Manufacture of rigid elongate members of resin bonded reinforcing elements

Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means each mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and each rotatable about their common axis, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of said two hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops to such an extent as to form a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 2

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means each mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and each rotatable about their common axis, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of said two hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops to such an extent as to form a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 11

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured an elongate former that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the former, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops to such an extent as to form a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 12

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured an elongate former that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the former, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops to such an extent as to form a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 13

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space each one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured an elongate former that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the former and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element on the hook means, and repeating the appropriate steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of the said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops about the elongate former to such an extent as to form around the former a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to cause the twisted loops of reinforcing elements to adhere to the former and form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 14

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space each one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured an elongate former that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the former and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element on the hook means, and repeating the appropriate steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of the said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops about the elongate former to such an extent as to form around the former a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; and (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to cause the twisted loops of reinforcing elements to adhere to the former and form a substantially rigid elongate member.

Claim 16

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate tubular member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured a substantially rigid elongate mandrel that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the mandrel, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops about the elongate mandrel to such an extent as to form around the mandrel a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to cause the twisted loops of reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid reinforcing layer on the mandrel; and (f) removing the mandrel to form a substantially rigid elongate tubular member.

Claim 17

A method of manufacturing a substantially rigid elongate tubular member of resin bonded reinforcing elements which comprises: (a) feeding at least one resin impregnated reinforcing element through an apertured guide, which guide is transversely spaced from the common axis of two hook means which are mounted stationary in space with one substantially vertically above and spaced from the other and are rotatable about their common axis and between which hook means is detachably secured a substantially rigid elongate mandrel that extends along said common axis and is so connected to at least one of the hook means that the hook means can rotate about its axis relative to the mandrel, and securing one end of the reinforcing element to one of the hook means; (b) causing the apertured guide to travel in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis of said hook means to and beyond one hook means, the guide engaging and effecting partial rotation of the hook means about said common axis with respect to the guide as the guide approaches the hook means, reversing the direction of travel of the guide to wind the reinforcing element over the hook means, and repeating the aforesaid steps at each hook means alternately to form a plurality of elongate loops of reinforcing elements; (c) cutting the reinforcing element and securing the free end of the element to one of said plurality of loops and one of said hook means; (d) rotatably driving at least one of said hook means with respect to the other hook means about their common substantially vertical axis to twist the elongate loops about the elongate mandrel to such an extent as to form around the mandrel a skein in which the helically twisted resin impregnated reinforcing elements are held under tension between the two hook means; (e) curing the skein of resin impregnated reinforcing elements to cause the twisted loops of reinforcing elements to form a substantially rigid reinforcing layer on the mandrel; and (f) removing the mandrel to form a substantially rigid elongate tubular member.