A supercritical foaming apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses a supercritical foaming device, and relates to the technical field of polymer material processing, which comprises a reaction mechanism, a sealing mechanism, a turbulence mechanism and a shunt mechanism, wherein the reaction mechanism comprises a kettle body and a kettle cover, the kettle cover is movably connected to the kettle mouth of the kettle body, and the reaction mechanism further comprises a bottom mounting plate, a support frame and a support plate; the sealing mechanism is arranged beside the kettle mouth of the kettle body and is used for sealing the kettle cover at the kettle mouth of the kettle body, the sealing mechanism comprises a support pipe, a hydraulic cylinder and a clamp; the turbulence mechanism is arranged on the inner side of the kettle body and is used for disturbing the reaction gas entering the kettle body from the kettle bottom to the kettle mouth direction, the turbulence mechanism comprises a motor one and a rotating cylinder; and the shunt mechanism is arranged on the inner side of the kettle cover and is used for dispersing the reaction gas entering the kettle body from the kettle mouth to the kettle bottom direction, the shunt mechanism comprises a motor two and a shunt pipe. The supercritical foaming device has the characteristics of reasonable scheme, ingenious structure, convenient use and high reaction efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of polymer material processing, specifically to a supercritical foaming equipment. Background Technology

[0002] There are three main methods for polymer supercritical fluid foaming: continuous extrusion foaming, injection foaming, and batch autoclave foaming. Each method has its own characteristics. Continuous extrusion foaming is suitable for foam materials with regular cross-sectional shapes, while injection foaming can be used to inject foam products with complex shapes. These two processes are highly efficient, but require large equipment investments and are complex. Batch autoclave foaming takes longer than the other two processes, but the product quality is stable and its industrial applications are becoming increasingly widespread.

[0003] Polymer supercritical foaming needs to be carried out under uniform temperature and pressure. Therefore, temperature uniformity is extremely important for the effectiveness of the equipment; otherwise, it will seriously affect the quality of the foamed products. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a supercritical foaming device to overcome the aforementioned defects caused by the prior art.

[0005] A supercritical foaming device includes a reaction mechanism, a sealing mechanism, a flow turbulence mechanism, and a flow distribution mechanism, wherein:

[0006] The reaction mechanism includes a vessel body and a vessel lid, with the vessel lid movably connected to the vessel opening of the vessel body;

[0007] The sealing mechanism is located next to the opening of the vessel body and is used to seal the vessel lid at the opening of the vessel body.

[0008] The turbulence-disrupting mechanism is located inside the vessel and is used to turbulent the reaction gas introduced into the vessel from the bottom to the opening.

[0009] The flow-diverting mechanism is located inside the vessel lid and is used to disperse the reaction gas introduced into the vessel from the vessel opening to the bottom of the vessel.

[0010] Preferably, the reaction mechanism further includes a bottom plate, a support frame, and a support plate. The vessel opening faces forward and is connected to the upper side of the bottom plate by a pair of I-shaped support frames. An air inlet and an air outlet are spaced apart on the upper side of the vessel. A sealing gasket is affixed to the surface of the vessel that contacts the vessel lid. A fan-shaped support frame is installed at the vessel opening. The support plate extends out of the inner side of the vessel and is horizontally connected to the upper side of the support frame. A pair of U-shaped guide strips are connected parallel to the upper side of the support plate. The vessel lid is connected to the vessel opening of the vessel by a hinge. A [-shaped door handle is offset on the outer wall of the vessel lid. A second sealing gasket is affixed to the surface of the vessel lid that contacts the vessel body.

[0011] Preferably, the sealing mechanism includes a support pipe, a hydraulic cylinder and a clamp. There are a pair of support pipes symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the kettle mouth of the kettle body, and the bottom ends of the support pipes are vertically connected to the upper side of the bottom mounting plate. The top ends of the support pipes are horizontally connected with a fixing plate. There are a pair of hydraulic cylinders symmetrically distributed left and right. The hydraulic cylinders on the same side are vertically downward and installed on the upper side of the fixing plate, and a lifting plate is horizontally connected to the end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. There are a pair of clamps symmetrically distributed on the upper and lower sides of the kettle mouth of the kettle body, and the two ends of the upper clamp are correspondingly connected to the lifting plates on both sides. A fixed pulley is connected beside the hydraulic cylinder on the fixing plate, and a steel wire rope is wound around the fixed pulley. The two ends of the steel wire rope on the same side are correspondingly connected to the ends of the upper and lower clamps.

