HARRY MAKITKA
Engineers in Clemmons, NC

5957402, Sep 28, 1999

Oct 7, 1996

8/676284

Eugene D. McEathron - Forest City NC
Harry Makitka - Clemmons NC
Robert W. Singer - Bostic NC

PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. - Cleveland OH

B65H 2318

2424181

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing catenary during winding of a fiber bundle which includes a plurality of fiber strands into a wound package. The method includes: applying substantially equal tension to each of a plurality of fiber strands; gathering the strands to form a bundle; advancing the bundle at a predetermined speed and tension toward a winding device; measuring the tension of the bundle; adjusting the tension of the bundle by adjusting the speed at which the bundle is advanced, such that (1) the speed of advancement of the bundle is increased when the measured tension of the bundle exceeds a predetermined value and (2) the speed of advancement of the bundle is decreased when the measured tension of the bundle is less than a second predetermined value; and winding the bundle to form a wound package. The apparatus includes a frame; a plurality of fiber strand supply packages; a plurality of tensioning devices for applying substantially equal tension to each of the fiber strands; a gathering device for gathering the fiber strands into a fiber bundle; a feed device for advancing the fiber bundle at a predetermined speed to a winding device; a tension sensing device for determining the tension in the bundle and providing a signal to a feed device controller which adjusts the speed of the feed device in response to the signal from the tension sensing device; and a winding device.

4995892, Feb 26, 1991

Dec 19, 1989

7/452866

Jeffrey L. Garrett - Lexington NC
Harry Makitka - Clemmons NC
Richard J. Sanchez - Lexington NC
Gregory W. Shepler - Lexington NC

PPG Industries, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

C03B 3702, C03B 3707

65 12

The subject matter of this invention relates to an improved method for controlling an industrial glass fiber-forming process. More particularly, it involves a method for controlling the thermal environment of several fiber glass bushing assemblies by the utilization of fin cooler assemblies in which a coolant is passed through the fins as part of a closed-loop pressurized system to remove heat radiated to the fins by the molten glass that emerges from the bushing. In the preferred embodiment, this liquid coolant is demineralized water operating at a pressure of somewhere between 18 and 100 psi. The use of a programmable logic controller to monitor various system parameters such a pressure, temperature and flow rate is also disclosed. The controller is programmed to take corrective action automatically upon the detection of certain triggering events in order to maintain a constant flow of coolant throughout the entire system. As a last resort, means are provided for injecting an emergency supply of cooling water to continuously flush the system and prevent mechanical distortion and possible rupturing of the fins.

5352258, Oct 4, 1994

Mar 31, 1993

8/040756

Stanley C. DeGreve - Allison Park PA
Joe B. Lovelace - Salisbury NC
E. Charles Watkins - Lexington NC
Timothy G. Mathis - Kings Mountain NC
Harry Makitka - Clemmons NC
Thomas C. Bour - Glenshaw PA
John W. Cotton - Lexington NC
Curtis L. Hanvey - Boiling Springs NC
Dennis S. Postupack - Natrona Heights PA
James V. Shivers - Shelby NC
Timothy Smith - Lexington NC

PPG Industries, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

C03B 516

65474

The process and apparatus of the present invention enable the production of glass fiber product from scrap glass fibers. The process includes: feeding the scrap glass fibers having an average length up to around 12 inches to a glass melting tank having a pool of molten fiberizable glass, melting the scrap glass fibers without the presence of non-vitrified glass forming materials in an oxidizing environment, conditioning the melt to a formable viscosity, and forming the glass fiber from the conditioned melt where for a given glass fiber product there is a near constant pull of the melted glass from the melter. The rate of feeding of the scrap glass to the melter is sufficient to maintain the pool of melted glass with a level within the range of. +-. 35 inch (9 mm. ) over a period of eight hours.

5769342, Jun 23, 1998

Dec 13, 1996

8/764375

Harry Makitka - Clemmons NC

PPG Industries, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

B65H 5400, B65H 7524

242 18

A radially expandable endcap adapted for mounting upon a mandrel of a collet of a forming package winder. Other aspects of this invention include a collet and winder including the above endcap and method for winding strand using the same. Another aspect of the present invention is a collet having an expandable mandrel on at least a portion of a first end of the collet proximate an operator and distal to a second, opposite end of the collet mounted upon a support Other aspects of this invention are a winder including the above collet and a method for using the same.

6012672, Jan 11, 2000

Apr 2, 1998

9/054228

Harry Makitka - Clemmons NC

PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. - Cleveland OH

B65H 5402, B65H 7524

2424738

A radially expandable endcap adapted for mounting upon a mandrel of a collet of a forming package winder. Other aspects of this invention include a collet and winder including the above endcap and method for winding strand using the same. Another aspect of the present invention is a collet having an expandable mandrel on at least a portion of a first end of the collet proximate an operator and distal to a second, opposite end of the collet mounted upon a support. Other aspects of this invention are a winder including the above collet and a method for using the same.