Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7~
~ . .
rl~TI101) ~ I'PAr~\T~S F()R ~ ?!IJF.l\r~TURE
OT~ INSIJLATION SLT T`VE~S
This invenl:ion relates to the manuacture o tubl1lar
fibrous products in the form oE sleeves, notably insulation
for pipes, conduits or the like, these sleevcs being ormed
of fibers> in particular glass fibers or other mineral Eibers
between wl1ic11 a polymeri.zabl.e binder is distributed. This
binder is commonly constituted of a phenol-formaldehyde resin, ~ -
a phcnol-urca resin or à phenol-melamine copolymer.
This invention refers more particularly to a method
according to 1~hich the mat, in which the binder is distributed ~
and which preferably passes first througl1 a drying o~en, is ~ :
shaped on a rotating mandrel at which time polym~rizatio
of the binder bcvins, and is thereafter conveyed to an oven
i.n order to complete the polymerization.-
,:
It has for a princil~al object a method that provides,
in a continuous hi~,h output operation, production of -Eibrous
sleeves of low specific densi.ty and Qf high thermal insulating
character. SUCh sleeves may also have a small outside diar.eter.
According to prior or knol~n methods, the sleeve,
in ~hich the resin is partially polymerized, is conveyed,
w]1ile supported by a mandrel, to an oven where full polymeri~atlon
is ef~ected. Such knot~n met]1ods have the disadvantao,e that
they necessitate the use of a largc number of mandrels5 and
prescnt serious diEiculties in hanclling, and also the danger
o proc1ucing~ in contact with a heated mandrel, a deterioration
of the s1eeve in contact with the sur:E~ce of thc m~ndrel,
~hc temperatllle of this surface bei.ng diEf;.cult to control.
Further, thc man(1rels thcmselves, espec:ially i~ they are oE
S ~
small diameter S~IS tai~i dctri,nental cleterioration in thc coursc
of treatments an~ andlin~.
Accordin~ to other known methods, the sleeve, in
which the rcsin is partially polymerized, is separated from
5 t}le mandrcl immcdi.itely after its ~inding, and is then directcd.
to the polymerizatioll oven, l~itllout any intermediate operation
to increase its dimensional stability in the outer surfa.ce
layer thereof. Pven if the formed sleeves are subjected to
a prclirninary smoothing operation on the outer surface, rnetllocls
10 of this l~ind still have the disadvanta~e of subjecting the
sleeves ~Irhile they are stil~ in a deformahle state, to ha]ldlin(r
or mallipulation tencling to disrupt the other sllrfc-ce of the
sleeve, thereby ob~aining products of poor quality. If the
outer surface of the sleevc is stabilized ~hile the sleevc
15 is still on thc mandrel, t]len tlle period of time durin¢ w}lich
the sleeve remains in the mandrel is prolongcd to such an
e~tent tha.t the overall processing or manufacture time of each
sleeve is j~reater than is necessary.
j.
According to t]le invention, the time durinn ~]liC]l
20 the mat remains on the forming mandrel is reduced to a minimum, ~t
and the outside surface is subject to a separate stabilizin~ ~
operation, so that the sleeve reaches tlle oven .after a minirmum b
elapse for completion of ~olymerization.
The method accordin~ to the i.nvention preferably
25 includes thc follo~ing combinati.on o:~ steps: ^~
,
- in a Eirst stage, thc fibcr nla.t~ in ~hictl a bi.nder
is distributed, is wound on a heatcd Mandrcl, the temperature
of tlle man(lrel and the wi.nding time o the mat on the latter
-2-
being such that ~ hard inncr snrface if :Eormed in contactwith the r,i.~n~lrel, thc polymerizatioll of the binder ne~t to
this inner surface, 'oein~ initiatcd;
- in a second stage, the product thus formed is
S separated from the mandrel and the entire outer surface is
brought into contact under light compression Wit]l a srmooth
heated surface, tlle temperature of this surfa.ce and tlle length
of contact being such that a hard outer surface is rapidly
. formed, the polymerization of the binder next to this outcr
surface l)eing initiated, and all remaining binder remaining
uncured:
- in a third sta~e, the sleeve thus formed is conveyed
to a lleclted zone arrangred to permit the free passae of hot
gas over the en~ire surface of the product, thus assuring
a uniform polymerization to a definite degree throughollt the
thickness of said sleeve.
,
According to one embodiment, the method is charactcr-
ized in that:
- the mat, in which the binder is distributed, is
cut into predetermined lengths, in order to convey it to the
forming component;
- several layers of the mat are wound on a mandrel
: ]leated to a tcmperature such that the mat adheres initially ~ :
to the mandrcl, and that sufficient polymerization occurs
to form a har(l inncr sllrface, t}-lere~y facilitatintr separation
of the mat from the mandrel, the polymerization of the binde
next to this inner surface ~eing initiated;
-3-
,
,, r~3~
- t]~e s:!.cev-e is separatecl from the mandrel;
- the sleeve is directed towards the means for effect-
in~ a polymerizati.on oÇ t]le resin throughGut its thickness
and in transit the sleeve is rolled along under light compres-
sion in contact with a surface heated to a temperature suchas to cffect rl po~ymerizati.on of the resin of the external
surface sufficient to form a hard outer sur~ace, assuring
a definite smoothness o khe outer surface and a dimensio2lal
stability of the sleeve~ the polymerization remaining incom~lcte
lQ bet~ee~ the inner and outer surfaces;
- the sleeve is conveyed into an oven permitting
free passage of hot gas over its entire surface assuring a
uniform polymerizat;on of a definite dcgree throughout the
thickness of said slecve; .
,
- a.t the output of the oven, a cut is effected length- ~w
wise along the sleeve;
.
- and prc~erably passage of the cutting comlonent
is effected along the entire length of the sleeve to effect
its splittingr.
~ccording to anotller feature of thc invcntion, the
-~ cutting operation to a predeter.mine(l length, of the continuous
wel) oE uncured bonded mat, is obtailled by tearing the mat
and subjecting the mat at the end of tearing, to a sharp
jerk, Eor instance hy clamping the mat upstrea~, or by
acceleration o:~ ttlc mat do-~nstream, this operati.i~n bcin~
regularly rcpeated in order to obtain t]lc necessary succcssivc
rupturc.s of thc wel~.
,~
Another fc~turc oE the invention consists of convey-
ing the mat from the ~oint of tearing to the mandrel, w]lile
maintaining the mat in contact Wit]l a smooth support permi.tting
sl.i.ding ~;.thout tcaring at the moment of initiating the wind-
i.ng des~i.te the increasing acceleration of movement of themat in prolortion to the increase in diameter of the sleeve
in the course of the windin~.
According to a particularly important eature, the
mandrel is heatecl to a temperature providing for a.dherence
of the first wincl and the.formation o a continuous hard inner
surface which is dimensionally stable and thus preserves the
corresponding shape of the mandrel after its disenga~ement
from the sleeve Wit]l the binder in an incompletc state of
polymerization in tlle rest of tlle sleeve. After com~lete
hardening of this inside surface, the disassembly of the sleeve
from the mandrel is readily accomplished.
The invention permits attaining this hard inner
surface in a length of time practically the same as the ti~e
of winding the mat on the mandrel.
The sleeve just formed9 because of the existence
oE this hard inner surface, can be disengaged from the mandrel
either at the moment the wincling is com~leted or after a very
short time i needed to assure mechanical smoothness of the
sleeve.
It should be understood that the ~uantity oE bincler
dispersecl in the fibers o:E the slecves is not so grcat as
to completely infill the spaces betwcen the fibers, in view
of which the initial po~.yme~rization of the binder in the
-5-
$r~;~
inner surfacc layer ~rhile the sleeve is on the mandrel does
not produce a solid impervious layer but produccs a stabili~ed
condition in the inner layer of the Eil~ers having a porous
cilaracter throu~h ~hich some air may be circulatcd, as is
desired in tlle subsequent treatmcnt to completc the polymerization
in the curing oven to be described hereinater and as is
also desirable in the final product.
The invention r)rovides a]so for the use of at least
one pressing component l~ith controlled movement that remains
in contact with the sleeve during IYinding exerting a constant
pressure on the latter and maintaining it in rotation after
disengagement from the surface of the mandrel.
.
It provides more particularly for an(l this con-
stitutes an important characteristic of the invention, thc
use of several rollers placed around the mandrel to assure
uniformity o-f rolling and a good cohesion of the sleevc.
According to another characteristic o the invention~
after its conformation and its separation from the mandrel,
the sleeve is conveyed between two smooth surfaces having
a relàtive movement in such a way as to effect the setting
in rotation of the sleeve, at least one of these surfaces
being heated in order to effect polymerization of the resin
o~ the external surface and impart smoot}lness to this surace.
, ' ,
~ccording to another advantagcous feature of the
invention after -formation of the extcrnal surface of each
slceve the s]eeve is conveycl to an ovcn iTI ~ iCll ~rovision
is .madc for effectillg rotation of ~nd for advancin~ the sleeves.
In rotating them thc movemcllts o-~ the sleeve in the oven
-6-
~z
provide for successive and repeated contacts with differentportions of the exterior wall of the sleeve. This acilitates
the passage of the hot curing gas over the entire surface
of the sleeves, with some penetration of the gases into
the interior of the sleeve wall, thereby effecting homogenous
polymerization throughout the entire wall thickness of each
sleeve.
According to another characteristic of the invention,
the slitting of the sleeve is effected after angularly turning
the sleeve to a new position in which the cutting is effected
by a cuttiny element moving in a direction along the axis
of the sleeve.
According to one embodiment, the cutting component
is fixed and interconnected with a centering component pene-
trating the interior of the sleevel the latter moving alongits axis.
In one particular aspect the present invention
`~provides a process for the continuous manufacture of tubes
from fibrous felt containing a polymerizable binder, according
to which the felt is wound and formed into a tube on a heated
rotatable mandrel, the internal and external tube surfaces
being heat hardened and the tube being submitted to a final
heat treatment, and characterized in that just after the
formation of the tube and the hardening of the internal
tube surface, the tube is removed from the heated mandrel
and is caused to roll on an unobstructed and uninterrupted
planar heated surface for forming a smooth hardened external
surface on the tube and in that hot gas is then passed over
~-the tube so as to bring about substantially uniform hardening
of the binder throughout the tube wall thickness.
~7~
'' . . .
:
i2,~
In another particular aspect the present invention
provides apparatus for continuous manufacture of tubes from
fibrous felt containing a polymerizable binder, comprising
a heated rotatable two-part mandrel and an oven traversed
by hot gas, characterized by:
- rollers positioned around the mandrel and mounted for
contact with a length of felt being formed into a tube on
- the heated mandrel;
- an unobstructed and uninterrupted smooth heated surface
against which the tube removed from the heated mandrel is
rolled, and
- an oven having several superimposed supporting elements
providing for feed of the tubes in straight form throughout
the length thereof and for free unconstrained rolling movement
about their axes as they advance over said elements in the
oven.
An embodiment of this apparatus, which is given
for information but without limitation, is described hereafter
in reference to the attached drawings, in which: .
~' ~
Figures la~lb together form an overall view in
. elevation of an installation according to the invention;
; Figures 2a through 2d are fragmentary views in
.: elevation of the apparatus for tearing the fibrous blanket
or strip during the feed of the fibrous material;
.,
',
-7a-
., , .~
, ~ i
.,
,, .
Fl~ re 3 is a view in elevation of apparatus for
transpoltin~ mat picces Erom the tearing apparatus to the
wincling appara~us;
Pigure 3a ;s a view in elevation of an alterna~ive
form of mat transport apparatus;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the winding apparatus;
' '
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion
~ of the winding apparatus;
:.
Figures 6 and 7 are detailed cross-sectional views
of the winding apparatus.
Figure 8 is an end view of portions of the winding
apparatus showing the disposition of the rollers and o-E the
mechanism for effecting a synchronized separation of them;
Figure 9 is an isometric view of the means for control-
ing the rotation of the winding rollers;
Figure 10 is a view in elevation of the apparatus
for transferring the sleeves from the winder to the apparatus
` for smoothing and polymerization of the outer surfacc of the
sleeves;
., ,
Figure 11 is a view in elevation oE the smoothing
apparatus;
. .
Fi~ure 12 is a plan view of the a~paratus shown
in Figure 11;
g
'
~b
.. . .
", . ~
~17~
Figure 13 (placed on the sheet with Figure 10)
is a view in elevation, with portions broken away, showing
the polymerization oven;
Figures 14 and lS are detailed views illustrating
apparatus for advancing and turning the insulation sleeves
in the polymerization oven;
i.
Figures 16a to 16f are schematic views illustrating
the movements of the sleeves in the oven;
.
Figure 17 is a view in elevation of apparatus
1~ for cutting the ends of the sleeves;
Figure 18 is an isometric view of the apparatus
providing for pivoting of the sleeves;
Figure 19 is an isometric view of the apparatus
for longitudlnal~y slitting the sleeves, with portions broken
lS away;
Figure 20 is a view in elevation of the apparatus
shown in Figure 19;
~" . , ' .
Figure 21 is a transverse view of a sleeve slit
by means of this apparatus;
;
.~ 20 Figure 22 is an isometric view of an alternative
embodiment of cutting tool for slitting the sleeve;
. . .
; Figures 23 and 24 are transverse views of the
;~ sleeve and showins the alternative slitting tool;
_g_
.'' ~ .
5~2
Figu e 25 is a trallsveTse vie-~ of a slit sleevc
haviIlg a jointed profile, as will be explained;
.
Figures 26 through 2S are diagrammatic views sho~ing
profile knives with sevcral bla~es; and
, ' ' ` , " :
~ 5 Figure 29 is a view of a spread-out sleeve Eormed
; by means of scveral slitting blades.
: . . .
The overall system represented ;n Figures la-lb
comprises the fol]owiIlg successive features:
. :
- a drying oven 2 tllat receives from a conveyor
3, a web or blanket 1 of fibrous material in which a binder
.
is distributed for instance from a glass fiber production
.
; Imit of known types. This oven can be of any convenient known
type and thus will not be described in detail. The oven is
~; used in the system described to effect drying but does not
apply sufficient heat to polymerize or cure tlle binder, so
~ that the oven delivers a fibrous web having uncurecl binder.
- This preliminary drying in the oven 2 is desirable in or~
.l to permit rapid curing of the inside surface layer of the
: ~ .
sleeve when ~he mat is wound upon the ~andrel.
: .
~ - an apparatus 4 providing for tearing of web 1,
or other uncurcd bonded mat, into pieces of predetermined
length;
' ' ~ ~''` ~"
- a convcyor 5 transporting the p;eces of mat;
: :
- an apparatus 6 comprislng a rotating mandrcl for
-10-
,
'~
.
~; ~
~. wi.ndinO the pieccs of mat i.n order to form them into slccvcs
while curing thc inner surEace o ~ said sleeves;
- a transportin~ componen,t 7;
' ' '' '
an apparatus ~ for smoothi]lg the outside surface
' ' ''5' of the sleeves a,ncl for curl]lg the binder in the outsi.de surface
. layer; ' '':
~,., '- an oven ~ to complete the curin~ or polymerization
~ .
',;: of the sleeves; ' ' : -
a cutting apparatus ln for-the ends of the sleeves
.~.~ . . .
~'' 10 to give them the desired length;
~, - ' .
,- ,, ~ - an apparatus ll for slltting the sleeves longi-
~, tudi.nally; - . ~ ~
'"~` ' ' '
a station 12 foi packaging the sleeves.
:~ .
.: Certain of the ma~or coinponcnts of the above s~te~
.~ 15 jare considered herebelow under corresponding headin~s.
, ~ ~ . , ,
.
.~ A~ At~ t~ ng the web of mat (Figurcs 2a throu~]l 2d)
'.
' This apparatus in'cludes four driven rollers syn-
., .
' chronized with the conveyor 5. The downstream rollers 14-
"~ 14a are constantly driven at a tangential or periperal speed
. ~ ,
~ 20 V2. The u~strcam rollers 13-13a are alternately driven an(l '
.:~ ,
~ l7raXcd. l~'hen driven they rotate at thc tange]ltial speed V2,
,~.~ - , .
.'. and they arc braked ~or e~;ample, by an automatic timer.
....
... . .
-11-
'
. . . . . . . .. . .
Q~;Z2
Pi~gurs 2a shows the be~inning of the worXin~ cycle
of this appar-atlls. The web or blankct, is entering betwecn
the rollers.l3-13a W]liC}I are here sho-~n braked or stationery. .
The web iies adjacent to a sensing devi.ce such as a photosens;tive
5 cell'lS. ' ' ' ''' ''
,, : . .
- The mat exiting~ from'the drying oven 2 at constant -
speed Vl accumulates, 'forming a loop upstream of the rollers
13-13a, these bein~ at rest in braked condition (Pigure 2b).
~, - , .
.: - .
' :. An automatically timed switch initiates the engagement
.' 10 of the drive of the rolls 13-13a at the tangential speed V2.
This occurs following advance of the piece of the Inat beyond
the photocell 15, at a predetermined.interval corresponding
~: to the length of the piece o mat. This results in take-
'. up of the loop of the mat shown in Figu're 2c. At thc moment
: . . .
~ 15 the loop is entirely'taken-.up, the mat again intercepts the '
. . ~
~ light to the photocell 15. This rcsults in application of
the brake to rollers 13-l~a. Because of the stress which - :
~` is exerted nn tlle m~t, the driven rollers 14-14a tear the
mat between the rollers 1~-13a and 14-14a (~igure 2d). Th~e ' '.
.,; . .
' 20 formed piece la lS taken off and a new cycle begins.
.
. . .
., , - .
. The conveyor that carries the pieces of the mat -.-
.::
'~ fro]~ the tearing a.pparatus -to the winding apparatus, is formed
of a smooth polyamidc belt 16 that permi~s the mat to slide
' 25 without tearin'~ at the rnoment o its winding. The windin~
in .act confcrs Oll tllc Illat al~ incrcasi]l( accclcraLion in pro~ortiot-
' to t hc incrcase in diametcr o:~ t!~e sleeve in tllc course oE
.~ formation.
. : -12-
... .
,,,,, ~, '.
.~r , ' , . '.
.,: . , ' . : '
~P7~5~ :
l]i~ be't i~j is supported horizontally by a serics
of rollers 17 of small diar.leter or by lon~itudin~l slides.
It is controlled by a varinble speed drive lS, W]liCh also :
drives the rollers of the tearing apparatus.
'
. , .
In the region o the winding apparatus, the supporting
roller 19 for the conveyor 16 is mounted for vertical adjustment
movement as indicated in Figure 3, in order to provide Eor
delivery of the lengths of mat accurately at the desired ele-
.
vation in rclation to the winding mandrel being employed.
.~ , .
1~ Instead of a belt conveyor as shown in Figure 3,
a transporting apparatus can be used such as that represented
as an alternative in Figure 3a. Thls alternative comprises
rollers 13-13a, 14-14a, (as in Fi~ure 3), a belt 16 and roller
19 adjustable in heig}lt. In the embodiment of Figure 3a,
it lS contemplated that the rollers 13-13a and 14-14a again ~ -
be used for breal;ing the web. In this embodiment, ho~ever,
the conveyor belt 16 is driven by the roller 14a, instead
of through separate driving rollers as -in Figure 3. A driving
~.,r.~
motor is indicated at 18a.
.
A~r- us for forming the sleeves (Pigures 4 throue}l 9)
. . - ~ -
This apparatus comprises a heated mandrel formed
,
in two sections 20-20a and three rollers 21 having axes parallel
to the mandrel and which are spaced approximately 120 from
each other around the mandrel. These rollers, which serve
25~ as guides, are mec]lanically interlinke-l and separate progre~s-
. .
ively from thc ax;s of the mandrel according to the build
up of the sleeve.
,
-13-
, ' , ' ', . ' . . ~',' , : ., . ' ::'
., . , .,, : . ,
l'hc mallclrcl halves 20-20a of the mandrel are mounted
on carri,ages 22 being positioned in a transverse fraMe structure
23 moullte~l Oll the upright structure or enclosurc 24. The
ball-bearillg slides 33 and the guide rollers 33a mount thc
s carriage on the guide rods 33b and 33c (see particularly Figures
4 and 6~ and provide for translational movement of t}lC carriages
- 22. The rotation of the half-~andrels 20-20a is obtained
from a motor 25 through the gearing 25a and the inter~ediate
transmission shafts 26 each of-which drives a fluted shaft
10 26a (see particularly Figure 4~. A pulley 26b is rotatively ~ `
moun~ed on the carrlage 22 and has a fluted hub slidably mounted
~ on and driven by the shaft 26a. A belt 26c (see particular"l~
i Figures 4 and 7) interconnects the pulleys 26b and 26d, which
latter is keyed to the hollow mandrel driving shaft 22b (see
15 particularly ~igure 5). The shaft 22b is journalled on the ,:~
. ~ .
carriage 22. The jacks 27 acting on the carria~e 22 move
.. . , . . ~ . .
the half-mandrels toward and away from each othcr.
.
The rollers 21 are rotated from a motor 28 through
a reducer 29 and through shafts 29a which are interconnected
20 by a belt or chaln 29b cooperating with sprochets 29c moun~,ed~ ~ '
on the shafts 29a (see particularly Figures 4 and 9). The
.,
separation of rollers 21 in respect to the axis of the mandrel
~' is obtained by means of levers 30 connected by links controlled
,' by a jack 31 and supported by lateral end bearing plates 34
'(see ~articulaT]y Figures 4 and 8). The ends of these levers
have followers rtmning in guide slots 35 which are formed
' in the lateral end bearing plates 34 of the frame structure.
. . .
' The linl-s 30a which interconnect the levers 30 provide for
relative adjustmcnt o~ the lcvers to thereby accommocl~te the
: .
apparatus to mandrels of diferent diameter. The jack 31
',, ;s mounted for adjustment by means of a manually adjustable
~ 14-
, . .
- eb ,
" '' ', .' ' " ' ' ' ' . ' ' '.' ' ': .
~.~7~
scret~ thl'Ca~ dc~lce 31a, havin~ a control ~heel 31b providing
for shirtinn tlle railge o-f movement of the levers 30 by thc
jack 31, as may be required to accommodate mandrcls of di-fferent
;~ siæes and-also accommodate the ~roduction o slceves of differcnt
", 5 wall th;ckness (see particularly-~Figure 8). Each mandrel
half (20 and 20a)'is o tubular construction and has e~tended
therein an electrical resistance heater element. One end
of the heater element is electrically connected with the inncr
or free end of *he mandrel half, and the other en(l of the
resistance element has a connecti,on 36a at the end of the
- man~rel half near the carriage 22. Sli~ rings 36b rotating
with the mandrcl mounting shaft 22b cooperate Witil contacts ~
~ '36. Eiectrical connections are provided betl~een the slip rinss
,~ and the central conductor 36a and also with the mandrel mounting
shaft 22b and thus witll the shell of the mandrel. In this
way, a heatcr supply circuit is provided hy means of which
each mandrel half is }-eated.
,
This apparatus functions in the followin manner:
~," - ~'
~ rrior to the arrival of the mat piece la the end
;~ 20 of the t~o half-mandrels 20-2Qa are in ennagement with each
other, thus providing a complcte mandrel on which the sleeve
is wound. The mandrels-halves are heated to about 400C.
The leading ènd of tlle pieces of mat contacts the hot mandrel
and adheres to the mandrel in order to for~ the first layer.
. .
The polymerization of the bin~er in the inner surface layer
of the sleeve is effected during the winding o~eration. The
, ~andrel turns at a constant spee~ in a range o ~0 to 300 '' ,
: revolutions/~linute and the ~at ~in~ls at a pro~,ressivcly ac-
celcrating spccd. The threc rollers 21 ~hicll arc mechanically ~ '
, ., '
'~:
, - . . . : . . . ~ . .. .
: . .. .
.. , . ., .. .. . ., , . :
interconnccted seI-ar.lte simultaneot}sly at slow sl~ced e~erting
a constant pressl~I e iJI the sleeve being formed.
.
The rollcls ~1 arc maint:ailled in engagement ~ith
the outside surface of the sleeve l~eing formed durin~ the
build u~ of the layers of the mat, and preferably the rollers
are l^etained in en~agement Wit]l the sleeve even after the
- builcl up of the layers in or~er to provide a smooth exterior
surface on the sleeve. The binder in the inner surface layer
is cured during the build up of the sleeve~ and this curing
facilitates thc witlldra-Yal of the mandrel halves from the
ends o the sleeves, whicll occurs while the rollers 21 are
being rotated in contact ~ith the outside surface of the sleeve.
,
At the end of this operation~ after the mandrel
; halves have been witlldrawn, the rollers 21 separate rapidly
and the sleeve drops out of position. Immediately after the
; ~all o the sleeve, the rollers regroup themselves around
or about the mandrel halves and serve to guide them while
they return to their operating position, their rotation being
continued. A new cycle of windin~ can no~ begin.
The sleeve lb, exiting fror;l this apparatus has a
hard smooth lnner surface obtained from the contact o the
mat with the heated mandrel, while at the same time the outer
surface has undergone a first smoothi]lg operation by action
of rollers 21.
~5 The worlcing cycle of the mandrel ancl the rollers
can bc controllecl hy a photoscnsitive cell hiddell from Vi
by the piece of mat carricd by belt 16, this cell giving
the termination of the cyclc by a timcr rcgulable in relation
- -16-
:,
,:
.: :
, ' ~
~o tlie iength of the pat]l rom the cell to the mandrel.
It will be understood that ~arious automat c controls
muy ~e provided in order to time; synchronize and otherwise
regulate tlle relationship of various operations, but as these
controls may take a variety of forms they need not be considercd
in detail hcrein.
Transport component for the sleeves fTom the formin~ apparatus
to ap~aratus for polymerizing the outer surface ~Figure 10)
This component recei~es the slee~es lb in a trough
. ~
40 placed horizontally under the winding apparatus. This
trough is fixed to a support frame 41 mounted on a pivot 42
and pivotable under action of a jack 43. At the end of the
stroke of the j~ck, the sleeve, WhiC]l is supported throu~hout
its entire length by the trough 40, rolls out of the trou~h
and is delivcred in transverse position onto the belt of the
polymerization apparatus for the outer surfaces.
'
Apparatus for polymerization of the outer surace of the sleeves
(Figures 11 and 12)
This apparatus llas a frame structure 44 in shape
o~ a double cross beam supporting at its upper part a lifting
system to raise the height of a heating plate 45 provided
with electric resistances in its interior. Tllis lifting system
. ,
is composed of a reduction gearing 46 witll electric brakes
and of four screw jacks 47 controlled simultaneous-ly by this
reduction gearing. Thesc jacks are connected to the heating
j l)latc ~5 by rods 4~ of rc~ulablc lclltlls jcining on the lle.lti!Lg
- plnt~ by mcans of fork-joints ~9. The hcatin~ ~late is thus
supported hori~olltally by the screl~s.
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At its lo~er ~aTt the apl~aratus coml~rises a belt
50 driven by a varia~le speed motor 51 and held horizontally
between two rollers 52. The upper run o:F this ~e~lt is su~ported
by rollers 53 of small diameter.
Tlle tem~erature of the plate 45 is about ~00C.
,
-~ The slceves lb carried by the transfer apparatus
pass between belt 50 and plate 45 and advance, turning on
themselves under the action of the belt with light compression
against the plate. Correction of the outer diameter and a
stabilization of the contour of the sleeves is efec~-ed by`
this apparatus. In addition, due to the temperature of plate
45, the outer surace of the sleeves are ~olymerized and acquire
a smooth skin, of good quality, and this eliminates any necessity
for grinding or trimming.
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,~l 15 Polymerization oven for the SleeveS ~Figures l3 t11rough l6f)
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The sleeves exiting from the smoothing apparatus
are conveyed to an oven 9 provided to effect complete and
uniform curing of the sleeves to a temperature abol1t 250C,
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~- thus permitting the polymerization with a mlnimum of fumes
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20 and gaseous release. In the çourse of curing in this oven,
j~- - the sleeves are carried without constraint, in such a way
as to avoid delamination of the outer layers, without shock
and without rubbing likely to cause harmful surface defects.
In addition, during the time in this oven, the sleeves are
` 25 maintained perfectly straight throughout their entire lcngth,
q and are com~letely rotatcd al)out their a~es in such a way
as to cause uniformity of curing.
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Jnmle~ l;f;~ ter the exit: from the smoothing apraratus,
each sleeve is rcceived in a support li~tin~ mechanism including
trough 54 conncc-tcd ~ith the piston rod of a jack 56. A ccll
records the prcsence of the sleeve and controls the transfer
to the upper leve~ of thc oven. l)ur:;ng this vertical trans-
- fer, the 1a~era1 poiition ~f the sleeve may be recentered
; by lateral guides. At the u~per end o the upward stroke
`~ ~ of the jack, the trough 54 rocks and the sleeve rolls into
~; the oven. ~n entrance door 61, operate~ by a jack 62 stops
the sleeve for a short moment prior to its entry. The opening
of this door is tianed and of limited duration in order to
-diminish the loss of heat from the oven.
... . .
In order to extend the time of the sleeves in the
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oven, and at the same time minimize the size of the oven,
the oven includes several superimposed levels, Eive in number
in tlle re~resentative example here shown.
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~ The arrangement o supports for the sleeves in the
`~ curing oven is as follows.
. . . . .
-~ The supports for the sleeves at each layer of the
20 superimposed layers oE the fee~ path o the sleeves includes
i: ,., . , - .
a series of rods 63 which extend in directions perpendicular -
to the plane of Figure 13, and one series of which are shown
; in transverse section in Figures 16a to 16f. Each set of
these rods make up a deck or supporting the sleeves at one
25 of the treatment levels in the oven. Each set of rods is
in turn supported at its ends hy a pair of crank shats comprising
; spindles 64 ancl crank c~ements ~5, there l~eing one such crank
shat arra~l~ed at eac}l cnd o each sct of sup~orting rods
63 in positions beyond the ends of the sleevcs carried by the
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rods.
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The confi.~uration of one such crank shaft a~pears
in ~igure 14, and in Fi~ures 16a-16f the crank shaft there : .
~ ~ shown ;s posi~ione~l beyond the cnd of the sleeve lb sho-ln ~.
as supportcd by the set o rods illustrated.in those figures.
. As the crank shafts are rotated ;n synchronisrl Wit}l each other
and because of the engagement of the pins 64 witll the ends
. of the rods 63 tsee also ~igure 15~, the rods 63 movc ~ith
a sinusoiclal wave motion as the crank shafts rotate. This
; 10 motion is indicatcd in liigure lS and is guided by slots 66
. forr.~ed in the enclosure 67 wh;c]l serve to shield the crank
,
'r shafts from the ends of the slee~es and also to gulde the
sleeves as they are advanced. The sinusoidal action is ill.ustrated
in Fi~ures 16a to 16f and it will be seen that toward the
left in each of those figures a diagram is reproduced shol~ring
. the illustrated extent of rotation of the cran]c shafts throughout
.. ` one revolution, in 60 increments, which corresponds to the
... ..
.~i angular displacement of the successive support pins 64 of
;~ each crank shaft.
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It will be seen that in conse~uence of the sinusoidal
` wave motion, each sleeve lb is caused to roll as it is aclvanced
lengthwise of the cranlc shafts. Moreover, as the sleeve rolls
.
;. on the rods 63, different surface areas of the outside surface
.`~ of each sleeve are progressively contacted and exposed. At
. 25 the end of the first level of the feed path in the oven, the ; :.
.;~ slceves are dropped by gravity down to the next level and
the wavc motion of the supportin~ rods 63 of the second level
. then causes the sleeves to advance in thc other di.rection
,....................................................................... . .
. tto the lcft as vicwe~l in ~igure 3~, the rotation of the
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sleevec; bçing continllcd. Aga;ll, at the left end of the sccond
level, the slecve again drops to the third lcvel, and proceeds
again to t7le rlgllt, and so forth-throughout all levcls of
the ovcn~ finally being discharP,ed at the incline(l del:ivery
plate 71.
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The cranl~ shafts are aclapted to be driven by a variable
speed motor 68 by mcans of a chain 69 engaging sprochets 70
on the ends of the crank shafts~ this dri~e being arranged
.. . .
'`: - to provide appropriate rotation of the cran~ shafts to impart
'~ 10 sinusoidal wave moti.on of the sup~orting rods of each succeeding
- level in op~osite directions, so that the sleeves will be
~ed irst in one direction across the oven and then in the
opposite clirection on the next level.
During this,feed on the sleeves through the oven -,
each~sleeve is subjected to a ~low of the curing medium, preferab- ,'
~' ly heated air and because of the support of the sleeves upon '~
~'~ the spaced rods 63 in each treatment level and further because~
~'' of the continued rotation of the sleeves as they advancc,
' the curing air contacts all surEaces of the sleeves and w,ill
20 . o course enter to some:extcnt within the pores of the sleeves, ~
- thereby enhancing the uniformity of the curing action and ~''
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- - minimizing the time in the curing oven. , '
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lleating of the oven lS effected by means of gas ''';
burners 72 arranged at the,floor 73 of the oven. Refractory '~
',: 25 bafles 74 are provided'above the individual-burners 72 in '
~;- order to avoid localized overheatin~ and to distribute the
::' heating gases. ~urthcr distribution of thc hc.l~ing gases is
, eEfectecl by means of a ~erforatcd r,lctal sheet 75 overlyingi the ,'~
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~ baf-f.hes 7~ nd sp~e~d abovc the ba:~fles.
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Tlle llot air i5 çvacuated by the flu~ 76. -
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: Apparatus for cutting the ends of the sleeves (Fi(Jure 17)
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: - The sl~eves l.eaving the ove.n roll on support 71
. S . by gravity to a liftin~ device composed of two chains 80 on
; which palettes 81 are fixed. These chains are.mounted by
.. :
~i means of pairs of sprocllet c~2 and-83, the pinions 83 being
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~ driven by power means inclucling a reduction gearing 84.
1~ On each side o the chains are seen the fixed lateral
,. . . .
guides 85 which engage the ends of the sleeves and maintain
Z,r'~ them in a ccntexcd posi.tion. The apparatus comprises also
a guide composcd of a metal plate 90 placed in the plane of
the ascencling 1ights of chains ~0 and ~rhic]l serves to support
. : . .
. the sleeves during their passage. .This metal platè is curved .:.
; lS at its upper p~rt in orcier to ~orm an inclinccl plane 91. In ~.
addition to guicle 90 there-is a cooperating guicle shoe 92
.i. ~ . .....
~ . parallel to plate 90. The separatiorl bctweell the slloe 92~
.; . . ..
.,.. '.~ and the plate 90 is regulable ~y means o two links 93-9~,
the 3.inl.~ 93 being control.led by a hand:wheel 95, and the link
20 9~ being mounted on an ad~ustable block 96. : ~.
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"' Near the upper ends o guides 85 the ends of the
...... . .
sleeves are brought:into contact Wit]l two s~aced circular
~ saws ~6 whose shaft is driven by a motor, an~ llic]l cuts the
-,~ slecves to the desi.rcd length.
... . .
,. . . .
T]-c ends whicll ~rcre cut of are di.sc]large~(t by gravity
. .: . . .
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` by a chute ~,7 and the sleeves are carried up to thc top of
the li~tin~ ~evice and roll ont~ the lnclined plate 91 which
d;rects them tol~ard the following apparatus.
.
` ~paratus for slittin~_the slec~es ~igures 18 through 25)
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~ 5 ~ ~fter pivoting by~means of an apparatus such as ~
~ j .
that represented in Fi~ure 18 and including a stopblock lO0
and a slide lOl, the sleeves are a~ially advanced by a transporter
lOZ ln the for~ of dlabolo rollers, the heig~lt of this transporter
eing regulable~ln such a way as to advance the sleeves accurate~
ly in line with the axls o~ the kniEe support o the slltter.
