US4929167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing a helical tube
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-07-11
•
Granted: 1990-05-29
•
Expires: 2008-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for producing a curved tube, the apparatus comprising an extruder for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite the first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion, and rollers for forming the tube into a curve with the first portion being radially outward and with the second portion being radially inward so that the thickness of the first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of the second portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth V. Pepper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:45
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C53/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for producing a curved tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite said first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of said first portion, and means for forming said tube into a curve with said first portion being radially outward and with said second portion being radially inward so that the thickness of said first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of said second portion, said forming means including a plurality of rollers aligned along said curve, each of said rollers having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove, and means for rotating said rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for producing a curved tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite said first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of said first portion, and means for forming said tube into a curve with said first portion being radially outward and with said second portion being radially inward so that the thickness of said first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of said second portion, said forming means including a plurality of rollers aligned along said curve, each of said rollers having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove, and means for rotating said rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said rollers includes two outer discs and an inner disc sandwiched between said outer discs, said outer discs having a relatively low coefficient of friction and said inner disc having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
296 words
An apparatus for producing a helical tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite said first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of said first portion, and means for forming said tube into a helix centered about an axis with said first portion being radially outward relative to said axis and with said second portion being radially inward relative to said axis so that the thickness of said first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of said second portion, said forming means including a sizing a cooling sleeve, a first series of rollers aligned along the path of said helix and engaging said second portion of said tube for moving said tube along the path of said helix, and a second series of rollers aligned along the path of said helix and engaging said second portion of said tube for moving said tube along the path of said helix, each of said rollers of said first and second series having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove, means for rotating said first series of rollers at a first rotational speed, and means for rotating said second series of rollers at a second rotational speed slower than said first rotational speed.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
296 words
An apparatus for producing a helical tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube having a wall including a first portion having a thickness, and a second portion diametrically opposite said first portion and having a thickness less than the thickness of said first portion, and means for forming said tube into a helix centered about an axis with said first portion being radially outward relative to said axis and with said second portion being radially inward relative to said axis so that the thickness of said first portion becomes substantially equal to the thickness of said second portion, said forming means including a sizing a cooling sleeve, a first series of rollers aligned along the path of said helix and engaging said second portion of said tube for moving said tube along the path of said helix, and a second series of rollers aligned along the path of said helix and engaging said second portion of said tube for moving said tube along the path of said helix, each of said rollers of said first and second series having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove, means for rotating said first series of rollers at a first rotational speed, and means for rotating said second series of rollers at a second rotational speed slower than said first rotational speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said rollers includes two outer discs and an inner disc sandwiched between said outer discs, said outer discs having a relatively low coefficient of friction and said inner disc having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said tube is extruded in a molten state, and wherein said forming means forms said tube into said curve before said tube hardens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said forming means is located immediately adjacent said extruding means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for producing a tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube, and means for moving said tube away from said extruding means and including a roller having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, and means for rotating said roller so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for producing a tube, said apparatus comprising means for extruding a tube, and means for moving said tube away from said extruding means and including a roller having therein a circumferentially extending groove receiving said tube, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, and means for rotating said roller so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages said tube and said side walls slidably engage said tube and retain said tube within said groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said roller includes two outer discs and an inner disc sandwiched between said outer discs, said outer discs having a relatively low coefficient of friction and said inner disc having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said moving means moves said tube along an arcuate path so that said tube has a first, radially outward portion and a second, radially inward portion, and wherein said moving means includes a first series of rollers aligned along said path and engaging said first portion of said tube for moving said tube along said path, a second series of rollers aligned along said path and engaging said second portion of said tube for moving said tube along said path, means for rotating said first series of rollers at a first rotational speed, and means for rotating said second series of rollers at a second rotational speed slower than said first rotational speed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for conveying an elongate object, said apparatus comprising a roller having therein a circumferentially extending groove positioned to receive the object, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, and means for rotating said roller so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages the object and said side walls slidably engage the object and retain the object within said groove.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for conveying an elongate object, said apparatus comprising a roller having therein a circumferentially extending groove positioned to receive the object, said groove having a radially innermost portion having a relatively high coefficient of friction, and said groove having a radially outer portion defined by opposed side walls extending radially outwardly from said radially innermost portion of said roller and having a relatively low coefficient of friction, and means for rotating said roller so that said radially innermost portion of said roller drivingly engages the object and said side walls slidably engage the object and retain the object within said groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said roller includes two outer discs and an inner disc sandwiched between said outer discs, said outer discs having a relatively low coefficient of friction and said inner disc having a relatively high coefficient of friction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2603343A
Cited
US873007A
Cited
US1217101A
Cited
US1584283A
Cited
US2039475A
Cited
US2728104A
Cited
US3207827A
Cited
US3296661A
Cited
US3274313A
Cited
US3331488A
Cited
US3454695A
Cited
UST873007I4
Cited
US3646793A
Cited
US3825641A
Cited
US3950469A
Cited
DE2359746A1
Cited
US3889798A
Cited
US3873399A
Cited
DE2362465A1
Cited
US4036930A
Cited
US4182738A
Cited
US4157235A
Cited
JPS5452174A
Cited
US4273523A
Cited
US4359446A
Cited
US4388061A
Cited
JPS59179320A
Cited
JPS6251503A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-28 | 1993-11-27 | 1994-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-28 | 1997-11-27 | 1998-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-28 | 2001-11-27 | 2002-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |