Patent US3912440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3912440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus to expand a laminating interlayer
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1974-11-12
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for expanding a laminating interlayer is taught. The apparatus includes structure for stretching a heated web of laminating interlayer material between a cylindrical heating structure and a conical member in such a manner that a constant rectangular plane is defined in the space between the point at which the web leaves the cylindrical structure and the point at which it contacts the conical member. The stretching of the web occurs between these two points because the web engaging the larger end of the conical member is stretched to a greater degree than the portion of the web engaging the smaller end of the conical member as the different ends of the conical member are moving at different surface speeds. The web is cooled on the conical member.
Inventors
- 👤 George A Koss
- 👤 Daniel J Gurta
- 👤 Paul E Tomshany
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:23
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B17/00; B32B17/06; B32B17/10; B32B17/10005; B32B17/1055; B32B17/10761; B29; B29C; B29C55/00; B29C55/02; B29C55/04; B29C55/045; B29C67/00; B29C67/0011; B32B17/10559; B32B17/10568; B32B17/10807; B32B17/10889
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for expanding a continuous length of material so that originally parallel and straight lateral edges thereof are stretched to curved configurations of different arc lengths, which apparatus comprises: a heat drum in the form of a cylinder; first structure means for mounting said heat drum for rotation about its cylindrical axis; heating means for supplying heat internally of said head drum; first motor means for driving said heat drum so that said heat drum pulls said material from a continuous supply thereof and over a substantial portion of its cylindrical surface to heat the same to a temperature whereat it is a pliable condition; a first cooling cone having a slant height greater than the width of said web of material; second structure means for mounting said first cooling cone at a particular distance from said heat drum in a position such that a selected slant height position along said cooling cone is in a parallel spaced position with respect to a selected tangent position along the cylindrical surface of said heat drum whereby a rectangular plane is defined in said particular distance between said selected slant height position and said selected tangent position; cooling means for cooling the interior of said cooling cone; second motor means for driving said cooling cone; drive means operative from said second motor means for driving said cooling cone means to apply a stretching force to said material between said head drum and said cooling cone, the portion of said web engaging the larger end of said cooling cone being stretched to a greater degree than the portion of said web material engaging the smaller end of said cooling cone, said web material leaving said heat drum at said selected tangent position, Being subjected to stretching stresses and relieving of such stresses during movement across said particular distance and contacting said cooling cone at said selected slant height position, said particular distance being sufficient to permit a stretching of said material without otherwise changing its physical properties.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
335 words
An apparatus for expanding a continuous length of material so that originally parallel and straight lateral edges thereof are stretched to curved configurations of different arc lengths, which apparatus comprises: a heat drum in the form of a cylinder; first structure means for mounting said heat drum for rotation about its cylindrical axis; heating means for supplying heat internally of said head drum; first motor means for driving said heat drum so that said heat drum pulls said material from a continuous supply thereof and over a substantial portion of its cylindrical surface to heat the same to a temperature whereat it is a pliable condition; a first cooling cone having a slant height greater than the width of said web of material; second structure means for mounting said first cooling cone at a particular distance from said heat drum in a position such that a selected slant height position along said cooling cone is in a parallel spaced position with respect to a selected tangent position along the cylindrical surface of said heat drum whereby a rectangular plane is defined in said particular distance between said selected slant height position and said selected tangent position; cooling means for cooling the interior of said cooling cone; second motor means for driving said cooling cone; drive means operative from said second motor means for driving said cooling cone means to apply a stretching force to said material between said head drum and said cooling cone, the portion of said web engaging the larger end of said cooling cone being stretched to a greater degree than the portion of said web material engaging the smaller end of said cooling cone, said web material leaving said heat drum at said selected tangent position, Being subjected to stretching stresses and relieving of such stresses during movement across said particular distance and contacting said cooling cone at said selected slant height position, said particular distance being sufficient to permit a stretching of said material without otherwise changing its physical properties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said cooling means is for cooling the interior of said cooling cone from the small end thereof to the large end thereof whereby a greater thermal driving force is available for cooling in the area of the cone contacted by the material stretched to the lesser degree.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: additional cooling cones and cooling means are provided to assist the first cooling cone in cooling the web material.
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) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |