Orienting Or Aligning Solid Particles In Fluent Matrix Material Patents (Class 264/108)
  • Patent number: 5264261
    Abstract: Fibrous network structures are produced within liquid polymer resins by passing the fiber-containing resin along a channel having a plurality of sets of flow modifying elements which establish a regulated succession of velocity profiles for the principal flow direction and the two directions perpendicular thereto. The individual velocity profiles persist over distances which are small compared to the channel dimension over which they are established and are such that there is substantially no net deviation from the principal flow direction. The velocity profiles superimpose on each other to cause rotation and sliding of the fibers so that a coherent network structure is built up which persists through extrusion dies and molds into the solid state. By means of a large number of touches per fiber the structures thereby established confer efficient mechanical reinforcing properties and enhanced thermal properties on the polymer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Prosyma Research Limited
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bush
  • Patent number: 5262106
    Abstract: High strength material composite structures are formed with oriented fibers to provide controlled anisotropic fibers. Fibers suspended in non-dilute concentrations (e.g., up to 20 volume percent for fibers having an aspect ratio of 20) in a selected medium are oriented by moving an axially spaced array of elements in the direction of desired fiber alignment. The array elements are generally perpendicular to the desired orientation. The suspension medium may also include sphere-like particles where the resulting material is a ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Alan L. Graham, Lisa A. Mondy, David C. Guell
  • Patent number: 5250404
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic material is disclosed, comprising a transparent support containing a magnetic recording material, wherein the support is formed by co-flow-extending a dope containing the magnetic recording material and a dope not containing the magnetic recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 5246651
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a columnar shaped piece formed of a thermoplastic matrix with ancillary pieces of a non-creeping hard material embedded therein and cemented by the plastic matrix. The ancillary pieces are essentially overlapping slabs which are substantially parallel to one another and the axis of the columnar shaped piece. Molten thermoplastic blended with solid slabs is extruded in the form of a billet into one end of an elongate mold and rotated around the inner surface of the mold. The extrusion continues until the inner surface is uniformly covered with constituents of the billet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Real GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Hentschel
  • Patent number: 5240659
    Abstract: An oriented shaped article of a calcium phosphate type compound is disclosed, in which at least two crystallographic axes of the primary particles of which the shaped article is composed each is oriented in one direction, respectively, in at least the surface of said article. A sinter of the oriented shaped article and a processes for producing the article and the sinter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku K.K.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ichitsuka, Tetsuro Ogawa, Masaya Sumita, Akihiko Yokoo
  • Patent number: 5232975
    Abstract: A process for preconsolidating a planar porous fiber-thermoplastic resin layer which is unconstrained in the inplane directions by heating the layer to above the melting point of the resin, then applying pressure to the plane of the layer causing resin flow, thus orienting the fibers in the plane of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Clifford K. Deakyne
  • Patent number: 5227115
    Abstract: A process for aligning a layer of a liquid-crystalline, polymeric material in which a gas or liquid stream is passed over the liquid-crystalline, polymeric material, preferably for aligning main-chain polymers which have a nematic phase by passing a hot stream of air onto the material. Electrooptical displays which contain an alignment layer of this type have high contrast. The alignment layers have advantages over conventional rubbed alignment layers since, for example, no electrostatic charging takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Harnischfeger
  • Patent number: 5223322
    Abstract: A multi-dimensional image is obtained in a substantially flat surface covering by aligning the platelets of a platey material in the optical surface of the surface covering parallel to the exposed surface of the surface covering and realigning predetermined platelets to a predetermined angle with respect to the original alignment. The platelets can be realigned by pressing a gelled transparent or translucent element into the platey material containing layer or by mechanically embossing the platey material containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Colyer, Cheryl W. Landers, Ralph W. Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5203940
    Abstract: A technique is provided for forming an article having a sharp, detailed edge by thermoforming thermoplastic resin prepregs containing randomly arranged reinforcing fibers and ordered, substantially continuous reinforcing fibers. The thermoforming mold used for this technique has a mold cavity with a wedge-shaped interior portion and a mold plug with a wedge-shaped exterior portion wherein the mold plug is capable of applying additional pressure along its edge section. The randomly arranged reinforcing fibers are utilized to form the sharp edge portion of the resulting article while the ordered, substantially continuous reinforcing fibers are utilized to form the remaining wall portions of the resulting article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: James R. Krone
  • Patent number: 5202064
    Abstract: An extrusion molding method for improving the fluidity of a molding material in the die and significantly improving the productivity of the molded article of uniform thickness, and an extrusion molding apparatus adapted for smoothly carrying out the method and having an unsophisticated constructional arrangement, are disclosed.Molding is carried out while the die to which an extrusion orifice gap adjustment device is annexed is kept in resonant vibrations. The extrusion orifice gap adjustment device is annexed to a portion of the die constituting an extrusion orifice section, and molding is carried out while only the portion of the die is kept in resonant vibrations. The extrusion orifice gap adjustment device is annexed at a node of the resonant vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignees: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Seidensha Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Furusawa, Atsushi Satoh, Takashi Nakajima, Noriaki Matsugishi
  • Patent number: 5198167
    Abstract: In a process for molding a fiber molding for a fiber-reinforced composite material with short fibers oriented in one direction, a slurry molding material having short fibers dispersed in a liquid is used, and pressing forces are applied to the molding material from two directions substantially perpendicular to each other within a mold, while removing the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tohru Ohta, Akimasa Daimaru, Masao Ichikawa, Hideyuki Fujishiro, Ryuichi Kubota, Takeyoshi Nakamura, Hisayoshi Harada, Hirotaka Koshitani, Tatsuya Suzuki, Teruo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5196212
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the production of composite material parts by aligning reinforcing fibers through application of electric fields. The fibers are in the form of rods preimpregnated with a matrix material or coated with a sizing, and aligned within a dielectric alignment fluid. By providing appropriate electrodes, an electric field is created which mimics the stress lines exhibited by the final composite part when under stress. The reinforcing fibers align to the electric field, thereby aligning to the stress lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Gerald M. Knoblach
  • Patent number: 5188784
    Abstract: In a laminar extrusion, overlapping layers of an EVOH phase are dispersed into a PP or MAPP matrix phase incompatible with the EVOH phase to form a vapor, gas and/or organic liquids barrier. When the matrix phase is a PP phase, MAPP can be added to improve adhesion between the overlapping layers and the matrix phase. MEPR and/or PE can also be mixed with the EVOH and/or PP phase to adjust the mechanical properties of the extrusion. In order to produce the extrusion, a molten polymer blend including bodies of the EVOH phase dispersed in the PP or MAPP phase is first prepared and then extruded through a die unit. In the die unit, a converging extensional flow is produced to lengthen the dispersed bodies of EVOH phase in a first direction while a diverging extensional flow lengthens these bodies in a second direction transversal to the first one. Such lengthening of the bodies produces in the extrusion the overlapping layers of EVOH phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning (McGill University)
    Inventors: Musa R. Kamal, Gunter Lohfink, Laurent Arghyris, Sassan Hozhabr-Ghelichi
  • Patent number: 5178706
    Abstract: The thickness of a fiber-reinforced resin sheet having uniformly distributed and substantially unidirectional fibers is reduced by stretching a fiber-reinforced resin sheet starting material in intimate contact with a thermoplastic sheet having a tensile strength larger than the fiber-reinforced resin sheet. This is accomplished by heating the fiber-reinforced resin sheet at a temperature at which the resin in the fiber-reinforced resin becomes sticky and subjecting the sheets to a uniform compressive force to adhere the fiber-reinforced sheet to the thermoplastic resin sheet and then simultaneously stretching the thus-adhered sheets to form a thin fiber-reinforced sheet in which the direction of stretching is perpendicular to the direction of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Nishibara, Akira Morii, Mikio Hayashi, Taro Mihara, Muneharu Wada, Yasushi Chosokabe
  • Patent number: 5167888
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing polymer composites comprising a polymeric matrix (Host) in which crystallites of organic and/or inorganic compounds (Guest) are grown in situ. The growth of crystals is achieved by a temperature gradient zone melting technique. The resultant crystals have high crystalline alignment, good transparency and high second harmonic generation activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventors: Nazar E. N. Azoz, Munteser M. Kadim
  • Patent number: 5160466
    Abstract: A molding process, includingsupplying molten, moldable material to a mold cavity;subjecting at least a part of the supplied molten material to a shear force;causing the material to solidify while maintaining the shear force; anddemolding the molded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Allan, Michael J. Bevis
  • Patent number: 5156858
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a molding of a solid product in a mold cavity from molten material which solidifies in the mold cavity, in which first and second conduits are coupled to the mold cavity at spaced positions for carrying the molten material, includes first and second elements, and a controller for controlling the driving the first and second elements repeatedly during solidification of the molten material in the mold cavity so that the molten material is repeatedly moved through the mold cavity. The first element is disposed in the first conduit and the second element is disposed in the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Allan, Michael J. Bevis
  • Patent number: 5156785
    Abstract: Extruded catheters and other flexible plastic tubing may be manufactured with improved rotational and/or longitudinal stiffness, compared with catheters made of more conventional plastics. A tubing of liquid crystal polymer plastic-containing material may be extruded through a tube extrusion die while rotating the inner and outer die walls to provide circumferential shear to the extruded tube. Thus the liquid crystal polymer is oriented in a helical manner to provide improved properties, including greater rotational stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Cordis Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Zdrahala
  • Patent number: 5154865
    Abstract: In the production of moldings from thermotropic, liquid-crystalline plastics, the chains of the LC polymer molecules are oriented in at least two preferred directions independent of one another. For this purpose, the polymer melt stream which emerges from an extruder is divided into two part streams which are fed via melt lines to an adapter. A distributing element which is caused to rotate by a drive unit is located in the adapter. The adapter is upstream of a slot die and is connected to the latter. One part stream forms a polymer matrix while the other part stream incorporates in, or is superimposed on, this polymer matrix individual polymer strands at different cross-sectional levels by means of the rotating distributing element. These polymer strands reinforce the polymer matrix. These polymer strands form multiple-pitch helices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Dinter
  • Patent number: 5151231
    Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a tubing portion and a needle portion, at least one of which is a thermoplastic liquid crystalline polymer. The tubing and needle may be integral or unitary. The invention includes a method to make the assembly in which a melt of the liquid crystalline polymer is shear thinned by passing through an orifice such as an extrusion die to make tubing. The shear thinned melt may be directed into a mold having a point to make a liquid crystalline needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: James M. Lambert, Donald D. Solomon
  • Patent number: 5149486
    Abstract: A speaker vibration member is made by melting materials containing no less than 10% of a thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer and 3 to 40% of fiber or flake filler by weight, allowing the mixture to flow, cooling the mixture, and solidifying it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumiaki Baba
  • Patent number: 5147716
    Abstract: A light control film includes a light transmissive matrix sheet and a plurality of opaque aciculae disposed throughout the sheet and oriented such that the longitudinal axis of each of the acicula is generally perpendicular to the face of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Peter A. Bellus
  • Patent number: 5132549
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for formation of an extruded product from material containing fibrous, molecules or other constituents succeptable to alignment, while the extrudate is still molten and moving through the die (5), in the direction of the extrusion axis (11), it is subjected to pulsating displacements in a direction transverse relative to that axis. These displacements give rise to a shearing action within the material, resulting in a degree of transverse orientation of the constituents. This orientation may be "locked in" to the extruded product when the melt solidifies (40), so improving the transverse strength of that product, and/or may correct an unwanted orientation (from 112, FIG. 16) that existed in the melt upstream of the point where the pulsating displacements were applied. The displacements may be applied by the synchronized operation of pistons (20-27), operating in chambers (17) which open into the die cavity (18) at separated locations all lying in the same transverse plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Allan, Michael J. Bevis
  • Patent number: 5132058
    Abstract: A process for producing an anisotropically electroconductive sheet having a plurality of electroconductive portions extending in the direction of the thickness of the sheet, including the steps of forming a layer of a molding material consisting of a mixture of electroconductive particles and a high-molecular-weight substance in a cavity of a mold consisting of a pair of upper and lower molds and applying an anisitropic magnetic field to the molding material layer when a space is present between the molding surface of the upper mold and the molding material layer, to fluidize the molding material and simultaneously move the electroconductive particles in the molding material to areas where the magnetic field is applied, thereby allowing the electroconductive particles to gather in said areas to form the electroconductive portions including projecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Suyama, Yuiti Haruta
  • Patent number: 5122322
    Abstract: A composite, thermoplastic resin film includes a matrix in the form of a film, and formed of a first thermoplastic resin and a plurality of substantially continuous tapes dispersed within the matrix film with the plane of each of the tapes being substantially parallel with the plane of the matrix film and each formed of a second thermoplastic resin different from the first resin, a portion of the tapes having a width of at least 200 times the thickness of the composite film so that the composite film has an oxygen permeation rate of 0.12-900 cc/m.sup.2.day.atm at a temperature of 20.degree. C. and a relative humidity of 65%. A method for producing the thermoplastic resin film includes mixing melts of the first and second resins using a static mixer, and extruding the mixed melt discharged from the mixer as is through a die. The film has an excellent gas barrier property and is suitably used for the preparation of cushioning materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Momose
  • Patent number: 5114517
    Abstract: A magnetic marker serving to locate, trace, and identify an elongated hidden object, such as a buried utility pipe, duct, conduit, or fiber optic cable, is manufactured by applying magnetic material to a substrate that is elongated and by forming from the material a helical or twisted permanent magnet pattern extending along the length of the substrate. The magnetic material, which may be coextensive with the substrate or applied to a portion only of the substrate, may be formed as a strip coextruded with the substrate and magnetized in the direction of the width of the strip. Alternatively, magnetic material may be mixed with the material from which the substrate is extruded or may be coated on the substrate. A strip may also be preformed and applied to an elongated object as the object is buried, or the strip may form a separate warning tape that is buried with the object and that is provided with a desired magnetic signature by twisting the strip lengthwise as it is advanced for burial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Schonstedt Instrument Company
    Inventors: John B. Rippingale, Erick O. Schonstedt
  • Patent number: 5108676
    Abstract: A method of forming a plastic plate includes melt extruding a thermoplastic resin containing a flake-like inorganic filler with an extruder into a former while a back pressure is applied to the extruded thermoplastic resin to thereby form it into a plate like body. The molten resin is extruded from at least one extruder into a channel or channels corresponding to the extruders which are formed in an adapter. The molten resin is fed to a cavity having at least one partition plate, formed in the former which is communicatively connected to the adapter so that a molten resin stream or streams introduced from the channel or channels are respectively divided and developed into at least two plate like bodies, and the plate-like bodies are merged in an overlapping state, followed by heat-bonding them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Plastics Industries Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hayashi, Takao Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5102601
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a composite in the form of a network of microfibrils which includes interpenetrating the microfibrils with a matrix material to form a composite which includes two continuous interpenetrating phases, a matrix-material phase and a microfibrillar-reinforcing-network phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventors: Richard J. Farris, Yachin Cohen, Steven J. DeTeresa
  • Patent number: 5093050
    Abstract: A novel method for generating orientation of short fibers in the matrix of a composite material allows for production of complex high strength components. With state of the art technologies short fibers can be oriented only by elongational flows and these are generally applicable only to extrusion products. The invention is based on the fundamental discovery that short fibers can be oriented by relative movement against a finer three-dimensional isotropic network. Gel networks are of molecular level and satisfy this scaling requirement even for whiskers. The process involves mixing-in the fibers with a gel, pouring (injecting) the mixture into a mold and then orienting the fibers by moving them relative to the gel network. The movement can be driven by sound waves. When orientation is accomplished, the gel is solidified forming the matrix of the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Laboratorium fur experimentelle Chirurgie
    Inventor: Slobodan Tepic
  • Patent number: 5091125
    Abstract: A method of producing an anti-slip shoe sole makes use of a shoe sole forming die having a plurality of independent, projection-forming cavities in the bottom thereof. The cavities open to a reverse side of the die through respective escape holes connected to the cavities. A foamable, unvulcanized green rubber containing hard fibers dispersed therein is set in the shoe sole forming die. Heat and pressure are applied to the unvulcanized green rubber to cause the unvulcanized green rubber to fill the cavities and further to flow into the escape holes, thereby forming a shoe sole blank having projections integral therewith. Buffing is effected on the bottom portions of the projections, thereby allowing ends of the hard fibers to appear in the ground-contact surfaces of the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Asahi Corporation
    Inventors: Masasuke Harada, Hideki Hayafuchi, Kouji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 5082605
    Abstract: A method for making a composite material including a discontinuous phase of cellulosic fiber encapsulated in and bonded to a continuous phase of a polymeric component containing a major portion of polyethylene by mixing the cellulosic fiber and polymeric component while raising the temperature of the mixture to the encapsulation point, maintaining the encapsulated material within the encapsulation range while reducing the particle size, and thereafter extruding the material while controlling its temperature within the encapsulation range and substantially aligning the fibers in the flow direction until the material contacts a heated die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Billy D. Goforth, Charles L. Goforth
  • Patent number: 5069834
    Abstract: In known electromagnetically actuatable valves having a connection fitting acting as a core and on which a magnet coil is disposed, the magnet coil is surrounded by a solid valve housing of ferromagnetic metal. The manufacture of this valve housing is very labor-intensive and results in undesirably large external dimensions. The valve enables not only simple manufacture but also a reduction in the external dimensions of the valve. In the valve, a plastic sheath surrounding both the connection fitting and the magnet coil is provided, which at least in the region surrounding the magnet coil contains ferromagnetic fillers conducting magnetic field lines. The fillers surround the magnet coil in the circumferential direction. This embodiment of the valve is suitable for electromagneticallly actuatable systems of all kinds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Babitzka
  • Patent number: 5067536
    Abstract: High quality agglomerated structural boards, lumber and other structural members such as I, U, T, L beams or corrugated plates or moldings are produced from engineered long, thin narrow green wood strands. Process, in which the parallel alignment of the strands to each other and their original starting orientation are maintained through their transportation, drying, blending, forming and pressing, preventing their intermingling, twisting, warping and breaking. The application of fungicides, pesticides, fire retarding and other chemicals during the blending process, impregnates or colors the agglomerated structural products throughout their cross section, making the products resistant against rot, insects, fire or aesthetically attractive for architectural applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventors: Frank T. Liska, Frank F. Liska
  • Patent number: 5061423
    Abstract: A method for molding fiber reinforced articles with superior mechanical properties by injection molding. The method includes heating a mixture of molding compound and chopped fiber to produce highly viscous substance. Pressure is applied to force the substance through an elongated injection slot oriented perpendicular to the major axial dimension of the finished article, causing the fiber planes to become oriented in a unique whorled, accordion like manner. The unusual fiber plane orientation reinforces the article such that it is resistant to crack propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: George K. Layden
  • Patent number: 5059368
    Abstract: A moulding process including:supplying molten, mouldable material to a mould cavity;subjecting at least a part of the supplied molten material to a shear force;causing the material to solidify while maintaining the shear force; anddemoulding the moulded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter S. Allan, Michael J. Bevis
  • Patent number: 5059107
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing annular fiber aggregate includes: a container including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder disposed concentrically, whereby forming an upright cylindrical space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; at least a pair of positive electrode and negative electrode disposed by turns and buried in the wall of the outer cylinder, parallely with respect to the axis of the upright cylindrical space; a filter member disposed at the lower portion of the upright cylindrical space; and a voltage applicator connected to the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes. Since the apparatus has the positive and negative electrodes buried in the wall of the outer cylinder, the fibers are hardly disturbed and lifted by the positive and negative electrodes even when the positive and negative electrodes are rotated relatively around the axis of the upright cylindrical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Renichi Isomura, Mitsuyoshi Shirotani, Tomohito Ito, Hidetoshi Hirai
  • Patent number: 5059371
    Abstract: In the case of extruding a W/O type emulsion having a high viscosity obtained by stirring a mixture of a vinyl monomer solution composed of a vinyl monomer which is water insoluble and in a liquid state at normal temperature, a surface active agent having a hydrophilic-lipophylic balance of 3 to 6, and a polymerization catalyst with water, cement, and synthetic fibers through a die, at least one rectifying plate having a given form is disposed in the die near the outlet thereof to direct the synthetic fibers in the W/O type emulsion to the extruding direction.When the tabular plate obtained by extrusion-molding the W/O type emulsion by the method of this invention is hardened and dried, a light-weight and high-strength plastic concrete suitable for building materials is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Okura Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takasi Saheki, Hideaki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5053385
    Abstract: A polycrystalline metal oxide such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-X (where 0<X<0.5) exhibits superconducting properties and is capable of conducting very large current densities. By aligning the two-dimensional Cu-O layers which carry the current in the superconducting state in the a- and b-directions, i.e., within the basal plane, a high degree of crystalline axes alignment is provided between adjacent grains permitting the conduction of high current densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Arch Development Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Capone, Roger B. Poeppel
  • Patent number: 5051034
    Abstract: A magnetically detectable plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polyvinyl, etc., pipe for underground use comprises a hollow tubular plastic pipe having particles of magnetic material embedded in plastic and secured integrally with the wall of the pipe. The magnetic particles are of iron oxide or barium ferrite and of a size, shape, distribution and proportion such that the plastic pipe may be easily detected by magnetic detection apparatus on the surface when the plastic pipe is buried at a selected depth under the ground. The magnetic particles are uniformly distributed throughout the thickness and uniformly distributed around the entire circumference of the plastic pipe or the magnetic particles may be distributed in discrete portions of the plastic pipe, as for example, a uniform outer layer of the pipe or in stripes or strips extending along the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: William L. Goodman
  • Patent number: 5045261
    Abstract: A method of molding a cup-shaped article such as integral vehicle wheel rim and disc segment, wherein a plurality of sections of resin-impregnated cloth are placed over a substantially cylindrical mandrel. The cloth sections are substantially identical and have circular central portions which are stacked on the mandrel end face, and oppositely projecting wings which are draped over and are circumferentially staggered around the mandrel sidewall. The central axis of each sheet section is at an angle of 45.degree. to the warp and weft fibers of the section cloth. The sheet sections thus form a mold charge which is compression molded to form an integral vehicle wheel rim and disc segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Motor Wheel Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Weeks
  • Patent number: 5045528
    Abstract: A polycrystalline metal oxide such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7-X (where 0<X<0.5) exhibits superconducting properties and is capable of conducting very large current densities. By aligning the two-dimensional Cu-O layers which carry the current in the superconducting state in the a- and b-directions, i.e., within the basal plane, a high degree of crystalline axes alignment is provided between adjacent grains permitting the conduction of high current densities. With the superconducting metal oxide in the form of a ceramic slip which has not yet set, orientation of the crystal basal planes parallel with the direction of desired current flow is accomplished by an applied acoustic plane wave in the acoustic or ultrasonic frequency range (either progressive or standing) in applying a torque to each crystal particle. The ceramic slip is then set and fired by conventional methods to produce a conductor with preferentially oriented grains and substantially enhanced current carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: ARCH Development Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Tolt, Roger B. Poeppel
  • Patent number: 5045249
    Abstract: Electrical interconnections are made by means of a layer or sheet medium comprising chains of magnetically aligned, electrically conducting particles in a nonconducting matrix material. End particles of chains protrude from a surface of the medium, thereby enhancing electrical contact properties of the medium. The medium can be used for temporary as well as permanent connections; in the latter case the use of a nonconductive adhesive material is convenient for physical attachment to contacts on both sides of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, John J. Mottine, Jr., Robert L. Opila, Jr., Richard C. Sherwood, Thomas H. Tiefel, William C. Vesperman
  • Patent number: 5041178
    Abstract: A fiber glass board useful as a form board for lightweight cement and the like is strengthened by providing for the fibers to be predominantly oriented generally parallel to the major faces of the board in directions both parallel to and transversely of the dimension of the board corresponding to the process direction. A downstream conveyor which moves the blanket of fibers through the curing oven moves faster than the collection conveyor, thereby producing a drawing effect on the blanket and causing the desired fiber alignment. A glass fiber mat is applied to one or both major faces of the blanket prior to movement through the oven to provide additional stiffness to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Manville Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Kielmeyer, Theodore R. Rohweder, Richard J. Ray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5039292
