US3880705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expanding fibrous or plastic material by adding puffing agent under pressure and subsequent pressure release
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-19
•
Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1992-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A process for expanding or puffing fibrous or plastic materials such as paper, tobacco, cotton, asbestos, plastic films, etc., whereby the expandable material in sheet or filament form and a puffing agent are continuously advanced under pressure through a pressure zone defined between a pair of opposed surfaces which continuously separate at the zone outlet so that as the expandable material and puffing agent pass out of the pressure zone the agent expands and puffs the material. Heat is usually applied to the pressure zone to generate or increase the pressure therein. The puffing may be in the form of a liquid, such as water or fluorinated hydrocarbons, or a gas, such as steam. The puffing agent may be supplied separately to the pressure zone or concurrently with the expandable material.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Van Tilburg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:15
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M11/00; D06M11/01; D06M11/05; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/901; Y10S131/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A PROCESS FOR EXPANDING A FIBROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING SAID MATERIAL BETWEEN A FIRST SURFACE AND A SECOND SURFACE DISPOSED IN OPPOSED CO-OPERATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FIRST SURFACE AND DEFINING THEREWITH A PRESSURE ZONE, CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SURFACES WHEREBY SAID MATERIAL IS CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCED THROUGH SAID PRESSURE ZONE, HEATING SAID ADVANCHING MATERIAL IN SAID PRESSURE ZONE WHILE MAINTAINING SAID ADVANCING MATERIAL UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A PRESSURIZED GASEOUS OR VAPOROUS PUFFING AGENT CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCED INTO SAID PRESSURE ZONE SEPARATELY FROM SAID MATERIAL, AND CONTINUOUSLY SEPARATING SAID SURFACES WHEREBY SAID PRESSURE IS REDUCED AND SAID PUFFING AGENT EXPANDS FROM SAID FIBEROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO EXPAND SAID MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A PROCESS FOR EXPANDING A FIBROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING SAID MATERIAL BETWEEN A FIRST SURFACE AND A SECOND SURFACE DISPOSED IN OPPOSED CO-OPERATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FIRST SURFACE AND DEFINING THEREWITH A PRESSURE ZONE, CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SURFACES WHEREBY SAID MATERIAL IS CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCED THROUGH SAID PRESSURE ZONE, HEATING SAID ADVANCHING MATERIAL IN SAID PRESSURE ZONE WHILE MAINTAINING SAID ADVANCING MATERIAL UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A PRESSURIZED GASEOUS OR VAPOROUS PUFFING AGENT CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCED INTO SAID PRESSURE ZONE SEPARATELY FROM SAID MATERIAL, AND CONTINUOUSLY SEPARATING SAID SURFACES WHEREBY SAID PRESSURE IS REDUCED AND SAID PUFFING AGENT EXPANDS FROM SAID FIBEROUS OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL TO EXPAND SAID MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein in said first and second surfaces are endless surfaces which are disposed in opposed co-operating relationship over a portion of their respective runs to define said pressure zone, and wherein said surfaces are advanced in unison to advance said material through said pressure zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first surface is the cylindrical surface of a drum and said second surface is a complementary surface of a stationary shoe, said second surface extending around a portion of said cylindrical drum surface in close proximity thereto to define therewith said pressure zone, and wherein said drum is continuously rotated to advance said material through said pressure zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the puffing agent is supplied through the shoe surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the puffing agent is a pressurised gas or vapour supplying at least part of the pressure in the pressure zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of preheating said puffing agent to supply at least a part of the heat for said pressure zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said surfaces is of resilient material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said expansion of said puffing agent fibrillates said material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fibrous or filamentary material is a paper or fabric and wherein said expansion of said puffing agent expands said paper or fabric increasing the fibre-to-fibre or filament-to-filament spacing thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fibrous or filamentary material is selected from tobacco, paper, paper pulp, cotton, jute, kenaf, sisal, thermoplastic fibres and filaments, and woven, non-woven and knitted fabrics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of restricting the degree of expansion of the fibrous or filamentary material where said surfaces separate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for expanding a fibrous or filamentary material comprising the steps of continuously feeding said material between a first surface and a second surface disposed in opposed co-operating relationship with said first surface and defining therewith a pressure zone, continuously advancing at least one of said surfaces whereby said material is continuously advanced through said pressure zone, continuously introducing a pressurized gas or vapour into said pressure zone separately from said material, said material absorbing said pressurized gas or vapour, and continuously separating said surfaces whereby said pressure is reduced and said gas or vapour expands from said fibrous or filamentary material to expand said material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for expanding a fibrous or filamentary material comprising the steps of continuously feeding said material between a first surface and a second surface disposed in opposed co-operating relationship with said first surface and defining therewith a pressure zone, continuously advancing at least one of said surfaces whereby said material is continuously advanced through said pressure zone, continuously introducing a pressurized gas or vapour into said pressure zone separately from said material, said material absorbing said pressurized gas or vapour, and continuously separating said surfaces whereby said pressure is reduced and said gas or vapour expands from said fibrous or filamentary material to expand said material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 including the step of restricting the degree of expansion of the fibrous or filamentary material where said surface separate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for fibrillating an oriented plastics material which comprises the steps of continuously feeding said oriented plastics material between a first surface and a second surface disposed in opposed cooperating relationship with the first surface to define therewith a pressure zone, continuously introducing a pressurized gas or vapour into said pressure zone separately from said material, said material absorbing said pressurized gas or vapour, continuously advancing at least one of said surfaces whereby said material is continuously advanced through said pressure zone, and continuously separating said surfaces whereby said pressure is reduced and said gas or vapour expands from said oriented plastics material to fibrillate said material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for fibrillating an oriented plastics material which comprises the steps of continuously feeding said oriented plastics material between a first surface and a second surface disposed in opposed cooperating relationship with the first surface to define therewith a pressure zone, continuously introducing a pressurized gas or vapour into said pressure zone separately from said material, said material absorbing said pressurized gas or vapour, continuously advancing at least one of said surfaces whereby said material is continuously advanced through said pressure zone, and continuously separating said surfaces whereby said pressure is reduced and said gas or vapour expands from said oriented plastics material to fibrillate said material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein in said first and second surfaces are endless surfaces which are disposed in opposed co-operating relationship over a portion of their respective runs to define said pressure zone, and wHerein said surfaces are advanced in unison to advance said material through said pressure zone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein said first surface is the cylindrical surface of a drum and said second surface is a complementary surface of a stationary shoe, said second surface extending around a portion of said cylindrical drum surface in close proximity thereto to define therewith said pressure zone, and wherein said drum is continuously rotated to advance said material through said pressure zone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein the pressurized gas or vapour is supplied through the surface of said shoe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least one of said surface is of resilient material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein said oriented plastics material is selected from thermoplastic fibres, filaments, rods and sheets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 including the step of supplying heat to said material in said pressure zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as claimed in claim 20 including the step of preheating said pressurized gas or vapour to supply at least a part of the heat for said pressure zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 including the step of restricting the degree of fibrillation of the plastics material where said surfaces separate.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |