Abstract: The mandrel includes a generally cylindrical but tapered outer molding surface for forming a sidewall portion of a tank from thermosetting resin and reinforcing material deposited thereon and a tank bottom mold for forming a bottom portion of the tank integrally with the sidewall portion. The tank bottom mold is shiftable to strip a completed tank from the tapered molding surface.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of chopped fibers is provided. Long fibers, commonly in the form of roving, are fed through a chopper assembly comprising a cutter wheel having a plurality of outwardly-extending blades and a back-up roll having a soft cylindrical surface which the blade edges contact with the fibers therebetween. The chopped fibers then are directed downwardly through a discharge chute to a distribution chute below the chopper where they are directed by air to a point of application, e.g. being mixed with resin and applied to a surface of a mold or mandrel. The chopped fibers have had a tendency to agglomerate into hunks or balls below the chopper assembly and such tendency has heretofore been substantially reduced by the use of static bars located below the chopper assembly. An air system is now provided for directing air downwardly past the chopper assembly to convey the chopper fibers therefrom through the discharge duct and the distribution chute.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of chopped fibers is provided. Long fibers, commmonly in the form of roving, are fed through a chopper assembly comprising a cutter wheel having a plurality of outwardly-extending blades and a back-up roll having a soft cylindrical surface which the blade edges contact with the fibers therebetween. The chopped fibers then are directed downwardly through a discharge chute to a distribution chute below the chopper where they are directed by air to a point of application, e.g. being mixed with resin and applied to a surface of a mold or mandrel. The chopper fibers have had a tendency to agglomerate into hunks or balls below the chopper assembly and such tendency has heretofore been substantially reduced by the use of static bars located below the chopper assembly. An air system is now provided for directing air downwardly past the chopper assembly to convey the chopper fibers therefrom through the discharge duct and the distribution chute.