Abstract: An apparatus for continuously or intermittently molding fiber-reinforced plastic structural components includes a continuous passage or pathway having a series of stations thereon for charging a multiple part mold with a charge of chopped fiber reinforced resin or plastic, closing the mold parts to effect compaction of the charge, curing said charge into a molded article, opening the mold, ejecting the molded article and return the open mold to charging point, movement of said mold parts from open to closed position being controlled by spacing between vertical spaced set of rails supporting male and female parts of the mold, said spacing being controlled to effect indexing of said male and said female part in the curing station in a closed portion and to effect unindexing of the male and female part to open the mold and a method of using said apparatus to yield said molded article.

Abstract: A method of sizing a filament in the form of a mat of strand filament wound into a roll by immersing the roll in a ketone solvent containing an unsaturated epoxy resin and polyamine curative therefor followed by removing said ketone under vacuum conditions to unblock said polyamine and allowing it to partially cross-link said epoxy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a light weight and strong molded resilient fiber reinforced plastic automotive wheel structure having the mechanical functions and riding performance characteristics of conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assemblies at loads below the design load of the wheel structure, and whose mechanical functions and safety characteristics are superior to those of conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assemblies at loads above the design load of the wheel structure.

Abstract: An armor system matrix is provided, having a multiple layer system of very hard geometric objects tensionally restrained in their layers by fiber material interwoven about the objects with the objects and fiber material being bonded together by an adhesive material. The objects are substantially spherical ceramic material which may be of different dimensions, each ceramic sphere being substantially in contact with adjacent spheres on the same and adjacent parallel layers. Larger ceramic spheres may be located in the layers closer to the exposed surface of the armor system. The tensional relationship of the ceramic objects in each layer effectively distributes the impact of projectiles over a greater surface area.

Abstract: A support member curved about an axis of revolution for mounting on a wheel rim inside a tire chamber to support the tire in a deflated condition. The support member has a generally U-shaped cross section and may have open ends or the ends may be closed with webs having edges joining the radially inner and outer peripheral edges of the support member.A relatively lightweight high-strength material such as reinforced plastic may be used in the construction of the support member with relatively long fibers of reinforcing material extending generally in planes containing the axis of revolution and relatively short fibers of reinforcing material extending generally circumferentially of the support member and in planes perpendicular to the axis of revolution. Heat-conducting material in the form of wire screen or short lengths of wire may be embedded in the support member to conduct heat away from the surface engaged by a deflated tire.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a curved fiber reinforced body of plastic material by cutting plastic impregnated fibers with a cutter, directing the cut fibers onto a rotating form and applying a plastic material to the fibers. The fibers are deposited in predetermined radial and circumferential directions to build up a proform of overlapping layers of oriented fibers as the form is rotated. The preform is shaped by compression between mating shaping forms to substantially the final molded shape. The plastic material contains a curative and is partially cured under controlled conditions after the preform is built. The preform is then preheated in an oven and molded under predetermined pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: Self-curing elastomeric compounds in liquid suspension are sprayed onto a warmed rotating former having preferably a form developed from the radial dimensions of the inner tube to be made. The tube is cured and complete on the form by transposing one end of the sleeve to the opposite axial end of the former where the one end is seamed to the other end of the sleeve. Both the process and the tube produced by the process have advantages in manufacturing cost, in material saving, and at least equal quality performance relative to conventional inner tubes and methods of making them.

Abstract: A preform of oriented plastic coated fibers is shaped by closing of a mold on the preform. The mold contains a molding space having substantially the final shape of the finished product. A peripheral space is provided in the mold at the edges of the molding space permitting substantially unrestricted movement of the preform into the molding space during the closing operation and providing a space for the edges of the preform during curing. The mold has mating mold members and one of the mold members has sloped lead-in surfaces at the edges of the molding surface for facilitating the movement of the preform into the molding space without distortion of the oriented fibers. The shaping may be done with at least part of the mold being heated and the curing in the mold is accomplished by locking the mold members together and applying heat to the mold.

Abstract: A safety or emergency insert device positioned on a wheel rim inside a tire chamber to support the tire in a deflated condition. The device has an annular ring member of substantially C-shaped cross section which member has a rim-engaging portion, an axially extending tire tread support portion and a curved intermediate portion joining the rim-engaging portion with one lateral edge of the tire tread support portion. The tread support portion is radially deflectable when a radial load is applied thereto by the weight of a vehicle when the tire surrounding the device is deflated. The annular ring member is made preferably of resilient plastic, spring steel or other suitable resilient material which will provide deflection when the support device is supporting a vehicle running on a flat tire.

Abstract: Manufacturing a curved fiber reinforced body of plastic material by cutting plastic impregnated fibers with a cutter, directing the cut fibers onto a rotating form and applying a plastic material to the fibers. The fibers are deposited in predetermined radial and circumferential directions to build up a preform of overlapping layers of oriented fibers as the form is rotated. The preform is shaped by compression between mating shaping forms to substantially the final molded shape. The plastic material contains a curative and is partially cured under controlled conditions after the preform is built. The preform is then preheated in an oven and molded under predetermined pressures and temperatures.