With Winding Of Filamentary Material Patents (Class 156/169)
  • Patent number: 5186781
    Abstract: An optical fiber (12) is removably held in place on a payout bobbin (14) using an adhesive. The adhesive is applied directly to the optical fiber (12) by passing the optical fiber (12) through a pressure-less die applicator (28) that applies a uniform thin layer of adhesive to the optical fiber (12), prior to winding onto the bobbin (14). Winding preferably proceeds continuously within layers, and from layer to layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Verville
  • Patent number: 5167741
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric sample, which includes the steps of winding a thread around a Teflon-coated core plate in a first direction to form a first layer of thread; spraying a transparent hotmelt adhesive to the first layer of thread; winding a thread around the first layer of thread on the core plate in a second direction at an angle with respect to the first direction to form a second layer of thread; placing a Teflon sheet on the second layer; placing a heated iron upon the Teflon sheet so that the hotmelt adhesive is cured to form a tubular fabric structure; and cutting the tubular fabric structure into a flat fabric sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Inventor: Touru Itoi
  • Patent number: 5154788
    Abstract: A continuous filament is selected from among a group of appropriate types of filaments, and selection of the filament length and the filament thickness is made as well. A matrix material is selected from a group of appropriate types of matrix materials. Filaments of the selected type, length and thickness are undirectionally imbedded in the selected matrix to provide a uniaxial continuously reinforced composite. The Young's modulus, E.sub.c, and the shear modulus G.sub.c, are calculated for the composite. Mathematical formulas are provided for calculation of upper and lower bounds of transverse stiffness, B. A mathematical formula is provided for calculation of critical comprehensive stress, P.sub.c. Transverse stiffness, B, is involved as one of the factors in this formula. Either one or the other of the upper bound of B or the lower bound of B are alternatively applied in calculating P.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis C. Spicola, Neil J. Dubois
  • Patent number: 5152859
    Abstract: A cylindrical-shaped storage tank with substantially flattened ends is jacketed in a manner which results in storage tank system capable of holding detecting liquid or being placed under non-atmospheric pressure without structural damage. The storage tank initially has end plates mounted on its flattened ends. Thereafter, a separating agent is applied over the side walls of the storage tank, a layer of fibrous reinforcing material applied on the separating agent and the end plates, and a resinous material applied. The resultant jacket is independent from the side walls of the inner tank. True secondary containment is provided by the end plates and jacket. A fail safe containment storage tank system is provided by the use of independent leak detection means to monitor the closed space between the storage tank and end plates and the closed annular space between the storage tank and jacket for tank or jacket leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: Bruce R. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5145543
    Abstract: A combination filament winding and tape laying apparatus and method for applying matrix impregnated fibrous material to a generally cylindrical mandrel which is rotated about its cylindrical axis in a stationary horizontal position. A filament winding head is moved horizontally along the length of the mandrel by a carriage for filament winding. A platform is attached to the carriage. A tape applying head is mounted on the platform for applying tape whereby it is unnecessary to move the mandrel from a filament winding machine to a tape laying machine when both operations are required. The tape laying head is preferably portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Redd, Mark L. Enders, Michael H. Young, William T. Dolling
  • Patent number: 5135591
    Abstract: A phosphorescent fiber reinforced plastic article comprising a fabric carrying a phosphorescent material encapsulated on a surface of a cured fiber reinforced plastic material made by a variety of processes including, but not limited to, pultrusion, compression molding, filament winding, contact molding, resin transfer molding, a continuous panel process, or structural reaction injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Precision Fabrics Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Vockel, Jr., Robert E. Myers, Ladson L. Fraser
  • Patent number: 5118373
    Abstract: A process for winding fiber material into a plurality of wrappings by using a winding device which has a rotational axis and two side walls arranged perpendicular to the rotational axis. Each side wall has two slits extending from the middle portion to both extreme ends of the side wall. The process includes the steps of rotating the side walls about its axis and bringing a supply of bolts into the radius of the side walls and feeding at least one bolt into the two adjacent slits in the side walls while the winding device is in rotation. Fiber material is wrapped around the bolts and additional bolts may be inserted during winding until the desired number of fiber wrappings is reached. After the winding is completed, the wrappings of fibers are placed in a mold and impregnated with resin and the resin is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Bruno Krummenacher
  • Patent number: 5116451
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method and system of injecting material into a wound filament items such as a fiber optic canister is provided. The method is useful with a canister which, when dry wound, has at least one channel formed therein.In one aspect, the method includes the step of injecting adhesive into the channel to impregnate the canister with adhesive. In another aspect, the method includes the additional step of discharging adhesive from a second channel to remove excess adhesive from the canister. The method may also include the step of circulating air through the two channels to purge excess adhesive and solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: George W. LeCompte
  • Patent number: 5106442
    Abstract: A method of producing a collar on a cylindrical composite fiber body, wherein the composite fiber body has a longitudinal axis and wherein a plurality of layers of resin impregnated fiber windings are wound to form the composite fiber body, after which the resin is hardened, includes the following steps: (a) forming a bead by winding resin impregnated fiber windings circumferentially about the cylindrical composite fiber body such that the bead has continuously rising flanks on both longitudinally spaced sides; (b) providing two clamping sleeves, each clamping sleeve having an end face extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the composite fiber body, a conical surface portion adjacent the end face, and an interior surface portion which is adjacent the conical surface portion and which conforms to the outer surface of the cylindrical composite fiber body; (c) applying the clamping sleeves about the composite fiber body while the composite fiber body is still wet, such that each end fac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Uranit GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Corr
  • Patent number: 5106443
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of pipe from composite materials for industrial and drinking water, produced by the filament-winding method from epoxy resins and 1,7-bis-[1-(2'-aminoethyl)-1,3-diaza-2-cyclopenten-2-yl]-heptane and/or 1,8-bis-[1-(2'-aminoethyl)-1,3-diaza-2-cyclopenten-2-yl]octane as curing agents and commonly used reinforcing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Schering AG
    Inventors: Christian Burba, Herbert Franz, Alwin Krotzek, Werner Mrotzek
  • Patent number: 5091028
    Abstract: This invention provides a heat-resistant voice coil of H class in heat-resistance standard, which is characterized in that an electrically insulated adhesive paint applied onto both a bobbin and conductor wire is mainly consisted of a mixture comprising all aromatic polyamide resin and a hardening agent composed of aromatic polyamic acid. This invention further provides a method of manufacturing such a heat-resistant voice coil, wherein the conductor wire coated with the paint is wound around the bobbin preliminarily coated with the paint in a semihardened state, while applying a non-water polar solvent onto the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Totoku Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Yamazaki, Toshiro Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 5091029
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a multi-legged (preferably five) flexbeam for a hingeless flexbeam helicopter rotor, which flexbeam is of one-piece construction and made solely of composite materials, and includes full length plies of unidirectional high strength fibers extending from a first leg and splitting in passing through the hub portion of the flexbeam, and then extending into two substantially diametrically opposite legs, and having cross and unidirectional plies interspersed between the full length plies to effect the desired taper and shape of the flexbeam hub and legs, and wherein the final ply lay-up is made on a rotatable lay-up tool of dodecahedron shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. R. Davis, Allen J. McIntire
  • Patent number: 5085722
    Abstract: A composite material is produced from a metal core and fiber-reinforced plastic material, in which the reinforcing fibers penetrate into and entwine around the metal core without coming into contact with the metal core. Parts for aircraft and turbine construction can be made from the composite material to provide higher impact strength and rigidity at less weight as compared to metal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: MTU Motoren und Turbinen-Union Munchen GmbH
    Inventor: Seigfried Sikorski
  • Patent number: 5082514
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced polymer beam may be manufactured by winding one or more strands of resin coated fibers about four pins mounted upon a winding fixture, each pin being independently translatable along the winding fixture and being independently extendable into, and retractable out of, the winding fixture. As the fiber is wound around the two exterior pins the interior pins will retract and translate to positions exterior of the pins being wound and will then extend to receive the next wrap of fiber. As the exterior pins are wound the interior pins continue to be translated to a position outside of the pins being wound so as to be in position to receive the next wrap of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Inventor: William B. Howell
  • Patent number: 5064490
    Abstract: An optical fiber package (20) is provided by winding a plurality of convolutions in a plurality of layers on a bobbin. To each layer is applied an adhesive material (45) which in a preferred embodiment is a mixture comprising a reactive silicone copolymer resin, a solvent system which includes an aromatic constituent, a catalyst and a wetting agent. The mixture has a modulus behavior which is relatively stable with respect to time throughout a relatively wide operating temperature. Inasmuch as the solvent system and the method of application of the mixture are effective to control the rate of precipitation and the rate of cure of the silicone constituent, the surface roughness of the convolutions is controlled. After the desired number of convolutions have been wound, the package is subjected to a heat treatment which relieves stresses in the wound fiber and which completes the cure of the adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: John T. Chapin, Charles W. Jackson, Thomas O. Mensah, Mickey R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5062914
    Abstract: Fibers, which are substantially longitudinally profiled, are wound both around a cylindrical mandrel and a metallic double cone-shaped tip which is engaged onto said mandrel. Said fibers are turned back about studs distributed on a ring which is mounted on a threaded portion extending from the tip, whereupon said longitudinal fibers are binded thereto by means of circumferential fibers before the polymerization process of the tube has been completed. The composite tubes thus produced may be used in off-shore oil prospecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignees: Areospatiale, Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Fuchs, Marcel Auberon, Pierre Odru, Charles Sparks
  • Patent number: 5047106
    Abstract: A flexbeam for rotor blades of a helicopter comprises a flapping flexible structure forming a mast mounting and flapping part, a flexible structure forming a feathering and lead-lag motion part coupled with the flapping flexible structure, and a rotor blade mounting part located at the free end of the flexible structure and adapted to be coupled with a rotor blade. The feathering and lead-lag motion part comprises an elongated central member made of a composite fiber material, and a pair of elongated frame members disposed along the longitudinal sides of the central member. The frame members are each made of loops of unidirectional composite fiber material and has a Y-shaped cross section. The feathering and lead-lag motion part is fabricated by integrally joining the central member and the frame members along the longitudinal sides of the latter. The Y-shaped cross section has a pair of parallel ribs extending away from the central member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadahiro Matsumoto, Kiyoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 5039367
    Abstract: A method of making a jacketed storage tank comprises applying an open-cell synthetic foam over a rigid inner storage tank, applying a layer of fibrous reinforcing material on the separating agent, and applying a resinous material. The synthetic foam is at least partly sealed to prevent excessive resinous material penetration so as to maintain the continuous open-cell nature of the foam. The resultant jacket is structurally independent from the storage tank, yet is in such close proximity thereto that the resultant jacketed storage tank has an integral structural strength capable of withstanding external load forces normally encountered by underground storage tanks. Secondary containment with leak detection capability is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Bruce R. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5032200
    Abstract: A method including the steps of providing a balloon and inflating the balloon from a pressurized source. Subsequently the balloon is formed with a knot adjacent its nozzle. The balloon is then subject to a step of completely encasing the balloon with a fibrous yarn. The yarn is then coated with a liquid glue adhesive and dried to provide a rigid housing. The balloon is then punctured and removed from within the housing. The housing is of a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration defined by a major and minor axis wherein a first cut is directed along a major axis of the housing and a second cut is directed orthogonally relative to the first cut about a minor axis of the elliptical cross-sectional housing to define first and second edges and to define a quadrant of the housing that is removed and discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventors: Joann DiBartola, Lawrence S. DiBartola
  • Patent number: 4978413
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Daniel K. Schotter
  • Patent number: 4973372
    Abstract: The tie-bar (10) comprises a pair of spaced-apart bushings (12, 14) each having end flanges (16) extending from a central cylindrical portion and a through opening (18) for connecting to flexing structures. A plurality of wires (20) comprises bands (22) of parallel wires (20) wrapped endlessly about the spaced-apart bushings (12, 14) provide a tie-bar (10) having bushings (12, 14) disposed at the ends and connected by a pair of spaced-apart side portions (24) of superimposed bands (22). The wires (20) are coated with a dry film lubricant so that the wires (20) are dry wrapped about the bushings (12, 14), and then a resin material (23) encapsulated about the dry wrapped wire bands (22) and bushings (12, 14). A body (26) of resin material disposed between the spaced-apart side portions (24) and the bushings (12, 14) maintains the spaced-apart relationship of the bushings (12, 14) by withstanding the compressive tension of the tightly wrapped wires (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Ditlinger
  • Patent number: 4963210
    Abstract: A method of producing an elongate article comprises the step of providing, by winding a filament, a plurality of superposed layers to form a hollow cylinder having open ends. At least one of the layers is formed of a circumferential winding and at least one of the layers is formed of a cross winding. The cross winding has fibers having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and is oriented at a predetermined inclined angle to the cylinder axis. The method further comprises the step of securing to the open ends of the hollow cylinder end pieces comprised of a material having a high surface hardness and dimensional stability. The inclined angle has such a magnitude that temperature-caused changes in the axial length of the hollow cylinder compensate for temperature-caused changes in the axial length of the end pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: URANIT GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Corr, Rudolf Hackenberg, Bernd-Horst Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4954196
    Abstract: Liquid acid anhydrides are excellent curatives for epoxy resins but state of the art processing methods require cures at temperatures in excess of 100.degree. C. to obtain well cured polymers. It has been found that a resinous liquid polyol prepared from a polyol and an epoxy resin in the presence of a quaternary ammonium compound acts as an excellent promoter for the epoxy resin anhydride reaction producing well cured polymers at temperatures of about 70.degree. C. The use of a metallo-organic compound in addition to the resinous polyol provides for rapid gelation and development of cure at 70.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: Ronald L. De Hoff
  • Patent number: 4954194
    Abstract: A method for making an Airspring and Sleeve that each have a chamber portion and rolling lobe portion reinforced with successive layers of embedded cord by winding cord in one layer at opposite helical angles from cord of a second successive layer and winding cord at inconstant helical angles in an annular band portion of at least one of the sleeve portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The Gates Rubber Company
    Inventor: Michael L. Crabtree
  • Patent number: 4952022
    Abstract: A fiber optic illuminating device is formed by assembling a plurality of large diameter fibers into a bundled array. An entrance face of the array is arranged in a circular configuration proximate a light source, and the output face is deformed by heating and compressing the circular fiber ends into a rectangular configuration. The light output exits the array in a linear beam having improved uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Frank C. Genovese
  • Patent number: 4952265
    Abstract: In this mat consisting of filament loop aggregations, irregular form loops are formed in the upright direction by respectively winding to be coil-like many filaments coarse in the arranging intervals and made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin and are fused in the intersecting parts and the other loops are formed in the laterally fallen direction and are fused in the overlapping parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Risuron
    Inventors: Minoru Yamanaka, Tetsuo Amawa
  • Patent number: 4943334
    Abstract: A warp-free laminate is produced by winding a first set of strands or filaments about a flat mandrel with a second set of strands being wound transverse to the first set. The two sets may be perpendicular to each other. The filaments are maintained under a controlled tension while being impregnated with a resin and during subsequent cure of the resin. In order to permit the formation of a warp-free product, the winding pattern is such that it forms a mirror image about a neutral axis or plane of symmetry. The winding pattern may be chosen to provide interstices in a predetermined pattern permitting punching out or high speed drilling of hole openings for subsequent printed circuit applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Compositech Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonas Medney, Fred E. Klimpl
  • Patent number: 4921557
    Abstract: This invention relates in general to fabricating fiber-reinforced membranes sing elastomeric materials and, in particular, to a filament winding process suitable for fabricating flexible fiber-reinforced membranes for inflatable depolyable or expandable structures capable of sustaining high structural loads or providing thermal insulation to the structure. The invention relates especially to a filament winding process for fabricating a flexible membrane which may be inflated to provide a conically shaped deployable nose fairing for a missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wayne H. Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4917756
    Abstract: The machine comprises a frame (1, 2, 3, 4), a rotary mandrel (15) mounted on a horizontal shaft (14), a vertical arm (12) having a detachable work device (20) at the lower end of the arm, and means (M1, M2, M3) for shifting the arm (12) along three orthogonal axes (X, Y, Z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Georges J. J. Cahuzac, Francois Monget
  • Patent number: 4913757
    Abstract: A method of producing a mat consisting of filament loop aggregations. The first step is that of forming a first filament loop aggregation low in the filament density wherein many filaments are made. These by extruding a thermoplastic synthetic resin out of a T-die and arranging the resin longitudinally and laterally at intervals for continuous molding. The resin is deposited on a boiling water surface. The filament temperature is maintained close to the temperature at the time of molding by heating while the filament bundle is vertically lowered toward a cooling water surface and is sunk into water in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki-Kaisha Risuron
    Inventors: Minoru Yamanaka, Tesuo Amawa
  • Patent number: 4886562
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing reinforced optical fiber including conveying optical fiber from a source; symmetrically, coaxially winding reinforcing fiber to a selected density per unit length around the optical fiber; forming an resin matrix among the reinforcing fibers; and coating the resin matrix with an external coating. Reinforcing a predetermined length of an elongated optical fiber comprises gradually reducing the thickness of the external coating and then gradually reducing the density of reinforcing fiber and the thickness of the resin matrix to form a transition from a reinforced fiber and a non-reinforced fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: George T. Pinson
  • Patent number: 4878984
    Abstract: Apparatus whereby a filament web impregnated with resin in the unpolymerized state is fed to a pole (1) at a predetermined angle (.alpha.) with respect to a plane perpendicular to this latter. The pole (1) is drawn in rotation about its axis (X-X') and the filament web is displaced along the pole from the bottom end to the top end thereof in a direction parallel to the axis of the pole while this latter is being driven in rotation. A plurality of parallel fiber slivers (8, 9, 10) spaced a distance apart are fed simultaneously to the pole (1) in a plurality of layers. The spacing between the slivers is progressively increased during displacement of the slivers between the bottom end and the top end of the pole and progressively decreased in the opposite direction. Similarly, the angle of the slivers to a plane perpendicular to that axis is progressively increased and decreased in the same directions that the spacing is increased and decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Manufacture d'Appareillage Electrique de Cahors
    Inventor: Pierre Bourrieres
  • Patent number: 4869761
    Abstract: A filament winding payoff unit and process for applying strands of adhesive impregnated filament material arranged into a gap-free band to a rotating mandrel. A plurality of side-by-side slightly overlapped impregnated filament strands are passed over bars between tines of combs for positioning when leaving the payoff head. The payoff head is positionable toward and away from the rotating mandrel to allow for mandrel longitudinal dimension changes while maintaining the payoff head roller in contact with the mandrel at a predetermined pressure thereagainst. The payoff head is also freely pivotable horizontally to maintain a proper angle of filament application to any changing mandrel longitudinal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Rohr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar Weingart, Gerald A. Lunde, Clark D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4862763
    Abstract: A composite, carbon-carbon rotor or rotor hub (20) for use in power translating devices, such as in a turbine engine or in fluid pumps, includes a plurality of carbon-carbon laminate plies (P1-P25) layered to form the thickness of the rotor. The plies include alternating plies of cloth and spiral plies of fibrous material having different diameters to provide a desired variation in the cross-sectional configuration of the rotor. The individual spiral plies may vary in thickness from near the center to the outer edge and may be either tapered or formed to other contours. The cloth plies are positioned at predetermined orientations such that the strand axes are not aligned. These plies consist of fibrous carbon or graphite filament tape preimpregnated with a thermosetting polymer material, such as phenolic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: LTV Aerospace & Defense Company
    Inventors: Earl L. Stone, III, James C. Foster, Stanley L. Whitcher
  • Patent number: 4857125
    Abstract: Radially extending fibers are disposed over a conical surface at predetermined sites. The sites correspond to vertices of a pattern of contiguous congruent squares inscribed onto the surface of a sector of a circle which may be conformally mapped into the conical surface. Vertices of the pattern coincide along the join line meridian of the conical surface. Fibers are disposed along element paths between the radially extending fibers and preferably, a continuous fiber is used. The material obtained is without any seams or discontinuities and exhibits an invariant fiber volume fraction along the axis and circumference of the conical surface. The material may be used to reinforce an object having a conical surface or to fabricate a preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard M. Fenton
  • Patent number: 4849037
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a fiber reinforced plastic structure, comprising the steps of winding a continuous long-staple fiber impregnated with a liquid resin around a plurality of winding jigs until the resultant bundle of resin impregnated fibers attains a predetermined thickness; setting rings tightly in place on the linear portions of the resin impregnated fiber bundle between the jigs; and moving the tightly set rings relative to the linear portions thereby wringing the resin impregnated fiber bundle and expelling bubbles entrapped within the fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kondo, Yasuhiro Tsuchiya, Yasushi Yamazawa, Masaki Terada, Tosio Aoki, Takatsune Niimi, Takashi Yamamoto, Kunihiro Matsuba
  • Patent number: 4838970
