Russell M Cole

US Patent:

59421738, Aug 24, 1999

Filed:

May 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/078527

Inventors:

Russell L. Cole - Ortonville MI
Daniel A. Adamic - North Branch MI

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works, Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B29C 4406
B29C 4412

US Classification:

264 466

Abstract:

A method of filling an elongated generally lineal channel with polymeric resin foam, preferably polyurethane foam, using an application gun having a laser sight for accurately aligning the application gun relative to the longitudinal axis of the channel to be filled. The method of this invention includes locating the application gun nozzle opposite the open end of the elongated generally lineal channel to be filled, directing and aligning the laser beam along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lineal channel to a predetermined point exterior of the channel spaced from the open end of the channel, thereby aligning the application gun nozzle generally coincident with the longitudinal axis of the channel, using the application gun to direct a thin elongated stream of liquid foamable polymeric resin into the channel open end along an axis generally coincident with the longitudinal axis of the channel, and allowing the liquid polymeric foam resin to foam and rise through the channel, substantially filling the channel with polymeric foam. In the preferred embodiment, the laser is fixed to the laser gun by a bracket which aligns the laser beam at a small acute angle to the axis of the nozzle of the application gun and the laser beam is then sighted to a point at or adjacent the opposed end of the channel accurately aligning the application gun with the channel to be filled in mass production applications.