About Irregular Or Configured Mandrel Surface Patents (Class 156/189)
  • Patent number: 6451152
    Abstract: Composite articles are produced by guiding composite tape material through a compaction region where the tape material is pressed onto a substrate, and heating the tape and substrate ahead of the compaction region by irradiating opposing surfaces of the tape and substrate with laser radiation produced by a laser diode array. The laser diode array is divided into independently controllable diode groups, and the diode groups are controlled so as to independently control heating of one area of the tape and substrate relative to another area of the tape and substrate. In one embodiment, the widthwise profile of the light energy is such that a widthwise portion of the tape at an inner radius of a curved path along which the tape is steered at the compaction region is heated to a greater extent than a widthwise portion of the tape at an outer radius of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott Holmes, Stanley A. Lawton, John M. Haake
  • Publication number: 20020124938
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided whereby a separator sheet is produced that comprises a) an alloy substrate layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, b) a first metal layer, c) a second metal layer, and d) an intermediate metallic material that couples the first metal layer to the top surface of the substrate layer and that couples the second metal layer to the bottom surface of the substrate layer. The separator sheet can be incorporated into the production of a layered material. The layered material is then further incorporated into an electronic component. The intermediate material and the alloy layers is removed from the layered material before the material is incorporated into an electronic component. Further, the first and second metal layers of the separator sheet are not removed from the layered material, and they function as laminates for the layered materials that are incorporated in the electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Peter J. Henrich, Jeffrey D. Smischney
  • Patent number: 6413343
    Abstract: An improved shaft for a golf club and methods of manufacturing the same. A plurality of layers of composite fiber bound within a thermoset resin are bonded to one or more layers of composite fiber bound within a thermoplastic resin using a high peet strength nylon epoxy adhesive. Preferably, the layer(s) of composite fiber bound within the thermoplastic resin comprise the outermost layer of a golf club shaft. In one preferred form, a plurality of plies of pre-preg composite sheet including a thermoset resin are wrapped around a mandrel and pre-cured. Thereafter, a layer of adhesive is wrapped over the pre-cured plies, at least one ply of pre-preg composite sheet including a thermoplastic resin is wrapped over the adhesive, and a cellophane or polypropylene tape is wrapped over the outermost layer of pre-preg. Thereafter, the ply wrapped mandrel is placed in a mold and heated to a predetermined temperature for a time sufficient to allow curing of all of the plies comprising the golf club shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Brian S. Smith, Herbert Reyes, James M. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20020062912
    Abstract: A method of communicating information is provided, wherein the method includes providing a base mat adapted for receiving at least one replaceable sheet, where the base mat has first and second opposing surfaces. The method further includes providing a first replaceable sheet having a base surface and an opposing face surface, wherein the face surface displays indicia. The first replaceable sheet is removably attached to at least a portion of the first surface of the base mat so that the base surface of the sheet faces the first surface of the base mat, where it is displayed for a period of time. When it is desired to change the indicia, the first replaceable sheet is removed, and a second replaceable sheet is provided having a base surface and an opposing face surface, wherein the face surface displays indicia. The second replaceable sheet is removably attached to at least a portion of the first surface of the base mat so that the base surface of the sheet faces the first surface of the base mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Smarajit Mitra, Alexander C. Tsuei, James W. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 6367531
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a rim preform or rim-element having an axis of revolution by the placing on a preforming matrix pre-assembled fibers along two orientations defining deformable meshes. A winding of a strip of fibers is fastened on a circumference of the preforming matrix with asymmetrical orientation of the fibers, whereupon it is applied progressively until covering the entire surface of the preforming matrix by subjecting it to tensions of substantially circumferential orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Francois Finck, Yves Vernet
  • Patent number: 6340509
    Abstract: Bicycle frame components without laps made by a method comprising; shaping a fluid-removable core in the general form of the component, placing a flexible inflatable bladder around the core, wrapping over the assembly of core and bladder at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin, forming a cured part by inflating the bladder while the assembly of core, bladder, and impregnated fiber is in a mold to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold, such that compaction of the fiber against the mold is predominantly from the bladder inflation and not from the core, and heating to cure the resin to form a cured part, removing the bladder and the fluid-removable core from the interior of the cured part by disintegrating the fluid-removable core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the core and the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Radius Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Nelson, Dimitrije Milovich, Paul Nordstrom Clark, Gregory Joseph Loughry
  • Publication number: 20010030015
    Abstract: A mounting method for mounting an electroconductive sheet on a developer seal member for sealing a developer discharging opening provided in a developer accommodating container for accommodating a l, developer, wherein the electroconductive sheet is provided with an adhesive material on one of the surfaces thereof and a separation sheet on the one of the surface, the separation sheet being larger than the one of the surfaces of the separation sheet, the method includes an attraction step of contacting an attraction tool to the other surface of the electroconductive sheet, the attraction tool being effective to suck air to attract the electroconductive sheet thereon; an exposure step of separating the separation sheet from the electroconductive sheet while the electroconductive sheet is kept attracted by the attraction tool, so that surface of the electroconductive sheet provided with the adhesive material is exposed; and a bonding step of bonding, after the exposure step, the surface of the electroconductive
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Kazuo Chadani, Masatoshi Kato, Toshiaki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6295712
    Abstract: An atherectomy device for removing tissue from an artery. The device includes a flexible, elongated drive shaft rotatable about a guide wire, the drive shaft having an enlarged diameter tissue removal section. The drive shaft and the enlarged diameter tissue removal section are comprised of helically wound wire. Wire turns of the proximal portion of the tissue removal section have diameters that gradually increase distally at a generally constant rate thereby forming generally the shape of a cone. Wire turns of the distal portion of the enlarged diameter tissue removal section have diameters that gradually decrease distally thereby forming a generally convex distal portion. At least part of the tissue removal section includes an external coating of an abrasive material to define an abrasive segment of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Shturman Cardiology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Shturman, Andrei Nevzorov
  • Patent number: 6286244
    Abstract: Fishing rods are molded with integral line guides or line guide stanchions for attaching conventional or only slightly modified line guides. The preferred line guides are made of metal or ceramic guide inserts in metal frames with one or two support feet. The molding process facilitates the automated manufacture of rods with line guides in proper alignment and positioning. The handle section of the blank can be molded to form an integral foregrip and/or reel seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Pure Fishing, Inc.
    Inventor: John Weiss
  • Publication number: 20010017183
    Abstract: A thrust chamber assembly for liquid fueled rocket engines and the method of making it wherein a two-piece mandrel having the configuration of an assembly having a combustion chamber portion connected to a nozzle portion through a throat portion is wrapped with a silica tape saturated with a phenolic resin, the tape extending along the mandrel and covering the combustion chamber portion of the mandrel to the throat portion. The width of the tape is positioned at an angle of 30 to 50° to the axis of the mandrel such that one edge of the tape contacts the mandrel while the other edge is spaced from the mandrel. The phenolic in the tape is cured and the end of the wrap is machined to provide a frustoconical surface extending at an angle of 15 to 30° with respect to the axis of the mandrel for starting a second wrap on the mandrel to cover the throat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Charles S. Cornelius, Richard H. Counts, W. Neill Myers, Jeffrey D. Lackey, Warren Peters, Michael D. Shadoan, David D. Sparks, Timothy W. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6277534
    Abstract: Multiple-seam electrostatographic imaging member belts include two or more imaging member portions joined together by two or more seams. The belts can be formed from imaging member web that either includes or does not include an anti-curl backing layer, and that includes a charge transport layer that is substantially stress free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Foltz, Richard P. Millonzi, Robert C. U. Yu, John J. Darcy, Edouard E. Langlois
  • Patent number: 6261500
    Abstract: A golf club shaft is made from sheets of carbon fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. A method and apparatus are also set forth for making a golf club shaft in a substantially voidless manner. An improvement in vibration dampening is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenixx TPC, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Park, Laurent C. Bissonnette, Jerald A. Rolla
  • Patent number: 6221189
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine used in the method is a single apparatus having an indexing device with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The method involves advancing sleeves around the closed manufacturing path to form tubes from the sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Thatcher Tubes LLC
    Inventors: Ronald E. Kieras, John J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6190484
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a monolithic composite wing without using mechanical fasteners is described. The process begins with the formation of a center wing box in combination with a pair of spars, riblets and a pair of skin-molds including the wrapping and binding of the box by means of resin impregnated composite tapes. Next, additional cells are adjoined contiguously on either side of the current framework and an overlap wrapping and bonding process is continued around the current framework. The overlap wrapping and binding procedure provides increased torsion stiffness and reduced structural weight. All cells up to the leading and trailing edges will be included in the assembly process. Conduits to convey fuel, hydraulic fluid and electrical wiring will also be installed in designated cells. Finally, the completed wing will be cured in an autoclave under uniform pressure and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Kari Appa
  • Patent number: 6189723
    Abstract: A composite laminated, generally cylindrical container for over-the-road transportation of liquids by truck is fabricated using a core of cellular thermoplastic expanded foam material, with an encapsulating layer adhered to each of the interior and exterior surfaces. The encapsulating layers of the cylindrical portion each utilize at least one layer of resin-impregnated unidirectional filament material, with the primary filaments extending in the longitudinal direction to provide bending strength, and a plurality of layers of spirally wound, resin-impregnated filaments to resist shear, torsion and external and internal pressure. The core and the encapsulating layers define a bonded sandwich type of construction. The container can be supported only at its forward and rearward ends during over-the-road transportation of liquids, like presently available stainless steel containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventors: Gary R. Davis, Kevin D. Davis, Carl Christian Lee
  • Patent number: 6183583
    Abstract: A three-dimensional fiber structure is formed by superposing layers of felt and by bonding them together by needling, then the structure is compressed to obtain a preform having a fiber volume fraction of not less than 20%. The preform is held in its compressed state by being impregnated with a liquid composition containing a bonding agent capable of bonding the fibers of the preform together. Thereafter, the preform consolidated in this way is densified, e.g. by chemical vapor infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti
    Inventors: Renaud Duval, Eric Lherm
  • Patent number: 6110311
    Abstract: An adjustable stack flashing fitment for use with polymer-coated roof membranes to cover areas around vertical protrusions in a roof, is disclosed. A method for making the fitment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: Robert L. Mayle, Steven Mayle
  • Patent number: 6107220
    Abstract: The invention comprises a flat or shaped fabric structure of yarn groups each yarn group comprising a plurality of yarn subgroups, each group positioned for covering an area. The structure comprises at least a first group of flexible yarns densely covering an area , the yarns within the first group following substantially parallel paths in a first direction and forming a stack with at least a second group of flexible yarns densely covering substantially the same area, the yarns within the second group following substantially parallel paths in a second direction; the yarns in the first group arranged to cross the yarns in the second group, optionally containing other groups of yarn, the yarns in the upper-most subgroup of the stack are connected to the yarns in the bottom-most subgroup of the stack either directly of through the yarns in other subgroups providing an interlaced fabric structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Peter Popper, William Charles Walker, Albert S. Tam, Paul Wesley Yngve, James K. Odle, George Yeaman Thomson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6048425
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fishing rod with preinserted fishing line guide members. A prepreg formed of a high-strength fiber impregnated or mixed with resin is wound to form the rod pipe. A plurality of wide fishing line guide members each having a flat-shaped section are fixed integrally to the inner peripheral surface of the rod pipe, the inner peripheral side portions of the wide fishing line guide members are respectively projected inwardly from the rod pipe inner peripheral surface, and the outer portions of the rod pipe existing in the wide fishing line guide fixed portions are respectively bulged outwardly and widely. The fishing line guide members are strongly fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rod pipe without lowering the strength of the rod pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Sunaga, Hiroshi Oda, Tomoyoshi Tsurufuji
  • Patent number: 5985197
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a golf-club head is disclosed comprising; shaping a fluid-removable core in the general form of the club head, placing a flexible inflatable bladder around the core, wrapping over the assembly of core and bladder at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin, placing the assembly of core, bladder, and impregnated fiber into a female mold, forming a cured part in the form of a golf-club head by inflating the bladder to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold and heating the mold to cure the resin, removing the cured part from the mold, disintegrating the fluid-removable core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the bladder from the interior of the cured part through a hole in the cured part, removing the bladder through the hole with any residues of the core within the bladder to form a hollow molded club head with a hollow interior essentially free from non-functional materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Radius Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Nelson, Dimitrije Milovich, Paul Nordstrom Clark, Gregory Joseph Loughry
  • Patent number: 5985072
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a rim preform or rim-element having an axis of revolution by the placing on a preforming matrix pre-assembled fibers along two orientations defining deformable meshes. A winding of a strip of fibers is fastened on a circumference of the preforming matrix with asymmetrical orientation of the fibers, whereupon it is applied progressively until covering the entire surface of the preforming matrix by subjecting it to tensions of substantially circumferential orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Francois Finck, Yves Vernet
  • Patent number: 5980674
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing tubular articles from fiber reinforced thermoplastic sheets. A horizontal conveyor feeds the sheets to a vertical wrapping belt. The sheets are heated on the conveyor to a molten state and fed to a mandrel rotated by the belt. The molten sheets are wrapped around the mandrel and cooled by the action of the belt to form an integral structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
    Inventor: George W. Burger
  • Patent number: 5876544
    Abstract: A production method of a golf club shaft made of a fiber-reinforced resin according to the present invention comprises the steps of driving and rotating a shaft substrate made of an uncured fiber-reinforced resin on the axis thereof, moving a plurality of creel stands in parallel in the axial direction of the shaft substrate, and feeding out tapes from a plurality of the creel stands and winding and laminating the tapes simultaneously and spirally on the outermost layer of the shaft substrate for integrally molding them while the rotating speed of the shaft substrate and the moving speed of the creel stands are being controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Yamamoto, Tetsuya Ishii
  • Patent number: 5863366
    Abstract: An elongate member is coated with a coating, preferably by coextrusion, and the coated elongate member is wound in a helical manner around a mandrel. The coated elongate member preferably has a square cross-sectional shape so that adjacent portions of the coated elongate member engage one another when the coated elongate member is wound around the mandrel. The coated elongate member is then heated so that the coating on adjacent portions of the coated elongate member fuse together to form an integral strcucture. Another layer of material may be provided on the radially inner or outer wall of the coated elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Heartport, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Snow
  • Patent number: 5851619
    Abstract: A hollow and cylindrical laminated molded product which is constituted by mutually overlapped joining of edge sides in a longitudinal direction of at least one or more elongated laminated articles formed by layered lamination of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin plates containing reinforcing fibers of not less than 30% and not more than 85% in volume content, and a method of producing the above-mentioned laminated molded product using a simple molding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Sakai, Kojiro Motai, Satoru Kishi, Katsuyuki Morita, Nobuyuki Hosoyama, Hiroshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 5840347
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a cylindrical product of a fiber reinforcement-thermoplastic resin composite, which involves disposing a mandrel on a flexible guide sheet which can be formed in the shape of the letter U around the mandrel, heating a fiber reinforcement-thermoplastic resin composite sheet to a temperature not lower than the distortion temperature of the resin and lower than the thermal degradation temperature of the resin of the composite, disposing an end of the heated composite sheet at a line of contact of the mandrel with the flexible guide sheet, then rolling the mandrel on the guide sheet while moving the guide sheet, the guide sheet forming a shape of the letter U around the mandrel being drawn into the concave portion of the letter U, and the composite sheet disposed between the mandrel and the guide sheet being in intimate contact with the mandrel and the guide sheet, to thereby wind the composite sheet on the mandrel, and then recovering a cylindrical product made from the wound composite
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Toho Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruaki Muramatsu, Yoshihiro Endo
  • Patent number: 5837083
    Abstract: A method of forming a hollow elongated or tubular body consisting of the steps of winding one or more strips of material in self-overlapping fashion to produce a multi-layer tubular structure, the or each strip prior to winding being pre-formed to provide a transverse cross-section having at least one step which, in each convolution of the strip accommodates the overlapping portion of the next convolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: John Peter Booth
  • Patent number: 5662764
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a corrugated tube contains a roller assembly composed of plural rollers having plural convexed rings, respective convexed rings forming a helix as a whole so as to substantially form a single rotating shaft body, and a synthetic resin supplier for supplying a strip of synthetic resin onto the roller assembly. The pitches between the convexed rings, and the diameters and the widths of the convexed rings are so constructed as to be gradually decreased in accordance with the contraction percentage of the synthetic resin. The apparatus is provided with a follower ring on a roller valley portion between the convexed rings, the follower ring being rotatable in response to circumferential speed of the apex of the convexed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Hasegawa, Mitsuo Kagabu, deceased, Setsu Kagabu, heir
  • Patent number: 5645668
    Abstract: A mandrel assembly has a hollow main tube and two annular sleeves, wherein an inner diameter of the two annular sleeves is larger than an outer diameter of the two main tube ends. The two annular sleeves are sleeved respectively on the two main tube ends, which can be easily disengaged from the mandrel assembly when applied with an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chin-I Lin, Chung-Lin Wu, Rong-Shian Liu, Gou-Don Chu
  • Patent number: 5632834
    Abstract: A process for the production of sandwich structures made of fiber-reinforced ceramics, the base substance of the ceramic matrix consisting of a Si-organic polymer and a ceramic or metallic powder. A cross-linking of the Si-organic polymer takes place under increased pressure and at an increased temperature. After the joining of the facings and the honeycomb core, the sandwich structure is pyrolysed to form a ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Dornier GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Ostertag, Tilman Haug, Richard Renz, Wolfgang Zankl
  • Patent number: 5632940
    Abstract: A method of making an article from a fiber reinforced polymer composite material including the steps of providing at least two mandrels, wrapping at least one of the mandrels with a first layer of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material, disposing the at least two mandrels in a predetermined orientation, wrapping a second layer of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material around the mandrels, and curing the wrapped assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Bradford L. Whatley
  • Patent number: 5626707
    Abstract: A frame, a drive mechanism for rotating a mandrel, at least two spindles mounted to the frame, a tensioner, and a belt extending between the first and second spindles may be used to roll pre-preg strips or similar sheets of composite materials around the mandrel. The belt travels over the spindles, and the spindles guide the belt through changes in its direction of travel. The mandrel is mounted in the drive mechanism in contact with the belt, which changes its direction of travel around the mandrel. The lower surface of the belt bears against upper portions of the spindles, and the mandrel contacts the upper surface of the belt. As the drive mechanism rotates the mandrel, pre-preg sheets are fed between the mandrel and the belt and are thereby wrapped around the mandrel. The belt presses the pre-preg sheets against the mandrel. The wrapped mandrel may then be removed from the apparatus and cured in any suitable manner known in the art to produce a composite tubular article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Revolution Golf, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Hadzicki, James E. Hadzicki, Joseph R. Hadzicki, Dale F. Thompson, Milton G. Evangelou, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5593535
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a corrugated tube contains a roller assembly composed of plural rollers having plural convexed rings, respective convexed rings forming a helix as a whole so as to substantially form a single rotating shaft body, and a synthetic resin supplier for supplying a strip of synthetic resin onto the roller assembly. The pitches between the convexed rings, and the diameters and the widths of the convexed rings are so constructed as to be gradually decreased in accordance with the contraction percentage of the synthetic resin. The apparatus is provided with a follower ring on a roller valley portion between the convexed rings, the follower ring being rotatable in response to circumferential speed of the apex of the convexed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Toyo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Hasegawa, Mitsuo Kagabu, deceased, Setsu Kagabu, heir
  • Patent number: 5580416
    Abstract: A mandrel assembly has a hollow main tube and two annular sleeves, wherein an inner diameter of the two annular sleeves is larger than an outer diameter of the two main tube ends. The two annular sleeves are sleeved respectively on the two main tube ends, which can be easily disengaged from the mandrel assembly when applied with an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chin-I Lin, Chung-Lin Wu, Rong-Shian Liu, Gou-Don Chu
  • Patent number: 5543007
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing filter elements, in which sealant does not get onto the rolling claw and rolling of the roll filter paper is made easy. A long roll filter paper having laterally oriented filter parts for filtering, the filter parts being open on the inflow side of the roll filter paper and closed on the outflow side of the roll filter paper, is rolled. During rolling, a sealant is applied to the surface of the roll filter paper in a narrow longitudinal strip, in such a way that the sealant does not make contact with the rolling claw. The roll-start end of the roll filter paper is gripped with the rolling claw during rolling. The rolling claw is made up of 2 or 4 rolling bars having the shape of the parts produced when a cylinder is split into two halves along its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanari Takagaki, Yasuo Nagai
  • Patent number: 5484498
    Abstract: A method of molding an elongated, tapered seamless and hollow member or tubular of net shape comprising providing an elongated, tapered mandrel, applying a composite material consisting of reinforced fibers with a resin on the mandrel, providing a shell having an elongated, tapered bore, inserting the mandrel with the composite material applied thereon into the bore of the shell to provide a mold assembly, heating the mold assembly, displacing the mandrel and shell longitudinally toward each other to compress the composite material of the article being formed by simultaneously applying a tensile force at one end of the mandrel and a compressive force at the other, allowing the mold assembly to cool, and then separating the shell and mandrel from the molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventors: Harold P. Hogarth, Wayne E. Hogarth
  • Patent number: 5474632
    Abstract: A novel form of sandwich construction is disclosed. The lattice core sandh construction comprises of elongate lattice cells in side-by-side abutment, to present common, lengthwise flat sides that have facesheets co-cured thereto without any secondary bonding. Each lattice cell is formed by wrapping, in alterate patterns, fiber-reinforced, composite bands around commonly-shaped mandrels. Opppositely disposed face sheets are placed against flat sides and the construction co-cured. After co-curing, the mandrels are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Hemen Ray, Lee W. Gause
  • Patent number: 5472540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing recyclable paper pallets utilizes spool-shaped laminated supports which are wound on a spool-shaped mandrel utilizing adhesive coated paper strips. In one aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped laminated supports can be glued to conventional upper and lower pallet skin sheets also made of paper material, such as corrugated paperboard. In another aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped pallet supports are utilized in a system in which the pallet is integrated directly into a pre-strapped load. In this system, a slip sheet is strapped directly to the bottom of a load and the slip sheet is glued directly to the upper faces of an array of pallet supports, sufficient to support the load and to provide the spacers or standoffs for subsequent insertion of lifting equipment, such as a lifting fork, beneath the load. The inherent rigidity of the strapped load may be sufficient to compensate for the lack of rigidity of the thin paper slip sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Marschke, Harold D. Welch
  • Patent number: 5460676
    Abstract: A flexible, aerodynamic inflatable nose fairing for use in combination with flat nosed canister launched missiles having a wide circular cylindrical shape. The inflatable nose fairing is fabricated as a fiber-reinforced elastomeric membrane having a laminate construction which includes a silicone rubber inner or base layer as the gaseous pressure membrane or bladder, surrounded by two or more ply layers made up of resin-impregnated yarns. In a preferred embodiment, the silicone rubber bladder is applied to a generally conical shaped mandrel. The first ply layer is fabricated by hoop winding resin impregnated yarns on a constant diameter cylinder and then cutting to form gores. The gores are applied to the conical shaped mandrel such that the gore fibers are oriented in the axial direction of the conical shaped mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane L. Jensen, Takashi Aochi, Rendall W. Cothern, Philip K. Shelton
  • Patent number: 5454895
    Abstract: Equipment and method for manufacturing integral monolithic structures, using reinforcing fiber layers impregnated with thermosetting resins. The apparatus has an equipment base, which determines the shape of the structure, a cover of the equipment, two side supports enclosed by an outer bag of nylon or similar material and by as many supporting elements as the number of bays required breathing material; a sheet of parting film, sealing mastic, vacuum application valves, a tubular parting film and tubular bags. The invention simplifies the manufacturing process and is particularly important in the aeronautical field and wherever there is a need for very low weight, high structural efficiency and high quality standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Finmeccanica S.p.A. - Ramo Aziendale Alenia
    Inventor: Sabato I. Imparato
  • Patent number: 5435870
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing filter elements, in which sealant does not get onto the rolling claw and rolling of the roll filter paper is made easy.A long roll filter paper having laterally oriented filter parts for filtering, the filter parts being open on the inflow side of the roll filter paper and closed on the outflow side of the roll filter paper, is rolled. During rolling, a sealant is applied to the surface of the roll filter paper in a narrow longitudinal strip, in such a way that the sealant does not make contact with the rolling claw. The roll-start end of the roll filter paper is gripped with the rolling claw during rolling. The rolling claw is made up of 2 or 4 rolling bars having the shape of the parts produced when a cylinder is split into two halves along its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Ipics Corporation
    Inventors: Takanari Takagaki, Yasuo Nagai, Noriaki Hashimoto, Yoshimitsu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5411619
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a joint pipe from a spirally wound thermoplastic profile is described in which the pipe end to be furnished with a joint pipe is pushed onto a rotatably driven, slightly conical mandrel, after which a melt profile of thermoplast is extruded and spirally wound in overlapping wraps around the mandrel and the pipe end in a direction extending from a point furthest from the pipe end, followed by cooling of the joint pipe, cutting of its end surface, and removal of the pipe end from the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: OY KWH Pipe AB
    Inventors: Kristian Sundqvist, Gunnar Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 5380389
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing the shaft unit of a golf club includes the following steps: (1) providing a shaft which has a first end surface, a second end surface, and a cross-sectional area that increases gradually from the first end surface to the second end surface; (2) providing an elongated first-layer sheet which is made of resin, and which has two inclined end surfaces that are parallel to each other and several fibers that are evenly coated on the sheet that extend along the length of the sheet; (3) winding the sheet on the shaft in a clockwise direction from the first end surface to the second end surface of the shaft in such a manner that one of the end surfaces of the sheet and the first end surface of the shaft are on a similar plane and that the fibers of the sheet form an angle of about 48.+-.3 degrees with respect to an axis of the shaft so that, when the first-layer sheet is wound to the second end surface of the shaft, the fibers of the first-layer sheet form an angle of about 19.+-.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: Kun-Nan Lo
  • Patent number: 5368076
    Abstract: Rocket exit cones, rocket motors, curved objects, and the like, are produced by weaving a fabric onto a non linear form and rotating the form to wind up the fabric as it is being woven. Compensation between the linear, flat shape of the fabric and a non linear shape of the wind up form is obtained by conforming the shape of the reed portion of the loom to the shape of the form, and by providing a constant and/or variable spacing between the reed elements. A uniformly wrapped, non linear shape is is produced by the process.Following wrapping, the fabric shape is impregnated with resin, and cured to a carbonized and/or graphitized state. Finally, the cured shape may be machined to its desired size and contour, having uniform properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Textile Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick H. Curzio
  • Patent number: 5362344
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of making an integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell is formed by braiding on a shaped mandrel a plurality of fibers such as fiberglass, boron, carbon, or the like, to form an inner shell preform having an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms are similarly formed on a conical mandrel, then removed, and administered onto an outer peripheral surface of a duct mold so as to define a modified shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Avi Ben-Porat, George Milo, Walter Smith, Theodore Westerman
