Patents Examined by Karen D. Kutach
  • Patent number: 5108668
    Abstract: In connection with a device for casting lead grids for electric battery plates, a highly porous ceramic mold lining, preferably of zirconium oxide, is prepared by flame-spraying. Such a lining can include a thin surface coating on a profiled, basic metallic mold or a separately prepared insert plate which is retained to a metallic mold molder. The ceramic surface coating may be accurately formed in place, or may be formed as an over-spray which is then reduced in thickess. Formation of the surface coating may be accomplished by placing masks on the basic metallic mold during the flame spraying, for those areas of the grid which tend to accumulate material, or by adjusting an initially coarse profile of the ceramic layer to the exact profile of the casting by a material-removing treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Varta Batterie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernhard E. Kallup
  • Patent number: 5100595
    Abstract: A method for providing a test sample of concrete from a large poured area of concrete includes using a mold suitable for placement within the concrete form, the mold including a continuous sidewall and a bottom wall connected to the sidewall. An insert within the mold is spaced from the bottom wall so that a pressurization chamber is formed between the insert and the bottom wall of the mold. A fluid inlet is formed in the mold in fluid communication with the pressurization chamber and a fluid inlet tube is connected at a first end thereof to the fluid inlet. Preferably, the fluid tube is of a length sufficient to reach the surface of the concrete poured within the form. In one embodiment, a plurality of legs are formed on the insert to maintain the spacing of the insert from the bottom wall of the mold, the legs being separated sufficiently to allow fluid flow between them. In another embodiment, the space between the insert and the bottom of the mold is filled with a noncompressible fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Richard J. Boss
  • Patent number: 5100594
    Abstract: A process of repairing a refractory body, including the steps of a. introducing combustible particles into a first gas stream containing no more than 18% oxygen by volume; b. causing an oxygen-rich gas stream to flow through a particle entrainment zone into a reaction zone adjacent a refractory body to be repaired so as to produce an aspirating effect within the particle entrainment zone effective to induce a flow of the first gas stream containing the combustible particles into the particle entrainment zone and through to the reaction zone; and c. projecting the combustible particles entrained in the oxygen-rich gas stream against the refractory body to cause oxidation of the combustible particles in the reaction zone adjacent the refractory body and generate sufficient heat for one of dressing the refractory body or forming a refractory weld mass thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignees: Glaverbel, Fosbel, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Zvosec, Leon P. Mottet
  • Patent number: 5098628
    Abstract: A centrifugal molding method which can smooth the inner surface of the resin concrete layer of a resin concrete pipe or of a composite pipe having a resin concrete layer even without using any special sand conditioning mechanism and which is high in productivity includes producing a composite pipe having a resin concrete layer or producing a resin concrete pipe by moving an arm member of a pipe material feeding device forward and backward axially through a pipe forming outer mold rotating about an axis thereof and by feeding pipe materials from a discharge port formed in a front end of the arm member. The resin concrete layer is formed by feeding resin and aggregate to a mixing portion provided at the front end of the arm member through separate feed routes, mixing the two in the mixing portion and discharging the resulting mixed resin concrete material from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Takaaki Kawano, Toshiyuki Tsujiuchi, Hidenori Katayama
  • Patent number: 5096648
    Abstract: A method for producing concrete paving stones includes slidably mounting paving stone molds in a vertical row in a rack; sliding one mold to a different depth in the rack; filling the mold with concrete; sliding the mold to its original position; and filling the other molds in a similar manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Johnson Brothers Precision Precast Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Johnson, Robert A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5093065
    Abstract: A prestressing arrangement and technique for the manufacture of prestressed bodies or structures includes shape memory material members. According to one aspect of the invention, the prestressing arrangement includes a tensile member in series with a shape memory material member. The formable material is shaped around the members and fixed in form. The shape memory material is then shrunk by heating it above its characteristic threshold temperature, placing the members in tension and the fixed material in compression. According to another aspect, the shape memory material member is secured in a tube. Prestressing is achieved in the tubular prestressing arrangement by lengthwise expansion of the shape memory material member prior to fixing the material of the body being formed, and then after fixation, releasing the stress on the shape memory material member, leaving the tube in tension to exert compressive forces on the fixed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Richard L. Creedon
  • Patent number: 5049335
    Abstract: A magnetic material melt is solidified by cooling the material from two opposing surfaces while deforming the material by applying compressive pressure to the two opposing surfaces. Twin roller quenching is a preferred method for producing the flakes. The flakes exhibit strong texture normal to their surface, that is, there is a high degree of alignment of the magnetically easy axes of the crystals within the polycrystalline flake. The strong crystal orientation appears to result both from directional solidification in a thermal gradient and uniaxial deformation of the solid phase in the twin rollers. Magnetization studies on individual flakes show intrinsic coercivities of 14 kOe and a nearly 50% higher remanance for field normal to the flake surface than in the flake plane. Splat quenching is another suitable technique for carrying out the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Toshiro Kuji, Robert C. O'Handley, Nicholas J. Grant
  • Patent number: 5035850
    Abstract: Concrete-type composite pipe is produced by rotating a drum mold while casting concrete thereinto to form a concrete layer of a uniform thickness using a centrifugal force exerted on the cast concrete, casting a mixture of hydrophilic resin and a hardener to form a corrosion protective resin layer on an inner surface of the formed concrete layer before the concrete layer starts to solidify, scattering aggregates or the like on the inner surface of the resin layer, accelerating the rotation to cause the aggregates or the like in the resin layer to form an intermediate layer, between the concrete layer and the corrosion protective layer, of resin, concrete, and coarse aggregates and stopping the rotation after the hardening of the corrosion protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignees: Teikoku Hume Pipe Co., Ltd., Noritake Co., Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Asano
  • Patent number: 5032328
    Abstract: A method for casting friable asbestos-containing material into a non-friable mass includes the steps of: (1) mixing portland cement, molding plaster, plasticizer, water and friable asbestos-containing material in a mixer; (2) pouring the mixture into a plastic bag positioned in a form; (3) compressing the mixture within the form prior to the curing process; (4) embedding a lifting eye in the mixture; (5) allowing the mixture to cure to a hardened state; (6) removing the form from the hardened mass; and (7) sealing the upper end of the plastic bag to enclose the hardened mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Steven C. Griffis
  • Patent number: 5028368
    Abstract: A method for making concrete pipe. Vinyl liners are held by an expandable liner carrying device. The carrying device is expanded so as to hold the liner in engagement with the outer surface, forming a liner/carrier assembly. Concrete reinforcing bars are placed around the liner/carrier assembly. The liner/carrier assembly and reinforcing bars are surrounded by a dry-cast concrete form. Then, the form is placed on a forming module, and the module is actuated into engagement with the inside surface of the core forcing the liner/carrier assembly to assume a predetermined, usually cylindrical, shape. The form is filled and immediately taken off of the module. The form is immediately stripped, but the core, held immobile by the dry cast concrete, which sets quickly, continues to hold the liner in engagement with the concrete until a complete bond is established. Finally, the core is retracted from engagement with the liner and removed from the finished lined pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: International Pipe Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Grau
  • Patent number: 5023030
    Abstract: A method for casting of one concrete product or of several concrete products placed side by side at the same time by means of one casting machine as sliding casting out of high-consistency concrete mix. The concrete mix is fed by means of one feed member (2) or by means of several feed members placed side by side into one or several separate cross sections of a concrete product to be cast. The compacting of the concrete product or products to be cast is monitored by measuring the pressure of the concrete mix or the force arising from the pressure against a part (2; 9,7) of the casting machine in at least two points of the cross section and by separately regulating the operating values of at least two parallel feed member (2) or of the compacting movements of at least two parallel compacting members (3) on the basis of the measurement values obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Oy Partek Ab
    Inventor: Heikki Rantanen
  • Patent number: 5021205
    Abstract: A concrete manufacturing process includes pouring a fluidized cement containing a short fiber as an admixture into a concrete manufacturing mold; applying a predetermined level or levels of pressure to the entire fluidized cement poured into the mold, while a gas is introduced into the cement; and hardening the cement as the gas introduced thereto forms bubbles which burst and generate vibration when they are vented through a venting section provided for the mold. When the cement is hardened to some degree, the hardening may be continued in a temperature-controlled liquid bath or followed by curing with steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignees: Yoshio Niioka, Marvin Gottlieb
    Inventor: Yoshio Niioka
  • Patent number: 5021202
    Abstract: Rammed building walls having an earth core and integral cement jackets are formed by placing a rectangular earth hopper within a rectangular wall moulding cavity that is defined by formwork members which are aligned with an underlying foundation. The hopper is filled with earth while outside of the moulding cavity and has a trapdoor as its bottom. The moulding cavity has a substantially greater width than the width of the hopper so that jacket cavities are formed on either side of the hopper. A pair of tiltable cement hoppers, filled with concrete or a sand and cement mix, are mounted on the earth hopper and are tiltably unloaded into the jacket cavities. The trapdoor is then released so that the earth slides downwardly and laterally, and the hoppers are lifted as a unit out of the moulding cavity while the earth fills a core cavity between the mix-filled jacket cavities. Both the earth and mix are then rammed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Jan Novotny
  • Patent number: 5017320
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing stratified pieces, such as roof tiles and wall tiles, by sucessive and independent extrusion of mortars or concretes. In the process mortar is deposited on a limited part of the molds. The mortar is extruded and compacted, and some mortar is dislodged from cross strips in each zone of contact between two consecutive molds. Thereafter, complete sheets of mortar are shaped on the first layers, filling both the emptied cross strips and the limited sides, and lastly the thicknesses of the pieces are cut in their entirety in a vertical transversal plane at each zone of contact of the molds to form multiple layer tiles having homogeneous facing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Uralita, S.A.
    Inventor: Rafael Velazquez Garcia
  • Patent number: 5017313
    Abstract: A form assembly for casting a lining wall in an existing manhole includes a cylindrical lower form assembly, a circular horizontal form assembly, and a cylindrical upper form assembly. All three assemblies are formed of smaller segments which are assembled together within the manhole and which can be disassembled after the manhole has been repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Action Products Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Carroll O. Trimble
  • Patent number: 5017314
    Abstract: A process for producing a detachable insulation for inaccessible hollow spaces on warm installations of pipelines, fittings, and containers includes the steps of surrounding the installation with a sheet metal jacket, supporting the sheet metal jacket at a spaced location from the installation in order to form a hollow space between the sheet metal jacket and the installation, filling the hollow space through an opening in the sheet metal jacket with free-flowing insulating material and a binder, curing the binder to form a rigid insulating shell, removing the sheet metal jacket, and cutting the insulating shell by appropriate axial and radial cuts to form individually removable insulation sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Rheinhold & Mahla GmbH
    Inventors: Jiri Zemanek, Manfred Timpert, Karl Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5016338
    Abstract: A method for anchoring a machine or other load to a foundation requires the use of an adjustable support system. The system includes a base chock having a horizontal floor with an open slot formed in the floor to permit retrofitting around an installed anchor bolt. A frame chock is shaped to rest on the floor of the base chock; in many applications the frame chock is preferably poured in place around the anchor bolt. A retractable shim carrier, shaped to rest on the floor of the base chock between the floor and the frame chock, likewise has an open slot formed therein for insertion around the anchor bolt. One or more shims of varying thicknesses are shaped like the shim carrier to be inserted as needed, riding upon the shim carrier, between the floor of the base chock and the lower surface of the frame chock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Robert L. Rowan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5013500
    Abstract: Novel processes have been developed by the present invention for producing hollow ceramic articles. Such ceramic articles are produced by using a water-absorbable mold having water non-permeable faces on an inner surface of the mold at locations corresponding to valve holes. The thickness of a ceramic layer deposited on the inner surface of the mold is controlled by measuring an amount of a lowered liquid surface level of the slurry near a slurry-pouring opening of the mold. Open ends of a hollow ceramic article are formed by cutting corresponding closed ends after deposition of the slurry and firing. A uniform thickness of a slurry deposited onto the inner surface of the mold can be attained by rotating the mold around an arbitrary rotary axis at a rotation speed of 1 to 60 rpm. All ceramic material contained in the slurry fed inside the mold may be deposited on the inner surface of the mold while the mold is being rotated or swung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hamanaka, Takashi Harada, Fumio Hattori
  • Patent number: 5013509
    Abstract: A tire clad concrete log and method and apparatus for forming a tire clad concrete log. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of used tires which are made into a form by placing them in sidewall-to-sidewall contact, providing a quantity of a waste ash which is mixed as a binder in a manner making a concrete material, and filling the form with the concrete material while also maintaining the used tires in sidewall-to-sidewall contact. The tire clad concrete log thus comprises a plurality of used tires disposed in sidewall-to-sidewall contact wherein a concrete material formed at least in part by waste ash is interlockingly disposed within the used tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventor: Donald L. Kiselewski
  • Patent number: 5013499
    Abstract: A method of flame spraying refractory material for in situ repair of, e.g., furnace linings wherein an inert carrier gas incapable of supporting combustion and particles of refractory oxide and combustible metal or other oxidizable material are delivered to a flame spraying apparatus wherein high pressure oxygen aspirates and accelerates the carrier gas-particle mixture; a controlled ratio of 5 to 1 to about 30 to 1 oxygen gas to carrier gas; allows for the use of highly combustible metals and materials such as chromium, aluminum, zirconium, and/or magnesium as heat sources without back-flash and at a deposition rate in excess of 2000 pounds per hour of refractory oxide to yield a deposited refractory mass exhibiting enhanced wear and erosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Sudamet, Ltd.
    Inventor: David C. Willard