Continuous material feeding and deformation process

Claim 3

Method according to claim 1 wherein axial stress in the wire is controlled by application of the said second viscous drag force to said wire in a direction which opposes the advancement of said wire.

Claim 4

Method according to claim 1 wherein axial stress in the wire is controlled by application of the said second viscous drag force to said wire in the same direction as the direction of advancement of said wire.

Claim 5

Method for deforming an elongated workpiece of indefinite length to produce an elongated product of indefinite length, said method comprising: a. exerting along the elongated surface of the workpiece force which drags and advances the workpiece against a deforming agency, b. deforming the workpiece against the deforming agency to produce the elongated product of indefinite length and of cross-section different from that of the workpiece, c. applying viscous drag force along the elongated surface of the product to pull upon the product or selectively to oppose the advance of said product thereby to control axial stress in said product.

Claim 6

Method for deforming an elongated workpiece of indefinite length to produce an elongated product of indefinite length, said method comprising: a. exerting along the elongated surface of the workpiece force which drags and advances the workpiece against a deforming agency, b. deforming the workpiece against the deforming agency to produce the elongated product of indefinite length and of cross-section different from that of the workpiece, c. applying viscous drag force along the elongated surface of the product to pull upon the product or selectively to oppose the advance of said product thereby to control axial stress in said product.

Claim 7

Method as in claim 4, comprising: d. performing step c by: i. providing viscous fluid with an alternate-reverse flow pattern, ii. applying portions of said alternate-reverse flow pattern of viscous fluid along the surface of said product.

Claim 8

Method as in claim 5, further comprising: e. adjusting viscosity in said viscous fluid thereby to adjust the magnitude of said viscous drag force on said product.

Claim 9

Method as in claim 5, further comprising: e. adjusting temperature in said viscous fluid thereby to adjust viscosity in said viscous fluid whereby to adjust the magnitude of said viscous drag force on said product.

Claim 10

Method as in claim 4, comprising: d. performing step c by: i. providing a plurality of discrete currents of viscous fluid, ii. controlling the pressure in each discrete current of viscous fluid in a manner related to the pressures of the other discrete currents of viscous fluid, iii. applying portions of said discrete currents of viscous fluid along the surface of said product.

Claim 11

Method as in claim 8, further comprising: e. adjusting viscosity in said fluid currents thereby to adjust the magnitude of said viscous drag force on said product.

Claim 12

Method as in claim 8, further comprising: e. adjusting temperature in said fluid currents thereby to adjust viscosity in said fluid currents whereby to adjust the magnitude of said viscous drag force on said product.

Claim 13

Apparatus for deforming an elongated member of indefinite length, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having a first end and a second end, said elongated conduit means being adapted to receive said elongated member through said first end with an annular space between said elongated conduit means and said elongated member; b. deforming means positioned adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means, said deforming means having an inlet side receiving said elongated member and an exit side from which passes an elongated product of deformation; c. fluid outlet means positioned adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means; d. pump means adapted to pump viscous fluid through said annular space from the first end of said elongated conduit means to said fluid outlet means adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means thereby to exert viscous drag force along the elongated surface of said elongated member directed toward said deforming means to advance said elongated member through said elongated conduit means and against said deforming means; e. second elongated conduit means having a first end adjacent the exit side of said deforming means and a second end, said second elongated conduit means being adapted to receive said elongated product through said first end from the exit side of said deforming means with an annular space between said second elongated conduit means and said elongated product; f. second pump means adapted to pump second viscous fluid through said annular space in said second elongated conduit means from said first end to said second end of said second elongated conduit means in the same direction as the direction of advancement of said elongated product or selectively from said second end to said first end of said second elongated conduit means in a direction opposite to the direction of advancEment of said elongated product thereby to exert viscous drag force along the elongated surface of said elongated product to control the advancement of said elongated product.

Claim 14

Apparatus for deforming an elongated member of indefinite length, said apparatus comprising: a. elongated conduit means having a first end and a second end, said elongated conduit means being adapted to receive said elongated member through said first end with an annular space between said elongated conduit means and said elongated member; b. deforming means positioned adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means, said deforming means having an inlet side receiving said elongated member and an exit side from which passes an elongated product of deformation; c. fluid outlet means positioned adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means; d. pump means adapted to pump viscous fluid through said annular space from the first end of said elongated conduit means to said fluid outlet means adjacent the second end of said elongated conduit means thereby to exert viscous drag force along the elongated surface of said elongated member directed toward said deforming means to advance said elongated member through said elongated conduit means and against said deforming means; e. second elongated conduit means having a first end adjacent the exit side of said deforming means and a second end, said second elongated conduit means being adapted to receive said elongated product through said first end from the exit side of said deforming means with an annular space between said second elongated conduit means and said elongated product; f. second pump means adapted to pump second viscous fluid through said annular space in said second elongated conduit means from said first end to said second end of said second elongated conduit means in the same direction as the direction of advancement of said elongated product or selectively from said second end to said first end of said second elongated conduit means in a direction opposite to the direction of advancEment of said elongated product thereby to exert viscous drag force along the elongated surface of said elongated product to control the advancement of said elongated product.