Longitudinally Progressive Helical Winding Means Patents (Class 156/425)
  • Patent number: 4692196
    Abstract: An automatic wrapping apparatus for wrapping an external tape support about a filter element includes an indexable turret assembly having a plurality of filter element clamps rotatably mounted at spaced radial positions on the indexable turret. Means are provided at one of the radial positions for rotating a filter element clamp about a longitudinal axis. The wrapping apparatus also includes means for selectively varying the position of the strand of tape along the longitudinal axis during rotation of the clamp. Further, the apparatus includes means for severing the strand of tape and wrapping the severed ends about a respective pleated filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Norman W. Ellegood, Joel L. Fritsche, John J. Groezinger, Keichi Ikeda, Ronald W. Streitmatter
  • Patent number: 4671842
    Abstract: A system for the automatic manufacture of pipe-shaped or tubular structural parts of a fiber-reinforced plastic. A device is provided with which fiber strands are soaked with a heat-hardenable binding agent. The device has the capability of clamping at least one winding mandrel into a winding machine, on which mandrel can be placed the soaked fiber strands. The winding machine has a guiding mechanism for the fiber strand which is to be wound onto the mandrel, which guiding mechanism can be moved back and forth parallel with respect to the mandrel. A transporting mechanism is provided for moving the wound structural parts through a hardening furnace to a device for extracting the winding mandrels from the hardened structural parts and to at least one finish-working station. The extracted and now empty winding mandrels are returned through a mandrel preparation station to the winding station. The finish-working station is provided between the hardening furnace and the mandrel extracting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Prochaska, Ralf T. Schulz, Peter M. Wackerle
  • Patent number: 4642156
    Abstract: Glass roving is directed through a soaking tub which is supplied with resin and a setting agent, and trained as a flat-pressed band to a forming unit. The forming unit comprises a two-part mold which is formed by the flange portions of two mold discs and becomes automatically coupled in its closing position. The mold discs are supported on separate coaxial shafts, each of which is associated with a drive for opening and closing the mold. One of the mold parts comprises a cylindrical portion by which, upon opening the mold, the finished sleeve is supported. Pusher pistons provided at this mold part becomes effective automatically as the mold is opened to push off the molded sleeve. All working, drive and conveying means, as well as all switching and control elements are under the control of a common programmable central unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Hobas Engineering & Durotec AG
    Inventor: Ralph Jost
  • Patent number: 4631101
    Abstract: A filament winding machine suitable for winding a hollow closed fibre-reinforced body such as a radome comprises a rotateable former 1, an annular spider 3 supporting a plurality of asymmetrically spaced filament guides 19 movable so as to be able to traverse the length of the former to a position beyond the closed end thereof, and an array of circumferentially spaced spigots 26 at or near the closed end of the body to retain laid fibres such that there is no slippage of fibres as they are laid over the closed end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Clifford Rix
  • Patent number: 4621662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an axi-symmetrical three-dimensional structure formed by superposed layers of fibrous material bonded together, said process comprising the following steps of:--bringing onto a rotary mandrel having the section of the structure to be manufactured, a tape of fibrous material whose width is several times less than the length of a generatrix of said structure:--winding the tape over the mandrel to form superposed layers, each layer being formed by successive turns of the tape of fibrous material, and--during winding, successively bonding the layers together by needling, said needling being effected at the place where the tape is superposed on the mandrel or on the previously formed layer. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out said process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion
    Inventor: Pierre Olry
  • Patent number: 4610402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filament winding feed system that collects and collimates strands of composite material (26) from a supply creel (22) and controls the convergence of the strands into a single band (20) at a feed eye (32) as the band is wound about a rotating mandrel (18). The feed eye (32) incorporates a ceramic ring (108) that is rotatably mounted therein. Use of the rotatable ceramic ring (108) provides a durable surface by which strands (26) can pass without causing excessive wear. The heat retention property of the ring (108) is conducive to lubrication of the passing strands without overheating the strands. The rotatable nature of the ring (108) eliminates the problem of strands bunching or twisting as they move in response to changes in the winding direction. Two comb devices are used as control elements. The first comb (24) collects the strands from the supply spools into a parallel spaced-apart relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell H. Corbett, C. Robert Speelmon
  • Patent number: 4596619
    Abstract: A method of making an elastomer lined composite 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; applying a shell comprising filaments and thermosettable resin to the layer of elastomer; curing the thermosettable resin (preferably in stages if the elastomer is curable with a later stage including cure of the elastomer) to provide the vessel or portion of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: John D. Marks
  • Patent number: 4581086
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in filament winding large, hollow, tubular structures having significant axial reinforcement in their thick walls by means including (a) using a hollow, light weight mandrel adapted to expand radially at elevated temperatures and windings of alternate layers of filamentary materials positioned substantially axially and substantially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel wherein the alternate layers are preferably in a certain thermosettable resin matrix and wound in certain fashion and (b) heating the filament wound mandrel to cure the thermosettable resin wherein heat from inside and out of the mandrel controls the cure and expansion during the heating step. The thick walls preferably incorporate graphite fibers for significant strength in the reinforcement provided by the filamentary materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Dee R. Gill, Edward T. Hikida, Daniel M. Radice
  • Patent number: 4562975
    Abstract: Crash or shock absorbing structural components made of fiber reinforced shetic materials and having portions of different diameters including at least one portion of a larger diameter than another portion, are produced by winding synthetic fibers onto a winding arbor (6) in a desired winding pattern. For this purpose a winding support cage (14) is arranged on the winding arbor (6). The winding support cage (14) has circumferential end edges provided with cut-outs (18, 18') for receiving fiber strands. Arresting pins (25, 26) reach into pairs of these cut-outs for temporarily holding the winding support cage (14) against rotation with the winding arbor when a fiber guide (12) moves into a respective starting position for the next winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Peter M. Wackerle, Franz Sperber, Walter Weber
  • Patent number: 4557788
    Abstract: Resin-coated filaments wound around a mandrel to make a plastic pipe or fittings. In making a fitting with a nonlinear axis, the mandrel is supported with one end adjacent a winding station and rotated about an axis substantially tangent to the nonlinear axis at the winding station. The rotating mandrel oscillates back and forth past the winding station while maintaining the nonlinear axis substantially tangent to the axis of rotation. Resin-coated filaments pass between longitudinally spaced and curved guide fingers and are wrapped around the rotating mandrel in overlapping helical patterns as it moves back and forth past the winding station. The mandrel is removed from the fitting after the resin has cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Ameron, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Dana, Ralph S. Friedrich, John D. McKenney
  • Patent number: 4551806
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating the manner in which a ribbon of known profile is wrapped around a carcass of known profile in accordance with a predetermined winding specification is disclosed. The profile of the ribbon, the profile of the carcass and the winding specification are stored in a memory together with the desired final profile of the ribbon build. The profile of the final ribbon build, which will be created at a selected cross-section of the carcass when the ribbon is wrapped around the carcass in accordance with the winding specification, is calculated. The final ribbon build so calculated is displayed on a video display which also displays the desired final profile so that the profile created by the predetermined winding specification can be compared to the actual profile which will be produced by the winding specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: AMF Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Storace, Jeffery Ketchman
  • Patent number: 4548364
    Abstract: A winding machine for the winding of endless members such as toroidal cores (31) is designed with an exchangeable cassette (12) for a wire magazine (13), whereby the winding machine may be rapidly and readily readjusted from one winding operation to another requiring a different form or wire magazine. Guide means for rotational movement of the wire magazine are accommodated in the cassette, whereas all driving means (14-19) for rotating the magazine (13) are positioned in the machine frame (11). The cassette (12) is composed of two parts (12a, 12b) which are journalled with each other and may be opened and closed by operation of a common operator member (25) in the machine frame (11) which cause prismatic supports (37a, 37b) on which the magazine parts (12a, 27b) are supported to turn in reverse directions around a common axis (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Tortrix A/S
    Inventor: Jan B. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 4533089
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a rotationally symmetrical body formed of crisscross-wound layers includes a winding mandrel, a carriage reciprocating along the mandrel and a thread laying assembly mounted on the carriage. The assembly has a pivotal device, and four thread laying rollers mounted for rotation on the pivotal device. The shafts of the rollers extend parallel to one another and are situated at points of an imaginary equilateral trapezoid having a plane perpendicular to the roller shafts. Each roller has a plurality of circumferential grooves for simultaneously guiding and depositing on the mandrel a plurality of parallel-running threads. Two rollers are situated on one side of the pivot axis of the pivotal device and form a first roller pair and two rollers are situated on an opposite side of the pivot axis and form a second roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: Uranit GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Sartor, Klaus Rode
  • 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: 4511423
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic pipe tee is wound around a mandrel according to this method and apparatus. Fiber rovings are delivered to the mandrel by way of a delivery ring translated in an X-Y plane. The mandrel can be rotated around an A axis parallel to the X direction or a B axis parallel to the Y direction. By switching between either rotation around the A axis or around the B axis, a three axis numerical control system can be employed. Means are provided for alternately rotating the mandrel around the A and B axes. Means are provided for independently translating the delivery ring in the X and Y directions as the mandrel rotates. The delivery ring comprises a curved bar around which a band of resin impregnated rovings makes a turn enroute to the mandrel for maintaining a reasonably constant width of the band of rovings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Ameron, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald M. Magarian, Ralph S. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 4495021
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing reinforced plastic sheets and reinforced plastic sheet laminate structures on a high speed continuous basis and which sheets and laminate structures may have widths ranging from relatively narrow to very wide. The apparatus comprises a means for bringing one or more layers of resin impregnated, fiber-containing, reinforced plastic composite material into contact with each other or into contact with surfaces of one or more endwise abutted relatively flat panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Goldsworthy Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Goldsworthy
  • Patent number: 4488685
    Abstract: A tape winding machine comprises a bed, a tape winding unit provided on the bed and including a tape reel on which an electric insulating tape is wound and a rotatable taping ring having a notch and carrying the tape reel, and a coil support unit provided on the bed and including a pair of support heads aligned to each other and capable of adjustment of the distance from each other and a pair of clamping mechanisms each carried by each of the support heads for clamping loop portions of a formed coil. The clamp means are each level adjustable and rotatable about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki
    Inventor: Tetuo Iida
  • Patent number: 4484974
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a technique for winding multiple layer flat electrical coils. Each coil is wound from the inside outward and neither end of the coil comes in contact with the interior of the winding. The system is capable of producing an epoxy-impregnated flat coil of variable circumference, shape, thickness, number of turns, and wire gauge. Coils are wound in pairs using a unitary length of wire, one coil being wound at the same speed of the other, and in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Loral Corporation
    Inventor: Irwin L. Rothman
  • Patent number: 4470860
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in filament winding large, hollow, tubular structures having significant axial reinforcement in their thick walls by means including (a) using a hollow, light weight mandrel adapted to expand radially at elevated temperatures and windings of alternate layers of filamentary materials positioned substantially axially and substantially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel wherein the alternate layers are preferably in a certain thermosettable resin matrix and wound in certain fashion and (b) heating the filament wound mandrel to cure the thermosettable resin wherein heat from inside and out of the mandrel controls the cure and expansion during the heating step. The thick walls preferably incorporate graphite fibers for significant strength in the reinforcement provided by the filamentary materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Dee R. Gill, Edward T. Hikida, Daniel M. Radice
  • Patent number: 4467973
    Abstract: In apparatus for wrapping an insulating tape about an electric coil including a straight portion and a curved portion, movements of a head carrying a coil of the insulating tape along the electric coil, rotation of the head about the electric coil, and swinging of the head are effected by independent electric motors. Pulses representing the speeds of respective motors are inputted into a microcomputer which supplies speed instructions to the motors to rotate them at speeds suitable for sections of the electric coil having different shapes, thus synchronously operating the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 4466854
    Abstract: A device for producing a helically wound tube comprises a rotating mandrel around which the tube is wound and an extruding device having an extruder head oriented to direct a continuous strip of plastic through a profile pressure mandrel which defines a calibrating guide channel which in turn is oriented to deposit the desired width of extruded plastic strip onto the mandrel. The guide channel advantageously includes walls defining a cooling passage for a coolant for example on the wall over which the extruded plastic is directed. The extruder and the guide channel are mounted on a carriage so that they may be shifted longitudinally if the axis of the mandrel apply a continuous strip of material thereover at a selected pitch angle. The extruder advantageously includes means for directing a reinforcing rod member into the extruder head so that the extruded strip includes a central tubular reinforcement with a base flange on each side of the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Inventor: Manfred Hawerkamp
  • Patent number: 4460422
    Abstract: A trowel for use in troweling a fluid resin-hardener mixture into the interstices of reinforcing filaments disposed about a rotating pipe-forming mandrel is provided. The trowel is semicircular in cross-section and is biased upwardly against the rotating mandrel as it moves along the length thereof. The trowel has substantially universal movement enabling it to maintain constant contact with the rotating pipe periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Fiber Glass Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Vesta F. Michael
  • Patent number: 4459171
    Abstract: A varied thickness laminate or panel (92, 128) is fabricated by polar winding incomplete lamina or plies (54, 146, 148) on a mandrel (10, 110, 130) at selected angles. The plies (54) are wound at crossing angles, first one layer (60) at one angle and then a second layer (64) at a second angle. At the most remote crossing point from a wide starting end (32), a V (66) is formed between the crossing plies (60, 64) and in the space (62) formed by the V (66), no plies extend on the mandrel side (30). Thus, the winding on each side (30) is incomplete, a space (62) between successive V's (66, 154, 164, 174) being skipped by steps of the crossing plies. The first V (66) starts a taper from wide starting end (32) to narrow other end (34). Successive plies are wound around the mandrel from the polar ends (48, 50, 134), each successive set forming a V so as to thicken the windings in steps formed by the V's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Maurice E. McKinney
  • Patent number: 4448624
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for the fabrication of cylindrical structures (26) by filament winding of resin impregnated filaments around a novel cylindrical mandrel assembly (10) whereby the mandrel assembly (10) and fabricated cylindrical structure (26) are easily separated after curing of the resin impregnated materials.The invention utilizes an inner, hollow cylindrical mandrel member (11) onto which a metal cable (12) is wound over afterwhich segmented outer mandrel sections (13) are connected to the inner mandrel member by fastener devices (20) installed from the inner side of the inner mandrel member (14). The resin impregnated filament is then wound over the outer mandrel segments (13) and cured in a conventional manner. After curing, the fasteners (20) are removed from the inner side of the inner mandrel (11), and the cable (12) is removed by pulling it from one end of the mandrel assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Webber
  • Patent number: 4448628
    Abstract: A reuseable mandrel for fabricating large hollow shells, such as missile casings or storage tanks, which comprises a plurality of longitudinal sector pieces, a center shaft and means for supporting the sector pieces in concentric relation to the shaft. The sector pieces, shaft and spacing means can be easily disassembled from the interior of a casing which is assembled over the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Inventor: Rexeene S. Stott
  • Patent number: 4417937
    Abstract: Forces are applied to cut fibres in a prescribed fashion to cause them to move in a predetermined manner toward and to be deposited on a mould surface in a controlled oriented fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Atlantic Bridge Company Limited
    Inventors: Giorgio A. Escher, Raymond C. Dahn
  • Patent number: 4415396
    Abstract: Filament reinforced cylindrical plastic screens having open slots defined by their surface wires which are of substantially different widths can be produced on a single helically finned mandrel. The slot widths are varied in accordance with the amount of wire-forming material placed in the generally V-shaped grooves defined by the mandrel fins. The grooves have a double relief angle so that the lower support portions of the surface wires will be formed so as to have a slightly tapered, radially elongated cross-section and the upper portions of the wires will have their sides at a substantially greater relief angle. This relationship permits a relatively small change in the total height of the wires to have a substantial effect on the width of the top portion of the wires, and thus, on the width of the slot openings which can be formed between adjacent wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Walter R. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4395029
    Abstract: A plurality of knock-down C-shaped frame members, adjustably supporting a pair of spaced apart furniture manufacturing jig frame members in each C-frame, provides a plurality of rotatable, clear span assemblies for weaving a plurality of rattan-type fibers from each jig frame member to its juxtaposed jig frame member, and arranged to hold the jig frame members in their spaced position during the hardening of fibers, which secures such fibers in a rattan furniture frame shape. The unit provides an easily assembled and disassembled multiple station, furniture base manufacturing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Almar Products Corporation
    Inventors: Denny G. Davis, Robert C. Emerson, George J. Banks, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4394203
    Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of rotational parts in a three-dimensional material is disclosed. A mandrel provided with rows of barbs is rotatably carried by the machine, whereby superimposed layers of threads are successively deposited in the longitudinal and circumferential corridors defined between the barbs. The machine additionally comprises a retractable member adapted to hold in place one extremity of a weft thread when the latter does not extend outside of the corresponding corridor, and a winding system which positions a holding thread in a circumferential corridor near the extremities of the weft threads to hold them in place when the retractable member has been retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Societe Brochier et Fils
    Inventors: Bruno Bompard, Alain Bruyere
  • Patent number: 4384913
    Abstract: Resin-coated filaments wound around a mandrel to make a plastic pipe or fittings. In making a fitting with a nonlinear axis, the mandrel is supported with one end adjacent a winding station and rotated about an axis substantially tangent to the nonlinear axis at the winding station. The rotating mandrel oscillates back and forth past the winding station while maintaining the nonlinear axis substantially tangent to the axis of rotation. Resin-coated filaments pass between longitudinally spaced and curved guide fingers and are wrapped around the rotating mandrel in overlapping helical patterns as it moves back and forth past the winding station. The mandrel is removed from the fitting after the resin has cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Ameron, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Dana, Ralph S. Friedrich, John D. McKenney
  • Patent number: 4374689
    Abstract: Filament band width uniformity is maintained in a filament winding process and apparatus therefor by a guide disposed between a winding eye and the mandrel about which the filaments are wound. The guide maintains a constant band payout angle with respect to the eye thereby maintaining uniform transverse reaction forces applied to the band by the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Smith, Warren H. Pinter
  • Patent number: 4372796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a substantially void-free tape wrapping around a pipe having a longitudinal weld bead protruding from the surface thereof. While the pipe is simultaneously advanced and rotated, liquid viscous sealing material is applied to the pipe, and the applied sealing material is then doctored by means of at least one doctor blade. The doctor blade faces the advancing pipe surface, with the axis of the doctor blade at an angle of about 10.degree. to 50.degree. to the axis of the pipe, and is urged against the pipe so that it is resiliently deformed by the pipe and accommodates passage of the weld bead underneath it. In this way the doctor blade doctors the sealing material so that it provides a smooth transition between the weld bead and the adjacent pipe surfaces. The tape is then spirally wrapped around the pipe. The invention is particularly useful when a heated sealing material, eg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Greuel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4364894
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for molding a reinforced plastic tubular body having a socket, and a mold for carrying out the method. The steps of the method areassembling a main mold body having a tubular section and a socket-molding member slidable axially along the periphery of the tubular section of the main body and fixable at a predetermined position to the tubular section of the main body to form a mold by fixing the socket-molding member at the predetermined position to the tubular section of the main body,forming a layer of a reinforced plastic molding material around the resulting mold and curing it, andpulling the main mold body and the socket-molding member axially from the cured plastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Mayumi, Takeshi Okuyama, Kenji Mitooka
  • Patent number: 4361459
    Abstract: Apparatus for impregnating filaments with resin, suitable for use on fibre-reinforced pipe making machines, comprises:(i) a fixed annular guide (6) feeding the filaments onto a translating, or translating and rotating mandrel (D),(ii) an annular spinning disc (4) with means for rotating the disc (12), and(iii) means for feeding resing to the disc (4).The spinning disc feeds resin to the filaments in controlled amounts and avoids the use of porous guides or resin troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Assignee: Bristol Composite Materials Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Simon C. Martin
  • Patent number: 4359356
    Abstract: In the production of fiber reinforced axially symmetrical wound bodies each of predetermined length, by winding fibers or strands of fibers saturated with a hardenable plastic onto a mandrel, alternating layers of circumferential windings and layers with criss-cross windings being placed on top of one another, and, after hardening of the plastic, removing the mandrel, the winding is carried out to simultaneously produce a plurality of identical wound bodies axially juxtaposed on the mandrel by the steps of: winding at least one circumferential layer by attaching a plurality of fibers or strands corresponding to the number of bodies to be wound at axially spaced locations along the mandrel and winding all of the fibers or strands simultaneously on the mandrel with mutual axial spacings approximately corresponding to, or somewhat greater than, the length of each wound body; winding at least one criss-cross winding layer by attaching at least one fiber or strand to the mandrel and winding the fiber or strand ove
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Uranit Uran-Isotopentrennungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kornbichler, Bruno Sartor, Klaus Rode
  • Patent number: 4354888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing pieces of revolution made of three-dimensional material, of which the generatrix has at least one concave part, said process consisting in making a support mandrel provided with rows of pins defining therebetween longitudinal corridors and circumferential corridors, in disposing superposed layers of yarns in said corridors by winding and by filling, in densifying the assembly thus obtained, and, finally, in eliminating the support mandrel, wherein the longitudinal yarns are deposited in corresponding corridors and these yarns are maintained in the corridors at the level of said concave part. The invention also relates to a machine for carrying out this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Societe J. Brochier & Fils.
    Inventors: Bruno Bompard, Alain Bruyere
  • Patent number: 4353772
    Abstract: A winding apparatus is disclosed for winding force transmitting elements of iber reinforced materials. Such force transmitting elements are used, for example, for connecting helicopter rotor blades to the rotor head. A cylindrical winding carrier is mounted for rotation on a machine frame. The fiber strand feeding device is mounted for translation on the frame. A plurality of separate winding cores are distributed around the carrier. Relative motion of the carrier and fiber strand feeding device is controlled, for example, by computer to achieve the desired windings on the separate cores, so that at least one set of elements is produced simultaneously under the same winding conditions, whereby all the members of a set have uniform characteristics, especially force transmitting characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Josef Groeber
  • Patent number: 4350549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hollow bodies by stringing a plurality of filaments or bands between a pair of grip means to form a winding core which becomes a part of the body, moving a reciprocating winding apparatus parallel to the axis of the core and winding filaments or bands around the core. The filaments or bands wound around the core are of a resin impregnated plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: Roland Frehner
  • Patent number: 4325766
    Abstract: A method of forming corrosion-resistant fiber reinforced resin bodies is provided. The method comprises saturating longitudinal and substantially transversely wound spiral filaments with a hardenable resin prior to winding the same about a body form. The filaments are applied in such manner as to assure the absence of air entrapment with resultant superior strength. The filaments follow a predetermined path so as to assure saturation thereof and maintain resin wastage at a minimum. Apparatus employed in the provided method enables the forming method to be carried out in a highly efficient manner whereby glass-reinforced objects such as fittings are rapidly formed in a minimum amount of time and wastage of the materials of formation is maintained at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Fiber Glass Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vesta F. Michael
  • Patent number: 4324607
    Abstract: A machine is shown for building a reenforced industrial hose for liquids and certain solids by wrapping a plurality of layers of different materials, including an uncured resin, on a rotating mandrel to form a laminated structure that may be cured in situ on the mandrel. The mandrel is rotated and a carriage moves alongside the mandrel to feed the several layers of materials forming the laminations onto the surface of the mandrel. The movement of the carriage is precisely coordinated with the rotation of the mandrel so that the edges of a resin or an uncured rubber strip and the steel wires forming the successive layers can be wrapped onto the mandrel, with the rubber strip material and the wires being laid on the mandrel in either a precise angle mode or an exact pitch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Bandag Incorporated
    Inventor: Doyle Dugger
  • Patent number: 4323408
    Abstract: Resin-coated filaments wound around a mandrel to make a plastic pipe or fittings. In making a fitting with a nonlinear axis, the mandrel is supported with one end adjacent a winding station and rotated about an axis substantially tangent to the nonlinear axis at the winding station. The rotating mandrel oscillates back and forth past the winding station while maintaining the nonlinear axis substantially tangent to the axis of rotation. Resin-coated filaments pass between longitudinally spaced and curved guide fingers and are wrapped around the rotating mandrel in overlapping helical patterns as it moves back and forth past the winding station. The mandrel is removed from the fitting after the resin has cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Ameron, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Dana, Ralph S. Friedrich, John D. McKenney
  • Patent number: 4322039
    Abstract: A cable-wrapping apparatus is provided for applying cable (26) to a toroidal, non-cylindrically-shaped body (10) under uniform tension and with a uniform spacing. The machine includes a shuttle (20) rotatable about a transverse section of said body (10), which body is being rotated in a plane transverse to the plane of rotation of the shuttle (20). A compensating apparatus (44) is provided on the shuttle (20) and includes a profile follower roller (62) held in contact with the surface of the body (10) by centrifugal force created by the rotation of the shuttle (20). A compensator wheel (70) on the compensating apparatus (44) moves with the follower roller (62) to control storing of cable (26) during periods of low cable demand and paying out the stored cable (26) during periods of high cable demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Samuel B. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4317693
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for fabricating plain-end pipe couplings. Ribbons of resin-soaked fiber reinforced plastic strands are wrapped about a rotating operably expandable mandrel which has placed therearound a pliable resilient form collar which defines an inner surface of such a coupling. After curing, the wrapped ribbons form a rigid coupling. The mandrel is thereafter collapsed and the coupling removed therefrom. The pliable collar is then separated from the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Assignee: W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Norman D. Reed
  • Patent number: 4289564
    Abstract: Stranding apparatus for fabricating open-weave structures includes a base frame supporting a pair of spaced apart plates, both of which plates includes a plurality of movable pins on which resin impregnated, continuous filament strands are placed. The pins retract into the plates after the resin has cured to allow the stranded product to be removed from the frame. The apparatus rotates about a central axis to provide a plurality of stations at which a specific process or step is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Arthur E. Thomson
    Inventors: Donald E. Hanaford, Dale R. Oldham
  • Patent number: 4288277
    Abstract: A molding system for molding large diameter chimney liners of fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) utilizes a vertically oriented cylindrical mold for use in combination with a working platform mounted on a vertical ram. The mold is of modular construction, having a plurality of axially spaced-apart spiders, each spider being segmented into a plurality of adjoining tri-angulated segments to form a polygon, to the outer sides of which are attached chordal segments to complete the circular form of the spider. Vertically axially extending ribs interconnect the spiders, with a flexible skin being applied thereabout. The provision of expansion means on the spiders increases the diameter of the mold to its working diameter, so that, upon completion of molding a liner, the action of the spider expansion means is reversed, causing contraction of the mold sufficient to facilitate ready axial separation of the mold and liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Inventor: Lembit Siilats
  • Patent number: 4288267
    Abstract: A filament winding machine for winding fibrous strands coated with a resin binder onto a mandrel in a helical pattern to form a tubular article. One end of the mandrel is provided with an extension or sleeve having a smaller diameter than the mandrel, and a wind-off ring is disposed longitudinally adjacent the sleeve. In operation, the fibrous strands are initially wound on the wind-off ring to lock the strand to the ring, and the winding is then transferred to the sleeve and after several turns on the sleeve, the winding is then transferred to the outer surface of the mandrel. The diameter of the mandrel sleeve is correlated with the diameter of the mandrel and the winding angle so that no slippage of the strands occur as they pass from the sleeve onto the mandrel, thereby resulting in minimum scrappage for the wound article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: McClean Anderson, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Lowrie McLarty
  • Patent number: 4279684
    Abstract: For applying and wrapping line guides to a fishing rod includes a stable bed characterized by three guide channels whereby means for bending the rod to permit marking guide positions and means for placement of and checking proper axial alignment of guides so placed can be carried out in one channel. A second channel includes means for firmly supporting the rod for rotation on its axis while a thread dispensing and tensioning assembly is movable along a third channel to supply thread to the rotating rod. Finally, the bed together with thread dispensing assembly and rotatable rod holders and the like can all be moved conjointly by moving the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Inventor: Eugene B. Mason
  • Patent number: 4279678
    Abstract: Hollow fiber apparatus for the fractionation of fluid, especially useful as an artificial kidney, is disclosed, characterized principally in that it comprises:a mandrel in the form of a truncated cone towards the ends of which two so-called end walls are situated, which surround the said mandrel and by which hollow fibers are held, the fibers extending from one end wall to the other, at least one of the end walls being sealed and traversed by the open ends of the hollow fibers,an outer casing of which the inner wall is in the form of a truncated cone at least along the greater part of its length near the hollow fibers.means for the intake and/or discharge of the fluid which circulates inside the hollow fibers, andmeans for the intake and/or discharge for the fluid which circulates over the outer wall of the fibers.Process and apparatus for manufacturing the hollow fiber apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Sodip SA
    Inventors: Charles Amicel, Bernard Biot, Yves Butruille, Christian Ollivier
  • Patent number: 4278490
    Abstract: A collapsible mandrel having a longitudinally slit tubular shell providing a molding surface for glass fiber reinforced plastic pipe is provided with a removably mountable longitudinally slit sleeve as a molding surface for pipe of larger diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Pistole, Walter A. Stoll, Leo A. Oswald
  • Patent number: 4267007
    Abstract: Winding apparatus for the manufacture of fiberglass pipe and other filament-wound, reinforced resinous products comprises a rotatable mandrel; a vat stationed adjacent the mandrel and adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, settable resin; and a reciprocating carriage assembly supporting the vat. The filamentous reinforcing material is guided across the top of an applicator roll rotatably mounted within the vat thereby impregnating the filaments with resin. The impregnated filaments then are squeegeed and guided onto the mandrel, the rotation of which pulls the filaments through the vat. As the carriage mounting the vat reciprocates, the filaments are wound on the mandrel in a predetermined pattern to produce the finished filament-wound, reinforced resinous product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventor: Charles W. Kellogg