US4158555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cutting of glass strand and product produced thereby
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
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Granted: 1979-06-19
•
Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of cutting glass fiber strands is disclosed wherein said strands are driven across the beam of an interruptable laser. The laser beam melts the strand at each pulse of the beam cutting the strand into short lengths. The cut strands can be immediately collected and packaged or can be further subjected to a drying procedure prior to packaging. The strands formed by this method have fused and comparitively even ends as opposed to the ragged uneven ends of mechanically chopped glass strands.
Inventors
- 👤 John Kallenborn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:32
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/10; C03B37/16; D; D01; D01G; D01G1/00; D01G1/02; D01G1/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/913; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of cutting glass fiber strand comprising feeding said strand across a pulsating laser beam and cutting said strand with said pulsating laser beam, said feeding of strand being at a sufficient rate and said laser beam operating at a sufficient intensity to produce cut strands having end portions which are approximately even and fused into a single piece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of cutting glass fiber strand comprising feeding said strand across a pulsating laser beam and cutting said strand with said pulsating laser beam, said feeding of strand being at a sufficient rate and said laser beam operating at a sufficient intensity to produce cut strands having end portions which are approximately even and fused into a single piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said strand is fed at a rate of 2,500 feet per minute (762 meters per minute).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said laser beam is operated at an intensity of 500 milliwatts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a method of cutting glass fiber strand comprising attenuating glass filaments from a bushing, consolidating said filaments into a glass fiber strand and cutting said strand, the improvement wherein said cutting comprises feeding said strand across an interrupted laser beam and cutting said strand with said interrupted laser beam, said strand being fed at a sufficient rate and said laser beam operating at a sufficient intensity so as to produce cut strands having end portions which are approximately even and fused into a single piece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a method of cutting glass fiber strand comprising attenuating glass filaments from a bushing, consolidating said filaments into a glass fiber strand and cutting said strand, the improvement wherein said cutting comprises feeding said strand across an interrupted laser beam and cutting said strand with said interrupted laser beam, said strand being fed at a sufficient rate and said laser beam operating at a sufficient intensity so as to produce cut strands having end portions which are approximately even and fused into a single piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said strand feed is at a rate of 2,500 feet per minute (762 meters per minute).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said laser beam is operated at an intensity of 500 milliwatts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said strand is fed into an air venturi tube to thoroughly blow air and said strand through said tube and across said pulsating laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pulsating laser beam is varied in its rate of pulsation to produce cut strand of different lengths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the feeding of strand across the beam is varied in its rate of speed to produce cut strand of different lengths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting the cut strand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said collecting comprises drawing said cut strands into a container under vacuum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising drying said cut strand and collecting the resulting dried cut strand.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said drying comprises passing said cut strand under an infrared drying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
Cut glass strand formed by the process of claim 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said cutting comprises feeding said strand into an air venturi tube and blowing air and said strand through said tube and across said interrupted laser beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said interrupted laser beam is varied in its rate of interruption to produce cut strand of various lengths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said cutting is varied in its rate of speed to produce cut strand of various lengths.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 further comprises collecting the cut strand.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said collecting comprises drawing said cut strand into a container under vacuum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising drying said cut strand and collecting the resulting dried cut strand.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said drying comprises passing said cut strand under an infrared drying means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
10 words
Cut glass strand formed by the process of claim 4.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
Cut glass strand formed by the process of claim 20.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
Cut glass strand formed by the process of claim 12.
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) | 1982-06-18 | 1982-12-18 | 1983-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-18 | 1986-12-18 | 1987-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-18 | 1990-12-18 | 1991-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |