Abstract: A machine for making elongated articles of concrete or the like having reinforcing members extending therethrough, and in which at least one spiral conveyor forces concrete under pressure through a mold causing the machine to move forwardly by reaction as the material is forced against the molded portion of the article. At least one elongated reinforcing member extends through the machine and the mold, and the machine is provided with a support tube extending to the mold to receive the reinforcing member and to support the latter as concrete is directed into the machine. The support tube preferably has a longitudinal slot therein and is mounted to rotate around a longitudinal axis so that the tube can be rotated between a position with a slot opening upwardly and a position with the slot opening downwardly.

Abstract: Apparatus for injection-moulding articles of plastics material onto a preformed web inserted into the mould, the web is held under substantially constant tension during the closing of the mould, between a pair of clamps, the proximal clamp being fixed relative to the mould and the distal clamp free but bearing a load to furnish the desired tension in the web. The load may be imposed by a weight attached to the distal clamp, conveniently by means of an electromagnet.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous cross-linking or vulcanizing of material on a conductor comprising a tube with a vulcanizing section in the shape of a catenary arc with the convex portion facing downwardly and with its ends at substantially the same level and a rectilinear cooling section extending upwardly and with its axis tangent to the axis of the catenary arc at the end of the vulcanizing section which adjoins the cooling section. Hot, non-aqueous liquid is circulated in the vulcanizing section and an inert cooling gas under pressure is circulated in the cooling section, the liquid being exposed to the gas where the sections meet. Inert gas also contacts the liquid at the end of the vulcanizing section remote from the cooling section, and a tank containing the liquid is disposed so that the level of the liquid in the tank is the same as the level of the liquid in the vulcanizing section. In the absence of liquid in the tube, inert gas may be circulated in both sections.

Abstract: A heating cylinder with a chamber therein is mounted on a base and has a discharge nozzle with an orifice therein, a plunger being movable into the chamber toward the discharge nozzle. A mold holder is supported on the base and has a mold including first and second mold members which jointly provide a mold cavity therebetween. The mold holder is pivotable between a first position in which the mold is held in contact with the discharge nozzle with a sprue in one of the mold members being held in communication with the orifice and a second position in which the mold is located away from the discharge nozzle. There is a means on the base for locking the mold holder in the first position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous production of fiber reinforced plastic grating articles is provided wherein continuous strands of fibers are coated with a thermosetting plastic resin material and woven into a grate pattern defined by upper and lower molding teeth arranged on continuous upper and lower molding tracks. The molding tracks rotate and cause the molding teeth to mesh, forming a molding cavity, wherein heat is applied to set the plastic resin. The fiber reinforced plastic grating articles formed by this process and apparatus have a unique cross-sectional configuration and arrangement of fibers providing for increased strength and reduced resin usage.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced fastener elements are molded onto parallel filaments. A pair of leg portions of each fastening element have, respectively, a projection and an opening, the projection and opening mating to interlock the leg portions. The fastening elements are formed by directing the parallel filaments to a cavity wheel which has mold cavities enclosed by a band, and then injecting plastic material through gas openings in the band into the mold cavities to form a train of fastener elements on the parallel filaments.

Abstract: Cross-linked polyethylene is continuously produced by injecting dicumyl peroxide (Dicup) into the polyethylene in the mixing barrel of the extruder. The Dicup injection nozzle extends into the flight of the screw of the extruder and the flight is interrupted, or notched, at this position. This enables the Dicup to be injected at a position about half way between the extruder barrel wall and the core of the screw and also avoids pulsed back-pressure on the feed pump for the Dicup. A closely controlled and constant ratio of cross-linking agent to raw polyethylene is obtained.

Abstract: Continuous concrete pipe is produced in an open trench by drawing a sled along the trench. The sled has a fresh concrete intake chute which supplies the concrete to a pipe-forming mechanism that generates the pipe. The lower pipe half is supported by the trench. To support the upper pipe half, a plastic material is given a convex shape complementary to the concave interior of the pipe. The plastic material is formed over a convex mandrel carried by the sled forward (in the direction of movement of the sled) of the intake means so that the plastic material hardens before contacted by wet concrete from the intake means. The mandrel extends rearwardly past the intake means to provide support for the plastic mold while the pipe is formed. Alternative ways for making the plastic mold are described.

Abstract: A machine for covering electronic components with a low-pressure molding compound while said components are carried by a strip comprises a closing unit assembly, which is rotatable on an axis of rotation and comprises two angularly spaced apart, C-shaped closing sub units, each of which has an open side remote from said axis of rotation and comprises mold means and is operable to open and close said mold means. Each of said closing sub-units is operable to a first position, in which its mold means are adapted to enclose electronic components carried by a strip and to receive said molding compound to cover said components, and to a second position, in which its mold means are open. Said closing unit assembly is operable to move said closing sub-units in alternation to said first position and to move each closing sub-unit to said second position while moving the other closing sub-unit to said first position.

Abstract: This invention makes extruded, vulcanized, high voltage cables insulated with thermosetting compounds at much higher rates of production and with superior insulation of reduced thickness and with reduced cavities or voids in the insulation. As the cable comes from an extruder, it passes into a curing chamber with a heat booster that quickly raises the insulation to a temperature at which it is cured much more quickly than with steam heating of the prior art. A high temperature liquid in contact with the insulation maintains the high temperature; and because of the greater curing heat, the cable can travel through the curing chamber at a faster rate and into a cooling tube where it contacts with a cooling liquid under high pressure. The insulation compound is treated to reduce the size of cavities; and the high pressure maintained by the curing and cooling mediums prevent expansion of cavities before the insulation is set.

Abstract: Apparatus used in candle manufacture including means for dispensing and holding a length of wick material threaded through an upright needle, and means for clamping a candle mold in surrounding relation to the needle and wick material. After the candle hardens in the mold it is removed from the needle and the wick material remains in the candle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tensioning dental floss is disclosed for use in the molding of a tooth cleaning dental instrument including a bow-shaped member having a first end and a second end with dental floss tensioned between the ends. A suitable plastic-like material injection mold having cavities for the molding of the dental instrument and having line cavities for receiving the dental floss is used in conjunction with the apparatus of the present invention. Dental floss is supplied from suitable sources and directed by guide members to tensioning members including primary and secondary tensioning members. The secondary tensioning members provide supplemental tensioning of the dental floss during the cool down period after the injection of the plastic-like material into the mold. The dental floss is tensioned by primary tensioning members during the injection of the plastic-like material into the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a continuous concrete pipe having an integrally formed lining extending over part or all of the surface of its bore.

Abstract: A method of and device for producing reinforced profile belts, especially transmission belts, of extrudable material in a continuous manner successive portions of an endless belt are passed over a peripheral but different section of constant magnitude of a rotating wheel, preferably a wheel with peripheral teeth, so as together with said wheel to form a closed arc-shaped mold chamber. This mold chamber is sealed toward the outside while reinforcing strength members and extruded material from which the respective belt is to be made are continuously fed into the mold chamber.

Abstract: A roll of reinforcing wire mesh is mounted behind the last concrete hopper on the frame of a movable concrete plank-laying machine. The wire mesh is guided forwardly between an upper portion of the hopper and the lower end of a concrete-delivering chute so that the concrete passes through the wire mesh and into the hopper. A guiding plate connected to an upright wall of the hopper guides the wire mesh downwardly beneath the hopper where its direction is reversed so that it is laid on the concrete plank while concrete is discharged thereover from the hopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing tapered shafts comprises peripherally co-operating rotating rolls. At least one of the rolls has a peripheral groove of varying depth so that as the rolls are rotated they define, at their co-operating regions, a die aperture of cyclically varying cross-section. Resin-impregnated fibres e.g. carbon fibres, are drawn through the die aperture to form a series of shafts each corresponding to one revolution of the rolls. A reciprocating mandrel may also be present if it is desired to produce hollow articles. According to one mode of operation, the rolls and, if present, the mandrel, are locked in position and the resin-impregnated fibres are pulled through the stationary die aperture to form an article the predetermined constant cross-section of which depends on the position at which the rolls and, if present, the mandrel have been locked. Heaters are provided to solidify the resin downstream of the die aperture.

Abstract: Continuous production of a molded three-dimensional product employs an indexing rotatable drum having along its periphery a plurality of mold cavities into which molten thermoplastic material is introduced, and a web of material permeable to the molten thermoplastic material and which is guided along the drum periphery. In one embodiment the thermoplastic material enters the cavities through the web to which the thermoplastic is subsequently bonded. The thermoplastic material in the cavities is then shaped and cooled before it is removed from the cavities by dissociating the web from the drum periphery. In a second embodiment the molten thermoplastic material is introduced into the cavities before the web is associated onto the drum periphery. After cooling the thermoplastic to bond it to the web, the web is dissociated from the drum and removes the molded thermoplastic from the cavities.