Patents Examined by Jeremiah F. Durkin
  • Patent number: 5089349
    Abstract: Compositions and method for applying a coating to a metallic surface characterized by the presence of tellurium and/or selenium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Calgon Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert J. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5087405
    Abstract: A method of protecting glass fiber reinforced products from the effects of weathering by applying a polymeric resin overlay to the product in mold. Conventional waxing of molds is eliminated. The mold is prepared by applying a layer of a lecithin solution, and the overlay is applied thereafter. A layer of gel coat is then applied to the overlay, the gel coat is reinforced and the overlay-protected product is demolded. The invention also includes a method for making an overlay-protected synthetic marble product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Coplas, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Maker
  • Patent number: 5087187
    Abstract: An apparatus for molding hollow composite articles having a plurality of internal webs. A mandrel assembly apparatus includes slidable sidewall members, an inflatable pressure membrane surrounding the length of the slidable sidewall members and actuator means mounted on the interior of the sidewall members for lateral displacement thereof together with the inflatable membrane. Adjacent mandrel assemblies accurately position the internal webs of the composite article mechanically, while the inflatable membranes serve to compact the web laminates. The expandable sidewall members also prevent bridging or tearing of the pressure membrane associated with the formation of inner corner radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Simkulak, Terry M. Boustead, Robert L. Folts, George N. Sepe
  • Patent number: 5085820
    Abstract: A method of constructing tubular spars, particularly spars for use on sailing vessels, includes the step of placing in a channel section mold, a layer or layers of fiber reinforced plastic material to form part of the periphery of the tubular spar. Side wall portions of the mold are then removed and longitudinally spaced formers are placed along the plastic part of the spar that was in the mold. A sheet-like skin is placed over the formers and is secured to the formers. A further layer or layers of fiber reinforced plastic material is then placed over the skin to form the remainder of the periphery of the molded tubular spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Inventor: Ian C. Howlett
  • Patent number: 5084222
    Abstract: In the process for manufacturing thermoplastic polymer articles reinforced with long continuous fibers by pultrusion, including impregnating tufts of fibers with thermoplastic resin, circulating an assemblage of said impregnated tufts in a heat assembly so as to melt the resin, and then hot shaping the article in an appropriate die to give it essentially its final shape before passing it through a second cooling die, the improvement including compressing the assemblage of impregnated tufts in the heated assembly consisting essentially of a flat die having an inlet zone and an exit zone, the inlet being wide enough to allow the initial volume of the impregnated tufts to pass through and a horizontal gap adapted to be varied in thickness, and allowing the emerging assembly of impregnated tufts to be brought to the shape of a sheet of minmimium thickness before shaping, and the flat die and rigid polyvinyl chloride article prepared by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Atochem
    Inventors: Michel Glemet, Alain Causier, Bernard Gourdon
  • Patent number: 5084219
    Abstract: A method of fabricating structures formed from composite materials by positioning the structure about a high coefficient of thermal expansion material, wrapping a graphite fiber overwrap about the structure, and thereafter heating the assembly to expand the high coefficient of thermal expansion material to forcibly compress the composite structure against the restraint provided by the graphite overwrap. The high coefficient of thermal expansion material is disposed about a mandrel with a release system therebetween, and with a release system between the material having the high coefficient of thermal expansion and the composite material, and between the graphite fibers and the composite structure. The heating may occur by inducing heat into the assembly by a magnetic field created by coils disposed about the assembly through which alternating current flows. The method permits structures to be formed without the use of an autoclave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Wanda A. Sigur
  • Patent number: 5080851
    Abstract: A method for forming stabilized preforms for complex composite articles is disclosed using a solid meltable uncatalyzed thermosetting resin as the stabilizing agent. The resin is applied to each layer of the preform and heated to melt the resin and bond the layers together. After cooling, the resin resolidifies but does not set and thereby holds the layers in the desired preform shape. The layers can be first formed into a flat sheet as a raw material from which shaped preforms can be made by cutting the sheet into sections which are placed over a mandrel and reheating to thereby remelt the solid resin to allow the preform to conform to the shape of the mandrel. Utilizing this process allows complex composite parts to be easily preformed and assembled prior to placement in a mold for resin injection molding, without inhibiting part strength as the resin is compatible with the injection resin and is cocatalyzed by the catalyst contained in the injection resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Flonc, Michael W. Brace
  • Patent number: 5078812
    Abstract: A method for making a dark, adherent coating on exposed metal surfaces of a color-selection electrode assembly of a CRT includes the steps of applying a first solution of aqueous phosphoric acid to the metal surfaces of the assembly; contacting the metal surfaces with a second solution of selenium dioxide and methanol; rinsing the assembly; and then, applying a sealing solution to the surfaces of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Randall E. McCoy, Jordan R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5078939
    Abstract: A method of making a heat-resistant paper container which comprises a bottomed seamless press-molded body comprising a laminate of a paper substrate having an elongation of at least 1.5% in the longitudinal direction and an elongation of at least 4.5% in the lateral direction and a coating layer of a hiding pigment formed on both the surfaces of the paper substrate, wherein the amount coated of the hiding pigment is 1 to 50 g/m.sup.2, the binder in the coating layer is a thermosetting resin binder and the binder is present in the coating layer at a weight ratio R.sub.P satisfying the following condition:R.sub.P =k.multidot.O.sub.A .multidot.d.sub.Rwherein O.sub.A stands for the oil absorption (ml/100 g) of the hiding pigment, d.sub.A stands for the density (g/ml) of the binder, and k is a number of from 0.005 to 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Katsura, Takaaki Mochida, Toshiaki Iioka, Toshifumi Tanabashi, Seishichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5075056
    Abstract: A process for the production of a ball game racket frame, in particular a tennis racket, squash racket or badminton racket frame, with a head and a shaft, in which at least the head and/or the shaft is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic as a hollow body, an injectable matrix, optionally with a reinforcing fiber material and an inert gas under pressure, in particular N.sub.2, is injected into a mold to form the hollow space of the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Head Sportgerate Gesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Helmut Umlauft, Karl-Heinz Wager
  • Patent number: 5073438
    Abstract: A laminate prepared by combining at least two layers wherein at least one of which is made of a fibrous material, an epoxy resin having on average at least two 1,2-epoxide groups per molecule or a mixture of these epoxy resins and a ferrocene derivative of the formula [R.sup.1 (Fe.sup.II R.sup.2).sub.a ].sup.ab+ ab.[X].sup.-, wherein a and b independently of one another are 1 or 2, R.sup.1 is a .pi.-arene, R.sup.2 is a .pi.-arene or an indenyl- or cyclopentadienyl anion, X.sup..crclbar. is an anion [LQ.sub.m ].sup..crclbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Meier, Theobald Haug, Wolfgang Scharf
  • Patent number: 5073315
    Abstract: Fibers are oriented in a radial direction in a mold so that the fibers are aligned in the molded article to react to radial loads. This is done by contracting a tubular braid of reinforcing fiber about its axis and expanding the contracted braid radially. The time for curing the article in the mold is reduced by internal electrical heating. The preferred ways of internal electrical heating are microwave heating, and the application of current to an internal conducting layer, conductive fibers or a grid for resistive heating. Moreover, the appearance of the molded article is improved by a sheet metal insert which is formed, for example by stamping or spinning, to match a face of the mold. The metal can be polished and chromed either before or after the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Inventor: Peter C. Bertelson
  • Patent number: 5066442
    Abstract: A new method of forming composites or laminates into complex shapes has been developed. A process using a die with piercing studs allows control of fibers motion during processing, leading to better composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Gutowski, Michael F. Sentovich, Richard K. Okine
  • Patent number: 5064491
    Abstract: A method and device for simultaneously producing a plurality of curved profiled reinforcement bars of a material stabilized by a mold helically wound on a mandrel, with the mold including a plurality of grooves in which are arranged reinforcing elements. The reinforcement bars are disposed on a support, with the support being moved when the bars are set in place to form an armature of a body. When the bars are produced in the mold with the plurality of grooves, the mold is used as a support part or a laying support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Michel Huvey
  • Patent number: 5061162
    Abstract: An induction heating system for melting metal cores contained within articles or components made of plastic uses induction heating and redirects flux lines for efficient melting. The system includes a high permeability magnetic core, an induction heating coil about at least a portion of the magnetic core to produce flux circulation in a magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic core, and two magnetic nozzles attached to the magnetic core with a gap therebetween for insertion of a specific shape of plastic article, the magnetic nozzles shaped to direct and position a desired pattern of flux lines to heat and melt the metal core of the plastic article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Electrovert Ltd.
