Device for applying a foaming reaction mixture

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for applying a foaming reaction mixture (600) onto a top layer (500), in particular for producing a composite element, comprising at least one casting rake (200, 260) with a tubular hollow body (210), said hollow body (210) extending along a central axis (250) and having at least two outlet openings (220) for discharging the foaming reaction mixture (600). The casting rake (200, 260) and the top layer (500) can be moved relative to each other along a longitudinal axis (510). According to the invention, the central axis (250) of the at least one casting rake (200, 260) and the longitudinal axis (510) of the movement form an angle (400, 410) of <=80 DEG relative to each other.

Claims

1. A process for producing a composite element, comprising applying a foaming reaction mixture, wherein the foaming reaction mixture is applied by means of an apparatus to a moving covering layer, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one casting rake having a tubular hollow body which extends along a central axis and has at least two outlet openings for exit of the foaming reaction mixture; wherein the casting rake and the covering layer move relative to one another along a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of motion of the covering layer; and wherein the at least one casting rake is positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis such that the central axis of the at least one casting rake and the longitudinal axis form an angle of ≧60° to ≦80°.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering layer comprises a metal, a plastic, a glass fiber-containing material, a mineral fiber-containing material and/or a cellulose-containing material and/or the foaming reaction mixture has an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate component.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central axis of the at least one casting rake is aligned parallel to the plane of the covering layer and/or the central axis of the tubular hollow body has a pointing arrangement at the angle to the direction of motion of the casting rake relative to the covering layer or the central axis of the tubular hollow body has a dragging arrangement at the angle opposite to the direction of motion of the casting rake relative to the covering layer.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two casting rakes having respective central axes are provided, which central axes are arranged at angles having identical absolute values relative to the longitudinal axis of the motion between the casting rakes and the covering layer.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of outlet openings of the casting rake is in the range from three to forty.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casting rake has a feed line for the reaction mixture into the tubular hollow body, which feed line opens essentially centrally, based on the length of the tubular hollow body into the tubular hollow body.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casting rake has a feed line for the reaction mixture into the tubular hollow body, which feed line opens into the tubular hollow body at the end of the casting rake and feeds the reaction mixture in at the end.

8. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outlet openings are formed by exit tubes and, the length of the exit tubes decreases with increasing distance from the point at which the reaction mixture is fed in via the feed line.

9. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the internal diameter of the tubular hollow body decreases with increasing distance from the point at which the reaction mixture is fed in via the feed line.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mixing head for the foaming reaction mixture is provided and the mixing head is fluidically connected to the at least one casting rake and, the mixing head is arranged fluidically upstream of the at least one casting rake.

11. The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exit tubes of the casting rake are aligned at an angle of ≧5° to an axis orthogonal to the plane of the covering layer.

Description

PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

(1) The invention is illustrated below with the aid of figures, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 1a show a schematic view of an apparatus according to the invention for producing a composite element;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of an apparatus according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a front view of an apparatus according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an apparatus according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic detailed view of a casting rake that can be used in an apparatus according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows the exit tubes arranged at an exit angle.

(8) FIGS. 1 and 1a show an apparatus 100 for applying a foaming reaction mixture 600 to a movably arranged covering layer 500. The apparatus 100 comprises, in the embodiment shown, two casting rakes 200, 260 each having a tubular hollow body 210. The tubular hollow body 210 has a plurality of outlet openings 220 in the form of exit tubes 225 from which the foaming reaction mixture 600 is discharged and the outlet opening 220 is located at the free end of the exit tube 225. According to the invention the casting rakes 200, 260 are arranged at angles 400, 410 having an equal absolute value of ≦80° to the direction of motion 510 of the covering layer 500. The casting rakes 200, 260 each have a feed line 230 for the foaming reaction mixture 600 in the tubular hollow bodies 210. The feed line 230 is arranged essentially centrally along the length of the casting rakes 200, 260. The length 240 of the exit tubes 225 decreases from the feed line 230 in the direction of the end 280 of the casting rakes 200, 260. The foaming reaction mixture 600 is fed to the casting rakes 200, 260 from a mixing head 700 via the feed lines 230 and exits through the outlet openings 220 from where it impinges on the covering layer 500 and there swells and cures to form a foam.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an apparatus 100 according to the invention, where the casting rakes 200, 260 are aligned at an angle 400 of ≦80° to the direction of motion 510 of the covering layer 500. From the casting rakes 200, 260, the foaming reaction mixture 600 flows onto the covering layer 500.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a front view of an apparatus 100 according to the invention in which the two casting rakes 200, 260 by means of which the foaming reaction mixture 600 can be applied to the covering layer 500 can be seen.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an apparatus 100 according to the invention, in which, owing to the perspective, only one casting rake 200 from which the foaming reaction mixture 600 can be applied to the covering layer 500 can be seen.

(12) FIG. 5 shows a schematic detailed view of a casting rake 200 which can be used in an apparatus according to the invention. The casting rake 200 has a feed line 230 for the foaming reaction mixture into the tubular hollow body 210. The feed line 230 is arranged essentially centrally on the casting rake 200. The distance 240 between the central axis 250 of the tubular hollow body 210 and the outlet openings 220 in the form of exit tubes 225 decreases from the feed line 230 in the direction of the end 280 of the casting rake 200. The foaming reaction mixture 600 is fed into the casting rake 200 via the feed lines 230 and exits via the outlet openings 220 from where it goes onto the covering layer 500 and swells and cures there to form a foam. As a result of the different length 240 of the outlet opening 220 as a function of the distance of the respective outlet opening 220 from the feed line 230, uniform and simultaneous impingement of the reaction mixture 600 on the covering layer 500 is achieved.

(13) FIG. 6 schematically shows an embodiment of the invention in which outlet openings 220 arranged at an exit angle 270 are likewise shown in the form of exit tubes 225. The exit tubes 225 are arranged here at an angle 270 to the axis 520 orthogonal to the plane of the covering layer 500. The inclination is effected in such a way that the exit tubes 225 are directed in the direction of movement 510 of the movably arranged covering layer 500. This reduces the impingement velocity of the reaction mixture on the covering layer 500, as a result of which more uniform swelling of the foaming reaction mixture can be achieved. The exit tubes 225 can also be arranged against the direction of motion 510 of the moving covering layer 500. This increases the width of the impingement zone of the foaming reaction mixture 600, so that the strands of the foaming reaction mixture 600 flow together more quickly.

(14) The above-described embodiments can be combined with one another in any desired manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(15) 100 Apparatus

(16) 200 Casting rake

(17) 210 Tubular hollow body

(18) 220 Outlet opening

(19) 225 Exit tube

(20) 230 Feed line

(21) 240 Length of outlet

(22) 250 Central axis of tubular hollow body

(23) 260 Second casting rake

(24) 270 Exit angle

(25) 280 End of the casting rake

(26) 400 Angle

(27) 410 Angle

(28) 500 Covering layer

(29) 510 Longitudinal axis, direction of motion

(30) 520 Orthogonal axis

(31) 600 Foaming reaction mixture

(32) 700 Mixing head