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US 7,111,483 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for fabricating helically shaped ribbons of material
AssigneeAlco Industries, Inc.
InventorsDavid King, John Deibert, Gerald Ziolkowski, Jeffrey G. Cotter
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are utilized to form turbulators. The apparatus includes a first mechanism for accepting a ribbon of material along an axis, a second mechanism for rotating an end of the ribbon of material, and a third mechanism for moving the second mechanism substantially parallel to the axis. The third mechanism is configured to operate independently from the operation of the second mechanism.
Claims19
An apparatus for manipulating a ribbon of material, said apparatus comprising:
- a spindle head including a pair of jaws engaging a first end of the ribbon of material along an axis;
- a first mechanism for moving said spindle head substantially parallel to the axis;
- a second mechanism for rotating said pair of jaws about the axis with said first mechanism moving said spindle head substantially parallel to the axis, said second mechanism configured to operate independently from the operation of said first mechanism.
A method of fabricating a turbulator utilizing an apparatus, said method comprising:
- engaging a first end of a ribbon of material with a spindle head;
- moving the spindle head engaging the first end of the material along an axis, wherein the movement is performed in a first movement pattern;
- and
- rotating the first end of the material about the axis as the spindle head is moved alone the axis, wherein the rotation is performed in a second movement pattern, wherein the first movement pattern is different from the second movement pattern.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.