Device for receiving a cylindrical tube for the quick changing of a piston pump cylinder, and metering device containing said device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the volumetric metering of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container which contains the flowable composition to be metered, wherein the piston pump comprises a device for receiving at least one cylindrical tube for the establishment of a form-locking connection to a connection point, e.g. of a valve system.

Description

[0001] Device for receiving a cylindrical tube for quickly changing a piston pump cylinder and dosing device containing this device

[0002] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for receiving at least one cylindrical tube for establishing a positive connection to a connection for use as a feed or metering pump. The invention further relates to a device for volumetric metering of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container containing the flowable composition to be metered, wherein the piston pump comprises a device for receiving at least one cylindrical tube for establishing a positive connection to a connection, e.g., a valve system.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A large number of intermediate and final products in the form of flowable compositions undergo a dosing step before further processing or packaging for an end user. Compositions that contain solid particles or in which there is a potential for solid particles to form place particular demands on dosing. These include, for example, suspensions, i.e., dispersions of insoluble solid particles in liquids, but also partially solidified melts or liquid media with solid particles resulting from the crystallization of a solid originally dissolved in the liquid. The problem with these compositions is that the particles they contain can cause abrasive wear, especially when the compositions are conveyed.This results in progressive material loss from the surface of all components that come into contact with the abrasive medium during pumping and metering. Abrasive wear can significantly reduce the service life of the pumps used, in particular. The pumping chambers and pumping elements of metering pumps are often made of steel or other metals and metal alloys and are particularly susceptible to wear, as the impact of the particle-containing media is comparable to that of sandpaper.

[0006] A typical example of a mass-produced product in the form of a flowable composition is water-based paints, which contain binders, colorants (pigments or soluble dyes), fillers, water, possibly other solvents, and optionally additives. In the field of paint compositions, consumers today can choose from an unlimited range of colors, usually produced by blending standard colors. Since customers expect such paints to be readily available when needed, they are increasingly being produced directly upon customer request. The production of paints in the color desired by the end consumer at the point of sale (POS) takes place in colorant dosing systems. For this purpose, concentrated colorants (pigment pastes) are usually added in the calculated amount to a mostly white, less frequently a transparent base.

[0007] It is known to use devices with a closed container system for dosing paints. Instead of filling the paints from an open container into the open agitator tanks of the dosing system, closed containers are used in a dosing system with a closed circulation system.

[0008] EP 2067716 A2 describes a dosing device based on a flexible bag arranged in a container. The container system, together with a conveyor and corresponding lines, forms a closed circuit from which a dosing line branches off. The liquid medium can thus circulate within the device, including the container system.

[0009] EP 3461760 A2 describes a device for volumetric dosing of a flowable composition, specifically for mixing a paint formulation, with circuits integrated into a circuit. Furthermore, these circuits are integrated with a sensor for detecting the empty container.

[0010] German utility model 20 2021 103 214 describes a device for the volumetric dosing of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container containing the flowable composition to be dosed, wherein the piston pump comprises at least one glass cylinder.

[0011] The dosing devices mentioned above still need to be improved.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention relates to a device for the volumetric dosing of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container containing the flowable composition to be dosed. The piston pump comprises at least one piston pump cylinder with a reinforced conduit adapter device enclosing the cylinder and having connecting elements. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting elements connect the piston pump cylinder to at least one connecting piece, in particular the connecting piece of at least one valve. Specifically, the connecting elements connect the piston pump cylinder to a valve system, preferably comprising at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve.

[0014] In particular, the at least one piston pump cylinder is designed as a glass cylinder.

[0015] In particular, the armored pipe adapter device comprises a composite or consists of a composite comprising at least one fiber material and at least one binder.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least one piston pump cylinder is made of PFAS-free materials.

[0017] In a specific embodiment, the at least one container contains a dye composition, preferably an aqueous or solvent-based dye composition.

[0018] A preferred embodiment is a device according to the invention which comprises a circuit for the flowable composition, wherein a conveying device and the at least one container are integrated into the circuit and wherein the conveying device comprises the piston pump with at least one piston pump cylinder and a reinforced pipe adapter device enclosing the cylinder.

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In a special embodiment, the flowable composition is abrasive.

[0021] In another special embodiment, the flowable composition may be prone to settling, ie it may tend to form a solid sediment.

[0022] In particular, the flowable composition is a dye composition. The viscosities of flowable compositions can vary widely, from fluid to viscous / pasty.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the flowable composition has at least one of the following features: - the flowable composition exhibits thixotropic behavior,

[0024] - the flowable composition is a dispersion or suspension with an equivalent diameter of the solid particles in the range of 1 nm to 100 pm,

[0025] - the flowable composition is a color dispersion,

[0026] - the flowable composition has a viscosity at room temperature in the range of 0.1 mPa-s to 10 7 mPa-s, preferably in the range of 1 mPa-s to 10 5 mPa-s, particularly preferably in the range from 10 mPa-s to 10 3 mPa-s.

[0027] A common method for determining the viscosity of a fluid prone to settling is, for example, the determination using a rotational viscometer according to DIN 53 019.

[0028] In a specific embodiment, the flowable composition is an aqueous or solvent-containing composition. In the context of the invention, an aqueous composition is understood to be a composition which, based on the total weight of the components which are liquid under standard conditions (20°C, 1013.25 mbar) (i.e. in the case of solutions, based on the total amount of solvents and in the case of liquid media which contain solid particles, based on the total amount of suspending agent), contains at least 50% by weight of water, preferably at least 75% by weight of water, in particular at least 90% by weight of water, especially at least 95% by weight of water, more especially at least 99% by weight of water. The aqueous composition can contain at least one organic solvent in addition to water. The organic solvents are preferably partially or fully miscible with water.

[0029] A container is a packaging unit for the composition to be dispensed or one of its components. The term "container" refers to the entirety of the dispensed product and the packaging. The dispensed product can preferably be all types of liquid, paste, and / or pigment systems, such as alkyd, synthetic resin, polymer, acrylic, latex, and nano-paints, emulsion paint compositions, natural color compositions, as well as food, feed, cosmetics, adhesives, oils, etc. Specifically, the container contains a dye composition or a component of a dye composition.

[0030] Modern colorant dosing systems are designed to dose large quantities of product in the shortest possible time and are therefore very maintenance-intensive. However, their service life is usually limited to a few years, as their susceptibility to wear and tear increases so much that continued operation is no longer worthwhile due to the downtime. Therefore, there is a need for dosing devices for flowable compositions containing solid particles that are characterized by durability, ease of maintenance, and high dosing accuracy. They should also be able to dose abrasive compositions. Dosing pumps are subject to considerable stress.

[0031] A reciprocating piston pump is a positive displacement pump for pumping fluids and liquids in general, but also gases. The piston, known as the piston, performs a reciprocating motion, i.e., a linear (translational) movement. The pistons are guided in a tube, with sealing lips and seals preventing secondary flow between the cylinder wall and the piston (piston seal). By frequently raising and lowering the piston, a liquid or gaseous medium can be sucked in and expelled. By combining a downstream valve, the intake and discharge paths can be separated, creating a different flow direction (discharge flow) with each cycle of raising and lowering.

[0032] Piston pumps are widely used in technology, and are therefore preferred as metering pumps because the distance traveled by the piston is usually directly proportional to the volume of the medium displaced. This applies almost without restriction to liquid media; for gases, piston pumps are only partially suitable for quantitative metering.

[0033] Piston pumps are used as dosing pumps in many technical fields; these are referred to as piston dispenser pumps. These piston dispensers are characterized by their reliability and durability. However, depending on the composition of the media, the materials of a piston dispenser pump are sometimes subject to considerable stress. A preferred application for piston dispenser pumps is dye dosing systems.

[0034] Conventional piston dispenser pumps for colorant dosing machines are characterized by a metal or plastic cylinder, together with the piston and the push rod, and a coupled valve, forming a piston dosing pump. This design is characterized by the cylinder tube being connected to the valve body at only one point. This is achieved through a further machining step of the cylinder tube by applying a coupling system, such as threads, flanges, locking grooves, etc., known to those skilled in the art, by adapting it to the valve counterpart. In practice, the use of piston cylinders means a manufacturer-specific connection that must be applied to the tube. This means a multitude of different tube designs for the commercially available range of different piston pump designs.

[0035] Since the pump cylinder-piston structure is subject to increased wear during operation due to the friction between the cylinder wall and the piston sealing elements in interaction with the abrasive pumped medium, the pumps must be replaced at regular intervals. This has become particularly acute due to users demanding ever faster machines and dosing processes for the production of paint mixtures, and the ever-increasing speeds of the pump lifting and lowering cycles. This also resulted in pump failures increasingly causing machine malfunctions and plant downtimes due to the increased stress.

[0036] It became clear that the PTFE piston / steel cylinder technical concept, which had been evolving linearly for decades, had reached or exceeded the limits of material durability with the increased demands on speed and cycle frequency. Replacing an entire pump is very expensive, as new pumps must be manufactured, procured, and replaced time and time again. Many manufacturers have therefore offered spare part kits for replacing the pistons or cylinders. However, this means that the cylinders or the pump cylinder / piston assembly can no longer be replaced, although these are often easy to replace. Separating the cylinder assembly from the valve at a machine location at the POS is often more time-consuming than replacing the entire pump. Depending on the design, the pump cylinders are often screwed into the valve body with a thread.These must be removed by unscrewing them and replaced by screwing in a new cylinder. However, the high costs of mobilizing and traveling a service technician to the machine's operating site, as well as the machine's downtime, still remain.

[0037] The removed cylinders and pistons are usually no longer usable, as the cylinder walls often have grooves due to wear. Installing a new piston in an already worn cylinder after cleaning the components would result in accelerated wear.

[0038] Due to the phenomenon of a steady increase in frictional resistance, which typically occurs over the course of a pump's life cycle, this often leads to the piston getting stuck in the cylinder and the pump blocking. This is a serious problem, as a dosing system for producing a paint mixture may contain several individual piston pumps - up to 36, or in special designs up to 100. The pumps are actuated by a gripper, which uses a stepper motor to lift and lower the pump piston. A closer look at the cylinders in dosing machines during the dosing process revealed that the pistons perform slight rocking movements around their longitudinal axis when raised and lowered. This means that the pistons are not pulled or pushed uniformly, but rather move with slight pendulum movements.These presumably arise from the load changes of the helix of the power transmission mechanism (spindle) under compressive or tensile loads. This rolling movement places considerable mechanical stress on the piston-cylinder structure, and the resulting forces are transferred to the connection point.

