US3799729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotational casting or molding machine
Assignee: Metzeler AG
•
Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A rotational casting or molding machine wherein a hollow bifurcated support is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis and each of its prongs carries a stub shaft driven by a mechanism which extends in part through the interior of the support. The shafts are rotatable about a common axis which is normal to the axis of the support and each shaft supports a discrete mold holder frame having an annular or polygonal outline and being coupled to the respective shaft by a set of equidistant connecting elements in the form of stacked leaf springs. The leaf springs allow for thermally induced movements of the frames in the axial direction of the shafts but hold the frames against angular movement with reference to their shafts. One end portion of each package of leaf springs is fixedly secured to the respective frame or to the respective shaft and the other end portion of each package is longitudinally movably secured to the respective shaft or to the respective frame. The leaf springs are either coplanar with the respective frames or are mounted in such a way that their inner end portions are spaced from the outer end portions as considered in the direction of the common axis of the shafts.
Inventors
- 👤 H Hagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:59
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/04; B29C41/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Rotational molding or casting machine, comprising a housing; a support rotatably mounted in said housing; at least one shaft mounted in said support for rotation about an axis which is inclined relative to the axis of said support; coupling means including at least one elastic element connected to said shaft and extending substantially radially thereof; and mold supporting means including at least one mold holding frame connected to said elastic element, said elastic element permitting relative movement between said frame and said shaft in response to differEnces in thermally induced expansion or contraction of said frame and said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Rotational molding or casting machine, comprising a housing; a support rotatably mounted in said housing; at least one shaft mounted in said support for rotation about an axis which is inclined relative to the axis of said support; coupling means including at least one elastic element connected to said shaft and extending substantially radially thereof; and mold supporting means including at least one mold holding frame connected to said elastic element, said elastic element permitting relative movement between said frame and said shaft in response to differEnces in thermally induced expansion or contraction of said frame and said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means is constructed and mounted to prevent movements of said frame relative to said shaft about the axis of said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means is constructed and mounted to allow for movements of said frame in the axial direction of said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting element has a first end portion fixedly secured to said frame and a second end portion secured to said shaft for movement in the radial direction of said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting element has a first end portion fixedly secured to said shaft and a second end portion longitudinally movably secured to said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises first retaining means and said frame comprises second retaining means, said connecting element having a first end portion fixedly secured to one of said retaining means and a second end portion secured to the other of said retaining means for movement substantially radially of said shaft, and further comprising abutment means for limiting the extent of lengthwise movement of said second end portion with respect to said other retaining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting element comprises a package of overlapping leaf springs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame has a polygonal outline including a plurality of corner portions each having a plate-like first retaining member, said shaft comprising a second plate-like retaining member and said connecting element including a first end portion secured to one of said first retaining members and a second end portion secured to said second retaining member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame is located in a predetermined plane and said connecting element is at least substantially coplanar with said frame in the undeformed condition thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting element has a first end portion secured to said shaft and a second end portion secured to said frame, said end portions being spaced apart as considered in the axial direction of said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said support carries two coaxial shafts and said mold supporting means comprises a discrete frame for each of said shafts, said coupling means comprising a plurality of equidistant elastic connecting elements each having an inner end portion secured to the respective shaft and an outer end portion secured to the respective frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said support comprises two arms each of which rotatably supports one of said shafts, said frames being located between said arms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 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 |