Between Plural Webs Patents (Class 156/179)
  • Patent number: 5788804
    Abstract: A machine is described for the production of pre-man made-reinforcement formations especially having a thermoplastic matrix. The machine has a guiding-in device for reinforcement fibers and down-stream in the feeding direction there is a calender roller and thereafter is a winding device. At least in the area of the guiding-in device for the reinforcement fibers there is provided a needle track formed as a transport conveyor which serves as a fixation for the guided-in and deposited reinforcement fibers prior to being calendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Liba Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Horsting
  • Patent number: 5709762
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for manufacturing flexible, reinforced ducting, a method for making flexible, reinforced ducting and a flexible, reinforced ducting article of manufacture. A wheel carrying spools of reinforcing string rotates at a rate synchronous to a mandrel preparing a laminated ducting wall to lay down a longitudinal string reinforcement between the layers of the laminated wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Karen F. Hurwitz and Daniel N. Lundeen, P.C.
    Inventor: Gene R. Rowan
  • Patent number: 5690770
    Abstract: A composite friction unit includes a three dimensional composite body formed of a substantially uniform array of predominately glass strands of primary reinforcing fibers in matrix of phenolic resin material, the reinforcing fibers distributed throughout the body in a predetermined uniform distribution and orientation, and a substantially uniform array and distribution of secondary fibers extending transverse to the primary fibers thereby forming a friction unit having a predetermined size and configuration and uniform distribution and alignment of fibers throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Glasline Friction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin V. Booher
  • Patent number: 5667613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a machine for producing a reinforcement in the form of a block for a composite component formed by said reinforcement embedded in a cured matrix.According to the invention, said block (B) is made up by continuously forming a succession of superposed sheets, and the machine, comprising a stand provided with a subframe and with uprights for mounting at least one frame which can move along said uprights, capable of receiving a thread laying-down tool which can move in a plane transverse to said uprights, is noteworthy in that it comprises an additional frame (6) which can move along said uprights (4) and is provided with pegs (9) for hooking on said straight portions of thread (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Lucien Fantino, Georges Cahuzac
  • Patent number: 5665450
    Abstract: Glass ribbon-reinforced transparent polymer composites which provide excellent optical transparency and a low distortion level over a wide temperature range while exhibiting superior mechanical properties as compared to non-reinforced polymer counterparts, and equivalent properties as compared to glass fiber-reinforced counterparts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Delbert E. Day, James O. Stoffer, John M. Barr
  • Patent number: 5624516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of applying dry powder in a controlled manner to a variety of surfaces to form shapes, coatings, or composite materials. This is achieved by coating the surface with a tacky substance, applying the powder, and then coating the powder with a barrier coating that is insoluble in the solvent used in the tacky layer. The process is repeated to add the desired amount of powder. By the selection of powder size, size distribution, shape, and number of layers, precise control of mass loading can be achieved. The method can be used with titanium powder to form powder-coated fiber, non-woven mat, and tape cast performs which can be processed into fiber reinforced composite materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Atlantic Research Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Hanusiak, Lisa B. Hanusiak, Jeffrey M. Parnell, Steven R. Spear, Charles R. Rowe
  • Patent number: 5611017
    Abstract: A fiber optic ribbon cable has release elements manufactured in line with the ribbon cable so as to provide access points to the optical fibers contained therein to allow for easy application of a connector in the field. A pair of adhesive tape layers is provided about the optical fibers to create a fiber optic ribbon cable. At least one release element is provided between the adhesive tape layers and the optical fibers at one or more access points along the ribbon cable to allow for subsequent connectorization of the fibers therein. When the ribbon cable needs to be equipped with a connector, the cable is cut near the midpoint of one of the access point. After the cable is cut the adhesive tape layers and the at least one release element may be easily peeled back exposing the optical fibers. A connector is then installed onto the exposed fibers. The at least one release element is removed from the tape layers and the tape is then secured to the connector with any excess tape being trimmed off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Lee, Barbara A. DeBaun, Gordon D. Henson, Scott A. Igl, Terry L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5543012
    Abstract: An improved, low-cost stretchable band incorporating a conductor for disposition around the human torso or other three-dimensional object, and particularly intended for use with respiration monitoring apparatus, is disclosed. Also presented is an improved enclosure housing circuitry releasable connected to the conductor in the band when the band is incorporated in respiration monitoring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Non-Invasive Monitoring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman L. Watson, Chu Pak
  • Patent number: 5512119
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid prepreg having reinforcing carbon fibers and foreign fibers. The carbon fibers have a diameter ranging from 5-30 microns and are unidirectionally arranged. The foreign fibers are composed either of single monofilaments having a diameter ranging from between about 50-150 microns or of strands formed by bundling together a plurality of single monofilaments having a diameter ranging from between about 5-50 microns. If strands are employed, they have a conversion diameter (D.sub.0) which is less than about 500 microns. The conversion diameter (D.sub.0) is represented by the following equation: ##EQU1## wherein n is the number of monofilaments used in forming the strand, and wherein d is the diameter of these monofilaments. Examples of foreign fibers which can be used when practicing this invention include boron fibers, metal fibers and organic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Tonen Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Takezawa, Makiji Miyao, Sadahisa Wada, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5470632
    Abstract: An improved reinforced laminate for use in sails or other flexible sheet or membrane applications utilizes a pull-truded thin lightweight reinforcing sheet of unidirectional extruded monofilaments in which the reinforcing sheet or sheets form one or more uni-tapes laminated to a polymer film such as Mylar, or other extended sheet of material. The monofilaments are uniformly embedded in the uni-tape via an elastomeric polymer matrix, with the reinforcing sheet, when incorporated into sails via lamination resulting in sails with reinforcing monofilaments having diameters 5 times less than conventional strands or threads. The use of small diameter monofilaments greatly increases the monofilament-over-monofilament crossover density, resulting in a dramatic increase in shear strength, and Youngs' Modulus, with an accompanying dramatic decrease in weight. In one embodiment the improvement in specific modulus over conventional sail laminates is about six-fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: America.sup.3 Foundation
    Inventors: Heiner Meldner, Roland J. Downs
  • Patent number: 5445693
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of providing a formable composite material comprising providing a reinforcing material (9) having a plurality of superimposed layers (1-6), each layer consisting of a plurality of unidirectional non-woven yarns or threads (10) laid side-by-side, the yarns or threads in at least some of the different layers extending in different directions, said layers being stitched (12) together, and before said stitching incorporating in or with the reinforcing material (9) a matrix material (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Vane
  • Patent number: 5443898
    Abstract: A process for producing nonwoven webs having improved strength properties at high throughputs is provided. In the process, a non-uniform blend of a polyolefin and a prodegradant is formed. The non-uniform blend is then rapidly heated to cause the substantially immediate thermal degradation of the prodegradant, thus providing a non-uniformly degraded polyolefin having a fraction substantially reduced in molecular weight and a fraction substantially unaffected in molecular weight as compared to the starting polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Fiberweb North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Gessner, Marcus C. Merriman, Charles H. Parson
  • Patent number: 5425831
    Abstract: Optical fiber (12)extending from an optical coupler (11) is routed on a substrate layer (13) by first inserting the optical coupler in a device holder (16) having a slotted member (17). An opening in a substrate layer is made to match a cavity (19) in a support member (20). The device holder is inserted in the cavity (19) of the support member (20) and the substrate layer (13) is supported by the support member (20) such that the opening exposes the device holder (16). The optical fiber extending from the optical coupler is inserted into a slot of the slotted member (17) such that a bridging portion (21) of the fiber bridges a distance between the upper surface of the substrate layer (13) and the slotted member (17). The bridging portion of the optical fiber is engaged with a routing device, and the fiber is then muted on the upper surface of the substrate layer (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Gary J. Grimes, William R. Holland
  • Patent number: 5425830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a strip of ply or belt stock reinforced with steel monofilaments fed from a plurality of reels (60, 60', 60") mounted on the spindles (54) of a reel support structure (18). The article of manufacture which results from the method is a uniform strip of reinforced ply or belt stock of higher epi, smaller gauge and fewer splices than possible with prior method and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Anand W. Bhagwat, Kenneth J. Palmer, Amit Prakash
  • Patent number: 5387303
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a rubber sheet having cords embedded therein includes a grooved roll formed in its circumference with a plurality of circumferential grooves for arranging cords with equal pitches, and a pressure-joining roll arranged spaced from the grooved roll for pressure-joining a first rubber sheet with the cords arranged with the equal pitches in a first pressure-joining position between the grooved roll and the pressure-joining roll. The apparatus further includes a groove forming roll for forming a plurality of longitudinal grooves in one surface of a second rubber sheet, and a forming roll arranged spaced from the pressure-joining roll to form a second pressure-joining position between the forming roll and the pressure-joining roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Azuma
  • Patent number: 5387301
    Abstract: In the prepreg manufacuturing method according to the present invention, at least one of a first and second release papers is coated with a matrix resin having a low viscosity. Reinforcing fibers are supplied in between the release papers and arranged on the matrix resin layer. Then, the reinforcing fibers are impregnated with the matrix resin by heating and pressing the release papers. After separating one of the papers, a room-temperature curing type hardener is applied onto the matrix resin layer to form a high viscosity layer on a surface layer of the matrix resin layer. Thereafter, a cover film is laid over the surface layer to make a prepreg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Tonen Corporation
    Inventors: Makiji Miyao, Makoto Takezawa
  • Patent number: 5380388
    Abstract: For the production of a tight complex having an internal reinforcement or framework and more particularly intended for the production of aerostatic balloons, a nonwoven reinforcement (10) is formed from weft and warp threads arranged in the form of two superimposed layers. To each of the faces of said reinforcement and using a predetermined force is applied a covering film (16a,16b), after bringing it to its pasty melting point on a heating drum (30a,30b). The nonwoven character of the reinforcement makes it possible to preserve the seal of the covering films during complexing. Moreover, the formation of small loops or rings on the edges of the complex obtained in this way makes it possible to introduce connecting cables facilitating the taking up or absorption of stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Marc H. Montagne, Olivier Regipa
  • Patent number: 5355820
    Abstract: A method for thread laying and a thread laying machine; thread laying has been achieved by a machine that has a vacuum table and above it a gantry with a thread dispensing device on a shuttle operating in an x- and y- direction; the gantry may be fixed to a pair of carriage on the x-axis driven in unison or each of the carriages may be independently driven; curved threads as well as threads on a mold may be laid down on a substrate; typical material produced is sail material of considerable thread pattern complexity; single threads or a multiple of threads may be laid down through one thread head with an adhesive properly coating the threads; multiple thread heads as well associated apparatus such as laser cutters and the like are mounted on the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Sobstad Corporation
    Inventors: Peter G. Conrad, John D. Sullivant
  • Patent number: 5342466
    Abstract: A device for applying a strip of sealant from a roll to a surface comprises a shaft and a roller. The shaft has an end which is configured to be grasped by a user for pushing the device along a surface such as a roof panel, and the roller is rotatably supported on the other end of the shaft. The roll of sealant is supported on the shaft so as to enable the unwinding of the strip from the roll in response to a pulling force exerted on the free end of the strip. To use the device, the free end of the strip is first trained over the roller onto the surface with the strip between the roller and the surface. Thereafter, as the device is urged along the surface, the strip is unwound from the roll and pressed into engagement with the roof panel beneath the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignees: Don A. Harry, Jr., Eugene O. Lilly
    Inventor: Carson J. Eidson
  • Patent number: 5308424
    Abstract: A multiaxial nonwoven fabric is disclosed which is comprised of a selected warp material and a multiplicity of selected continuous yarns assembled in a specified lay pattern and bonded on to the warp material. Each of the yarns is oriented in a scalene or right-angled triangle shape, and the resulting yarn assembly is built of intersections at least in warp, weft and oblique axes, whereby structural strength and dimensional stability are greatly improved. A method and an apparatus are also disclosed for producing the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Haruhisa Tani, Yuuki Kuroiwa, Setsuya Tsuyama
  • Patent number: 5292390
    Abstract: A plurality of optical fibers (13) are first bonded to an upper surface of a flat flexible plastic substrate (12). The optical fibers are covered with a layer (20) of thermoplastic material to form a composite structure comprising the thermoplastic material, the optical fibers and the plastic substrate. The composite structure is then compressed at a first elevated temperature and at a first relatively high pressure which are sufficient to bond or tack the thermoplastic material to the plastic substrate. The temperature of a composite structure is then cool while maintaining the first relatively high pressure. Thereafter, a second elevated temperature is applied to the thermoplastic material while compressing the composite structure at a second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: John J. Burack, William R. Holland
  • Patent number: 5226994
    Abstract: A method of making thermally imprintable baggage tag stock is disclosed. The steps comprise providing a first continuous web of a dense bond paper having inner and outer surfaces, providing a second continuous web of paper having inner and outer surfaces and having a release coating on its inner surface, providing continuous fibers between the inner surfaces of said first and second webs, continuously depositing an adhesive on the release coating for enveloping the fibers, and continuously joining the webs and fibers to permanently bond the fibers to the inner surface of the first web. Thereafter the webs are continuously separated at the release coating of the second web and a pressure-sensitive adhesive is deposited between the webs, and the webs are continuously rejoined to adhere the pressure-sensitive adhesive to the surface of the first web to which the fibers are bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Rand McNally & Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Breen
  • Patent number: 5221390
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for positioning at least one thread, band or like element in a pre-determined pattern above a conveyor path with the aid of thread outfeed device having at least one thread outlet device. In accordance with the invention, the thread outlet, or each thread outlet, is moved in a simple or a composite rotational path in a plane parallel with the conveyor path, and the path is moved linearly in relation to the rotational axis of the thread outlet. This will cause the thread outlet to move in a spiral-like movement path relative to the conveyor path. The conveyor path has mounted thereon dogging elements which are located within the spiral-like movement path of the thread outlet, such as to enable the thread to be laid out in a pattern determined by the dogging elements. The invention also relates to apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Molnlyke AB
    Inventors: Lennart Persson, Dan Johansson, Leidulf Indrebo
  • Patent number: 5209801
    Abstract: This invention teaches a method of forming a low cost, breathable, light weight, soft, disposable elastic structure with surface properties that are characterized by a controlled irregularity of the pleats or shirrs that make up the broad surfaces of the structure. The structure is a layered structure with outer layers of low basis weight breathable material, a central elastic layer, and an adhesive layer that serves to join all the layers together to form a unitary elastic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Carol L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5160569
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber organizing tool having a frame with a channel with narrow raised sidewalls for piercing an adhesive tape to be laid on fibers laid straight in the channel. The optical fibers are arranged in a narrow slot in a member hingedly mounted to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Ott, Jeffrey T. Bazemore, Mark E. Brogley
  • Patent number: 5121459
    Abstract: A precision glass jig is formed to properly position ribbons of optical fibers for the area end of a fiber optic bundle forming the entrance field of an optical subsystem for an electronic printer. The opposite ends of the ribbons are aligned side-by-side and coupled against an electrostatic drum. The ribbons are inserted into slots in the glass jig, each ribbon providing a bearing surface for guiding the adjacent ribbon into the respective slot. A spacing tool may be used to temporarily separate adjacent ribbons for ensuring initial alignment and also for guiding insertion of the ribbons into the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Photon Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Tom J. Chiang
  • Patent number: 5114087
    Abstract: A device for aligning superconductor filaments to form a filament layer includes a backboard and a number of motor-driven supply spools. Each of the supply spools is rotatably mounted on the backboard, and each of the supply spools holds one end of an individual superconductor filament. The opposite ends of the filaments are attached to a single rotatable wire take-up spool. Accordingly, the wire take-up spool can be rotated to transfer the filaments from the respective supply spools to the take-up spool. A combiner board is mounted on the backboard normal to the backboard between the supply spools and the wire take-up spool. The combiner board receives each of the superconductor filaments as the filaments are transferred from the respective supply spools to the take-up spool to guide the filaments into a layer of aligned superconductor filaments. Additionally, each supply spool has a tension controller individually associated with the respective supply spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Michael V. Fisher, Kurt M. Schaubel, William A. Raggio
  • Patent number: 5092949
    Abstract: A method of making a laminated, thermally imageable tag, such as a baggage tag, as made from a top sheet. The top sheet is precoated on one surface with a thermally sensitive material. A hot-melt adhesive is applied to the bottom sheet. The top sheet, the reinforcing fibers, and the bottom sheet are pressed together, as by two pressing rolls defining a nip. A laminate thus is formed with the reinforcing fibers between the top and bottom sheets. The hot-melt adhesive is applied and the top sheet, the reinforcing fibers, and the bottom sheet are pressed together under conditions insuring that the thermally sensitive material is not heated to its activation temperature by heat transfer from the hot-melt adhesive, through the top sheet, to the thermally sensitive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Rand McNally & Company
    Inventor: Eric Goncalves
  • Patent number: 5076881
    Abstract: A group of loose cabled optical fibers (32--32) destined to be terminated by a multi-fiber connector device is first fabricated into an optical fiber ribbon (30). The optical fibers of the group are threaded through portions of an organizing shuttle (20) and brought into planar juxtaposition with each other by the cooperation of a curved surface (112) and a burnishing bar assembly (98). As the organizing shuttle is caused to be moved along a track (42), the burnishing bar assembly causes the planar array of fibers to be embedded into an adhesive coating of a first binding tape (34) which is secured along the length of the track. In a preferred embodiment, a second tape (35) is applied over the fibers and the first tape. The ribbon is trimmed of excess longitudinal side portions of the binding tapes to provide a ribbon of desired width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Stephen K. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 5067998
    Abstract: A composite is produced by admixing a matrix-forming material with organic binding material, forming the resulting mixture into a tape, disposing a layer of boron nitride coated fibrous material between at least two of the tapes to form a layered structure, laminating the layered structure, heating the layered structure to remove organic binding material and hot pressing the resulting porous structure to form a composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raj N. Singh, Achuta R. Gaddipati
  • Patent number: 5066349
    Abstract: A sign is made by a pultrusion process by printing separate sign panels and attaching them to a fibrous component of the sign to make a longitudinally continuous sign panel subassembly which is beneath the surface of the sign. The sign panels are spaced apart in the subassembly by about the length of the sign and are fixed to the fibrous component prior to being pulled through a forming die. In the forming die, the subassembly is formed together with rovings, scrim resin and any other components of the sign into the cross-section of the sign. The sign panel subassembly saturates with the resin so that it blends in with the rest of the sign except for identification matter printed on it and is permeable to allow gases to escape as the resin cures in the die. The sign takes on its desired cross-sectional shape in the die and is cut off at its desired length after it exits the die. The sign panel may be on either side of the subassembly, and the subassembly may be beneath a surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: W. H. Brady Co.
    Inventors: Jack E. Perko, Gary J. Wirth, Brian A. Foxgrover
  • Patent number: 5009732
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a member such as a reinforcing member for use in a tire includes steps of arranging wires in a predetermined spaced relationship one to the others by means of a guide plate, extending the wires about rolls of a winding type brake unit, and aligning the wires by passing them through a comb roll. The method further includes steps of engaging the wires between a pair of gears arranged immediately downstream of the comb roll and driven at equal speeds to be set in wave-shapes, arranging the wires in a belt-shape in an appropriate width as a whole by means of a concaved roll, extending the wires about flat rolls to cause the wave-shapes of the wires to fall down onto a plane, and then coating the wires with a rubber. The member of the tire thus produced is uniform in quality and has a large elongation and improved anti-cutting property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Ikeda, Koichi Sanada
  • Patent number: 5007343
    Abstract: A method of making an elastomer lined vessel or portion of such vessel is disclosed. The method comprises causing a thin, tacky ribbon comprising an elastomer (preferably curable) to continuously so encircle a center rotational axis of a mandrel as to adjacently position and tack together integral segments of the ribbon substantially circumferentially relative to this center rotational axis thereby forming a layer of the elastomer about the mandrel which may be the shell of the vessel in case of internal application of the insulator or may be a workpiece around which the shell is built over the so-laid ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: John D. Marks
  • Patent number: 5002621
    Abstract: A method is used for producing reinforcing members preferably used in tires. The method comprises steps of causing cords to pass through a plurality of small apertures of a guide plate each for one of the cords to arrange these cords in a predetermined positional relation, winding the cords about winding type braking means, and extending the cords about a dancer roller. Thereafter, the cords are caused to pass through a plurality of small apertures of a movable guide plate each for one of the cords. The movable guide plate is reciprocatively moved in horizontal directions perpendicular to advancing directions of the cords so that the cords are reciprocatively moved onto a calender for rubber coating provided closely adjacent the movable guide plate to embrace the cords in the form of waves between rubber sheets and coat the cords by the rubber sheets, thereby obtaining the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunari Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4983453
    Abstract: The present invention is a composite pultruded product and the method for its manufacture. The product is made with a plurality of longitudinal glass roving strands. In addition, a cellulosic mat is used in association with the roving. The mat serves as a filler, or reinforcing filler, to ensure uniform resin distribution within the product even when the glass content is significantly reduced. The method can be carried out on convention pultrusion equipment with little or no modification. The cellulose fiber mats may be either air laid or wet laid and should have an ultimate moisture of 3% or less before being incorporated into the pultruded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Frank C. Beall
  • Patent number: 4980007
    Abstract: A group of loose cabled optical fibers (32-32) destined to be terminated by a multi-fiber connector device is first fabricated into an optical fiber ribbon (30). The optical fibers of the group are threaded through portions of an organizing shuttle (20) and brought into planar juxtaposition with each other by the cooperation of a curved surface (112) and a burnishing bar assembly (98). As the organinzing shuttle is caused to be moved along a track (42), the burnishing bar assembly causes the planar array of fibers to be embedded into an adhesive coating of a first binding tape (34) which is secured along the length of the track. In a preferred embodiment, a second tape (35) is applied over the fibers and the first tape. The ribbon is trimmed of excess longitudinal side portions of the binding tapes to provide a ribbon of desired width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Stephen K. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 4933039
    Abstract: Reticular structures comprising one or more fibrillated films perpendicularly arranged between two or more fibrillated films are prepared by a process comprising the steps of: feeding one or more fibrillated films onto a conveyor; feeding one or more transversal films perpendicularly to the conveyor feed direction; cutting such transversal films in position corresponding to the edges of the base film or films; suporposing to said transversal films one or more fibrillated films fed parallelly to the conveyor feed direction and causing the cohesion of the resulting composite structure.The device for producing such reticular structures is described too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Moplefan S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Vittone, Guiseppe Chiappini
  • Patent number: 4902480
    Abstract: A seal member has a sealing portion, length control members and a heat activated member securing the length control members to the sealing portion. The length control members prevent excessive elongation of the sealing members during installation when the sealing member is applied by automated equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: The Standard Products Company
    Inventor: James F. Keys
  • Patent number: 4817271
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a flexible heating appliance comprises placing a heating circuit comprising at least one heating wire between two layers of textile material and combining the latter either directly or with the aid of an adhesive layer, by applying heat and pressure. A lower textile layer consisting of one or several sublayers is placed on the rigid surface of a nail-studded template and the heating circuit is then laid on the lower with its wire being guided about the nail ends protruding from that layer. A second, upper textile layer is then placed on top of the lower one and the heating circuit thereon, and the two layers are joined together by means of a superimposed ironing unit comprising a rigid heatable ironing plate and, on the underside of the latter, an elastic, temperature-stable, heat-conductive pressure plate which covers the remaining protruding ends of the nails, with heating of the ironing unit with pressure and thereby thermally combining the two textile layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: I. G. Bauerhin GmbH, electro-technische Fabrik
    Inventors: Dieter Altmann, Eberhard Haupt
  • Patent number: 4806190
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making reinforced, dry laid fibrous web. A first layer of dry cellulosic fibers is laid on a forming wire. A plurality of yarns maintained under tension are applied to the first layer of dry cellulosic fibers. The tension on the bulked yarns is released upon application of the yarns to the first layer of dry cellulosic fibers to form relaxed, bulked yarns. A second layer of dry cellulosic fibers is laid on the first layer of dry cellulosic fibers and relaxed, bulked yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: James River-Norwalk, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne P. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 4725329
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing easy-to-open bags comprising a pair of feed rollers, at least one puncher disposed downstream of said feed rollers, upper and lower separating rollers disposed downstream of said puncher, tear string positioning member disposed downstream of said separating rollers, heat bonding means disposed downstream of tear string positioning means, bag making means disposed downstream of said heat bonding means and cutting means disposed downstream of said bag making means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Kazuhiro Itoh
    Inventor: Kanari Tani
  • Patent number: 4722857
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforced non-woven fabric comprising a web containing at least 15% by weight of composite fiber composed of a low-melting component and a high-melting component, the low-melting component forming at least a part of the external fiber surface, first reinforcing fibers arranged obliquely to the lengthwise direction of the web, and second reinforcing fibers crossed with the first reinforcing fibers for symmetric arrangement relative to the lengthwise direction of the web, the first and second reinforcing fibers containing at least 15% by weight of hot-melt-adhesive fiber hot-melt-adhered in the heat treatment conducted for forming the non-woven fabric at a temperature between the melting point of the high-melting component and that of the low-melting component of the hot-melt-adhesive composite fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Fukusuke Kogyo Corporation, Fukuron Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Tomioka, Shozo Sone
  • Patent number: 4653640
    Abstract: A packaging material for photosensitive materials comprising a laminate of at least three layers comprising thermoplastic resin bonded fabric of the mesh structure and flexible sheet layers laminated on both sides thereof, wherein:(a) said thermoplastic resin bonded fabric of the mesh structure has a mean thickness of 0.01 to 1.3 mm,(b) said thermoplastic resin bonded fabric of the mesh structure has an aperture ratio of 15% to 98%,(c) said laminate including one or two or more light-shielding layers, and(d) only one layer of said flexible sheet layers on both sides of said thermoplastic resin bonded fabric of the mesh structure is applied with an adhesive layer, and the other (opposite) flexible sheet layer is bonded and laminated over at least 10% of the overall area through the apertures or meshes in said fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mutsuo Akao
  • Patent number: 4532169
    Abstract: The method of the present invention produces a tape of high performance reinforcing fibers having improved alignment between the fibers and improved maintenance of that alignment in processing and molding applications. The method involves contacting one or more of the continuous high performance reinforcing fibers with a polymer impregnated mat. The polymer is compatible with any polymeric material used in the subsequent processing or molding applications. The contacting is performed with the high performance fibers under tension, and the tension is removed when the fibers are properly aligned into a tape in contact with the impregnated mat. The tape material can be used with various molding compounds such as sheet molding compounds and high reinforcement content molding compounds and thermoplastic molding materials wherein the molding compound is contacted with the tape product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl P. Carley
  • Patent number: 4525230
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforced strip of insulative material comprising the steps of extruding a thermoplastic insulative material in the shape of a tube or spaced apart strips about a plurality of separated and substantially parallel reinforcing strands positioned within said tube or strips and compressing and cooling the tube or strips to form a flattened single strip having opposed flattened sides with the reinforcing strands firmly secured therebetween is disclosed. A reinforced support for a ballast resistor manufactured in accordance with the described method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick Hetzel, William G. McCracken, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4503114
    Abstract: A laminated, adhesive backing material for application to the rear surface of mirrors to prevent shattering thereof. The backing material of this invention is a three layer laminate which includes a central reinforcing layer sandwiched between two outer layers. The central reinforcing layer typically includes a polyester scrim, while the two outer layers typically are formed of polypropylene. An adhesive layer is provided on the outer surface of one of the outer layers of the laminate. The backing of this invention exceeds a 400 foot/pound test requirement. This backing material is manufactured by heat sealing the central reinforcing layer between the two outer layers and thereafter applying the adhesive to the outer surface of one of the outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Venture Tape Corp.
    Inventor: Lewis Cohen
  • Patent number: 4476173
    Abstract: A joint between two textile materials in web form, one of them preferably being a plurality of parallel yarns forming a monolayer or multilayer sheet, and the other one a fabric. The joint is an adhesive or heat sealed bonding member which is equipped at least on one of its surfaces with a heat shield. The joint is flexible, thin, tear and heat resistant, not attacked by chemical reagents, solvents or vapors. It can be formed in a novel apparatus for heat sealing by means of heat sealable strips which are reinforced by heat resistant materials and which are heat sealed together across the yarn sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Quikoton AG
    Inventors: Albert Bachmann, Moritz Walti, Gottlieb Benz
  • Patent number: 4457500
    Abstract: A bending spring or similar component made of fiber compound material is so onstructed that the stress on the fiber reinforcing strands is optimized while the stress on the matrix of resinous impregnating material is reduced. For this purpose fiber inserts divide the matrix of suitable binder material which holds unidirectionally extending reinforcing fibers embedded in the matrix. The fiber inserts have a main fiber orientation extending about radially to the longitudinal bending axis of the spring. The fiber inserts may comprise layers of fiber webbings, for example double layers, whereby the fiber orientation in one webbing may differ from the fiber orientation in the other webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Franz Drachenberg, Walter Oefner
  • Patent number: RE31599
    Abstract: A low density matting structure of improved transverse strength obtained by vertically laying continuous melt-spun thermoplastic macrofilaments (diameter=0.1-1.5 mm) onto a horizontally moving profiled support in overlapping rows of irregularly looped filaments to form a peak and valley three-dimensional structure undulating in its longitudinal and/or transverse directions. The matting articles consist essentially of the melt-spun filaments which are self-bonded or fused at random points of intersection without using any bonding agent or reinforcing inserts, and the resulting matting is especially distinguished by a high transverse strength per unit of surface weight of at least 2 Nm/g and preferably 4 Nm/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Akzona Incorporated
    Inventors: Alfred Rasen, Rolf Vollbrecht, Klemens Schenesse
  • Patent number: H1162
    Abstract: Disclosed are a molded composite article having a curved surface which is composed of at least one laminate comprising continuous filaments unidirectionally paralleled and an extensible resinous film, and a process for producing the same. According to the present invention, the laminate comprising the continuous filaments and the film can be easily molded into the article with a curved surface without breakage or a reduction of strength, and the molded composite article is sufficient in strength, and excellent in smoothness of the surface and in appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventors: Michio Yamamoto, Haruo Negishi