General Electric Company

Liqui-box Corporation

Robert S Thayer

John Broddus Deaton, Jr

Robert S Gilmore

Ram Kumar Upadhyay

Richard D Clark

Thomas Paul Dunton

G Fred Willard

Donald Bruce Sorensen

John H Young

Thomas M Klerks

James J Carroll Sr

James Jorgly Carroll

An exemplary apparatus for determining the thicknesses of individual layers in a multilayer article comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the multilayer article with a buffer rod of similar acoustic properties, a pulser-receiver-amplifier which generates ultrasonic waves to produce discernible, time resolved pulse echoes, a digitizing oscilloscope which may be used to view the received pulse echoes, and a computer for controlling data acquisition and analysis. The computer is programmed to execute the exemplary method, which comprises the steps of selecting a center frequency of a transducer such that respective pulse echoes produced at the interfaces between layers of the multilayer article each have a common distinguishing feature with a signal to noise ratio greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and the pulse echoes are resolved in time; determining a transit time correction factor for the layer of the multilayer article based on an actual transit time measured with the transducer adjacent to the layer and an apparent transit time measured with the transducer not adjacent to the layer; propagating a pulse through the multilayer article to produce pulse echoes at the interfaces between the layers of the multilayer article; determining a measured transit time of the pulse through the layer based on the pulse echoes at the interfaces of the layer; and calculating a thickness of the layer based on the measured transit time and the transit time correction factor.

Method and apparatus for thickness determination in multilayer articles

This invention is directed to an automated measuring device capable of measuring the thickness of essentially any shaped article generally of any materials that is non magnetic. The measuring device of this invention comprises in combination (1) electrical controlling means, (2) magnetic thickness measuring means, (3) mounting means for mounting the article to be measured, (4) computer means for programming the measuring means for measurement of the thickness at predetermined points on the article and (5) means for collecting and recording thickness measurements. Electrical controlling means are employed to control movement of the article to be measured or controlling movement of the magnetic measuring means or a combination of both. The magnetic measuring means comprise a magnetic probe and a magnetic metal ball such that when in a measuring mode, the tip of the magnetic probe is positioned on the side of the article opposite from the magnetic ball and is in magnetic contact through the article. The electrical controlling means may be through digital indexing stepper motors, servo motors or air actuators.

Automated thickness measuring device

Multilayered containers comprising polycarbonate layers and amorphous polyamide layers wherein the amorphous polyamides are modified and unmodified amorphous polyamides of high glass transition temperatures. The containers have improved stress craze/crack resistance and improved rewashing properties. The containers are useful for carbonated beverages and are rewashable and refillable at elevated temperatures.

Multilayer container of polycarbonate and amorphous polyamide of

A blow molded plastic bottle has a reinforced plastic bottom with a concave central portion and a bottom rim portion. A solid depending rib, formed at the pinch off seam, extends across the concave portion, and depending hollow ribs, formed in the concave portion at ninety degress to the solid rib, extend radially to the bottom rim portion. The hollow rims effectively reduce the depth of the bottom rim intermediate the seam junctions to reduce bulging of the concave base thereby preventing instability.

Plastic bottle with reinforced concave bottom

Growing community of inventors

Pittsfield, MA, United States of America

Robert S Thayer