of a thumb operated windup rod perpendicular to the axis of the container. The filament (5) may be wound on the rod (32) by the reciprocal action of the thumb lever (33). The mechanism is held in place by the clamp (34) and permits one-handed operation of the caulking unit.

EXAMPLE IX diameter. The rod is held by the mechanical chuck (39) which is tightened to prevent slippage of .the rod. The support cradle is designed to eliminate point loading of the cartridge and is provided with a support area of a radius essentially equal to that of the cartridge being used. Suitable mechanical speed reducers and/or powerful electric drills or pneumatic drills are preferred and must be used if the diameter of the cartridge is larger or if the viscosity of the extrudable material is high.

EXAMPLE X Example X shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 provides a very simple self-contained unit which may ha e a tensioning cap (40) supplied with it or provided as a separate item. The cap fits onto the end of the cartridge which is provided with some rigidity and applies tension to the filament (5) by engaging it in a wire holder (42), Passing it between two of the protruding projections or knobs (43) of the cap, and then turning the cap. As the cap is turned to a new position out of the plane of the hump (14), or other guide, a new position may be realized by taking up some slack in the filament by either pulling it further through the wire holder (42) or by hooking it over some additional projections (43) as shown in FIG. 14. The cap is provided with an area of reduced diameter (41) designed to fit snugly into the cartridge. In a device such as this the knobs may be made very small and essentially become separations between groves through which the wire passes. Such a mechanism may easily be provided as a throwaway item associated with the caulking container.

The design and operation of the examples described above may make use of the flow control/flow indicator tip cartridges as described under my co-pending application FLOW CONTROL VALVE AND PRESSURE INDICATOR FOR VISCOUS MATERIAL SYSTEMS, but is not necessary.

It will be understood that the specific sizes, the materials of construction, means of fabrication such as lamination, crimping, rolling, gluing, riveting, welding and the nature of the extrudable contents may be varied over considerable latitude as now commonly occurs in application of caulking, adhesives, sealants, lubricants, and the like. Improvements provided earlier by others may be incorporated and may include spout seals, reinforced or structured pistons, optimum. strength wall structures and similar features.

I claim:

l. A substantially tubular container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous materiaL'said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element member which extends. longitudinally within said container for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element attached substantially centrally thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space through said end closing wall, windup means releasably attached to the outside of said container, said windup means being comprised of a clamp arrangement fitting snugly around the closed end of said container, said clamp having attached thereto two perforated members everted to positions perpendicular to said closed end and being provided with a windup rod positioned in said perforations as bearings to be perpendicular to the axis of said container, said tensile element being releasably attached to said windup rod, said windup rod being equipped with means for manual rotation and being manually rotatable to wind up said tensile element, said winding up to give longitudinal movement to said piston thus dispensing said viscous material through said spout; said tensile element releas ably secured to said windup means.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein a resilient plastic tube is placed over the tensile element within the supply space in said container to reduce leakage.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein a resinous coating is placed over the tensile element within the supply space in said container to reduce leakage.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein a plastic bushing is placed in the hole in the end closing wall of the container to guide said tensile element and reduce leakage around it. v

5. A substantially round container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least'one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element which extends longitudinally within said container for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element substantially centrally attached thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space substantially centrally through said end closing wall, guidably passing over a grooved hump extending beyond said end wall by which said tensile element is guided, a windup rod releasably attached to said tensile element, said windup rod located substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and in a proximate position to said formed hump but opposite to the point at which said tensile element passes through the closed end wall, said windup rod held in such position by clamps circumferentially attached to said cylinder, said windup rod being provided with a manual windup handle means, said windup device being releasably attached to the outside of said container to transfer rotation to said tensile element and longitudinal movement to the piston thus dispensing said viscous material through the spout, said tensile element releasably secured to said windup means, and said windup means being releasably attached to said container. 7

6. The container of claim wherein the windup rod is provided with a power shank to permit attachment of a hand rotary power tool.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein the windup rod is provided with two different windup diameters to change the mechanical advantage in extrusion of said containers contents.

8. A substantially round container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least one fully open end and supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element which extends longitudinally within said container body for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element substantially centrally attached thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space substantially centrally through said end closing wall, guidably passing over a grooved hump extending beyond said end wall by which said tensile element is guided, said tensile element extending along the outside edge of said container substantially beyond the end thereof, a

knobbed disc of diameter substantially equal to that of the end of said container, said knobbed disc provided with numerous knobs extending substantially at least two times the diameter of said tensile element beyond said container, said knobbed disc being provided with a'flange means fitting snugly into the open end of said container, but rotating freely therein, said knobbed disc being provided on the side opposite to said flange with an attachment means for fastening said tensile element, wherein the contents of said container may be dispensed by attaching said tensile element to said knobbed disc, engaging said tensile element between twoknobs of said disc, rotating said disc manually to apply tension to said tensile element, said tensile element producing extrusion pressure on said piston, said dispensing operation being continued when said tensile element moves to a position substantially opposite to the position of the formed hump by turning the knobbed disc to release tension, positioning said tensile element between other knobs and again rotating the disc to produce extrusion pressure.