    Inventor: Kelly P. Gravelle
  • Patent number: 5061429
    Abstract: A method of preparing window glass provided with a gasket at a peripheral portion of a glass sheet for a window includes placing a glass sheet in a shaping mold which has two mold parts to provide an inner cavity in which resilient sealing members are attached respectively to the two mold parts so as to come in contact with surfaces of the glass sheet so that a gasket forming cavity is formed at a peripheral area of the glass sheet by the cooperation of the inner cavity of the shaping mold, the resilient sealing members and the glass sheet. The resilient sealing member is then pushed to the contacting surface constituted by the resilient sealing member and a part of the shaping mold in the inner cavity via a pushing means after the assembling of the shaping mold and the glass sheet. A gasket material is then injected into the gasket forming cavity to form a gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yoshihara, Yoshio Hosaka, Shigehito Shibata, Nobuaki Kunii
  • Patent number: 5059377
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional composite structure. Uncured portions of the composite structure are first assembled between a initially rigid heat-softening inner layer of ABS plastic and a hard outer mold surface. Prior to curing of the composite structure, pressure and heat is applied to the ABS layer to soften the layer. Thereafter, pressure is applied to the side of the ABS layer opposite from the composite structure, thereby to compact the uncured portions of the composite structure against the hard outer mold. Stiffening beams may be incorporated into the composite structure, so as to yield a lightweight, strong composite structure that can be used as a pressure vessel in an aerospace vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Aerotrans Corporation
    Inventors: Larry J. Ashton, Todd H. Ashton
  • Patent number: 5057174
    Abstract: A technique is provided for removing foam mandrel material from a stiffener section of a composite structural member as is employed in lightweight aircraft skin structures. The technique involves the direct pressure glass bead blasting of the mandrel material. By mounting a blasting nozzle within a rubber hose of larger diameter, an airstream containing glass beads may be directed outwardly through the nozzle while evacuating pressure is created in an annular passageway between the hose and the nozzle to evacuate mandrel foam particles as well as spent glass beads. The result is a clean channel within the stiffener section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Anderson, Leonard M. Poveromo
  • Patent number: 5055242
    Abstract: A process for continuously forming reinforced articles (24) which includes producing a reinforcing material (13) having a plurality of superimposed layers (1-6), stitching together said layers (1-6), wetting said reinforcing material (13) with a matrix material (7, 8 or 19), forming the wetted reinforcing material and curing or consolidating the matrix material. Each layer (1-6) of the reinforcing material (13) includes a plurality of unidirectional non-woven yarns or threads (10) laid side-by-side, the yarns or threads (10) in at least some of the different layers (1-6) extending in different directions. Forming of the wetted reinforcing material may be effected by moulding, pultrusion or by wrapping wetted reinforcing material around a mandrel or former (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Tech Textiles Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Vane
  • Patent number: 5052906
    Abstract: Apparatus for the production of high strength fiber reinforced plastic structures via an improved vacuum assisted technique. A fluid impervious outer sheet is marginally sealed upon a mold to provide an enclosure, or chamber, in which a fiber lay up can be placed. The fluid impervious outer sheet is provided with a vacuum outlet, and the mold is provided with a resin inlet. Primary distribution media are provided one located on one side of the fiber lay up and the other on the opposite side of the fiber lay up. Each is of character which facilitates on application of a vacuum the ready, continuous flow of resin via the resin inlet into the chamber to the marginal edges of said resin distribution medium and flow through of the resin through the fiber lay up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Seemann Composite Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Seemann