Plural component tester
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tester useful in plural component manufacturing operations, such as those used in the fiberglass-manufacturing industry and, more specifically, in the &#34;spray-up&#34; procedure used in the production of fiberglass products. Such products include boats, shower stalls and bathtubs, gasoline and chemical storage tanks, recreational vehicles and many other products. 
     One conventional application method or &#34;spray-up&#34; method involves a spray device with generally two apertures: one being for the dispersing of resin, such as polyester resin, and the other for the dispersing of the catalyst component. Resin and a catalyst component are the basic components of fiberglass reinforced resin, referred to frequently as &#34;FRP&#34;. The two components are delivered separately to the spray device, generally at different flow rates and pressures. The flow rates and pressures of the components are dependent on the particular resin/catalyst systems being used and their specifications. Generally, the flow rate of the catalyst in the spray-up procedure is very much less than the flow rate of the resin. 
     The object of the spray-up procedure is to ensure a structurally sound product by delivering an even layer or coat of uniformly catalyzed resin mixture over a mold forming such a product. 
     Another conventional plural component operation is the dispensing of urethane foam systems. In such systems a catalyst is mixed with a urethane resin to produce a foam which cures into an effective thermal insulating system. Such urethane foam systems also need uniformly catalyzed resin. 
     The operator of such plural component systems is frequently forced to speculate as to the ratio of catalyst-to-resin percentage that he is using. The operator may be able to reliably determine the pressure under which each component is being delivered to the spray device by individual pressure gauges for each component; however, he cannot determine the relative rate of flow of each component and the resulting component to component ratio. In the past, the operator was forced to measure the resin flow rate by stopping his operation and collecting resin from his device for a measured time. Upon the completion of the resin test, the operator had to repeat the measurement procedure for the catalyst and then calculate the flow rates of the resin and catalyst and their respective ratio. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention allows the person performing the spray-up procedure to measure simultaneously, accurately and quickly the ratio of plural components delivered from a device without significant interruptions of plural component spraying or dispensing. The invention permits an operator to measure accurately the catalyst-to-resin percentage. 
     A preferred embodiment of this invention comprises means forming a housing, means for securing a plural component nozzle to the apparatus, means defined by an elastomeric seal adapted to mate the nozzle, means for collecting separately each plural component from the nozzle, means for directing separately the plural components to the collecting means, and means for measuring the amount of each plural component collected. 
     The operation of this invention is initiated by inserting the plural component nozzle into the molded elastomeric seal located, preferably, atop the housing of the tester and actuating the nozzle for a predetermined length of time. Generally, a duration of ten to fifteen seconds is sufficient. The plural components are then dispersed by the device into the elastomeric seal. The seal receives the plural components, for example, the catalyst and the resin, through separate channels which are connected to individual hoses which then carry each plural component separately to separate collecting means, such as graduated containers located within the housing of the tester. The container&#39;s contents are then observed and the ratio of catalyst to resin is easily determined by the ratio of the volumes of liquid collected. The containers can then be removed from within the housing of the tester and emptied for reuse. 
     The rate of flow and relative percentage of each component are determined by considering the relative volumes of each component dispersed. The measurement and ratio determination are independent of the time interval involved because the resin and catalyst samples are taken simultaneously for the same times. The graduated containers can vary in size to accommodate various component systems and the different catalyst-to-resin ratios that are used in different plural component systems. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an anterioral schematic view of a cross-section of a plural component tester incorporating this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral schematic view of a crosssection of a plural component tester incorporating this invention as illustrated in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective of the molded elastomeric seal incorporated in this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, a plural component tester 10 incorporating this invention includes generally a means forming a housing 11 with the housing forming a top 12, a bottom 13, and three sides 14, 15 and 16; a means for securing a spray nozzle device to the housing, shown in FIG. 1 as defined by a band 32 adapted to be tightened down about the spray device by fasteners 19; a means adapted to mate the spray nozzle defined by a molded elastomeric seal 20 through which the plural components are introduced; a means for separately collecting each component within housing defined by two or more graduated containers 18a, 18b and 18c detachably secured to the housing by clamp-like devices 22; a means of advancing separately the components from the means adapted to mate the spray nozzle 20 defined by a plurality of hoses 24a and 24b, delivering each component to the graduated containers. 
     The housing is closed on its fourth side to confine the liquid and testing operation. A closure means 26 also serves as means permitting the removal of the graduated containers 18a-18c. Closure means 26 preferably includes a transparent cover 26 for the fourth side of the housing attached to the housing by hinged devices 28. The transparent cover is adapted to be opened for purposes of detaching the graduated containers from the securing devices and removing them from within the housing. 
     The means for measuring the amounts of each component separately collected is preferably defined by graduated collecting containers 18a, 18b and 18c which disclose the respective amounts of each component collected by their graduated markings. The graduated containers are adapted to prevent the escape of components once the components are delivered to the containers by means defined by cap-like devices 30 secured at the top of the containers and adapted to receive a hose but not to allow the escape of components once delivered. As shown in FIG. 1, the graduated containers 18a, 18b and 18c may differ in size to accommodate varying amounts of different components collected during testing. The large containers 18a is connected through connecting hose 24a with the resin orifice of the plural component nozzle. The smaller containers 18b and 18c are connected with the catalyst orifice of the plural component nozzle through connecting hose 24b. If the ratio of resin to catalyst is very large, container 18b, the smaller of the two small containers, is used by inserting connecting hose 24b into container 18b rather than 18c, as shown in FIG. 1. The use of container 18c is indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 1. 
     A means adapted to mate the plural component nozzle for introducing the plural components separately is incorporated into the molded elastomeric seal 20, as shown in FIG. 3, which has two or more channels 46 running downwardly within the seal. The upper surface 42 of the seal has two or more concave-beveled areas 44a and 44b which mate the two or more apertures of the plural component nozzle to conduct each component into one of channels 46a and 46b while dispensing. Connecting tubes 48a and 48b are inserted into the two or more channels 46a and 46b extending below the under surface 52 of the seal. Each of the two or more separating channels 46a and 46b is connected via connecting tubes 48a and 48b to individual hoses 24a and 24b which conduct and deliver the component to the graduated containers 18a and 18b or 18c. The seal is further adapted to be affixed to the top 12 of the housing 11 upon fasteners 19 which are inserted through channels 50 running downwardly through the seal and adjacent to the periphery of the seal. 
     During the use of the tester of this invention, the plural component nozzle for the plural component system is placed on the elastomeric seal 20 shown in FIG. 3 in such a manner that the resin nozzle fits into one of the concave sealing portions 44a; and the catalyst nozzle fits into the other of the cavity portions 44b. In practice, the elastomeric seal 20 is molded to conform to the face of the plural component nozzle of each plural component device being used. Thus, the elastomeric seal 20 is formed with a plurality of cavities 44 spaced apart and arranged to mate the face of a specific plural component device being used. 
     When, during the operation of the plural component device, the operator wishes to ensure that the proper ratio of resin to catalyst is being used, he can place the plural component device he is using, for example, a plural component spray gun, against the elastomeric seal 20 in such a position that the resin and catalyst orifices are aligned respectively with the portions 44a and 44b of the elastomeric seal and operate the device for a time long enough to collect a measurable sample of the plural component materials. During the operation, resin is collected in the larger graduated container 18a; and catalyst is collected in one of the smaller graduated containers 18b or 18c. After stopping the operation, the operator need only read the volume of resin collected in graduating container 18a and the volume of catalyst collected in either of containers 18b or 18c. Since the ratio of resin to catalyst is independent of time, the ratio of resin to catalyst can be determined by dividing the measured volume of resin by the measured volume of catalyst. For convenience, a calculator 60 may be attached to the tester as shown in FIG. 1. As noted above, the selection of which of the smaller containers 18b or 18c is to be used depends upon the resin-to-catalyst ratio. For convenience, when the expected volume of catalyst to be collected during testing is small, it is more convenient and generally more accurate to collect the catalyst within the smallest of the containers 18b. 
     When testing is completed, the operator can open the transparent door 26, remove the graduated containers 18a and either 18b or 18c, whichever contains catalyst, from housing 11, discard the collected materials and replace the containers in the housing 11, thereby preparing the tester 10 for use at a later time. 
     If the operator does not wish to hold the plural component device against elastomeric seal 20, the means for securing the spray nozzle onto the housing, shown as strap 32 and fastener 34, may be used to hold the spray gun to the tester as it is being actuated. 
     In practice, such a tester may be easily and inexpensively manufactured. The housing may be constructed of painted steel or aluminum or other structurally sound metal material. A typical housing has a size generally fourteen inches high by eleven inches wide by four inches deep. The top 12, bottom 13 and three sides 14, 15 and 16 may be formed from metal. The transparent cover, or door 26 may be formed from Lexan™, a General Electric polycarbonate material or Lucite™, a DuPont polyacrylate material or another such transparent thermoplastic material, permitting the operator to view the test without being exposed to the liquid material during testing. The graduated cylinders 18a-18c may be glass, nylon polypropylene or other translucent material and may be cylinders graduated in ounces or millimeters and manufactured for use in a chemical laboratory. The connecting hoses 24a and 24b may be nylon and the elastomeric seal 20 may be manufactured from silicon rubber, permitting it to be molded to mate with the nozzle of any of a plurality of plural component devices. The other fasteners, clips, hinges, and components of the tester may be of any kind commonly suited for this application. 
     Other features and embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the claims that follow: