Abstract:
A dual component dispenser for simultaneous delivery of two fluid products at a preset ratio, includes a cylindrical container having in series a front ( 28 ) and a back chamber ( 30 ) in axial alignment, each of said chambers ( 28, 30 ) having an interior volume being defined by a fixed front wall ( 11, 24 ), side walls ( 12, 14 ), and a plunger ( 20, 22 ). The plungers ( 20, 22 ) are formed such that they are slidably movable inside the side walls ( 12, 14 ) of their respective chambers, wherein movement of the back plunger ( 22 ) effects synchronous movement of the front plunger ( 20 ). The dispenser further includes a nozzle ( 10 ) attached to the front wall ( 11 ) of the front chamber ( 28 ) and a conduit ( 26 ) within the container for conveying the content of the back chamber ( 30 ) directly to the nozzle ( 10 ). The conduit ( 26 ) is a cylindrical telescopic tube consisting of a front inner tube ( 16 ) and a back inner tube ( 18 ). The dispenser further includes a flow connection ( 46 ) to allow discharge of the content of the back chamber ( 30 ) into the back inner tube ( 18 ). The front inner tube ( 16 ) extends between the fixed front walls ( 11, 24 ) of the front and back chambers ( 28, 30 ). The back inner tube ( 18 ) is rigidly fixed between the plungers ( 20, 22 ), whereby the fixed front wall ( 24 ) of the back chamber ( 30 ) has an aperture ( 25 ) to slidably engage the back inner tube ( 18 ), and the front plunger ( 20 ) has an aperture ( 21 ) constructed to slidably engage the front inner tube ( 16 ) for movement thereon.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of Provisional Application 60/904,867 filed Mar. 5, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a dual component dispenser. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    There are many types of dispensers that are available for dispensing a plurality of components. These fluid components include chemically reactive resins, resins and hardener, various sealants, caulks, and even toothpaste, etc. This is currently accomplished by a variety of means including concentric tubes and side-by-side tubes, both requiring a special dispensing “gun.” What is sometimes desirable is a system which requires only the same gun as for a single component tube. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,236 describes a segmented tube in which only the connected plungers move to discharge the fluid products. U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,091 describes a tube within a tube where the sidewall of the moveable back tube pushes the front plunger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,261 is nearly identical in mechanical action except the two tubes telescope as the fluid product is discharged. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,261 has not been commercially used because telescoping action presented storage issues. One design (U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,091) has attained commercial use but suffers from high friction and low volume as well as the inability to deliver different ratios of the fluid products. Another such solution (U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,236) has overcome those restrictions, but has not been accepted in the market because of potential difficulties in creating tight seals and the distribution of internal hydrostatic forces. Each of the aforementioned solutions suffers from difficulties in molding the dispenser parts which also makes them expensive to manufacture. Various others have attempted to use flexible internal dispenser parts, but discharge ratios are not consistent. 
         [0006]    Dispensers may benefit from improvements. 
       OBJECTS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0007]    It is an object of an exemplary arrangement to provide a dual component dispenser that allows a first fluid product contained in the first chamber to be maintained separate from a second fluid contained within a second chamber and dispensed simultaneously together with a single discharge nozzle. 
         [0008]    It is another object of an exemplary arrangement to provide a dual product dispenser that discharges two products in a preset ratio through the nozzle. 
         [0009]    It is another object of an exemplary arrangement to provide a dual product dispenser that allows one force to be applied at the rearward chamber to synchronously dispense both products from their respective chambers by use of a standard dispensing gun as used e.g. for single component dispensers. 
         [0010]    It is another object of an exemplary arrangement to provide a dual product dispenser that allows filling the void between the tube separator and the front plunger when discharging the fluid products. 
         [0011]    Aforementioned objectives are solved in an exemplary arrangement by a dual component dispenser that may be filled with two separate fluid components or products and allows them to be discharged synchronously in a preset ratio and be mixed within a nozzle of the dispenser while discharging them. 
         [0012]    A dual component dispenser according to the exemplary arrangement is for simultaneous delivery of two fluid products at a preset ratio. The dispenser comprises a cylindrical container having in series a front and a back chamber in axial alignment. Each of said chambers has an interior volume being defined by a fixed front wall, side walls and a movable rear wall. The fixed front wall of the front chamber may be constructed in one piece with the nozzle. The side walls preferably are formed by cylindrical tubes, in particular by two tubes in series, so called front and back tubes. The movable rear walls preferably are plungers and are formed such that they are slidably movable inside the side walls or tubes of their respective chambers. The movement of the rear wall of the back chamber effects synchronous movement of the rear wall of the front chamber. 
         [0013]    A nozzle of the exemplary arrangement is attached to the front wall of the front chamber. The nozzle surrounds at least one port in the front wall of the front chamber. The exemplary dispenser further comprises a conduit within the container for conveying the contents of the back chamber directly to the nozzle. The conduit is preferably a cylindrical telescopic tube consisting of a front inner tube and a back inner tube. The dispenser also comprises a flow connection to allow discharge of the content of the back chamber into the back inner tube. The front inner tube fluidly extends between the fixed front walls of the front and back chambers. The fixed front wall of the back chamber is also designated as a dividing wall or tube separator. The tube separator advantageously is placed or formed at about one-half the length of the container. The back inner tube is in rigidly fixed engagement with the movable rear wall or plunger. The tube separator has an aperture, the so called separator hole, to slidably engage the back inner tube therein. The front plunger also has an aperture, the so called front plunger hole, constructed to slidably engage the front inner tube therein for movement thereon. 
         [0014]    In an exemplary embodiment the nozzle surrounds two ports, one for discharging the content of the front chamber and one for discharging the content of the back chamber. Alternatively the nozzle may also surround only one port, where the conduit ends in this port and where the cross-sectional area of the port is larger than that of the conduit thus allowing the content of the front chamber to be discharged through the opening between the conduit and the inner surface of the one port. 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment the flow connection consists of at least one aperture in the backside of the back inner tube. This aperture may have any cross-sectional shape, in particular may be an opening or hole having a circular or polygonal cross-section, or may be a slit. In particular, the flow connection may consist of an aperture in the cylindrical shell of the back inner tube. The flow connection may also comprise connection channels within the movable rear wall of the back chamber which are formed such that the content of the back chamber can be discharged through the connection channels to the back inside of the back inner tube. In another alternative embodiment the flow connection may comprise flow channels in the back plunger and additionally also at least one aperture in the cylindrical shell of the back inner tube. 
         [0016]    In an exemplary embodiment, the front and back inner tubes are placed coaxially, and the inner tubes are formed such that the back inner tube is slidably and sealingly movable over the front inner tube. 
         [0017]    The front inner tube is positioned in axial alignment with the nozzle. In particular, the front inner tube may extend through the at least one port in the front wall of the front chamber. 
         [0018]    In the exemplary embodiment, at least some of the dispenser parts movable relative to each other are provided with sealing means between their corresponding adjacent sliding surfaces. 
         [0019]    In an exemplary arrangement, the front inner tube forms a stationary part of the conduit and is rigidly operatively coupled to the nozzle, or is formed in one piece with the nozzle. The forming in one piece may be effected by molding the structure from suitable plastic or other material. 
         [0020]    In a further exemplary embodiment, a side wall of the container includes an aperture, a so called breather hole. The breather hole is located between the movable rear wall of the front chamber and the dividing wall which is the front wall of the second chamber for allowing air to flow therebetween upon filling or discharging the fluid components. The exemplary breather hole allows air to flow into or from the void created between the front plunger and the tube separator during filling or discharging the content of the chambers. 
         [0021]    The exemplary container is in the form of a circular hollow cylinder where the cylinder shell forms the side walls of the front and back chambers. The front and back chambers may have an approximately equal cross-sectional area. In another exemplary embodiment, the front and back chambers may have different cross-sectional areas to allow a specific ratio of the contents of the front and back chambers to be discharged. 
         [0022]    In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle is located in axial alignment with the central axis of the container. The nozzle may be a static mixer nozzle. The nozzle may also comprise a needle, in particular for medical applications. 
         [0023]    In an exemplary arrangement, the front and back inner tubes each have a circular cross-section but in other embodiments other approaches may be used. 
         [0024]    The front wall of the back chamber, i.e. the tube separator, may be rigidly attached to the side walls at about one-half the length of the container. In another exemplary embodiment, the tube separator may also be formed in one piece with the side walls, in particular with the side walls of the back chamber. 
         [0025]    In an exemplary arrangement the front and rear walls, the side walls, the nozzle and the front and back inner tubes may be formed from a material selected from the group including glass, plastic, fluoroplastic material, polymer, metal, and metallic alloys or combinations thereof. 
         [0026]    In an exemplary embodiment the back inner tube and the rear wall of the back chamber are formed in one piece, e.g. by a molding technique. 
         [0027]    In a still another exemplary embodiment the back inner tube and the rear wall of the front chamber are formed in one piece, e.g. by molding technique. 
         [0028]    In accordance with an exemplary arrangement, there is provided a dual component dispenser that is simple in design and economical to manufacture. The container of the exemplary dispenser would consist of a segmented tube with two separate chambers containing the two components. A conduit would allow fluid communication between the second chamber and a nozzle that also receives fluid from the first chamber. One part of the conduit, namely the back inner tube, also serves as the connecting member of the plungers which transfers forward movement from the back plunger to the front plunger and which allows synchronous discharge of the two components. Additionally, the ratio of the components may be varied by changing the ratio of the diameters of the first and second chambers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an exemplary dual product dispenser. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section view through an exemplary dual product dispenser in a full position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section view through an exemplary dual product dispenser in a partially dispensed position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view through an exemplary dual product dispenser in an empty position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a partially exploded view of an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative tube front section having a different cross sectional area to provide simultaneous dispensing of different amounts of each of two materials. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view showing exemplary molded components produced through a method of manufacture of an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary dual product dispenser comprising two tubes  12 ,  14 , where only one half shell of each tube is shown. 
         [0037]    The exemplary dual product dispenser preferably comprises four molded parts (see also  FIG. 7 ). The first part comprises a nozzle  10  having a back product port  34  and a front product port  36 , a fixed front wall  11 , a front tube  12  and a front inner tube  16 . The fixed front wall  11  includes two through holes  50 ,  51  where through hole  50  encompasses the front inner tube  16 . Alternatively the front inner tube  16  may be sealingly attached to the inner circumference of the through hole  50 , or the fixed front wall  11  and the front inner tube  16  may be formed in one piece having a through hole  50  connecting the inner area of the front inner tube  16  with the back product port  34  of the nozzle  10 . 
         [0038]    The second part comprises a back outer tube  14  and a fixed front wall of the second chamber, called tube separator  24 . The exemplary separator  24  includes a through hole, the so called separator hole  25 , and includes an inner separator seal element  42  for sealing the outside of the movable back inner tube and the hole in the tube separator  24 . In an exemplary embodiment the seal may include a resilient annular projection. Of course in other embodiments other integral or separate seal structures to minimize material leakage around the outside of the tube and through the separator hole may be used. The exemplary tube separator further includes an outer tube separator seal element  44  for sealing with the two chambers, in particular for separating the contents of the back and front chambers  28 ,  30  during filling, storage and discharge of the components. As indicated in  FIG. 7  in some embodiments the tube separator may be formed in integrally molded relation with tube  14 . 
         [0039]    The third part of the exemplary embodiment is a plunger assembly including of a front plunger  20  and a back inner tube  18 . The back inner tube  18  has at first back side end an aperture  46 . In the exemplary embodiment the aperture extends through a side wall of tube  18 . The front plunger  20  has a circumferential front plunger seal  40 . Seal  40  may include an annular resilient structure or other suitable integral or separate seal structure for minimizing material flow between plunger  20  and the inner wall of tube  12 . 
