Claims
- 1. An apparatus utilizing a plurality of pump assemblies for applying material to a surface through an outlet, each pump assembly comprising:
- a. a pressurized input supply line and a return supply line;
- b. a first hydraulic cylinder having a first hydraulic piston and having a first control means controlling the flow to one side of the first hydraulic piston from said pressurized input supply line and controlling the flow from the other side of the first hydraulic piston to a return supply line,
- c. a first supply cylinder having a first supply piston connected to said first hydraulic piston, said first supply cylinder having at least one inlet check valve and at least one outlet check valve,
- d. a second hydraulic cylinder having a second hydraulic piston and having a second control means controlling the flow to one side of the second hydraulic piston from a central pressurized supply line and controlling the flow from the other side of the second hydraulic piston to a return supply line,
- e. a second supply cylinder having a second supply piston, connected to the second hydraulic piston, said second supply cylinder having at least one inlet check valve and at least one outlet check valve,
- f. means for substantially and independently continuously monitoring and controlling the position and velocity of the first and second hydraulic pistons so that the first piston starts to move from a standstill position of zero velocity when the second piston starts to decline from a position of maximum velocity and when the first piston reaches maximum velocity, the second piston reaches zero velocity, resulting in a continuous substantially ripple-free combined flow from the supply cylinders.
- 2. The apparatus in claim 1, where said means for monitoring and controlling includes the use of a computer.
- 3. An automated system for accurately mixing composite materials comprising:
- a. at least one first means for pumping a resin at a substantially continuously monitored and controlled rate utilizing hydraulic cylinders having hydraulic pistons slidable connected therein, said hydraulic pistons being connected to supply pistons slidable connected in supply cylinders,
- b. at least one additional means for pumping additives at a substantially continuously monitored and controlled rate utilizing hydraulic cylinders having hydraulic pistons slidable connected therein, said hydraulic pistons being connected to supply pistons slidable connected in supply cylinders,
- c. control means for independently and substantially continuously monitoring and controlling the rate of pumping of the first in relation to the additional means for pumping,
- d. said first and additional means communicating with a means for mixing, and
- e. means for creating a continuous first stream of mixed fluid from said means for mixing.
- 4. The apparatus in claim 3 including:
- a. a chopper feed mechanism for directing chopped fiber into a second stream,
- b. said second stream from the chopper feed mechanism being substantially superimposed on said continuous first stream from the mixer,
- c. control means for coordinating the rate of flow from said first and additional means and the rate of flow from the chopper feed mechanism.
- 5. The apparatus in claim 4 including:
- a. spraying means for delivering said first and second streams to an object,
- b. travel means for moving said spraying means,
- c. means for controlling the flow rate of said streams with the rate of travel of said spraying means.
- 6. The apparatus in claim 5 including:
- a. at least one means for sensing ambient conditions;
- b. said control means regulating the mixing and delivery of said streams as a function of said ambient conditions.
- 7. The apparatus in claim 3 where said means for controlling the rate of pumping is at least in part accomplished by a computer.
- 8. The apparatus in claim 3, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 9. The apparatus in claim 5, where said means for controlling includes the use of a computer.
- 10. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein said control means includes output recording means.
- 11. The spray apparatus in claim 4, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 12. The spray apparatus in claim 5, where said means for controlling includes the use of a computer.
- 13. The spray apparatus in claim 6, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 14. The spray apparatus in claim 6, where said control means includes the use of servo systems.
- 15. The spray apparatus in claim 3, where said control means includes output sensing means.
- 16. The spray apparatus in claim 4, where said control means includes output sensing means.
- 17. The apparatus in claim 5, where said means for controlling includes output sensing means.
- 18. The apparatus in claim 6, where said control means includes output sensing means.
- 19. The apparatus in claim 3, where said control means includes output recording means.
- 20. The apparatus in claim 4, where said control means includes output recording means.
- 21. The apparatus in claim 5, where said control means includes output recording means.
- 22. The apparatus in claim 6, where said control means includes output recording means.
- 23. The apparatus in claim 5 where said travel means include:
- a. a support structure able to move in a horizontal direction;
- b. escalator means on said support structure enabling said spraying means to move in a vertical or radial direction.
- 24. A pump system for pumping liquids from supply cylinders through an outlet, comprised of a plurality of pump assemblies, each pump assembly having a first means for pumping fluids,
- a second means for pumping fluids, and
- a control means for independently and substantially continuously monitoring and controlling the rate of pumping of the first and second means for pumping so that the combined flow is substantially constant and substantially ripple-free.
- 25. A pump system of claim 24 wherein each means for pumping includes a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic piston, said hydraulic piston being connected to a supply piston in a supply cylinder, said supply cylinder having at least one input check valve and at least one output check valve.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 24 where said control means includes output recording means.
- 28. An automated system for constructing composite structures comprising:
- a. a support structure able to be rotated around the perimeter of said tank,
- b. An automated spray unit adjustably mounted on said support structures,
- c. said spray unit comprising a plurality of pump assemblies each having hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic pistons, each being independently and substantially continuously monitored and controlled, communicating with a common outlet for substantially ripple free automated spraying of composite,
- d. At least one material reservoir communicating with each pump assembly,
- e. a control means for substantially continuously monitoring and controlling the rate of pumping of each pump assembly.
- 29. The apparatus in claim 28 including a means for light curing the spray from the automated spray unit.
- 30. The apparatus in claim 28 where said control means includes output recording means.
- 31. The automated spray system of claim 28 wherein the pump assemblies comprise tandems of piston pumps.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the automated spray system has an advancing means comprised of a servo control responsive to the location of the spray unit and the rate of movement of the spray unit.
- 33. The apparatus in claim 28 including:
- a. application means for delivering said premixed composite material to a structure,
- b. travel means for moving said application means around the structure, and
- c. control means for controlling the flow rate of said composite material with the rate of travel of said application means.
- 34. An automated system for accurately applying composite material comprising:
- a. a source of pressurized fluid,
- b. a first and second means for pumping said composite material including pistons in hydraulic cylinders, said hydraulic cylinders communicating with said source of pressurized fluid for driving said pistons,
- c. control means for substantially continuously monitoring and controlling the rate of pumping of said composite material by independently controlling the velocity and position of each cylinder,
- d. means for light curing said composite material after it is applied.
- 35. The apparatus in claim 34 wherein the means for light curing is a suitable light source to cure said composite material.
- 36. The apparatus in claim 34 including:
- a. application means for delivering said premixed composite material to a structure,
- b. travel means for moving said application means around the structure,
- c. control means for controlling the flow rate of said composite material with the rate of travel of said application means.
- 37. The apparatus in claim 34 including:
- a. at least one means for sensing ambient conditions;
- b. control means regulating the temperature delivery of said composite material as a function of said ambient conditions.
- 38. The apparatus in claim 37 where said control means includes output recording means.
- 39. The apparatus in claim 34 where said means for controlling the rate of flow is at least in part accomplished by a computer.
- 40. The apparatus is claim 34, where said control means includes output recording means.
- 41. The apparatus in claim 34, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 42. The apparatus in claim 36, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
- 43. The apparatus in claim 36 where said control means includes output recording means.
- 44. The apparatus in claim 37, where said control means includes the use of a computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 050,317 filed 5/14/87, which was issued on Dec. 5, 1989 as U.S. Patent No. 4,884,747.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
50317 |
May 1987 |
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