US3799418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for positively feeding corrugated pipe
Assignee: Plastic Tubing Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-13
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-06-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe having annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys thereon, and wherein the pipe is positively fed or conveyed forwardly in engagement with a pair of rotating feed members. At least one of the feed members is driven under control of a pipe tension sensing means and has a plurality of peripheral teeth thereon which successively enter successive valleys in the pipe and push forwardly against respective ribs of the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 E Maroschak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:00
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C31/00; B29C31/002; B29L; B29L2023/00; B29L2023/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe from a source to a receiving station and wherein the pipe is provided with annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising feeding the pipe by engaging the corrugations of the pipe between the source and the receiving station with a plurality of forwardly moving teeth with successive teeth entering successive valleys and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe between the source and said feeding and in response thereto varying the rate of movement of the forwardly moving teeth to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe from a source to a receiving station and wherein the pipe is provided with annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising feeding the pipe by engaging the corrugations of the pipe between the source and the receiving station with a plurality of forwardly moving teeth with successive teeth entering successive valleys and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe between the source and said feeding and in response thereto varying the rate of movement of the forwardly moving teeth to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe having annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising passing the pipe between and in engagement with a pair of rotating feed members at least one of which is driven and has a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof, while successively moving the plurality of teeth forwardly into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe with successive teeth entering successive valleys and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe to feed the pipe, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe upstream of said feeding and in response thereto varying the rate of rotation of said rotating feed members to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe having annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising passing the pipe between and in engagement with a pair of rotating feed members at least one of which is driven and has a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof, while successively moving the plurality of teeth forwardly into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe with successive teeth entering successive valleys and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe to feed the pipe, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe upstream of said feeding and in response thereto varying the rate of rotation of said rotating feed members to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the other of the rotating feed members has a smooth peripheral surface and wherein the feeding of the pipe further comprises rotating said other rotating feed member by movement of the pipe thereagainst.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the other of the rotating feed members also has a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof and wherein the feeding of the pipe further comprises successively moving the last-named plurality of teeth forwardly into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe with the successive teeth of the last-named plurality also entering successive valleys and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 2, which comprises simultaneously passing the pipe between the first-named pair of feed members and an additional rotating feed member engaging the pipe in angularly spaced relation from the first-named pair of rotating feed members.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of feeding a longitudinally compressible and extensible molded corrugated plastic pipe through a work station while maintaining a predetermined relationship between the corrugated pipe and the work station and wherein said pipe includes alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising passing the pipe in engagement with a first rotating tooth feed member at the entrance into the work station, while also passing the pipe in engagement with a second rotating toothed feed member at the exit from the work station, while successively moving the Teeth of each feed member into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe with successive teeth of each feed member entering successive valleys of the corrugated pipe and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe, while rotating the first and second rotary feed members at predetermined uniform speed, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe upstream of and in its course to said first rotating toothed feed member, and varying the rate of rotation of the first and second feed members in response to the thus sensed variations in tension.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of feeding a longitudinally compressible and extensible molded corrugated plastic pipe through a work station while maintaining a predetermined relationship between the corrugated pipe and the work station and wherein said pipe includes alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said method comprising passing the pipe in engagement with a first rotating tooth feed member at the entrance into the work station, while also passing the pipe in engagement with a second rotating toothed feed member at the exit from the work station, while successively moving the Teeth of each feed member into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe with successive teeth of each feed member entering successive valleys of the corrugated pipe and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe, while rotating the first and second rotary feed members at predetermined uniform speed, sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe upstream of and in its course to said first rotating toothed feed member, and varying the rate of rotation of the first and second feed members in response to the thus sensed variations in tension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe from a source to a receiving station and wherein the pipe is provided with annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus being disposed between said source and said receiving station and comprising means defining a plurality of forwardly driven teeth for successively entering certain successive valleys in the corrugated pipe and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe for advancing the pipe, means positioned upstream of said advancing means for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe being fed, and means responsive to sensed variations in the tension in the pipe for varying the rate of movement of said forwardly driven teeth to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe from a source to a receiving station and wherein the pipe is provided with annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus being disposed between said source and said receiving station and comprising means defining a plurality of forwardly driven teeth for successively entering certain successive valleys in the corrugated pipe and pushing forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe for advancing the pipe, means positioned upstream of said advancing means for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe being fed, and means responsive to sensed variations in the tension in the pipe for varying the rate of movement of said forwardly driven teeth to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe having annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus comprising a pair of rotatable feed members adapted for passage of the corrugated pipe therebetween in engagement therewith, at least one of said rotatable feed members being driven, a plurality of teeth on the periphery of at least said driven feed member with said teeth being spaced apart a distance such that they are successively moved into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe so that successive teeth will enter certain successive valleys and will push forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe, means positioned upstream of said feed members for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe being fed, and means responsive to sensed variations in tension in the pipe for varying the rate of rotation of said rotatable feed members to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe having annular corrugations of alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus comprising a pair of rotatable feed members adapted for passage of the corrugated pipe therebetween in engagement therewith, at least one of said rotatable feed members being driven, a plurality of teeth on the periphery of at least said driven feed member with said teeth being spaced apart a distance such that they are successively moved into engagement with the corrugations of the pipe so that successive teeth will enter certain successive valleys and will push forwardly against the respective ribs of the corrugated pipe, means positioned upstream of said feed members for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe being fed, and means responsive to sensed variations in tension in the pipe for varying the rate of rotation of said rotatable feed members to thereby vary the rate of feed of the pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the other of said rotatable feed members has a smooth peripheral surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the other of said rotatable feed members also is driven and also includes a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof spaced apart about the same distance as the teeth on said one of said rotatable feed members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, including an additional rotatable feed member engaging the pipe in angularly spaced relation from said first-named pair of rotatable feed members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said additional rotatable feed member also includes a plurality of teeth on the periphery thereof for engagement thereof with the corrugations of the corrugated plastic pipe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe through a work station while maintaining a predetermined relationship between the corrugated pipe and the work station, and wherein the pipe includes alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus comprising driven first and second rotatable toothed feed members adjacent the respective entrance and exit ends of said work station, said first and second feed members being engageable with the corrugated pipe with the teeth of each feed member successively moving into the valleys of the pipe and forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe, means positioned upstream of said feed members for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe in its course to said first rotatable feed member, and means responsive to said sensing means for varying the rate of rotation of said first and second rotatable feed members according to the thus sensed variations in tension.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for feeding a molded corrugated plastic pipe through a work station while maintaining a predetermined relationship between the corrugated pipe and the work station, and wherein the pipe includes alternating ribs and valleys along its length, said apparatus comprising driven first and second rotatable toothed feed members adjacent the respective entrance and exit ends of said work station, said first and second feed members being engageable with the corrugated pipe with the teeth of each feed member successively moving into the valleys of the pipe and forwardly against the respective ribs of the pipe, means positioned upstream of said feed members for sensing variations in tension in the corrugated pipe in its course to said first rotatable feed member, and means responsive to said sensing means for varying the rate of rotation of said first and second rotatable feed members according to the thus sensed variations in tension.
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) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |