US3337039A - Fluid storage mixing and dispensing containers - Google Patents

Description

A1181 22, Wm H. R. KNiTTEL ETAL 3,337,039

FLUID STORAGE MIXING AND DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed May 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS RICHARD R. KNITTEL WALTER H. SMAROOK ATTORNEY Augzz, 1967 Filed May 1963 R. R. KNITTEL ETAL 3,337,039 FLUID STORAGE MIXING AND DISPENSING CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RICHARD R. KNITTEL WALTER H.3MAROOK ATTORNEY United States Patent Smaroolr, Corpora- This invention relates to the mixing and dispensing of fluids and more particularly to a container assembly for mixing fluids such as epoxy resins and their hardeners and for dispensing the mixture.

With the increasing popularity of fluids which must be stored separately and then mixed just prior to use, as for example, epoxy resins and their hardeners, containers capable of the separate storage of fluids and the subsequent dispensing of the fluids, have increased in importance.

The general acceptance and the widespread use of these containers has been greatly hampered by the fact that in many applications one or more of the fluids are toxic, caustic, or otherwise hazardous to handle. For example, in the case of plumbing seals employing an epoxy resin mixed with a toxic amine hardener, the artisan who is to use the mixture, must be provided with premeasured quantities of the epoxy resin and hardener safely stored in separate containers, and must be provided with safe as Well as simple means for first thoroughly mixing the resin and hardener and then dispensing the mixture at pressures up to 80 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) or more, from caulking guns such as disclosed in US. Patents 2,838,210 or 3,042,268.

Containers which employ internally positioned pistons, for mixing and/or dispensing, present considerable personnel hazard during the step of opening the container for insertion of the piston. The prevention of leakage around a piston, particularly, during high pressure operations, requires the use of complex, expensive seals. The close tolerances required between moving parts in order to prevent leakage result in frictional resistances which increases with increasing operating pressures and increasing viscosity and can make the equipment impractical to operate.

Containers which consist of one flexible container within another flexible container have been employed for the separate storage of fluids. Mixing is normally accomplished by applying pressure to the outer container, thereby causing a frangible seal on the inner container to break, and permitting the mixing of the separately stored fluids. These types of containers are not readily adaptable for use in dispensing guns, employ a kneading type of mixing operation which does not provide for the adequate mixing of viscous fluids, and run the risk of premature breakage of the frangible seal and the consequent premature mixing of the separately stored ingredients.

It has now been found that fluids can be stored in separate containers which are readily axially compressible and provide not only for the convenient and thorough mixing of fluids, but also are adapted for use in dispensing guns having pistons which function externally of the containers thereby permitting the containers to be completely sealed, other than at the dispensing outlet.

According to the present invention a compressible container for the dispensing first rigid section and a second flexible section. The first and said second sections are preferably conical in configuration and in combination form an enclosed hollow chamber. At least one of said sections has in association therewith, a scalable means for ingress and egress of fluid. The flexible section is foldable Within said rigid of fluids is provided, having a v section in order to substantially completely displace fluid from said chamber and through the egress means.

Advantageously, each of the sections have radially decreasing dimensions, with increasing distance from the central zone of the container.

A further aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of the aforementioned containers in fluid tight engagement. The interior chambers of said containers are in communication and form a fluid-tight binary mixing container assembly, in which two fluids can be mixed by alternately compressing one container and then the other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated and the invention will be better understood from the following specification wherein the invention is described by reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a pair of mated containers,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a modified container,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, section, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation, in section, of a modification of the containers of FIGURE 1.

The structure of the present invention includes basically a pair of resiliently flexible containers 10 and 11 which are employed in a mated arrangement. The containers must be capable of being repeatedly compressed and expanded to at least their uncompressed size. The material of the containers is, therefore, preferably a resilient polymeric material as, for example, a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, flexible olefin copolymers such as poly(ethylene-ethyl acrylate), rubbery materials such as polybutadiene and butyl rubbers, isoprene polymers, natural rubber, plasticized vinyl resins or the like. The particular material of construction is not critical in this invention.

The material of the containers should be substantially inert to the contents of the containers or at least lined with an inert coating material. In the use of containers for the storage and subsequent mixing of an epoxy resin or complex epoxides and a hardener, low density polyethylene, preferably coated with a permeation resistant coating, gives the desired degree of flexibility, resiliency, inertness and impermeability.

Each of the containers 10 and 11 has a rigid section 12 and 13 and a flexible section 14 and 15. The containers are compressed by folding over the flexible section until it completely inverts and fills the interior of the rigid section.

A cylindrical configuration provides maximum internal volume for a given length and diameter, and cylindrical sections made from a high rubbery material, particular when thin walled, can be repeated inverted without cracking. Advantageously, because of their greater ease of folding and their ability to be used with thick walls which are capable of withstanding high internal pressures. As shown in FIGURE 2, the container capacity can be increased While maintaining a constant container diameter, through the use of a container 21, having an elongated cylindrical section 22, between the rigid and flexible conical sections 23 and 24, respectively.

The container units can be formed into the desired shape and size by any convenient method, such as by slush molding, powder fusion, blow molding, centrifugal casting or the like. I

The blow-molding process is preferred for the manufacture of the containers because of the low cost'of mold and the rapidity and accuracy of the process. The blowside elevation, partly in of a parison of varying cross-section and a mold,

conical sections can be employed molding process is also preferable because of the ability of the blow-molding process to yield wall thicknesses which decrease with increasing distances from the central axis of the container.

Therefore, the rigid section of the container will have decreasing rigidity with increasing distance from the central axis, while the flexible section will correspondingly have decreasing rigidity or increasing flexibility with increasing distance from the central axis.

It should be noted that the terms rigid and flexible as employed herein, and in the appended claims, are intended to indicate the ability of one section to resist substantial deflection while the other section is being pressed against it, thus decreasing the internal volume of the container and causing fluid to flow therefrom. The relative differences in rigidity may be obtained through any desired means, such as by having different wall thicknesses in the two sections or by any other means, as for example, the use of a rigid support device which has a contour substantially the same as that of one section. Thus, even a container having two flexible, thin walled sections of equal thickness can in effect, have one relatively rigid section through the use of an external support device and one relatively flexible section.

The flexibility of the flexible sections 14 and 15 can advantageously, be further enhanced through the use of a plurality of axially displaced, circular, parallel grooves 16 and 17, however they are not critical and essential in the flexible section. They are however, highly desirable, and preferably are present. These grooves serve to increase the area over which plastic must be distributed, and therefore, decrease the thickness of the plastic. The flexibility, and correspondingly, the ease of inverting a grooved conical member is determined by the stiffness of the material in the wall of the cone, as well as the number and siZe of the grooves and the amount of clearance maintained between grooves during the folding operation.

For proper clearance between adjacent grooves, the maximum diameter of each groove should be less than the minimum diameter of the next larger groove, and preferably, the difference in diameters should be at least equal to the depth of a groove.

The maximum diameter of a groove, such as groove 17 of container 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, is at the lower edge 19, of the groove. The lower edge of the groove is at the point of contact of the groove and the wall of the conical, flexible section 15. The minimum diameter of a groove such as 17', is at the peak 20 of the groove. The peak of a groove is at the point of tangency of a line tangent to the groove and parallel to the central axis of the container. The depth of a groove is equal to the diflerence between the maximum and minimum diameters of the groove.

The difference between the maximum diameter of one groove and the minimum diameter of the next larger groove increases with increases in the distance between grooves and the vertex angle of the grooved conical section and decreases with increases in the depth of the grooves.

The vertex angles of the conical sections, in order to provide sufficient clearance between grooves during folding should be at least 40 and preferably no less than 60, while in order to provide for adequate internal volume of the containers with reasonable diameters, the vertex angles should not be greater than 140 and preferably should be less than 120. The use of 90 vertex angles is thus seen to produce a desirable compromise between groove displacement and container capacity.

Inasmuch as the flexible section is to be inverted, and folded against the rigid section, the vertex angle of the flexible section must be no less than the vertex angle of the rigid section, and the distance from the center of the container to the apex or truncated base of the flexible section must be no greater than the distance from the center of the container to the apex or truncated base of the rigid section. Thus, in a container, such as container 4.- 21, the distance from the center of the container (the mid-point of section 22) to the base of neck 26, should be no greater than the distance from the center of the container to the base of the spout 2.7, and the vertex angle of section 24 should be slightly less than the vertex angle of section 23.

It should be noted that excessive differences between the lengths or vertex angles of the rigid and flexible sec-' tion prevent the flexible section from coming into flush contact with the rigid section. The resultant space between the inverted flexible section and the rigid section causes waste by preventing complete emptying of the container during the dispensing operation.

It has been found that the use of equal container lengths and about a 6 difference in vertex angles of the flexible and rigid sections provides for proper emptying of a container. The truncated base of the rigid section will thus be somewhat larger than the truncated base of the flexible section and will permit firm contact between the two bases.

It also should be noted that the grooves produce annular pockets between an inverted flexible section and the rigid section and, therefore, the groove depth should be kept small in order to minimize waste.

The wall thickness of articles produced by blow molding can be variably regulated through the use of a parison having varying thickness. The use of non-uniform parisons is in accordance with well known techniques, as seen for example, in United States Patent 3,084,395.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the parison 30, has a thick section 32 and a relatively thin section 34. Obviously, the thick portion of the parison will form the rigid container section while the thin portion of the parison will form the flexible container section.

The use of a multi-thickness parison and/ or an undulating or groove surface yields a substantial difference in structural strength between the two sections 46 and 48 and assures the easy and uniform inverting of one section into the other.

The operation of the containers is not significantly influenced by having either the flexible section 24, adjacent to the neck portion 26 of the container as shown in FIG- URE 2, or having the rigid section 12, adjacent the neck section 18, of container 10, as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4, shows a container which was made in accordance with the technique shown in FIGURE 3. The application of a force F, on the container 40, causes the container to yield initially at the weakest portion of the container, the outermost portion of the flexible section 46. The collapsing continues radially inward until the flexible section 46 is completed inverted and in contact with the inner surface of the rigid section 48.

In a container, such as container 21, as shown in FIG- URE 2, employing a conical section in combination with a cylindrical section, the folding will normally occur initially in the region where the conical section meets the cylindrical. Depending upon the relative stiffness of the conical and cylindrical sections, the folding can then proceed in either section, or in both sections at the same time. The cylindrical section inverts by having the upper edge fold inwardly and the folding continues downwardly until the upper edge is in contact with the inside of the lower edge of the cylindrical section.

An undulating or grooved section inverts in a manner similar to that of the tapered section 46, as shown in FIG- URE 4. In a grooved wall, the wall will fold in the straight section between the grooves and groove, such as 17, will fold towards and approach the next larger groove 17'. If inadequate clearance is provided between grooves, a groove such as 17 can hinder or halt the inverting of the flexible section by restricting or preventing the downward movement of the smaller groove 17.

In the mixing operation initially one fluid is transferred from a compressed container into a decompressed container where it mixes and combines with the fluid stored therein, and then subsequently,

the combined fluids are transferred back and forth between the two containers in order to obtain a uniform and homogeneous mixture.

The total volume of the fluids within the containers can therefore, if desired, be no greater than the maximum internal volume of either container in order to permit the combined fluids to be completely contained, alternately by one container and then the other. While the containers, and particularly grooved container, are capable of some expansion due to their resilient construction, in a system, for example, where the fluids are to be mixed in a one to one ratio, slightly less than half filling each container with fluid provides for an efficient mixing of the fluids.

The filled containers can be individually sealed for example, through the use of separate closure caps for each unit or by a closure secured to the containers 40 and 41, by means of threads 42 and 43 respectively. Alternatively, the units may be sealed one into the other by securing one container 40 to the other container 41 by means of female threads 44 and male threads 43, and using a frangible seal across the opening 45 of one container 41, or by any similar convenient means.

When the fluids are to be mixed, a frangible seal across opening 45 can be broken by holding the necks of the containers and applying pressure to the end of one container while leaving the other container free to expand.

Premature breakage of the frangible seal is unlikely during storage inasmuch as the containers resist compression, when a force other than an axial force is applied, and an axial pressure on the end of one container would normally be resisted by an equal axial force on the end of the other container.

Other combinations of sealing and coupling means can readily be employed for sealing the containers during storage and providing fluid communication during the mixing operation, depending upon the requirements of a particular application.

The containers 10 and 11, and 40 and 41, have been shown mated by screwing the neck of one container (11 and 41) into the neck of the other container (10 and 40). However, any

tainer 21, large neck such as neck 18, of container 10.

Coupling can also be provided by dimensioning the inner diameter of the neck of container 10 and the outer diameter of the neck of container 11 so as to yield a press-fit type of clearance between the two members and simply forcing the male neck of container 11 into the female neck 18.

While the containers need not be identical in size and configuration, two containers, such as the container 10, of FIGURE arrangement by means of a conventional type of internally threaded pipe coupler, and during the dispensing operation, a spout can be secured to one container by means of a threaded connection. The use of containers with dissimilar sized necks has, however, the advantage of precluding the possibility of securing together two containers, each of which contains the same fluid. The use of a tubular coupler has the advantage of not requiring the use of internal grooves, such as 44 of container 40, which can be inconvenient or expensive to form during the container manufacturing operations.

As a further modification, one or both of the containers 10 and 11 can be provided with a frangible seal in the same manner as previously described in regard to container 4. The containers can then be coupledby means of a tubular female coupler the seal or seals being broken as previously noted, when mixing of the fluids is desired.

When providing both containers with frangible seals, the seals can, advantageously, be simultaneously bro-ken secured together by means of an elongated tubular female coupler which is of suflicient length to threadedly engage each container while maintaining the containers in a spaced relationship. The spacing must be adequate to enable the tubular cutting member to be positioned between the seals of the two containers. When the seals are to be broken, the containers are rotated and advanced towards each other thus decreasing the space between the seals until the cutting member is forced to sever each seal. The cutting member is preferably provided with small ridges or other similar means, in order to concentrically position the tubular cutting member within the tubular coupling member and in order to limit the extent to which the cutting member can enter each container,

thus preventing the tubular cutting member from being forced through one seal and into one container without cutting the other seal.

In the case of containers such as are to be sealed by means of threaded closure caps or the like, the containers are filled with the proper amount of fluid and then sealed. Prior to the mixing operation, each container can be opened and, if desired, compressed in order to expel a quantity of air from the container, the amount depending upon the relative extensibility of the containers. The two containers are then secured together, as previously noted, by means of a tubular coupling member, or by inserting the neck of one container into the neck of the other container, as shown in FIG- URES I and 4.

The filling operation, in the case of containers employing a frangible seal across the neck of one or both of the containers and which seal or seals can be broken while the containers are coupled together, consists of properly filling one container, such as container 41, with a first fluid and displacing air, as desired, by compressing the container. The frangible seal is then secured across contalner, as for example, by

10 and 11, which sealed by securing together the two containers 40 and 41, by means of a tubular female coupler; or as shown is provided with a frangible seal, in the same manner as container 41 and the containers are coupled together by means of a tubular female coupler.

The mixing operation is initiated by compressing one The neck sections of the containers, as shown in FIG- are relatively narrow in comparison to containers. The neck, thus acts as a restriction and produces turbulent flow, which enables high viscosity as well as low viscosity fluids to be rapidly, uniformly and homogeneously mixed.

The mixed fluids are most conveniently dispersed through the use of a dispensing spout 27 which is either as 27 of container 21, the open neck 26, is sealed by means of a screw cap in the manner employed for sealing the containers during the storage period and a frangible seal 28, at the sealed end of the dispensing spout is broken. Thus, the mixed fluids can be dispensed through the spout 27, as the container 21 is collapsed, either manually or mechanically by means of a conventional gun such as seen in US. Patent 2,838,210 or 3,042,268, suitably adapted to this shape container.

While the material trapped in the integrally formed spout 27 during the mixing operation will usually not interfere with the adequacy of the mixing operation, a frangible seal can alternatively be positioned across the entrance 29 to the spout 27 in order to prevent fluid from entering the spout.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use in the storage, mixing and dispensing of fluids, comprising a pair of containers, each container having a first rigid section and a second flexible section, said first and said second sections in unitary comb ination forming an enclosed hollow chamber at least one of said sections of each container having a sealable means for ingress and egress of fluid in association therewith, said flexible section of each container being toldable within said rigid section of the same container, the ingress and egress means of one container, being in fluid-tight engagement with the ingress and egress means of the other container thereby forming a fluid-tight binary mixing container.

2. An apparatus for mixing fluids within a pair of attached containers comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible containers, each container having a first rigid conical section and a second flexible conical section, said first and second sections in unitary combination forming a hollow chamber, said second sections having increasing flexibility with increasing distance from the central axis of said conical section, the interior chambers of said containers being in communication and forming a fluid-tight binary mixing container assembly, whereby upon applying pressure to the second, flexible section of one container causes the outermost portion of said second section to initially flex, the flexing continuing radially inward until said second conical section has substantially entirely inverted, thereby displacing the fluid from the flexed container.

3. An apparatus for mixing fluids within a pair of attached containers comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible containers, each container having a first rigid conical section and a second flexible conical section, said first and second section in unitary combination forming a hollow chamber, the walls of said second section having increasing flexibility with increasing distance from the central axis of said conical section, one section of each of said sections having a cylindrical section at its apex, the cylindrical section of one container being in fluid-tight engagement with the cylindrical member of the other container, and the interior chambers of said containers being in communication and forming a fluid tight binary mixing container assembly, whereby upon applying pressure to the second flexible section of one container causes the outermost portion of said second section to initially flex, the flexing continuing radially inward until said second conical section has substantially entirely inverted and contacted said first conical section.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said second section has a decreasing wall thickness with increasing distance from the central axis of the cone.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein said conical sections have vertex angles from about 40 to about and the vertex angle of each of said flexible sections is slightly less than the vertex angle of said rigid sections.

6. The structure of claim 3, wherein said second sections include series of axially spaced grooves.

7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the maximum diameter of each groove is less than the minimum diameter of the adjacent, larger groove.

8. An apparatus for mixing fluids within a pair of attached containers comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible containers, each container having a first rigid conical section and a second flexible conical section, said first and second sections in unitary combination forming a hollow chamber, said second section having a decreasing wall thickness and increasing flexibility With increasing distance from the central axis of the conical section, one section of each of said sections having a cylindrical section at its apex, the cylindrical section of one container having a frangible seal and being in fluid-tight engagement with the cylindrical section of the other container, and the interior chambers of said containers being in communication and forming a fluid-tight binary mixture container assembly, whereby upon applying pressure to the second flexible section of one container causes the outermost portion of said second section to initially flex, the flexing continuing radially inward until said second conical section has substantially entirely inverted and contacted said first conical section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,071 2/1896 Matzen '215-11 2,176,923 10/ 1939 Nitardy. 2,208,744 7/ 1940 Bergerioux. 2,433,806 12/1947 Bardin 222-206 2,446,451 8/ 1948 Allen 215-11 2,528,530 11/1950 Machleder. 2,702,034 2/ 1955 Walter. 2,753,868 7/1956 Seemar. 2,885,104 5/1959 Greenspan. 2,893,547 7/1959 Earl. 2,911,972 11/1959 Elinger 128- 216 3,100,045 8/1963 Via.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE STORAGE, MIXING AND DISPENSING OF FLUIDS, COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONTAINERS, EACH CONTAINER HAVING A FIRST RIGID SECTION AND A SECOND FLEXIBLE SECTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS IN UNITARY COMBINATION FORMING AN ENCLOSED HOLLOW CHAMBER AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS OF EACH CONTAINER HAVING A SEALABLE MEANS FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS OF FLUID IN ASSOCIATION THEREWITH, SAID FLEXIBLE SECTION OF EACH CONTAINER BEING FOLDABLE WITHIN SAID RIGID SECTION OF THE SAME CONTAINER, THE INGRESS AND

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