9. A substantially round, longitudinally compartmented container for extrudable viscous materials comprising two mated partially cylindrical container sections each having at the same end at least one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, each container section having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing the material from each of said sections, two partially round pistons slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container sections, each piston connected substantially I centrally on the supply side with a tensile element extending from said piston through said supply space and through said end closing wall, each then extending over a curved grooved guide attached to said end wall to give said tensile elements directions perpendicular to said container axis, a windup rod inserted through a cylindrical space between said container sections and separated therefrom by container wall means, said tensile elements attached to said windup rod, said windup rod being provided with handle means to make said windup rod manually rotatable to provide rotation to apply tensile force to said tensile elements simultaneously, said tensile force to give longitudinal force to said pistons thus dispensing said viscous materials through said spouts in a ratio fixed by the area] ratio of the container sections.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the windup rod is provided with a power shank for use with a hand power tool.

11. The container in claim 9 wherein the discharge spouts are located so as to mix together the discharged contents of the container sections.

Claims

1. A substantially tubular container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element member which extends longitudinally within said container for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element attached substantially centrally thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space through said end closing wall, windup means releasably attached to the outside of said container, said windup means being comprised of a clamp arrangement fitting snugly around the closed end of said container, said clamp having attached thereto two perforated members everted to positions perpendicular to said closed end and being provided with a windup rod positioned in said perforations as bearings to be perpendicular to the axis of said container, said tensile element being releasably attached to said windup rod, said windup rod being equipped with means for manual rotation and being manually rotatable to wind up said tensile element, said winding up to give longitudinal movement to said piston thus dispensing said viscous material through said spout; said tensile element releasably secured to said windup means.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein a plastic bushing is placed in the hole in the end closing wall of the container to guide said tensile element and reduce leakage around it.

5. A substantially round container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element which extends longitudinally within said container for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element substantially centrally attached thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space substantially centrally through said end closing wall, guidably passing over a grooved hump extending beyond said end wall by which said tensile element is guided, a windup rod releasably attached to said tensile element, said windup rod located substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder and in a proximate position to said formed hump but opposite to the point at which said tensile element passes through the closed end wall, said windup rod held in such position by clamps circumferentially attached to said cylinder, said windup rod being provided with a manual windup handle means, said windup device being releasably attached to the outside of said container to transfer rotation to said tensile element and longitudinal movement to the piston thus dispensing said viscous material through the spout, said tensile element releasably secured to said windup means, and said windup means being releasably attached to said container.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the windup rod is provided with a power shank to permit attachment of a hand rotary power tool.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein the windup rod is provided with two different windup diameters to change the mechanical advantage in extrusion of said container''s contents.

8. A substantially round container for extrudable viscous material comprising: a rigid container body having at least one fully open end and supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, said container body having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing said material, a dispensing unit connected to the closed end of the container body comprising a tensile element which extends longitudinally within said container body for substantially most of the length thereof, a piston slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container body, said piston having said tensile element substantially centrally attached thereto, said tensile element extending from said supply space substantially centrally through said end closing wall, guidably passing over a grooved hump extending beyond said end wall by which said tensile element is guided, said tensile element extending along the outside edge of said container substantially beyond the end thereof, a knobbed disc of diameter substantially equal to that of the end of said container, said knobbed disc provided with numerous knobs extending substantially at least two times the diameter of said tensile element beyond said container, said knobbed disc being provided with a flange means fitting snugly into the open end of said container, but rotating freely therein, said knobbed disc being provided on the side opposite to said flange with an attachment means for fastening said tensile element, wherein the contents of said container may be dispensed by attaching said tensile element to said knobbed disc, engaging said tensile element between two knobs of said disc, rotating said dIsc manually to apply tension to said tensile element, said tensile element producing extrusion pressure on said piston, said dispensing operation being continued when said tensile element moves to a position substantially opposite to the position of the formed hump by turning the knobbed disc to release tension, positioning said tensile element between other knobs and again rotating the disc to produce extrusion pressure.

9. A substantially round, longitudinally compartmented container for extrudable viscous materials comprising two mated partially cylindrical container sections each having at the same end at least one fully open end and a supply space therein substantially filled with viscous material, each container section having an end wall closing off the other end thereof, said end wall including a spout for dispensing the material from each of said sections, two partially round pistons slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within said container sections, each piston connected substantially centrally on the supply side with a tensile element extending from said piston through said supply space and through said end closing wall, each then extending over a curved grooved guide attached to said end wall to give said tensile elements directions perpendicular to said container axis, a windup rod inserted through a cylindrical space between said container sections and separated therefrom by container wall means, said tensile elements attached to said windup rod, said windup rod being provided with handle means to make said windup rod manually rotatable to provide rotation to apply tensile force to said tensile elements simultaneously, said tensile force to give longitudinal force to said pistons thus dispensing said viscous materials through said spouts in a ratio fixed by the areal ratio of the container sections.