The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 18, 1994
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1993
Philip C Sturman, Jr, Rexford, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Induction heating is utilized to heat polymer matrix composite fiber strands containing electrically conductive fibers. This is accomplished with an apparatus having a helical induction coil and a matching helical guide tube situated adjacent to the induction coil. Composite fiber strands are drawn through the guide tube which is made of a non-electrically conductive, nonmagnetic material. Electrically conductive rollers, positioned next to the entrance and exit of the guide tube, form an electrical circuit with the electrically conductive fibers. This permits currents to be induced in the fibers when the coil is activated, thereby heating the fiber composites. The guide tube can be thermally insulated and flushed with an inert purge gas. Alternatively, the guide tube can be made of an electrically conductive or ferromagnetic material so that heat producing currents are induced in the guide tube, and the composite fiber strands are heated by conduction. In this case, the fibers need not be electrically conductive.