Rod Or Tubular Preform Patents (Class 425/392)
  • Patent number: 5290500
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat stretching a synthetic fiber rope. The rope is attached to tensioning members and suspended in a liquid medium so that this extends in a generally horizontal direction. The liquid medium has a specific gravity which is approximately equal to that of the rope at the desired stretching temperature, so that the rope is buoyed by this in order to relieve the weight of the segment from the tensioning members. The liquid medium is then heated so that the rope is uniformly heated to the stretching temperature, and tension is applied between the tensioning members so as to stretch the segment of rope to a predetermined increase in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Puget Sound Rope Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5290166
    Abstract: The device includes a left arm (11) and a right arm (10) hingably connected about a protractor scale (12). A left clamp and a right clamp (13 and 13') are slidably attached to the arms such that the spacing between the clamps is adjustable. Locking knobs (24A, 24B, 24A', and 24B') hold the clamps at the desired locations. Left and right socket formers (29 and 29') are slidably attached to the left and right clamps, respectively. Left and right levers (34 and 34') are used to extend the socket formers into a heated pipe (37) placed between the clamps to form integral pipe connecting sockets in the ends of the pipe. (A flexible mandrel is placed inside the pipe to prevent it from collapsing). Bending the arms to a desired angle on the protractor will bend the pipe to the same angle. Locking knob (18) holds the arms in place while the pipe cools. After the pipe is cooled and hardened, the levers are used to retract the socket formers from the pipe to release the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Galen K. Heatherly
  • Patent number: 5288218
    Abstract: An extrusion calibrating apparatus connectable to external sources of cooling water and vacuum, and usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow thermal plastic extrusion. The apparatus includes lower and upper cover plates each having a pair of vacuum manifolds therein, the lower cover plate being fixedly attachable to a stationary support. The apparatus further includes lower and upper vacuum plates each having a plurality of vacuum slots extending between a lower and an upper side thereof and in communication with a corresponding vacuum manifold Each of the vacuum plates also has supply and return water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports on an inward side thereof A heat-conducting calibrating insert is removably positioned within an interior chamber between the vacuum plates with lower and upper sides in face-to-face juxtaposition with corresponding inward sides of the vacuum plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Mikron Industries
    Inventor: George Melkonian
  • Patent number: 5263843
    Abstract: A die for reducing polyethylene pipe temporarily to enable it to be inserted in a pre-existing metal pipe is made of cast iron and has formations by which the die is splittable into two portions. The formations receive cylindrical bars which are squeezed together by a hydraulic squeeze off machine. Each formation is a U-shaped aperture with a saw cut extending from the base of the U into the ligament beneath the formation. The saw cut acts as a stress raiser. In a modification only one formation is provided. The die is made of grey cast iron or some other brittle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Kenneth Hicks, Leslie Maine
  • Patent number: 5257924
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming tubular tile, including an endless trackway having at least two substantially straight portions defining first and second molding sections, a plurality of mold blocks supported for movement about the trackway, and a plurality of mating mold blocks supported for mating with the first mold blocks along each molding section to form a segment of a corrugated molding tunnel. Extruders introduce moldable material at the beginning of each molding section, and the material is conformed to the molding tunnel along the molding sections for forming the tile, with the mold blocks being separated when they move past the end of each molding section. The extruders are mounted for movement toward the beginning of the two molding sections when initiating tile formation therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Dickhut, John S. Berns
  • Patent number: 5238642
    Abstract: A process for producing markings or lines engraved on a sheet or a tubular piece (6) made of plastic material or multi-layered metal-plastic material less than 1 mm in thickness, in which the sheet or piece (6) is gripped between a tool (1) bearing one or more marking contour(s) (2, 3) and a resilient support (9), in order to produce the engraved markings or lines. The sheet or piece (6) is at less than 50.degree. C. during the gripping stage, and in the resilient support (9) has a Shore hardness D of between 70 and 120, the markings or lines obtained being produced by plastic deformation with elastic return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Cebal SA
    Inventors: Jacques Benquet, Bernard Schneider
  • Patent number: 5236325
    Abstract: A compression-resistant spacer is provided between the lower track of a hauler and the calibrator mounting platform of a calibrator or sizer in a extrusion line to prevent vibration of the calibrator and minimize wall thickness variations and surface markings of extruded profiles such as window profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Friedrich Theysohn GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Groblacher, Ludwig Reisinger
  • Patent number: 5234333
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for twisting and/or postforming a plastic rod reinforced with continuous reinforcing fibers is described. A rod with continuous reinforcing fibers already in a helical configuration may be postformed by this method and apparatus with or without additional twist being imparted. A fiber reinforced rod with continuous longitudinally aligned unidirectional fibers may also be postformed by this method and apparatus by twisting and then postforming the rod. The reinforced plastic rod is more easily postformed if the reinforcing fibers are conformed to a helical configuration in which the number of helices in a given length of the rod is correlated to the diameter of the rod and to the degree of bend to be postformed in the rod. The method for this and the rod with the helical fibers is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Vergil H. Rhodes, Jr., John D. Winkel, Benedict R. Bonazza
  • Patent number: 5217723
    Abstract: Apparatus for the production and proper calibration of improved flexible hoses made by a soft thermoplastic material reinforced with a continuous spiral of rigid thermoplastic material. During their production the hoses do not rotate but are produced linearly and in their internal surface no longitudinal grooves are engraved. The melted coaxial materials are discharged through a rotating mechanism to a calibration unit which rotates with it and bears peripherally special inclined rollers on which is transmitted, via an epicyclic gearing system, a controlled rotation opposite to the above direction. On this calibration unit the plastic hose is formed successively, advancing linearly forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Tetragon, S.A.
    Inventor: Dimitris T. Tsingopoulos
  • Patent number: 5205889
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing flexible tubes of desired length from several strips of rubber and/or fiber reinforced rubber. The apparatus comprises a wrapping machine and a vulcanizer arranged in series on a common axis along which a core can move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Manuli Rubber Industries S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Cioffi, Guido Albertini, Stefano Barbieri
  • Patent number: 5199153
    Abstract: A method of making a flanged pipe length includes flaring a metal pipe by rotating a grooved tool about the inside of the pipe and introducing a plastic tubular sleeve into the pipe. The tubular sleeve is subsequently heated and forced against the flanged portion of the metal pipe whereby the plastic material assumes a shape complementing the projections formed by the grooved tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Bernd Schulte-Ladbeck
  • Patent number: 5200124
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for shaping thermoplastic tube by external formers using pulsed emission of short wave infra-red radiation to soften the thermoplastic material with the tube held in the required configuration on the formers followed by air cooling to harden the thermoplastic material and retain the required configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: McKechnie Plastics Limited
    Inventor: Trevor G. Bowkett
  • Patent number: 5173234
    Abstract: According to the invention, calibrated rings are obtained by superficially vulcanizing extruded or profiled extrudate at the exit of an extrusion head (T), then by cutting this vulcanized extrudate into portions by means of a conical cutting device (C), subsequently by butting the two ends, in the respective form of a conical tip and a funnel, of each portion (t) together under hot conditions and under a controlled pressure, in order to obtain a ring blank which is then engaged between the half-cavities of a mold (Mo), where it undergoes shaping and vulcanization by the heating of the latter and thereafter deburring as a result of a shearing action produced by a push device (D) causing the half-cavities to slide in the closed position in the frame of the mold, before causing the opening of the latter by means of a device (G) and the release of the calibrated and superficially clean ring obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Eropol Finance et Developpement
    Inventor: Blaise F. Figuereo
  • Patent number: 5164204
    Abstract: A corrugator for ribbing pipes includes two synchronously circulating chains of mold halves, a guide device for the mold halves having an input zone in which the associated mold halves are brought into engagement with each other, a molding zone in which a central channel is provided for guiding the engaged mold jaws and an output zone in which the mold halves are again separated from each other, as well as return guides for the mold halves on the path between the output and input zones and cooling apparatus for cooling at least the central channel with a coolant. A plurality of hollow profile modules is provided for forming the molding zone, each module being provided with a central cavity for the cooling apparatus and two lateral guide portions. Modules are arranged in pairs joining each other transversely of the production direction of the corrugator, and a plurality of module pairs are arranged adjoining each other in series in the production direction of the corrugator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Frankische Rohrwerke Gebr. Kirchner GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rainer Weppert, Gerhard Henninger
