Patent US151898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0246797A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for controlling the density of a foam
Assignee: Dow Chemical Co
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Filing: 1987-05-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-05-11
Abstract
Abstract The density of a foam is controlled by measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam and adjusting its density in response to the measured electrical conductivity. Apparatus for carrying out this method comprises means (10) for generating a foam connected by an enclosed pathway (13) to an application outlet (14). Located within the pathway (13) is an electrical conductivity sensor (15) which is electronically connected (16) to a translation means (17). The translation means (17) is connected (18) to a gas glow controlling means (19) whereby, in response to the signal received from the conductivity sensor (15), the translation means (17) provides a signal to the gas glow control means (19) to vary gas supply to the means (10) for generating the foam. The invention provides an accurate method of controlling the density of the foam within a narrow range, thus enabling the application of the minimum amount of foam necessary to achieve the desired physical properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Femi O. Kotoye
- 👤 John M. Kernstock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:21
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06N; D06N3/00; D06N3/04; D06N3/10; B; B01; B01F; B01F35/00; B01F35/80; B01F35/82; B01F35/20; B01F35/21; B01F35/2133; B05; B05D; B05D5/00; D06M; D06M17/00; G; G05; G05D; G05D11/00; G05D11/02; G05D11/13; G05D11/135; G05D11/137; B29; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0324; Y10T137/0329; Y10T137/034; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for controlling the density of a foam to a predetermined level during the preparation thereof wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density thereof comprising: (a) measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam during its preparation; and (b) adjusting the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity thereby providing a foam with a desired predetermined density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for controlling the density of a foam to a predetermined level during the preparation thereof wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density thereof comprising: (a) measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam during its preparation; and (b) adjusting the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity thereby providing a foam with a desired predetermined density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling the density of a foam on a carpet structure to a predetermined level during the preparation of the foam wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density thereof comprising: (a) measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam during its preparation and prior to deposition of the foam on the carpet structure; and (b) adjusting the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity, thereby providing a foam with a desired predetermined density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for controlling the density of a foam on a carpet structure to a predetermined level during the preparation of the foam wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density thereof comprising: (a) measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam during its preparation and prior to deposition of the foam on the carpet structure; and (b) adjusting the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity, thereby providing a foam with a desired predetermined density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the conductivity of the foam is determined by an electrodeless conductivity sensor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the foam is formed from a substance capable of binding loops of yarn to a primary backing material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the foam is formed from a latex comprising a copolymer of styrene and butadiene, said latex having a solids content of from 45 to 90 weight percent based on total latex weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the copolymer of styrene and butadiene comprises from 40 to 75 weight percent styrene and from 25 to 60 weight percent butadiene, based on total styrene/butadiene copolymer weight.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for controlling the density of a foam comprising: (a) means for generating a foam; (b) an application outlet; (c) an enclosed pathway connecting the means for generating a foam and the application outlet said enclosed pathway being suitable for conveying the foam from the means for generating a foam to the application outlet; (d) an electrical conductivity sensor located in the enclosed pathway, said electrical conductivity sensor being capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam in the enclosed pathway; and (e) means for altering the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity to produce a foam having a desirable density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for controlling the density of a foam comprising: (a) means for generating a foam; (b) an application outlet; (c) an enclosed pathway connecting the means for generating a foam and the application outlet said enclosed pathway being suitable for conveying the foam from the means for generating a foam to the application outlet; (d) an electrical conductivity sensor located in the enclosed pathway, said electrical conductivity sensor being capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam in the enclosed pathway; and (e) means for altering the density of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity to produce a foam having a desirable density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for controlling the density of a foam on a carpet structure comprising: (a) means for generating a foam; (b) an application outlet suitable for applying the foam to the carpet structure; (c) an enclosed pathway connecting the means for generating a foam and the application outlet, said enclosed pathway being suitable for conveying the foam from the means for generating a foam to the application outlet; (d) an electrical conductivity sensor located in the enclosed pathway, said electrical conductivity sensor being capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam in the enclosed pathway; and (e) means for altering the density of the of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity to produce a foam having a desirable density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for controlling the density of a foam on a carpet structure comprising: (a) means for generating a foam; (b) an application outlet suitable for applying the foam to the carpet structure; (c) an enclosed pathway connecting the means for generating a foam and the application outlet, said enclosed pathway being suitable for conveying the foam from the means for generating a foam to the application outlet; (d) an electrical conductivity sensor located in the enclosed pathway, said electrical conductivity sensor being capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the foam in the enclosed pathway; and (e) means for altering the density of the of the foam in response to the measured electrical conductivity to produce a foam having a desirable density, wherein the electrical conductivity of the foam varies with the density of the foam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the electrical conductivity sensor located in the enclosed pathway is an electrodeless conductivity sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the means for generating a foam is capable of forming a foam from a latex comprising a copolymer of styrene and butadiene, said latex having a solids content of from 45 to 90 weight percent based on total latex weight.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the density of the foam is adjusted by varying the amount of gas incorporated into said foam.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein said means for altering the density of the foam controls the amount of gas incorporated into said foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said means for altering the density of the foam is a gas flow control means a gas inlet pipe to said means for generating foam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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