Loctite (Ireland) Limited

Martin J Fitzpatrick

Fergal Anthony Gordon

Alan T Crampton

A disconnectable flow connector for connecting a fluid-containing flexible bag (1) to a fluid supply line (100) is sufficiently airtight so as to allow dispensing of fluids, especially adhesives, which are highly reactive on contact with even the least quantity of air. The bag (1) has a spout (2, 3) with a pierceable membrane (5). A valve (10) has a tapering end which can pierce and then seal the membrane, an aperture (13) at the tip, and a valve plunger (14) operable so as to be retractable from the aperture (13) to an open (fluid flow) position independently of the piercing action. A fluid pressure mechanism is provided for driving fluid from the flexible bag (1) through the flow connector to the fluid supply line (100). The mechanism consists of a housing (30,31,32,33) for containing the bag (1) and a housing end wall (34) which is moveable along the length of the housing. The bag (1) has no tendency to collapse or fold in on itself. The position of the moveable end wall (34) is an indication of the state (empty, full) of the bag (1). Also provided is a lid for a product tank including an upper face (301), a lower face (302) and a plurality of sides (300), the sides (300) being concave and the intersection of the sides (300) defining a corner of the lid, each corner being provided with a hook-shaped ring (303) which defines a slot (304) into which studs on the product tank can be received.

Fluid flow connector, fluid pressure mechanism and product tank lid for

An applicator is described which is sealed to a very high degree against any ingress of air and is therefore suitable for use with adhesives which react strongly with air. The applicator comprises a housing (2, 3, 4) having a bore (6) terminating at one end in an outlet aperture (10), a plunger (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20) received in said bore (6) and mounted for movement between an open (liquid application) position and a closed position, the rear end (13, 14) of the plunger projecting from the other end (2) of the housing, the plunger including a longitudinal bore (19) for supply of liquid to be applied, the plunger being provided with one or more ports (21) through which liquid may flow from the bore (19) of the plunger into the bore (6) of the housing so arranged that when the plunger is in the fully open position the bore (6) of the housing and the bore (19) of the plunger co-operate to provide a streamlined flow path, means (16, 23, 25) for moving the plunger between the closed position and the open position; and a seal (34, 35, 36) between plunger and housing to prevent ingress of air. The novel features are (a) that the seal is a liquid barrier seal (36) and (b) that in the closed position a forward end (20) of the plunger seals said housing outlet aperture (10) and in the open position the forward end (20) of the plunger (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20) is retracted into the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, Ireland

Martin J Fitzpatrick