Universal Floor Seam Sealer Nozzle Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seam sealing tools, such as the Precision Nozzle, often scorch linoleum and rubber flooring materials and produce dark spots due to carbon entrainment, limiting their effectiveness on these materials and requiring slower operation speeds.
Innovation Solution
The Universal Nozzle features a longer downwardly directed air jet discharge ridge with more apertures, a wider gap between flanges, and larger forwardly directed air jet ports, allowing for consistent, high-quality seam welding across various flooring materials, including linoleum and rubber, at increased speeds without scorching or carbon spotting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional seam sealing tools with standard nozzles are used, then the tools can seal vinyl flooring seams, but they scorch linoleum and rubber flooring materials and produce dark spots due to carbon entrainment
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle design applies local quality by creating different air jet characteristics at different locations: forwardly directed air jets for gentle heating of the sealant stick and laterally directed air jets for preheating the groove, avoiding direct high-velocity heating that causes scorching and carbon spotting on sensitive materials like linoleum and rubber
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the heating system by directing air jets at different angles (forwardly vs. laterally) and positions to achieve different thermal effects: gentle melting of sealant versus controlled preheating of the groove, thereby adapting to different flooring material sensitivities without causing damage
2Productivity
If conventional nozzles with limited air jet coverage are used, then the structure remains simple, but the sealant melting and groove preheating coverage is insufficient, limiting welding speed
Solution Approach 1:
The air jet system is segmented into distinct functional groups: forwardly directed air jets for sealant melting and laterally directed air jets for groove preheating. This segmentation allows each group to optimize its function independently, enabling faster welding speeds through comprehensive coverage without requiring an overly complex integrated system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds dimensional complexity to the nozzle structure by incorporating air jets directed at multiple angles (forward and lateral directions) rather than a single direction. This multi-dimensional air distribution pattern expands the effective heating coverage area, enabling faster welding speeds while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
3Temperature
If the nozzle uses an enclosed chamber for receiving sealant stick, then the structure is compact, but it prevents effective direct heating of the sealant surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealant stick from an enclosed chamber configuration and positions it externally where it can be directly heated by forwardly directed air jets. This extraction enables effective surface melting of the sealant while maintaining a simple, open nozzle structure that does not require complex enclosed heating chambers
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 Universal Nozzle enables faster seam welding (up to 20 ft/min) with improved coverage and quality, avoiding scorching and carbon spotting, and performs well on all common flooring materials, including linoleum, rubber, and vinyl.
Implementation Method 1
hot air is forced through the downwardly directed air jet discharge apertures to preheat that portion of the groove that is about to receive molten sealant
Implementation Method 2
The heated air emanating from the forwardly directed jet ports heats and softens the sealant to a molten state
Implementation Method 3
The blower draws air into the tool from the rear, where it is heated and then blows it into a hollow heat conducting member
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held, portable floor seam sealing device is provided that has universal application to many commercially available floor sheet materials, including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, sport floors as well as other flooring sheet materials. The device employs a seam sealing welding gun and a nozzle of unique configuration defining a cavity bounded by a front end with two rows of at least eight air jet apertures directed toward a gap formed between forwardly projecting glue stick receiving flanges. The nozzle also through has a downwardly directed fin that terminates in a multiplicity of downwardly directed air jet discharge apertures. As the device is moved along the length of a seam between adjacent sheets of flooring, hot air from the apertures in the downwardly directed air jet discharge ridge preheats the portion of the seam into which sealant is about to be dispensed while hot air from the air jet apertures in the front end of the nozzle melts the sealant.