James Edward Watts

US Patent:

58817751, Mar 16, 1999

Filed:

Jan 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/778111

Inventors:

Thomas K. Owen - San Jose CA
James R. Watts - Manteca CA
Milton F. Custer - Byron CA
Kevin D. McVicker - Fremont CA

Assignee:

Hexcel Corporation - Pleasanton CA

International Classification:

F16L 914

US Classification:

138149

Abstract:

A heat exchanger tube (2, 2a, 2b) is made using a hollow, impermeable, monolithic ceramic inner tube (4) and wrapping the inner tube with a circumferentially extending reinforcing material (12) impregnated with a slurry of ceramic particles, particle carrier medium and thermoset binder. The combination of the inner tube and the impregnated reinforcing material is first heated to solidify the thermoset binder. The combination is then sintered to drive off the particle carrier medium and themoset binder to create a two-layer heat exchanger tube including the inner tube and an outer tube (6).

US Patent:

54015642, Mar 28, 1995

Filed:

Mar 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/036182

Inventors:

Frank F. W. Lee - Danville CA
Thomas K. Owen - San Jose CA
William J. Swanson - Livermore CA
James R. Watts - Manteca CA
Susan M. Brinkerhoff - Martinez CA

Assignee:

Hexcel Corporation - Pleasanton CA

International Classification:

B32B 1702
A43B 1338
B28B 500

US Classification:

428228

Abstract:

A strong, lightweight composite material having beneficial flexing characteristics is made using a unique reinforcement material. The reinforcement material comprises a fabric incorporating glass rovings with graphite tows in an architectural combination that retains the properties of both materials. Composite structures made using this reinforcement material with a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix are extremely lightweight, with desirable anisotropic flexing properties. The finished composite structure is extremely useful as an arch support in a shoe to absorb and distribute the forces generated by walking. In distributing forces on the foot such a support will provide the desired stiffness along the longitudinal axis while allowing increased flexibility along the transverse axis.