[0012] Preferably, the flow disturbing mechanism includes a motor I and a rotating cylinder. The motor I is located outside the kettle body and coaxially installed at the bottom of the kettle body, and a cross-shaped rotating frame is coaxially connected to the output end of the motor I through a flange seat. The rotating cylinder is located inside the kettle body and coaxially installed on the rotating frame, and spiral flow disturbing strips are evenly distributed on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder.

[0013] Preferably, the flow dividing mechanism includes a motor II and a flow dividing pipe. The motor II is located outside the kettle cover and coaxially installed on the kettle cover, and an impeller is key-connected to the output end of the motor II. An impeller cover is coaxially connected to the outside of the impeller on the kettle cover. A circle of air suction ports is evenly distributed on the circumferential surface of the impeller cover. An exhaust port is provided at the center of the impeller cover, and a guide pipe is coaxially connected to the outside of the exhaust port. The flow dividing pipe is of a king-shaped structure and coaxially connected to the end of the guide pipe. An air guiding port communicating with the guide pipe is provided at the center of the flow dividing pipe. Multiple layers of flow dividing ports are distributed on the side of the flow dividing pipe far from the air guiding port. A number of electric heating rods are evenly installed inside the flow dividing pipe.

[0014] Preferably, a sealing ring I is embedded at the edge of the kettle mouth of the kettle body, a sealing ring II is embedded at the edge of the kettle cover, and a sealing sheet is pasted on the inner wall of the clamp.

[0015] Preferably, a number of Fukuma wheels are evenly installed on the lower side of the bottom mounting plate.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0017] 1. The foaming equipment is easy to use. First, evenly stack the products to be foamed on the movable multi-layer shelf, then move the multi-layer shelf above the support plate, and then use the door handle to close the lid to the mouth of the kettle body. Then, the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders on both sides extend and drive the upper clamp to be clamped on the upper side of the kettle body and lid. At the same time, the steel wire ropes on both sides will pull the lower clamp to be clamped on the lower side of the kettle body and lid, thus sealing the lid at the mouth of the kettle body.

[0018] 2. Highly efficient foaming equipment. Air is drawn out of the vessel through the outlet, and then reactant gas is injected through the inlet. During injection and subsequent reaction, a rotating drum driven by a motor rotates the drum, and baffles on the drum agitate the reactant gas from the bottom to the opening. Simultaneously, a second motor drives an impeller, creating a negative pressure space at the intake port on the impeller cover, drawing the agitated reactant gas into the cover. The reactant gas then passes through the exhaust port on the impeller cover, the guide pipe, and the guide port on the distribution pipe before entering the distribution pipe. The reactant gas then disperses from the opening to the bottom through the distribution port on the distribution pipe. A heating rod thoroughly heats the flowing reactant gas. Finally, the product on the multi-layer shelf comes into contact with the evenly dispersed and heated reactant gas, resulting in foamed product. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a side view of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the reaction mechanism in this invention.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing mechanism in this invention.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the turbulence-disrupting mechanism in this invention.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the flow diversion mechanism in this invention.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a partial explosion of a diversion mechanism.

[0026] in:

[0027] 10-Reaction mechanism; 101-Bottom plate; 102-Support frame; 103-Vessel body; 103a-Gas inlet; 103b-Gas outlet; 104-Sealing gasket one; 105-Sealing ring one; 106-Support frame; 107-Support plate; 108-Guide strip; 109-Vessel lid; 110-Hinge; 111-Door handle; 112-Sealing gasket two; 113-Sealing ring two; 114-Fuma wheel;

[0028] 20-Sealing mechanism; 201-Support pipe; 202-Fixing plate; 203-Hydraulic cylinder; 204-Lifting plate; 205-Clamp; 206-Sealing plate; 207-Fixed pulley; 208-Wire rope;

[0029] 30-Spoiler mechanism; 301-Motor 1; 302-Flange seat; 303-Rotating frame; 304-Rotating cylinder; 305-Spoiler strip;

[0030] 40-Diverter mechanism; 401-Motor II; 402-Impeller; 403-Impeller cover; 403a-Inlet; 403b-Outlet; 404-Guide pipe; 405-Diverter pipe; 405a-Guide port; 405b-Diverter port; 406-Heating rod. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, a supercritical foaming device includes a reaction mechanism 10, a sealing mechanism 20, a flow turbulence mechanism 30, and a flow diversion mechanism 40, wherein:

[0033] The reaction mechanism 10 includes a vessel body 103 and a vessel cover 109, wherein the vessel cover 109 is movably connected to the opening of the vessel body 103;

[0034] The sealing mechanism 20 is disposed beside the opening of the vessel body 103 and is used to seal the vessel lid 109 at the opening of the vessel body 103.

[0035] The turbulence-disrupting mechanism 20 is disposed on the inner side of the vessel body 103 and is used to turbulent the reaction gas introduced into the vessel body 103 from the bottom of the vessel to the opening of the vessel.

[0036] The flow diversion mechanism 40 is located inside the vessel cover 109 and is used to disperse the reaction gas introduced into the vessel body 103 from the vessel opening to the vessel bottom.

[0037] In this embodiment, the reaction mechanism 10 further includes a bottom mounting plate 101, a support frame 102, and a support plate 107. The vessel body 103 has its opening facing forward and is connected to the upper side of the bottom mounting plate 101 by a pair of I-shaped support frames 102. An air inlet 103a and an air outlet 103b are spaced apart on the upper side of the vessel body 103. A sealing gasket 104 is attached to the surface of the vessel body 103 that contacts the vessel lid 109. A fan is installed at the opening of the vessel body 103. A support frame 106 is formed, and a support plate 107 extends out from the inside of the vessel body 103 and is horizontally connected to the upper side of the support frame 106. A pair of U-shaped guide strips 108 are connected parallel to the upper side of the support plate 107. The vessel lid 109 is connected to the opening of the vessel body 103 via a hinge 110. An offset "[" shaped door handle 111 is connected to the outer wall of the vessel lid 109. A sealing gasket 112 is attached to the surface of the vessel lid 109 that contacts the vessel body 103. The vessel lid 109 can be easily opened or closed through the door handle 111.

[0038] In this embodiment, the sealing mechanism 20 includes a support pipe 201, a hydraulic cylinder 203, and a clamp 205. A pair of support pipes 201 are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the vessel opening of the vessel body 103, with the bottom end of the support pipe 201 vertically connected to the upper side of the bottom mounting plate 101. A fixing plate 202 is horizontally connected to the top end of the support pipe 201. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 203 are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides, with the hydraulic cylinder 203 on the same side vertically downwards and mounted on the upper side of the fixing plate 202. A lifting plate 204 is horizontally connected to the end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 203. A pair of clamps 205 are provided and symmetrically distributed on the upper and lower sides of the vessel opening of the vessel body 103. The two ends of the upper clamp 205 are connected to the lifting plates 204 on both sides. A fixed pulley 207 is connected to the side of the hydraulic cylinder 203 on the fixing plate 202. A steel wire rope 208 is wound on the fixed pulley 207. The two ends of the steel wire rope 208 on the same side are connected to the ends of the upper and lower clamps 205 respectively. When the lid 109 is closed at the opening of the vessel body 109, the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders 203 on both sides extend and drive the upper clamp 205 to engage with the upper side of the vessel body 103 and the lid 109. At the same time, the steel wire ropes 208 on both sides pull the lower clamp 205 to engage with the lower side of the vessel body 103 and the lid 109, thereby sealing the lid 109 at the opening of the vessel body 103.

[0039] In this embodiment, the flow disturbing mechanism 30 includes a first motor 301 and a rotating cylinder 304. The first motor 301 is located outside the kettle body 103 and coaxially installed at the bottom of the kettle body 103. A cross-shaped rotating frame 303 is coaxially connected to the output end of the first motor 301 through a flange seat 302. The rotating cylinder 304 is located inside the kettle body 103 and coaxially installed on the rotating frame 303. Spiral flow disturbing bars 305 are evenly distributed on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder 304. The first motor 301 drives the rotating cylinder 304 to rotate through the rotating frame 303, and the flow disturbing bars 305 on the rotating cylinder 304 disturb the reaction gas introduced into the kettle body 103 from the bottom of the kettle to the mouth of the kettle.

[0040] In this embodiment, the flow dividing mechanism 40 includes a second motor 401 and a flow dividing pipe 405. The second motor 401 is located outside the kettle cover 109 and coaxially installed on the kettle cover 109. An impeller 402 is key-connected to the output end of the second motor 401. An impeller cover 403 is coaxially connected to the kettle cover 109 outside the impeller 402. A circle of air suction ports 403a are evenly distributed on the circumferential surface of the impeller cover 403. An exhaust port 403b is provided at the center of the impeller cover 403. A guide pipe 404 is coaxially connected to the outside of the exhaust port 403b. The flow dividing pipe 405 has a king-shaped structure and is coaxially connected to the end of the guide pipe 404. An air guide port 405a communicating with the guide pipe 404 is provided at the center of the flow dividing pipe 405. Multiple layers of flow dividing ports 405b are distributed on one side of the flow dividing pipe 405 away from the air guide port 405a. A number of electric heating rods 406 are evenly installed inside the flow dividing pipe 405. The second motor 401 drives the impeller 402 to rotate, and a negative pressure space is formed at the air suction ports 403a of the impeller 402 on the impeller cover 403, and the reaction gas introduced into the kettle body 103 is sucked into the impeller cover 403. Then, the reaction gas sequentially passes through the exhaust port 403b on the impeller cover 403, the guide pipe 404, and the air guide port 405a on the flow dividing pipe 405 and enters the flow dividing pipe 405. Finally, the reaction gas is dispersed from the mouth of the kettle to the bottom of the kettle through the flow dividing ports 405b on the flow dividing pipe 405, and the electric heating rods 406 can fully heat the reaction gas flowing through.

[0041] In this embodiment, a first sealing ring 105 is installed on the edge of the mouth of the kettle body 103, a second sealing ring 113 is installed on the edge of the kettle cover 109, and a sealing piece 206 is pasted on the inner wall of the clamp 205. The above-mentioned structures can improve the sealing performance after the kettle cover 109 is closed with the kettle body 103.

[0042] In this embodiment, a plurality of casters 114 are evenly installed on the lower side of the base plate 101. The casters 114 provide reliable support for the entire device and allow for easy movement of the entire device.

[0043] In practical applications, this supercritical foaming equipment includes the following working steps:

[0044] Step 1: First, evenly stack the products that need to be foamed on the movable multi-layer shelf. Then, move the multi-layer shelf above the support plate 107. Next, use the door handle 111 to close the lid 109 onto the opening of the body 109. Then, extend the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders 203 on both sides and drive the upper clamp 205 to be clamped onto the upper side of the body 103 and lid 109. At the same time, the steel wire ropes 208 on both sides will pull the lower clamp 205 to be clamped onto the lower side of the body 103 and lid 109, thereby sealing the lid 109 at the opening of the body 103.

[0045] Step 2: The air inside the vessel 103 is drawn out through the air outlet 103b on the vessel 103. Then, the reaction gas is injected into the vessel 103 through the air inlet 103a on the vessel 103.

[0046] Step 3: During gas injection and subsequent reaction processes, motor 301 drives the rotating cylinder 304 to rotate via the rotating frame 303. The turbulence strips 305 on the rotating cylinder 304 agitate the reaction gas entering the vessel body 103 from the bottom towards the opening. Simultaneously, motor 401 drives the impeller 402 to rotate, creating a negative pressure space at the suction port 403a on the impeller cover 403, drawing the agitated reaction gas into the impeller cover 403. Then, the reactant gas passes through the exhaust port 403b on the impeller cover 403, the gas guide pipe 404, and the gas guide port 405a on the split pipe 405 in sequence into the split pipe 405. Next, the reactant gas is dispersed from the mouth of the vessel to the bottom of the vessel through the split port 405b on the split pipe 405. The flowing reactant gas can be fully heated by the electric heating rod 406. Finally, the product on the multi-layer shelf comes into contact with the evenly dispersed and uniformly heated reactant gas and foams to obtain the foamed product.

[0047] Step 4: After the reaction is complete, the excess reaction gas in the vessel 103 is drawn away through the gas outlet 103b on the vessel 103. Then, air is injected into the vessel 103 through the gas inlet 103a on the vessel 103.

[0048] Step 5: The piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders 203 on both sides retract and drive the upper clamp 205 away from the upper side of the vessel body 103 and the vessel cover 109. At the same time, the steel wire ropes 208 on both sides will release the lower clamp 205 away from the lower side of the vessel body 103 and the vessel cover 109. Then, the door handle 111 is used to open the vessel cover 109 next to the vessel opening of the vessel body 109. Then, the multi-layer shelf and the foamed products on it are transferred from above the support plate 107 out of the vessel body 103.

[0049] Therefore, the disclosed embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and are not exhaustive. All modifications within the scope of this invention or its equivalents are included in this invention.

