Timothy J Becker

US Patent:

54453429, Aug 29, 1995

Filed:

Oct 5, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/318072

Inventors:

William R. Miller - Portland OR
Timothy J. Becker - Vancouver WA

Assignee:

Tidland Corporation - Camas WA

International Classification:

B65H 7524

US Classification:

2425712

Abstract:

An elongate expansible shaft for a roll core has a peripheral surface defining multiple separate elongate slots helically intertwined and oriented at a pitch angle no greater than about 30. degree. measured from a longitudinal axis. Each slot is T-shaped in cross section and contains a respective separate, elongate, resilient bladder pneumatically expandable into frictional engagement with the core. The bladder has a unitary construction with hinge portions for minimizing the loss of force due to expansion of the bladder. An air inlet fitting is inserted in one end of each bladder and is independently connected to a respective separate valve for preventing the escape of air from the bladder irrespective of the air pressure in any other bladder.

US Patent:

54906407, Feb 13, 1996

Filed:

Aug 10, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/288946

Inventors:

William R. Miller - Portland OR
Timothy J. Becker - Vancouver WA
John E. Olson - Portland OR

Assignee:

Tidland Corporation - Camas WA

International Classification:

B65H 7524

US Classification:

2425716

Abstract:

An expansible shaft assembly has core-engagement shoes pivotally mounted to a shaft for pivoting outwardly into tight engagement with the interior of a roll core automatically in response to the application of torque to the shaft. The core-engagement shoes have core-engaging surfaces, some being pivotable outwardly in response to torque applied to the shaft in one axial direction and others being pivotable outwardly in response to torque applied in the opposite axial direction. The respective oppositely-actuated core-engaging surfaces can both be on the same engagement shoe or, alternatively, on different shoes spaced axially along the shaft. For maximizing the speed with which the core-engagement shoes engage the core in response to torque application, the core-engaging surfaces are preferably angularly offset significantly from a radial direction extending between the axis of rotation of the shaft and the pivot axis of the engagement shoe.

US Patent:

53723317, Dec 13, 1994

Filed:

Jun 15, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/078762

Inventors:

William R. Miller - Portland OR
Timothy J. Becker - Vancouver WA

Assignee:

Tidland Corporation - Camas WA

International Classification:

B65H 7524

US Classification:

2425712

Abstract:

An elongate expansible shaft for a roll core has a peripheral surface defining multiple separate elongate slots helically intertwined and oriented at a pitch angle no greater than about 30. degree. measured from a longitudinal axis. Each slot is T-shaped in cross section and contains a respective separate, elongate, resilient T-shaped bladder pneumatically expandable into frictional engagement with the core. The bladder has a unitary construction with hinge portions for minimizing the loss of force due to expansion of the bladder. An air inlet fitting is inserted in one end of each bladder and is independently connected to a respective separate valve for preventing the escape of air from the bladder irrespective of the air pressure in any other bladder.