Apparatus for and methods of damage repair

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 10 / 456,042, filed Jun. 6, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 09 / 709,180, filed Nov. 9, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,036, which claims the benefit of International Application No. GB9926864.1, filed Nov. 12, 1999, the contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to apparatus for and methods of damage repair, more particularly but not exclusively in the field of repair of vehicle glass which is frequently chipped by flying stones or other material. The term “flaw” used herein is to cover chips defects or other surface faults. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Existing apparatus and methods for repair of damaged vehicle glass involve subjecting a space around the area of damage to a partial vacuum to allow satisfactory penetration of an optically compatible resin into the area of damage, and extraction of air from ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The housing preferably includes an outer seal, the outer seal and the repair seal defining an annular space between the housing and the surface in use, the annular space having a connection to a vacuum source for reducing the pressure in the annular space to hold the housing to the surface in use.

[0030] The apparatus preferably includes a capsule position locating element on the housing for locating the capsule in a first position in which the liquid repair material is released and retained in the capsule holder or a second position in which the capsule is retained in a fully inserted position. The capsule preferably has a flange at the end thereof away from the end for insertion with the capsule holder, and the capsule position locating element is preferably an element spring biased to engage the flange to prevent movement of the capsule beyond the first position until moved inwardly, and engageable with the flange to prevent removal of the capsule when fully inserted, until moved inwardly towards the housing.

Problems solved by technology

Problems which arise concern adequate degassing of both the damaged area and the resin.

Degasification in this way needs more time and is less effective, since gas from the flaw has to leave through the resin.

This apparatus encounters similar degassing problems described above.

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