US3769127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing filament reinforced tubular products on a continuous basis
Assignee: GOLDSWORTHY ENG Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-18
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A device for making filament reinforced tubular products in a continuous manner. The device includes a series of filament spools. Filament from the spools is passed through a resin tank and around a fixed mandrel to form the longitudinal strands of the tube. The mandrel has substantially the same internal size and shape of the continuous tube to be produced. The mandrel extends through a plurality of helical filament wrap devices which are designed to apply opposing helically wound strands of filament upon the longitudinal strands. The mandrel extends also through a pair of circumferential filament wrap devices for laying outermost surface circumferential strands in opposite directions with respect to each other and superimposed upon the helical immediately preceding final strands. The several layers of such strands which have been wound on the fixed mandrel are urged into a dielectric curing zone which is also located to receive the terminal end of the mandrel. After the resin matrix has been cured, the finally formed and cured tube is pulled from the mandrel by a pulling unit. A number of embodiments are disclosed for making continuously wound pipe. In another embodiment, the device is mounted on a moving vehicle such as a boat where continuously made pipe is deposited from the moving vehicle. In an additional embodiment of the invention, a rectangular mandrel is employed for wrapping tube-like sections having a somewhat rectangular cross section, capable of being used in the construction of ladder rails and similar structural elements.
Inventors
- 👤 W Goldsworthy
- 👤 E Hardesty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H81/00; B65H81/06; B65H81/08; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/15; B29C48/151; B29C48/152; B29C48/153; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/50; B29C70/52; B29C70/521; B29C70/525; B29C70/528; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1008; Y10T156/1013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands in the form of said continuous closed wall on the fixed mandrel into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing said matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands in the form of said continuous closed wall on the fixed mandrel into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing said matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a plastic element about said mandrel, and applying said longitudinally disposed strands to said plastic element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a plastic element about said mandrel, sealing the margins of said element so that said element substantially envelops a portion of said mandrel, and applying said longitudinally disposed strands to said plastic element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited subaqueously from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
196 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of forming a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon in the form of said continuous closed wall into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
196 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of forming a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon in the form of said continuous closed wall into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized in that the forming of the tubular element comprises extruding the tubular element in a rigid forM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized in that the forming of the tubular element comprises the steps of wrapping a curable flexible film on a fixed mandrel, and curing said film to form a substantially rigid tubular element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 6 further characterized in that the forming of the tubular element comprises the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a matrix curable material, applying said impregnated strands to a fixed mandrel in a desired pattern, curing the matrix material impregnated into said strands in a matrix material curing device to form the substantially rigid tubular element, and removing the tubular element from the fixed mandrel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a curable thermosetting resin material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands on the fixed mandrel into a curing device operable with RF energy, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with RF energy at a frequency within the range of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz to cause electrical interaction between the molecules of the resin material, permitting surface heat on said resin impregnated strands to dissipate so that the innermost portion of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said member from the mandrel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
221 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a curable thermosetting resin material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands on the fixed mandrel into a curing device operable with RF energy, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with RF energy at a frequency within the range of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz to cause electrical interaction between the molecules of the resin material, permitting surface heat on said resin impregnated strands to dissipate so that the innermost portion of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said member from the mandrel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a water impervious element about said mandrel, and applying said longitudinally disposed strands to said plastic element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 10 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a water impervious element about said mandrel, sealing the margins of said element so that said element substantially envelops a portion of said mandrel, and applying said longitudinally disposed strands to said water impervious element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited subaqueously from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
259 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members of non-circular cross-section, having at least a first pair of relatively flat walls and a second pair of relatively flat angularly located walls, on a continuous basis, said method comprising the steps of contacting filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel of non-circular cross-section with at least a pair of relatively flat angularly located walls and having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, locating a greater number of strands on one of the relatively flat walls of the mandrel than on the other one thereof, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said stranDs on the fixed mandrel into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the resin matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of each of the relatively flat walls initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the relatively flat walls and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member of non-circular cross-sectional shape, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
259 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members of non-circular cross-section, having at least a first pair of relatively flat walls and a second pair of relatively flat angularly located walls, on a continuous basis, said method comprising the steps of contacting filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel of non-circular cross-section with at least a pair of relatively flat angularly located walls and having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, locating a greater number of strands on one of the relatively flat walls of the mandrel than on the other one thereof, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said stranDs on the fixed mandrel into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the resin matrix material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy within the frequency range selected from the class consisting of 13 megahertz to 100 megahertz and 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz so that the innermost portions of each of the relatively flat walls initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure exothermically initially from the center of the relatively flat walls and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member of non-circular cross-sectional shape, and removing said hardened tubular member from the mandrel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a curable thermosetting resin material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands in the form of said continuous closed wall on the fixed mandrel into a curing device operable with microwave energy, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with microwave energy at a frequency within the range of 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz to cause electrical interaction between the molecules of the resin material, permitting surface heat on the outer wall surface of said continuous closed wall to dissipate and in such manner that the innermost portion of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said member from the mandrel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis and which tubular members have a continuous closed wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, said method comprising the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a curable thermosetting resin material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands substantially longitudinally on a fixed non-movable mandrel having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, wrapping a first layer of filament containing strands upon said longitudinal strands, wrapping a second layer of filament containing strands over the first layer of strands, moving said impregnated strands in the form of said continuous closed wall on the fixed mandrel into a curing device operable with microwave energy, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with microwave energy at a frequency within the range of 1500 megahertz to 25,000 megahertz to cause electrical interaction between the molecules of the resin material, permitting surface heat on the outer wall surface of said continuous closed wall to dissipate and in such manner that the innermost portion of the closed wall initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, permitting said member to cure initially from the center of the closed wall and progressively outwardly to form a hardened tubular member, and removing said member from the mandrel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a plastic element about said mandrel, and applying the longitudinally disposed strands to said plastic element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 16 further characterized in that the method includes the step of wrapping a water impervious element about said mandrel, sealing the margins of said element so that said element substantially envelops a portion of said mandrel, and applying the longitudinally disposed strands to said water impervious element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited subaqueously from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
165 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis which comprises the steps of wrapping a curable flexible film on a fixed mandrel, curing said film to thereby form a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, removing said tubular element from the fixed mandrel, impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy so that the innermost portions of the member formed of the resin matrix impregnated strands initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder therEof, and permitting said member to cure initially from the center of said member and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
165 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis which comprises the steps of wrapping a curable flexible film on a fixed mandrel, curing said film to thereby form a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, removing said tubular element from the fixed mandrel, impregnating filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the resin material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy so that the innermost portions of the member formed of the resin matrix impregnated strands initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder therEof, and permitting said member to cure initially from the center of said member and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited subaqueously from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis which comprises the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a matrix curable material, applying said impregnated strands to a fixed mandrel in a desired pattern, curing the matrix curable material impregnated into said strands in a matrix material curing device to thereby form a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, removing said tubular element from the fixed mandrel, impregnating additional filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said last named impregnated strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the matrix curable material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy so that the innermost portions of the member formed of the resin matrix impregnated strands initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, and permitting said member to cure initially from the center of said member and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of producing filament reinforced tubular members on a continuous basis which comprises the steps of impregnating filament containing strands with a matrix curable material, applying said impregnated strands to a fixed mandrel in a desired pattern, curing the matrix curable material impregnated into said strands in a matrix material curing device to thereby form a substantially rigid in-situ tubular element having the overall shape of the desired final tubular member, removing said tubular element from the fixed mandrel, impregnating additional filament containing strands with a resin matrix curable material having a high electrical loss tangent in the monomeric form and a low electrical loss tangent in the polymeric form, disposing said last named impregnated strands on the tubular element, moving said tubular element with the strands thereon into a dielectric matrix material curing device, curing the matrix curable material impregnated into said strands with dielectric energy so that the innermost portions of the member formed of the resin matrix impregnated strands initially reaches a higher temperature than the remainder thereof, and permitting said member to cure initially from the center of said member and progressively outward to form a hardened tubular member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 further characterized in that said member is continuously deposited subaqueously from a moving vehicle as it is produced.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |