Patent US4049663A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4414819A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4414819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temporarily rigidifying soft materials
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1982-04-27
•
Granted: 1983-11-15
•
Expires: 2002-04-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus for temporarily rendering rigid a product of soft material of elongated form such as a rubber tube. In this apparatus, a tube of the product penetrates into a tunnel and issues therefrom after having been cooled by liquid nitrogen vaporized in an exchanger. A part of the nitrogen travels in counterflow and another predetermined part thereof travels in equidirectional flow towards a processing station. The invention is particularly applicable to braiding or winding rubber tubes, but is not limited to this field of use.
Inventors
- 👤 Francois Contal
- 👤 Bernard Boyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:38
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D23/00; B29D23/001; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/09; B29C48/25; B29C48/88; B29C48/911; F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; B29K; B29K2021/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for temporarily rendering rigid a product of soft material of very elongated form before said product reaches a processing station, said apparatus comprising a tunnel of elongated shape, the tunnel comprising a refrigerating duct having an internal transverse outline matching with radial clearance an outer transverse configuration of said product from an entrance end to an exit end of the tunnel, the duct comprising an upstream section and a downstream section with respect to the direction of travel of said product, the upstream section being provided with a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising conduit means connected to a source of liquid nitrogen and opening into the duct upstream section, the internal transverse outline of the duct upstream section having greater dimensions than those of the internal transverse outline of the duct downstream section, whereby a comparatively high rate of flow of vaporized nitrogen travels in counterflow with respect to the product, whereas a comparatively small rate of flow of vaporized nitrogen flows equidirectionally with respect to the product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for temporarily rendering rigid a product of soft material of very elongated form before said product reaches a processing station, said apparatus comprising a tunnel of elongated shape, the tunnel comprising a refrigerating duct having an internal transverse outline matching with radial clearance an outer transverse configuration of said product from an entrance end to an exit end of the tunnel, the duct comprising an upstream section and a downstream section with respect to the direction of travel of said product, the upstream section being provided with a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising conduit means connected to a source of liquid nitrogen and opening into the duct upstream section, the internal transverse outline of the duct upstream section having greater dimensions than those of the internal transverse outline of the duct downstream section, whereby a comparatively high rate of flow of vaporized nitrogen travels in counterflow with respect to the product, whereas a comparatively small rate of flow of vaporized nitrogen flows equidirectionally with respect to the product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thermometric sensor is situated in an area of the duct close to the exit end of the tunnel, the sensor being connected to means for controlling the flow rate of liquid nitrogen to said heat exchanger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3600901A
Cited
US3670520A
Cited
FR2051961A5
Cited
GB1357886A
Cited
FR2117767B1
Cited
FR2138376B2
Cited
US3738121A
Cited
US3898863A
Cited
DE2422898C3
Cited
US3953270A
Cited
US3932155A
Cited
US4090369A
Cited
FR2353386B1
Cited
DE2701120A1
Cited
FR2448119B3
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-14 | 1987-05-16 | 1987-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-14 | 1991-05-16 | 1991-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-14 | 1995-05-16 | 1995-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |