US2361982A - Apparatus for making cellular masses - Google Patents

Description

NEW. 7 1944.

R. M. URQUHART APPARATUS Fon MAKING CELLULAR niAssEs Original Filed May 26, 1937 'INVNTOR present Physical y the mma No'. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES' PATENT oFFlcs ascisse srrsas'rus Follxtgssrxsmo comme mtime Morris prima. Monmmmvme, ra.

Application June 21, 1940,

division of application Serial No.

which is a 144,885, May 26. 1931. Divided and piioation January 15, 19B, Serial No. 472,519

My invention relates to apparatus for makina as foam or the like. The application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 341,938, for Apparatus for cellular tiled June 2l, 1940, which is in turn a division of my abandoned -appiication Serial No. 144,885, led May 26, 1937, for Apparatus and method for f; cellular cellular masses, such 081111131' .2, made hither-to by means oi chemical reactions, changes due to variations in heet and pressure, or by various mechanical methods. Most of these means have variously proven unsetisisctory by reason of expense of equipment, chemicals. or luel. as well as frequent lack of adaptability of the apparatus to the place of application oi the product.

Yet, the need is great ier inexpensive means for la cellular substances, rticularly et the place of application of said substances for the uses for which. they are intended; and in instances, there is 'an important need for varying the sise and integral constituents of the individual cells. Instances of such needs may be found in the nre v y sin i 1 .i neld, the building and traction industries, liquid storage elds. the i industries, and delos involving the simulation or reproduction oi desired views auch scenic eects.

@ne object oi invention therefore is to vprovide means whereby a cellular 1 t: :c such as Scam may be practically. readily and inexpensively produced in the general sesion ci a nre. for exn f, l.. pug',

Another object oi myV invention is to provide me for sie -s cellular substances such as insulation, acoustic w, ceilings, wall fillers,

panels and the like, tor use in the buildin@ or i ematica industries.,

s, lor various purposes, have been v and a discharge conduit the apparatus shown f 'f Nami. With the above and other objects in view, my invention co i in me :or .i il cellular 45 substance, w comp emitting a liquid capable oi suppe il: foam, in presence 0! a ses, in a manner to increase the ace ot said as operativ to entrain the resultant mass. my invmticn also consists in me ior produc; insf a cellular l w: which comprises releasing a quantity ot sas. in the presence of a ed foam p i rffftins liquid. operatively to increase the ci d liquid, and edu a ses into ripheral side wall 2| Serial No. 341,938,

this absaid liquid to form a cellular mass or foam. and dischsrsins the resultant mass.

My invention also consists in means for menu iacturins a foam dried in a manner tol retain the cellular structure of the foam in a substantially solid form.

My invention also consists in means for varyins the physical properties of the cellular mass by regulating the relative quantities of gas, liquid, or cellular mass formins substance.

More specifically my invention consists of the apparatus for making a cellular substance, which comprises a closed 'container adapted to hold a foam promoting liquid, a supplementary container adapted to release gas under pressure into said liquid container, an eductor adapted to com- :n fr a gas 'and said liquid in predetermined proportions in a manner to form a cellularmass. adapted to draw o said cellular m.

My invention further consists oi means for producinr a substantially solid ce ular mass .compr :s 1 a the residual puct of a 0am comprising liquid, gaseous and cellular-mass formino constituents, with the liquid constituent removed therefrom.

For the pur of illustrating have shown in the accom v V= -i-r i i oi' apatus which has been iound in practice to sive satisfactory and reliable resulta-although itis to be understood that the various imtrumen- =.==w1 oi which my invention consists can be variously erred and cmd and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangemen and oreanizstions of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Refer-rind to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

e 1 represents a vertical sectional view of an aptus for making cellular masses embody ina my invention.

Figure 2 representar7 vertics1 sectional view of in Figure l, in cellular mass io operation.

i e 3 represents a sectional view oi an eductor io oi the apparatus illustrated in Figures l and 3. v

"mi, i i rep an elevational view oi a modified ce construction i, my invention.- Y

According to my invention, I provide a con- I having a cylindrical side wall It, bottom i1, and a removable cap I8 threaded to the container at It, and compi-isms a base it, peand a e member 22.

Depending from the base' 2o, is a cage construction 23. This cage construction 23 comprises tubes 2d and 25 secured to the base 20 of the cap it, and a rod 26 threaded to the base 2t. The

tubes 2d and 25 and the rod 2t are placed concentrically about the longitudinal axis ci' the container i5, and are equidistant from each other.

The lower extremities of the tubes 2t and 25, and the rod 2d support an eductor 2li' in a manner hereinafter described, the upper surface of said eductor iorming a support for a container 23 charsed'with gas at any pressure above atmospheric pressure. Container 28 is mounted within the cage iormed by the tubes 2d d 25 and the rod 2t and is adapted to be guided thereby in a longitudl fail when the container I is inverted. The container 28, has, on the neck 29 thereof, a frangible diaphragm 36D, of suicient strength to seal the compressed gases within the container, but yet of sufcient plasticity or frangibility to enable a pin 8i, extending downwardly from the base 2@ of the cap it and along its longitul axis, to puncture the diaphragm 3@ and release the compressed vgases within the container 2d, whenthe container id is inverted causing container 28 to fall into puncturing relation to said pin d i The tube 2Q has a port i2 in a portion thereof near the top of the container lli, and the lower part of said tube leads into the inlet tt of the eductor 2l. 'A nozzle til is threaded to the inlet 33 so that the liquid emanating from the tube 2d passes through the nozzle into the. interior of the educator 2. "A spiral baille 35 is inserted within nozzle 3d, and is oi such pitch and relation to the outlet of nozzle 3d, as to atomize, disperse, sub-divide, or otherwise increase the surface of the liquid dowlng from said nozzle.

A conduit 3d extends downwardly from the educing chamber 3i to a region near the bottom of the containerv i5. The tube 2d is connected with the discharge outlet of the eductor 21 in a l manner to draw oi the educed mixture. The upper end of the discharge tube- 25' extends throughy the base 2o of cap I8, and preferably through the side wall 2i thereof. A exible discharge hose 83 is secured at one end, to the upper extremity 39.01' the discharge tube 25, and atv the other end, it may have a discharge nozzle 4U with a shut-oil valve dI. In operation, the cap I8 is removed from the container id, and the rod 28 is removed therefrom. A container 2B charged with compressed gas. such` as nitrogen, nitrous-oxide, carbondioxide, air, chlorine, or mixtures thereof, or the like, under suitable pressure is then placed within the cage 23 and the rod 26 replaced therein. The

accesso liquid 42 passes through the nozzle ss contain-' ing the baille 35 with such force as to be broken up into ilnely subdivided streams or particles.

container I5 is then charged with a liquid having and the cap I 8 with discharge thereon is then replaced in a viscous qualities, cage 23 mounted manner to seal the contents of the container against escape except through the discharge tube 25.

When it is desired to use the apparatus, handle 2 2 is grasped by the operator .and container. I5 is inverted. causes container 22 to fall and to be punctured by pin 2i, thereby releasing the compressed gas therein, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The escaping gas bubbles up through the liquid 42 to form a gaseous region 43 thereabove, operatively to exert pressure downwardly upon the liquid 42 and to urge it through the port I2, tube 24, and eductor 21. At theysame time, gas is introduced from the gaseous region 42 into the eductor 2l through conduit 28. In practice, the

'nsl

This operates to entrain large amounts of'gas entering through conduit 36 and to convey the resultant mixture through the discharge tube 2E to the discharge nozzle 40. If desired, an additional pressure head may be built` up by closing the shut-oli` valve 4I until the desired back pressure is obtained and then opening the shut-0H valve to release the mixture therefrom. It is to be understood that in place of 'the eductor 2 illustrated, there may be used an ejector, injector, Venturi tube, proportioner, or the like.

The liquid having viscous qualities may be any desired liquid which is capable of entralning a gas. Thus, itv may be an aqueous solution oi a cementitious material, such as glue, albumen, or of a saponaceous material such as tannin, licorice, soap, spent sulphlte liquor, or the like, or any material such as casein, glucose or the like, or combinations thereofl capable of altering, forming or supporting a fllmy surface in the production of foam.

If desired, afreezing point depressant such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride or potassium carbonate may be placed in solution with the liquid to prevent the solution from freezing in the container prior to the operation thereof. Moreover, if desired, a corrosion inhibitor such as potassium chromete or potassium acetate may also be placed in solution with the liquid tol protect the elements of the apparatus.

In Figure 9 is shown a modied cage construction wherein a plurality of compressed gas containers IIB and III are mounted within a cage 4H2 having a corresponding plurality of puncturing pins I I3 in puncturing relation to the mouths lili and I I5 of the containers H0 andi l i, respectively. This form of cage is particularly adapted for use with the generator of Figures 1 to 3 which is intended to Vbe inverted when it is desired to place it in operation. In this connection, cage I I2 may he bodily mounted in cage 28 or the cage r l By my novel invention, it is possible to change the character of the emitted cellular mass by varying the pressure or volume of gas introduced thereinto. Thus, for example,but'not by way of limitation, a ratio by volume ot three parts of gas 'at average atmospheric pressure and tempersi-.ure to one of liquid fed into the eductor or proportioner will produce a wet cellular mass having substantially wet and free owing qualities. This cellular mass is ofa specific weight much greater than that of a cellular mass having a larger ratio of eration thereof.

A cellular mass having a ratio of ten parts-jot sas to one of liquid introduced into the eductor or proportioner will be substantially stiff, resllient and very light weight structure, non-freeowing, but very cohesive. A cellular mass of this *ratio tends to cling to almostany-,solid or liquid surface. It is capable of supporting fairly substantial 'weight and can be built up into mounds'ot substantial size forany of various de any desired combination gas to liquid used in the genthe combustion thereof.

ascissa Ation of glaciers, snow scenes, mountains or rock formations, for photographic purposes. Cellular masses having a ratio of seven or eight parts of gas to one of liquid are of substantially dry characteristics yet of suiilcient ability to flow to enable them to spread when emitted from the discharge nozzle.' Such a cellular mass is particularly adaptable for use for nre extinguishing purposes. Thus, such foam may be poured on burning surfaces, such as volatile liquids, and will spread over such surfaces operatively to suiocate Also, such a cellular mass will cling to a burning wall and is capable of forming a blanket thereon to suilocate the combustion thereof.

I Furthermore, quick-setting chemicals, such as salts, cement, plaster of Paris, or gypsum derivatives, may be introduced with the cellular mass forming substance to cause the cellular mass discharged from the generator quickly to solidify. Moreover, re resisting elements such as silicate of soda may also be introduced therewith.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope ofthe invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired tobe secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for making a cellular mass comprising amain container adapted to receive a foam forming liquid and having an opentop; a cap for closing said opentop; an auxiliary container filled with compressed gas and having a frangible portion; meanscarried by said cap for normally, slidingly supporting said auxiliary con.

conduit opening into said main container and connected to said proportioner for supplying a gas to said proportioner; means for puncturing the frangible portion of said auxiliary container so as to release Vsaid gas within said m'ain container; a handle adapted to be grasped by an operator for inverting said main container to its operative position thereby puncturing said auxiliary container and releasing said gas whereupon said liquid an'd said gas now through their respective conduits under the influence of the gas pressure and through said proportioner where they commingle to form a foam which is discharged into said foam discharge conduit; and means for directing the resulting foam tothe desired point.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the puncturing means comprises a pointed formation formed' on said cap;

3. Apparatus for making a cellular mass comprising a main container adapted to receive a foam forming liquid: an container nlled with compressed gas and supported in said main container; foam forming means providing a cage for supporting said'auxiliary container and comprising a proportioner for mixing said liquid and gas to form a foam and providing a seat for said' auxiliary container, a liquid supply conduit carried by said main container and connected to the inlet end of said proportioner to support said inlet end and having an outlet nozzle adapted to discharge a dispensed stream of said liquid into said proportioner, a foam discharge conduit carried by said main container and connected to the outlet end of said proportioner to support said outlet end. a removable rod connected to said main container and said proportloner to retain said auxiliary container on said 'seat in slidable relation to said liquid supply conduit, said foam discharge conduit and said rod and a gassupply 40 conduit connected to said proportioner adjacent foam; means for puncturlng said a tainer in an inoperative position in the liquid in its outlet end to supply gas to said proportioner soas to commingle saidliquidandgastoform a container upon inversion of said main container to release said gas whereby said liquid and said gas are forced through said proportioner by the pressure of said gas to form foam: and means for directing said foam to a desired point of application.

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