    Abstract: Elongated, large diameter, helically wound, hollow fiber bundles which are stable, do not require "dead-end tubesheets" to keep the bundle ends from slipping and exhibit only slight "dog-boning" can be formed by controlling the winding parameters so that the bundle consists of successively shorter or longer "formations" of successively longer strata, each stratum consisting of from about one to a plurality of coverages (of the underlying core or bundle surface).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Patricia A. Thibos
  • Patent number: 4780165
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for encasing drainage pipes, using fibrous or particulate loose filler material guided onto the drainage pipe by means of a hollow screw and held there with a permeable envelope material preferably wound round with a filament. The pitch or number of threads on the screw, the height thereof and the speed at which the screw rotates determine the amount of filler material applied to the drainage pipe per unit of area. The apparatus comprises a machine consisting of a guide tube carrying an internal hollow screw, the drainage pipe being guided in the interior of the screw, the encasing envelope material being placed externally upon the said guide tube and preferably being wound around with a filament at the end of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Corma, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann Stover, Alfons Meyer
  • Patent number: 4750960
    Abstract: A winding system for winding a filament includes a winder having a winder support with a rotatably winding head. A spool for scoring filament is rotatably mounted on the head and the head is provided with a filament dispensing eye which can be rotated in a circular path for winding a mandrel. The mandrel is held at a fixed location. A robot mnaipulator arm is connected to the winder and indexes the winder to a plurality of positions around the fixed mandrel. At each selected position, the winding head is rotated by a selected amount to achieve any complex or simple winding cofiguration, in a plurality of planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Bubeck
  • Patent number: 4666543
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical hollow fiber device for removing waste material in the blood, including the steps of providing a housing; coiling hollow fiber membranes into loops; providing bundles of the loops whose entire interior is filled with a liquid and placing them into the housing; closing both ends of the housing with caps; supplying viscous potting material into the housing at the end portions of the hollow fiber membranes, and applying a centrifugal force to the housing. The potting material penetrates between the end portions and exerts an outside pressure on the membranes. The liquid in the membranes moves toward both ends of the housing and exerts an inside pressure overcoming the outside pressure of the potting material until the potting material solidifies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Kasasumi Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Takumi Kawano
  • Patent number: 4659071
    Abstract: In the process for producing a leaf spring which, at least in essential springy sections, is composed of a fiber-reinforced plastic material, a continuous web (9) is formed comprised of reinforcing fibers, appropriately in the form of fiber rovings or fibrous tissues, with the reinforcing fibers being appropriately impacted or impregnated with a hardenable plastic substance, whereupon intermediate layer pieces (37) are appropriately put on the continuous web (9). The continuous web (9) is then wound up in several layers (36) on a rotating pick-up device (27) into a continuous reel (35), with the intermediate layer pieces (37) arranging themselves in the continuous reel (35) between contiguous superposed continuous web layers (36); the continuous reel (35) is then placed in a mold in such a manner that it adjoins along its entire periphery the barrel-shaped contact area of the mold chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Isosport Verbundbautiele Ges. m.b.H.
    Inventor: Herbert Woltron
  • Patent number: 4627307
    Abstract: A core material for steering wheels, comprising a boss equipped with sleeves in a unitary structure, each of which sleeves has a slit in the axial direction thereof, said sleeves further being packed with superposed fiber strands; a ring portion; and spoke portions which connect said ring portion to said boss and being formed by winding and stretching continuous long-staple fiber strands impregnated with a resin to form the superposed strands within said sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamazawa, Yasuhiro Tsutiya, Masaki Terada, Tosio Aoki, Hiroyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 4622086
    Abstract: In this method of fabricating a hollow body, a first layer of fiber-reinforced hard-elastic plastic is formed to produce an inner layer of the hollow body with the fibers of the fiber-reinforced hard-elastic plastic extending skew to the longitudinal axis of the hollow body within a predetermined range of fiber orientation angles. A second outer layer of fiber-reinforced hard-elastic plastic is formed around the inner layer with the fibers oriented in a predetermined different range of fiber orientation angles. At least one of the layers is heated to a desired elevated temperature. At least one of the layers is subjected to a predetermined force or combination of forces. The hollow body is then cooled to the hard-elastic state, locking internal stresses into the two layers when the applied forces are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Alfred Puck
    Inventors: Alfred Puck, Thomas Rau
  • Patent number: 4601769
    Abstract: A method is described for stabilizing the viscosity of a liquid epoxy-anhydride system which is a blend of a liquid epoxy resin, a liquid anhydride curing agent and a quaternary ammonium salt promoter for an epoxy-anhydride reaction. This system is especially useful in the manufacture of tubing, piping and other geometric structures. The method employs at least one of the following modifications:(1) adding a minor amount of a solid epoxy resin to the liquid epoxy resin;(2) adding to the liquid anhydride a minor amount of solid anhydride of high reactivity;(3) adding to the epoxy-anhydride system a solid resinous particulate material in finely ground form which is capable of reacting with the epoxy resin and acid anhydride, and is soluble in the epoxy-anhydride system at temperatures below the gelation temperature; and(4) adding a metallo-organic compound which lowers the initiation temperature or accelerates the epoxy-anhydride reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Inventor: Ronald L. DeHoff
  • Patent number: 4588106
    Abstract: A pressure vessel having two separately formed vessel halves which are joined to form a compartment along a juncture, one of the halves further having a service port of a size sufficient to allow an individual to fully enter the vessel for working therein. The compartment is sealed at the juncture by a bonding layer surrounding both sides of the juncture inside and outside of the compartment, and is then wrapped circumferentially with tensioned, resin-wetted fiberglass filament. The vessel may have at least one fitted conduit which communicates with the interior of the compartment, the outer surface of the conduit adjacent to the compartment having an irregular surface which has been wrapped with resin-wetted, tensioned fiberglass filament. The juncture between the conduit and the compartment is overlayed with a layer of fiberglass material and subsequently coated with resin to form a rigid, fluid-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Inventors: Robert G. Stark, Sr., Robert G. Stark, Jr., Janet S. Ellis, Tom Stark
  • Patent number: 4529139
    Abstract: Elongate articles of non-circular cross section such as those of an airfoil cross section are constructed by winding filamentary material in layers about a form between a pair of spaced turnarounds generally conforming in shape to the cross sectional shape of the form. Adjacent layers are continuously wound by winding the filamentary material across the edges and outer face of each turnaround while reversing the direction of relative longitudinal displacement between the filamentary material and the form. The shape correspondence between the turnarounds and the form effect a minimization of expanse between the turnaround edge and form surface, thereby minimizing bridging of the filamentary material between those two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Smith, Warren H. Pinter
  • Patent number: 4495231
    Abstract: An improved fiber composite including a first layer (18) having a plurality of elongate flexible fabric segments (16) for laying up on and conforming to an elongate irregularly shaped temporary support (10) to substantially cover support (10) and a plurality of continuous yarns (b 17) extending substantially the length of support (10). A second layer (26) includes a continuous yarn (20) wound peripherally upon the first layer (18) and oriented substantially orthogonally with the longitudinal yarns (17) of first layer (18). A method for manufacturing the fiber composite is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: A. Theodore Laskaris, Paul J. Roy
  • Patent number: 4483214
    Abstract: A method for the production by resin injection moulding of fibre reinforced articles from fibrous material bonded in a curable matrix material which articles comprise two or more spokes (2, 3, 4) extending from a hub portion (1), each spoke (2, 3, 4) being in the form of a loop is characterized in that the fibrous material is arranged such that at least as many rovings (13, 14, 15 or 22, 23, 24) of the fibrous material as there are spokes (2, 3, 4) extend in continuous paths from the hub portion (1) around each of the spokes, each of the rovings being overlaid for at least part of its length by each of the other rovings. The method is suitable for the production of intricately shaped articles which are to be highly stressed for example by being subjected to high rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventor: Rayner M. Mayer
  • Patent number: 4479837
    Abstract: A thickenable composition for sheet and bulk thermoset molding is described which comprises an adduct of a medium to high vinyl alkadiene polymer with a cyclic or acyclic anhydride of a mono or decarboxylic acid, a thickening agent, an organic peroxide, and a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, liquid alkanols and mixtures thereof. Magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide are the preferred thickening agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Guy Senatore
  • Patent number: H219
    Abstract: Improved method of manufacturing composite rocket motor cases and laminated tructures is disclosed which includes a layered procedure wherein a high percentage of a highly flexibilized, low-modulus epoxy blend of a resin composition is employed in the matrix of the innermost layer section with a subsequent, gradual addition of a toughened (or hard) high-modulus resin to the filament impregnating bath during the filament winding process to achieve a higher-modulus resin composition in the intervening layers with the highest modulus resin composition being in the outermost layer section to achieve a gradation in mechanical properties to mechanical behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: David C. Sayles