The slitter includes a cylindrical rod 103 in which
a trianeular slittin~ b1ade ls~mounted, the blade~lying~in ~ ~
a diametrical plane ancl having~its point presented toward ~ ;
the~advanc1n~ ends of~the~s~1eeves~and further hnving its base
end~positioned asymmetrica~lly with respect to t}ie rod 103,
so that the blade~lias a relatively;large ex~osed part 104a
at one side and a relatlvely large exposed part 1~04b at the
;other~side. The larger blade part 104a is of suffic~i~nt l~idth
~ ;so;~that~lt wlll penetrate-or cut all the way through~the walI~ 20 ~of the sleeve at that side, the blade part 104b bein8 narrower
and serving to fo~m a slit~of~limited depth in tl1e inside
wall~o~ the s1eeve~diametricslly opposite to the cut~orme~d
;by~the blade 104a.~
The rod 103 has a point 105 whicl1 enters the sleeve
when it reaches the slitter, and also has a support 106 for
the blade which is ~;xed on the base or ~ramc 107.
.
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On each side of tlle slitter blades, a fixed gui~e
~all clement 109 is providcd, lying bctween the flights of an
internally notched belt 108 having rotative supporting elements
in each end, the elements 110 being in the n~turc of drive pulleys
whicfI are driven by a variable spced motor 112 positioned
within the base lti7. Preferably provision is made for varying
ii, : ,
the distanc^ be-t~een the t~o assernblies of the fixed wal]
élements and belts at the two sides o the path of movement
7. ~ ' ' 0~ the sleeves as they are moved over the slitter. This spacing
I0 ~means mIy b~ adjusled by means of the hand ~heel 113. This
provides for eIlg'tgement and~feed of sleeves of different sizes
w~th rela~ioIl to the slitting Icnivos.
The belts thus constitute means for advancin~ the
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~ sleeves over tlle cutter~ thereby producing slits such a.s in-
f
~; lS dicated at 114~ln Flgure 21;~extendin~ throu~h the entire wall
of each sleeve, and also the pnrt~al~slits llS extended throu`~h
only a~portion of the wall of the sleeves. These slits~are
provided for the purpose of faclIitnting opening of ~he sleeve
- at th~e time they are used, as ;n applying them to a pipe or
2U~ conduIt,~the incomplete slit 115 leaving a certain thickn0ss
of mat~erial l~hich will~retain the tl~O halves in the proper
relation but whicl~ l not interfere ~ith opening of the
sI-eve to applv it t~ a pipe.
In the aIternative em~o~iment of Figure 22, the
~: ~ 25 cut~In~ b]ade tool is positioned so that the parts lD4a-104b
~ ~ slit the sleeves only through a ~art of the.ir thic~ness. The
n ~ slitter also inclu~les a cuttin~ ~hecl 116 ~l~ccd in adv;tncc ~-
`"~! of the do~nstrcam end of thc blade 101a, th^reby producing
in the slceves a limitcd slit throush the thicXness of thc
~ 30 sleeves at both sides thereof, instead of only at one si~le as
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in ~i~urcs 1~ and 2n. Thc slit made by the whee]. 116 can
either be In khe p:lalle of the slit obtnined by the part lO~a
: ~ of the blade ~I~igurc 23) or can be angularly displacccl (Figure
24). In the first case a slit is.obtained (extending through
~ 5 the wall of the sleeve) such as tllose produced by the c~ltting
.~ tool of-~igure 1~, and in the second case a slit 118 is obtained
. ,
. di.splacecl in respect to the -incompl.ete slit 114a (Figure 25),
: the space~bet~een these two slits be-ing sufficlently small
~: : to permit rupture of thc thickncss of material separating
.~ :
~ 10 them at the time the sleeve is opened for application to a .. :
~ pipe. .-~
- - - . . ~-
:: The slit produced in the outside surface of the
: . sleeve by means of the wheel permits obtaining a clean cut, . : :.
~ even on the lips o~ the slit. ~
~ 15 Instead o-E a wheel, a cutting blade can equally
as wel:l be used, placed a~s th:e whee:l, elther in the~plane~
of the:blade 104a, or~angul~arly-displaced thereErom.
;,; : : ' : - .
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The cutting tool can include several knives. Figures
26 throug~h 28 sllow respèctively the~profiles of knives of ~
~ 20 two, three and four blades. The use o such knives permits ~-
,; :. the spreading of the sleeve. ~igure 29 shows the spread1ng
~1 ~ of the sleeve having been sl~it by means.-of a four bladed knife
~.. , . , . . . -, .
In connection with known forms o apparatus in which
; the slitting o~ the sleeve is effected by the use of a slit-
... . . .
-; 25 tin~ saw, it is to be noted-that the apparatus of the present ..
~ .
invcntioll is of particular advantage since the usc o:~ slittin~ i
.~ . .
.~ knives, instcad of a saw, v:irtually eliminates the production
; ' . ' . .
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~'7~
o dust an(l also makes possi.ble t]le employment of slits of
the kind sho~n ln ~i~ure 25 in ~]liC]l a partial slit formed
thro~lgh the inside sur~ace of the sleeve is utilize~l. The
. a~parat~ls of th~ invention is also of simple form and construction.
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