Other

Pmc, Inc.

Venus Products, Inc.

Frank E Ives

Albert C Saurwein

Terrence G Nash

A six-roll impregnator applies resin to only one side of a fabric. The resin is then pressed through the fabric, after which a pair of rolls squeezes excess resin from the fabric. In this manner, no air is entrapped within the fabric during the impregnation process.

Multiple roll impregnator

A rollout apparatus for rolling trapped air from a resin impregnated fiber mat has two carriage assemblies mounted for reciprocated movement in opposite direction. Each of the carriage assemblies carries depending rollers that engage an impregnated fiberglass mat laid on a mold. The carriage assemblies oscillate simultaneously in opposite directions so that the turning forces generated by the receiprocation cancel each other, thus providing a smooth vibration-free mechanism.

Rollout apparatus

Apparatus for lining an irrigation canal with a sheet of fiber-reinforced plastic includes structure for depositing a layer of resin and fiber on a web of flexible carrier material, partially curing the resin prior to laying the sheet in the canal, and then laying the sheet in the canal while the resin is flexible enough to conform to the shape of the canal. The final curing of the resin takes place after the sheet is placed in the canal. A predetermined-shape wrinkle is induced in the carrier web before it is laid into the canal to assist in conforming the sheet to the canal shape without causing randomly placed wrinkles so that the sheet is smooth in the canal. The apparatus forms the sheet and is propelled so that it travels along the length of the canal, fabricating a continuous sheet as it travels. In one embodiment the carrier is a flexible but nonelastic material like kraft paper, coated on one side with wax or other film to prevent saturation by the resin.

Apparatus for forming a continuous plastic sheet

A tank for use in storing volatile liquids and, in particular, petroleum distillates, such as gasoline in an underground environment, includes a fiberglass outer wall lined with a corrosion-resistant impervious film liner that substantially covers the entire interior surface of the fiberglass tank. In a preferred method of constructing the tank, a lay-up mandrel has an end cap of the film placed over a first end thereof and pressed to fit closely the exterior surface topography of the mandrel. A strip of film is laid down on the mandrel overlying at least a portion of the end cap and the film strip is wound in a helical fashion such that at least portions of adjacent coils of the helix overlap one another until the mandrel is essentially completely covered by the film. The polyester resin and glass fibers are then laid down over the film and cured in place. The mandrel is then removed, leaving a film-lined fiberglass tank. In a preferred embodiment, the film is comprised of polyvinylfluoride or polyester terephthalate.

Leak-resistant fiberglass tank and method of making the same

A tank for use in storing volatile liquids and, in particular, petroleum distillates, includes a fiberglass outer wall lined with a metal foil liner that substantially covers the entire interior surface of the fiberglass tank. In a preferred method of constructing a tank, a lay-up mandrel has a foil end cap placed over a first end thereof and pressed to fit closely the exterior surface topography of the mandrel. A strip of metal foil is laid down on the mandrel overlying at least a portion of the metal foil end cap and the metal strip is wound in a helical fashion such that the adjacent coils of the helix overlap one another until the mandrel is essentially completely covered by the metal foil. Fiberglass resin and glass fibers are then laid down over the metal foil and cured in place. The mandrel is then removed, leaving a foil-lined fiberglass tank.

A collapsible, cantilevered mandrel is disclosed comprising a core rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a tubular shell having a longitudinal slit to permit collapsing of the shell, means for rigidly mounting an arcuate segment of the shell to the core such that the shell is disposed about the longitudinal axis, and means for collapsing the mandrel. The means for collapsing the mandrel includes an actuating member mounted between the core and the shell for reciprocal motion, and a plurality of linkage means connected to the actuating member. Each linkage means is connected to first and second portions of the shell on opposite sides of the slit, and is adapted to cause at least one of the first and second portions to move circumferentially towards the other portion and radially inward when the actuating member moves.

Collapsible mandrel

Spray gun (10) includes a unitary valve (22) for controlling the flow of polyester resin and catalyst through the gun and discharging the polyester resin and catalyst in converging streams from nozzles (24) and (26) so that the two liquids thoroughly mix as they flow together through the air. Valve (22) includes a rearward, catalyst mixing section (82) composed of an inlet sleeve (90) and an outlet sleeve (91), and a forward resin flow control section (84) composed of an elongate inlet sleeve (144) and an end sleeve (150). Inlet ports are formed in sleeves (90) and (144) and outlet ports are formed in sleeves (91) and (150) to permit the flow of catalyst and resin when an elongated needle (80), extending longitudinally through the center of the sleeves, is disposed in rearward, activated position and to prevent the flow of catalyst and resin when the needle (80) is disposed in forward, deactivated position.

External mixing spray gun

A filler material and a heated, catalyzed synthetic resin are sequentially introduced into a mixer. The mixer has a conveying section and a mixing section. The resin and filler are introduced into the conveying section, which forces the combined resin and filler material into and through the mixing section. The mixing section kneads and shears the material to uniformly disperse the resin throughout the filler. The resin/filler mixture is then dispensed into a mold for curing.

Method for producing a curable, filled resin composition, e.g.,

An automated parking system includes a multi-story tower having a central elevator shaft. The building is substantially circular in cross section and contains a plurality of parking stalls that radiate from the elevator shaft on each of the stories. An elevator mechanism elevates a turntable, rotatably mounted on the elevator mechanism for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, between the several floors of the building. A shuttle travels from the turntable to an entrance ramp on the ground level of the building, moves a vehicle to be parked from the entrance ramp to the turntable, whereupon the elevator and turntable cooperate to deposit the vehicle in a parking stall on one of the several floors. The elevator and turntable mechanism operate in reverse to carry the vehicle from a parking stall to an exit ramp on the ground floor of the building.

Automated parking system and subassemblies therefor

A flow indicator for a positive displacement pump is connected to a liquid supply reservoir below the liquid level in the reservoir. The indicator has a first passage through which liquid is supplied from the reservoir to the inlet of the pump. The first passage has an inlet below the liquid level in the reservoir and an outlet coupled to a supply conduit in turn coupled to the pump inlet. A restrictor is positioned in the first passage adjacent the inlet to partially restrict fluid flow through the passage. A secondary passage is coupled in fluid communication with the first passage downstream from the restrictor. A transparent tube is coupled to the secondary passage and extends upwardly alongside the reservoir to a location above the liquid level in the reservoir. A float is slidably positioned in the transparent tube. When the pump is not operating or is functioning on a return stroke, as opposed to a suction stroke, the liquid level in the tube seeks the same as the liquid level in the reservoir, thereby positioning the float adjacent the liquid level in the reservoir. When the pump draws liquid from the reservoir through the flow indicator, the restrictor is sized so that only a portion of the liquid is drawn from the reservoir, while the remaining liquid is drawn through the secondary passage from the transparent tube. As liquid is drawn from the reservoir and the transparent tube, the liquid level in the tube lowers, causing the float to visibly drop within the tube. The restrictor is sized so that during the return stroke of the pump liquid flows from the reservoir into the transparent tube, returning the liquid level in the tube and thus the float to the same level as the reservoir liquid level.

Flow indicator for positive displacement pump

Disclosed is an apparatus for applying polyester resin impregnated fabric onto a smooth surface. Fabric is impregnated with polyester resin and pressed onto a flat or curved surface by means of vibrating rolls which may be remotely controlled to conform with the contours of the surface. Vibration of the rolls removes entrained air bubbles and permits complete application of the impregnated fabric in a single pass of the apparatus. The fabric is dispensed, impregnated and applied from a frame which is suspended from an overhead gantry and which may be moved in three dimensions. On the frame are mounted a roll of fabric, an impregnator for impregnating the fabric with resin, and a series of pneumatically vibrated rollers for applying the impregnated fabric. Operation is controlled from a console attached to the frame.

Impregnated fabric applicator with vibrating applicator rolls

A trough-like deflector is attached to the body of a fiber chopper and extends outwardly from the lower portion of the chopper nozzle opening. The sides of the deflector are upwardly divergent to form a trough extending generally in the direction of the flow path of fibers normally ejected from the nozzle. The deflector skews the flow path of fibers ejected from the sides of the nozzle in an upward and inward direction. The deflector prevents the loss of chopped fibers to spurious air currents created by the ejected fiber stream and promotes a more uniform lay-down of fibers onto a substrate.

Deflector for attachment to fiber chopper nozzle

A piston type, pneumatically powered motor includes a valve assembly for reversibly supplying pneumatic fluid to opposite sides of a piston to reciprocate the piston through power strokes in both directions. The valve assembly has a spool reciprocably mounted in a sleeve that normally moves between two positions to reversibly supply pneumatic fluid to the piston. An actuating mechanism shifts the valve spool between its two normal positions responsive to movement of the piston near the end of each power stroke. When the reciprocation rate of the piston reaches a predetermined high or excessive rate, the actuating mechanism shifts the valve spool to a third position that short circuits the normal path of the pneumatic fluid flowing to the piston and channels the pneumatic fluid to an exhaust port.

Safety valve for piston type pneumatic powered motor

Resin is sprayed onto a mandrel by traversing a nozzle axially of the mandrel, reinforcement is applied on the resin layer and continuous filament is wound on the reinforcement and resin. To control the amount of resin sprayed onto particular locations of the mandrel, auxiliary means move the nozzle relative to the mandrel in addition to the axial-traversing movement, such as by moving the nozzle toward and away from the mandrel or by turning the nozzle. Such turning can be about an upright axis to displace the depositing location of the resin spray axially of the mandrel, or about an axis generally parallel to the path along which resin is ejected from the nozzle in a flat fan-shaped spray to change the plane of the spray from a position generally parallel to the axis of the mandrel into a position at a substantial angle to the axis of the mandrel. A shield is swingable either up and down or sidewise between a position offset from the path along which resin is ejected from the nozzle toward the mandrel to a position interposed between the nozzle and the mandrel for intercepting a spray of liquid from the nozzle toward the mandrel.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Frank E Ives