Timothy A Regan

US Patent:

20120273988, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Apr 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/457714

Inventors:

David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Aaron H. Johnson - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

Ticona LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B28B 23/06
B29C 70/50

US Classification:

264136, 425505

Abstract:

An impregnation section of a die and a method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin and a gate passage in fluid communication with the impregnation zone for flowing the resin therethrough such that the resin coats the roving. Additionally, the impregnation section includes a surface disposed upstream of the impregnation zone in a run direction of the roving for contacting the roving. The method includes traversing at least one fiber roving over a surface, flowing a polymer resin through a gap, the gap being in the range between approximately 0.1 millimeters and approximately 4 millimeters, coating the roving with the resin, and traversing the coated roving through an impregnation zone to impregnate the roving with the resin.

US Patent:

20120321804, Dec 20, 2012

Filed:

Apr 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/457738

Inventors:

Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US
Aaron H. Johnson - Winona MN, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

Ticona LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B05C 11/02
B05D 3/10

US Classification:

427369, 118124

Abstract:

A die and method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. In one embodiment, the die includes an impregnation section including an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin, the impregnation zone including a plurality of contact surfaces. The die further includes a perturbation positioned on at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces, the perturbation configured to interact with the roving. In one embodiment, the method includes coating a fiber roving with a polymer resin. The method further includes traversing the coated roving through an impregnation zone to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes a plurality of contact surfaces. The method further includes interacting the coated roving with a perturbation positioned on at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces.

US Patent:

20130136877, May 30, 2013

Filed:

Jun 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/698375

Inventors:

Sherri M. Nelson - Winona MN, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B29C 70/52

US Classification:

428 345, 428 364, 264164

Abstract:

A hollow lineal profile () formed from a continuous fiber reinforced ribbon (“CFRT”) that contains a plurality of continuous fibers embedded within a first thermoplastic polymer matrix (). To enhance the tensile strength of the profile, the continuous fibers are aligned within the ribbon in a substantially longitudinal direction (e.g., the direction of pultrusion). In addition to continuous fibers, the hollow profile of the present invention also contains a plurality of long fibers that may be optionally embedded within a second thermoplastic matrix to form a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (“LFRT”) (). The long fibers may be incorporated into the continuous fiber ribbon or formed as a separate layer of the profile. Regardless, at least a portion of the long fibers are oriented at an angle (e.g., 90) to the longitudinal direction to provide increased transverse strength to the profile.

US Patent:

20130136891, May 30, 2013

Filed:

Jun 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/698389

Inventors:

Sherri M. Nelson - Winona MN, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US
Michael L. Wesley - Dover MN, US
Richard Stiehm - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B32B 5/12

US Classification:

428114, 156199

Abstract:

A structural member that contains a solid lineal profile () that is formed from a plurality of consolidated ribbons (). Each of the ribbons includes unidirectionally aligned continuous fibers embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The continuous fiber ribbons () are laminated together during pultrusion to form an integral solid profile () having very high tensile strength properties.

US Patent:

20130145986, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707654

Inventors:

Ticona LLC - Florence KY, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B05C 3/172

US Classification:

118420

Abstract:

An impregnation plate and an impregnation section of a die for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation plate includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes an inner surface. The impregnation plate further includes a sidewall. The sidewall includes an inner surface. The inner surface of the sidewall includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys. At least one of the plurality of valleys defines a maximum height that is less than a height of the inner surface of the impregnation zone at a neighboring location along a run direction of the roving.

US Patent:

20130147082, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707673

Inventors:

Ticona LLC - Florence KY, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B29C 41/30

US Classification:

264136, 425 95

Abstract:

A die and method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The die includes an impregnation section. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes a plurality of contact surfaces. At least one of the plurality of contact surfaces is configured such that a normal force of the roving is less than or equal to a lift force of the resin at an impregnation location on the contact surface during impregnation of the roving with the resin by the contact surface.

US Patent:

20130147084, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707700

Inventors:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B29C 41/30

US Classification:

264137, 425 90

Abstract:

An impregnation section of a die and a method for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin are disclosed. The impregnation section includes an impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The impregnation zone includes a plurality of contact surfaces, at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces defining a cut-away portion downstream in a run direction of the roving of a point-of-contact for the at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces. The at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces further includes an edge defined by the cut-away portion. Excess material build up is reduced by the cut-away portion.

US Patent:

20130149521, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Jun 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/697404

Inventors:

Sherri M. Nelson - Winona MN, US
David W. Eastep - Winona MN, US
Timothy A. Regan - Winona MN, US

Assignee:

TICONA LLC - Florence KY

International Classification:

B29C 70/08

US Classification:

428221, 26417214, 425377

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for forming a profile that contains at least one layer of continuous fibers and at least one layer of discontinuous fibers. Said method allowing the selective control of features to achieve a profile that has increased transverse strength and flexural modulus. The layer of continuous fibers may be formed from one or more continuous fiber reinforced ribbons (“CFRT”) () that contain fibers embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, whereby a void fraction and in turn is minimized and flexural modulus is optimized Further, the ribbon (s) are consolidated so that the continuous fibers remain fixed in alignment in a substantially longitudinal direction (e.g., the direction of pultrusion). In addition to enhancing the tensile properties of the profile, the use of such ribbons also allows an improved handability when placing them into the desired position within the pultrusion die. The discontinuous fibers are also embedded within a thermoplastic matrix, in such a way as to assist in bonding of the layers to achieve the desired strength. At least a portion of the fibers are oriented in the transverse direction to provide increased transverse strength.