Claims

1. A supercritical foaming device, characterized in that: It includes a reaction mechanism (10), a sealing mechanism (20), a flow-dispersing mechanism (30), and a flow-diverting mechanism (40), wherein: The reaction mechanism (10) includes a vessel body (103) and a vessel lid (109), wherein the vessel lid (109) is movably connected to the vessel opening of the vessel body (103); The sealing mechanism (20) is located next to the opening of the vessel body (103) and is used to seal the vessel lid (109) at the opening of the vessel body (103); The turbulence-disrupting mechanism (30) is located inside the vessel body (103) and is used to turbulent the reaction gas introduced into the vessel body (103) from the bottom of the vessel to the opening of the vessel. The diversion mechanism (40) is located inside the lid (109) and is used to disperse the reaction gas introduced into the vessel body (103) from the vessel opening to the bottom of the vessel; The sealing mechanism (20) includes a support pipe (201), a hydraulic cylinder (203), and a clamp (205). The support pipe (201) is provided in pairs and symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the vessel opening of the vessel body (103). The bottom end of the support pipe (201) is vertically connected to the upper side of the bottom mounting plate (101). The top end of the support pipe (201) is horizontally connected to a fixing plate (202). The hydraulic cylinder (203) is provided in pairs and symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides. The hydraulic cylinder (203) located on the same side is vertically installed on the upper side of the fixing plate (202) and is connected to the hydraulic cylinder. The piston rod of the pressure cylinder (203) is horizontally connected to a lifting plate (204). The clamps (205) are provided in pairs and symmetrically distributed on the upper and lower sides of the vessel opening of the vessel body (103). The two ends of the upper clamp (205) are connected to the lifting plates (204) on both sides. The fixed plate (202) is connected to a fixed pulley (207) on the side of the hydraulic cylinder (203). A steel wire rope (208) is wound on the fixed pulley (207). The two ends of the steel wire rope (208) on the same side are connected to the ends of the upper and lower clamps (205). The turbulence-disrupting mechanism (30) includes a motor (301) and a rotating cylinder (304). The motor (301) is located on the outside of the vessel body (103) and is coaxially mounted on the bottom of the vessel body (103). A cross-shaped rotating frame (303) is coaxially connected to the output end of the motor (301) through a flange seat (302). The rotating cylinder (304) is located on the inside of the vessel body (103) and is coaxially mounted on the rotating frame (303). Spiral turbulence-disrupting strips (305) are evenly distributed on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder (304). The shunt mechanism (40) includes a second motor (401) and a shunt pipe (405). The second motor (401) is located outside the kettle cover (109) and is coaxially installed on the kettle cover (109). An impeller (402) is key-connected to the output end of the second motor (401). An impeller cover (403) is coaxially connected to the outside of the impeller (402) on the kettle cover (109). A circle of air inlets (403a) is evenly distributed on the circumferential surface of the impeller cover (403). An air outlet (403b) is provided at the center of the impeller cover (403). A gas guide pipe (404) is coaxially connected to the outside of the air outlet (403b). The shunt pipe (405) is of a "king" - shaped structure and is coaxially connected to the end of the gas guide pipe (404). An air guide port (405a) communicating with the gas guide pipe (404) is provided at the center of the shunt pipe (405). Multiple layers of shunt ports (405b) are distributed on one side of the shunt pipe (405) far from the air guide port (405a). A number of electric heating rods (406) are evenly installed inside the shunt pipe (405).

2. The supercritical foaming equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reaction mechanism (10) further includes a bottom mounting plate (101), a support frame (102) and a support plate (107). The kettle mouth of the kettle body (103) faces forward and is connected to the upper side of the bottom mounting plate (101) through a pair of "I" - shaped support frames (102). An air inlet (103a) and an air outlet (103b) are spaced apart and distributed on the upper side of the kettle body (103). A first sealing gasket (104) is pasted on the surface of the kettle body (103) in contact with the kettle cover (109). A fan - shaped support frame (106) is installed at the kettle mouth of the kettle body (103). The support plate (107) extends into the inside of the kettle body (103) and is horizontally connected to the upper side of the support frame (106). A pair of "U" - shaped guide strips (108) are parallel - connected to the upper side of the support plate (107). The kettle cover (109) is connected to the kettle mouth of the kettle body (103) through a hinge (110). A "[" - shaped door handle (111) is offset - connected to the outer wall of the kettle cover (109). A second sealing gasket (112) is pasted on the surface of the kettle cover (109) in contact with the kettle body (103).

3. The supercritical foaming equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first sealing ring (105) is镶嵌在the edge of the kettle mouth of the kettle body (103). A second sealing ring (113) is镶嵌在the edge of the kettle cover (109). A sealing piece (206) is pasted on the inner wall of the clamp (205).

4. The supercritical foaming equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: A number of Fukuma wheels (114) are evenly installed on the lower side of the bottom mounting plate (101).

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