WO2016097994A1

WO2016097994A1 - System for simultaneous injection of a filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers

Info

Publication number: WO2016097994A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/059628
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio Buzzi
Original assignee: Fb Design S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-12-17
Filing date: 2015-12-15
Publication date: 2016-06-23
Also published as: CN107107385A

Abstract

System (10) for the simultaneous injection of a filling material into a plurality of separate chambers (11) of a boat comprising: - a first recipient (12) for containing and dosing a first reagent (A); - a second recipient (13) for containing and dosing a second reagent (B); - at least one first upstream transfer channel (14) of said first reagent to at least one first pump (15); - at least one second upstream transfer channel (16) of said second reagent to at least one second pump (17); - at least one first downstream transfer channel (18) of said first reagent (A) exiting from said at least one first pump (15); - at least one second downstream transfer channel (19) of said second reagent (B) exiting from said at least one second pump (17); wherein said at least one first downstream transfer channel (18) and said at least one second downstream transfer channel (19) of said second reagent exiting from said at least one second pump (17) converge in at least one mixing device (20) of said first reagent (A) and second reagent (B); an injector device (21) of said mixture of said first reagent (A) and second reagent (B) being provided for each of said chambers (11).

Description

SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS INJECTION OF A FILLING MATERIAL IN BOATS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE CHAMBERS

The present invention refers to a system and to the relative method for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers.

In the nautical field it is well known to use boats that provide reserve buoyancy.

Such boats are built by joining two shells, one upper, generally the deck, and one lower, the hull, usually made of fibre-reinforced resin.

The reserve buoyancy is obtained through a filling process of the ^λ empty' spaces between the two shells that constitute the boat, in other words the spaces not used for the arrangement of cables and on-board systems .

The filling material generally consists of a closed- cell polyurethane foam obtained by mixing, according to predetermined ratios, different components (polyol and isocyanate) that react forming a polymer, increasing its volume and expanding in the form of foam.

The volumetric expansion ratio between the components in the final expanded foam state and in the initial liquid state is high and varies with the density of the foam that it is wished to obtain. Different density values and expansion ratios are obtained by changing the proportions between the reagents.

The filling operations of the boat can encounter problems concerning the uniformity of the density of the polyurethane foam inside the volume of the chambers .

Generally, the chambers have a substantially longitudinal extension with vents arranged at the ends thereof and with an injection point in the middle. The vents, suitably arranged, ensure the correct expulsion of air from the chambers, thanks to the free expansion of the foam. The result that is obtained is a distribution of foam of uniform density, inside the chambers .

A possible problem of the process concerns the risk of not obtaining the predetermined density of the foam, in the expanded state, out during the design step of the boat .

A very serious problem in making such boats is the possible permanent deformation of the fibreglass shells that constitute the boat. Indeed, the upper and lower shells of the boat have a low rigidity and, due to the pressure exerted on the surfaces by the polyurethane foam during expansion, can be easily deformed.

In order to avoid permanent deformations, the injection operations of the liquid filling polyurethane takes place while keeping the shells in the respective production moulds, rigidly assembled together.

American patent no. US 7332115 in the name of Boston Whaler describes a process for building boats through the injection of a filling foam inside the chamber comprised between the two shells, lower and upper, which make up the boat. The injection, expansion and solidification operations of the foam take place while keeping both shells in the respective moulds. The filling foam acts as glue and, following the expansion and solidification thereof, joins the two shells in a single piece.

Moreover, it is known in the prior art to build boats that have a plurality of separate chambers inside them. In particular the chambers can be made through structural elements arranged between the shells, upper and lower, and arranged according to the longitudinal extension of the hull.

For example, American patent application no. US 2008/0035041, in the name of the Applicant, teaches to make boats equipped with a plurality of mutually separate chambers.

Such boats are made through the joining of two shells, one upper, generally the deck, and one lower, the hull, generally produced in fibre-reinforced resin. In the main chamber identified by the joining of the two shells, mutually parallel structural elements are arranged that follow the longitudinal extension of the hull, thus forming a plurality of chambers. The longitudinal elements constitute the side walls of the chambers. The empty space inside the chambers of the boat is filled through a closed-cell high-density polyurethane foam to make the boat unsinkable.

During the filling process of the boat, if appropriate precautions are not taken, it is possible for structural deformations to occur due to the force exerted by the pressure of the foam, during expansion, on the side walls of the chamber, in other words on the longitudinal structural elements.

The expansion of the foam that takes place in a chamber in a non-simultaneous and unbalanced manner with respect to the adjacent chambers can cause deformations of the longitudinal elements that are irreversible and unpredictable and that compromise the strength of the structure .

The expansion of the foam is deemed to occur in a balanced manner when the phenomenon occurs simultaneously in the plurality of adjacent chambers, as a consequence of the simultaneous injection of the mixed reagents that form the filling material. Only in this way, is it possible to balance the actions caused by the expansion of the foam and acting on the opposite walls of the longitudinal structures.

The presence of deformations at the longitudinal structural elements and at the shells of the hull and of the deck can result in the boat being discarded from the production line.

Starting from such a prior art, the Applicant has already in the past analysed the problem of providing a device and a method for the injection of filling material inside boats consisting of a plurality of mutually separate chambers, avoiding permanent deformations of the fibreglass shells and the non- simultaneous and unbalanced expansion of the filling material .

The solution then proposed by the Applicant, which forms the object of patent application EP2216155, provides for the presence of a plurality of units for the preparation and injection of the filling material. In particular a unit is provided for each chamber to be filled of the boat.

According to EP2216155 each unit comprises at least one recipient for dosing a first reagent, at least one mixing recipient for dosing a second reagent and subsequently mixing it with the first reagent and mixing means for forming the filling material of the hull.

The components of the preparation and injection units of the filling material are actuated simultaneously so that the steps of formation of the liquid polyurethane and the steps of injection are simultaneous in all of the units.

Starting from such a prior art, with particular reference to EP2216155, the Applicant now has the purpose of making a system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers that is an alternative and at the same time particularly efficient.

In general, such a purpose is achieved by providing a system with the following characteristics/components: a single operating/storage tank for each of the reagents in which such recipients can preferably be equipped with a system for conditioning/controlling the temperature/humidity conditions ;

- a connection circuit, or pipe, that goes from each operating tank to the distribution pump unit of that reagent where the pumps will be of the type most suitable for the type of mixing/injection for which the machine was built. In other words, the pumps can be of a different type according to whether it involves low or high pressure injection.

There are as many distribution lines extending from each pump unit as there are mixing heads, and consequently as there are chambers, in which to simultaneously carry out the casting or injection of foam.

The system will be equipped with as many mixing and injection heads as there are chambers that at most are provided to foam simultaneously.

The heads can be both of the low pressure injection type and of the high pressure injection type. The mixing technologies can all be those known for the selected type of application. These also include static heads, i.e. without moving parts, which exploit the principle of countercurrent injection.

A programmable electronic control unit is also provided that, based on input parameters (number of heads used to carry out the foaming; which heads to use to carry out the foaming; volume of each chamber to be filled; temperature of the reagents), is able to start the process simultaneously in all of the heads/chambers, dose the reagents in the correct proportions and send them to the active heads.

Since the amount of reagents to use to carry out the foaming is directly proportional to the volume to be foamed through the volumetric expansion ratio, the control system is able to calculate the exact amounts of reagents that are necessary, to measure how much reagent is distributed and, consequently, to interrupt the supply thereof to the mixing heads once the calculated amounts have been reached. The interruption of the foaming is obtained through techniques described in the prior art that will vary based on the type of machine (low or high pressure) and the type of head (i.e. mixing method) .

Further characteristics of the invention and some different embodiments will be highlighted by the claims and in the following description.

The characteristics and advantages of a system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figures 1-5 show five different embodiments of the inventive principle forming the basis of the present invention .

With reference to the figures, a system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers according to the present invention is shown with 10.

In general, the system 10 comprises:

- a first recipient 12 for containing and dosing a first reagent A; and

- a second recipient 13 for containing and dosing a second reagent B.

According to the invention, therefore, a unique tank for reagent is provided for all of the chambers 11 present .

The system also comprises:

- at least one first upstream transfer channel 14 for transferring the first reagent A to at least one first pump 15 ;

- at least one second upstream transfer channel 16 for transferring the second reagent B to at least one second pump 17;

- at least one first downstream transfer channel 18 for transferring the first reagent A exiting from the at least one first pump 15;

- at least one second downstream transfer channel 19 for transferring second reagent B exiting from the at least one second pump 17.

In particular, the at least one first downstream transfer channel 18 of the first reagent A exiting from the at least one first pump 15 and the at least one second downstream transfer channel 19 of the second reagent B exiting from the at least one second pump 17 converge in at least one mixing device 20 of the first reagent A and second reagent B.

For each chamber, the system 10 comprises a relative injector device 21 of the mixture of the first reagent A and second reagent B.

Figure 1 shows the first embodiment of the invention, in which a high pressure foaming is carried out.

Such an embodiment of figure 1 comprises:

a unique first upstream transfer channel 14 for transferring the first reagent to a unique first pump 15;

a unique second upstream transfer channel 16 for transferring the second reagent B to a unique second pump 17 ;

- a plurality of first downstream transfer channels 18, 18', 18", 18"' of the first reagent A exiting from the unique first pump 15, where for each chamber (11) there is the relative first downstream transfer channel 18, 18', 18", 18"';

a plurality of second downstream transfer channels 19, 19' , 19", 19"' of the second reagent B exiting from the unique second pump 17, where for each chamber (11) there is the relative second downstream transfer channel 19, 19', 19", 19"'.

In such an embodiment of figure 1 each of the injector devices 21 is fed by a first downstream transfer channel 18, 18', 18", 18"' and by a second downstream transfer channel 19, 19', 19", 19"'.

Since the system of figure 1 is high pressure, the injector devices 21 also act as mixing devices 20 and are represented as T-shaped injection and mixing heads since they receive the two different reagents entering and exiting, giving the correctly mixed compound. The mixing process will be any of those known by those skilled in the art.

Figure 2 shows a second example of a high-pressure system 10 according to the invention.

Such an embodiment of figure 2 comprises:

- a plurality of first upstream transfer channels 14, 14', 14", 14"' for transferring the first reagent A, where each of such first upstream transfer channels 14, 14', 14", 14"' feeds a relative first pump 15, 15', 15", 15"'. A first upstream transfer channel 14, 14', 14", 14"' and a first pump 15, 15', 15", 15"' is provided for each chamber 11;

- a plurality of second upstream transfer channels 16, 16', 16", 16"' of the second reagent B, where each of such second upstream transfer channels 16, 16', 16", 16"' feeds a relative second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"'. A second upstream transfer channel 16, 16', 16", 16"' and a second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"' is provided for each chamber 11;

a first downstream transfer channel 18 for transferring the first reagent A exiting from each first pump 15, 15', 15", 15"';

a second downstream transfer channel 19 for transferring the first reagent B exiting from each second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"';

- each injector device 21 is fed by a first downstream transfer channel 18 and by a second downstream transfer channel 19.

Like in the case of figure 1, since it involves a high pressure system, the injector devices 21 also act as mixing devices 20.

Figure 3 shows a low pressure system 10 according to the invention.

Such a system 10 of figure 3 comprises:

a unique first upstream transfer channel 14 for transferring the first reagent A to a unique first pump 15;

a unique first downstream transfer channel 18 for transferring the first reagent A exiting from the unique first pump 15;

- a unique second downstream transfer channel 19 for transferring the second reagent B exiting from the unique second pump 17;

- a unique mixing device 20 for transferring the first reagent A and second reagent B fed by the unique first downstream transfer channel 18 of the first reagent A and by the unique second downstream transfer channel 19 for transferring the second reagent B;

- a plurality of feeding channels 22 exiting from the unique mixing device 20, where a feeding channel 22 is provided for each chamber 11;

- each injector device 21 is fed by a feeding channel 22. Figure 4 shows a variant of the system, again at low pressure, of figure 3.

Such a system 10 of figure 4 comprises:

- a plurality of first downstream transfer channels 18, 18', 18", 18"' for transferring the first reagent A exiting from the unique first pump 15; a first downstream transfer channel 18, 18', 18", 18"' is provided for each chamber 11;

- a plurality of second downstream transfer channels 19, 19' , 19", 19"' for transferring the second reagent B exiting from the unique second pump 17; a second downstream transfer channel 19, 19' , 19", 19"' is provided for each chamber 11;

- a plurality of mixing devices 20, each of which is fed by a first downstream transfer channel 18, 18', 18", 18"' and by a second downstream transfer channel 19, 19', 19", 19"';

- a mixing device 20 for each chamber 11;

- a feeding channel 22 exiting from each mixing device 20;

- each injector device 21 is fed by a feeding channel 22.

Figure 5 shows a further low-pressure system 10 according to the invention.

Such a system 10 of figure 5 comprises:

- a plurality of first upstream transfer channels 14, 14', 14", 14"' for transferring the first reagent A where each first upstream transfer channel 14, 14', 14", 14"' feeds a relative first pump 15, 15' , 15", 15"'. A first upstream transfer channel 14, 14', 14", 14"' and a first pump 15, 15' , 15", 15"' are provided for each chamber 11;

- a plurality of second upstream transfer channels 16, 16', 16", 16"' for transferring the second reagent B where each second upstream transfer channel 16, 16', 16", 16"' feeds a relative second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"'. A second upstream transfer channel 16, 16', 16", 16"' and a second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"' is provided for each chamber 11;

a second downstream transfer channel 19 for transferring the second reagent B exiting from each second pump 17, 17', 17", 17"';

- a plurality of mixing devices 20, each of which is fed by a first downstream transfer channel 18 and by a second downstream transfer channel 19, a mixing device 20 being provided for each chamber 11;

- a feeding channel 22 exiting from each mixing device 20;

each injector device 21 being fed by a feeding channel 22.

As prior indicated, each system 10 comprises electronic control means 23 connected:

- to the first recipient 12 and to the second recipient 13 recipient for containing and dosing the first reagent A and second reagent B; - to the at least one first pump 15 for pumping the first reagent A exiting from the first recipient 12;

- to the at least one second pump 17 for pumping the second reagent B exiting from the second recipient 13; - to the at least one mixing device 20 for mixing the first reagent A and second reagent B;

to the at least one injector device 21 for the injection mixture of the first reagent A and second reagent B.

In the figures such electronic control means 23 are exemplified by an "ECU" (Electronic Control Unit) for the sake of simple representation.

However, the control functions of the various components could also be controlled by many physically different modules, also in communication with each other. The connection lines that come out from the ECU and go to the various components are meant to represent that they are controlled by the ECU and that there is reciprocal signal transmission communication. The ECU is also able to exclude the use of some injection heads .

Finally, the first recipient 12 and the second recipient 13 are provided with an agitator and/or thermal insulation and/or a thermostat refrigeration system and/or a level indicator.

The operation of the system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers of the present invention as described above is extremely easy to understand.

The method for the simultaneous injection of a filling material into a plurality of separate chambers 11 of a boat comprises the steps of: - extracting a first reagent A from a unique first tank 12 common for all the chambers 11;

- extracting a second reagent B from a unique second tank 13 common for all the chambers 11;

- mixing together the first reagent A and the second reagent B extracted from the tanks 12, 13;

- simultaneously feeding the mixture into at least two chambers by means of a plurality of injector devices 21 where each chamber is fed by a unique relative injector 21.

In high pressure systems the step of mixing and feeding into the chambers is carried out inside one same device .

It has thus been seen that a system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers according to the present invention achieves the purposes outlined earlier .

The system for the simultaneous injection of filling material in boats comprising a plurality of separate chambers of the present invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their sizes, can be of whatever type according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1) System (10) for the simultaneous injection of a filling material into a plurality of separate chambers (11) of a boat comprising:

- a first recipient (12) for containing and dosing a first reagent (A) ;

- a second recipient (13) for containing and dosing a second reagent (B) ;

- at least one first upstream transfer channel (14) for transferring said first reagent (A) to at least one first pump (15) ;

- at least one second upstream transfer channel (16) for transferring said second reagent (B) to at least one second pump (17);

- at least one first downstream transfer channel (18) for transferring said first reagent (A) exiting from said at least one first pump (15);

- at least one second downstream transfer channel (19) for transferring said second reagent (B) exiting from said at least one second pump (17);

wherein said at least one first downstream transfer channel (18) for transferring said first reagent exiting from said at least one first pump (15) and said at least one second downstream transfer channel (19) for transferring said second reagent exiting from said at least one second pump (17) converge in at least one mixing device (20) for mixing said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) ;

wherein an injector device (21) for injecting said mixture of said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) being provided for each of said chambers (11) . 2) System (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises:

a unique first upstream transfer channel (14) for transferring said first reagent to a unique first pump (15) for pumping said first reagent (A);

- a unique second upstream transfer channel (16) for transferring said second reagent to a unique second pump (17) for pumping said second reagent (B) ;

a plurality of first downstream transfer channels (18, 18', 18", 18"') for transferring said first reagent (A) exiting from said one first pump (15), a first downstream transfer channel (18, 18', 18", 18"') being provided for each of said chambers (11);

a plurality of second downstream transfer channels (19, 19', 19", 19"') for transferring said second reagent (B) exiting from said one second pump (17), a second downstream transfer channel (19, 19', 19", 19"') being provided for each of said chambers (11);

- each of said injector devices (21) being fed by a said first downstream transfer channel (18, 18', 18",

18"' ) and by a said second downstream transfer channel (19, 19', 19", 19"');

- said injector devices (21) also acting as said mixing devices (20) .