         [0040]    The fourth part of the exemplary embodiment is a back plunger  22  comprising a back plunger seal  38 . The plunger seal  38  may be of the types previously described. The back plunger  22  further has a countersunk area for engagement of the back inner tube  18 . Such engagement provides for aperture  46  to be in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
         [0041]    In alternative embodiments the plunger assembly may consist of a back plunger  22  and a back inner tube  18  molded in one piece, where the front plunger  20  is formed as a separate element. 
         [0042]    The front chamber  28  includes a nozzle  10 , a fixed front wall  11 , a front tube  12  and a front inner tube  16 , and contains one of the two components or products to be dispensed at a discharge point  34 ,  36  for both products. 
         [0043]    The back chamber  30  includes and is bounded by the tube separator  24  and the back tube  14 , and contains the second of the two components or products to be dispensed. 
         [0044]    The exemplary plunger assembly consists of a front plunger  20  and a back plunger  22  rigidly operatively connected by the back inner tube  18 . The back inner tube  18  provides for synchronous movement of the plungers and provides an even distribution of the applied forces. 
         [0045]    The exemplary assembly of the nozzle  10  with the fixed front wall  11  forms the fixed end of the front chamber  28 . The dispensed components or products from the front and back chambers are combined in the nozzle  10  as they exit. 
         [0046]    The front tube  12  forms the outer wall of the front chamber  28 , and the back tube  14  forms the outer wall of the back chamber  30 . The front tube  12  is connected to the fixed front wall  11  of the front chamber  28 , or in some embodiments the front tube  12  and the fixed front wall  11  are formed as one integral piece. 
         [0047]    The back tube  14  is connected to the tube separator  24 , i.e. the fixed front wall of the second chamber. The diameter of the front tube  12  may be different from that of the back tube  14  in order to vary the volume ratio of the two products to be dispensed. Alternatively the front tube may include an inner tube to vary the effective diameter from that of the back tube. This may be done using a structure for the front tube portion like that shown in  FIG. 7 . Of course this approach is exemplary. 
         [0048]    The exemplary conduit  26  for conveying the contents of the back chamber  30  through the back end aperture  46  of the back inner tube  18  to the nozzle  10  includes the telescoping front and back inner tubes  16 ,  18 . The front inner tube  16  forms the stationary half of the conduit  26 . The back inner tube  18  forms the movable half of the conduit  26  for conveying the content of the back chamber  30  to the nozzle  10 . 
         [0049]    The exemplary front plunger  20  for pushing the content of the front chamber  28  through the nozzle  10  is rigidly operatively connected to the back inner tube  18 . The front plunger  20  comprises a front plunger seal  40  for sealing with the front tube  12 . The front plunger  20  comprises a front plunger hole  21  constructed to slidably engage the front inner tube  16  for movement thereon. 
         [0050]    The back plunger  22  is moved forward toward the nozzle and is operative to push the contents of the back chamber  30  through the aperture  46 , through the inner tubes  16 ,  18  and to the nozzle  10 . The back plunger  22  comprises a back plunger seal  38  for sealing with the inner wall back tube  14 . Seal structures of the type previously described may be used in exemplary embodiments. 
         [0051]    The exemplary front tube  12  comprises a breather hole  32  located longitudinally between the tube separator  24  and the front plunger  20 . The breather hole is preferably located close to the separator  24  and allows air to escape or to enter the void formed between the front plunger  20  and the tube separator  24  during dispensing or filling the chambers  28 ,  30  of the dispenser. 
         [0052]    The exemplary nozzle  10  is attached to the fixed front wall  11  of the front chamber  28  or alternatively is formed in one piece with this front wall  11 . The nozzle  10  surrounds two ports  50 ,  51  in the front wall  11  of the front chamber  28 . Port  50  operates to discharge the content of the back chamber  30 , and port  51  operates to discharge the content of the front chamber  28 . The exemplary nozzle  10  comprises a back product port  34  fluidly connected to port  50  for discharging the content of the back chamber  30 . The exemplary nozzle  10  also comprises a front product port  36  fluidly connected to port  51  for discharging the content of the front chamber  28 . 
         [0053]    The exemplary back plunger  22  comprises a back plunger seal  38  for preventing product leakage from the back chamber  30  out of the dispenser during filling, storage and discharge of the content of the back chamber  30 . 
         [0054]    The exemplary tube separator  24  includes the fixed front wall bounding the back chamber  30 . The exemplary tube separator  24  comprises a tube separator seal  44  for preventing leakage of the content of the front and back chambers  28 ,  30  during filling, storage and discharge of the products. The tube separator  24  has a separator hole  25  to slidably engage the exterior of back inner tube  18 . In order to seal this engagement, the tube separator also has a inner separator seal element  42 . The seal element in hole  25  may be of the types previously described. Of course as previously discussed in some alternative embodiments, separator  24  may be integrally molded or otherwise formed with tube  18 . 
         [0055]    The seal elements, in particular the back plunger seal  38 , the front plunger seal  40 , the tube separator seal  44  and the inner separator seal element  42  may include ring-shaped elements attached to the peripheral surface of the corresponding elements. Alternatively some embodiments may include annular elements molded or otherwise integrally formed therewith. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section view through an exemplary dispenser in a full position. In this configuration, the back plunger  22  is located at the rear end of the back tube  14 , and the front plunger  20  is located close to the tube separator  24 . The front tube  12  has a breather hole  32  between front plunger  20  and tube separator  24 . The front and back chambers  28 ,  30  shown have the same diameter and are attached to each other through the tube separator  24 . The central axis of the front inner tube  16  and the back inner tube  18  coincide with the central axis of the container and are in axial alignment with port  50  engaging the front inner tube  16 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section view through an exemplary dispenser in a partially dispensed position. During the movement of the plungers  20  and  22  from the position shown in  FIG. 2  to the position shown in  FIG. 3  a part of the content of the back chamber  30  has been discharged through the aperture  46  of the back inner tube  18  and the conduit  26 , i.e. the telescopic inner tubes  16  and  18 , to port  50  of the front wall  11  of the front chamber  28 . Simultaneously, a part of the content of the front chamber  28  has been discharged through port  51  formed in the front wall  11  of front chamber  28 .  FIG. 3  also shows the void  27  formed between front plunger  20  and tube separator  24  which may be filled with air that may be supplied through breather hole  32 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 4  shows a longitudinal section view trough an exemplary dispenser in an empty condition. The back plunger  22  contacts or is in close proximity to tube separator  24 , and front plunger  20  contacts or is in close proximity to front wall  11  of the front chamber  28 . In this position, the front plunger  20  may close ports  50 ,  51  on the rear side of the front wall  11 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  shows a partially exploded view of an exemplary dual component dispenser embodiment. The front and back tubes  12 ,  14  are only shown as half shells. The dispenser shown in  FIG. 5  consists of two parts. The first part contains a front tube  12 , a front wall  11  of the front chamber  28 , a nozzle  10  and a front inner tube  16  engaged within port  50 . The front wall  11  further includes a second port  51  for discharging the content of front chamber  28 . The second part consists of a back tube  14 , a tube separator  24  having a separator hole  25  slidably engaging a back inner tube  18 , and front and back plungers  20 ,  22  rigidly connected to the back inner tube  18 . The exemplary back inner tube  18  includes an aperture  46  for discharging the content of back chamber  30  through back and front inner tubes  16 ,  18  to port  50 . An assembled dispenser may be formed by bringing together the first and second parts, i.e. by affixing the front tube  12  to the tube separator  24  and by passing the front inner tube  16  through front plunger hole  21  into back inner tube  18 . 
         [0060]    It should be understood that other alternative embodiments may provide for dispensing of more than two fluid components. This may be accomplished, for example, by providing another longitudinally aligned tube section and plunger arrangement. Further in such exemplary alternative embodiments telescoping tube arrangements may be provided between the third compartment and the nozzle. This may be accomplished for example by providing a telescoping tube arrangement that includes a plurality of telescoping tube sections, that is separate from the structural arrangement that translates the movement of the rear plunger which bounds the end of the tube on the side opposed from the nozzle. Stated differently, in some embodiments a mechanical structure may serve to transmit dispensing force applied to the plunger bounding a third or other tube section, while a telescoping tube arrangement within the interior of the dispenser provides for transmission of the material through the various intermediate chambers to the nozzle. As may be appreciated this approach may facilitate producing dispensing structures with three or more component materials that are simultaneously dispensed therefrom. Of course it should be understood that these approaches are exemplary. 
         [0061]    It should further be understood that in exemplary embodiments the dispenser may be configured in the manner of a conventional caulking tube. In this way both materials may be dispensed by placing the dispenser in a conventional caulking gun type mechanism. Of course in alternative embodiments alternative structures and mechanisms may be used to operate the dispenser. 
         [0062]    As will be appreciated, exemplary embodiments of the dispenser will be comprised of materials compatible with the materials to be housed therein and dispensed. In some embodiments all components of the dispenser structures may be of a single suitable material. In alternative embodiments different components of the dispenser may be comprised of different materials that are best suited toward the particular material to be housed in the corresponding portion of the dispenser. 
         [0063]    A method of manufacture of an exemplary embodiment may include as previously discussed, molding the tube  12 , nozzle  10  and inner tube  16  as a unitary structure of a suitable plastic material. The tube  14  and dividing wall  24  may likewise be made as a molded unitary structure. The plunger  20  and tube  18  may also be molded or otherwise formed as a unitary structure, while the plunger  22  may be likewise molded or otherwise formed as a separate piece. 
         [0064]    In an exemplary embodiment the dispenser is assembled by placing the plunger  20  within the interior of tube  12  and extending tube  18  in telescoping overlying relation of tube  16 . Tube  18  is extended through opening  25  and plunger  22  is attached to the end of tube  18  that extends at an opposed end of plunger  20 . Tube  12  is attached to tube  14  through fixed engagement with dividing wall  24 . This may be done through suitable heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, adhesive material or other suitable attaching method. Of course this approach is exemplary. 
         [0065]    Further as previously discussed, in alternative embodiments tube  18  and plunger  22  may be formed as an integral structure. Plunger  20  may then be attached to tube  18  at an end opposed of plunger  22  after tube  18  has been extended through opening  25 . Of course these methods of making the dispenser are exemplary and in other embodiments other approaches may be used. 
         [0066]    Further as represented in  FIG. 6 , the front portion of the dispenser assembly may be formed to have a different internal diameter than the rear tube. As can be appreciated, this different internal diameter provides for dispensing a lesser amount of material from the front compartment of the dispenser for a given amount of longitudinal plunger movement, compared to the amount of material dispensed from the rear compartment. As can be appreciated the ratio of the materials dispensed will be the ratio of the cross sectional areas of the compartments. 
         [0067]    In various embodiments the dispenser may be used for dispensing materials that must be dispensed simultaneously and/or mixed together at the point of dispensing. This may include for example adhesives, sealants, fillers or similar materials. This may further include other types of reactive chemical compounds. Alternatively such materials may include therapeutic materials such as medicines that must be provided to patients simultaneously and in controlled doses. Of course these uses and materials are merely exemplary and in other embodiments other approaches may be used. 
         [0068]    Thus the features and characteristics of the exemplary embodiments previously described achieve desirable results, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices, solve problems and attain one or more of the objectives stated above. 
         [0069]    In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding, however no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the details shown and described. 
         [0070]    In the following claims any feature recited as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art to be capable of performing the recited function, and shall not be limited to the particular means shown herein or mere equivalents thereof. 
         [0071]    Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.