Other

Hydra Corporation

H. C. Price Co.

Robert D Foster

Frank G Weeden

Robert E Todd

Methods and apparatus for making self-supporting bodies from particulate materials. The apparatus includes a mold with opposed first and second walls defining a particulate chamber therebetween. The second wall is advanceable and retractable toward and away from the first wall. A plurality of chamber reducers may be removably mounted over each of the walls. Thick-walled members can be incrementally built up by pressing successive batches of particulate material at low and high pressures respectively. The chamber reducers can be successively removed between such batches, or can be used to vary the mold for making bodies of different sizes. A long body can be built up in increments, using a shorter mold, by forming a first increment, displacing the increment lengthwise in the mold, adding another batch of particulate material in overlapping relation to the first body increment, and then pressing such other batch to form a second increment bonded to the first. The latter technique is enhanced by applying different forces or pressures to different sections of the second wall along the length of the mold.

Molding apparatus and method

The invention pertains to the manufacture of articles of thermosetting plastics and other materials. In a first stage, a solid article is formed from a particulate material by introducing such material into a first chamber defined partially by the backing surface of a backing member and partially by the opposed pressing surface of a pressing member. The backing member is frangible and is removably mounted on a support. The first chamber is then closed and the pressing member advanced toward the backing surface to contract the first chamber and compress the particulate material between the pressing and backing surfaces to form the solid article. The pressing member is then retracted, the first chamber is opened, and the backing member and solid article are removed from the support as a unit. Finally, the backing member is fractured and the fragments are removed from the solid article. In a second stage, the convoluted article, or any other similar body is supported in a chamber structure. A filler is disposed between the body and the chamber structure in contact with at least a major portion of the exposed surfaces of the body. The filler and body are then heated, while restricting movement of the filler.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing articles by pressing and sintering

An expandable member is disclosed that includes a molded body of elastomeric material with a core embedded therein. At least a portion of the core is not bonded to the body. A fluid conduit is provided through which fluid can be injected between the core and the unattached portion of the body to move the core and the unattached portion apart and expand the member.

Compacting press with expandable body

Apparatus for manufacturing articles by pressing and sintering

Corrugated pipe is bent by pinching the spiral corrugations on one side of the pipe to decrease their pitch and increase their amplitude as compared to the undeformed corrugations on the opposite side of the pipe, thereby shortening the pipe on one side. A machine for effecting deformation of the corrugations includes inner and outer clamp mechanisms which provide an inner spiral rib extending partially around the inside of the pipe and a pair of outer spiral ribs extending partially around the outside of the pipe. The clamps include hinged together clamp sections which are pivoted by hydraulic cylinders between a pipe engaging position for bending the pipe and a release position permitting advancement of the pipe. The cylinders drive the outer ribs toward one another as well as inwardly into grooves of the corrugations where their force is opposed by the inner rib which acts against the inside pipe surface at a ridge of the corrugation. The resultant pinching action deforms the portion of the corrugation engaged by the ribs such that its pitch is decreased and its amplitude is increased with respect to the undeformed portion of the corrugation on the opposite side of the pipe.

Apparatus for bending corrugated pipe

A method and system for connecting the ends of a pair of tubular conduits for use at the bottom of a body of water in which terminal portions of said conduits, adjacent to and including said ends, are buoyantly supported in a generally elevated attitude within the body of water with the ends in a zone of the body of water below the surface thereof. The ends are positively fixed against movement relative to each other but permitted limited movement, as a unit, relative to the bottom of the body of water. The connection of the conduit ends is made within the aforementioned zone of the body of water.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Robert D Foster