Patents by Inventor Randy L. Prior

Randy L. Prior 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).

  • Method for rapidly heating and cooling a mold
    Patent number: 7744805
    Abstract: A mold for forming, molding or welding thermoplastic tubing extends through the aperture of an apertured spool supporting an RF energized coil to inductively heat a center section of the mold. A source of air is channeled through a manifold to flow about the center section of the mold and through the space between the mold and the aperture in the spool to rapidly cool the mold. Thermal chokes on each side of the center section of the mold impede heat transfer and a heat sink connected to each thermal choke serves to dissipate any heat build up. The spool may be translated along the center section of the mold to a predetermined location commensurate with a predetermined heat profile. The mold includes a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the tubing; by appropriate dimensioning, the passageway will accommodate the use of a mandrel to support the tubing to be formed, molded or welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Augustine, Tulsie P. Sumeer, Randy L. Prior
  • Apparatus for rapidly heating and cooling a mold
    Patent number: 7438548
    Abstract: A mold for forming, molding or welding thermoplastic tubing extends through the aperture of an apertured spool supporting an RF energized coil to inductively heat a center section of the mold. A source of air is channeled through a manifold to flow about the center section of the mold and through the space between the mold and the aperture in the spool to rapidly cool the mold. Thermal chokes on each side of the center section of the mold impede heat transfer and a heat sink connected to each thermal choke serves to dissipate any heat build up. The spool may be translated along the center section of the mold to a predetermined location commensurate with a predetermined heat profile. The mold includes a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the tubing; by appropriate dimensioning, the passageway will accommodate the use of a mandrel to support the tubing to be formed, molded or welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Augustine, Tulsie P. Sumeer, Randy L. Prior
  • METHOD FOR RAPIDLY HEATING AND COOLING A MOLD
    Publication number: 20080191392
    Abstract: A mold for forming, molding or welding thermoplastic tubing extends through the aperture of an apertured spool supporting an RF energized coil to inductively heat a center section of the mold. A source of air is channeled through a manifold to flow about the center section of the mold and through the space between the mold and the aperture in the spool to rapidly cool the mold. Thermal chokes on each side of the center section of the mold impede heat transfer and a heat sink connected to each thermal choke serves to dissipate any heat build up. The spool may be translated along the center section of the mold to a predetermined location commensurate with a predetermined heat profile. The mold includes a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the tubing; by appropriate dimensioning, the passageway will accommodate the use of a mandrel to support the tubing to be formed, molded or welded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ENGINEERING & RESEARCHH ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Augustine, Tulsie P. Sumeer, Randy L. Prior