US5384339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Epoxy based balancing compound and method for balancing a rotor utilizing an ultraviolet-curable epoxy resin composition
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-03-09
•
Granted: 1995-01-24
•
Expires: 2013-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A balancing compound comprising an epoxy resin, a photoinitiator in an effective amount to cure the resin at ambient temperatures upon the application of ultraviolet light (10 nm to 400 nm) of less than 40 watts per square centimeter in less than about 30 seconds, and a filler in an effective amount to give the compound a specific gravity above 1.1.
Inventors
- 👤 Donn R. Starkey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B3/00; H01B3/18; H01B3/30; H01B3/40; C; C08; C08G; C08G59/00; C08G59/18; C08G59/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of balancing a rotor which comprises applying to the rotor a balancing composition which comprises an epoxy resin, a photoinitiator in an amount sufficient to cause cationic polymerization and cure said resin upon the application of ultraviolet light (about 10 nm to about 400 nm), and a filler in an amount to give said composition a specific gravity above 1.1, said filler not being ultraviolet light opaque and selected from a group consisting of quartz, silica, and the combination thereof, and exposing the balancing composition at ambient temperature to ultraviolet light of less than 40 watts per square centimeter for less than 30 seconds and curing said resin.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of balancing a rotor which comprises applying to the rotor a balancing composition which comprises an epoxy resin, a photoinitiator in an amount sufficient to cause cationic polymerization and cure said resin upon the application of ultraviolet light (about 10 nm to about 400 nm), and a filler in an amount to give said composition a specific gravity above 1.1, said filler not being ultraviolet light opaque and selected from a group consisting of quartz, silica, and the combination thereof, and exposing the balancing composition at ambient temperature to ultraviolet light of less than 40 watts per square centimeter for less than 30 seconds and curing said resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of bisphenol-A, bisphenol-F, novolak, difunctional glycidol ester, and cycloaliphatic based epoxy resins, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said resin consists of about 13% to about 90% weight of said composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a polyol up to about 100 parts per 100 parts of said resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said polyol is chosen from the group consisting of polycaprolactone alcohols, polyether alcohols, polyester alcohols, other monofunctional alcohols, other difunctional alcohols, other trifunctional alcohols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said composition is homogeneous.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, said photoinitiator is present from about 0.1 to about 4 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said photoinitiator initiator is selected from the groups consisting of onium salts, iron salts, and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said photoinitiator is selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having an acid component, wherein said acid component forms a Lewis acid during the resin curing process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a wetting agent sufficient to reduce the surface energy of said resin to a level that said filler is wet with said resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon, silicone, fluorochemical, and other surfactants and combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said wetting agent is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 1.0 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a wetting agent in an amount sufficient to minimize refraction and reflection of ultraviolet light at the resin/filler interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said filler is present in an amount sufficient to maintain said photoinitiator in suspension and said composition homogeneous.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said filler is present in an amount less than 20 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a catalyst which in combination with said photoinitiator will cure said resin at ambient temperatures upon the application of ultraviolet light of less than 40 watts per square centimeter in less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of copper salt and hydroperoxide catalysts and combinations thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said catalysts are present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 5 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said resin when cured is cross-linked through said epoxy groups.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said composition has no slump at room temperature, is sufficiently tacky, adherent and cohesive to adhere to the rotor during dynamic testing before curing, said method comprising, prior to the step of exposing, the step of dynamically testing the rotor with said balancing composition in position thereon and adjusting the amount of balancing composition on the rotor to achieve balance.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
37 words
The method of claims 20 wherein the amount and position of the balancing composition is adjusted and dynamic testing of the rotor is repeated until the desired degree of balance is attained before the resin is cured.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said adjusting step includes adjusting both the amount and the position of the balancing composition on the rotor and dynamically retesting the rotor until the desired degree of balance is attained.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the step of exposing, the step of dynamically testing the rotor with the balancing composition in position thereon.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of balancing a rotor comprising applying to a rotor a balancing composition comprising an epoxy resin, a photoinitiator in an amount to cure said resin at ambient temperature upon the application of ultraviolet light (about 10 nm to about 400 nm) of less than 40 watts per square centimeter in less than about 30 seconds, and a filler in an amount to give said composition no slump at room temperature and a specific gravity above 1.1, the composition not being sufficiently tacky, adherent or cohesive to adhere to the rotor during dynamic testing before curing, curing said resin by exposing said composition to ultraviolet light of less than 40 watts per square centimeter for less than about 30 seconds, dynamically testing the rotor with the now cured balancing composition in position thereon, adding an additional amount of the balancing composition on the rotor to achieve the desired balance, if required, and then curing said additional resin.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of balancing a rotor comprising applying to a rotor a balancing composition comprising an epoxy resin, a photoinitiator in an amount to cure said resin at ambient temperature upon the application of ultraviolet light (about 10 nm to about 400 nm) of less than 40 watts per square centimeter in less than about 30 seconds, and a filler in an amount to give said composition no slump at room temperature and a specific gravity above 1.1, the composition not being sufficiently tacky, adherent or cohesive to adhere to the rotor during dynamic testing before curing, curing said resin by exposing said composition to ultraviolet light of less than 40 watts per square centimeter for less than about 30 seconds, dynamically testing the rotor with the now cured balancing composition in position thereon, adding an additional amount of the balancing composition on the rotor to achieve the desired balance, if required, and then curing said additional resin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said adjusting step includes adjusting both the amount and position of the balancing composition on the rotor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said resin is chosen from the group consisting of bisphenol-A, bisphenol-F, novolak, difunctional glycidol ester, and cycloaliphatic based epoxy resins, organosilicon moners having a six member silicon dioxide ring, and sulfur containing moners having three and four member sulfur containing rings, and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said resin consists of about 13% to about 90% weight of said composition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said composition comprises a polyol up to about 100 parts per 100 parts of said resin.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the Union Carbide R value of said polyol is less than 3.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said polyol is selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactone alcohols, polyether alcohols, polyester alcohols, other monofunctional alcohols, other difunctional alcohols, other trifunctional alcohols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said filler is not ultraviolet light opaque.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of quartz, silica, Pyrex, Flint and Crown glasses, and combinations thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said composition wets said filler.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said composition is homogeneous.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising a photoinitiator in an amount sufficient to cure said resin upon being exposed to ultraviolet light.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said photoinitiator is present from about 0.1 to about 4 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said photoinitiator initiator is selected from the groups consisting of onium salts, iron salts and combinations thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said photoinitiator is selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having an acid component, wherein said acid component forms a Lewis acid during the resin curing process.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising an effective amount of a photosensitizer to convert visible light into ultraviolet light.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said photosensitizer is present in an amount less than 5.0 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising a wetting agent sufficient to reduce the surface energy of said resin to a level that said filler is wet with said resin.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon, silicone, fluorochemical, and other surfactants and combinations thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said wetting agent is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 1.0 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising a wetting agent in an amount sufficient to minimize refraction and reflection of ultraviolet light at the resin/filler interface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said filler is present in an amount sufficient to maintain said photoinitiator in suspension and said composition homogeneous.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said fillers are chosen from the group consisting of quartz, silica, Pyrex, Flint and Crown glasses, and combinations thereof.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said filler is present in an amount less than 20 parts per 100 of said resin,
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising a catalyst which in combination with said photoinitiator will cure said resin at ambient temperatures upon the application of ultraviolet light (about 10 nm to about 400 nm) of less than 40 watts per square centimeter in less than about 30 seconds.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of copper salt and hydroperoxide catalysts and combinations thereof.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said catalysts are present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 5 parts per 100 of said resin.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said resin when cured is cross-linked through said epoxy groups.
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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) | 1998-01-23 | 1998-07-25 | 1999-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-07-25 | 2003-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-23 | 2006-07-25 | 2007-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |