Sealing system and method

Abstract

 A system for applying putty includes a pot 2 with crushable side walls 4 containing putty 12. A secondary container 20 in the form of a plastic bag contains the pot 2. In use, the top 24 of the secondary secondary container is ripped off starting at nick 22. The mouth 10 of the pot is applied to a leak and pressure applied to the base 6 to push the putty 12 onto the leak to seal the leak.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sealing system and a method of sealing that may, for example, be used to seal leaks of liquid.

[0002] Sealing putty for the purpose of sealing minor leaks is available, for example under the trade name "Dammit (RTM) Ready Mix". Such sealing putty has sufficient solidity to immediately plug a leak without the need for subsequent curing or hardening before the leak is plugged. However, the use of sealing putty requires the use of the correct technique to ensure an effective seal. Further, the sealing putty is often used to seal leaks of hazardous components, and so operators applying putty often need to wear protective equipment such as heavy gloves. This makes application of the putty difficult and slow.

[0003] As will be appreciated, these difficulties experienced in applying sealing putty are not specific to the sealing putty mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

[0004] There is accordingly a need for an improved sealing system that addresses these inconveniences.

[0005] According to the invention, there is provided a sealant application system comprising: a crushable container having a base, crushable side walls, and a mouth opposed to the base; an airtight secondary container around the crushable container; and sealing putty enclosed within the crushable container on the base of the crushable container; whereby the putty can be applied to a leak by removing the secondary container at least from the top of the crushable container, applying the mouth of the crushable container to the leak and crushing the container to apply putty to the leak.

[0006] The sealant application system according to the invention allows sealing putty to be applied to a leak more readily than by simply applying putty from a jar to the leak. There are a number of advantages.

[0007] The sealing putty can be applied more rapidly to a leak. There is less dependence on operator technique to ensure an effective seal. It is possible to apply putty even when the operator is encumbered by heavy gloves, and there is no need for the operator to come into contact with putty itself, only the crushable container.

[0008] The secondary container may be an airtight bag fixed to the base of the crushable container, the bag having a removable top. This permits the secondary container to function not merely as a secondary container to seal the putty and prevent it drying out, but also to provide a measure of operator protection. By grasping the base by the hand, the operator can remove the top of the airtight bag and fold the airtight bag back over the operator's hand and lower arm thereby providing additional protection. The top of the secondary container may include a nick to allow the top of the secondary container to be rapidly torn off.

[0009] The base may preferably include a puncture resistant reinforcing disc to protect the operator from sharp objects. The puncture reinforcing disc may be of PVC having a thickness in the range 0.5mm to 2mm.

[0010] The crushable side walls may be of plastics with a wall thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, providing easy crushability. The plastics material may be polystyrene. Such containers are economical.

[0011] A removable lid may be provided on the mouth of the crushable container.

[0012] There is preferably an air space of at least 8mm between the sealing putty and the lid, to allow the container to start to crumple before the putty mass makes contact with any surface and accordingly increases the resistance to further crushing.

[0013] An air space may also be provided between the side walls and the putty, for the same reason.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method of sealing a leak, providing a sealant application system comprising a crushable container having a base, crushable side walls, and a mouth opposed to the base, and sealing putty within the crushable container; applying the mouth of the crushable container to the site of the leak; and pushing the base of the crushable container towards the leak and crumpling the side walls of the crushable container to apply the putty to the site of the leak.

[0015] The sealant application system may further include an airtight secondary container in the form of a bag fixed to the outside of the base of the crushable container. In this case the method may further include the steps of holding the crushable container in the hand by the base of the crushable container and inverting the plastics bag over the hand and lower arm to remove the secondary container and protect the lower arm.

[0016] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic view of an applicator pack in accordance with the invention.

[0017] The primary container is a polystyrene pot 2 approximately 95mm high with side walls 4 and base 6, the wall 4 thickness being in the range 0.17mm to 0.39mm. The thin side walls 4 ensure that the pot 2 is readily crushable. The pot 2 has a mouth 8 opposed to the base 6. The mouth 8 is sealed by a press-fit lid 10. In the embodiment, the mouth has a diameter of approximately 90mm.

[0018] Sealing putty 12 is contained in the pot 2, on the base 6 of the container and filling a substantial fraction of the volume of the pot 2. An air-gap 14 of at least 8mm is provided between the sealing putty 12 and the lid 10, and a further air gap 28 is provided between the sealing putty 12 and the side walls 4. In the embodiment illustrated at least 400g of putty is provided. The sealing putty is of sufficient stiffness that it can seal a leak immediately without requiring any curing step; this feature is obviously desirable to enable rapid sealing of leaks.

[0019] A PVC disc 16 of 0.7mm thickness is bonded to the base 6 of the container.

[0020] A secondary container 20 is provided in the form of a high strength polyethylene bag having a top 24 and bottom 18. The outside, i.e. the underside, of the base 6 is bonded on the inside of the bottom 18 of the bag, thereby enclosing the primary container 2 within the bag 20. In the embodiment, the bag 20 is approximately 320mm across its base by 400mm. The thickness of the bag 20 is approximately 0.15 mm. The bag 20 is anti-static treated to minimise the risk of static discharge.

[0021] A nick 22 is provided to enable the top 24 of the bag 20 to be readily removed.

[0022] The PVC disc 16 is bonded to the interior of the base of the bag. Heat welds 26 seal the bag.

[0023] The whole applicator pack may be stored in a screw-top storage jar of approximately 1.8 litres capacity, to protect the applicator pack from damage or crushing.

[0024] In use, the applicator pack is removed from any outer storage container, and the top 24 of the bag 20 torn off across its full width starting at nick 22.

[0025] Then, the user grips the reinforcing disc 16 through the bag 20 and inverts the bag 20 over the user's hand and lower arm. The lid 10 is removed from the pot 2.

[0026] The open mouth 8 is then aimed at the site of the leak. In a single firm, positive and deliberate motion, the applicator pack is forced onto the leak to force putty 12 into the leak. The pot 2 crumples, splits and is crushed, allowing putty 12 to enter the breach, adhere and plug the leak.

[0027] The air spaces 14,28 allow the container to start to crush before the putty 12 is applied to the leak. This reduces resistance to crushing and so allows the putty to be applied in a smoother action.

[0028] The process may be repeated with several packs to plug larger leaks.

[0029] The base 16 offers a significant degree of resistance to sharp objects and therefore protects the operator's hand. The pack offers enhanced protection from escaping liquid, and avoids any contact between the operators hands or gloves and the putty to be applied.

[0030] The pack can be used to plug leaks rapidly, even by personnel wearing gloves or other cumbersome protective gear. The pack can be applied to plug leaks by inexperienced users, and this may frequently allow leaks to be plugged more rapidly. The putty is stable in the applicator pack for considerable periods of time, and so the applicator pack can be stored locally to areas where leaks may occur.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The exact sizes, shapes and materials of the various components can be varied, and the amount of putty varied as required.

Claims

1. A sealant application system, comprising:

a crushable container having a base, crushable side walls, and a mouth opposed to the base;

an airtight secondary container around the crushable container; and

sealing putty enclosed within the crushable container on the base of the crushable container;

whereby the putty can be applied to a leak by removing the secondary container at least from the top of the crushable container, applying the mouth of the crushable container to the leak and crushing the container to apply putty to the leak.

2. A sealant application system according to claim 1, wherein
   the secondary container is an airtight bag enclosing the crushable container, the outside of the base of the crushable container being fixed at the inside of the bottom of the bag.

3. A sealant application system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the base includes a puncture resistant reinforcing disc.

4. A sealant application system according to claim 3 wherein the puncture reinforcing disc is of PVC having a thickness in the range 0.5mm to 2mm.

5. A sealant application system according to any preceding claim wherein the crushable side walls are of plastics with a wall thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

6. A sealant application system according to any preceding claim further comprising a removable lid on the mouth of the crushable container.

7. A sealant application system according to claim 6 including an air space of at least 8mm between the sealing putty and the lid.

8. A sealant application system according to any preceding claim further including an air space between the side walls and the putty.

9. A method of sealing a leak, including
   providing a sealant application system comprising a crushable container having a base, crushable side walls, and a mouth opposed to the base, and sealing putty within the crushable container;
   removing the secondary container at least from the mouth of the crushable container;
   applying the mouth of the crushable container to the site of the leak; and
   pushing the base of the crushable container towards the leak and crumpling the side walls of the crushable container to apply the putty to the site of the leak.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the sealant application system further comprises an airtight secondary container in the form of a bag fixed to the underside of the base of the crushable container, the method further including the steps of holding the crushable container in the hand by the base of the crushable container and inverting the plastics bag over the hand and lower arm to protect the lower arm.

Drawing