Dual-Chamber Bulk Dispensing Nozzle for Rapid-Cure Sealants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dispensing sealing compounds in electrical connections, especially in hazardous environments, face challenges due to the difficulty in maintaining the compound within the fitting during the long cure time and the need for fiber dams to prevent drainage, which complicates the placement and curing process.
Innovation Solution
A bulk dispensing system with a container having separate chambers for two components, an injector with plungers, and a nozzle with a labyrinth passage that mixes and meters the components to form an expandable sealant for efficient injection into electrical fittings, reducing the need for fiber dams and shortening the curing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If powder-type sealing compound is used, then the sealing compound can be stored and transported easily, but it requires long cure time (8 hours or more) and difficult placement maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing compound is divided into two separate components stored in different chambers of the container. Component A and Component B are kept isolated until dispensing, when they are mixed in the nozzle. This segmentation allows the compound to remain stable during storage while enabling rapid curing after mixing, eliminating the long cure time associated with powder-type compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and composition parameters of the sealing compound by using a two-component liquid system instead of powder. This parameter change enables the compound to cure rapidly (within minutes) compared to powder-type compounds that require 8+ hours, while maintaining ease of storage and transport through the sealed dual-chamber container design.
2Reliability
If fiber dams are placed in the sealing fitting, then the sealing compound can be prevented from draining out during curing, but the placement process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of the sealing compound components directly at the point of application through the nozzle's internal labyrinth passage. This preliminary action ensures the compound is freshly mixed and maintains proper viscosity for placement, eliminating the need for fiber dams to prevent drainage during extended curing periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the fiber dam component from the sealing process. By using a two-component liquid sealant that cures rapidly after mixing in the nozzle, the system removes the need for fiber dams entirely, simplifying the placement process while maintaining reliable prevention of compound drainage during curing.
3Device complexity
If manual mixing and pouring method is used, then the equipment is simple, but it is difficult to maintain the sealing compound in the appropriate parts of the sealing fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle serves as an intermediary device between the dual-chamber container and the sealing fitting. Its internal labyrinth passage automatically mixes the two components and delivers the sealed compound precisely to the application point. This intermediary mechanism maintains equipment simplicity while achieving high placement precision, overcoming the limitations of manual mixing and pouring methods.
4Ease of manufacture
If powder-type sealing compound is used, then storage is convenient, but the cure time is long (8 hours or more)
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing compound is segmented into two stable components stored separately in the dual-chamber container. This segmentation maintains storage convenience while enabling rapid curing when the components are mixed at application. The two-component liquid system cures in minutes rather than hours, dramatically improving productivity without sacrificing storage ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from powder to liquid two-component system, fundamentally altering the curing kinetics. This parameter change reduces cure time from 8+ hours to minutes while maintaining storage convenience through the sealed container design, thereby significantly improving productivity.
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 system ensures accurate placement and rapid curing of the sealant within electrical fittings, enhancing the sealing process and eliminating the need for fiber dams, while allowing for precise volume control and efficient operation in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle has an internal labyrinth passage configured to fluidly connect to the first chamber and the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
a foamable or expandable sealant for injection into the electrical fitting
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system for bulk dispensing an expandable sealant for use in an electrical fitting configured to be used in a hazardous or harsh environment. The system includes a container having a first chamber for holding a first component and a second chamber for holding a second component. An injector is configured to receive the container. The injector includes a first plunger and a second plunger wherein the first plunger aligns with the first chamber and the second chamber aligns with the second plunger when the container is positioned in the injector. A nozzle is configured to engage a distal end of the container. The nozzle is positioned to fluidly communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber when attached to the container. The nozzle has an internal labyrinth passage configured to fluidly connect to the first chamber and the second chamber.