Abstract: A method, other than weaving, for maintaining cords in parallel array for further processing as by calendering with elastomeric material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, to form strips or sheets of rubberized cords used in building tires, belts, and other rubber products requiring reinforcement cords. The cords are first placed in parallel array and then contacted with a piece of backing material faced with an adhesive for holding the cords parallel on the material. The backing material and attached cords are then removed to a calender where the cords are embedded in the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A device to weld or splice two ends of a thermoplastic yarn. The device includes means for holding the yarn adjacent a heating element. The heating element is energized and the two ends of the yarn are fused together to form a globule of molten plastic. Thereafter, the heat is terminated and the device automatically pulls the two lengths of yarn apart and holds them under tension, and at the same time, the device molds the globule into a relatively smooth mass that has a width substantially equal to the width or diameter of the yarn.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming the stranded conductor portion of a fully-filled electric cable in which the components of the strand in side-by-side relation are fed through an inlet die at one end of a chamber in which a filling medium at a temperature at least 5.degree. C. above the dropping point temperature of the medium and under a pressure above atmospheric pressure is circulated in a direction opposite to the conductor feed direction. In the chamber, the components, preferably groups of conductors, are spread apart by a perforated disc through which they pass and are then twisted together at an outlet die at the opposite end of the chamber to form a strand with a coating of the medium and with the medium filling the spaces between components. From the outlet die the strand passes directly into a bath of the medium in a temperature controlled tank at atmospheric pressure but which maintains the medium at least 5.degree. C. above its dropping point temperature.

Abstract: A method of making an optical coupling between a first dielectric optical waveguide and a second dielectric optical waveguide comprising, launching light into one of said first or second dielectric optical waveguides, moving an end of said first dielectric optical waveguide towards an end of said second dielectric optical waveguide, observing light radiated from the end of said first dielectric optical waveguide, and when said radiated light reaches a minimum value, fixing said first dielectric optical waveguide relative to said second dielectric optical waveguide to form a permanent coupling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for winding a fiber reinforced resin bell on the end of a pipe. The apparatus includes a pair of parallel conveyor lines with each line having a series of corresponding stations and the pipes on each line are moved or indexed progressively through the stations. Corresponding stations in each conveyor line are winding stations, and as each pipe is indexed to the winding station, it is moved axially toward the opposite conveyor line. The pipe is rotated about its axis and a resin impregnated fibrous band is wound around an insert projecting from the end of the pipe to form the bell. As the band is being wound, a second pipe from the winding station of the other conveyor is moved axially to position the end of the second pipe in proximate abutting relation to the end of the first pipe being wound. After the winding operation has been completed on the first pipe, the band is transferred to the adjacent end of the second pipe and the band is severed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for splicing thermoplastic monofilament material by high frequency vibratory energy use a support having both forming means and an adjoining flash receiving cavity. Monofilaments to be spliced are disposed in the forming means in overlapping relationship. High frequency vibratory energy is applied to the overlap region softening the monofilaments while the excess thermoplastic material created during the splicing is extruded into the adjoining flash receiving cavity. The vibratory energy is removed and the softened material remaining in the forming means solidifies into a continuous monofilament having a predetermined cross sectional area.

Abstract: A nonwoven web of thermoplastic filaments is thermally bonded by conveying the web on a rotating hollow cylindrical roll having a pervious surface and passing hot air through the web into the roll to heat the filaments to the bonding temperature. The web is restrained against the roll surface with a stationary porous fabric under pressure developed by flow of the hot air through the fabric. Means for adjusting the length of fabric in contact with the web, and for measuring tension on the fabric, are provided in the apparatus.

Abstract: A spunbonded fabric of nylon 6, bonded by binders such as polyacrylates and polyurethanes, in which the filaments are substantially in the .gamma.-modification in the crystalline regions and the average molecular orientation, produced by attenuation, of the nylon 6 filaments is at most 80% of the theoretically possible orientation. It is an object of the invention to produce spunbonded fabrics of improved properties and to do so more economically, e.g. with higher outputs.

Abstract: A filament winding reel in a method and apparatus for producing optical fiber bundles, includes an end disc and circumferentially spaced freely rotatable longitudinally projecting rollers. A pair of outwardly open peripherally spaced filament guides having aligned guide channels are mounted on the border of the disc and have widths substantially equal to, or slightly greater than the optical fiber thickness. The fibers are tensioned by a tensioning roller carried by a disc mounted lever disposed approximately opposite the guides and outwardly spring biased, and longitudinal pressure is applied to the fibers proximate the guides to uniformly align the fibers in the guide channels by tensioning bars bearing on the sides of the fibers proximate the guides.

Abstract: Filter rod sections are produced by moving a tow of filamentary filter material past a device which showers the filaments with atomized plasticizer and by thereupon converting the thus treated tow into a rod-like filler which is wrapped to form a filter rod. The latter is severed to yield a succession of filter rod sections which are transported by a fluted drum to storage or to a machine for the production of filter-tipped smokers' products. Groups of filter rod sections are withdrawn from the flutes of the drum at regular intervals for weighing to thus determine the quantity of filter material and/or plasticizer. The results of the weighing operation are utilized to adjust the feeding mechanism for the tow and/or plasticizer if the measured quantities deviate from desired quantities. The feeding mechanism for the tow employs rolls which can be driven at a variable speed to thereby subject the filaments of the tow to a more or less pronounced stretching action.

Abstract: A tire breaker is formed from a cord on a gum base supported on a work belt. A rotor member is mounted above the work belt, and includes inner and outer cord engaging and laying means. Upon intermittent rotation of the rotor member, the cord engaging and laying means engage the cord, fold the same into successive side-by-side loops, and lay the loops on the gum base.

Abstract: A tubular member which is ideally suited as a drive shaft for transmitting power from an engine to a remote station such as the drive shaft for a helicopter tail rotor or a remotely mounted propeller or rotor and a method of fabricating said member. The tubular member has a cylindrical body portion and at least one conical end portion with an integral, radial flange upstanding therefrom. The wall of the tubular member is composed of a plastic having embedded therein at least one layer of continuous filaments of fibrous reinforcing material with each layer of such material comprising two adjacent thicknesses of filaments. The filaments are in parallel alignment in each thickness and in diagonal orientation between thicknesses at a first helix angle in the cylindrical body portion and at a second, greater helix angle, in the conical end portion.

Abstract: A machine for fabricating heating structures having heating wires with an external layer of thermoplastic material arranged with sections in a predetermined pattern, and carrier strands of thermoplastic material fused to and interconnecting the wire sections. The machine includes a wire support means having laterally spaced pegs or the like on which the wire is retained in a predetermined configuration on a substantially common plane. A heating unit or units simultaneously heat the carrier strands and wire sections together. The heating elements and wire configuration are moved relative to one another to join progressively the strands to the transversely arranged heating wire sections. The element used in the heating unit includes a guide trough for the carrier strands and simultaneously heats facing surfaces of the strands and heating wire so that the two can be pressed together while fused to form the bond.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method suitable for the manufacture of composite yarns wherein a filament is introduced between two rotatable rollers, there is provided the improvement of a start-up means adapted to automatically introduce the filament between the two rollers, at least one of which has a further source of yarn-forming material thereon. In the apparatus and method of the invention, greater reliability and a decrease in downtime are achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of optical-fiber bundles comprises a frame, a plate-like rotor having upper and lower parallel surfaces journaled to rotate in the frame about an axis of rotation parallel to the surfaces, a fiber guide mounted in the frame along a line parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, means for rotating the rotor, and means for moving the fiber guide coordinately with the rotor such that optical fibers passing through the fiber guide are wound on the rotor in a parallel fan-like manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for manufacturing a net of non-woven threads, in which first and second laps of parallel threads, are drawn off, respectively, from a fixed creel and a rotary creel with the first lap longitudinal and the second lap transverse and wound about the first lap. The threads of the second laps are severed at each of two opposed longitudinal edges of the first lap and the net formed by part at least of the longitudinal threads of the first lap and those pieces of the transverse threads of the second lap which are situated on one and the same side of the first lap is collected and stabilized, while there is effected relative running ahead of the longitudinal threads which increases progressively from one thread to the next in relation to one of said edges, from the latter up to the other edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a continuous strip on a movable support surface in a zigzag pattern including a traversing guide member having a slot passage disposed longitudinally of the movement of the support surface, means for reducing friction in the slot passage of the guide member, and positioning means between the guide member and the support surface movable into the path of the strip at the ends of each traverse to form the reversals of the zigzag pattern.