Hot melt adhesive hose assembly having redundant components

Abstract

A new and improved hot melt adhesive hose assembly comprises a hot melt adhesive hose core, a pair of heater circuits wrapped around the external peripheral surface of the hose core, and a pair of temperature sensors also disposed in contact with the external peripheral surface of the hose core. A first one of the heater circuits is initially electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors is electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry. Should a failure occur within the first one of the heater circuits, or within the first one of the temperature sensors, electrical switch mechanisms, which are fixedly mounted upon the hose assembly, can be actuated so as to effectively remove the first, failed heater circuit, or the first, failed temperature sensor from the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and substantially simultaneously therewith, electrically connect the second one of the heater circuits, or temperature sensors, to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry. The hot melt adhesive hose assembly, including the heater circuits, the temperature sensors, and the switch mechanisms, effectively comprises a self-contained, stand-alone, or independent operative component that can be utilized in conjunction with any adhesive supply unit (ASU) and its temperature controller.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A fluid dispensing system, comprising: 
 conduit means for conducting a fluid material from a fluid material supply source to a fluid material dispensing applicator for dispensing a fluid material onto a substrate;    an electrical power supply circuit;    at least one first electrical component operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material;    at least one second, redundant electrical component operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material; and    at least one dual-position switch mechanism electrically interconnecting said at least one first and second, redundant electrical components in an alternative manner such that if said at least one first electrical component experiences a failure, said at least one second, redundant electrical component can be electrically connected to said electrical power supply circuit so as to maintain said fluid dispensing system operational without interrupting the dispensing of the fluid material,    said dual-position switch mechanism being fixedly connected to said conduit means such that said conduit means, including said at least one first electrical component, said at least one second, redundant electrical component, and said at least one dual-position switch mechanism, effectively comprises a self-contained, stand-alone, independent operative component that can be utilized in conjunction with any fluid material supply source.    
   
   
       11 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said fluid dispensing system comprises a hot melt adhesive dispensing system.    
   
   
       12 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said at least one first and second redundant electrical components are selected from the group comprising heater circuits and temperature sensors.    
   
   
       13 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said at least one first and second redundant electrical components comprise first and second redundant heater circuits; and    said at least one dual-position switch mechanism comprises a dual-position slide-switch mechanism.    
   
   
       14 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said dual-position slide switch mechanism comprises: 
 a first pair of terminals electrically connected to said first heater circuit;    a second pair of terminals electrically connected to said second redundant heater circuit;    a third pair of terminals electrically connected to said electric power supply circuit;    said dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said first heater circuit to said electric power supply circuit through means of said first and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a first one of two positions; and    said dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said second redundant heater circuit to said electric power supply circuit through means of said second and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a second one of two positions.    
   
   
       15 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said at least one first and second redundant electrical components comprise first and second temperature sensors; and    said at least one dual-position switch mechanism comprises a dual-position slide-switch mechanism.    
   
   
       16 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said dual-position, slide switch mechanism comprises: 
 a first pair of terminals electrically connected to said first temperature sensor;    a second pair of terminals electrically connected to said second redundant temperature sensor;    a third pair of terminals electrically connected to said electric power supply circuit;    said dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said first temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said first and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a first one of two positions; and    said second dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said second redundant temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said second and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a second one of two positions.    
   
   
       17 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said at least one first and second redundant electrical components comprise first and second redundant temperature sensors; and    said at least one dual-position switch mechanism comprises a second dual-position slide-switch mechanism.    
   
   
       18 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said second dual-position slide switch mechanism comprises: 
 a first pair of terminals electrically connected to said first temperature sensor;    a second pair of terminals electrically connected to said second redundant temperature sensor;    a third pair of terminals electrically connected to said electric power supply circuit;    said second dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said first temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said first and third pairs of terminals when said second dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a first one of two positions; and    said second dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said second redundant temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said second and third pairs of terminals when said second dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a second one of two positions.    
   
   
       19 . A fluid dispensing system, comprising: 
 conduit means for conducting a fluid material from a fluid material supply source to a fluid material dispensing applicator for dispensing a fluid material onto a substrate;    an electrical power supply circuit;    at least one first heater circuit operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material;    at least one second, redundant heater circuit operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material; and    at least one dual-position switch mechanism electrically interconnecting said at least one first and second, redundant heater circuits in an alternative manner such that if said at least one first heater circuit experiences a failure, said at least one second, redundant heater circuit can be electrically connected to said electrical power supply circuit so as to maintain said fluid dispensing system operational without interrupting the dispensing of the fluid material,    said at least one dual-position switch mechanism being fixedly connected to said conduit means such that said conduit means, including said at least one first heater circuit, said at least one second, redundant heater circuit, and said at least one dual-position switch mechanism, effectively comprises a self-contained, stand-alone, independent operative component that can be utilized in conjunction with any fluid material supply source.    
   
   
       20 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said fluid dispensing system comprises a hot melt adhesive dispensing system.    
   
   
       21 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said at least one dual-position switch mechanism comprises a dual-position slide-switch mechanism.    
   
   
       22 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said at least one dual-position, slide-switch mechanism comprises: 
 a first pair of terminals electrically connected to said first heater circuit;    a second pair of terminals electrically connected to said second redundant heater circuit;    a third pair of terminals electrically connected to said electric power supply circuit;    said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said first heater circuit to said electric power supply circuit through means of said first and third pairs of terminals when said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a first one of two positions; and    said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said second redundant heater circuit to said electric power supply circuit through means of said second and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a second one of two positions.    
   
   
       23 . A fluid dispensing system, comprising: 
 conduit means for conducting a fluid material from a fluid material supply source to a fluid material dispensing applicator for dispensing a fluid material onto a substrate;    an electrical power supply circuit;    at least one first temperature sensor operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material;    at least one second, redundant temperature sensor operatively associated with said conduit means for conducting the fluid material; and    at least one dual-position switch mechanism electrically interconnecting said at least one first and second, redundant temperature sensors in an alternative manner such that if said at least one first temperature sensor experiences a failure, said at least one second, redundant temperature sensor can be electrically connected to said electrical power supply circuit so as to maintain said fluid dispensing system operational without interrupting the dispensing of the fluid material,    said at least one dual-position switch mechanism being fixedly connected to said conduit means such that said conduit means, including said at least one first temperature sensor, said at least one second, redundant temperature sensor, and said at least one dual-position switch mechanism, effectively comprises a self-contained, stand-alone, independent operative component that can be utilized in conjunction with any fluid material supply source.    
   
   
       24 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said fluid dispensing system comprises a hot melt adhesive dispensing system.    
   
   
       25 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said at least one dual-position switch mechanism comprises a dual-position slide-switch mechanism.    
   
   
       26 . The fluid dispensing system as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said at least one dual-position slide-switch mechanism comprises: 
 a first pair of terminals electrically connected to said first temperature sensor;    a second pair of terminals electrically connected to said second redundant temperature sensor;    a third pair of terminals electrically connected to said electric power supply circuit;    said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said first temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said first and third pairs of terminals when said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a first one of two positions; and    said at least one dual-position slide switch mechanism electrically connecting said second redundant temperature sensor to said electric power supply circuit through means of said second and third pairs of terminals when said dual-position slide switch mechanism is disposed at a second one of two positions.