Goldsworthy Engineering, Inc.

Ethridge E Hardesty

William B Goldsworthy

An apparatus and a method for fabricating on-site storage structures with reinforced composite materials, as well as the storage structures produced in accordance with the apparatus and method. In one aspect of the invention, reinforcing material which comprises at least one layer of fiber containing strand material, and one or more layers of fiber containing mat material are resin impregnated and passed through a draw-die orifice. Upon passing through the draw-die orifice this material is deposited in a continuously formed spiral where the turns forming the spiral are registered with each other. A cure of the resin material is initiated as the impregnated reinforcing material passes through the draw-die orifice. The cure is initiated by means of a curing device which applies dielectric energy to the impregnated reinforcing material, to thereby form a rigid spiral turn which becomes bonded to the next adjacent registered layer. In another aspect of the present invention, matrix impregnated reinforcing material is pultruded through a draw-die orifice and cured during the formation thereof as a continuous strip. This strip has the overall cross sectional shape and size of a turn in the storage structure and is coiled and retained in a dispensing container. This strip is then dispensed from the dispensing container and passed through an application head which deposits the strip in the form of a turn on a previously deposited turn and rigidly secures and bonds this turn to such previously deposited turn.

On-site wall structure formation

Reinforced plastic pipe and similar tubular members are formed by centrifugally casting filamentary strand materials, such as glass roving, in a rotating cylindrical mold. A solvent dispersed mold release agent may be sprayed into the mold prior to the application of the filament. Thereafter, a spray of catalyzed binder resin is added to the filamentary material. A lance is extended into the mold and contains feeding tubes for depositing the filamentary strand, as well as nozzles for depositing the resin on the surface of the mold. Also, the lance contains extra nozzles for the addition of particulate matter such as sand to achieve desired structural quality and economic fabrication of the tubular member. The amount of the components added and the timing of the component addition is determined by the desired end product to be achieved.

Growing community of inventors

Pine Valley, CA, United States of America

Ethridge E Hardesty