Heated epoxy cartridges

Abstract

An improved cartridge structure that both heats the materials contained therein and provides for enhanced structure such that the bypass leaking of the low viscosity heated components is avoided. The cartridge is preferably formed from a rigid material such as reinforced fiberglass tubing. The wall of the cartridge is then wrapped in a flexible heating element or has a heating element cast directly in the wall thereof. The heating elements preferably heat the interior contents and epoxy cartridges to between 150 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The wall structure may be of single wall construction with the heaters embedded therein or of a double wall construction such that the heaters are contained between an inner and outer wall. Further the wall construction is preferably formed to withstand the pressures applied when spray applying the epoxy contained therein to prevent the tube wall deformation and resulting blow by leakage.

Claims

1. A portable cartridge for containing and handheld dispensing a two-part epoxy material, comprising: two tubular compartments for containing each of the two epoxy components; proportional dispenser spouts positioned at an end of each of the tubular compartments; and a heating element disposed integral to an outer surface of the tubular compartments, said heating element maintaining said epoxy components within said tubular compartments between 150 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said heating element operates on 12 v DC.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said heating element operates 110 v AC.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said heating element maintains the epoxy components at an optimal temperature range such that the viscosity of the epoxy facilitates spray application for high build coatings.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a side wall of said two tubular compartments is reinforced in a manner that prevents deformation of said sidewall at the operational temperatures and pressures of said cartridge.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein said side wall is formed from glass reinforced fiberglass.

7. A portable cartridge for containing and handheld dispensing a two-part epoxy material, comprising: two tubular compartments for containing each of the two epoxy components; proportional dispenser spouts positioned at an end of each of the tubular compartments; and a heating element disposed in a cavity formed within a sidewall of the tubular compartments, said heating element maintaining said epoxy components within said tubular compartments between 150 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein said heating element operates on 12 v DC.

9. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein said heating element operates 110 v AC.

10. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein said heating element maintains the epoxy components at an optimal temperature range such that the viscosity of the epoxy facilitates spray application for high build coatings.

11. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein a side wall of said two tubular compartments is reinforced in a manner that prevents deformation of said sidewall at the operational temperatures and pressures of said cartridge.

12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein said side wall is formed from glass reinforced fiberglass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing cartridge in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispensing cartridge in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Disclosed herein is a heating assembly that is formed as an integrated part of pre-loaded, two part epoxy cartridges, which heats them in a controlled manner for spray application. Further, the heating assembly is configured and arranged to be reinforced to resist pressure deformation and to facilitate easy spray application of material having a much higher viscosity than was possible in the prior art.

(6) In the prior art epoxy is loaded into cartridges having two dispensing tubes arranged side by side wherein the size of the two tubes is proportional to the mixing formula of the epoxy wherein one tube is usually smaller and one is larger. This allows two cartridges to neatly nest with one another within a rectangular space wherein the cartridges are flipped relative to one another such that the larger diameter tubes are positioned adjacent the smaller diameter tubes. The cartridges are placed into a piston system that applies pressure to the plungers in the cartridges to force the epoxy out of the mixing nozzle end of the gun at elevated pressure. The prior art cartridges, when heated to the temperatures needed to reduce the viscosity of the epoxy material would undergo wall deformation and allow epoxy to leak at the rear of the cartridge past the plunger seals.

(7) The present invention provides an improved cartridge 10 structure that both heats the materials contained therein and provides for enhanced structure such that the bypass leaking of the low viscosity heated components is avoided. The cartridge is preferably formed from a rigid material such as reinforced fiberglass tubing. The wall of the cartridge is then wrapped in a flexible heating element 12 or has a heating element cast directly in the wall thereof. Turning to FIG. 1, a first embodiment is shown wherein an epoxy cartridge 10 is provided having two tubes 14, 16 interconnected with one another. At one end is a pair of nozzles 18 for dispensing proportional amounts of the two epoxy parts contained therein. About the exterior of the tubes 14, 16 can be seen a flexible heating element 12 that wraps the tubes 14, 16 and heats the epoxy components contained therein.

(8) The heating elements can be rigid construction or of flexible construction as known in the art. The heating elements may be powered using conventional line voltage, i.e. 110 v, or through a car adapter operating at 12V DC. The heating elements preferably heat the interior contents and epoxy cartridges to between 150 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. More preferably the heating elements heat the contents of the cartridge to between 165 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

(9) The wall structure may be of single wall construction with the heaters embedded therein or as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, of a double wall construction such that the heaters 112 are contained between an inner wall 114 and outer wall 116. Further, the wall construction is preferably formed to withstand the pressures applied when spray applying the epoxy contained therein to prevent the tube wall deformation and resulting blow by leakage. Further the walls are constructed to retain their structural properties at the operational temperatures of the heated epoxy at or above 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Preferably the wall construction is a reinforced polymer. More particularly the wall construction is preferably a glass reinforced fiberglass. By reinforcing these tubes in this manner the walls of the tube remain dimensionally stable under pressure and when heated to the operational temperatures described herein. This prevents the epoxy components contained therein from bleeding back through the seals at the plungers in the rear of the tube.

(10) The cartridges heated in this manner are not subjected to burning as was the case in the use of prior art heating belts and is maintained in a heated useable form through the duration of the job while not requiring multiple cartridges to be heated one at a time prior to immediate use. In this manner the cartridges are maintained at the optimal temperature such that the contents are of a viscosity that spray application is uniform and consistent.

(11) Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a new and improved apparatus and method for heating high build structural epoxy materials preparatory to use which overcomes all of the above referred problems and others. The device permits the material to be heated in a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, due to the configuration of the apparatus and method of heating, none of the material is burned; consequently the device is economically desirable.

(12) Various other components may be included and called upon for providing for aspects of the teachings herein. For example, additional materials, combinations of materials and/or omission of materials may be used to provide for added embodiments that are within the scope of the teachings herein.

(13) In the present application a variety of embodiments are described. It is to be understood that any combination of any of these variables can define an embodiment of the invention. For example, a combination of a particular dopant material, with a particular compound, applied in a certain manner might not be expressly stated, but is an embodiment of the invention. Other combinations of articles, components, conditions, and/or methods can also be specifically selected from among variables listed herein to define other embodiments, as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

(14) While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.