Static Mixer Applicator for Two-Component Viscous Materials With Cut-In Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for applying viscous materials face issues with sealing at the material inlet and outlet, leading to material leakage and difficulty in replacing the mixing tube due to clogging, and imprecise definition of application path shape and size.
Innovation Solution
A device with a mixing tube housed in a stable outer tube, using circumferential cutting edges for sealing and a quick-release clamp system to facilitate easy replacement, combined with a pressure-controlled outlet valve for precise material application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mixing tube is inserted into the outer tube with play for easy replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing effectiveness deteriorates allowing material leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting edges are pre-positioned on the dosing unit and end piece to automatically seal against the mixing tube when assembled. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the mixing tube is inserted with play for easy replacement, the cutting edges automatically create a seal upon assembly, preventing material leakage while maintaining ease of replacement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the mixing tube is made of soft plastic for disposable use, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the sealing effectiveness deteriorates as material penetrates between tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tube is designed as a disposable soft plastic component that is inexpensive to manufacture and replace. The cutting edges on the dosing unit and end piece are designed to seal against this disposable tube, creating an effective seal that prevents material penetration while allowing the tube to be easily discarded after use, maintaining both manufacturability and sealing effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the outlet valve is added for pressure control, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet valve is integrated into the end piece and automatically responds to pressure conditions in the material outlet channel. The valve opens when sufficient pre-pressure is achieved and closes when application is complete, providing self-regulating pressure control without requiring complex external control systems, thus improving application precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
Enhances sealing effectiveness, allows easy replacement of the mixing tube, and achieves precise control over material application, preventing leakage and ensuring consistent application quality.
Implementation Method 1
Its outer surface then presses against the inner surface of the outer tube through elastic expansion when the pressure inside it rises to a few bar, for example around 5 bar.
Implementation Method 2
the cutting edges each cut into a front surface of the mixing tube, which is usually made of soft plastic, thus providing an excellent seal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for applying an at least two-component viscous material to workpieces, with a metering unit (12) which has a number of metering valves (22) corresponding to the number of components of the viscous material, and with a static mixer (14) which has a mixing tube (26), for mixing the components introduced by means of the metering unit (12) into a material inlet (28) at its first end and during passage from the material inlet (28) to a material outlet (30) at its second end, and an outer tube (24), wherein the mixing tube (26) is received in the outer tube (24) and, at the material inlet (28) and at the material outlet (30), is sealed off from the environment by means of respective seals (48). According to the invention, there is provision that the seals (48) each have a circumferential cutting edge (50), and that the cutting edges (50), when subjected to force in a direction towards each other, each cut into an end face (52) on the mixing tube (26).