Adhesive-Air Infuser Device Inline Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adhesive incorporation systems for creating adhesive-air solutions are large and require significant external power, making them impractical for small-scale applications due to space and operational cost constraints.

Innovation Solution

A compact air infuser device with a hollow body, air nozzle, and inline mixer that incorporates air into adhesive solutions, forming small air bubbles without the need for externally supplied power, using an air-tight design and pressure control to mix air and adhesive efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heavy machinery with rotors is used to incorporate air bubbles into adhesive, then air incorporation effectiveness is improved, but device size and power requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair incorporation effectivenessVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the air incorporation function from complex heavy machinery with rotors and isolates it into a simple hollow body with an air nozzle. This removes unnecessary components while retaining the core function of incorporating air bubbles into adhesive, thereby reducing device size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive flow itself provides the mixing action that incorporates air bubbles, eliminating the need for external power sources and moving components. The system uses the kinetic energy of the flowing adhesive to draw air through the nozzle and mix it uniformly, making the device self-sufficient and compact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If heavy machinery with externally supplied power is used to incorporate air bubbles, then air incorporation effectiveness is improved, but operating costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair incorporation effectivenessVSAvoidoperating costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the kinetic energy of the flowing adhesive to drive air incorporation and mixing, eliminating the need for external power sources. The adhesive flow creates a vacuum effect that draws air through the nozzle and the subsequent mixing action occurs passively as the adhesive moves through the hollow body, significantly reducing operating costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotor system requiring external power with a passive fluid dynamics-based system. The adhesive flow itself creates the necessary vacuum and mixing actions through pressure differentials and turbulence, substituting mechanical energy input with fluid mechanical effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If air bubbles are incorporated into adhesive, then adhesive volume increases, but adhesive effectiveness is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesive volumeVSAvoidadhesive effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the parameters of air incorporation, specifically the bubble size (achieved through the nozzle design) and the air-to-adhesive ratio. By optimizing these parameters, the system increases adhesive volume while maintaining bond strength, as the small uniformly distributed bubbles provide volume increase without compromising the adhesive's bonding effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The air infuser effectively reduces adhesive volume while maintaining bond strength, offering a cost-effective and space-efficient solution for incorporating air into adhesive solutions, suitable for various applications including corrugated board production.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating air bubbles into a fluid adhesive may create an adhesive assembly having an increased volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir incorporation: Air Entrainment

Implementation Method 2

utilize one or more rotors to apply shear forces to the adhesive and air to form small air bubbles throughout the adhesive volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid mixing: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

the air input port is positioned at an upstream end of the hollow body; an adhesive input port through which adhesive flows into the interior of the hollow body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10335747B2Adhesive-air infuser device and method of using the same

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 SIMCHEM INC

AI summary

An adhesive-air infuser comprises a hollow body through which adhesive and air flow. The air is directed into the hollow body at an upstream end of the hollow body through an air nozzle positioned within the hollow body, and the adhesive is directed into the hollow body at the upstream end of the hollow body such that the adhesive flows around at least a portion of the air nozzle as the adhesive flows through the hollow body. The adhesive and air are directed by adhesive supply pressure and air supply pressure to flow through the hollow body toward an output port. In various embodiments, adhesive and air flow along a tortuous path that causes the air to mix into the adhesive to form an adhesive-air solution having a density less than the adhesive supplied to the upstream end of the hollow body.