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for manufacturing Nd-Fe-B alloy magnet materials, and in particular, for manufacturing an integral, columnar-ring-shaped Nd-Fe-B magnet which is multi-pole-magnetized along the circumference thereof and which is used as the rotor magnet of a high-efficiency stepping motor. The device of this invention is composed of a die punch, an upper and a lower punch having two concentric sections. The space is defined by the die and the upper and lower punches includes induction means for heating the green compact or the densified compact and sealing means for keeping the die under a reduced pressure condition or in an inert gas atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeho Tanigawa, Katsunori Iwasaki, Yasuto Nozawa
  • Patent number: 5035848
    Abstract: A method of separating filaments from a clump thereof in a liquid flow from each other by sub-dividing the flow across its lateral extent to pass through an array of a plurality of filament separating channels having a cross-section at least large enough to accommodate the cross-section of the clumps such that flow along the channels imparts a shearing force to filaments at the edge of the flow in the channel to separate these axially from each other and from filaments at the center of the clump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Prosyma Research Limited
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bush
  • Patent number: 5036210
    Abstract: A magnetically detectable plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polyvinyl, etc., pipe for underground use comprises a hollow tubular plastic pipe having particles of magnetic material embedded in plastic and secured integrally with the wall of the pipe. The magnetic particles are of iron oxide or barium ferrite and of a size, shape, distribution and proportion such that the plastic pipe may be easily detected by magnetic detection apparatus on the surface when the plastic pipe is buried at a selected depth under the ground. The magnetic particles are uniformly distributed throughout the thickness and uniformly distributed around the entire circumference of the plastic pipe or the magnetic particles may be distributed in discrete portions of the plastic pipe, as for example, a uniform outer layer of the pipe or in stripes or strips extending along the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: William L. Goodman
  • Patent number: 5026444
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber-loaded polymeric sheet and power transmission belts utilizing same are provided wherein the sheet comprises a substantially solid polymeric matrix having fibers embedded therein and wherein the fibers comprise between 2 phr and 70 phr of the sheet and at least 70% of the fibers are disposed in substantially parallel relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald C. Hollaway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5017312
    Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of oriented chopped glass fiber mats from non-conductive fiber feed stock is disclosed. Apparatus includes means for increasing the conductance of the feed stock, electrically insulative transfer surface; means for establishing and maintaining a directional electric field to orient the chopped fibers, and a mat receiving surface to receive the oriented mat. The non-woven mat comprises a plurality of cut or chopped fibers having their longitudinal axes predominately disposed approximately parallel to a predetermined orientation axis lying in the plane of the mat. A preferred embodiment includes the incorporation of a glass fiber mat into a composite by applying a matrix resin to the mat in sufficient quantity to ensure the integrity of the composite. The process for manufacturing said non-woven oriented mats is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: The Coe Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Peters, James D. Logan, Eugene R. Bennett, Clarence L. Dieter, David J. Henckel
  • Patent number: 5006402
    Abstract: Self-reinforced polymer composities of 60-5 percent by weight of an at least partially crystalline high performance thermoplastic polymer and 40-95 percent by weight of a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which exhibit anisotropic properties in the melt phase. This wholly aromatic polyester is a liquid crystal polymer, or LCP. The high performance themoplastic polymer has a melting point of at least 200.degree.. Polyether etherketone is a preferred at least partially crystalline polymer. The wholly aromatic polyester is in the form of predominantly unidirectionally oriented continuous fibers primarily in the range of about 1 to 10 micrometers in diameter, distributed in a matrix of polyether etherketone. The polymer composites of this invnetion have high tensile strength, high modulus, satisfactory elongation, good impact strength, and good high temperature properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: Avraam Isayev
  • Patent number: 5006403
    Abstract: Self-reinforced polymer composites of about 97.5-5% by weight of poly(phenylene oxide) and about 2.5-95% by weight of a melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which exhibt anisotropic properties in the melt phase. This wholly aromatic polyester is a liquid crystal polymer, or LCP. The wholly aromatic polyester is in the form of predominantly unidirectionally oriented continuous fibers primarily in the range of about 1 to 10 micrometers in diameter, distributed in a matrix of poly(phenylene oxide). The polymer composites of this invention have high tensile strength, high modulus, satisfactory elongation, good impact strength, and good high temperature properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: Avraam Isayev