  • Patent number: 5352306
    Abstract: An improved tape laying machine, more particularly an improved tape laying head assembly is provided for laying plastic tape onto a work surface to produce a reinforced plastic structure. The improvement provides means for transferring the vertical movement of at least one segment of a stacked plate segmented shoe presser member, of the head assembly, as it engages the work surface to a non-terminal segment of the stacked plate segmented shoe and a sensor means, e.g. a linear variable differential transformer, sensing the movement of the non-terminal segment to produce a signal related to the movement of the non-terminal segment that can be employed to control and direct the movement of the head assembly and/or presser member. The improvement of the invention produces a smooth shimless transition of the presser member onto the work surface, from a work surface non-engaging position, in a tape laying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Grimshaw, David A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5262118
    Abstract: In the production of a hollow FRP article such as a wood type carbon black golf club head, a hollow resin shell is formed via blow molding, heat-resistant fine particles are filled as a filler into the interior of the resin shell, the interior of the resin shell is decompressed to form an inner mold, the inner mold is covered with FRP prepreg including thermoplastic resin to form a prepreg composite, the prepreg composite is heated in a metallic mold under pressure and the fine articles are removed after demolding. A golf club shaft is formed by heating a mandrel, applying thermoplastic resin powder to the mandrel and then winding a lamellar prepreg around the mandrel to thereby form a hollow shaft. A golf club is formed from a head and shaft formed as described above by enlarging the end of the shaft, placing the shaft and the head in a mold and heating the mold under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihari Fukushima, Masuhiro Okada, Kaoru Hashimoto, Eizi Abe, Kunio Hiyama
  • Patent number: 5248361
    Abstract: To make a laminated flexible bearing constituted by rigid reinforcing layers made of composite material alternating with layers of rubber or elastomer, each reinforcing layer is formed by winding a resin preimpregnated thread directly on the underlying layer of rubber or elastomer. Advantageously, the flexible bearing is made by alternating layers formed by winding a resin pre-impregnated thread and layers formed of non-vulcanized rubber or elastomer, after which the resin is polymerized and the rubber or elastomer is vulcanized simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventors: Robert E. Paquet, Andre Negrier, Regis L. Ferment
  • Patent number: RE37242
    Abstract: A frame, a drive mechanism for rotating a mandrel, at least two spindles mounted to the frame, a tensioner, and a belt extending between the first and second spindles may be used to roll pre-preg strips or similar sheets of composite materials around the mandrel. The belt over the spindles, and the spindles guide the belt through changes in its direction of travel. The mandrel is mounted in the drive mechanism in contact with the belt, which changes its direction of travel around the mandrel. The lower surface of the belt bears against portions of the spindles, and the mandrel contacts the upper surface of the belt. As the drive mechanism rotates the mandrel, pre-preg sheets are fed between the mandrel and the belt and are thereby wrapped around the mandrel. The belt presses the pre-preg sheets against the mandrel. The wrapped mandrel may then be removed from the apparatus and cured in any suitable manner known in the art to produce a composite tubular article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Revolution Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Hadzicki, James E. Hadzicki, Joseph R. Hadzicki, Dale F. Thompson, Milton G. Evangelou, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE36687
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing recyclable paper pallets utilizes spool-shaped laminated supports which are wound on a spool-shaped mandrel utilizing adhesive coated paper strips. In one aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped laminated supports can be glued to conventional upper and lower pallet skin sheets also made of paper material, such as corrugated paperboard. In another aspect of the invention, the spool-shaped pallet supports are utilized in a system in which the pallet is integrated directly into a pre-strapped load. In this system, a slip sheet is strapped directly to the bottom of a load and the slip sheet is glued directly to the upper faces of an array of pallet supports, sufficient to support the load and to provide the spacers or standoffs for subsequent insertion of lifting equipment, such as a lifting fork, beneath the load. The inherent rigidity of the strapped load may be sufficient to compensate for the lack of rigidity of the thin paper slip sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Marschke, Harold D. Welch