Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a polymer coating on an elongated substrate, preferably an elongate intracorporeal device in the form of a guidewire. An extrudable polymer cartridge is moved by a cartridge advancement mechanism into a guide chamber which is heated at an end with a die or orifice through which a desired portion of a guidewire may pass and be coated. Parameters such as guide chamber temperature, pull speed and force exerted by the cartridge advancement mechanism may be controlled with a computer program in order to achieve repeatable results. The guide chamber, extrudable polymer cartridge, die, and push tube may all be made from polymer components which can be reused or disposed of after a single use.

Abstract: A coating head, and coating apparatus and methods using the coating head, for applying a solvent free coating material to a strip article advancing longitudinally in a coating line. The head includes a die having a transverse slit through which the coating material is deposited on the strip surface and having a land portion with an extended land surface on the exit side of the slit, the die being supported for movement normal to the strip surface, and one or more air or hydraulic cylinders exerting a load on at least the land portion of the die to urge the land surface toward the strip, wherein the die is constituted of a main body and the land portion, and the land portion is so connected to the main die body as to be capable of flexing relative to the main die body in a direction normal to the strip surface but to resist flexing in the direction of strip advance in the coating line.

Abstract: The invention is also a method of making adhesive tape. The coating step includes drop die coating the plurality of adhesive stripes on the backing without causing any “necking-down” problems of the adhesive stripes. The invention is also a drop die for stripe coating a substrate. A face plate is removably and replaceably mounted across the fronts of die blocks. The face plate has a plurality of orifices such that fluid flowing in the die through the first slot exits through the orifices in the face plate in a plurality of stripes.

Abstract: The fiber-coating apparatus comprises an injector having a tubular grid mounted between two dies between which the fiber travels on the axis of the grid, which grid filled with resin that penetrates therein via holes distributed through its wall. The wall of outside diameter dext is situated at a minimum distance from the wall of diameter Dext which surrounds it in the injector, such that the ratio Dext/dext is not less than 1.35 and the difference Dext−dext is not less than 4 millimeters. The holes through the wall have a minimum diameter of 0.50 mm and a minimum density of 0.20 holes per mm2. The height of the grid lies in the range 5 mm to 50 mm, and the difference between the outside and inside diameters of the cylindrical wall of the grid is not greater than 10 mm, with a minimum inside diameter of 5 mm.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of fiber-reinforced plastic compositions and an apparatus for the practice of the method. The invention is addressed to the disadvantages of previous methods for the manufacture of fiber-reinforced plastic compositions using a plasticizing extruder, and especially to increasing and better defining the fiber content in the plasticate, as well as improving performance in the production of plasticates from fiber fleeces and fiber mats. The invention is also the creation of an apparatus with a plasticizing extruder for the practice of the method, with an adapted geometry of the extruder casing and of the corresponding screw elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a polymer coating on an elongated substrate, preferably an elongate intracorporeal device in the form of a guidewire. An extrudable polymer cartridge is moved by a cartridge advancement mechanism into a guide chamber which is heated at an end with a die or orifice through which a desired portion of a guidewire may pass and be coated. Parameters such as guide chamber temperature, pull speed and force exerted by the cartridge advancement mechanism may be controlled with a computer program in order to achieve repeatable results. The guide chamber, extrudable polymer cartridge, die, and push tube may all be made from polymer components which can be reused or disposed of after a single use.

Abstract: Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber.

Abstract: A process of producing an elongated coated strip article having a layer of coating material on each opposite surface of the strip article, in which the ratio of layer thicknesses on opposite sides of the strip article may be set or varied. The process comprises simultaneously applying layers of solidifiable liquid coating materials on the opposite sides of the strip article by advancing the strip article in a direction along a path between opposed coating heads, at least one of which is a floating coating head, having material delivery slots and metering lands for delivery and metering of the liquid coating materials to the opposite surface to form the layers. The ratio of the layer thicknesses may be adjusted when required by varying the path of strip article advance between the floating coating heads to cause changes in angles formed between the strip surfaces and adjacent metering lands on opposite sides of the strip article. The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A coating applicator for continuously applying matrix material to a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a ribbon configuration is described. The coating applicator has a first contacting means for contacting the plurality of optical fibers on a first side of the plurality of optical fibers and for contacting a first end fiber of the plurality of optical fibers. The coating applicator also has a second contacting means for contacting the plurality of optical fibers on a second side of the plurality of optical fibers and for contacting a second end fiber of the plurality of optical fibers. The second contacting means is located downstream of the first contacting means, and is located relative to the first contacting means so that the optical fibers are forced to contact the first and second contacting means as described above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extrusion coating apparatus having a structure which is capable of correctly forming and applying a coating layer with a desirable cross-sectional form even when thermal distortion occurs in its extrusion unit. This extrusion coating apparatus comprises an extrusion unit extruding a thermoplastic resin while heating the resin, a coating unit providing a coating layer of the thermoplastic resin from the extrusion unit around a linear body pulled at a predetermined tension, and various distortion-absorbing structures absorbing the distortion in the extrusion unit caused by heating the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a coating to an elongated substrate such as a wire or cable. The coating apparatus has an opposed pair of mouthpieces each connected respectively to a pair of dispensers which are in fluid communication with a source of heated liquid such as a hot melt coating material. The mouthpieces have complimentary recesses which form a throughhole when placed in a closed position such that a wire or cable passing through the throughhole may be coated with the liquid. The dispensers are operatively connected to actuators which move the modules in opposing directions to closed and open positions.

Abstract: A printing medium in cylindrical form consists of a dimensionally stable solid, partly hollow or hollow cylinder and a photopolymerizable crosslinkable cylinder layer which is applied in particular in part-layers by means of a coaxial coating apparatus and on which an IR radiation-sensitive layer is applied, preferably as a single layer, by means of a coaxial coating apparatus.

Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a coating agent feed system and nozzles used for coating a fiber. The coating agent feed system comprises a feed channel for feeding coating agent from a coating agent tank into a coating agent chamber situated in a nozzle unit, between two nozzles, and a fiber inlet channel for guiding the fiber to be coated through a first nozzle into the coating agent chamber and a fiber outlet channel for guiding the fiber through a second nozzle out of the coating agent chamber. For an intensified cleaning function, the cleaning system comprises a second feed channel for steeping agent, positioned in the nozzle unit. The feed channel opens into the coating agent chamber. A change valve is arranged between an outlet end of the coating agent feed channel at the coating agent chamber and an outlet end of the second feed channel at the coating agent chamber, the change valve being arranged to close the second feed channel in one position and the coating agent feed channel in the other position.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a optical fiber which includes a furnace for softening an optical fiber blank; a tractor for drawing the optical fiber from the softened optical fiber blank; and a first applicator for applying a coating of a first coating material to the optical fiber, the first applicator having a rotatable die.

Abstract: A method for soldering a first component having a metal surface to a second component having a metal surface includes holding the metal surface of the first component in a position above a placement area on the metal surface of the second component to establish a gap between the surfaces. The method further includes reflowing solder within the gap. A structure including a thermally conductive baseplate, an electrical insulator attached to the baseplate, and a metallic shield mounted on the insulator. The structure also includes an integrated power device having a power-dissipating electronic device, and a first metal layer connected to the shield through a solder joint. A substrate includes an aperture, and the integrated power device is mounted with the power-dissipating device sitting within the aperture. The substrate also includes a conductive run electrically connected to a second metal layer of the integrated power device.

Abstract: A system and method for impregnating a continuous fiber strand with a heated polymer melt involves the introduction of a polymer melt into a cavity and the routing the fiber strand through the cavity so the fiber is exposed to the polymer melt introduced therein. The strand is scrubbed as it is moved though the cavity so that the polymer melt is pressed against and blended within the fiber strand. The scrubbing action is effected by a rotating scrubber assembly mounted for rotation relative to the cavity about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of smooth-surfaced pins arranged in a spaced, substantially circular arrangement about the rotation axis and so that the longitudinal axes of the pins are generally parallel to one another. The direction of movement of the pins along the fiber strand corresponds generally with the direction of movement of the strand through the cavity.

Abstract: A system for infiltrating, with active materials, a porous substrate to form electrodes, typically used for batteries, is described that features a vacuum device having a dynamic distribution assembly which allows for continuous and controlled deposition of electrochemical active materials onto a substrate, as the substrate moves therethrough, while preventing the active materials from leaving the vacuum chamber before infiltrating the substrate. The vacuum device includes a vacuum chamber, in fluid communication with a supply of active materials, and a vacuum pump, disposed within the vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber includes an inlet and an outlet, positioned opposite to the inlet. The first and second opposed major surfaces and a plurality of voids extend therebetween. While disposed within the vacuum chamber, the vacuum pump creates a pressure differential between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coagulating a coextruded collagen gel on a sausage strand by removing residual brine from the strand after coagulation by passing the elongated sausage strand through an aperture of a flexible diaphragm having a diameter equal to that of the strand.

Abstract: A structure for chemical vapor deposition processing includes a substrate carrier (10) having a streamlined shape. When placed in a mainstream flow (21), the substrate carrier (10) maintains a laminar boundary layer over a substrate (17) under high gas flow rate conditions. In a further embodiment, the substrate carrier (10) includes a device (27) for directly injecting a reactant gas stream (33) into the boundary layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for impregnating fibrous strands with plastic material as matrix material including: an impregnating core having an outer limiting surface; an impregnating shell defining a cavity therein having an inner limiting surface, the impregnating shell completely enveloping the impregnating core and being disposed with respect to the impregnating core such that the limiting surfaces together define an impregnating channel therebetween, the limiting surfaces concentrically enclosing the impregnating channel along a joint symmetry axis such that the impregnating channel has a ring-shaped cross section in a plane transverse to the joint symmetry axis, the ring-shaped cross section having an outside dimension which diminishes by stages in a flow direction for the impregnation, feeding channels for the fibrous strands and the matrix material being defined at an intake side of the impregnating channel and a discharge opening for impregnated fibrous strands being defined at an exit side of the impregnating chan

Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating a surface of an elongated strip article, e.g. aluminum sheet, with a layer of solid polymer material. The process involves heating the polymer to produce a melt having a viscosity of at least 1000 centipoise when measured according to ASTM D4440 at 1 radian per second, extruding the melt onto a moving surface of the strip article through an elongated slot in a coating head having an extended surface adjacent to the slot arranged at an angle to the moving surface to form a coating gap converging in the direction of movement, thereby forming a coating on the strip article, and pushing the coating head towards the surface of the strip article as the melt is extruded as the coating onto the surface from the slot to reduce the coating thickness to a desired range by pressing the extended surface of the coating head onto the coating as the coating is formed.

Abstract: In a coating method and apparatus for applying coating liquid onto a web, the coating apparatus includes a rotating member rotatable and contacting with the web; and a support member supporting rotatably the rotating member and including a liquid reservoir formed between the rotating member and the support member, a fluid supply pipe, a cavity filled with the coating liquid and connecting to the fluid supply pipe, and a slit communicating the cavity with the liquid reservoir. The rotating member is supported by a fluid pressure of the liquid reservoir and the coating liquid supplied from the liquid reservoir forms a bead of the coating liquid by the rotating member between the web and the rotating member. The rotating member is floated uniformly in the widthwise direction by the fluid pressure so as to keep a predetermined clearance away from the support member to provide a stable coating. The bead is made uniform in the widthwise direction under any conditions.

Abstract: Smoothing surfaces of a substrate having a profile and irregular surfaces. According to one embodiment, a layer of fill material is applied to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the fill material fills irregularities in the at least one surface. The layer of fill material is scraped from the at least one surface to provide a relatively smooth at least one surface.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a patterned resist of a photocurable material on a circuit board, the uncured portion of which is water soluble. The process includes the steps of forming a layer of an aqueous emulsion of a photocurable material upon the circuit board, drying the layer to a substantially dry and non-tacky state, imagewise exposing the layer to radiation to cure portions of the layer exposed to the radiation, and removing unexposed portions of the layer by washing with water. In a preferred embodiment, the photocurable material is an organic solvent solution of an epoxy acrylate derived from an epoxy novolac resin which has been carboxylated to render it alkali-developable.

Abstract: A process for coating at least one optical waveguide with a filling compound has at least two successive filling stages separated by a wiping device of reduced cross section. In the region of the wiping device, a proportion of the filling compound which is thus wiped off is led past the wiping device by a bypass and is fed once more to coat the optical waveguide in the second filling stage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elongated decorative molding having a decorative surface and a desired cross-sectional profile is provided. A first coating material is applied to a molded core and then the molded core is passed through the opening of a first die. Once hardened, the coated profile is again coated with a second coating material and then passed through a second die.

Abstract: A continuous process for manufacturing a coated fiber reinforced pultruded article or coated extrudate and the coating composition for use in this process. The coating composition includes an isocyanate resin, at least one active hydrogen-containing resin and at least one solvent having an evaporation rate equal to or less than about 0.5. The process and coating composition of the present invention produce fiber reinforced plastic articles having smooth, adherent surface coatings.

Abstract: This invention relates to fiber reinforced composite materials, and to methods and apparatus for forming such materials. The apparatus includes an impregnation chamber having an elongate impregnation passageway with an entrance end and an exit end, means for supplying a polymer material to said impregnation chamber, and means for advancing continuous filament fibers into and through said impregnation chamber, entering through said entrance end and exiting through said exit end, so that the polymer material is immersed in said polymer material. Shear inducing means is mounted in said impregnation chamber and cooperates with said fibers for imparting shear to the polymer material as it contacts the advancing fibers to enhance the wetting and impregnation of the fibers by the polymer material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanical solution applicating device and method for cleaning and/or lubricating a raw stock material as it is being fed to a production machine or station. The applicating device is in the form of a holding tank having a reservoir portion for containing a supply of treating solution. Disposed within the reservoir portion and separated from the treating solution is a bathing tank through which the raw stock material is fed and treated. The feed of the raw stock material is utilized to effect rotation of a scoop wheel which scoops the treating solution out of the reservoir portion and into the bathing tank where the raw stock material is bathed or coated with the treating solution as it is fed therethrough. The rotation of the scoop wheel is effected by a driving wheel journaled thereto disposed in driving relationship with the raw stock material being fed through the bathing tank.

Abstract: A pultrusion machine employing a corrugated impregnator vessel to immerse multiple, continuous strand, fiber tow in an impregnating material, and an adjustable metered exit orifice for the impregnator vessel to control the quantity of impregnating material retained by the impregnated fibers, is provided. An adjustable height insert retains transverse rod elements within each depression of the corrugated vessel to maintain the individual fiber tows spread and in contact with the vessel bottom. A series of elongated heating dies, transversely disposed on the pultrusion machine and having flat heating surfaces with radiused edges, ensure adequate temperature exposed dwell time, and exert adequate pressure on the impregnated fiber tows, to provide the desired thickness and fiber/resin ratio in the prepreg formed. The prepreg passing through the pulling mechanism is wound on a suitable take-up spool for subsequent use. A formula is derived for determining the cross sectional area opening of the metering device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a uniform coating of an adhesive compound to a resin-coated mandrel. A scraper formed from a circular knitted web of long length nylon fibers is located at the leading tip end of a tapered tube to scrape off any excess adhesive and obtain the uniform, smooth coating on the mandrel.

Abstract: This invention relates to composite materials formed by thermoplastic materials reinforced by fibers, and to methods and apparatus for forming such materials, where the thermoplastic and fiber components are such as to impart to the composite materials enhanced strength as compared with materials made previously to this invention. An important distinguishing characteristic of the disclosure is that advancing heated fiber is directed to move in one direction and while a flow of heated thermoplastic material is directed to move in a direction opposite to and in intimate impregnating enclosure of the advancing heated fiber, so that shear forces arising between the advancing heated fiber and the directed flow of thermoplastic material promote wetting and impregnation of the fiber by the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described, for extruding a thermoplastic protective jacket onto a steel pipe. The pipe is first coated with a layer of epoxy which is partly cured, and then is conveyed through a cross-head extruder where a layer of copolymer or other suitable adhesive is applied. The outermost thermoplastic jacket may be co-extruded with the adhesive layer or laid down onto the pipe as it passes through a second cross-head extruder. Radial pressure is applied to a band of surface about the jacketed pipe which has been cooled to a stage such that the outer surface of the thermoplastic is hardened while the inner portion thereof remains above the softening temperature, thereby achieving good adhesion of the jacket to the pipe, without dislocating or blemishing the thermoplastic protective jacket.

Abstract: An in-line filament cleaner and adhesive applicator for an optical fiber (10) which is to be wound onto a canister (22) used as a missile data link, for example, has a first tank (14) containing a cleaning solvent (16), a second tank (18) containing a liquid adhesive (38), and pulleys (24, 26, 28, 34, 36) for moving the fiber (10) through tank (14) to be cleaned along an air path for drying, and through tank (18) where adhesive is applied. An adhesive thickness gauge (20) insures adhesive does not exceed a given maximum and a guid tube (40) directs the adhesive coated fiber at a predetermined angle for winding on the canister (22).

Abstract: An open-ended cylindrical housing (50) with a slot (52) extending along one side contains within its bore first and second roller guides (54, 56) each having a longitudinal extending V-shaped groove (58) in an outer surface. The housing and included roller guides are located as a unit within an adhesive recovery tube (62) having a slot (66) along one side. In use, a fiber (18) with adhesive on its surface moves along the V-shaped grooves. Adjustment of the V-shaped groove aperture existing at the facing roller guide ends is accomplished by relative roller guide rotation.

Abstract: A die bar carrier for use in transporting die bars for enameling magnet wire is disclosed. Such a carrier comprises a sleeve having one closed end and one open end, two sleeve cable notches, one sleeve filament notch situated therebetween, and a rod slidably disposed within the sleeve and partly extending through said open end having two rod cable notches corresponding to said sleeve cable notches, and one rod filament notch situated therebetween.

Abstract: A manifold bar for supplying enamel to a die bar is disclosed. A manifold bar has internal passages which provide a flow path from an enamel supply to the feed holes of a die bar. A method for directing a flow of enamel from an enamel supply to a die bar is also disclosed.

Abstract: Pultrusion with cure by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, for manufacturing FRP wherein a continuous reinforcing material, most commonly, glass roving is first impregnated with a curable liquid resin and pulled through a UV transmittent die having a desired cross section and a sufficient length to effect the cure and, during passage through such a die, the continuous resinous material or FRP material is subjected to exposure to UV radiation to complete the pultrusion. The invention lies in prevention of sticking trend of the uncured resinous material onto the internal wall of the die. The present invention eliminates the sticking trend by a coating on the internal wall of the glass die. Another embodiment of the pultrusion uses a pipe die having a short length which is insufficient to allow completion of the cure reactions, and then, after passing through such a die, the FRP material to be cured is introduced into a medium liquid of UV transmittent type pressure and therein the material is exposed to UV radiation.

Abstract: A resin-stripping die for mounting in a holder on a filament winding machine comprising a body formed of resiliently flexible heat and wear resistant material with a converging, preferably tubular, passage which is slit longitudinally at one side throughout its full length to permit lateral movement of the die onto and off a filament strand. In operation, the die is mounted in a fixed axial position in the holder.

Abstract: A die bar carrier for use in transporting die bars for enameling magnet wire is disclosed. Such a carrier comprises a sleeve having one closed end and one open end, two sleeve cable notches, one sleeve filament notch situated therebetween, and a rod slidably disposed within the sleeve and partly extending through said open end having two rod cable notches corresponding to said sleeve cable notches, and one rod filament notch situated therebetween.

Abstract: A die bar having an integral locking means for selectively engaging transport cables located along the process path of a wire coating apparatus is disclosed. The locking means allows for a die bar to be threaded with wires while in a stationary position, then to engage transport cables which draws the wires along the process path until the die bar reaches a satisfactory position in the process path, where the locking means are released. Claims disclosed are drawn to a die bar with integral locking means, and to a method of transporting wires along the process path using the disclosed die bar.

Abstract: A coating thickness regulating device for regulating the thickness of the paint film coating an elongate article, such as a wire, a pipe or the like, in coating the elongate article by an elongate article coating system. The device comprises a spreading block having a cavity consisting of a cylindrical section and a taper section, an outlet opening, an inlet opening and through holes opening into the cavity; a spreading element formed of a nonwoven web formed by laminating webs of elastic and abrasion-resistant fibers, such as stainless steel fibers and/or copper alloy fibers, and packed in the cavity of the spreading block so as to receive and pass a coated elongate article therethrough; and pressing means for adjustably compressing the spreading element so that the coated elongate article is passed properly through the spreading element to form a uniform paint film having a desired thickness over the surface of the elongate article.

Abstract: A split coating head assembly for elongated strands, the assembly comprising first and second mounting blocks with first and second die components respectively mounted therein, the die components defining therebetween a coating chamber which is in communication with a pressurized source of coating material, the die components forming upper and lower apertures for drawing of the strand vertically therethrough, and through the coating chamber.

Abstract: Coating apparatus for coating a cable with bitumen which is self-contained except for apparatus for supplying a heated fluid to the coating apparatus. The coating apparatus includes a tank for receiving bitumen and has pipes therein to which heated fluid at a temperature sufficient to melt solid bitumen is supplied by external fluid heating apparatus and in which the heated fluid circulates. The cable passes through the apparatus in a trough to which liquid bitumen is supplied by a rotating cylinder partially immersed in the liquid bitumen and connected, for liquid bitumen delivery, to the trough by a pivotable chute. A tiltable cradle receives solid bitumen and dumps it into the tank where it is melted. A wiper in the form of a tensioned, elongate elastic body is wrapped by at least one turn around the cable where it leaves the coating apparatus and an elastic tab engages the cable adjacent the cable inlet to divert liquid bitumen which may flow toward the inlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coating die which has a dilatable orifice, the orifice being dilatable due to the use of a flexible, resilient portion of the die. The die is individually cast and is "strung-up" in the casting process. The preferred use for the die is in the coating of textile filaments, especially small diameter filaments that are slubby.

Abstract: Optical fibers are coated under pressure to reduce the amount of bubbles entrapped in the coating and provide good coating concentricities. The fiber is drawn axially thru a thin-walled, cylindrical flow distribution sleeve which is located between a guide die and a sizing die. The sleeve contains a plurality of evenly distributed holes the number and size of which is such that radial flow of liquid toward the fiber is maintained over the entire length of the sleeve which is less than 1.27 cm.

Abstract: Providing an electrical conductor with an insulation layer having a layer of dielectric carrier with magnetically permeable particles dispersed within the carrier, in which homogeneity is maintained in a fluid mixture of a fluid carrier and the particles, the conductor is moved vertically through a die means to coat it with a fluid layer of the mixture, the fluid carrier is dried and thickness of the dried insulation layer is controlled. This control is achieved by monitoring the thickness or diameter of the dried layer and, if a variation exists between the monitored and required values, the rate of fluid flow through the die means is adjusted to adjust the monitored values towards that required.

Abstract: In a method of insulating an electrical conductor, the conductor passes upwardly through a coating fluid and a die means which is carried in a vertical position by a supporting fluid force. This force is provided by the supporting force of the fluid or a magnetic force which holds the die in suspension. Freedom for horizontal movement of the die is provided to enable it to move in a manner corresponding to any lateral movement of the conductor, this die movement being controlled by hydrodynamic forces between conductor and die to maintain the concentricity of a fluid layer formed on the conductor.

Abstract: The applicator is annular in configuration, having top and bottom walls formed of elastic material. The central openings through these walls are undersized, so that the walls seal around the string of pipe passing through the openings. The applicator is mounted on the string and is free to move laterally with it. Thus there is provided a free-floating, sealed, annular spray chamber mounted on the string and free to move laterally with it. A ring of nozzles is mounted within the chamber for spraying the string. A pump and conduit supply pressurized chemical to the nozzles. A vacuum pump and conduit suck excess chemical from the chamber for recovery.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elongated decorative molding having a decorative surface and a desired cross-sectional profile is provided. A first coating material is applied to a molded core and then the molded core is passed through the opening of a first die. Once hardened, the coated profile is again coated with a second coating material and then passed through a second die.