  • Patent number: 5151281
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous manufacture of bent rods having a shaped cross section from a reinforced stabilizing material, produced inside a supporting mold wound on a mandrel and containing reinforcing elements impregnated with stabilizable material. The material is stabilized over at least a portion of a length of the mandrel, with the bent rods being adapted to be used in reinforcements for flexible tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Michel Huvey
  • Patent number: 5151575
    Abstract: A color crayon pointer for reforming the point on used color crayons includes an elongated horizontally disposed housing (21) extending from a rear end (24) to a front end (22) along a pointing axis, with the front end having an opening aligned with the pointing axis through which the crayon end to be pointed is inserted. A metallic anvil (40) heated by an electric heater (44) is mounted in the housing and has a conical recess (42) concentric with the pointing axis for shaping the end of the crayon inserted through housing opening. A crayon guide (36) having a guide collar (37) spaced forward of the housing opening and the anvil (40) prevents inadvertent user contact with the anvil (40) while also insuring proper alignment of the crayon with the anvil recess (42) as it is inserted into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventor: Nathaniel W. Lilly
  • 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: 5125825
    Abstract: A plastic pipe bending jig is provided with two offset bending members to fabricate an offset bent pipe. Each bending member is provided with first and second support surfaces, wherein the first support surfaces of each bending member are linearly aligned with each other and the second support surface of each bending member are parallel but offset from each other. The position of the bending members is adjustable so that the pipe offset can be changed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Michael J. Janosco
  • Patent number: 5112211
    Abstract: Apparatus for inserting a generally U-shaped liner into a pipe and reforming the U-shaped liner into a generally cylindrical cross-section to line the pipe includes winches for pulling the U-shaped liner through the pipe, pigs for cleaning the pipe, manifolds to connection at opposite ends of the pipe and wedge-shaped expansion members for initially mechanically reforming the ends of the liner projecting from the pipe. The wedge-shaped members include bores for communicating fluid at elevated temperature and pressure within the liner for setting the liner in generally cylindrical configuration against the pipe wall. A flaring tool is used to flare the opposite ends of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Pipe Liners, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick LeDoux, Luc Fourgaut
  • Patent number: 5106281
    Abstract: Apparatus for flattening and removing tubular plastic film has squeeze rollers, a radial arm with a deflecting roller and a shorter radial arm with a fixed turning rod. The film from the squeeze rollers passes by way of the deflecting roller and turning rod to a winder. The deflecting roller can be swung through 180 degrees while the turning rod is swung through 90 degrees. The turning rod is mounted for swinging movement in a recess in a U-shaped frame and the deflecting roller and squeeze rollers are mounted for swinging movement on one of the legs of the frame. The arrangement allows the size of the turning rod to be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventor: Fritz Achelpohl
  • Patent number: 5092756
    Abstract: Apparatus for deforming a pipe liner having a frame including an entry and an exit for the pipe liner passing through the frame and slidably adjustable discs and cylinders which cooperate to deform a pipe liner disposed intermediate the entry and exit, of the frame. The apparatus also includes a system of blocks, guide rods, and a chain assembly which regulate the deforming position of the discs and cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yimsan Gau, James R. Leech
  • Patent number: 5067888
    Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a tubular preform into a hollow body in which an axially directed wall of the preform primarily comprises oriented and/or crystallized plastic material. The tubular preform (10d) is fixed in a circumferential region (13d) in the vicinity of the mouth edge (14d) of the preform between mechanical forming devices (30,40), after which the devices, during continued clamping of the circumferential region, are displaced in the axial direction of the preform relative to a mandrel (50). Thus, the mandrel is displaced into the preform during simultaneous expansion thereof and the material is oriented and/or crystallized. In a preferred embodiment, there is compensation of the stretching forces, which arise in the material when inserting the mandrel, by applying a force to the bottom of the preform by a bottom support (75).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Petainer S.A.
    Inventor: Nilsson Torsten
  • Patent number: 5066212
    Abstract: An apparatus engages pre-cut lengths of heated thermoplastic pipe against a pair of eccentric wiper arms bending the pipes into elbows. The eccentric wiper arms have an eccentric portion and a constant radius portion. A bending form has an arcuate die adapted to hold a pre-cut length of pipe. Four such bending forms are radially connected to a rotation shaft which is journalled at each end to a support frame. A continuous supply of pre-cut lengths of pipe are transported through a heating chamber by a set of endless chains. Each pipe is then transferred to a bending form which is rotated by the shaft so that the cold end portions of each pipe engages the spaced apart and substantially parallel eccentric wiper arms. The wiper arms urge the end portion of each pipe length slightly beyond the outer edges of each arcuate die to compensate for the effect cooling has on each pipe length. Once the pipe is bent, the rotation of the bending form causes the pipe to drop into a tank of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Midwest Plastic Fabricators
    Inventor: Thomas F. Moran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5059109
    Abstract: A corrugated mold block for a vacuum machine for molding corrugated tubes is formed of a plurality of sub-blocks rigidly secured end to end. Each sub-block has an arcuate face which is corrugated with not more than one complete wavelength of circumferential grooves and lands, and two longitudinally spaced end surfaces. A vacuum channel is provided about one of the end surfaces of each sub-block, and openings in each sub-block connect the channel and the face. When the sub-blocks are secured together into a mold block (and when mold blocks abut during molding), the vacuum channels and openings together define vacuum passages for each of the corrugation grooves, which passages are all connected to a vacuum source for drawing a vacuum during molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Dickhut, John S. Berns
  • Patent number: 5057263
    Abstract: A method of forming at the end portion of a thermoplastic material pipe in a pipe socket. The pipe end portion is molded around an annular sleeve onto which is bonded a sealing ring having an outer sealing ring adapted for sealing against the pipe end portion and an inner sealing ring, connected to the outer sealing ring, adapted for sealing against an outer surface of a spigot end of a connecting pipe introduced into the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Forsheda AB
    Inventor: Christer Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 5047192
    Abstract: Process of manufacturing a cryogenic regenerator including a plurality of channels for conducting a working fluid, including the steps of providing a cylindrical forming member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of peripheral slots displaced axially and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical forming member, or having a continuous spiral peripheral slot of sufficiently small pitch such that the convolutions thereof are oriented substantially parallel to such longitudinal axis; providing epoxy which is relatively flexible upon hardening, loading the epoxy with thermally conductive material for enhancing the radial thermal conductivity of the cryogenic regenerator, and applying the epoxy to the periphery of the cylindrical forming member to fill the plurality of slots or the spiral peripheral slot with the epoxy and to form a radial layer of the epoxy of a generally first radial thickness allowing the epoxy to harden and thereafter reducing the radial thickness of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: CDC Partners
    Inventors: John R. Purcell, Raymond E. Sarwinski
  • Patent number: 5038455
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a tube coupling body in a plastics material using injection moulding tooling. The body is formed with a cylindrical bore having enlarged end portions in a mould body and using removable cores. The cores form both the internal bore of the mould body and also end parts of the mould body so that once the cores are removed, end parts of the coupling body are revealed in the mould. While the end parts are still hot from the initial moulding operation, forming dies having tapering end cavities are pressed over the end parts of the moulding to form the end parts of the moulding with both external and corresponding internal tapered surfaces. The tapered internal surfaces of the end parts thus formed provide tapered cam surfaces for engaging the resilient arms of collets to be inserted in the coupling body to receive and lock tubes in the coupling body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: John D. Guest
  • Patent number: 5028228
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a dental root canal filling point is provided, wherein provision is made of a rotary member having its outer processing surface in the form of a curved plane in parallel with its axial direction and adapted to be rotated at a predetermined speed and a moving member in which at least its processing surface is located in parallel with the processing surface of the rotary member and adapted to move at a speed substantially identical with a peripheral speed of the rotary member in the same direction as the rotational direction of the rotary member in a gap portion in which a minimum distance is defined between the processing surfaces of the rotary member and moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignees: G-C Dental Industrial Corp., Nimikagakukogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Ubukata, Hisao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5013234
    Abstract: An off-drawing apparatus for tubular webs of plastic film produced by an extruder with a fixedly disposed blow head includes a lay-flat apparatus for the tubular web delivered with an expanded round cross section, and a stationary conveyor for carrying off the flattened tubular web to a likewise stationary winding apparatus. Between the lay-flat apparatus and the conveyor there is disposed at least one pulley roll and one overturning bar for turning the tubular web 180.degree. with simultaneous change of direction, which, like the lay-flat apparatus, are supported in an apparatus frame for pivoting reversingly in a horizontal plane about the axis of the delivered tubular web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventor: Klaus Reinhold
  • Patent number: 5011562
    Abstract: Plastics coated metal tube produced by folding a strip of metal into a tubular form, seaming the tube and immediately extruding layers of plastics material onto the inner and outer surfaces of the metal tube, and cooling the plastics layers by passing the tube through a water bath, contains air injected under pressure to assist adhering the extruded plastics coating onto the inner surface of the metal tube and to test the integrity of the tube. The invention provides apparatus comprising jaws which clamp the tube within the water bath in order to seal the tube while the inner coating is still plastic so that when the tube is cut into lengths at the seals the internal pressure is retained until the tube is eventually used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Kitechnology B.V.
    Inventor: Itzhak Barnoach
  • Patent number: 5009825
    Abstract: A method of producing round rod formed of thermoplastic material by extrusion is described. The rod, following extrusion, is first heated and then cooled while rotating fully supported on rollers. The rollers impart a concentric outer surface shape to the extruded rods and permit uniform cooling across the entire cross section of the extruded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Inventor: Mark Lurie
  • Patent number: 4998871
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for lining a pipe wherein a thermoplastic liner is initially formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the pipe. The liner is temporarily deformed at an elevated temperature to a different cross-section, preferably U-shaped, to reduce its overall cross-sectional dimension to facilitate insertion into the pipe to be lined. The deformation occurs with substantially comparable elongation of the pipe lining along its opposite sides thereby precluding variations in wall thickness and stress in the pipe. Once inserted, the liner is pressurized and reheated first to a temperature below its crystallization temperature to round the lining in the pipe and subsequently, further pressurized and reheated to a second temperature higher than the crystallization temperature to cause the liner to retain its original round shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Pipe Liners, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick R. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 4968241
    Abstract: An apparatus for flaring the end of a thermoplastic liner installed in a metal pipe. The end extends beyond the pipe and the pipe having at least one flange mounted thereon. The apparatus includes a first forming head having a liner contacting surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said liner, said surface being adapted to be pushed against said end to cause said end to flare outwardly about an acute angle and a second forming head having a liner contacting surface being disposed at an angle of at least ninety degrees relative to said liner. The second forming head is adapted to be pushed against said end to cause said end to bend into contact with said flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Du Pont Canada Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Darling
  • Patent number: 4936768
    Abstract: An extrusion die for externally annularly ribbed seamless plastic tubing has an elongated nozzle within which a hollow mandrel is placed. The nozzle and mandrel define an annular extrusion orifice for extrusion of a parison. The orifice has a coaxial conical portion with its generatrix forming an angle of more than 45.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle for efficient filling of mold cavities corresponding to annular ribs of the formed tube. The diameter of the inner conical portion at its delivery end may be at least that of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventor: Manfred A. A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 4931006
    Abstract: In an installation for producing packaging containers such as tubes, from prefabricated tube bodies and end portions of thermoplastic material, which are connected to the tube bodies, a plurality of moulds which are moved on a circulatory path each include an upwardly directed female mould portion and a mandrel which is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a downwardly directed working position and a loading position. A tube body loading station, a material feed station having a nozzle, and a container unloading station are arranged at spacings from each other along the circulatory path, while the female mould portion and the mandrel of each mould are displaced relative to each other on a common working axis. In a plurality of working units including support frames which are moved on the circulatory path, each support frame supports at least the female mould portion and the mandrel of a mould and the actuating mechanism thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: KMK Karl Maegerle Lizenz AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Schwyn, Heinrich Ueberegger
  • Patent number: 4929167
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a curved tube, the apparatus comprising an extruder for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite the first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion, and rollers for forming the tube into a curve with the first portion being radially outward and with the second portion being radially inward so that the thickness of the first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Inventor: Kenneth V. Pepper
  • Patent number: 4919870
    Abstract: A cylindrical product, such as a hollow tube or solid rod, is subjected to a series of manufacturing processes. The cylindrical product is moved longitudinally through a sequence of stages, each stage having an opening through which the cylindrical product passes. The plurality of stages are arranged in a series to perform a specific rheological process. Each stage includes means for applying a preselected temperature, pressure, and vibration to the cylindrical product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Ibar
  • Patent number: 4917591
    Abstract: A compact apparatus for curing an uncured resin impregnated in a filter element (12) having a uniform cross-section in the longitudinal direction, and for reinforcing the filter element (12). The apparatus includes a curing pot (38) formed of outer and inner tubes (40, 42) secured integrally and coaxially with each other to form an annular space (44) therebetween, having a cross-section similar to that of the filter element (12) to be treated, for accommodating the filter element (12) therein during the curing process. A hot air circulation mechanism for forcibly supplying hot air through the filter element (12) in the annular space (44) is provided so that the temperature of the filter element (12) is effectively elevated to a value at which the curing of the resin is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakaida, Masanori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4897138
    Abstract: A plastic tube is sealed at its end by placing the tube in a pair of spaced apart tube holders having tube receiving pockets. The tube is cut by a cutting device movable into and out of the space between the pockets to form two distinct tube sections which are melted at their ends while in the clamped condition. The cut ends are then brought into contact with each other in a mis-aligned condition offset by one-half the thickness of a tube wall to seal the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Denco, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Shaposka, Dudley Spencer
  • Patent number: 4884961
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a hollow blow-molded container utilizes a mold having at least one wall insert for forming a collapse panel in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Iizuka, Akiho Ota
  • Patent number: 4883449
    Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially forming a plurality of generally longitudinally extending grooves in the peripheral surface of a filter rod includes a hollow rotatable drum having a plurality of filter rod receiving channels formed in its outer peripheral surface for receiving filter rods to be grooved. The device includes filter rod indexing devices which engage the filter rods in the receiving channels. As the drum rotates about its central axis, the filter rod indexing devices are individually and selectively activated to incrementally rotate selected filter rods about their longitudinal axes through an angle corresponding to the angular spacing between adjacent grooves to be formed in the peripheral surface of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Heaney, Erik I. Naslund
  • Patent number: 4877386
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for molding rod guides directly onto oilfield sucker rods including an apparatus for cleaning a short pre-determined section of the rod prior to the rod receiving a molded rod guide. The rod cleaning apparatus comprises a substantially linear member secured to a frame which reciprocates a pre-selected stroke distance. The rod to be cleaned is rotated and a plurality of brush assemblies mounted on the linear member engage the rotating rod at pre-selected points to clean a pre-determined length of the rod in preparation for receiving a rod guide. This automated system prepares rods for molding at a much faster rate without the requirement of large volumes of compressed air for sandblasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: J.M. Huber Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Hinds, Charles B. Hutchinson, Jr., James S. Dowell
  • Patent number: 4863365
    Abstract: A method producing deformed pipe liners from continuously extruded thermoplastic material by collapsing and bending deformable portions of the tube toward a back-up portion thereof and without elongation to maintain diameter and wall thickness, and apparatus to carry out said method and characterized by at least one back-up roller and at least one shaping roller folding the deformable portion along a line of symmetry and juxt posing a fold of the tube to the back-up portion, all at raised temperature followed by reduced temperature on a rail conforming to the deformed tube configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Pipe Liners, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Ledoux, Luc R. Fourgaut
  • Patent number: 4857247