3) System (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises:

- a plurality of said first upstream transfer channels (14, 14', 14", 14"') for transferring said first reagent (A) , each of said first upstream transfer channels (14, 14', 14", 14"') feeding a relative first pump (15, 15', 15", 15"') for pumping said first reagent (A), a first upstream transfer channel (14, 14', 14", 14"') and a first pump (15, 15', 15", 15"') being provided for each of said chambers (11);

- a plurality of said second upstream transfer channels (16, 16', 16", 16"') for transferring said second reagent (B) , each of said second upstream transfer channels (16, 16', 16", 16"') feeding a relative second pump (17, 17', 17", 17"') for pumping said second reagent (B) , a second upstream transfer channel (16, 16', 16", 16"') and a second pump (17, 17', 17", 17"') being provided for each of said chambers (11);

a first downstream transfer channel (18) for transferring said first reagent (A) exiting from each of said first pumps (15, 15', 15", 15"');

a second downstream transfer channel (19) for transferring said first reagent (B) exiting from each of said second pumps (17, 17', 17", 17"');

- each of said injector devices (21) being fed by a said first downstream transfer channel (18) and by a said second downstream transfer channel (19);

- said injector devices (21) also acting as said mixing devices (20) .

4) System (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises:

- a unique first downstream transfer channel (18) for transferring said first reagent (A) exiting from said unique first pump (15); - a unique second downstream transfer channel (19) for transferring said second reagent (B) exiting from said unique second pump (17);

- a unique mixing device (20) for mixing said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) , which is fed by said one first downstream transfer channel (18) for transferring said first reagent (A) and by said one second downstream transfer channel (19) for transferring said second reagent (B) ;

- a plurality of feeding channels (22) exiting from said one mixing device (20), a feeding channel (22) being provided for each of said chambers (11);

- each of said injector devices (21) being fed by one of said feeding channels (22) .

5) System (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises:

a unique first upstream transfer channel (14) for transferring said first reagent to a unique first pump

(15) for pumping said first reagent (A);

a plurality of first downstream transfer channels

(18, 18', 18", 18"') of said first reagent (A) exiting from said one first pump (15), a first downstream transfer channel (18, 18', 18", 18"') being provided for each of said chambers (11);

a plurality of second downstream transfer channels

(19, 19', 19", 19"') for transferring said second reagent (B) exiting from said one second pump (17), a second downstream transfer channel (19, 19', 19", 19"') being provided for each of said chambers (11); - a plurality of mixing devices (20), each of which is fed by one of said first downstream transfer channels (18, 18', 18", 18"') and by one of said second downstream transfer channels (19, 19', 19", 19"'), a mixing device (20) being provided for each of said chambers (11) ;

a feeding channel (22) exiting from each of said mixing devices (20) ;

6) System (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises:

- a plurality of mixing devices (20), each of which is fed by one of said first downstream transfer channels (18) and by one of said second downstream transfer channels (19), a mixing device (20) being provided for each of said chambers (11);

a feeding channel (22) exiting from each of said mixing devices (20) ;

7) System (10) according to any of the previous claims characterised in that it comprises electronic control means connected to:

- said first recipient (12) and said second recipient (13) for containing and dosing said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) ;

- said at least one first pump (15) for pumping said first reagent (A) exiting from said first recipient (12);

- said at least one first pump (17) for pumping said second reagent (B) exiting from said second recipient (13) ;

- said at least one mixing device (20) for mixing said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) ;

- said at least one injector device (21) for injecting said mixture of said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) .

8) System (10) according to any of the previous claims characterised in that said first recipient (12) and said second recipient (13) are provided with an agitator and/or thermal insulation and/or a thermostat refrigeration system and/or a level indicator.

9) Method for the simultaneous injection of a filling material into a plurality of separate chambers (11) of a boat comprising the steps of:

- extracting a first reagent (A) from a unique first tank (12) common for all of said chambers (11);

- extracting a second reagent (B) from a unique second tank (13) common for all of said chambers (11);

mixing together said first reagent (A) and said second reagent (B) extracted from said tanks (12, 13);

- feeding said mixture into said chambers (11) by means of a plurality of injector devices (21), each chamber being fed by a unique relative injector.

10) Method according to claim 9 characterised in that said steps of mixing and feeding are carried out inside one same device.