Patents by Inventor Frank E. Ives

Frank E. Ives has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5149372
    Abstract: A six-roll impregnator applies resin to only one side of a fabric. The resin is then pressed through the fabric, after which a pair of rolls squeezes excess resin from the fabric. In this manner, no air is entrapped within the fabric during the impregnation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: PMC, Inc
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 5049058
    Abstract: A rollout apparatus for rolling trapped air from a resin impregnated fiber mat has two carriage assemblies mounted for reciprocated movement in opposite direction. Each of the carriage assemblies carries depending rollers that engage an impregnated fiberglass mat laid on a mold. The carriage assemblies oscillate simultaneously in opposite directions so that the turning forces generated by the receiprocation cancel each other, thus providing a smooth vibration-free mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: PMC, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4828432
    Abstract: Apparatus for lining an irrigation canal with a sheet of fiber-reinforced plastic includes structure for depositing a layer of resin and fiber on a web of flexible carrier material, partially curing the resin prior to laying the sheet in the canal, and then laying the sheet in the canal while the resin is flexible enough to conform to the shape of the canal. The final curing of the resin takes place after the sheet is placed in the canal. A predetermined-shape wrinkle is induced in the carrier web before it is laid into the canal to assist in conforming the sheet to the canal shape without causing randomly placed wrinkles so that the sheet is smooth in the canal. The apparatus forms the sheet and is propelled so that it travels along the length of the canal, fabricating a continuous sheet as it travels. In one embodiment the carrier is a flexible but nonelastic material like kraft paper, coated on one side with wax or other film to prevent saturation by the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: PMC, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4660738
    Abstract: A tank for use in storing volatile liquids and, in particular, petroleum distillates, such as gasoline in an underground environment, includes a fiberglass outer wall lined with a corrosion-resistant impervious film liner that substantially covers the entire interior surface of the fiberglass tank. In a preferred method of constructing the tank, a lay-up mandrel has an end cap of the film placed over a first end thereof and pressed to fit closely the exterior surface topography of the mandrel. A strip of film is laid down on the mandrel overlying at least a portion of the end cap and the film strip is wound in a helical fashion such that at least portions of adjacent coils of the helix overlap one another until the mandrel is essentially completely covered by the film. The polyester resin and glass fibers are then laid down over the film and cured in place. The mandrel is then removed, leaving a film-lined fiberglass tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4602722
    Abstract: A tank for use in storing volatile liquids and, in particular, petroleum distillates, includes a fiberglass outer wall lined with a metal foil liner that substantially covers the entire interior surface of the fiberglass tank. In a preferred method of constructing a tank, a lay-up mandrel has a foil end cap placed over a first end thereof and pressed to fit closely the exterior surface topography of the mandrel. A strip of metal foil is laid down on the mandrel overlying at least a portion of the metal foil end cap and the metal strip is wound in a helical fashion such that the adjacent coils of the helix overlap one another until the mandrel is essentially completely covered by the metal foil. Fiberglass resin and glass fibers are then laid down over the metal foil and cured in place. The mandrel is then removed, leaving a foil-lined fiberglass tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4269798
    Abstract: A filler material and a heated, catalyzed synthetic resin are sequentially introduced into a mixer. The mixer has a conveying section and a mixing section. The resin and filler are introduced into the conveying section, which forces the combined resin and filler material into and through the mixing section. The mixing section kneads and shears the material to uniformly disperse the resin throughout the filler. The resin/filler mixture is then dispensed into a mold for curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4265581
    Abstract: An automated parking system includes a multi-story tower having a central elevator shaft. The building is substantially circular in cross section and contains a plurality of parking stalls that radiate from the elevator shaft on each of the stories. An elevator mechanism elevates a turntable, rotatably mounted on the elevator mechanism for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, between the several floors of the building. A shuttle travels from the turntable to an entrance ramp on the ground level of the building, moves a vehicle to be parked from the entrance ramp to the turntable, whereupon the elevator and turntable cooperate to deposit the vehicle in a parking stall on one of the several floors. The elevator and turntable mechanism operate in reverse to carry the vehicle from a parking stall to an exit ramp on the ground floor of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: Venus Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Ives, Albert C. Saurwein
  • Patent number: 4257748
    Abstract: A flow indicator for a positive displacement pump is connected to a liquid supply reservoir below the liquid level in the reservoir. The indicator has a first passage through which liquid is supplied from the reservoir to the inlet of the pump. The first passage has an inlet below the liquid level in the reservoir and an outlet coupled to a supply conduit in turn coupled to the pump inlet. A restrictor is positioned in the first passage adjacent the inlet to partially restrict fluid flow through the passage. A secondary passage is coupled in fluid communication with the first passage downstream from the restrictor. A transparent tube is coupled to the secondary passage and extends upwardly alongside the reservoir to a location above the liquid level in the reservoir. A float is slidably positioned in the transparent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Venus Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Ives, Terrence G. Nash
  • Patent number: 4239580
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for applying polyester resin impregnated fabric onto a smooth surface. Fabric is impregnated with polyester resin and pressed onto a flat or curved surface by means of vibrating rolls which may be remotely controlled to conform with the contours of the surface. Vibration of the rolls removes entrained air bubbles and permits complete application of the impregnated fabric in a single pass of the apparatus. The fabric is dispensed, impregnated and applied from a frame which is suspended from an overhead gantry and which may be moved in three dimensions. On the frame are mounted a roll of fabric, an impregnator for impregnating the fabric with resin, and a series of pneumatically vibrated rollers for applying the impregnated fabric. Operation is controlled from a console attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4212216
    Abstract: A trough-like deflector is attached to the body of a fiber chopper and extends outwardly from the lower portion of the chopper nozzle opening. The sides of the deflector are upwardly divergent to form a trough extending generally in the direction of the flow path of fibers normally ejected from the nozzle. The deflector skews the flow path of fibers ejected from the sides of the nozzle in an upward and inward direction. The deflector prevents the loss of chopped fibers to spurious air currents created by the ejected fiber stream and promotes a more uniform lay-down of fibers onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives
  • Patent number: 4079660
    Abstract: A piston type, pneumatically powered motor includes a valve assembly for reversibly supplying pneumatic fluid to opposite sides of a piston to reciprocate the piston through power strokes in both directions. The valve assembly has a spool reciprocably mounted in a sleeve that normally moves between two positions to reversibly supply pneumatic fluid to the piston. An actuating mechanism shifts the valve spool between its two normal positions responsive to movement of the piston near the end of each power stroke. When the reciprocation rate of the piston reaches a predetermined high or excessive rate, the actuating mechanism shifts the valve spool to a third position that short circuits the normal path of the pneumatic fluid flowing to the piston and channels the pneumatic fluid to an exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Inventor: Frank E. Ives