Fast-Set Spray Gun Cleaning Solvent Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solvents used for cleaning fast-set pumping and spraying equipment, such as those involving polyurethanes and polyureas, are often toxic and have high freezing points, making them unsuitable for use in colder climates.
Innovation Solution
A mixture of 62.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 32.5% dibasic ester (DBE), and 5% water is used, which is non-toxic when atomized and lowers the freezing point below -12.2°C, allowing safe operation in cold conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional solvents (mineral spirits, xylene, acetone, etc.) are used to clean fast-set material spray equipment, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but toxicity increases and freezing point becomes too high for cold climates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a multi-component solvent system consisting of DMSO (62.5%), DBE (32.5%), and water (5%). This composite formulation combines the advantages of individual components: DMSO provides excellent solvency and low freezing point, DBE contributes to cleaning effectiveness and stability, and water reduces toxicity. The synergistic interaction of these components achieves non-toxicity when atomized while maintaining freezing point below -12.2°C, resolving the contradiction between toxicity and freezing point.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a solvent mixture is used to lower the freezing point for cold climate use, then usability in cold climates improves, but toxicity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the composition ratios of the solvent components to achieve specific physical and chemical properties. By adjusting the proportions of DMSO, DBE, and water, the formulation achieves a freezing point below -12.2°C while maintaining non-toxicity when atomized. This precise parameter control enables cold climate usability without compromising safety.
3Temperature
If pure DMSO is used as the cleaning solvent, then freezing point is sufficiently low and non-toxicity is achieved, but cleaning effectiveness on fast-set materials may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating a multi-component system where DMSO (62.5%) provides the low freezing point and non-toxicity, DBE (32.5%) enhances cleaning effectiveness on fast-set polyurethane and polyurea materials, and water (5%) further reduces toxicity. The synergistic combination of these components resolves the contradiction between freezing point/ non-toxicity and cleaning effectiveness.
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 solvent mixture effectively cleans and flushes fast-set material spray guns without toxicity and freezing issues, enabling use in colder climates by maintaining a low freezing point when atomized with purge air.
Implementation Method 1
This mixture is non-toxic when atomized and lowers the freezing point of the liquid to below -12,2°C (10°F)
Implementation Method 2
Because the solvent is mixed with the purge air and expelled from the gun in atomized form
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of cleaning and flushing a fast-set material spray gun 10 is disclosed which uses, in the preferred embodiment, a mixture of approximately 62.5% DMSO, 32.5% DBE and 5% water. This mixture 12 is non-toxic when atomized and lowers the freezing point of the liquid to below 10°F. Because the solvent is mixed with the purge air and expelled from the gun in atomized form, it is important that a non-toxic solvent be utilized and also important that the freezing point of the mixture be low enough to allow use in colder climates without freezing.