Patents Examined by Robert L. Spicer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4090827
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluidizing crushed, pulverized, comminuted powdered or other particulate solids, with or without added liquid, that will not flow readily under gravity, to enable this material to flow through an aperture either as an extrusion or to cause it to conform precisely to the shape of a mold, including inserting the material into the top of a hopper having an aperture at its base through which the material is discharged under gravity to a surface or into a mold, subjecting the material while in the hopper to one or more vibrators arranged to effect vibration of said material in the intended direction of flow through the hopper to cause the material to flow freely through the hopper, and effecting relative movement between the hopper and the surface or mold to effect the withdrawal of the material discharged from the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: London Brick Buildings Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Leslie Attwell
  • Patent number: 4090833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming large fiber-reinforced foamed plastic panels is disclosed. The panels are produced by a process comprising filling a flat mold with freshly mixed foam plastic precursors, including fibrous material for reinforcement of the panels, closing the mold until the plastic precursors have foamed and set, then opening the mold and removing the finished panel. The apparatus comprises a platen mounted for traversing under the dispensing outlet of a mixing device, whereby the platen is filled with foamed plastic precursors, and a press into which the platen travels before the mixture has begun to mold. The press is provided with a novel mechanism for closing the mold by placing a cover on top of the platen before the plastic begins to foam. The same mechanism is adapted to open the mold by lifting the platen cover. Thereafter, the platen is moved in a reverse of its entry movement, returning to its starting position for removal of the finished panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Glen E. W. Saidla
  • Patent number: 4090834
    Abstract: A removable mold for forming high frequency antennae, such as a horn-reflector antenna. The removable mold may comprise a paraboloid-cylindrical section and a pair of half cone shells for forming respectively the paraboloid-cylindrical portion and the cone portion of the antenna. In assembling the mold, the shells are secured together and then the cylindrical section is fastened to the assembled shells. After the antenna has been formed, the mold is disassembled by first removing the paraboloid-cylindrical section, thereafter removing one of the shells and then the remaining shell; and all such mold parts being removed via the radiating aperture of the paraboloid-cylindrical portion of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Antennas for Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard H. Hubbard, Thomas P. Walsh
  • Patent number: 4090552
    Abstract: In a continuous casting machine, the combination comprises a mould structure, a tundish car, a tundish, and a shroud for molten metal. An arrangement is provided for mounting the tundish shroud on the tundish car and for mounting the shroud adjacent the casting machine. The arrangement for mounting the shroud includes an elevating arrangement for raising the shroud into sealing engagement with a ladle when the latter is supported generally above the mould structure and for lowering the shroud to afford sufficient clearance for removal of the ladle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Mesta Machine Co.
    Inventors: Richard J. Laird, Patrick V. Verrone
  • Patent number: 4090832
    Abstract: A slide fastener and method and apparatus for making the same are disclosed wherein coils of filamentary material are secured to adjacent edges of a pair of carrier tapes. Each coil of filamentary material is formed from a filament having a specially shaped cross section which is arranged in a mirror image relationship with respect to its adjacent filamentary coil. During formation of the filamentary coils, they are simultaneously wound on a mandrel having differently shaped surfaces which aid in the final shaping of each coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George B. Moertel
  • Patent number: 4089364
    Abstract: The present invention describes a preformed, multi-part casting mold having a preformed gating system integral therewith for providing smooth, bottom feeding of molten metal to the mold cavity while simultaneously removing contaminants from the metal prior to entry into the cavity. The improved mold is especially useful in casting columnar grained or single crystal metal and alloy articles, such as gas turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas R. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4089627
    Abstract: A device for the production of corrugated, protective separators for batteries which are made of woven polyester material. The device is provided with two alternating sets of shaping rods and two sets of clamping jaws which are movable in both the vertical and lateral direction. A third set of jaws is movable only in the vertical direction. The shaping rods are inserted into alternating channels in the material while the material is securely held by the clamping jaws and the material is hardened by means of a furnace. Once the channels are heat set, the shaping rods are withdrawn and the separator is severed by means of a cutting unit. A new piece of material is then positioned for similar fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: DSO "Balkankar"
    Inventors: Georgi Nikolov Mishev, Iliya Stoilkov Haralampiev
  • Patent number: 4089363
    Abstract: The method is a "cold box" method in which a porous or thoroughly vented pattern is used. The pattern is preferably completely filled with sand, packed tightly, and then gassed through the pattern with a binder-curing gas catalyst. Control of depth of penetration of the gas catalyst is achieved by control of pre- and post-gassing pressures. The residual pre-gassing interstitial inert gas (usually air) is utilized as an internal cushion which limits penetration of the advancing catalyst gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Andrew P. Dunlop
  • Patent number: 4087225
    Abstract: An apparatus for flaring plastic tubing comprising a motor and speed reducing unit mounted on a slide member for relative movement towards and away from a set of stationary die members in which various diameters of plastic tubing may be inserted. A flaring head is mounted on the output shaft of the speed reducing unit in alignment with the central axis of a tubing positioned in the dies. The maximum forward and rearward movement of the slide member is adjustable so that the necessary movement for producing the desired flare on various diameters of tubing can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Papco Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn R. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 4086951
    Abstract: A method of enlarging width of a cast piece during continuous casting. It comprises stopping pouring a molten steel into a mold during continuous casting, positioning a supporting plate at the bottom of the mold without lowering the surface of the bath, moving a short wall of the mold, placing a cooling agent on the supporting plate inside the mold, pouring the molten steel into the mold to obtain a cast piece, and thereafter removing the supportng plate to withdraw the cast piece. An apparatus for placing the supporting plate such that it can move back and fore freely on the bottom of the moving short wall of the mold is provided. In order to smooth the movement of the short wall of the mold, a lubricating agent may be placed at a portion where the long walls contact the short wall of the mold, or holes or grooves for supplying lubricating agent may be provided on both ends of the short wall of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Riyota Takahasi, Takayosi Yamada, Makoto Kimura, Seiji Yosikawa
  • Patent number: 4087224
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for vacuum or gauge pressure shaping of extensible sheet material in a mold, more particularly pre-shaping of a textile or plastic sheet or film used as an integral skin for a foam cushion, to effect uniform stretch of the sheet throughout its area notwithstanding substantial depth variation in surface contour of the final shaped sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: The Upjohn Company
    Inventor: Kurt Moser
  • Patent number: 4086046
    Abstract: Articles are moulded from paraffin wax by melting the wax and then allowing the wax to solidify in a mould, the mould being refrigerated. The invention includes a machine for moulding the articles, and wax treated by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: Numol Corporation
    Inventors: John Anthony Brown, Leslie Raymond Wilkie
  • Patent number: 4086045
    Abstract: Thin-walled articles of thermoplastic material are formed in a continuous apparatus starting with heating and extruding granular thermoplastic raw material in the form of a continuous web which is immediately stabilized by rapid cooling of its opposite surfaces and the stabilized web wherein the material sandwiched between the precooled outer surface layers remains at or near extrusion temperature is fed into a thermal forming station wherein shaping tools form the articles in the web without the need for further heating of the web. Adjustments are provided for correlating the cooling action to different materials and web feed rates, for varying the web feed rates and increments, and for varying the shaping tool movements to adapt for different materials and sizes of articles. After the formed articles are separated from the web the web residue is fed back to be mixed with incoming raw material at the extrusion station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Assignee: Bellaplast GmbH
    Inventors: Alfons W. Thiel, Hans Hell
  • Patent number: 4084783
    Abstract: A valve includes a central valve component with an integral housing molded therearound. During the molding of the housing a seal is held against the valve component by spaced fingers of a tool. After molding is complete and the tool is withdrawn, plastic gripping fingers formed from plastic injected between the fingers of the tool during molding hold the seal against the valve component and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wrasman
  • Patent number: 4084930
    Abstract: Apparatus for the production of yarn having a potential crimp which is achieved by varying the viscosity gradient in the mass of polymer upstream of the spinneret. The apparatus includes means for feeding polymer under pressure, a block which is connected to the outlet of the feeding means and a spinning head, including a spinneret formed with at least one row of holes, the spinning head being mounted on the block. At least one passage is defined through the block, for the passage of polymer from the feeding means to the spinneret, this passage having a frusto-conical upstream portion which converges in a downstream direction towards the spinneret. Heating or cooling means are provided on the block for imparting to the polymer, as it passes through the passage, a temperature differential between the polymer at the center of the passage and the polymer at the walls of the passage.Means are also provided for receiving and possibly drafting the yarn which has been extruded through the spinneret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignees: Sylvio Melancon, Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Neveu, Sylvio Melancon
  • Patent number: 4084781
    Abstract: A fluid polymeric ablator liner is cast onto the inner surface of a ramjet ombustion chamber which has been prepared with a screen liner substrate. A split mold is inserted through the nozzle and assembled inside the chamber allowing a thin layer of ablator to be cast and cured on the dome and nozzle regions of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Harold Thompson Couch, Leonard Selwyn Cohen, Lawrence Joseph Coulter
  • Patent number: 4082491
    Abstract: Machine for making crayons or the like comprising means for supplying fluid material to a series of mold cavities in a horizontally rotatable mold table, means for controlling the temperatures of the cavities, means for ejecting the molding products from the cavities, means for receiving the ejected products and conveying them to one or more delivery points and means for removing excess material from the mold table and recycling it, with suitable controls for operating the several elements according to a desired program and with specific improvements in the apparatus and in the method of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Binney & Smith Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur L. Clymer, Charles J. Klara
  • Patent number: 4080878
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a compression scored release liner for use with a face stock carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive. The apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical roller having a generally semi-circular cross sectioned rib extending entirely around the surface of the roller concentric therewith, a pair of adjacent recesses forming relief areas extending entirely around the roller on either side of the rib, and a pair of lands each extending outwardly from the relief areas and forming the remaining cylindrical surface of the roller. The roller to compression scores the surface of a release liner in a controlled manner even though the thickness of the liner may vary, by providing relief areas and lands adjacent thereto on each side of the compression scoring rib so that excess material can be displaced from the scoring region in order to maintain uniform density of the liner in the scored region and prevent the rib from completely cutting through the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: The Brown-Bridge Mills Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Gallagher, Richard L. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 4081226
    Abstract: A process is provided for the manufacture of fibrils of short length by suddenly releasing the pressure acting on a two-phase liquid mixture of molten polymer and solvent and which is at a high pressure and a high temperature. The two-phase liquid mixture is ejected through a pressure release orifice so as to vaporize the solvent instantaneously and solidify the polymer, and the flow path of the two-phase liquid mixture is perturbed at the instant when it enters the pressure release orifice.Spinnerets are provided which have a perturbation chamber containing a supply orifice and a pressure release orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Solvay & Cie.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Pleska, Michel Marechal
  • Patent number: 4080140
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming internally grooved bells on plastic tubes, having a mandrel comprising coaxial front and rear mandrel sections spaced apart to form a gap, angularly spaced supporting pins joining internal flanges on the elements across the gap, two sets of alternating core sections in the gap, one set having inwardly converging sides and the other having inwardly diverging sides, and an expanding mechanism comprising an actuator shaft rotatably supported in the mandrel, two rotary actuating plates mounted on the shaft on opposite sides of the core sections, and two guide plates mounted in the mandrel in fixed positions. The guide plates have a plurality of spaced radial guide slots, and the actuating plates have a plurality of inclined cam slots that extend radially outwardly across the guide slots. Follower pins on the core sections project into the cam slots and guide slots to be cammed and guided thereby as the actuating plates are rotated back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Assignee: Wilson-Tek Corporation
    Inventors: Clyde E. Wilson, Robert D. Nicoson