[0039] Furthermore, the cylinder running surfaces at the top and bottom turning points are subjected to considerable localized loads by the start / stop movements of the piston. Scores in the cylinder running surfaces in these two areas are always caused by the constant start / stop movements in the same place on the cylinder. The fact that these scores tend to form in the lower turning area of ​​the piston is because the cylinder is practically unable to perform any evasive movement due to the stable screw connection on the valve seat, whereas the pump moves more freely in the upper area. The lack of force conversion into kinetic energy at the lower turning point causes the piston seal to "dig" into the cylinder wall in the lower area of ​​the piston's turning point. Although this effect is minor, over time it leads to increasing wear on the pump cylinders and the piston sealing fins in this area.Subsequent tests on used piston pumps of other designs and manufacturers also revealed changes in the cylinder walls. These changes vary in severity depending on the manufacturer. As the dye residues dry on the cylinder wall in the areas where the pistons turn, frictional resistance on the running surface increases several times over, potentially leading to the formation of longitudinal scoring.

[0040] At the piston's turning points, the resulting forces are transferred to the cylinder walls through increased frictional resistance, causing the cylinders to be pushed sideways. This creates shear forces at the cylinder's connection point.

[0041] The dosing pumps in a piston dispenser dosing machine are often arranged in a circle on the outside of a round mounting plate (rotary table). The gripper assembly is fixed at a point outside the rotary table. As the table rotates, the pumps pass through the gripper assembly one after the other. When the pump to be controlled reaches the gripper, it is positioned and the end of the pump's piston push rod is "gripped" and locked. The gripper actuates the pump by raising and lowering the piston push rod. If a piston in the cylinder becomes blocked and stuck due to advanced wear, meaning the push rod can no longer be returned to the zero position, the pump will be severely damaged when the table rotates to access the next pump. This is because the push rod strikes either the gripper itself or parts of the machine's housing or chassis.In this case, the pump cylinders are often torn from the valve body, and the connecting rods are bent. Due to the forced separation of the pump cylinder and valve body during operation, the entire contents of a colorant reservoir can leak out. This is particularly critical or dangerous when the leaking material is solvent-based, flammable fluids. This reveals another weak point of piston dispenser pumps in dosing systems: the simple connection of the pump cylinder and pump valve via the connector itself. The piston cylinder itself is not protected against external mechanical influences. The advantageous design of piston pumps with glass cylinder tubes is particularly susceptible to this.

[0042] DE 20 2021 103 214 U1 describes piston pumps which have at least one glass cylinder and are particularly advantageous for use in dosing devices, especially for compositions which are prone to settling and which are abrasive. This was not to be expected, as the use of pumps with glass cylinders has so far been described primarily in the laboratory and medical sectors and not for technical applications with high throughput rates. Piston pumps with glass cylinders are also particularly suitable for use in devices which comprise a circuit for the flowable composition, into which a container system for exchangeable dosing containers and a conveying device are integrated. They can be used as the sole pump for recycling and dosing the flowable composition.

[0043] During the further development phase of the glass cylinders for piston pumps, it suddenly became known that the materials fluoropolymers (especially PTFE), which are particularly preferred for use as pistons in such pump designs, would be restricted or even banned in the future.

[0044] Fluoropolymers are particularly chemically stable. However, this stability also means that once they enter the environment, they can remain there for a very long time and cause environmental damage. The EU plans to restrict or ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which include PTFE, in the future. This would have serious repercussions, including on systems in the pharmaceutical industry, where PTFE is used as a seal material. Due to its properties, PTFE is a particularly preferred material for pistons in terms of its sliding properties and chemical resistance. Stainless steel was the preferred material for the cylinders. Surprisingly, it was discovered that alternative PFAS-free materials have an adverse effect on the friction coefficients between the piston seal materials and the cylinder wall. Wear on the cylinder and piston is further increased, especially when used with abrasive, flowable preparations.This leads to rapid material fatigue and shrinkage, rendering the pumps unusable and requiring replacement. The combination of a glass cylinder and PTFE piston, along with PFAS-free materials, proves particularly advantageous when used with abrasive, flowable compositions; the service life of these pumps is up to five times longer than the conventional metal cylinder / PTFE design.

[0045] DE 20 2021 103 214 U1 further describes that the glass cylinders must be protected against mechanical stress. For example, sheathing made of fiberglass, CFRP, and polymer coatings, as well as an in-liner process, are described. These described devices result in a composite pipe system that is conventionally mounted on the pump valves. Each composite pipe must be adapted to the specific design of the pump valve body.

[0046] The subject of the invention is a device which eliminates as many disadvantages of a piston dispenser pump as possible, in particular for use in paint dosing systems.

[0047] In order to be able to use a cylinder barrel or a barrel-piston assembly as a simple design in a dispensing machine, a sturdy armored barrel is manufactured that encloses the cylinders, allowing the use of a standard barrel even in its unmachined state. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the armored barrel adapter according to the invention, the armored barrel adapter is designed as a form-fitting component.

[0048] Armored conduits are primarily used as conduits for electrical installations and protect the cables installed within them from damage. Armored conduits are preferably made of a robust and break-resistant material that can withstand the mechanical stresses of their respective application. The dimensionally stable conduit used to armor the fragile glass pipes is manufactured as an adapter and clamping structure.

[0049] The dosing device according to the invention and especially the use of a piston pump with a metal or glass cylinder with a reinforced tube adapter for volumetric dosing of flowable pigment-containing dye compositions has the following advantages:

[0050] The glass cylinders used in piston pumps possess advantageous mechanical properties. These include high strength, good abrasion and scratch resistance, and high elasticity. Thus, glass offers significantly better properties for this application than conventional steel cylinders. In particular, glass is much harder than steel, so contact with abrasive media hardly causes abrasion. With the armored pipe adapter device according to the invention, the glass cylinders can be inserted into a pump or composite pipe without a stabilizing coating.

[0051] The use of the armored pipe adapter device according to the invention enables protection against external mechanical influences and allows the use of untreated standard pipes and can be adapted to all common piston-cylinder pump systems.

[0052] The armored conduit adapter device according to the invention simplifies the exchange of cylinder tubes through simple and quick connection. In a particularly preferred connection variant, the device is designed as a rotary one-hand quick coupling, familiar to those skilled in the art.

[0053] The device according to the invention for volumetric dosing of flowable compositions comprises at least one piston pump with a reinforced tube adapter. Piston pumps are displacement pumps known to those skilled in the art, in which a piston (displacer) moves axially within a precisely fitting cylinder. To achieve a continuous conveying process, the cylinder is, in the simplest case, equipped with two counter-closing valves. When the conveyed material is sucked in, the inlet valve opens, and with the piston movement, the conveyed medium flows into the cylinder. In the second stroke, during the conveying movement, the inlet valve closes, and the piston moves in the opposite direction. The outlet valve opens, and the conveyed medium is forced out of the cylinder. The piston-cylinder assembly is connected to the valve. The valve / piston-cylinder assembly is additionally connected to a form-fitting reinforced tube adapter according to the invention.

[0054] Compared to conventional connections between valves and piston pump cylinders, the armored tube adapter enables cylinder centering by connecting the cylinder at at least two points on the cylinder, top and bottom. By inserting a cylinder tube into the armored tube adapter according to the invention and establishing the connection to the valve, the cylinder tube is pressed against the valve seat at the lower end of the cylinder tube by the upper base of the armored tube adapter. This creates a mechanically extremely stable connection, since the cylinder tube is held centered and sealed at both head ends by a head gasket. The function of the cylinder connection is described in the figure description.

[0055] With the use of a reinforced tube adapter, the piston cylinders function as a cartridge, which can be easily replaced. The cartridge solution also has the advantage that different cylinder materials of different dimensions can be used in a dosing system with multiple pumps. The device according to the invention therefore describes a pump-cylinder cartridge exchange system, according to which the reinforced tube adapter forms a retaining sleeve and the piston pump cylinder forms the cartridge.

[0056] An advantage of the armored pipe adapter according to the invention is that the forces generated by the piston's lifting and lowering cycle are absorbed at two points and statically transferred to the pump's mounting plate in the machine. Pivoting movement of the pump cylinder is thus virtually eliminated. The use of the armored pipe adapter ensures a uniform pump piston movement due to the even distribution of the forces generated during a pumping cycle (raising and lowering of the piston). The more precise piston guidance in the cylinder alone results in lower mechanical stress on the piston-cylinder assembly during operation.

[0057] Another advantage is that the armored tube adapter allows the use of cylindrical tubes that do not have any connecting devices themselves. In the case of glass cylinder tubes, simple tubes can be used without any further processing steps. Metal cylinders still require internal turning, honing, and polishing after seamless production.

[0058] The armored conduit adapter is particularly suitable for accommodating glass cylinder tubes according to DE 20 2021 103 214 U1. These are preferably made of borosilicate glass, quartz glass, or glass ceramic. The glass cylinders are particularly preferably made of borosilicate glass.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, the glass cylinders used in the piston pumps are made of an alkaline earth-free borosilicate glass (borosilicate glass 3.3). In particular, the glass cylinders are made of a borosilicate glass that contains, based on the total weight of the components used in its manufacture, at least 80 wt.% silicon dioxide and 12 to 13.5 wt.% boron trioxide. Suitable borosilicate glasses are commercially available. These include, in particular, the borosilicate glasses sold under the name DURAN® from Schott AG, Mainz, Germany. This has the following composition: 81 wt.% SiO2, 13 wt.% B2O3, 4 wt.% Na2O / K2O, and 2 wt.% Al2O3.

[0060] The use of these tubes made of glass or glass-ceramic enables the use of PFAS-free piston materials. Conventional piston dispenser pumps, according to the state of the art, are preferably designed with a PTFE piston / steel cylinder combination. The enforcement of PFAS bans in EU and national law, as well as internationally, has serious implications for the use of conventional piston pumps with PTFE materials. For the intended use of pumps with PTFE pistons in paint dispensing machines, this means that alternative materials for the piston construction must be sought. Conventional pumps for this application spectrum, according to the current state of the art, are made of metal, preferably stainless steel tubes. As described in DE 20 2021 103 214 U1, the use of steel tubes is problematic even when using PTFE as the piston material, as abrasive, flowable preparations erode the steel running surfaces of the cylinders.According to the current state of the art, PTFE is the material of choice, as only PTFE offers the lowest friction values ​​in the piston / steel cylinder structure.

[0061] Conventional PTFE piston bodies are manufactured by machining from a block, or by building up several layers of PTFE and other plastic discs to form a piston body with sealing and wiper lips.

[0062] With regard to the PFAS discussion, the manufacturing process for pistons and sealing materials in piston dispenser pumps is problematic, but also and especially the disposal process. The machining and punching techniques used to manufacture the pump pistons produce enormous quantities of sometimes very fine particles that are difficult to recycle. It is estimated that several tens of thousands of tons of PFAS, primarily made of PTFE, are produced annually for the manufacture of pistons and sealing elements. These parts are already designed as wear parts and must be replaced regularly in existing equipment. According to conservative estimates, the resulting waste may amount to several thousand tons per year, based on all areas in which piston pumps with PFAS sealing elements are used.

[0063] Another critical issue, especially in paint dispensers, is that the abrasion particles generated during pump operation ultimately remain in the consumer product. While particles are immobilized in paints during the drying process, the permanent release of PFAS from PTFE materials is also a topic of current discussion.

[0064] Tests with alternative materials such as PA (polyamide) or other halogen-free polymers have shown higher friction coefficients and thus further increased wear of the piston-cylinder structure. For the use of conventional steel pump cylinders, this means further acceleration of surface wear.

[0065] In the search for alternative piston materials without PFAS, it was surprisingly discovered that the use of alternative polymers not belonging to the PFAS group as piston material in combination with glass cylinders or cylinders with glass or glass-ceramic / ceramic running surfaces produces comparable results to PTFE materials / metal. The prerequisite for the use of PTFE alternatives is therefore the corresponding surface properties of the cylinder running surfaces. This means that the use of PTFE alternative materials suggests a move away from the use of metal cylinders. It is also conceivable that, with progress in development, materials will be found that are both PFAS-free and meet or exceed the properties of PTFE.

[0066] DE 20 2021 103 214 U1 describes the production of a glass cylinder with a valve for connection, as well as the protection of the glass material by applying a coating.

[0067] With the armored tube adapter device according to the invention, coating the glass tubes or producing a composite tube according to DE 20 2021 103 214 U1 is no longer necessary. The armored tube adapter assumes the function of mechanically protecting the glass tube and enables the use of cylindrical tubes without additional connecting elements on the glass cylinder tube itself.

[0068] A further advantage of the armored pipe adapter according to the invention is that it enables the simple combination of a glass pipe with the use of PFAS-free materials and PTFE. The use of the armored pipe adapter according to the invention eliminates the need for complex coating of the pipes or the production of composite pipes.

[0069] The armored conduit adapters are manufactured using processes known to those skilled in the art. Molded parts produced by machining or forming processes, 3D printing, casting, or injection molding are particularly preferred. These can be made of fiber-reinforced or so-called "filled" materials. Common materials for the production of armored conduit adapters include:

[0070] Commercially available, technical polymer materials without halogens are, for example: acrylate styrene-acrylonitrile ASA, acrylonitrile / butadiene / acrylate A / B / A, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene ABS, acrylonitrile / methyl methacrylate A / MMA, butadiene rubber BR, butyl rubber IIR, casein plastics, artificial horn CS, CSF, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, CA, CAB, CAP, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose hydrate CH, cellulose nitrate CNChitin, chitosan, cyclo-olefin copolymers COC, epoxy resin EP, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer E / EA, ethylene-propylene copolymer EPM, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber EPDM, ethylene-vinyl acetate EVA, liquid crystal polymers LCP, urea-formaldehyde resin LIF, High Impact Polystyrene HIPS, Isoprene Rubber IR, Lignin-Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin MF, Melamine / Phenol-Formaldehyde MPF, Methylacrylate / Butadiene / Styrene MBS, Natural Rubber (Gum Arabic) NR, Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin PF, Polyacrylonitrile PAN, Polyamide PA, Bio-PA,Polybutylene adipate terephthalate PBAT, polybutylene succinate PBS, polybutylene terephthalate PBT, polycaprolactone PCL, polycarbonate PC, polyester, polyester amide PEA, polyether, block amide PEBA, polyetherimide PEI, polyether ketones PEK, PEEK, etc., polyether sulfone PES, polyethylene PE, bio-PE, polyethylene terephthalate PET, polyhydroxyalkanoates PHA, polyhydroxybutyrate PHB, polyimide PI, polyisobutylene PIB, polylactide (polylactic acid) PLA, polymethacrylic methylimide PMMI, polytrimethylene terephthalate PTT, polymethyl methacrylate PMMA, polymethylpentene PMP, polyoxymethylene or polyacetal POM, polyphenylene ether PPE or PPO, polyphenylene sulfide PPS, polyphthalamide PPA, polypropylene PP, Polypyrrole PPY, polystyrene PS, polystyrene foamed PS-E, polystyrene impact-resistant SB, polysulfone PSU, polyurethane PUR, bio-PUR (based on vegetable oils), polyvinyl acetate PVAC, polyvinyl butyral PVB, polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP, silicone rubber Q or SIR, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer SAN, styrene-butadiene rubber SBR,Styrene-butadiene-styrene SBS, Thermoplastic starch TPS, Thermoplastic polyurethane TPU or TPE-U, Unsaturated polyester UP, / Ethylene / Methacrylate VC / E / MA.,

[0071] Due to the expected ban or at least far-reaching restrictions on PFAS, halogenated polymer materials should be avoided. Common halogenated polymer-based materials currently include:

[0072] Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ETFE, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene ECTFE, fluoroethylene propylene FEP, fluororubber FPM or FKM, modified fluoroalkoxy polymers, tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE) MFA, perfluoroalkoxy polymers PFA, polychlorotrifluoroethylene PCTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE, polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF. Due to their similarity to PFAS, other halogenated polymers, such as acrylonitrile / chlorinated polyethylene / styrene A / PE-C / S, chloroprene rubber CR, polyvinyl chloride (rigid PVC, PVC-U, soft PVC, PVC-P), vinyl chloride / ethylene VC / E, and vinyl chloride, should also be avoided where possible.

[0073] This list is a limited selection of common engineering polymers and provides guidance on the suitability or exclusion of certain halogenated polymers with regard to safety and environmental compatibility for the manufacture of armored conduit adapters, pump pistons, and cylinder coatings. These can be in the form of blends, composites, and copolymers.

[0074] The armored pipe adapters according to the invention can also be made of metals, glass, and composite materials as well as material mixtures.

[0075] A composite material is a mixture of two or more pure basic materials, at least one of which forms a continuous phase. The basic materials that make up a composite material are bonded together. However, the individual basic materials do not dissolve with each other, or only dissolve superficially. It is usually important to ensure an intimate bond between the phases, even over the long term and under load. Composite materials combine particularly favorable material properties of their components, but generally do not have any material properties that the components do not also possess. In addition to the material properties of the components, the geometry of the components is also important for the properties of the composite materials. Size effects often play a role.

[0076] Composite materials are obtained by compounding, i.e., combining at least two basic materials. The bond is achieved by a material or form fit, or a combination of both. This can be achieved by tightly winding fiber material, particularly preferably carbon fibers, in at least one, preferably multiple layers. These layers are then applied and cured with the coating materials, monomers, polymers, resins, etc., to form a composite. Curing processes occur, for example, through polymerization, condensation, thermal crosslinking, or UV curing.

[0077] Composite laminates have a layered structure, with the layers possibly being woven fibers. Polymer composites are composite materials that contain at least one plastic. Ceramic-reinforced polymer composites consist of a continuous polymer phase in which ceramic microparticles or microparticle aggregates are embedded. Polymer-clay composites contain clay particles dispersed in a polymer phase. The latter can also be applied to the surface coating of cylinder bores.

[0078] The armored tube adapter device according to the invention performs many of the functions of a glass tube jacket in a composite tube design described in DE 20 2021 103 214 U1. For pumps subject to extremely high loads, the composite tubes described in DE 20 2021 103 214 U1 can also be used in an armored tube adapter. This is always advantageous when particularly hazardous liquids, such as highly flammable substances, are processed as flowable preparations. The armored tube adapter also functions as a double wall. If the cylinder is damaged, escaping fluids are retained by the form-fitting armored tube adapter.

[0079] Another object of the invention is a process for producing a paint formulation, with the use of piston pumps with a reinforced pipe adapter comprising

[0080] Providing a device as previously defined,

[0081] Selecting a color pattern,

[0082] Dosing of flowable dye compositions from one or more containers into a container,

[0083] Control or regulation of the dosage according to the selected color sample, if necessary, packaging of the dye compositions dosed into the container into a finished product.

[0084] With regard to the dosing device used in the process, reference is made in full to the above statements regarding the device according to the invention for volumetric dosing of flowable compositions.

[0085] For the purposes of the present invention, "assembly" refers to the completion of a product. This includes all work necessary after filling the components to produce the ready-to-sell product, such as finishing, mixing, packaging, and / or the formation of saleable units.

[0086] Further areas of application for the piston pump-cylinder device with the armored pipe adapter device according to the invention include all technical fields in which piston-cylinder or piston-cylinder pumps are used, such as medical technology, aerospace, industry, hydraulics, pneumatics, and mechanical and plant engineering, as well as the petroleum, pharmaceutical, and nuclear industries, as well as the food and agricultural industries. The range of applications of a glass cylinder piston pump can be expanded almost indefinitely.

[0087] The armored conduit adapter device according to the invention forms a safety enclosure for the piston-cylinder assembly of a piston dispenser pump. It also represents a technical occupational safety measure (a separating protective device) that separates the leaked fluid from the environment in the event of an accident (leakage). The device according to the invention can therefore also be used as a safety device in hazardous areas, such as explosion-proof areas.

[0088] The areas of application listed here are examples; the lists are not to be understood as a limitation. In particular, the detailed description of the application as a dosing pump for flowable preparations in colorant dosing machines does not imply a limitation of the inventive device of a reinforced conduit adapter with a glass cylinder / piston pump to the field of paint production.

[0089] In one variant of the armored conduit adapter, the adapter can be designed in a shortened form. This allows the use of cylinder tubes with a valve body without an armored conduit surrounding the cylinder along its entire length. This is advantageous if the transparent properties of the glass cylinder tube are to be retained. It is also possible to use a composite pipe connection according to DE 20 2021 103 214 U1. The armored conduit adapter extends only a few millimeters to centimeters beyond the connection, leaving the cylinder tube exposed up to the upper cylinder end. This design is very similar to the conventional design, as the armored conduit adapter is only firmly connected to the cylinder tube at the connection. The armored conduit adapter can be manufactured to any length above the connection.The higher the armored tube adapter extends over the connection to the upper end of the cylinder, the more stable the cylinder tube is.

[0090] What follows is a description of the figures and the description of the structure of the device according to the invention of a reinforced pipe adapter device enclosing a piston pump cylinder, as well as the advantageous application.

[0091] FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0092] Figl : 1 armored pipe adapter

[0093] 2 piston pump cylinders

[0094] 3 Connection pipe, cylinder holder, valve body

[0095] 4 Mounting plate

[0096] 5 Coupling / Connection

[0097] 6 Cylinder end seal bottom

[0098] 7 Cylinder end seal top

[0099] 8 Push rod guide / push rod seal

[0100] 9 Adapter seat seal

[0101] 10 push rod

[0102] 11 Lifting cable guide

[0103] 12 pistons

[0104] Fig2:

[0105] 1 armored pipe adapter

[0106] 2 armored tube bottom top

[0107] 3 cylinder end seal

[0108] 4 Armoured pipe end seal

[0109] 5 coupling piece, clamping ring

[0110] 6 groove with O-ring seat seal

[0111] 7 Cylinder jacket

[0112] 8 piston cylinders

[0113] 9 pistons

[0114] 10 push rod

[0115] The armored conduit adapter device according to the invention is a form-fitting, precisely fitting, preferably cylindrical construction which receives a piston-cylinder tube of a piston pump and adapts it to an existing connecting piece. This is achieved by inserting the armored conduit adapter 1 shown in Fig. 1 into the (glass) cylinder tube with piston 12 and push rod 10. The armored conduit adapter is screwed into a guided groove with a coupling 5. The incline of the groove pulls the nose of the coupling and thus the entire armored conduit adapter downwards. This creates a fit when the end position is reached, which generates tensile stress on the armored conduit adapter. This exerts pressure on the cylinder end seals 6, 7. As a result, the cylinder ends are sealed against the connecting piece 3 with the seal 6 and the seal 7 is sealed against the upper armored conduit adapter base.This completely seals the piston cylinder against the connecting piece 3 and the armored conduit adapter 1. A guide bushing, optionally with a seal 8, is located between the movable piston push rod 10 and the armored conduit adapter. Centering rings 9 are fitted between the piston cylinder tube and the armored conduit adapter. These position the cylinder centrally in the armored conduit and additionally seal the structure.

[0116] An advantage of the piston-cylinder assembly with the armored conduit adapter device according to the invention is that a piston cylinder can be replaced very easily and quickly. To do so, the connection between the armored conduit adapter 1 and the connecting piece 3 is released by turning it counterclockwise. The armored conduit adapter 1, together with the assembly consisting of cylinder 2 with piston 12 and push rod 10, the lifting / pulling guide 11, and the seals 6, 7, and 9, can be separated from the connecting piece 3. After releasing the lifting / pulling guide 11, the piston-cylinder assembly, including the seals, can be pulled out of the armored conduit adapter.

[0117] A new pump tube assembly 2, 10, 12 can be inserted into the armored tube adapter 1. It is also possible to insert only a new tube 2 by inserting the piston 12 with the push rod into a new tube 2. If necessary, the seals 6, 7, 8, 9 can be easily replaced. After assembly, the piston-cylinder assembly with push rod is inserted into the armored tube adapter.

[0118] Due to its design, incorrect assembly is impossible. After screwing on the lifting / pulling guide 11, the armored conduit adapter / piston-cylinder assembly is placed onto the connector and screwed clockwise until it stops.

[0119] A further advantage is that during this process the connecting piece 3, for example a pump valve, does not have to be detached from the mounting plate, preferably a turntable of a paint dosing system, or a pump receiving device.

[0120] Furthermore, it is very advantageous that simple pipes without threads, without flanges and connecting parts, can be used without additional machining of the cylinder tubes.

[0121] Compared to conventional piston-cylinder pumps that are fitted into a connector at the lower end, cylinders with a reinforced pipe adapter design have the advantage of being clamped and held in place along the entire length of the piston cylinder. The reinforced pipe adapter piston-cylinder pump device according to the invention offers significantly greater mechanical stability overall than conventional pumps that are only fitted to the connector at one point.

[0122] A particularly advantageous feature is that the piston cylinder is protected along its entire length from mechanical impact, impacts, and shocks. Support and transport damage are also effectively prevented. Another advantage is that the armored conduit adapter acts like a safety sleeve; if the pump cylinder develops a leak, no fluid can escape, effectively preventing leakage.

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, a sensor can be inserted into the armored pipe adapter wall to detect leaking liquids.

[0124] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the armored tube adapter can be made of transparent material to make the piston cylinder visible.

[0125] To illustrate the mode of operation of the armored pipe adapter, a piston dispenser pump with an armored pipe adapter according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2 in a simplified oblique view sectional drawing.

[0126] The armored pipe adapter is shown in this illustration in a design with a connecting element 5. In this case, this is a comprehensive ring that is firmly connected to the adapter pipe. Using a clamping device known to those skilled in the art, this can be clamped onto the connecting element, such as a valve connection. The armored pipe adapter can be sealed in connection with the connecting piece using sealing rings 4, 6. By clamping the armored pipe adapter to the connecting piece, the cylinder pipe 8, shown here as a composite pipe with a coating 7, is pressed with the lower cylinder end seal into the fitting of a valve body, thus creating the flow channel for the fluid to the valve. By clamping the armored pipe adapter to the valve or connecting piece, the clamping pressure is diverted to the upper cylinder end seal 3 via the upper cylinder base 2.The armored conduit adapter 1 and the piston cylinder tube 8.7 are clamped into the adapters of the connection or valve bodies and can optionally be fitted with additional seals, such as O-rings. This provides doubly redundant protection against fluid leakage during operation. If the piston cylinder tube seals fail, for example, the positive-locking armored conduit adapter can effectively prevent leakage from the reservoirs.

[0127] Analogous to the description in Fig. 1, by releasing the armored adapter tube from the clamping or locking device, the piston cylinder 8.7 can be pulled out of the armored tube adapter completely, including the piston 9 and push rod 0. The cylinder 8.7 is replaced by inserting a new cylinder or a new cylinder with piston 9 and push rod 10. In the embodiment shown, the piston 9 with the push rod 10 can be pulled out completely from the cylinder tube without removing the armored tube adapter from the valve or connecting piece. A new piston with push rod can be inserted into the cylinder from above using an insertion tool. The opening in the armored tube adapter between the cylinder tube 8.7 and the push rod can be closed by using a fit seal on the upper armored tube adapter base 2.

[0128] PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0129] 1. A device for volumetric dosing of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container containing the flowable composition to be dosed, wherein the piston pump comprises at least one piston pump cylinder with a reinforced pipe adapter device enclosing the cylinder and having connecting elements.

[0130] 2. Device according to embodiment 1, wherein the at least one cylinder is designed as a glass cylinder, with a tank pipe adapter device enclosing the cylinder, wherein the glass cylinder consists of a borosilicate glass, preferably an alkaline earth-free borosilicate glass (borosilicate glass 3.3), in particular a borosilicate glass which, based on the total weight of the components used for production, contains at least 80 wt.% silicon dioxide and 12 to 13.5 wt.% boron trioxide.

[0131] 3. Device according to at least one of embodiments 1 or 2, wherein the glass cylinder forms a composite sheath of at least one fiber material and at least one binder to form a permanent composite.

[0132] 4. Device according to at least one of embodiments 1, 2 or 3, wherein the piston is made of PFAS-free materials.

[0133] 5. Device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the surfaces of the glass cylinders have at least one treatment by conditioning to increase the surface hardness and / or to improve the surface structure.

[0134] 6. Device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one container contains a flowable composition prone to settling, preferably a dispersion or suspension, in particular a dispersion or suspension containing solid particles with an equivalent diameter in the range from 1 nm to 100 pm.

[0135] 7. Device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one container contains an abrasive composition.

[0136] 8. Device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one container contains a dye composition, preferably an aqueous or solvent-based dye composition. 9. Device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments, comprising a circuit for the flowable composition, wherein a conveying device and the at least one container are integrated into the circuit, and wherein the conveying device comprises the piston pump with at least one glass cylinder and / or at least one pump different therefrom.

[0137] 10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the piston pump with at least one glass cylinder serves to convey and meter the flowable composition.

[0138] The present invention specifically relates to a piston dispenser pump according to Fig. 1 with a device (1) for accommodating and quickly exchanging piston pump cylinders (2) of different materials and dimensions. The device enables the conversion of a structurally predetermined cylinder size to different dimensions and materials. The device connects and encases the piston cylinder of a piston dispenser pump in a form-fitting manner with a connecting piece (4), for example a valve (3). The device enables the use of cylinder materials that are prone to breakage, such as glass, and protects the cylinder from mechanical influences. The armored tube adapter manufactured in this way enables the use of piston cylinders without connecting elements. The device also forms a protective sheath for the piston-cylinder structure, effectively preventing the fluids pumped by the pump from escaping in the event of a leak in the pump.The resulting variant creation of a piston dispenser pump also enables the use of PFAS / PTFE-free pistons (12) and sealing materials (6, 7, 8, 9), as suitable cylinder materials can be used that could not previously be used in conventional dispenser pumps. The device can be used for a pump of a dosing system for dosing at least one liquid medium from a storage container of the system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to at least one container unit with at least one application device according to the invention integrated therein, and to a dosing section for a colorant dosing machine.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A device for volumetric dosing of flowable compositions, comprising at least one piston pump and at least one container containing the flowable composition to be dosed, wherein the piston pump comprises at least one piston pump cylinder with a reinforced pipe adapter device with connecting elements enclosing the cylinder.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements connect the piston pump cylinder to a connecting piece of at least one valve.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting elements connect the piston pump cylinder to at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one piston pump cylinder is designed as a glass cylinder.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the glass cylinder consists of a borosilicate glass, preferably an alkaline earth-free borosilicate glass (borosilicate glass 3.3), in particular a borosilicate glass which, based on the total weight of the components used for production, contains at least 80 wt.% silicon dioxide and 12 to 13.5 wt.% boron trioxide.

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the armored pipe adapter device comprises a composite or consists of a composite comprising at least one fiber material and at least one binder.

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, which has at least one glass cylinder as a piston pump cylinder, wherein the glass cylinder is enclosed by a composite casing which forms a permanent composite from at least one fiber material and at least one binder.

8. Device according to at least one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the surfaces of the glass cylinders have at least one coating to increase the surface hardness and / or to improve the surface structure.

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one piston pump cylinder is made of PFAS-free materials.

10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one container contains a flowable composition prone to settling, preferably a dispersion or suspension, in particular a dispersion or suspension containing solid particles with an equivalent diameter in the range from 1 nm to 100 pm.

11. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one container contains an abrasive composition.

12. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one container contains a dye composition, preferably an aqueous or solvent-based dye composition.

13. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, which comprises a circuit for the flowable composition, wherein a conveying device and the at least one container are integrated into the circuit and wherein the conveying device comprises the piston pump with at least one piston pump cylinder and an armored pipe adapter device enclosing the cylinder.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises at least one further pump.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the piston pump with at least one piston pump cylinder and a reinforced pipe adapter device enclosing the cylinder serves to convey and meter the flowable composition.

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