US4028525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for creating holes in flexible members
Assignee: James Hardie Irrigation Inc
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Filing: 1975-11-06
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Granted: 1977-06-07
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Expires: 1995-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A small hole may be formed in a wall of a flexible member or structure such as a tube of a thermoplastic material by an apparatus including a rotating wheel by a laser beam source directed towards the wheel, and rotating reflecting means for reflecting the beam from this source so as to direct the beam towards a specific area of the flexible member. Preferably the flexible member is held against a surface of the wheel as the beam is directed so as to engage only a single point on the surface of the flexible member.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Mominee
- 👤 Gilbert W. Vance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:26
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/083; B23K26/0838; B23K26/0846
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for use in creating a hole in an elongated flexible member which comprises: wheel means having a periphery; means for mounting the wheel means for rotation; holding means for holding at least a portion of the elongated flexible member with respect to said periphery so that there is substantially no relative movement between said portion of said flexible member and said wheel means as said wheel means rotates; reflecting means for reflecting a laser beam; first means for rotatably mounting said reflecting means for rotation in synchronism with said wheel means; laser means for creating and directing a laser beam toward said reflecting means; and said reflecting means being positioned relative to said laser means and said wheel means so that the laser beam emitted from said laser means is directed toward a specific area of said portion of said flexible member during rotation of said wheel means through an arc with the laser beam intersecting said specific area at a first angle, said first angle being constant for the period that the wheel means rotates through said arc.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for use in creating a hole in an elongated flexible member which comprises: wheel means having a periphery; means for mounting the wheel means for rotation; holding means for holding at least a portion of the elongated flexible member with respect to said periphery so that there is substantially no relative movement between said portion of said flexible member and said wheel means as said wheel means rotates; reflecting means for reflecting a laser beam; first means for rotatably mounting said reflecting means for rotation in synchronism with said wheel means; laser means for creating and directing a laser beam toward said reflecting means; and said reflecting means being positioned relative to said laser means and said wheel means so that the laser beam emitted from said laser means is directed toward a specific area of said portion of said flexible member during rotation of said wheel means through an arc with the laser beam intersecting said specific area at a first angle, said first angle being constant for the period that the wheel means rotates through said arc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: control means for actuating said laser means so that a laser beam is created and engages said flexible member at periodic intervals in order to create a sequence of holes in said flexible member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: means for rotating said wheel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said wheel means has a groove in said periphery, said groove having a bottom, said wheel means having an opening leading to the bottom of said groove; said flexible member fits within said groove; and said reflecting means and said laser means are located so that the laser beam is reflected through said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first means mounts said reflecting means on said wheel means so as to rotate with said wheel means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein; said reflecting means includes a mirror for reflecting said laser beam and another mirror for receiving said laser beam after it has been reflected by said first mentioned mirror and for further directing said laser beam towards said flexible member, the positions of said mirrors serving to determine the angle at which said laser beam is directed toward said elongated flexible member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including: control means for actuating said laser means so that a laser beam is created and engages said flexible member at periodic intervals in order to create a sequence of holes in said flexible member, wherein said wheel means has a groove in said periphery, said groove having a bottom, said wheel means having an opening leading to the bottom of said groove; said flexible member fits within said groove; and said reflecting means and said laser means are located so that a laser beam is reflected through said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: control means for actuating said laser means in accordance with the angular position of said wheel means so that a laser beam is created and engages said flexible member at periodic intervals in order to create a sequence of holes in said flexible member, wherein said first means mounts said reflecting means on said wheel means so as to rotate with said wheel means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for use in creating a hole in an elongated flexible member which comprises: wheel means having a periphery; means for mounting the wheel means for rotation; holding means for holding at least a portion of the elongated flexible member with respect to said periphery so that there is substantially no relative movement between said portion of said flexible member and said wheel means as said wheel means rotates; reflecting means for reflecting a laser beam; means for mounting said reflecting means for rotation; laser means for creating and directing a laser beam toward said reflecting means; and means for synchronizing the rotation of the wheel means and the reflecting means so that the reflecting means reflects the laser beam toward a region of said portion of the elongated flexible member with the laser beam intersecting said region at a first angle as the wheel means rotates through an arc, said first angle being constant for the period that the wheel means rotates through said arc and said period being of sufficient duration so that the hole is formed at said region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for use in creating a hole in an elongated flexible member which comprises: wheel means having a periphery; means for mounting the wheel means for rotation; holding means for holding at least a portion of the elongated flexible member with respect to said periphery so that there is substantially no relative movement between said portion of said flexible member and said wheel means as said wheel means rotates; reflecting means for reflecting a laser beam; means for mounting said reflecting means for rotation; laser means for creating and directing a laser beam toward said reflecting means; and means for synchronizing the rotation of the wheel means and the reflecting means so that the reflecting means reflects the laser beam toward a region of said portion of the elongated flexible member with the laser beam intersecting said region at a first angle as the wheel means rotates through an arc, said first angle being constant for the period that the wheel means rotates through said arc and said period being of sufficient duration so that the hole is formed at said region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the wheel means is rotatable about a rotational axis and said reflecting means includes a reflector located on said rotational axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said reflecting means includes a second reflector, said first mentioned reflector reflecting the laser beam onto said second reflector, and a lens in the path of the laser beam between said reflectors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for use in making a hole in a member, said apparatus comprising: first means for moving the member through a hole-making station; second means for directing a laser beam toward the member to provide an impingement of the laser beam against a first region of the member at a first angle as the first region enters the hole-making station; means for moving the laser beam during the movement of the first region through the hole-making station; and means for synchronizing the movement of the laser beam and the first region of the member to maintain said impingement of the laser beam against said first region at said first angle throughout the movement of the first region through the hole-making station whereby the laser beam forms a hole in said first region of the member as the first region is moved through the hole-making station.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for use in making a hole in a member, said apparatus comprising: first means for moving the member through a hole-making station; second means for directing a laser beam toward the member to provide an impingement of the laser beam against a first region of the member at a first angle as the first region enters the hole-making station; means for moving the laser beam during the movement of the first region through the hole-making station; and means for synchronizing the movement of the laser beam and the first region of the member to maintain said impingement of the laser beam against said first region at said first angle throughout the movement of the first region through the hole-making station whereby the laser beam forms a hole in said first region of the member as the first region is moved through the hole-making station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said first means continuously moves the member through the hole-making station and said synchronizing means synchronizes the movement of the laser beam with the continuous movement of the first region of the member to maintain said impingement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said first means moves the first region of the member along an arcuate path through the hole-making station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said arcuate path has a center of rotation and said second means moves the laser beam about said center of rotation during the synchronous movement of the laser beam and the first region.
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) | 1980-06-06 | 1980-12-06 | 1981-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-06 | 1984-12-06 | 1985-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-06 | 1988-12-06 | 1989-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |