Patent US3873389A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3873389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pneumatic spreading of filaments
Assignee: Lanteris Space LLC
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Filing: 1972-11-13
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1992-11-13
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for pneumatically spreading thin graphite or other carbon filaments from a tow bundle to form a sheet or tape in which the filaments are maintained in parallelism. The process includes passing the tow through at least one slot venturi spreader in which the tow is pulled through the spreader in a direction opposite to the direction of primary air flow through the venturi. For certain purposes use is made of first and second spreader units. Each of these units may have at least two side-by-side rows of slot venturies and at least two stacked modules arranged in modular array, whereby to process a plurality of tow bundles simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Clare G Daniels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:54
CPC Classifications
D; D02; D02J; D02J1/00; D02J1/18; D01; D01D; D01D10/00; D01D10/04; D01D10/0436; D01D10/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING A THIN SHEET OF FILAMENTARY GRAPHITE MATERIAL, FROM A BATCH OF TAPES OF SUCH MATERIAL, COMPRISING: FORMING A PLURALITY OF TAPES OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH DIMENSION OF TH DESIRED SHEET, BY SPREADING AND COLLIMATING FILAMENT OF GRAPHITE TOW BY PASSING SUCH TOW THROUGH SLOT VENTURI SPREADER MEANS WHILE CAUSING AIR TO FLOW THROUGH THE VENTURI SPREADER IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE MOVEMENT OF TOW THROUGH SAID VENTURI SPREADER; POSITIONING THE RESULTANT TAPES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE COPLANAR RELATION IN WHICH THEY DEFINE A SHEET OF THE DESIRED WIDTH AND LENGTH; AND IMPREGNATING SAID TAPES WHILE IN SIDE-BY-SIDE COPLANAR RELATION WITH RESINOUS MATERIAL TO BOND THE SAME INTO A UNITARY SHEET.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING A THIN SHEET OF FILAMENTARY GRAPHITE MATERIAL, FROM A BATCH OF TAPES OF SUCH MATERIAL, COMPRISING: FORMING A PLURALITY OF TAPES OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH DIMENSION OF TH DESIRED SHEET, BY SPREADING AND COLLIMATING FILAMENT OF GRAPHITE TOW BY PASSING SUCH TOW THROUGH SLOT VENTURI SPREADER MEANS WHILE CAUSING AIR TO FLOW THROUGH THE VENTURI SPREADER IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE MOVEMENT OF TOW THROUGH SAID VENTURI SPREADER; POSITIONING THE RESULTANT TAPES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE COPLANAR RELATION IN WHICH THEY DEFINE A SHEET OF THE DESIRED WIDTH AND LENGTH; AND IMPREGNATING SAID TAPES WHILE IN SIDE-BY-SIDE COPLANAR RELATION WITH RESINOUS MATERIAL TO BOND THE SAME INTO A UNITARY SHEET.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, in which tow is provided in a plurality of sections each of the desired predetermined length; and the tapes are formed by passing each tow section through slot venturi preblower means disposed upstream of the recited slot venturi spreader means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |