FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns devices for utilising the mastic/sealant extruded by sealant cartridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Manufacturers of such cartridges provide a threaded spigot at the end of the cartridge.

A tapered plastic nozzle 105mm long has an internal thread for screwing into the spigot. This increases the effective length of the cartridge to about 400mm. A cartridge gun may increase this length still further. As mastic is applied as a continuous bead between two surfaces usually intersecting planes, access to the site is essential. So is freedom to deposit an uninterrupted continuous bead. If adj oining walls or intervening cabinets spoil the applicators run, the job may suffer and a poor appearance could result.

Mechanics who attend to routine lubrication through grease nipples often find nipples which are difficult to inject because adjacent parts of the machinery prevent suitable connection between the gun nozzle and the nipple.

Japanese Patent 2002331262 describes an extrusion head for polymer sealants with a threaded outlet which receives a moulded distributor and an L-section tube attaches to the distributor. A conical tip screws on to the end of the L-section tube. The tip has a perforated discharge passage inside it which permits flow through the head. Such devices are expensive to make and difficult to clear if they become blocked.

GB 2 296 672 discloses a flexible nozzle for extruding building sealant. The nozzle is a tube with a central flexible bellows portion allowing the bead of sealant to be directed round a corner. This is useful but in practice such nozzles are difficult to use in that for some runs it is better to have a rigid path between the cartridge and the nozzle as long as the site can be reached.

If the unions or one of them are of L-section it is difficult to arrange for selective compressibility between the unions. For low pressure operation, seals are not required and simplicity is preferable in order to bring the cost down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus aspect of the invention provides an adj ustable coupling for a gel dispenser comprising an inlet means capable of connection to the dispenser oulet, outlet means capable of discharging the contents of the dispenser and adjustable articulating means for joining the inlet and outlet means.

The articulating means may have components which are a friction fit so that the nozzle stays at whatever inclination the user selects. Particular types of armoured conduit have annular interfitting links which allow the conduit to assume curves and to remain in a selected position by friction until changed.

The articulating means may be a joint which permits universal movement of the outlet means and the nozzle. Such a range of movement is given by a ball joint with a continuous passage therethrough from inlet to outlet.

Instead the joint may be a pivot joint which gives arcuate movement in relation to the axis of the cartridge. The arcuate movement may be in a plane parallel to the plane in which the axis of the cartridge lies. Alternatively the plane of movement may be inclined to the plane in which the axis of the cartridge lies. When these two forms of coupling are used, the coupling may have locking means for selecting the desired position of the nozzle.

The inlet may have a threaded bore which screws on to the cartridge spigot. The outlet may have a threaded spigot which matches the cartridge spigot whose place it takes. The moulded tapered nozzle has an internal thread which mates with both the cartridge spigot and the outlet.

In a preferred form of the invention, the adjustable coupling comprises a union with an inlet for attaching the coupling to the dispenser, a union with an outlet for ejecting gel to be dispensed, the unions being side by side and mutually spaced, a hollow tubular member which passes through one union and screws into the other union which allows compression between the unions in order to lock the unions in a selected angular disposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a coupling with an attached nozzle.

Figure 2 is a side view of a variant capable of movement in a plane inclined to the cartridge axis.

Figure 3 is a side view of a variant using armoured conduit.

Figure 4 is a side view of a variant adapted to fit a grease gun.

Figure 5 is a section of a modified version of the coupling of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS

In Figure 1 the coupling is made of alloy. The inlet boss 2 has a bore 4, the entrance to which has interior thread 6. This screws onto the plastic spigot of the cartridge 8. Inlet boss 2 has a transverse bore 10 which receives a hollow connector tube 12, the end of which has an exterior thread 14.

Outlet boss 16 has an axial bore 18 and a transverse bore 20 which is threaded to receive the threaded end of connector tube 12. The outlet boss has a spigot 22 with an external thread to take the plastic extrusion nozzle 24 supplied with the cartridge by the manufacturer. A spacer ring 26 separates the two bosses. A knob 28 on the end of the connector tube allows the outlet boss to rotate freely so the nozzle describes an arc when loose or retains a selection position when tightened. The bore of the connector tube is 5mm. Flats on the inlet and outlet bosses allow easily reversible locking.

In Figure 2 the outlet boss is modified by provision of an inclined socket 30 for the nozzle.

In Figure 3 the two bosses are joined by 50mm of armoured conduit 32 which allows universal movement between the two ends of the coupling.

hi Figure 4, the stem 34 together with the head 36 are unscrewed from the body 38 of the

grease gun. The coupling is screwed onto the body 38 and the stem 34 is screwed onto the coupling. Adjustment of the coupling allows rotation of the stem 34.

Referring now to Figure 5, hollow connector tube 12 screws fully into cylindrical outlet boss 16. The inlet boss has flats 40 against which knob 28 is screwed to lock the outlet boss. The knob is accessible because it projects beyond the flats of the boss being of larger diameter than the boss diameter.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiments to be:

1. A suitable path for the cartridge and the nozzle can be rehearsed before the mastic is deposited.

2. The coupling utilises the parts already provided by the manufacturer, namely the spigot and nozzle.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.