Batch drum furnace with double cylinders

Abstract

A batch drum furnace with a dual cylinder is provided. In one embodiment, a batch drum furnace configured to heat a hot melt adhesive material includes a platen assembly configured to be movable from a raised position to a lowered position; a horizontal crosshead member which is suspended on the horizontal crosshead member; and a dual pneumatic piston assembly configured to move the platen assembly from the raised position to the lowered position. The pneumatic piston assembly includes a first pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a first side of the drum furnace and a second pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a second side of the drum furnace, and each pair of pneumatic pistons includes a first piston rod and a second piston rod, each piston rod having an upper end. In one embodiment, the upper end of the first piston rod is connected to the upper end of the second piston rod through first and second top connecting plates; and wherein the first and second top connecting plates are connected to opposite ends of the horizontal crosshead member by elongated crosshead struts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a batch drum furnace capable of applying increased upward and downward forces to a drum of hot melt adhesive. Background Technology

[0002] Batch drum furnaces are widely used in the automotive and solar energy industries. Existing drum furnaces can be used to apply thick adhesives or hot melt adhesives with extremely high viscosity. For example, butyl rubber with a dynamic viscosity of approximately 1 M centipoise (CPS) is used for edge bonding applications on solar panels. This hot melt adhesive must be applied under high pressure. Otherwise, the flow characteristics of the material would be too poor to flow smoothly through the entire connecting hose. Furthermore, the applicator at the downstream end of the hose would not be able to evenly apply such a thick adhesive to the substrate. Therefore, ideally, the pump must be able to apply a maximum operating pressure of approximately 12.0 bar.

[0003] One way to increase the maximum working air pressure of a conventional pneumatic cylinder is to upgrade the equipment to a high-pressure mode. However, according to certain pressure vessel specifications, this component must be carefully calibrated and monitored. Depending on the cross-sectional dimensions of the air piston and the air pressure contained within, this component can be considered a pressure vessel. Therefore, the cross-sectional dimensions of the piston within the cylinder can be limited to a pneumatic cylinder producing approximately 6.5 working air pressure, thus limiting the amount of force that a conventional pneumatic drum furnace can apply to the binder in a batch drum to almost half the desired force. It would be advantageous to produce a batch drum furnace that can apply an increased downward force without increasing the cross-sectional dimensions of the air piston. Utility Model Content

[0004] In one embodiment, a batch drum furnace with a dual-cylinder configuration is provided for heating a hot-melt adhesive material. The batch drum furnace includes: a pressure plate assembly configured to move from a raised position to a lowered position; a horizontal crosshead member suspended from the pressure plate assembly; and a dual-cylinder pneumatic piston assembly configured to move the pressure plate assembly from the raised position to the lowered position. The pneumatic piston assembly includes a first pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a first side of the batch drum furnace and a second pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a second side of the batch drum furnace. Each pair of pneumatic pistons includes a first piston rod and a second piston rod, each piston rod having an upper end. In one embodiment, the upper end of the first piston rod is connected to the upper end of the second piston rod via a first top connecting plate and a second top connecting plate; and wherein the first top connecting plate and the second top connecting plate are connected to opposite ends of the horizontal crosshead member via elongated crosshead struts.

[0005] The batch drum furnace may further include a substrate and a drum clamp, wherein the drum clamp is configured to hold the drum holding the hot melt adhesive material to the substrate.

[0006] The pressure plate assembly can be configured to apply pressure and heat to the hot melt adhesive material inside the drum.

[0007] The drum can be configured to hold approximately 200 liters of hot melt adhesive material. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view of a batch drum furnace used with hot melt adhesives featuring a twin-cylinder design;

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Front view of a batch drum furnace;

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Rear view of the main body drum furnace;

[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Right side view of the batch drum furnace;

[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Left side view of the electro-actuated hot melt distribution system;

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A top view of a batch drum furnace; and

[0014] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of a batch drum furnace. Detailed Implementation

[0015] refer to Figures 1-7 The image shows an apparatus 10 for heating and melting thermoplastic material from bulk containers, such as barrels, cans, etc., of about 200 liters (55 gallons). Figures 1-7 The device 10 is particularly suitable for heated, pumpable hot melt adhesives disposed within a drum, thereby enabling the dispensing of the hot melt adhesive onto a substrate via other coating facilities (not shown). The device 10 includes a substrate 12 on which a plurality of upright elements are supported, as discussed further below. The substrate 12 can support a drum (not shown) configured to be held in place by a drum clamp 14.

[0016] A pressure plate, typically designated 16, is attached to one end of a pair of pressure plate supports 18a and 18b. Figures 1-7The pressure plate 16 shown is in a lowered position and is configured to be disposed within a drum held by the clamp 14. When activated, a heating plate (not shown) disposed on the lower surface of the pressure plate 16 is configured to be fitted within the drum and to contact and melt the adhesive therein.

[0017] The base plate 12 can also support two pairs of twin-body upright support cylinders 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b. Additionally, two pairs of cylinder rods 24a, 24b and 26a, 24b are configured to extend upward from each support cylinder 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b, respectively. Each pair of cylinder rods 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b are connected at their upper ends by connecting plates 28 and 30. Furthermore, connecting plates 28 and 30 are attached to each of the opposite ends of a horizontal crosshead member 36 via crosshead supports 32, 34 extending approximately between the centers of each plate 28 and 30. The horizontal crosshead member 36 is configured to support the pump drive motor assembly 38 and the pressure plate supports 18a, 18b. An example of a pump drive motor assembly, pressure plate assembly, pressure plate assembly support, and associated components suitable for existing systems includes components incorporated into a drum batch furnace. However, it should be understood that other pump assemblies may be used.

[0018] Pressurized air can be introduced into the support cylinders 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b using a single pneumatic tube. The air causes cylinder rods 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b to extend from the support cylinders 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b, resulting in the horizontal crosshead member 36 and the associated structure supported thereon rising to an elevated position. Similarly, pressurized air can be applied to the support cylinders 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b to retract the cylinder rods 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b, and consequently, to move the crosshead member 36 downward. This, in turn, inserts the pressure plate 16 into the drum to apply force or pressure to the hot material within the drum.

[0019] When the pressure plate 16 is inserted into the opening of the drum, it begins to heat the molten material contained within the drum until it is in a liquefied and pumpable state. In this state, the material can be pumped from the drum via a conduit or hose (not shown) for subsequent use by downstream facilities. As more and more material is removed from the drum, the pressure plate 16 continues to be applied further into the drum until it is located at the bottom of the drum. Additionally, the electrical control panel 40 and necessary electrical components housed within the electrical cabinet 42 can be supported on the base plate 12 for providing... Figure 1 The necessary controls for the operation of the device include temperature monitoring and control. An example of an electrical control panel 40 and associated electrical components suitable for an existing system includes components integrated into a drum batch furnace. However, it should be understood that other electrical control panels can be used.

[0020] Compared to a standard pneumatic cylinder (approximately 6.5 bar), using a pair of standard low-pressure dual-body pneumatic cylinders allows device 10 to deliver nearly twice the pulling and pushing air pressure (approximately 12 bar) to pressure plate 16 via a set of pressure plate supports 18a, 18b. Each standard low-pressure dual-body pneumatic cylinder includes a pair of support cylinders 20a, 20b and a pair of cylinder rods 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b connected to a single top connecting plate 28, 30. As a result, the internal hydraulic pressure established below pressure plate 16 can reach or exceed the pressure applied by a single high-pressure pneumatic cylinder operating under dual-charge air pressure. In this embodiment, standard pneumatic cylinders can be used instead of a high-pressure air system.

[0021] This written description sets forth the best mode for carrying out the present invention and describes the invention so that those skilled in the art can make and use it by presenting examples of the elements recited in the claims. The detailed description of these elements does not impose any limitations not expressly stated in the claims or under the principle of equivalents.

Claims

1. A batch drum melting furnace with a double-cylinder design, characterized in that, The batch drum furnace is configured to heat and melt adhesive materials, and the batch drum furnace includes: A pressure plate assembly configured to move from a raised position to a lowered position; A horizontal crosshead member, wherein the pressure plate member is suspended on the horizontal crosshead member; and A dual-body pneumatic piston assembly configured to move the pressure plate assembly from the raised position to the lowered position; The pneumatic piston assembly includes a first pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a first side of the batch drum furnace and a second pair of pneumatic pistons disposed on a second side of the batch drum furnace; and each pair of pneumatic pistons includes a first piston rod and a second piston rod, each piston rod having an upper end, wherein the upper end of the first piston rod is connected to the upper end of the second piston rod via a first top connecting plate and a second top connecting plate; and The first top connecting plate and the second top connecting plate are connected to opposite ends of the horizontal crosshead member via slender crosshead supports.

2. The batch drum melting furnace with a double-cylinder body according to claim 1, characterized in that, The batch drum furnace further includes a substrate and a drum clamp, wherein the drum clamp is configured to hold the drum holding the hot melt adhesive material to the substrate.

3. The batch drum melting furnace with a double-cylinder body according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure plate assembly is configured to apply pressure and heat to the hot melt adhesive material within the drum.

4. The batch drum melting furnace with a double-cylinder body according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drum is configured to hold approximately 200 liters of hot melt adhesive material.

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