Patent ID: 6009635
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: B01F,B29B,B29C,B29K,B29L,C04B,H01B

Abstract:
An apparatus for treating fiber rovings with a condensable gas comprising:a vacuum chamber having a top, and a bottom;a plurality of conveying rollers, the rollers having a cylindrical shape and mounted parallel to each other within the vacuum chamber so that a gap exists between adjacent rollers;an entrance port, and an exit port,the entrance port located in the top of the vacuum chamber, and the exit port located in the bottom of the chamber;wherein, the fiber rovings enter the vacuum chamber through the entrance port, pass over the conveying rollers, and leave the vacuum chamber through the exit port;a means for sealing the entrance port, and a means for sealing the exit port, such that vacuum is maintained in the chamber while treating the fiber rovings;a gas feed port, and a vacuum port,the gas feed port located near the exit port, and the vacuum port located near the entrance port;and a means for creating a vacuum at the vacuum port,so that condensable gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber through the gas feed port, travels upward in a direction counter to the direction of the fiber rovings, and exits the vacuum chamber through the vacuum port;internal seals placed along the length of each conveying roller such that the condensable gas is forced to pass through the fiber rovings in the gap between adjacent conveying rollers.