Sulzer Innotec Ag

Sulzer Brothers Limited

Sulzer Orthopedics Inc.

Arova Schaffhausen Ag

Hans Erlach

Albert Maria Vodermayer

Jens K&auml;rger

Silvio Schaffner

Stefan Kaufmann

Armin Studer

Gudrun Grimberg

The method for the manufacture of sections of fiber-plastic compound materials is carried out by means of at least one draw nozzle ( ). In this nozzle, fibers ( ) which are impregnated with flowable plastic ( ) are formed under pressure to a product ( ) with a predetermined cross-section and consolidated with the withdrawal of heat. The cross-sectional surface of the draw nozzle is periodically increased and decreased in time in its entire shape imparting region, with a value for the frequency of the oscillating cross-sectional surface being chosen less than 1 kHz, preferably less than 100 Hz.

Manufacture of sections of fiber-plastic compound materials

An intervertebral implant ( ) with a hollow cylindrical shape is provided with an outer thread ( ) for screwing the implant into the intermediate space between two adjacent vertebrae. The implant ( ) is provided with openings ( ) in its wall through which bone can grow into the implant ( ), with the implant ( ) being manufactured of a material which is transparent for X-rays.

Intervertebral implant

The method for the manufacture of unidirectionally fiber reinforced thermoplastic bands comprises a pressure impregnation of a fiber strand in a bath with a dispersion of thermoplastic particles. Heat treatments for the drying of the strand and a melting on of the particles taken up by the strand follow the pressure impregnation. The strand is drawn through the bath at a predetermined draw-off speed about a plurality of deflection elements. The dispersion of the bath is largely held in a stationary state, namely through the supply of an infeed dispersion with a first particle concentration and through an initial setting of a second particle concentration in the bath: The infeed dispersion is fed in continuously or periodically, with the first particle concentration being held constant. A corresponding feeding in of a dispersion of higher particle concentrations as well as an additional amount of dispersing medium is possible. The second particle concentration is set to a value which remains constant through an automatic self-setting alone. In this the two named concentrations depend in an empirically determinable manner on a thermoplastic content of the band to be achieved and on the draw-off speed.

Manufacture of unidirectional fiber reinforced thermoplastics

The method for the manufacture of sections of fiber-plastic compound materials is carried out by means of at least one draw nozzle (,). In this nozzle, fibers (,) which are impregnated with flowable plastic (,) are formed under pressure to a product (,) with a predetermined cross-section and consolidated with the withdrawal of heat. The cross-sectional surface of the draw nozzle is periodically increased and decreased in time in its entire shape imparting region, with a value for the frequency of the oscillating cross-sectional surface being chosen less that 1 kHz, preferably less than 100 Hz.

The coupling means can be mounted over a rotatable shaft of existing motors and employs a lining sleeve which is disposed about or within the shaft and a helical spring which is disposed between the sleeve and shaft. Various types of couplings are used to secure a hand wheel to one or both ends of the spring such that rotation of the hand wheel causes the spring to bind about the shaft and cause turning of the shaft. In some embodiments, rotation of the hand wheel causes the opposite end of the spring to bind about the shaft to turn the shaft with the hand wheel.

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Winterthur, Switzerland

Hans Erlach