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:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2000
Harris A. Reynolds, Jr., Houston, TX (US);
Chris A. Lundberg, Kingwood, TX (US);
Joel D. Shaw, Houston, TX (US);
Thomas J. Walsh, Houston, TX (US);
Hydril Company L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for winding fibers onto an article is disclosed. The system includes a winding station having a controllable speed of rotation. The winding station has at least one fiber bobbin mounted on it. A rotation sensor is rotationally coupled to the winding station. The system includes a conveyor having a controllable speed and which is adapted to move the article axially through the winding station. A speed sensor, adapted to measure an axial speed of motion of the article through the winding station is positioned near the winding station. The system includes a controller adapted to operate the winding station at a rotational speed corresponding to the axial speed of motion, so as to apply the fibers to the article in a predetermined helical pattern. In one example, the helical pattern is held to a lay angle having a tolerance within one-half degree. In the method, the rotational speed of the winding station is adjusted to correspond to the axial motion of the article so that the fibers are wound in a predetermined helical pattern. In one example of the method, the lay angle of the fibers is held to within a tolerance of about one half degree. In another example, the lay angle is selected to correspond to the axial position of the article within the winding station.