    Abstract: The specification discloses a new method and apparatus for treating extruded TEFLON (fluoropolymer) tubing to significantly improve its dimensional and optical characteristics. Diameter tolerance is .+-.0.0002, concentricity rises to 95%, and optical clarity rises to the theoretical transmittance of the material. The tubing is first cleaned, and then heated to a transition temperature above 150.degree. C. to soften and further homogenize the tubing. The tubing is then drawn through a polished diamond die and then rapidly cooled. The cooled tubing may be further stabilized by an annealing step. Both a batch mode and a continuous mode of operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Technicon Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Jan Raczkowski
  • Patent number: 4854846
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of making a plurality of flexible hoses each having a preformed bend section between opposed ends of the hose that tends to return to the shape of its preformed bend section when unbent therefrom are provided, the method comprising the steps of winding a continuous length of a hose material around a pair of spaced apart substantially cylindrical posts so that a plurality of sections of the hose material extends between the posts, heat curing the hose material while the same is in the wound condition thereof on the posts, and, thereafter, cutting the plurality of hoses from the thus cured hose material so that each hose has the preformed bend section therein that was defined by its wound relation with the post, the step of winding the hose material around the posts comprising the step of orbiting the posts about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Oglesby
  • Patent number: 4853070
    Abstract: Apparatus for making multiple hook-fastener media in which many protruding hooks are formed at relatively high speed from suitable bendable and settable plastic material which may be different from the substrate to which these pre-formed hooks are subsequently bonded. Many rows of hooks are formed simultaneously, each row from a strand, for example, a monofilament of longitudinally oriented polymeric material. The formed strands are "set" into their multiple hook row configuration, and then these pre-formed rows of hooks are simultaneously bonded to the substrate. Thus, an attractive substrate of any reasonable width, for example, of three inches, six inches, a foot or a yard, may be used. The production apparatus enables the number of hooks per square inch, either longitudinally or laterally or both, to be adjusted while running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Erblok Associates
    Inventors: George H. Erb, Susan E. Beard
  • Patent number: 4818209
    Abstract: A mould and sealing ring constitutes a mould element in forming a socket end on a pipe consisting of thermoplastic material and seals the space in a pipe joint between the socket end and the spigot end of a pipe introduced into the socket end. The mould and sealing ring comprises an annular sealing portion consisting of elastically yieldable sealing material and a second substantially annular portion for reinforcing the mould and sealing ring consisting of a material which is rigid in relation to said elastically yieldable material and is connected with the elastically yieldable material at a connection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Forsheda AB
    Inventors: Stefan Petersson, Bror Gustafsson, Gunnar Parmann
  • Patent number: 4808204
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing bends in optical bends in optical fibers comprising a pair of plates hingedly connected along one edge of each of the plates so that the plates may lie in face-to-face contact and may be hingedly separated, means defining a cavity between the plates when in face-to-face contact, the cavity having two portions for receiving lengths of a fiber on opposite sides of a bend to be formed, the portions being joined at an apex section, means defining an opening into the cavity at the apex section, a fiber channel in each of the portions, the fiber channels being mounted in the portions for relative movement in the cavity to a desired bend angle while the apex of the desired angle is positioned at the opening in the apex section, and pulling means for acting on an optical fiber in the channels when the plates are in face-to-face contact and thereby positioning a fiber at the desired angle whereby the apex of the bend of the fiber is accessible through the opening; several variations of the a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Polysoft Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Rustin H. Wright
  • Patent number: 4789322
    Abstract: A corrugator for molding externally ribbed and corrugated thermoplastic pipes, including two trains of moldblock halves circulating respectively in two endless paths and cooperating with each other to form a travelling mold for the thermoplastic pipes. The halves of one train are biased in relation to and overlap those of the second train along the travelling mold and are provided with intermeshing elements hooking the halves of the two trains together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventors: Harry Chan, Basilio Yi
  • Patent number: 4787838
    Abstract: Apparatus for expanding resilient tubing includes first and second pins, sized to be received into the tubing to be expanded. The second pin, extending from a carriage, is separated from the first pin by the movement of the carriage from a first position adjacent the first pin to a second position spaced apart from the first pin. The carriage is impelled by a foot-switch actuated air cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Pacific Device, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark C. Doyle