US3685931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing a corrugated member
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-11-29
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1991-11-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing a corrugated member from sheet, for example, plastic preimpregnated fabric, molds each corrugation individually with a plurality of bars one of which clamps an existing corrugation in place and one or more others form new adjacent corrugations. An indexing means then advances the mold and sheet along with the bars so that subsequent relief of the bars from the mold and their retraction to their original location, positions the bars for producing consecutive corrugations in the mold.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J Craven
- 👤 William F Hannahan
- 👤 James J Viscusi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:47
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/22; B29C53/24; B29C53/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In apparatus for producing a corrugated member from flexible sheet: a mold having a die surface including corrugations to receive the sheet; a sheet forming means having a. a clamp bar and at least one lay-up bar each supported in spaced relationship with the die surface, each bar having a nose portion shaped to match a corrugation in the die surface, the bars aligned along adjacent corrugations; b. a clamp bar actuating and pressing means and at least one lay-up bar actuating and pressing means, each to move respectively the nose portion of the clamp bar and of the layup bars independently one from the other reciprocally between a spaced apart position and pressing engagement between the nose portion and the corrugation in the die surface opposite each respective nose portion sandwiching the sheet therebetween; indexing means operatively connected with the sheet forming means to advance and retract the nose portions of the clamp bar and the lay-up bars with respect to the die surface, and thereby to advance the sheet and the mold, both carried by the nose portions of the bars when the nose portions are in engagement with the corrugations sandwiching the sheet therebetween, at least one increment each substantially equal to the distance between adjacent corrugations in the die surface; and control means to coordinate operation of the clamp bar actuating and pressing means and the lay-up bar actuation means each with the other and with the indexing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In apparatus for producing a corrugated member from flexible sheet: a mold having a die surface including corrugations to receive the sheet; a sheet forming means having a. a clamp bar and at least one lay-up bar each supported in spaced relationship with the die surface, each bar having a nose portion shaped to match a corrugation in the die surface, the bars aligned along adjacent corrugations; b. a clamp bar actuating and pressing means and at least one lay-up bar actuating and pressing means, each to move respectively the nose portion of the clamp bar and of the layup bars independently one from the other reciprocally between a spaced apart position and pressing engagement between the nose portion and the corrugation in the die surface opposite each respective nose portion sandwiching the sheet therebetween; indexing means operatively connected with the sheet forming means to advance and retract the nose portions of the clamp bar and the lay-up bars with respect to the die surface, and thereby to advance the sheet and the mold, both carried by the nose portions of the bars when the nose portions are in engagement with the corrugations sandwiching the sheet therebetween, at least one increment each substantially equal to the distance between adjacent corrugations in the die surface; and control means to coordinate operation of the clamp bar actuating and pressing means and the lay-up bar actuation means each with the other and with the indexing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which: there is included a support having a support table surface; and the mold includes a back surface shaped to cooperate with and movably mounted on the support table surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the control means: a. first, operates the clamp bar actuating and pressing means and the lay-up bar actuating and pressing means, respectively in sequence, to move their respective bar nose portions into engagement with adjacent die corrugations in the die surface, sandwiching the sheet therebetween; b. second, operates the indexing means to advance the sheet forming means at least one increMent and, concurrently, to advance the mold the same distance along the support table surface as a result of engagement of the nose portions with the corrugations; c. third, operates the clamp bar actuating and pressing means and the lay-up bar actuating and pressing means to move their respective bar nose portions in spaced apart relationship with the die surface; and d. fourth, operates the indexing means to retract the sheet forming means at least one increment in respect to the die surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which: there is one lay-up bar; the movement of the indexing means is one increment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes, in addition: sheet supply means to supply at least one sheet between the die surface and nose portions of the clamp bar and lay-up bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which: the sheet is fabric, impregnated with a partially cured plastic; the apparatus including in addition, release film supply means to supply between the sheet and the nose portions of the press bars a release sheet which will not adhere to the nose portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mold is a substantially continuous mold belt having a corrugated surface; the apparatus including, in addition: a heated curing enclosure through which the mold belt passes; and a pressure belt extending within the curing enclosure and having a surface corrugated to match, and positioned to face, the corrugations in the mold belt; and pressure means within the curing enclosure to press the corrugated surface of the pressure belt into engagement with the corrugated surface on the mold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |