Abstract:
Extrusion method and apparatus in which the liquid precursor of the extruded material is forced through a die formed by two surfaces moving in opposite directions relative to one another and transversely to the direction of material flow. Immediately upon exiting this dynamic die, the extracted material is removed as a sheet or film through a take-off system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first die is formed by members rotating on a common axis in opposite rotational directions.
Abstract:
A method is provided for forming one or more electrical conductors in a multilayer structure such as a computer component during a punching operation. A conducting sheet is placed in direct contact with a sheet of a deformable dielectric material. A punch is used to form a conducting slug from the sheet and to simultaneously transfer the slug into the dielectric material. During the transfer operation, a portion of the dielectric material is displaced so as to cause a mechanical interference between the slug and dielectric material.
Abstract:
A theater rigging assembly having a beam, which is attached to structural support members of a theater or other performing arts venue. The assembly further includes a winch assembly and head block that can be positioned at any point along the beam and selectively fixed in position. The winch portion includes cables for raising and lowering battens or other loads. The head block includes head sheaves, which redirect the cables to loft sheaves that are selectively attached to the beam. The head sheaves are diagonally displaced to separate the cables. The winch portion includes a motor, a gear box, a drum and a brake. The brake includes a ratchet and two brake disks. It uses at least one friction surface that contacts at least one of the brake disks to cause a pawl to engage or disengage from the ratchet.
Abstract:
Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber. The pressure is adjusted so that the resin flows upstream against the movement of the fiber bundles and sets up a wall of resin in the upstream chamber. The wall of resin minimizes the air that is encapsulated with the resin and prevents air from entering the downstream chamber. The pressures and counter flow of resin within the impregnation head drives encapsulated air out of the resin.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for coupling a stub end flanged connector to a fiber reinforced plastic pipe. The method includes tapering an end of the fiber reinforced plastic pipe on the outside surface of its fiber overwrap. An inside surface of a stub end connector is correspondingly tapered. The stub end connector is then bonded to the fiber reinforced plastic pipe. A liner of the plastic pipe is then flared to correspond to a flared end of the stub end connector. Then at least one stiffness transition layer is bonded over the plastic pipe and the stub end connection, over an axial span at least including a termination of the taper in the stub end connector.
Abstract:
The provision of a container system that has a compartmented core surrounded by a carrier body frame to which top and bottom covers are removably attached. A band of resilient sealing material (e.g., a closed cell inert polymer or a rubber) on the top and bottom covers each completely surrounds the compartment core, and three ribs on the top and bottom of each of the covers likewise frame the compartment core, so that the ribs engage the resilient sealing material and form a barrier that completely surrounds the compartment core.
Abstract:
Two movable die members that are situated opposed to each other in an extrusion die assembly, the axis of movement of the two die members is parallel to the longer sides of the rectangular cross-section of a throat opening of the extrusion die assembly. The members move in a reciprocating back and forward movement to impart shearing forces to the surface of the extruded material with a resultant multiaxial orientation of the molecules or fibrils.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a high density test probe assembly, and method of fabricating it. The probe assembly has a multitude of wire-like probe elements whose exposed tips are spaced on centers X and Y to match the centers of closely spaced surface pads of a VLSI circuit. Interconnections to and from the probe elements (for connection to external test equipment) are provided by a multi-layer arrangement of insulating and conducting layers within the body of the probe assembly. The tips of the probe elements are canted relative to vertical so that when the probe assembly is pushed down into mating position onto a VLSI circuit, the probe elements uniformly deflect laterally in one direction only and give a "wiping" action in contacting surface pads of the VLSI circuit together with a desired normal contact force. The method of fabricating the probe assembly includes forcing all of the probe elements through staggered vias in the multilayer arrangement. This step simultaneously makes desired electrical interconnections to the probe elements, precisely aligns and captivates the probe elements, and bends (cants) their ends so that they deflect uniformly in one direction only when the probe assembly is mated with a VLSI circuit.
Abstract:
A bearing construction interposes the coils of one or more coil springs between bearing surfaces. In one embodiment a bearing coil spring is wrapped around a shaft several times. The bearing coil spring may be freely mounted on a more substantial race coil retainer centered on the shaft. In another embodiment toroidal coil springs separated by disc races extend circularly about the shaft. In linear bearing construction, the bearing coils are in planes parallel to the line of shaft movement. Other embodiments of the invention involve disengageable shafts having complementary centering end-faces accommodating misalignment through the yield able action of the bearing spring coils, shafts and housings having non-circular cross-sections, and shafts and housings not having completely complementary surfaces to enable interference fit and positional control.